Ex-AWE tuning B8 S4 at TMP Cauyga - very impressed.

B8 S4
#1

http://youtu.be/OwUFwhFgGAs
http://youtu.be/Rhf7IQqXt4M

So our friend Salmon was visiting TMP and its road course yesterday with a few friends, and asked if I’d like to join…and like I told everyone… if you’re at TMP, I’m there.

He brought his S4, if you didn’t know it’s the ex-AWE shop car. It’s set up with the Bilstein B16 ERC suspension with the ride control button, and he’s got 275/30/19 PSSs on there. Like me, he removed the 380mm brembos for winter and never put them back on, so the only braking change was high-temp fluid.

I was in the NSX. Cars were very even and lapping around 1:23, 1:24.

My observations…

1.) Salmon is fast as fuck, and experienced on the road course, and like any self-respecting track guy, he has no qualms about driving the piss out of his car.

2.) the AWE car was remarkable in ze corners for a 4000 lb car. Entry, he seems to be able to trail the brakes deep, or let the front scrub off excess speed. The car looked balanced, without the endless understeer I experienced in my ADS car. And he seemed to be able to power out of corners well.

3.) by the last session he was running out of brake pedal, but he had enough to end the session. This is in contrast to me a couple years ago, boiling my stock brake fluid (the second day I had my car) after 10 or so laps. TMP is awful on brakes, by the way. So, it seems, the stock brakes may be good enough for a casual lapper, so long as high-temp fluid is used. Hey, anyone want to buy my brembos…? :slight_smile:

4.) even after multiple sessions, the PSSs on his 19x9.5s hadn’t rolled over the sidewall…in fact I’d say perfect wear, the outer rib was pretty gummy too…again in contrast to me rolling over the sidewall on RE-11s (XL rated, no less!). See pics…

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/13/ety5e7ag.jpg

http://img.tapatalk.com/d/13/09/13/4y7ydeza.jpg

So I have some new faith in the S4 as a track weapon…

#2

I’m sure your wife will be happy to hear.

#3

Awesome to hear!

I wasn’t a huge fan of my H&R Coilovers in terms of handling so good to hear the Billstein are a lot better…

My H&R springs with full Eurocode setup is 200x better than my H&R Coilovers only setup.

#4

Awesome J! It looks like you guys had a boatload of fun!

Yeah you both are very quick! You can tell Salmon’s S4 has a large power advantage on the NSX as it pull easily on the straights. You do reel him in on the corners though… It’s probably because you seem to hit almost every apex whereas Salmon misses a few each lap (but I’m a novice so I’m probably totally wrong! lol!).

Anyway, I’ll probably head down for a lapping day in a few weeks as I want to hit the road course before I take one of the exotics out from that groupon deal. Hopefully we can coordinate something!

#5

Salmon was really solid, he’s likely done many factors more car laps than me in his life.

…bring your car, trust me, you’ll be happy you did. Come soon, and then lets do a Mosport day!

Jeez you live so close to Mosport. I’d consider a timeshare if they built condos trackside…lol. Retirement plan…

#6

I’m curious about the bilsteins myself now.

Hey Pete is your car ADS with the H&Rs? And which H&Rs?

I have H&R sports and full U.S.S. all sitting in the box still for a year or more now. I’m a little worried after well_armed said he didn’t like the H&Rs with ADS.

#7

No doubt! You both look very quick (well far quicker than I… lol)

I was just making an observation as Salmon clearly has you on the straights but you are able to gain in the tight section. Based on the camera angle and the placement of the cones it looks as though he may be turning in a bit late so I assumed that was what allowed you to gain on him in the tight section.

I’d be very interested to hear what you both think of your driving in the video? I’m sure it would help me better understand how to navigate a tight track like Cayuga…

I’ll let you know about Cayuga… maybe Wednesday next week or the week after?

#8

There are a couple throwaway corners where the late entry is helping set up the next corner. What I found was his ultimate corner speed was probably the same as mine, but I could get better drive out the corners leading onto the straight, which made up for his top speed advantage.

Mosport is much more fun with many corners taken at 80, 90 mph…you were there already…Apex is there October 3 and October 17…lets do that…

#9

I don’t have ADS.

I have H&R Sport Springs, EC sways F+R, EC links F+R and EC Alu-Kruez.

Car rides like a dream and handles amazing…

My dad has no ADS and H&R OE springs and basically feels stock…

My friend Charlie has ADS and ran H&R Sports before he went Coilovers (he’s into the stance game) and I felt that his car rode very good and he never had one complaint…

#10

RE-11’s have a very stiff sidewall… surprised you rolled them!

I just ordered some RE-11’s the day before you posted this. If you rolled them on an NSX, there isn’t much hope for me in a RS4.

#11

No, I rolled them on my B8 S4. The pic of the RE-11s is from last year at the same track in my car, with stock ADS suspension. The key with the B8 S4, apparently, is simply having stiffer and lower springs and thus starting from a higher static camber, from people I’ve talked to and witnessing Salmon’s car. Grip was really affected by the rollover in my case so I don’t want to comment on the tire not having decent grip (an image of a fat pig sliding on its nose comes to mind).

I saw your post, is your RS suspension stock? I dunno how the RS4 is dialed for camber and roll. Doesn’t seem to be too many RS4 owners here with appreciable track time to offer advice, just smartass replies in your thread (lol same as mine).

#12

Sways make a HUGE difference in rolling over onto the sidewall, even at stock ride height. Granted, I haven’t had my car on a track, but I’ve pushed it to and past the limit of traction on the street. Prior to sways, my PSSs would show wear creeping onto the wear triangles, whereas after the USS sways and end links, the car not only can go through the same curves faster due to the reduction in roll, but when you do reach the limit of traction it isn’t because the car has rolled onto the sidewall.

#13

Well that’s what I have, full kit with sways and end links. I’ll mount everything on at some point, including the H&Rs and the
adjustable upper control arms and have a go.

#14

I’d like to do Cayuga first as I need to use that groupon deal coupon. lol! I’d be up for Mosport but not sure I would be able to fit it in. Plus my car has had an engine issue since Wednesday… :frowning:

#15

Good times Jason. I’d like to get out there at least once more this year, maybe even with a faster car.

#16

Bear…that sucks…what happened? Hope you can swing by and bring that beast.

Salmon…I’m up for it, but pretty sure I won’t be able to hang with the 997 or the evo…i was going to throw on KW V3s this winter, but i think now I need a power adder lol…

I’m good to go anytime, as always.

#17

Still waiting for a definite answer but currently they are saying cycle 5 has low compression causing misfire. >:(

#18

cylinder 5? REVO tuned? :slight_smile:

that’s pretty crazy. New car right? NO biggie. Hopefully not tuned or anything. Warranty should make it go away.

#19

Miss /_/S and hate ///M?

#20

Lol saki…