4th track Day in my 1LE (w/Pedders Springs) @ Grattan

[Dropspeed]

The Rodgers Performance Race Team (Ok not really a team as it was me, Becky D and Joe from Rodgers Chevrolet) joined 3 Balls racing at Grattan this past Saturday. I brought my 1LE and worked with Becky D in her ZL1. (see notes below) I do need to exend a special thanks to Joe/Becky at Rodgers Chevrolet for allowing me to drive/use their truck and trailer as we by far had the coolest rig at the track which also doubled as a kick-ass viewing stand. (see pics).

My 1LE Current mods:

• SLP Blackwing intake: (Elbow and drop in filter, stock airbox, claimed 10HP)
• Pedders Springs FR and RR (-1.6FR / -1.3RR Camber)
• Motul 600 Brake fluid
• DIY brake ducts (Search my other threads)
• ALL other items are stock (pads, tires, rotors, weight.....)

When I ran the car a week after I got it in May I had Motul 600 and -1.3FR / -1.0 RR camber only

Lap time in May 2013 : 1:31.47 (1 Glory lap, Consistent 1:32.xxx)

Lap time in Sept 2013 : 1:30.22 (Consistent 1:30.xx all day)


So the car is 1.2x seconds faster, but about 2 seconds faster consistently overall.

Pedders Springs I think the biggest question we all should have is should I lower my 1LE or change the suspension....My answer is ?????? Until Pedders post spring rates I am going to go on record and state the rates appear to be very close to stock spring rates. The car appears to have all of the same handling characteristics of a stock 1LE so there were no issues with them at all. Overall I like the look and ride of the Pedders on the car and because it isn't any slower nor do they have any ill effects on the car they will stay for the time being (I may swap the rear springs to the slightly taller Pedders in the rear)

Intake and brake ducts???? I tried some laps hitting 131 and 132 on the straight before hitting the brakes but I was seriously puckering in the braking zone (there is no run off ). Do I think these items help? Sure, I guess....but I don't attribute either to the reduced lap time.

So why was the car roughly 2 second faster overall?...SEAT TIME. Honestly I had the car about 1.5 weeks before I tracked it the first time at Grattan and I was a little hesitant in pushing it too hard. I now have 5500 miles on it and many laps on different tracks behind the wheel. I was way more comfortable with it and this past weekend I was pushing the car harder.

ON A SIDE NOTE: I "talked" Becky into coming out to the track this year and offered to work with her/instruct. Her very first time at an HPDE was in May at Grattan. She has run 2 times at Gingerman and then this past weekend at Grattan. Becky ran a 2:09 the first time out in May at Grattan......she just ran a 1:38 this past weekend!!!! Not too bad for a 1st year driver. Nice job Becky!....

Enjoy the Pictures: FYI Black background lap picture is from MAY....White is from Sept to see the MPH differences

-Matt

[Biv08SS]

Great pics and it looks awesome in front of the Porsche. Looks like a real good time

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by Biv08SS

Great pics and it looks awesome in front of the Porsche. Looks like a real good time

Thank you, but that is a Panoz Esperante race car.......and that was taken after I passed him.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Panoz_Esperante

-Matt

[Orange Crush 1LE]

Congrats! Pretty awesome, shaving 2 seconds off of your average lap and 1.2 seconds off of your record. I like the fact that the springs aren't over the top stiff, lower the CG, and perform very well at the track. I took a look at Fastestlaps for Grattan, your times are impressive!

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/grattan_raceway.html

I did take the plunge on the Pedders Supercar Coilovers, and it looks like the springs you are running performed very well and for a lot less cash. I'll be tracking it at Thunderhill on 9/21-9/22 and will be sure to give my impressions. Unfortunately I just got my lap time software so I'll have track times with the Pedders, but not the baseline with my stock 1LE.

Thanks for the post, love to see these 1LEs driven the way they were intended to. Also neat to hear that Becky's lap times are improving dramatically, must be fun to instruct (although scary at times I'm sure, depending upon the track and student, LOL)

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by Orange Crush 1LE

Congrats! Pretty awesome, shaving 2 seconds off of your average lap and 1.2 seconds off of your record. I like the fact that the springs aren't over the top stiff, lower the CG, and perform very well at the track. I took a look at Fastestlaps for Grattan, your times are impressive!

http://fastestlaps.com/tracks/grattan_raceway.html

I did take the plunge on the Pedders Supercar Coilovers, and it looks like the springs you are running performed very well and for a lot less cash. I'll be tracking it at Thunderhill on 9/21-9/22 and will be sure to give my impressions. Unfortunately I just got my lap time software so I'll have track times with the Pedders, but not the baseline with my stock 1LE.

Thanks for the post, love to see these 1LEs driven the way they were intended to. Also neat to hear that Becky's lap times are improving dramatically, must be fun to instruct (although scary at times I'm sure, depending upon the track and student, LOL)

thank you, the Corvette Grand Sport is not a bad bed fellow

And yes, I am very particular about whose car I get in now-a-days.....I have a good friend that was in a students car at Mid-Ohio and took a hard hit to the wall....He had an ambulance ride out of there and has a fused section of his neck as a reminder :(

[Mikamaro]

Always looking forward to read your reviews Matt! thank you.
When are we going to see some videos?

[Full Lock]

Love your trailer....

[right to travel]

Originally Posted by Mikamaro

Always looking forward to read your reviews Matt! thank you.
When are we going to see some videos?

the real question is when are we going to crate a lap times fast list

[Dropspeed]

Thanks, I had the GoPro with me but I never turned it on. :(

The trailer belongs to Rodgers Chevrolet, it is not mine

Lap time fast list would be cool. But I believe the Fastlaps site listed above is the same type of thing.

[mcsoul]

Well you smoked the Popular Mechanics test driver's Gingerman 1LE lap time by over 4 seconds and you also smoked his Boss 302 lap time by over 7 seconds!



http://www.popularmechanics.com/cars/reviews/comparisons/ford-mustang-boss-302-vs-chevy-camaro-ss-1le-2#slide-1

Ford Mustang Boss 302

Engine: 5.0-liter V-8
Power: 444 hp @ 7400 rpm
Torque: 380 lb-ft @ 4500 rpm
Trans: Six-speed manual
Suspension: MacPherson front, solid-axle rear
Tires: Pirelli P-Zero Corsa
Weight: 3632 lb (55% F/45% R)
Price: $42,995
Max Lat: 1.19 g's (slight bank)
Lap Time: 1:37.06 min

Chevrolet Camaro SS 1LE

Engine: 6.2-liter V-8
Power: 426 hp @ 5900 rpm
Torque: 420 lb-ft @ 4600 rpm
Trans: Six-speed manual
Suspension: MacPherson front, multilink rear
Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar G:2
Weight: 3860 lb (52% F/48% R)
Price: $37,035
Max Lat: 1.27 g's (slight bank)
Lap Time: 1:34.74 min

Read more: Ford Mustang Boss 302 - Popular Mechanics
Follow us: @PopMech on Twitter | popularmechanics on Facebook
Visit us at PopularMechanics.com

[Mikamaro]

Originally Posted by Dropspeed

Thanks, I had the GoPro with me but I never turned on.

[immaculate chaos]

Looks really clean debaged and that stance looks tough, more so I love the fact that it didn't effect performance negatively.

[JoeP@TeamBeckyD]

Matt....
You are the ....BEST Instructor...



I need ....
....to get 8 seconds better....

That's my GOAL!!!!




Just some random pics....

[Dropspeed]

Originally Posted by mcsoul

Well you smoked the Popular Mechanics test driver's Gingerman 1LE lap time by over 4 seconds and you also smoked his Boss 302 lap time by over 7 seconds!

This was at Grattan. My Gingerman time is listed in my sig but I was on the new or long track. Popular mechanics was on the old or short track.

Matt