Took the TSX out for a track day this Monday over at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, CA. This was part of a club run through hookedondriving. Went with a buddy who had an older 5 series, and I was the only TSX

Ran 5 x 25 minute sessions throughout the day, and have some thoughts about the TSX. Speeds topped out at about 80 to 95 mph in 3 places on the track. Needed 4th gear to hit those speeds, 3rd gear ran out in more than one place.

Tires: Very predictable, and you have a pretty good idea when you are at the limits of their traction. Ran 32/30 psi, but eventually warmed up and ended up a few pounds higher in the middle of the day. Quite a bit of tire squeal, but no sidewall flexing.

Steering: Pretty smooth through the corners, no suprises when you cut over the rumble strips.

Suspension: A little soft in the long sweeping corners, but ok in the slower sharper stuff. Good trade off considering the regular street ride. Cuts corners without any drama.

Brakes: Probably needs better brake fluid. Not sure how much fade was caused by the hot brakes, or boiling brake fluid. Still brought me down from 95 -> 45 in a hurry, but the pedal feel was much softer by the end of the day.

Power: Was able to spend most time in 3rd and 4th gears. Ok power, but had to make sure I kept above 3K at the end of my braking zone. Since speeds were high, didn't have to worry about 1->2. 3->4, 4->3 are smooth as butter.

All in all, it was great fun had by all. Free instruction with the same instructor all day (went 4/5 sessions with him), and some great purpose built cars to check out too.

If any northern california TSXer's are interested in getting out for a trackday, there's one coming up on December 9th at Thunderhill raceway. Let me know, and maybe we can make a showing in force!

Interesting pic after switching on my GPS near the end of the day...



Pictures of me in my car to follow later if I can get them from the photographer...

 

awesome review
as for the brakes, maybe you can try to upgrade the brake pads cause from what i read tsx drivers are always not happy with their stock brakes and after they change their pads they tend me be alot happier. i'm on the same boat as well. i swapped out my oem pads with projectmu pads, i like them.

btw nice picture, i never knew that the navi would actually show the track on the screen, awesome!

 

Hey what were your specs?

 

Stock 2006 MT

 

<-- wonders if Kenny would take his S/C'd TSX out there.

 

With the additional power he has, I don't know if his brakes could handle a whole session. He'd probably be doing 120 in the sections I was doing 90-95! I wouldn't want to keep my foot out of it either with an S/C, but I'd still want to be able to stop

 

You should see the flex in the sidewall when TOV took the TSX to an autocross: http://www.vtec.net/articles/view-ar...icle_id=151488
(videos at the bottom)

 

Yeah, I did see that video. I checked the tires throughout the day, but there was no indication of that much flex (wear on the sidewalls). I didn't bring any chalk, or I could have chalked it up.

 

What direction were you running? Did you time your laps? I'm going to BW next month. I've never been on BW other than in my Prelude, so I don't know what kind of lap times I would get in the TSX. My best lap time (CW in the same config. as on your navi) in the Prelude was 2:07.x.

 

I didn't bring a lap timer or transponder, so I am not sure how long each lap was. I may bring one to Thunderhill if I feel inclined.

 

sounds like fun ... im jealous

 

Buddy was driving the white bmw that is seen in the first picture.

 

Nice too bad theres no video

 

I'm glad to see TSX owners hitting the twisties. To satisfy your vid needs, maybe if you blurr your eyes and use your imagination, this could be an incar vid of our buddy Helpme lapping at Buttonwillow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sy1ZGBiZxCk

 

^^^
I was at that event helping out. I also drove my TSX during the Time Attack session, but since I was running on the Kumho V710 (which has a treadwear rating of 30), I had to run with the fast cars (race-prepped) in the Unlimited classes.

I had my in-car camera setup, but my damn camera crapped out on me before going out.

 

What's a good way to set up an in-car camera? I have a digital video cam, is it as simple as just rigging it to sit still between the front seats? I'm going to do some HPDE's at Mid America Motorplex near Omaha next year. Gotta scratch that itch!

 

I've driven on V710's and really liked them, a great handling sticky tire, so I'll be getting a set for my own track use in Spring (for my Supra, not the TSX) ...but I can see that slapping some 710's on a TSX, even a moded one, will still not leave you with much of a chance in the Unlimited Classes. Rules are rules; next time show up with nice sticky street tires. Another Supra bud who will be in the next time attack did GREAT a couple weeks ago in a different time attack competition on Yoko Neova AD07's, data acquisition shows they were hitting close to 1.5g's in corners.


Maybe check these out, or there are other similar products on the market:
http://www.chasecam.com/mounts-clamp.htm
http://www.stickypod.com/race_camera_mount.html

 

Showing up in the TSX running in Unlimited was never in my mind, but since my Prelude is dead, and I'll be helping the event, I just showed up in the TSX.

 

Are you going to rebuild the Lude after that awful money shift?

 

Yes, eventually. I so missed my Prelude every time I went to a track.