Targa Newfoundland Scion FR-S Suspension Tweaks and Racewear

Peter and Dave from Speed Academy continue their mad thrash on the Scion FR-S they’re preparing for Targa Newfoundland, this time by upgrading the sway bars, bushings and ball joints. And as you’ll see at the end of Episode 6 of their YouTube series documenting the entire build process, they also start to gear up to meet the safety requirements for Targa NL by wrapping themselves in Alpinestars’ new entry-level GP Start race apparel.

When Dave and Peter adopted this FR-S from last year’s Scion FR-S Tuner Challenge program it was missing a few parts including the front sway bar. This, of course, meant they had the perfect excuse to upgrade to Eibach’s anti-roll kit, which includes larger diameter and much stiffer front and rear sway bars that keep the FR-S’s amazing handling balance intact but reduces body roll in the process. Both bars are adjustable (two positions) so that roll rates can be fine-tuned to their needs.

Virtually all of the factory bushings on the car have been upgraded to Whiteline urethane bushings, which reduce compliance in these joints for greater handling precision and in some cases also correct suspension geometry on lowered cars. The front lower bushing, for example, is offset for improved caster and anti-dive characteristics.

Safety is, of course, also a big concern any time you go racing, especially at an event like Targa NL where trees and houses are just a few feet off the tarmac. In case of an in-car fire, both Dave and Peter will be wearing Alpinestars GP Start suits, which are constructed from 2 layers of fire-retardant Aramid fabric, plus a Nomex fire-retardant layer of underwear for good measure. Add to that GP Start gloves and shoes and they should be both safe and comfortable during the 43 flat-out Targa race stages next week.

They’ve also protected their heads with Stilo helmets and intercom, which have integrated mics and earphones so that they can talk to each other on the rally stages. It’s critical in a rally like Targa NL for the co-driver to be able to read the pace notes to the driver so he knows what’s ahead, be it a fast right-hander, a narrow bridge, or a giant pothole.