S2K Track Toy

[T40ORA]

Our first outing yesterday, at Abingdon, with our Honda. My mate and I bought it together to be used on track, and although we've both done a few days, neither of us is experienced. And it's the first time we've done it in a car which we bought expressly for that purpose.

Really enjoyed the day, and the car. Seemed well balanced, brakes bit hard enough, plenty enough power for us (at least until we learn to drive harder), extremely willing and seemed comfortable.

It's a totally standard road car, so the (possibly naive) question is, what if anything should we be thinking about doing to it? Not more power (yet; I think we can lower the Vtec point to 4.5k and gain another 30bhp for a couple of grand, but that's for the future) but wondering if we should be looking at suspension or brake upgrades, roll bar etc....

As I say, it seemed very well balanced, and this is quite an open and newbie question, but I thought I'd ask nevertheless.....

[brillomaster]

Brake pads and fluid. Track tyres. done.

wouldnt bother lowering the vtec point - who drives a car with a 8000+redline below 4.5k on a track? Also power is the last thing you want to upgrade, after brakes, tyres and suspension.

[Oilchange]

And of course, driving instruction. Lots to learn but done together with a sorted car is best.
A roll over bar would be on my list, not one of these shiny decorative things, something that will actually do the job as it's rather easy to put a car on its roof apparently...

[T40ORA]

brillomaster said:

Brake pads and fluid. Track tyres. done..

wouldnt bother lowering the vtec point - who drives a car with a 8000+redline below 4.5k on a track? Also power is the last thing you want to upgrade, after brakes, tyres and suspension.

Pads and fluid, yeah on the list. We have Toyos on the rear, which were good. As we will be driving the car there (for now, until we save the pennies for a trailer) I'm not sure what would be better.

For sure, the power increase will wait until we find that we can deal with what we already have. But VTEC kicking in earlier would save some gear changes, at least at our current skill level. Going through some chicanes at Abingdon we were just below the VTEC point, necessitating a downshift. BUT I recognise better skill might change this.

Oilchange said:

And of course, driving instruction. Lots to learn but done together with a sorted car is best.
A roll over bar would be on my list, not one of these shiny decorative things, something that will actually do the job as it's rather easy to put a car on its roof apparently...

Looking at a harddog roll bar, so not a poncy MX5 Style bar thing (I do drive a poncy MX5). Do I take it you have experience of putting a car on its top?

Re. lessons, I've had them on two occasions and they did make a difference. So note to self, more lessons. At the moment though, learning the way the car handles seems the top of the list. So my thoughts are over more time at somewhere forgiving, like Abingdon, just to play, then some lessons.

Edited by T40ORA on Saturday 10th December 21:01

[Oilchange]

Actually you are spot on I think. Lessons followed by play time to prefect what you have learnt. I think it's all about practice really.
No, never put a car on its roof thankfully

[MyVTECGoesBwaaah]

Baffled sump might be a good idea, highly recommended on other Hondas for track. Obviously the S2k has the engine the other way, so may not be an issue but still, a lot cheaper than a new engine!

[T40ORA]

Oilchange said:

Actually you are spot on I think. Lessons followed by play time to prefect what you have learnt. I think it's all about practice really.
No, never put a car on its roof thankfully

I'm very glad to hear that!

MyVTECGoesBwaaah said:

Baffled sump might be a good idea, highly recommended on other Hondas for track. Obviously the S2k has the engine the other way, so may not be an issue but still, a lot cheaper than a new engine!

Ah, I hadn't thought that far ahead. I shall inspect the S2 forums......

[Helical]

Buy a fuel can.

I found when it gets below about a 1/3 of tank, you can get fuel starvation coming out of some left hand bends!
Cheaper than swirl pot...

[T40ORA]

Helical said:

Buy a fuel can.

I found when it gets below about a 1/3 of tank, you can get fuel starvation coming out of some left hand bends!
Cheaper than swirl pot...

Good idea; a jerry-can rather than a 1 gallon jobby,I assume?

[Helical]

T40ORA said:

Good idea; a jerry-can rather than a 1 gallon jobby,I assume?

Indeed! I bought a 20l jerry can. I think the S2000 only has a ~45l tank, so an additional 20l should see you through even the heaviest footed of days out. Probably.

Also saves leaving the track/paying track prices

Edited by Helical on Tuesday 13th December 11:49

[T40ORA]

Helical said:

T40ORA said:

Good idea; a jerry-can rather than a 1 gallon jobby,I assume?

Indeed! I bought a 20l jerry can. I think the S2000 only has a ~45l tank, so an additional 20l should see you through even the heaviest footed of days out. Probably.

Also saves leaving the track/paying track prices

Edited by Helical on Tuesday 13th December 11:49

On the list

[bramley]

I bought this recently



Haven't taken it on track yet though. It's road legal, with cage, heavily stripped interior etc.

I'd recommend a baffled sump, mine has one which I understand is just a kit that's welded in to the sump.

Don't suppose you need any spare wheels do you? I've got more than I need.

[T40ORA]

bramley said:

I bought this recently



Haven't taken it on track yet though. It's road legal, with cage, heavily stripped interior etc.

I'd recommend a baffled sump, mine has one which I understand is just a kit that's welded in to the sump.

Don't suppose you need any spare wheels do you? I've got more than I need.

Likey a lot!!

Standard engine apart from the sump? Or has the induction been played with?

I don't need wheels at the moment, as we don't have a trailer yet. But let me talk with my partner in crime (co-owner of the car). What sort of money are you looking at?

[bramley]

Copied from insurance submission:

Softop, carpets, dashboard and various pieces of trim removed
Aircon and heater removed
Fibreglass roof (removeable)
6 point welded roll cage
5 point harnesses and racing seats
Perspex side and rear window
Quick release steering wheel
Lightweight mirrors
Polybushed suspension
Front strut brace
Various parts removed to save weight

Baffled sump
Cone air filter
Uprated exhaust and manifold
Uprated aluminium radiator
Uprated brake pads
Uprated suspension springs

The previous owner bought it as a Cat D and replaced a rear wing then set about making it a track car. His policy was to leave the engine pretty much standard and lighten the car in the pursuit of performance rather than pushing an already high output engine any further - seemed sensible to me. Dampaers are standard and springs are unknown but possibly race springs in the sense of being bought according to lb weightage but not sure. Ground clearance is stupidly low. It's running a fair bit of negative camber but I think it's standard top mounts and suspension arms.

[T40ORA]

OK, so it is really a strip job. We're a long way from that yet, but it will probably be on the cards for the future.

[paulmnz]

I've tracked my S2000 quite a bit. My advice:
- do not run semi-slicks, the diff is a little bit fragile, I've seen one break in person and heard it is common on cars running sticky tyres
- don't bother with any engine tuning unless you go supercharged - little gains for lots of £££
- if you want more performance, get a shorter final drive - there is loads of information on the web and various final drives fit from Kia 4x4 front diffs and various mazdas as well as OEM
- I have a baffled sump in my integra type-r as it definitely does get oil starvation (the obvious sign is dropping out of VTEC as is uses oil pressure for the solenoid activation). I haven't had any issue with the S2000, but it will use a lot of oil at high revs - so check it every session and bring plenty.
- brakes are fine using 'race' pads and a high-boiling point fluid.
- I have a super light flywheel in my car (as I was doing the clutch anyway) - highly recommended for track driving if you have to do the clutch at some point it's worth doing at the same time
- The standard roll-over protection should be fine - under the plastic covers are fairly sturdy steel rollbars, I have recaro SPG seats so you sit quite a bit lower than the standard car - they are snug enough that harnesses are not required.
- a K&N air intake sounds great, or just take the lid off the airbox. Dont bother with an exhaust

[T40ORA]

paulmnz said:

I've tracked my S2000 quite a bit. My advice:
- do not run semi-slicks, the diff is a little bit fragile, I've seen one break in person and heard it is common on cars running sticky tyres
- don't bother with any engine tuning unless you go supercharged - little gains for lots of £££
- if you want more performance, get a shorter final drive - there is loads of information on the web and various final drives fit from Kia 4x4 front diffs and various mazdas as well as OEM
- I have a baffled sump in my integra type-r as it definitely does get oil starvation (the obvious sign is dropping out of VTEC as is uses oil pressure for the solenoid activation). I haven't had any issue with the S2000, but it will use a lot of oil at high revs - so check it every session and bring plenty.
- brakes are fine using 'race' pads and a high-boiling point fluid.
- I have a super light flywheel in my car (as I was doing the clutch anyway) - highly recommended for track driving if you have to do the clutch at some point it's worth doing at the same time
- The standard roll-over protection should be fine - under the plastic covers are fairly sturdy steel rollbars, I have recaro SPG seats so you sit quite a bit lower than the standard car - they are snug enough that harnesses are not required.
- a K&N air intake sounds great, or just take the lid off the airbox. Dont bother with an exhaust

More food for thought...

[Wh00sher]

As already said, Pads, fluid and tyres then just learn to make the most of the car.


No point throwing money at upgrades until you are making the most of what you already have

[T40ORA]

Wh00sher said:

As already said, Pads, fluid and tyres then just learn to make the most of the car.


No point throwing money at upgrades until you are making the most of what you already have

For sure; the only thing I was considering at this stage was the roll bar - but maybe even that isn't needed...

[speedtwelve]

T40ORA

Here's a frame-grab of your S2000 taken from my GoPro. I was in the blue VX220. Abingdon was a good day, with a gradual dry line forming in the afternoon reducing the amount of red flags due to people chucking cars into the scenery. Never had a mid-day entire group bking from the TD organiser before, but it was getting a bit crazy! MSE always run decent days; have done Abingdon a few times and Hullavington before it was sold.

I had a silver '02 S2000 a few years back. Great car, I liked just about everything about it, but unfortunately never got round to taking it on track. Have fun.