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Single parent has mid-life crisis @ 34; buys dream hatch; gets back into racing after 8-yr hiatus; chases BMW M-cars

GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Pending installs this week:

-H&R OE Sports coming off

-Eibach linear Pro Kit springs going on

(these are for the Mk7 Golf R - scored them at record low price)

-RS3 bushings from BFI going into the Whiteline arms (bye bye, Poly-anna)

-custom deadset kit for the front subframe using ARP hardware and aluminum locating collars

(the working man’s TyrolSport)

-resurfacing brake pads and cleaning rotors, then re-bedding them*


[2 weeks after…]
1697367263335.jpeg





November to Send Her…”

-a spicy 🌶 order to EQT as soon as their annual sale hits…
(tired of getting smoked by faster cars with more displacement)

1697367171132.jpeg


-actually installing the full-size Uni intercooler I’ve had since April…
(right as the temperatures plummet back down to sane levels in Texas)






*braking for failure…we didn't get to complete the bed-in procedure for the HPS 5.0 pads when installed Back in May. Had to rush immediately to the track event an hour away, so the brake bite is pretty crappy.
 

GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Here’s a short recap explaining my hiatus for the last six months, and what’s going on with the car.

Late September last year was RS3 Bushing-Gate. A bunch of stuff went wrong expectedly and cost me a bunch of downtime with the car, and forced me to put my stock lower control arms back on as a temporary solution.

The car feels like a rubber chicken on bath salts ever since. It’s fine going straight down the road, but changing directions and applying all the EQT torque make it behave with zero predictability, to the point even passengers don’t know what’s going on. You can literally feel the control arms kicking and shifting, and the toe angle changing dynamically under torque loads.

I eventually concluded my LCA bushing research by purchasing a set of 034 Motorsports aluminum control arms with density line bushings, but due to a bunch of other stuff that happened last year, I never got around to installing them.

I’ve just been limping the car along up to this point, regularly missing how sharp and precise it felt last year before the Whiteline LCA bushing failure (June 2023).


More car parts than time…

We’re currently at a point where I have a pretty awesome selection of parts sitting in boxes on the shelf in the parts room, begging me to make time to work on the GTI…but I constantly get pulled a dozen other directions for customer cars and projects, and dad stuff.

Let me know if any of you can relate to this, so I know I’m not alone. 🤷‍♂️ 👀

Track season has begun!

First real track day of the season in my area was 3/13. I really wanted it to happen for me, but I chose to sit it out since the car was not yet ready.

I ended up going down to the track with my kiddos and having an amazing time just spectating and hanging with friends. Way cheaper and less stressful.

But this means I need to make a strong showing at the April track event.

Anything close to a 1:32 CW lap is a really good pace at Harris Hill Raceway in a street driven door slammer on summer tires:

I clocked a 1:33.7 last year on Michelin PS4S street tires with a gimp control arm bushing that I did not know it was failing, so my prospects this year looking pretty good. 😎

New goal for 2024 is 1:30. The car has it in it: better tires, better front end/suspension components, and better driving will get me there. Each of those three things is easily worth a second.


S**ty control arms lead to tire annihilation…

Last week I was doing some maintenance on the car and attempting to knock out some of the suspension pieces that need to go on.

This is when I noticed my brand new Michelin PS4S tires had worn down to the wear bars, uniformly across the tread, in just 4000 miles. That is how much crazy front end activity was going on from these control arms.

And if we’re being honest, the toe angle was probably out of spec and ignored for too long. My mistake, and I’m paying for it now. 🤢

Frustration leads to research, progress, and purchases:

I have a pretty sweet deal with Michelin, where they warranty the tires out for me based on mileage, but even this was going to be hard to prove or justify.

Went ahead and ordered up a fresh pair of Michelin‘s to replace the ones I cooked, and went to work at finding the perfect set of track wheels and 200 TW track tires.

I’ll do a nice little write up on all of that somewhere separate.


Here is what is currently waiting install:

-034 Motorsports Audi S3 dynamic+ lowering springs. Intentionally purchased for their higher spring rates and direct fitment. 310/400 F&R rates

-034 aluminum control arms with adjustable camber slotting. I’m going to be a test mule for the community on these, since I’ve still not seen very many people running them. FCP Euro had an amazing sale going on last year when I bought them, so it will be worth it to experiment.

-TyMate TPMS kit; shows you live pressure readings and temperature for each tire. Really wish our cars could come with this from the factory. If it works, it will be transformative at managing Tire temps and pressures during fast driving.

-custom deadset kit I put together using ARP Hardware and aluminum collars. I have to unbolt my front subframe when I do my control arms anyway, so this should strengthen the entire front end substantially.

-Beautiful Unitronic intercooler that’s been sitting in a box for almost a year now waiting on me. Definitely need it, just not looking forward to the install.

-stock turbo inlet pipe is going back on to remedy the smoking conditions under hard braking and right hand turns we are experiencing on track at HHR in the MQB cars.

…This is where the cars turn into a smoke machine and fog the hell out of all the other patrons on track behind you. The SCCA track officials absolutely love it when this happens. They black flag you and call you to discuss it…

Big thank you to @DerHase for doing all the testing on this issue to pinpoint the aftermarket TIP as the culprit. I’m not smart or patient enough to have come to that conclusion on my own.

I looked long and hard this month at trackpad options, but due to my insanely small budget, and my home track doesn’t really see speeds above 100–105 mph, I’m going to try and make do on the Hawk HPS 5.0 pads for the moment.

Our track sessions are only 15 minutes long, and there aren’t any huge straightaways, so it’s a very forgiving configuration for a GTI, or an AWD MQB car.

Thank you to anyone who has made it this far with the reading. My hope and my goal is to reward you this year with some good lap times, photos, and videos.
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Why should you install the parts you already have on a shelf when you can just buy new ones?

Stormy‘s new shoes for the track season:

18 x 8.5 Koenig hypergram on an ET43. Machined lip with carbon spokes. Looks really effing good in person, and they weigh just 17 pounds each.

Tires are 245/40R18 Kumho V730s.

They are a medium compound endurance tire that are a notable improvement over the popular Hankook RS4 that folks have been loving and running for years.

Price on the ‘Kooks has gone up dramatically in the last year, and their production seems to be winding down.

Pricing on the Kumhos was outstanding at $207 per tire.

As stated in the previous post, I have three big things to bring In Line this season on the track:

-my driving and braking

-tires (something that can stay sticky for most of the 15 minute session)

-and the front end/suspension

2024 goal is a 1:30 lap CW at HHR, on 200 TW street legal tires with the stock IS20 turbo, with full interior, and 93 octane pump fuel.

Ambitious? Absolutely. But my mom believes in me, and so should you.
🤗 ❤️ 🍻 🏎️
 

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AzteCypher

Go Kart Champion
Location
Austin, TX
Car(s)
Mk7 Golf R
I don't track but I feel you on the getting pulled in 12 different directions. I've been wanting to go to a track but I haven't even looked as to what it would take to do so. Digging those wheels too.
 

GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
I don't track but I feel you on the getting pulled in 12 different directions. I've been wanting to go to a track but I haven't even looked as to what it would take to do so. Digging those wheels too.
Thank you, neighbor! If you’re in Austin, like your location says, then you’re super close to my home track in San Marcos. Next HHR event is April 10.

These are track night events that are always on a Wednesday afternoon; going as a big group with SCCA like this keeps the cost of entry wayyyy down. And it’s a wonderful excuse to take a half-day off work.

I have entire tech write ups for novice drivers I’ve put together that I can email you. It explains what’s needed and what isn’t.

You don’t need expensive parts for your first few times out. Just fresh fluids for the motor and brakes, and a proper mechanical look over on the car for things like tires and tire wear, fluid leaks, etc.

HHR is a super forgiving track to drive on as a novice, meaning your max speeds can be kept below 80-85mph while you learn your racing lines and brake zones.

There are also some good GTI specific write ups from @DerHase and Scrllock (might be misspelling his name) under the suspension and Tracking sub forums.

Shoot me a DM if you wanna register for the April event, or just come spectate and do a ride along during the parade lap. 🍻
 

GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Beefy arms like Arnold… 💪

Big thanks to FCP Euro for the intro pricing on these last year! I’ll get them on sooooooon (like, early next week) and make a full write-up on what works well, and any unforeseen issues that might arise.
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Car porn, for anyone wondering what HHR is like with no traffic and a 500bhp German race car… 🏎️ 🤤 🇩🇪


The GT3RS is 5-10mph faster than my GTI, everywhere. Even on the slowest sections of turns 4, 7 and 10… 😆 👏

Not surprised. Just impressive to witness.

This video is a 1:23.xx lap, near the very quickest of the track records. Anything 1:30 and faster is properly quick out there. 🍻
 

GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Just gonna leave these right here…

(Will update from the laptop with “words and stuffs”)

Rundown:

April track day deadline forced me to make time to install a half a shelf of VW speed parts. I took lots of pics and video for the YT channel.

A/C has been lackluster in the car for years. Meant to do the “hot climate zone” mod with VCDS but haven’t yet.

Could hear the refrigerant struggle sound in the evaporator core earlier this year telling me it was low, so I recharged it and now have 50* air out the vents. Pretty sure my car was undercharged from the factory… 👀 🏭

All fixed meow!

Suspension gets a much needed vaginal rejuvenation. Custom subframe deadset kit I put together, mates with 034 aluminum LCAs and Audi S3 springs featuring HD rates of 310/400lb/in F&R, respectively.

Same Bilstein B8s, because these dampers are the absolute shiz!

Same EuroSport camber mounts.

TPMS system with temp gauge going on soon.
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Suspension work 4/9-4/10. Hand washed engine bay on 4/9. Hood, too. She was shamefully dirty. Our little Stormtrooper Mopar killer deserves the best pampering. 😎

H&R OE Sport springs went bye bye. I loved those for what they were: an excellent street spring for OE dampers.

S3 springs went on.

PSB Track Day Spec pads went on for trial purposes and track use.

I’m documenting their performance in a separate thread over in the Tracking/Auto-x forum. I’ll link it here if I remember to.

Note the mandatory GTI coffee tumbler filled with Dad Fuel. ⛽
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
After years of craving it, I finally did my first alignment (w/o the $10k Hunter rack)

I Invested in the toe plates, tape measures and digital angle/camber gauges.

-2.1 to -2.4* up front, rear TBD
Set front toe to 0
Rear toe is in about 1/16” IIRC.

Last pic shows where the 034 S3 springs ended up for ride height: perfect in the rear, drag car up front 😆

#springsag

I win as many as I lose in life…
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
Stormy’s remaining mechanical work was completed in time for a big go-fast car cruise with my club. Some amazing backroads with nobody on them.

Heavy hitters in the group include a 510bhp Porsche 911 Turbo, 516bhp MB E43 AMG, C8 Z06, and 2 insanely fast BMW X3 M40is with true #drivermod in each car.

Stormy stayed at the front of the pack following the AWD cars to “represent the MQB” and to “show them how we come off the shelf…”

(Applaud yourself if you get the Sublime reference) 🍻 👏
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
LCA porn + G-A deadset kit

Had to reteach myself the best practices for dropping the front subframe (it’s been a year since I last did a full drop)

Stock LCAs should be one of the first 3 things we scrap with these cars, even if they’re only street driven. The rear bushings are a crazy safety hazard and tire destroyer.

The 034 arms are divine, as is the price I paid back in 11-2023.

Deadset kit makes me sleep warm and fuzzy at night… 🥰 🛌
 

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GoatAutomotive

Autocross Champion
Location
Georgetown, TX
Car(s)
2017 VW GTI SE, DSG
4/16/24 status report:

Lots of street testing.

Front springs need to sit 15-20mm higher static and they’d be absolutely faultless. Car is better 95% of the time now but will hit the B8 bump stops if going fast on a bad road with dips and rises.

The spring rates of these + the Bilstein B8 monotubes are still “PBJ on bread” perfection.

The track day pads are so good I want to leave them on ALL the time.

They drive like the Hawk HPS 5.0 until you summon them for big braking. Then you think you have some Brembos up front. 💪 🏎️

Loving these pads on the factory PP setup. 👏

Car still drives smooth and refined. Isn’t crashy unless you’re on a Bosnian type road.

Dampers and sway bars keep me glued to the road. Front LCAs have restored connectivity to the front end. I can now hook in all gears from any roll, any speed, on Michelin PS4S rubber.

From a dead stop, no. Still not a Golf R… 😆 But wheel hop and front toe changes are cured again.

Haven’t gotten to try the track wheels and sticky-icky J.Lo thick and meaties yet. Pics of those below.

Let’s all take a moment of silence to admire them! 🙌 🥰 🤤 🍆
 

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riceburner

Autocross Champion
Location
nice try PPNT
Car(s)
MK1 Tiguan
great setup man!
 

MonkeyMD

Autocross Champion
4/16/24 status report:

Lots of street testing.

Front springs need to sit 15-20mm higher static and they’d be absolutely faultless. Car is better 95% of the time now but will hit the B8 bump stops if going fast on a bad road with dips and rises.

The spring rates of these + the Bilstein B8 monotubes are still “PBJ on bread” perfection.

The track day pads are so good I want to leave them on ALL the time.

They drive like the Hawk HPS 5.0 until you summon them for big braking. Then you think you have some Brembos up front. 💪 🏎️

Loving these pads on the factory PP setup. 👏

Car still drives smooth and refined. Isn’t crashy unless you’re on a Bosnian type road.

Dampers and sway bars keep me glued to the road. Front LCAs have restored connectivity to the front end. I can now hook in all gears from any roll, any speed, on Michelin PS4S rubber.

From a dead stop, no. Still not a Golf R… 😆 But wheel hop and front toe changes are cured again.

Haven’t gotten to try the track wheels and sticky-icky J.Lo thick and meaties yet. Pics of those below.

Let’s all take a moment of silence to admire them! 🙌 🥰 🤤 🍆
Got some nice company there
 
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