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Since there may never be a Saab Club Track Day out here in California, I attended a Volvo club day instead (4/29/02).
Car: 1998 900 SE Turbo
Power Mods: smoothed TB transition casting, Viggen IC, removed air filter trumpet, K&N drop-in filter, MBC, Saab Sport Exhaust
Handling Mods: Abbott springs, Abbott front control arm bushings, new KYB strut bushings & bearings, 17x7 9-5 Aero wheels (at 26lbs each not helping any) with 215-45-17 Sumitomo HTRZII's at 39 psi front 45 psi rear.
Other: Abbott slotted (Saab) rotors, Motul RBF600 fluid, SS brake lines, KVR carbon pad
I made a last-minute try to get a 9-3HOT ECU for the track day, but that didn't pan out so I used the MBC instead. It was set to just under the Max Boost cutoff, which wasn't much higher than what the normal ECU runs anyway, just faster spool up.
The mix of cars was like: 60+ Volvos, 2 Audis, 2 Mustangs, 2 Porsches, and 1 Saab. The vast majority of Volvos were in groups A or B, which meant either Novice or, eh, Novice. There were a lot of first-timers, which you would expect from a Volvo club. It's not exactly the track-hungry PCA you know.
That left me, a 996 Carrera Cabriolet, a late model Mustang Cobra, and a few worked-up Volvos zooming around in Group C. Let's get this out of the way right now - the first two cars were BY FAR the fastest out there. It was like they were on a different planet or something. I could *kind of* hang with the Mustang in some corners, that's about the best I could do. On the straights he would just demolished me. The 996 was not *as blindingly fast* on the straights, but was stunningly quick in the twisties. The kind of fast where first I catch a glimpse of him in the rearview and think "no problem, he's 3 turns back" and then a split second later he is ON MY BUMPER. Since we are talking sedan vs. $ports car, I didn't feel that bad. It was refreshing to see a beautiful car so well-driven.
As for the Volvos, there were only 2 with the goods. A 740 that drove down from Oregon, with race tires and psuedo race-prepped. I was faster in come corners, even in the rest, but he pulled away from me on the straights. And a newish V70R AWD wagon that was pumped to 300+hp (claims the owner - ecu, exhaust, etc.). But once I figured out how to wring the 900 for all it was worth, that guy was easy prey. The Audis were both TT's of unknown state and I only saw them in traffic, so I can't really comment on their speed, but they were fast - at least as fast as me. On the 7-turn course I ran 1:30:xx's and on the longer 9-turn course I had a fastest lap of 1:34:xx, but mostly 35's and 36's.
All my bitching about the "cheap" "bargain" "downgraded" Sumitomos? Well my reasons were right on (they only stick about 80% of what a Pole Position or Michelin Pilot Mxx3 will) but I didn't properly address the benefits of these tires. First of all, they still have tread. They didn't melt, chunk, wear out or even look like they wore. Maybe a little feathering on the edges I guess, but nothing bad. And they were $94 each, which is cheap, baby. My current philosophy is that these are great for a street car, and great for a track day for novice-to-intermediate level drivers. At that level, tires are not the short pole in the tent, if you know what I mean. And even though I was pushing them past their performance envelope at the track, I certainly don't do it on the street.
My brakes were merely fine all day. When hot, the pedal needed a lot of travel, and modulation was difficult/impossible due to the ABS. The braking power really decreases when the ABS is functioning, and the pedal is pulsing like mad. For the last 2 sessions I pulled the ABS controller fuse, and was able to brake significantly harder, while only occasionally locking a wheel up. This verified that the ABS trigger-point is very conservative - meaning that it starts pulsing the brakes long before actual lockup. This is probably ideal in a mud/snow/ice situation, but not on the track! Side effects were the speedometer stopped working and multiple warning lights came on. It recovered when the fuse was reinstalled. Late in the day, the brakes had a severe pulsation due to (I think) pad transfer onto the rotor. It looks like smeared epoxy. Still investigating that one.
I found a piece of extra cupboard lining and appropriated it as a "butt stabilization pad". The flat leather seats in the SE are too slippery for cornering, but this rubberized/woven stuff worked wonders! I highly recommend it.
If I was going to track this car a lot, it would need BIG, RELIABLE BRAKES. Second, some race tires on super light wheels. Third, an aftermarket ECU for the power. I'd try anything to keep the under steer at bay - the higher rear tire pressure helps, but it just covers up the problem. Oh, and either some bolstered sport seats or a couple rolls of cupboard liner!
Happy Saabin'
posted by 63.207.93...
, Thu, 2 May 2002 13:44:29
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