There is a goal to run the Integra Type R race car more frequently this year. That includes both HPDE and Racing events. To start off 2025 we trailered up to Roebling Road Raceway outside of Savannah, GA for a HPDE weekend with the Porsche Club of America Citrus Region. The PCA Citrus Region is our home region, so we were with friends for the weekend. In addition to running the ITR more frequently, making it better is going to be a goal as well. It is a fabulous car, I still love to own it, tinker with it and drive it on a racetrack but it can always be better right.
We have consistently had engine oil catch can issues with the car and we sought a new design to hopefully alleviate the annoyance. Insert Cleetus McFarland. He has a great video showcasing the Motion Raceworks catch can where he blows oil into it using compressed air to signify its ability to accept the oil and crankcase pressure and not blow it out the to filter. Now, I don’t believe the catch can we were using itself to be the major issue with our design, more the location and routing of the vent lines from the valve cover but the catch can change couldn’t hurt as well. We went as high in the engine bay as possible. Engine bay packaging has always been a problem with the Integra Type R. We have a lot of things going on and not much room for extra pieces. The boys at G3 Motorsports handled the installation nicely though getting it securely mounted on the firewall behind the intake manifold. The catch can, some fresh brake pads, and an alignment was all the prep we needed to head to the track for a weekend of fun.
Recently we changed tires to the Kumho V730, 205/50/15 on a Volk Racing TE37 15x8” wheel. With a couple of track days already using them we have found them to be quick and good over a long run. Overall life hasn’t been that great as we went through a left front in 2 days at The FIRM (a mostly clockwise track). Headed to Roebling Road, another mostly clockwise track we proactively put a new left front tire on. The other tires arrived at the track with 10 heat cycles on them.
Great weather was in the forecast so after a bit of research for SCCA STL lap times I went into the weekend wanting to run a lap time in the 1:22 range. That range on the V730 tire versus a Hoosier R7 would put me in the mix to be competitive on race weekends. The first couple of sessions on Saturday were used to get re-acquainted with Roebling Road, a track I haven’t driven in 3 years or so. Man, what a great track. It flows well, it is high speed and takes guts to turn a quick lap time. It didn’t take long to put the ITR in the 1:23s with a best Saturday lap time of 1:23.3. Multiple backup 1:23s and it was easy to run 1:24s showed the consistency that I expect. Saturday was a great day, the car ran awesome, we had good neighbors, and it was a just add gas and go type of day. The catch can project – flawless. I would check it and drain whatever might have made its way in after 2 sessions and never had more than about 2 tablespoons of oil in it. Success and one less thing to worry about going forward.
Sunday was going to be the day I ran a 1:22 lap time. I used the 8am session to get heat in everything and prepare for the 10am session as I expected that be my best possibility to get to the goal. I just didn’t have it. I pushed hard during the 10am Sunday session and no matter what I could muster I couldn’t get to the magic 1:22 lap time range. After the session I debriefed myself. Thinking back on it the car never felt settled at the high speed stuff. I wasn’t at 100% throttle as much as I should have been. I do know the alignment was knocked out of whack at some point as the car pulled to the left both on the straights and under braking so that is part of it I am sure but the track just didn’t have as much grip all around. Tire heat cycles were now at 5 for the front left and 15 for the other 3. This is something I will watch next time out to see how the car performs. Perhaps not only tread depth but tire heat cycle even on a 200tw tire is something to continue to log and research.
During the last session of the day I did miss a braking point, got in the marbles and put the car in a sand trap. Nothing hurt other than the Honed Development front brake ducts and my pride.
Overall, a phenomenal weekend. I am 6 years into ownership of the Integra Type R and it is continuing to get better. The short list of the next trip out is to fix the brake ducts, get it aligned again and change the front brake rotors. I have 8 full days on the front 2-piece rotors (we use Coleman rotor rings). There are no cracks to the edge yet, but it is getting close. I would like to run them further to see what the life span is going to be but it is also easier to change them at the shop before heading to an event vs in the middle of the day at the track.
Next up? There is a Friday track day at Sebring in March that I will shoot to attend. Feel free to reach out if you have any questions about what we are doing or ever want to join us at a track day we are attending.
