Redline Time Attack Results! The BERK TECHNOLOGY 135i goes faster!

[Justin(OKC)]

Can you share your ride height information?

[BerkTechnology]

Originally Posted by Justin(OKC)

Can you share your ride height information?

Ride height is pretty low F/R. I just measured from the ground to the jack pad point. Came up with approx 130mm front, 145mm rear.

[Mega Man]

Originally Posted by J Tyler

The competition:

Sexy, sexy competition!

[BerkTechnology]

And we beat that JRZ equipped NSX! We're hitting the races again at Willow Springs raceway. May 30th is race day! Just a few tweaks done to the car but we're looking to set a new record in the Berk 135i.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by BerkTechnology

And we beat that JRZ equipped NSX! We're hitting the races again at Willow Springs raceway. May 30th is race day! Just a few tweaks done to the car but we're looking to set a new record in the Berk 135i.

Would you share the tweaks with us?

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

Would you share the tweaks with us?

I will let Berk post what setup details they want to, but I can share one exciting thing: We are now sponsored by Dunlop!!!

After all the tires we've tested on the 135i (Yokohama Neova, Toyo R1R, Hankook RS2, Dunlop Z1 Star Spec), the Dunlops were our favorite so this is doubly awesome!

[Eddy@ApexWheels]

What tires were you on at bimmerest?

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by paintpro21

What tires were you on at bimmerest?

I think we were on the Toyo R1R's at Bimmerfest... not sure though.

But, we have since switched to the Dunlop Direzza Star Specs and haven't looked back! They are a far superior tire in terms of ability to take heat, consistency, and driver feel/feedback. After running them for a few events, we actually are now sponsored by Dunlop which is awesome

[Sutt]

Why did you choose to run a staggered setup rather than a square one?

Nice work by the way, keep it up.

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by Sutt

Why did you choose to run a staggered setup rather than a square one?

Nice work by the way, keep it up.

Simply because we could. We've been struggling with rear grip with this car, so when we found some Enkei wheels that got us to 265's in the rear, we took them.

[WAY]

Why is the reason you guys move up to a different class which allows R-spec? I watch your videos and the car just squirms around everywhere and it is so different from driving on R-specs. Do you guys get Dunlop DZ03G there? I have tried all the R-specs out there. They are the best. Dunlop really do some great tyres so you are lucky to be sponsored by them!

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by WAY

Why is the reason you guys move up to a different class which allows R-spec? I watch your videos and the car just squirms around everywhere and it is so different from driving on R-specs. Do you guys get Dunlop DZ03G there? I have tried all the R-specs out there. They are the best. Dunlop really do some great tyres so you are lucky to be sponsored by them!

If we run R-comps, we have to move up a class that would put us against some seriously modified cars.

The 140-200 treadwear street tires we run aren't very different from a 100 treadwear DOT R-comp. The difference in lap time is about 2s/lap over a 2:00 lap. The R-comps like a little bit less slip angle, but only a little bit. Both types of tires "squirm" around a LOT compared to a proper racing slick. Our car moves around a lot because it's just too loose; not because of the tires. We are still working on setup!

And yes, we are very very happy with our Dunlop tires! They perform amazingly well on this relatively heavy car. Most street tires cannot hold up to the abuse our 135i gives them.

[WAY]

Originally Posted by J Tyler

If we run R-comps, we have to move up a class that would put us against some seriously modified cars.

The 140-200 treadwear street tires we run aren't very different from a 100 treadwear DOT R-comp. The difference in lap time is about 2s/lap over a 2:00 lap. The R-comps like a little bit less slip angle, but only a little bit. Both types of tires "squirm" around a LOT compared to a proper racing slick. Our car moves around a lot because it's just too loose; not because of the tires. We are still working on setup!

And yes, we are very very happy with our Dunlop tires! They perform amazingly well on this relatively heavy car. Most street tires cannot hold up to the abuse our 135i gives them.

I have used 140 treadwear street tyres before. In fact my current street tyre on another car is 140. The DZ03G is nothing like that. If I am not mistaken, it has a treadwear of 50! More importantly, it has incredibly hard side wall that makes the run flats feel like a 70 series tyre (do they still exist? Lol). But yeah, I can tell your suspension set up is very loose! I also have the Clubsport which I believe has much stiffer spring (and linear). If you ever come to Australia, I would love it for you to drive my car and see how different it is to your setup. Maybe you can give me some set up tips too.

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by WAY

I have used 140 treadwear street tyres before. In fact my current street tyre on another car is 140. The DZ03G is nothing like that. If I am not mistaken, it has a treadwear of 50! More importantly, it has incredibly hard side wall that makes the run flats feel like a 70 series tyre (do they still exist? Lol). But yeah, I can tell your suspension set up is very loose! I also have the Clubsport which I believe has much stiffer spring (and linear). If you ever come to Australia, I would love it for you to drive my car and see how different it is to your setup. Maybe you can give me some set up tips too.

The land of Oz is definitely on my list of places to visit! I will keep that in mind

Hmm ok. Treadwear 50 tires would be illegal even for the next class up above us, I believe. The tires that are legal for that class must be DOT (Dept. Of Transportation) Approved for road use. Most cars in that class run the Toyo R888s which I think are treadwear 100. Out of curiosity, any idea how your Dunlops compare to that tire?

We have our own custom linear spring rates on the car (the "kit" V3 rates were too soft). We have tuned out a lot of the oversteer with our custom springs and by going back to the stock rear sway bar, but I think we still need to add some more front spring.

[SpeedballTrix]

Although it's slightly off topic, I'm gonna ask anyway =P
How would you feel about those tires (the star specs) on a street car that has to be prepared to drive in the rain (but never snow, I would have snow tires for that) on the highway?

[WAY]

Originally Posted by J Tyler

The land of Oz is definitely on my list of places to visit! I will keep that in mind

Hmm ok. Treadwear 50 tires would be illegal even for the next class up above us, I believe. The tires that are legal for that class must be DOT (Dept. Of Transportation) Approved for road use. Most cars in that class run the Toyo R888s which I think are treadwear 100. Out of curiosity, any idea how your Dunlops compare to that tire?

We have our own custom linear spring rates on the car (the "kit" V3 rates were too soft). We have tuned out a lot of the oversteer with our custom springs and by going back to the stock rear sway bar, but I think we still need to add some more front spring.

Over here, the 3 main R-spec people use are Bridgestone RE55, Dunlop DZ03G and R888s. R888s is the best in the rain. That's about it. The Dunlops are the softest compounds and are the fastest. You can get a harder compound Dunlop too, which are more suited to say 1-2 hour races as opposed to the time attacks. I would say the Dunlops are some 1.5-2 seconds a lap faster on tracks like the Williowsping one on your video.