HPDE prep for 2009 RX-8
 

Hello,

I got a 09 RX-8 R3 a few weeks ago and I'd like to prep it for track days. I did a search and the main recommendations were brake pads and fluid. Is there anything else I need? Upgraded diff/tranny fluids? Cooling upgrades? It often gets to the high 90s here during the warmer months.

I got a set of 18x9.5 +45 RPF1s from Brian Goodwin which I'll mount with 245/40/18 tires. An alignment is also planned.

My background: I've been doing track events and a little bit of autocross for the last 8-10 years. Mostly in an S2000 and track-only '95 Miata.

I'm hoping to have the car broken-in in a month or so and I'll hit the track in mid November.

Thanks.

A $1,000,000 life insurance policy

Bring Oil! Top it off before and after the event. Also, 255 or 265 is probably a better choice for 18x9.5's.

^Agreed, At least put some 265's on there. 245 is a bit too much of a stretch and your car will have alot of oversteer due to the much stiffer sidewalls.

245's are kind of small for a 9.5" wide wheel... i would try for 265 or 275 if it will fit.

bring extra motor oil, and I premix 2 stroke oil into the gas tank.
I had an alignment done on my car a few weeks back and it made the car far less twitchy powering out of corners, definitely worthwhile .

It's turnkey for an HPDE. Plug the towhooks from the trunk in your bumpers and go. Cooling mods will be helpful but as long as you're smart with the car and don't go extended time near red line and let the cars fans stay on after you park (with the hood up and the engine cover off) it'll survive. You should probably consider an oil change to something other than 5x20.

I'm sure there are a hundred or so regular HPDE RX8 drivers in CA. Best bet is to try to get in touch with them at a meet or at an HPDE.

And +1 on bringing spare oil and getting bigger tires. If those are track-only wheels you probably would have been better off getting 17" wheels. It'll save you money and weight.

He has a stock 09 so premix is likely overkill.

Premix, Hawk HP+, and 15W-40 oil.

Thanks Everyone!

A couple of questions:

1. I can get some 255s or 265s but how would the car feel with 245s on 18x9.5 wheels?

2. Why use oil other than 5W-20? I want to avoid a fight with the dealer if I ever had a warranty claim and they come back with me using the wrong oil. And what viscosity should I consider?

Oh gawd, not THE question!?! :SHOCKED:

5W20 is the book value for my 2004, I use 5W30 and have seen no ill effects, and this subject has triggered more holy wars than the Middle East can imagine. :eek:

My personal take on it? Track use generates more heat, 5W30 gives a bit more headroom for viscosity breakdown, and what dealer is going to know the difference?

The Bold part is the answer, I would in fact recommend thicker than that. Especially since you are in a warm climate.

No, I would still recomend premix at the track.

Don't forget your helmet and brain. Think safety, don't push it.

Take one of the classes that is offered for a few bucks or at least let a driver take you around the track to show you a few tips.

Use a 40W or 50W for track and street use. If you think the dealer can tell you have been watching too much CSI.

Per the OP, he's not exactly new to driving fast (track days and some autox for 8-10 years), but there's something to be said for getting used to the car first.

Was the S2000 an AP1 or an AP2? Over all, the 8 is more forgiving than an AP1, less forgiving and less comfortable at large slip angles than a Miata. Since it's non-competitive, keep the DSC on for the first session or two and maybe hop on a skid pad with it all the way off (hold the button for 10 seconds, single click off will still kick in the DSC when ABS is activated) before shutting it off on the track.

Anijo, I had an '02 S2000 (the first year with the rear glass window). I know many people mentioned its oversteer tendencies but I've always prefered a loose car over one that doesn't want to turn. The miata on the other hand, is easier to drive and control when the rear starts to step out. Sounds like you are saying that the RX8 will slot in the middle of the two cars. Sounds good to me.

Personally I find the RX-8 more forgiving in a slide than a typical Miata. With the longer wheelbase it tends to step out a lot less suddenly.

I use 10w-40 oil and don't premix. I've got 60,000 miles, five years of heavy autocross competition (20+ events per year, most with a co-driver), and almost 3000 track miles on the car as an instructor at several tracks here in Texas. My motor still runs just fine.

Buy a ScanGauge II or some other OBD2 monitor and put it somewhere in the car where you can see it on track. I have a ScanGauge II velcroed to the top of my rearview mirror. Set it up to read water temp and EGT temp. This way you can keep an eye on the water temp on track (the stock gauge is useless) and watch the EGTs to make sure the cat doesn't fail.

Upgrade the fluid in the diff and tranny to something of better quality. I use Redline MT90 in the transmission and Redline 75w90 in the transmission. Others prefer different stuff.

Based on your experience I'd defer to your judgement on that one. All I can go by is my friend's '99 Miata which is extremely well setup. It's so incredibly predictable and happy with such large slip angles...

Oh, another thing to be prepared for are the brakes :D: The brakes on the 8 are miles ahead of those on the Miata, can't really comment vs. an S2000...

and hey kster, if you haven't taken your car out to an autox, do so. They're one hell of a B-Stock car (just look at nationals from this year :lol:)

kster: Would be interested in your observations on the sway bars. I think this car would benefit from having stiffer sways but did not get a chance to track mine yet.

I second the sway bar/stiffer suspension comment. The RX-8 comes with a fairly soft suspension setup, I can see a gain in time with a stiffer setup

I'll see how the R3 suspension feels on the track and then decide what to upgrade. Based on my limited street driving (~300 miles), I do like the stiff chassis, crisp turn-in and minimal body roll. And it's fairly comfortable for a daily driver.

But with sticky 255s or 265s on the track, I don't know if the suspension is stiff enough. Or if the dampers will begin to fade after a 25 minute session.

The body roll will magnify on track, you will be screaming for less lean as you are tiptoeing through the course.

Your tires and brakes will fade long before your shocks

First time track have a lot of traffic at the turns, so no need to change suspension, but because of the traffic, you need more brake.
Second time I went to track, there is a freaking guy slow down to 15mph before he makes the turn. I nearly rear ended him.

I am running different tires than you (225 Hoosier Koni Spec on 17 rims) but would be interested in on your observations. What track are you going to?

I'll most likely be going to Thunderhill since it's the track I'm most experienced with. But it will be in Nov sometime.

Just a headsup so you don't get surprised. The earlier RX-8's can suffer from fuel starvation in certain corners if there isn't much gas in the tank. I try to keep at least 3/8 a tank of gas in the car when on the track. Not sure if this was fixed in later model years.

If it does happen, the car might throw a CEL and go into limp mode. If you restart the car, it should be fine after that.