Challenge car for tracking

Thanks for your advice, Greg. Its inaugural shakedown is Barber this weekend. The car has been gone over with a fine tooth comb, and the objective is to familiarize myself with it, give it a good shakedown, and enjoy the track. I will ask people in the know what they are constantly adjusting in their cars.

Going forward I will avail myself of instruction, perhaps at VIR in April or Watkins in May.

I’ll start out close to 30psi and check and adjust pressures throughout the days. Not new to the game, I did it a lot in the 458 spider

We’re locked and loaded, the car fit nicely on my Aluma trailer with the lowboy ramps, no problem.
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If you are running pirelli tires 30 PSI is pretty high. Hot pressures of 27-28 is optimum and you will notice a big drop off at 30psi.
Once you sort out your camber setting the biggest adjustments will be ride height/Rake and packers in the bump stops

 

Thanks.

A while back I had purchased Novitec springs for the 458 but never put them in, a decision I partially regret. On track, I always thought the car exhibited too much body roll in corners. I also got to see (on track) the effect of improper spring rates - bouncy and erratic cars (especially on modded BMWs).

This being a designated track car, I'll get to experience and adjust the car's handling solely for the track. I watched a couple of great videos on bump stops, packers and spring rates, so I'm learning as I go.

I'm guessing the coils have to be removed to make changes, so I doubt I'll be doing this frequently. Again, thanks for the suggestions - always welcome.

 

I was going to give you tire pressure advice, but honestly it is too dangerous by chat. What we typically do is set the tire pressures down low and do 3-5 hot laps with no curbs then check pressures with temperatures. Even tire temperatures ensure your ride height and camber angles are correct for the track.
We typically run lower pressure than Pirelli recommends.
I hope this is helpful.

 

Absolutely correct. Cold we are starting at 22-23 and run 1-2 warm up laps - avoiding curbs

 

Thanks. It’s gonna be cold at Barber this weekend. I’m gonna start low and take it easy for awhile. Chin runs an orientation session the first 1/2 hour under standing yellow, I should be okay starting off.

 

My last comment is about safety. I will never drive another streetcar on a racetrack. I am guilty of doing it. Now I am educated at what can happen and eventually will happen is a crash or off-track excursion when you push the limit.
A race car with all the UPDATED safety devices will save your life. A streetcar will end it.

My advice: Ditch the streetcar and buy any race car when doing track days. It will save your life.

 

We would start lower, but I don't give my secrets out for free.

 

Ran Barber this weekend with the (new to me) 2015 Challenge EVO. What a car! I think I got a good one, it did great on track, much improved over the 458 Spider!

Glad I have track experience and also with the 458 platform, the learning curve is much easier.

It struggled to get out of the 30s yesterday, so cold track. I ran at 25psi and didn’t ever gar above 30, tires got warm but just barely so.

I was putting 98 race but also added a bit of 93 ethanol free, didn’t notice any difference.

This car does not like slow in the lower gears, wants to be on throttle or on brake.

The corner workers at Barber actually thanked me for bringing the car……. It was and will be a real pleasure to track it hard.

At last, a car with brakes and some low and mid range grunt, something the spider was sorely missing.

Thanks Greg for your help! My Indy will give it a once over before VIR April 5th…..
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So I ran VIR with the FCA group on Monday and Tuesday. Heck, I came all the way from FL so I ran every session.

Car still needs some sorting - a high speed vibration issue, and a CCM Rear alarm, perhaps due to running steel rotors without deleting the alarm.

I’m finally in touch with Italy about getting the software to read the VCI diagnostics. Also mounting new tires and rims, and otherwise having my mechanic go over the car.

Glad I made the leap to the 458 CH EVO, it’s plenty of car but not overwhelming. And the Garmin Catalyst is awesome!

Next weekend is NCM with an arrive and drive C8 Corvette.

Then in May it’s Road Atlanta. Watkins Glen back to back, Pitt Race and finally Mid Ohio.

Anyone want to participate let me know.

 

Looks like we are gonna rent out Summit Point next week, there is only 5 of us so we have room for others if there is interest.

 

What dates specifically?

 

27th of April

 

Sounds great. Enjoy the car. It is a perfect track car very rewarding.

We will be in Sebring May 27-28 Pole position is the host. Cheap time and open track. Let's get some more Ferrari's.

 

I'm at Pitt Race 26,27 then Mid Ohio 29,30, sorry to miss the Sebring event. Trying to get to as many tracks as I can before the real summer heat kicks in.

Getting all the small items sorted in the Challenge, including the VCI diagnostics up and running, spares, tire monitors and N2 kits. So far, so good...........it's been very rewarding thus far.

 

When the car sits or is moved around it is good idea to plug in the VCI before the track day to clear all the codes. The VCI will clear out the codes and make the car fresh for the track. You have to remember the computers on these cars was done by the cheapest bidder.

 

Thank you for the info.

Waiting for my mechanic to connect everything up and Waycon to access the system.

Presently the car has an uncleared "CCM Rear" code perhaps related to the iron discs - I'll certainly learn how to clear all codes trackside.

Other than this, we're pretty much rolling with extra pads, tires, etc. I'm a maintainer by nature, and don't feel I'm in over my head.

Finally getting to where I can enjoy the car for what it is. Glad I went this route, even if I never race it.

 

You should always bleed the brakes with the VCI program. The program gets the air bubbles out of the ABS unit. You cannot bleed brakes in the traditional way of opening the valves and letting the air out.
If you do not get the air out of the ABS control unit then you will have air in the brake system.
You will have a 3 second warning on the dash which says ABS warning then your brakes fail 3 seconds later.

If you see the light ABS warning, you do have air in the brake system. You will get one tap of the brakes and then total failure.

Another safety reason NOT to crew the 458 by yourself and without the VCI adapter.

 

Thanks, Greg.

We are working with Waycon to get the VCI communication issue worked out, which must be sorted before things can continue (we are thinking it's the box at this point).

Thanks for your advice; I realize the importance of having the VCI available at all times for diagnostics, including brakes.

Many of the events I attend have fellow 458 CH owners there that are quite experienced at trackside, maintenance and support.

 

are you Megachad on youtube?

 

Lol, no, but I bought his car a few months back. Not sure he’s active on Fchat anymore since he sold it.

So, if you see the car on pics on this site, it’s different monkey, same tree.