gen 2 nsx wiki · web viewcomplete track day test results 170102 summary of track test day at...

Complete Track Day Test Results 170102Summary of Track Test Day at Thunderhill Raceway Park December 31, 2016


This was my 1st outing with the 2017 Acura NSX1. Stock Conti’s 2. Standard stock suspension setup3. I ran 3 20 min sessions”

Session 1 1. 8 hot lap 2. used 1/3 tank or 4.5mpg3. Sports+ mode4. “Get acquainted with the car & track”

Session 21. 7 Hot Laps2. used 1/3 tank - down to 1/3 tank3. Track Mode

Getting faster on the track. Pretty much at the limit with the stock Conti tires.1. I could go 4+ sec faster getting down to 2:04 but it requires more track time, and is not

necessary. And, mixed test group traffic limits full lap testing.(It would be fun to do this again with a good set of performance tires)

2. I have accomplished about what I wanted to learn about the car & its high-speed performance & handling.

Handling in Track mode:1. I did not like it taking control under off throttle turn in, but it just might be me& off camber

T3…2. Handling under deceleration turn in significantly different and uncontrollable unless I got

back on the gas.3. The Braking was significantly different. It seemed that the brake pedal pressure required

was about 50% more pedal pressure for the same braking.

Decisions going into 3rd test session1. I accomplished what I wanted to do.

a. Quickly comfortable driving the track at speedb. Quickly comfortable driving the NSX – absolutely fun to do!c. Sports+ mode brakes are incredibly great!d. Acceleration is OMG fast!e. Suspension in Track mode – Rear gives out 1st – car will push in off camber turnsf. Track mode is very different and really need some more time.

2. Decided to back off and try Sports+ & Track modes in same session #3.3. Tires are pretty much at their limit. I would change type of tires, IF I were going to test

significantly more.4. Current stock suspension is very good and satisfactory for an infrequent track day…

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Session 3 1. 5 hot laps – I was quickly at speed on L2 and did 2 fast laps – hard on the car at the limit all

session.2. Low fuel warning at end of L4-5 3. System Failures at end of L5 & shut down coasted into Paddock

I had fuel starvation and multiple system alarm.I had a misfire idling in the pits – would not shift…added 3 gallons of gas and miss went away but multiple alarms stayed.

4. I also had multiple brake system warnings.5. Alarms displayed:

a. Engine!b. Power Steering (EPS) problemc. Power Systemd. Brake Systeme. Fuel – even after adding 3 gallons and it was running ok.f. Park brake alarmg. Hill Hold brake alarmI don’t think there are any more alarms to display!

6. I think the fuel ran out and the brakes overheating about the same time.7. I thought I had enough for 8 more laps. I was wrong. The fuel gauge is not that precise.

26 laps x 4mpg is 100+ miles & I only had 24 miles is S1, and 24mi in S2, and 16 mi in S38. I did 3 laps in Track mode and the brakes felt more normal but required more pedal pressure.9. I slowed to a “normal pace” on the front straight to switch to Sport+ mode,

(The mode will not switch at fast speeds).I got a low fuel alarm on the next lap on the front straight

10. On the “last lap”, in Sport+ the brakes were much more sensitive and I would lock them on occasion. I had the fuel alarm on that lap but no other problems. (Low fuel comes on at 30mi left on the street).

11. Then everything went into alarm out of T13, near the end of the lap.

Clearing the alarms at the end of S3:1. All alarms were enabled… I mean ALL ALARMS as I rolled into the pits.2. Car was idling & running rough.3. Slowly went to the gas pumps & turned off. Added 3 gallons & restarted.4. Car idled smoothing but still had fuel alert and most all other alerts.5. Drove slowly thru the pits and parked… seemed ok but “wanted service”6. Concerned if they would clear and I could be able to drive home.7. Decided to recycle the system multiple times and did this 5 -10 times over 5 minutes.8. Most all alarms cleared out except brake alarms (park! & brake system.)9. Decided to wait 10 min and pack up to leave.10. About 10 min later recycled again and had Ready to Drive & ALL alarms had cleared.11. Drove around, tested accel & braking, and all seemed normal without alarms.

Drove home & all system function seems totally normal.

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Tire performance:1. I’ve never driven on track with “street tires” so I was clueless. 2. I started at 30PSI but it was only 40 degrees at 9AM. The track was wet & drying from early rain.3. End of session TP’s were 38 all around. Felt like it might be too low but no change.4. S2 started about 34ish (no TP changes) & ended at 41PSI on all. Talked to some friends but no

real idea… maybe higher?5. Most other participants were on higher performance tires…6. Last session, S3 ran the same TP’s but too busy to measure at the end… other problems…

Tires felt a little greasy, but I was lapping faster all session.7. I think the Conti’s performed very well.

a. Tire wear was good. b. Temps across the tires seems pretty even with an IR gun.c. Again, everything cools down fast on a cold day & track.d. RF shoulder shows most wear, as expected on the CCW track. e. All 4 tires are being “worked” hard…

8. Brakes temps:a. Again, everything cools down fast on a cold trackb. Relative IR numbers show the brake pad backing about 500+F in front, and about 600F

in the rear. c. Entry edges of the rear pads were about 30+ degrees higher than the trailing edges.

9. I will check the brake pad wear taper at home. I measured them BEFORE I went to the track… Another NSX owner, with more test time reports excessive wear at the rears and lots of pad taper… I did not have that much track time so I should have much less wear.(SEE BRAKE RESULTS ON PAGE 4)

10. Total mileage on track was about 75 miles, 25 laps, 50-60 minutes, and a full tank of gas!(I would need another 20-40 laps to settle in with the car to do my best…)I was pleased with my consistency in a new and totally different car on the track.

This car is great to drive, but probably has marginal brake cooling for track use.I don’t think it’s quite a track ready car.It was a very cool day with great track condition & the track surface was excellent. Should have made great HP.

I don’t think one could drive this car for 45 minutes.I believe it would be into brake temp problems, and run out of gas.

With more track time & a better rhythm, I might be easier on the brakes. But, I would also be going faster all the time, which would end up being harder on the brakes, at the limit all the time…

In conclusion, it is a remarkably wonderful handling car, and it’s so much fun to drive. It was fun to get to run it up to its limits.I would do this again at a different track, just for the experience.And, it would be fun to do this again with a good set of performance tires, but I would run only 5-6 lap sessions due to lack of brake cooling.Disappointment: Could not hear the car at speed, but multiple reports that it really sounds fantastic on the track at speed… Just like all the comments on its looks… Amazing Machine….

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Maintenance – Post Test Day maintenance & inspection:Monitor Brakes padsBefore Track DayOEM FRONT Brake pad thickness before Track Day: measured at 1500 mi. street useLEFT FRONT Backing plate +pad (outside insulator not included)LOT 15.36mm* LIT 15.41mm No Right side dataLOB 15.49mm LIB 15.39mm Taper= 0.1 mm Taper= 0 mm Rotor rotation is Bottom to Top

AFTER Track DayOEM Front Brake pad thickness AFTER Track Day: measured at 1500 mi. street plus 75mi track…LEFT FRONT Backing plate +pad (outside insulator not included)LOT 14.91mm LIT 14.95mm No Right side dataLOB 14.80mm LIB 14.70mm Taper= 0.11mm Taper= 0.25mm Rotor rotation is Bottom to Top

Before Track DayOEM REAR Brake pad thickness before Track Day: measured at 1500 mi. street useLEFT REAR Backing plate +pad (outside insulator not included)LOT 14.97mm* LIT 14.99mm No Right side dataLOB 14.95 LIB 15.02mm No Right side dataTaper= 0 mm Taper= 0 mm Rotor Rotation is Top to Bottom

After Track DayOEM Brake pad thickness before AFTER Track Day: measured at 1500 mi. street plus 75mi track…LEFT REAR Backing plate +pad RIGHT REAR Backing plate +padLOT 14.15mm LIT 13.85mm RIT 14.02mm ROT 14.15mm LOB 14.88mm LIB 14.40mm RIB 14.85mm ROB 14.75mm Taper= 0.73mm Taper= 0.75 mm Taper= 0.83mm Taper= 0.60 mmRotor Rotation is Top to Bottom Rotor Rotation is Top to Bottom

I think 3/4 mm taper from 75miles, or 1hour of track testing is excessive.You could work around this if you could “flip” the left and right sets, but the left rear pad set has a sensor cable that is 1.5” shorter (and different PN) than the right side.

BTW: The left outer rear pad sensor is broken and detached from the pad backing plate!(I have tried to epoxy it into place. It should be replaced.)

When you consider that I have an expensive (not) optional Carbon Metallic brake system, on a car that is reportedly “ready to track test”, it is disappointing. The ONLY disappointing issue with this car.

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Monitor Tire wearTread depth before Track Day

LEFT SIDE General tread wear info: Data at 1500 miles/------------------|_|--------------|___|-----------|___|-----------|_|--------------\Outside InsideL front .248” .258” .260” .260”

L Rear .220” .220” .230” .240”.

Tread depth after Track DayLEFT SIDE General tread wear info: Data at 1500 miles, plus 75 track day miles.

/------------------|_|--------------|___|-----------|___|-----------|_|--------------\Outside InsideL front .225” .230” .230” .225”

wear -.025 -.028 -.030 -.035

L Rear .212” .220” .195” .215”wear -.008 -.000 -.035 -.025

Tread depth after Track DayRIGHT SIDE General tread wear info: Data at 1500 miles, plus 75 track day miles./------------------|_|--------------|___|-----------|___|-----------|_|--------------\INSIDE OUTSIDERIGHT front .2225” .230” .200” .215”(did not measure before testing) RF shoulder shows most wear. Measured with dial calipers but difficult to measure, especially with built up.

The OEM Conti tires performed well with acceptable wear patterns.

My conclusion For Track Testing:I think the fronts could use a more camber.I think all the brakes need lots more cooling.(Try this in the 100degree summer days & you would have to park it in 4 laps.)Or, you could just slow down ;-)I think a performance tire would make a big improvement, and the brakes would get even warmer…I would never go out with less than ½ tank of gas (about 10 laps, 30 mi range)I would like to turn off whatever rear traction control is being used in track mode, or have it explained in detail how it should be used…Don’t do this too often because it is addictive…

No dings, no dents, no agricultural racing… near perfect day… too much fun.

T. DuderJan 2, 2017

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Pics enclosed: Harry’s Lap Timer data – Laps Graph, Track Speeds, Track Map Dash Alarms – they were disappearing & I was too busy to capture them all ;-) Dash command - 1st launch mode test data… 3.7 is not 3.1, but ¼ mi number looks right LF tire wear

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