Emira track impressions

[OppositeLock]

Sway bars transfer some amount of compression from one side to the other. I retained the OEM sway bar.

The suspension now compresses less when cornering, so it moves the sway bar less, and the higher spring rate on the other side resists sway bar rotation more as well, so on net, relative to compression, I have reduced the influence of the sway bar, since its torsional rigidity, as a percentage of suspension stiffness, decreased.

The car felt perfectly nice on the track without changing it, and I don't mind body roll. My Elise had no sway bar in rear at all, a truly independent suspension. It leaned like the Tower of Pisa in turns, but it gripped great, and I just care about grip.

 

[seriously]

To music or not to music?

By default I don't play music on the track. But you know what? it sounds like fun. We have to run with windows open though so you can't really hear anything anyways

 

[Chriscpm]

Not here to rain on anyone's parade but playing loud music in the car on track has a few down sides to consider (which you may have already decided it's ok for you); it doesn't let you hear the tires as much so you're lacking one sensory input on how they're performing at or beyond the limits of grip, you're less likely to hear mechanical noises that could be a sign of a problem, and similarly you are losing a potential input of hearing another car closing in fast and perhaps they're not following your run group rules of point by or they have some sort of issue (skill issue or mechanical) that you might be able to avoid a collision with if you missed visual cues.

True. I don't run music much though. But that set I did. I ran one of my better laps, even with needing to pass. The music isn't that loud. I can hear everything. It does brig to the next level. Plus, the song is Red Barchetta - about racing a car. Lol!

 

[Chriscpm]

Tire wear is a huge compromise of a lot of factors. If you're still chewing at the edges but don't want to spend the money on hardware, you have a few options - change how you corner, change your tire pressures, and manage temperatures throughout a session.

Would you say more tire pressure to reduce side wear? These are the goodyears.

 

[OppositeLock]

Red Barchetta is also about someone driving a racing car illegally when driving is banned. Bad omen Rush is awesome, tho.

 

[OppositeLock]

Would you say more tire pressure to reduce side wear? These are the goodyears.

It does look like your tires were mildly under-inflated, yes.

 

[Chriscpm]

It does look like your tires were mildly under-inflated, yes.

Interesting. The pro coach wanted them much less than I had them. I start at 26/29. They heat to 35-38. They had them heating to 33-34.

My buddy did this the Emira was "so sticky" even with endurance 200 TW tires.

 

[Tracked Emira]

Would you say more tire pressure to reduce side wear? These are the goodyears.

 

[gcmak]

Would you say more tire pressure to reduce side wear? These are the goodyears.

Yes. In lieu of enough camber, tire wall stiffness, and roll stiffness, the two variables you can adjust for free are: tire pressure and your driving. Will you sacrifice lap times and grip? yep, it's all a compromise. Once you start to better understand more cause and effects, I think it begins to make a lot more sense.

 

[gcmak]

Interesting. The pro coach wanted them much less than I had them. I start at 26/29. They heat to 35-38. They had them heating to 33-34.

My buddy did this the Emira was "so sticky" even with endurance 200 TW tires.

Your coach also isn't paying for your consumables/tires. So yes lowering them - to a point - will likely give you some additional grip - but these are street tires, not track tires - so driving the piss out of them will lead to excessive and premature wear.

 

[OppositeLock]

It looks like they rolled over too much. I set my tire pressures with the help of a probe pyrometer and they rolled over less than yours. i can snap a picture later, as the scrub is still obvious. A pyrometer makes it obvious. Linear temperature gradient on tire = correct pressure. For me, this was very close to 35 PSI hot in all 4 tires. So, you weren't very far off, but you could have driven differently than me, on a different temperature day, etc. At these pressures, my temperatures were in the 160F range in the rear, and 130F range in the front.

 

[Chriscpm]

It looks like they rolled over too much. I set my tire pressures with the help of a probe pyrometer and they rolled over less than yours. i can snap a picture later, as the scrub is still obvious. A pyrometer makes it obvious. Linear temperature gradient on tire = correct pressure. For me, this was very close to 35 PSI hot in all 4 tires. So, you weren't very far off, but you could have driven differently than me, on a different temperature day, etc. At these pressures, my temperatures were in the 160F range in the rear, and 130F range in the front.

Just to clarify, that picture was the OEM GY tires. Those lasted 2.5 days. The Continentals lasted much longer. With much more aggressive driving.

For what it's worth, this is the pro. Before letting air out. On the Continentals. With Aggressive pads and lighter front rotors. Same setup I had on the above video. 10 seconds faster. Crazy how much better he is without even trying IMO.

 

[Tracked Emira]

Just to clarify, that picture was the OEM GY tires. Those lasted 2.5 days. The Continentals lasted much longer. With much more aggressive driving.

For what it's worth, this is the pro. Before letting air out. On the Continentals. With Aggressive pads and lighter front rotors. Same setup I had on the above video. 10 seconds faster. Crazy how much better he is without even trying IMO.

I would like to use my Track addict app to record like this when I track next week to get some videos for the forum of New Jersey motorsports park and
the New York safety track. Which Inside windsheild phone mount dd you use?
Any other good recommendations from anyone esle?

 

[MTV]

Goodyear Eagle F1's on the track feel like running on stilts. I have Touring suspensio0n which is a bit of a let down but for a stock car its certainly reasonable however. My local track I went to once and was doing around 1'33. Only changed to Continental Sportcontact 7's and find i was in the 1'27. Big improvment. Of course now its a slippery slope of , I need suspension, need brakes, then need more grip, then more power etc. Im sure most of us here have been down that road. Big difference coming out of a Dallara F306 and a Radical Prosport. I really should just get another race car. But I do love the Emira and its alright on track for a stock really.
I found 36-38 hot was a good range/ Also I was seeing 1.7 and once 1.8G on the dash as well.

 

[Chriscpm]

I would like to use my Track addict app to record like this when I track next week to get some videos for the forum of New Jersey motorsports park and
the New York safety track. Which Inside windsheild phone mount dd you use?
Any other good recommendations from anyone esle?

This is the one I use.

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CM3K7NVC?ref_=ppx_hzod_title_dt_b_fed_asin_title_0_0&th=1

Then this gets you throttle and boost info from the car

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B073XKQQQW?ref_=ppx_hzsearch_conn_dt_b_fed_asin_title_1

Track Addict let's you choose what to display on the video when you "render" it from the app to your phone. The gears are sometimes weird for a manual. It was displaying one gear too low. There was an option to add +1, +2, etc. I choose +1. Sometimes it's right. Sometimes it's one gear too high. The throttle isn't perfect either. Those long straights are WOT for sure but the app displays 90% range. But it's pretty good. Catalyst doesn't have any throttle or ability to get a bluetooth connection. But it has better speed accuracy.

Good luck!

 

[netsinah]

I bow to others with vastly more track experience than I. That said:

1. I just had my first "track day" with the Emira, this past Saturday (8:30 to 6). My fourth time (8th day) out driving on a track, in the last 20 years...so I'm a newbie.
2. It was a driving school, with a combined 2 hours of track time (with intermittent class instruction), all in the presence of a passenger instructor on the track. A great intro to the Emira track capability and a great way to learn the track (2.7 km at Edmonton's "Rad Torque Raceway").
3. It was nothing but FUN! Fortunately for all, a nice day with zero rain (dry track) the entire day.
4. Sooo many people (dozens) stopped by to check out the Emira, including families with children. Given the environment, most knew all about the Lotus track pedigree and most knew of the Emira. No one had seen one in-person, before. Many admirers, all of whom were ++ pleased when I allowed them to sit in the car, especially the kids and a few taller drivers who wondered if they'd fit, wearing a helmet (they did; prompting one to say he'd now look to buy an Emira). Many who saw me on the track, assumed I was driving a Ferrari.
5. What a great track car! Another instructor in a Mazda Miata, told his driver when following my Emira, "It's like taking a knife to a gun fight." (lol), although we weren't actually racing. I say this, while still acknowledging how fun the Miata drive is reputed to be, given its size, weight and manoeuvrability.
6. I'm pleased to say I passed my flag test (100%) and my instructor gave me a thumbs-up approval rating, to obtain my racing licence. Fortunately, I kept improving each time out on the track. I've got another day booked at the same track, this upcoming long w/e (Monday May 19) and have set up a doctor appointment, to get the required medical form filled out for over-60 drivers, in order to comply with the race licence requirements.
7. For those of you yet to experience your Emira on a track, I highly recommend it, to see just what the car is capable of! If you're experiencing a grin while street driving, be prepared for the next level of enjoyment, on the track, where you can "legally speed" (my fastest time on the last straight-away: about 160 km). The most fun however wasn't the speed on the straight-away; it was getting your line and making each corner, to properly set up the next corner.
8. Here's a photo, showing it wearing its new shoes (Aerie V2's...saving about 25 lbs...but then I'd added almost 25 lbs of sound absorbing/deadening material...oh well):

 

[MTV]

I bow to others with vastly more track experience than I. That said:

1. I just had my first "track day" with the Emira, this past Saturday (8:30 to 6). My fourth time (8th day) out driving on a track, in the last 20 years...so I'm a newbie.
2. It was a driving school, with a combined 2 hours of track time (with intermittent class instruction), all in the presence of a passenger instructor on the track. A great intro to the Emira track capability and a great way to learn the track (2.7 km at Edmonton's "Rad Torque Raceway").
3. It was nothing but FUN! Fortunately for all, a nice day with zero rain (dry track) the entire day.
4. Sooo many people (dozens) stopped by to check out the Emira, including families with children. Given the environment, most knew all about the Lotus track pedigree and most knew of the Emira. No one had seen one in-person, before. Many admirers, all of whom were ++ pleased when I allowed them to sit in the car, especially the kids and a few taller drivers who wondered if they'd fit, wearing a helmet (they did; prompting one to say he'd now look to buy an Emira). Many who saw me on the track, assumed I was driving a Ferrari.
5. What a great track car! Another instructor in a Mazda Miata, told his driver when following my Emira, "It's like taking a knife to a gun fight." (lol), although we weren't actually racing. I say this, while still acknowledging how fun the Miata drive is reputed to be, given its size, weight and manoeuvrability.
6. I'm pleased to say I passed my flag test (100%) and my instructor gave me a thumbs-up approval rating, to obtain my racing licence. Fortunaltely, I kept improving each time out on the track. I've got another day booked at the same track, this upcoming long w/e (Monday May 19) and have set up a doctor appointment, to get the required medical form filled out for over-60 drivers, in order to comply with the race licence requirements.
7. For those of you yet to experience your Emira on a track, I highly recommend it, to see just what the car is capable of! If you're experiencing a grin while street driving, be prepared for the next level of enjoyment, on the track, where you can "legally speed" (my fastest time on the last straight-away: about 160 km). The most fun however wasn't the speed on the straight-away; it was getting your line and making each corner, to properly set up the next corner.
8. Here's a photo, showing it wearing its new shoes (Aerie V2's...saving about 25 lbs...but then I'd added almost 25 lbs of sound absorbing/deadening material...oh well):

View attachment 64176

Ahhh the slippery slop of now going to the track. Looks like the bug has bitten you. Great way to approach going to the track and getting some instructing. Its a different place to the road.
One rule of thumb to remember. At the end of the day dont go for that 1 last run. Thats when it can go bad.

 

[OppositeLock]

Track days are so expensive, and require taking time off work and stuff - absolutely go for that last session, just remember that you're tired and you're not going to do your best that session, and just have fun. strangely, when relaxing, you still go surprisingly fast. That is, if you don't feel too tired, of course.

 

[netsinah]

I'll add one more thing, which I found funny: there was a rather new looking black Mercedes CLA250 coupe, driven by one of the other 50 class students, this past w/e. I asked what year it was and the driver replied: "2025...it's brand new and a rental" (lol). I accused him of driving the s+#t out of a rental on the track and he didn't deny it. Something to consider, if you want to destroy tires/brakes on someone else's vehicle and ++ get your monies worth for a rental. That said, I suspect he was likely breaching his rental agreement. The 2025 Mercedes was the newest car on the track, with my 2024 Emira being next. Most vehicles (all sorts, with many Porsche) were much older.

 

[OppositeLock]

There's a saying that the fastest track car is a rental car Here in the US, lots of car rental places not far from race tracks have learned this lesson, so quite often, if you drive to the track, they show up soon after with a tow truck and take it away. Read your contract before doing this.