Targa Newfoundland Scion FR-S Gets Suspension Mods

AutoGuide’s high-performance test driver Dave Pratte and his Speed Academy partner Peter Tarach 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 of the FR-S, 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.

SEE ALSO: Targa Newfoundland Scion FR-S Gets Go-Fast Extras

When Dave and Peter adopted this hand-me-down FR-S (used in Scion’s Tuner Challenge program last year), it was missing a few parts, including a 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 cold-formed tubular front and rear sway bars that keep the FR-S’s amazing handling balance intact but reduce body roll in the process. Both bars are adjustable (two positions) so that roll rates can be fine-tuned and come with greaseable urethane bushings for faster response from the bars.

Safety is, of course, also a big concern any time you go racing, especially at an event like Targa NL where there’s no gravel sand traps or padded walls to absorb the energy in case of a big off-track excursion. 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.