Chasing a Lime Rock Edition M3 Around LRP

[LiM3y]

Here's some video action of my last track day of 2012 at Lime Rock Park last week. It was good to get out one last time...the driving's not great (I wasn't wearing driving gloves for a start) but I was having fun. I had more lines through Big Bend than Robert Downey, Jr. In the second session, a new, orange "Lime Rock Edition" M3 appeared from the pits, so I got to follow that around. I was gratified to see that my 2008, 72K mile M3 could keep up on the straights, i.e. my engine is still pulling like new. I think it was part of a photo shoot for a magazine or something. The driver didn't select the ZPB (point by option) group on the ZCP package that comes with the car. I was was red-assing a little bit and missed a gear change...



The second film shows me behind a dickwad in a modded/tuned Corvette. It is worth watching to see his braking (breaking ) points for the corners. He started braking for Turn 1 at the Start/Finish line. You will also see Elivan Goulart come by in a modded M3. I am not sure what the mods were, but it did turn up on the back of a trailer. I caught the bugger 4 times in the session, but didn't have the juice to pass him heads-up on the straights and he wouldn't lift. My favorite was the point by/drag race early on. If you look at the first clip, he also features in that film too! At the end of the clip, you see me "lose" my brakes. This after riding on PFC-01 pads on their last day (6 days on stock calipers/Castrol SRF) - I lost a lot of brake torque and just straight lined braked to keep control in the run-off of the front straight. I went back to the paddock, and my rotors were still orange as I pulled up. Time for at least cooling ducts and maybe a front BBK. There was still 1/8 - 3/16ths of pad left. Anyway, I got a big warning sign and took it. Looking at all my video, I started to lose brake torque at about the same time (20 mms) in each session. I won't run my pads so low in future events for sure!

[Protocav]

You're driving composure and steering inputs are very smooth and controlled. Very calm; nicely done.

[LiM3y]

Originally Posted by Protocav

You're driving composure and steering inputs are very smooth and controlled. Very calm; nicely done.

What do they say about ducks on a pond...?

Thanks!

[MKE_M3]

Cool videos, I need to setup video for my next track day! I agree that your inputs look good. Don't take this with very much weight, as I've never been to LRP, but it looks like your turn in points and apexes may be a little early?!??!

[Sleeper519]

Surprised you stayed behind that vette as long as you did. must of been annoying.

[LiM3y]

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

Surprised you stayed behind that vette as long as you did. must of been annoying.

Pride is an unforgiving master...at least I didn't try and pass under braking, which did cross my mind!

I know I should have pulled in and passed him in the pits...F1 style! I have no idea why some folks who have been caught at DEs can't let the throttle breathe for a couple of seconds on the straights to protect both cars...I do.

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by LiM3y

Pride is an unforgiving master...at least I didn't try and pass under braking, which did cross my mind!

I know I should have pulled in and passed him in the pits...F1 style! I have no idea why some folks who have been caught at DEs can't let the throttle breathe for a couple of seconds on the straights to protect both cars...I do.

I hear ya! Even though tailgating is a pain, sometimes you just have to crawl into his trunk to get his attention. If he persistently fails to give you the obviously deserved point-by, most events that I've attended will black flag his ass in a NY minute.

[Car54]

Originally Posted by jdemetry

Cool videos, I need to setup video for my next track day! I agree that your inputs look good. Don't take this with very much weight, as I've never been to LRP, but it looks like your turn in points and apexes may be a little early?!??!

Ya see, you want to late apex as early as you can.

[930Man]

nicely done

[Jaypod]

Nice Vids! Vette's dont like to let 4 doors pass them!

[Sleeper519]

Originally Posted by Car54

Ya see, you want to late apex as early as you can.

^^ Nice one, this should be a bumper sticker.

[Echo M3]

Nice clips. The owner of that edition M3 was probably surprised that he could not pull away from you with his 50 extra HP.

I need to pay a visit to this track, at some point.

[Car54]

The LRP doesn't have any more hp than the typical M3.

[leo95se]

nice clips! stinks i missed the end of the season, though did get to close out in a formula school there in october

try to apex later, and dont go so wide on the left hander

[sin911]

Your driving is smooth and controlled, I just would like to advise you to turn in a little later. You turn in a little quick which yields to an early apex and having to keep the steering wheel tilted on the way out more than you need to.

[LiM3y]

Thanks chaps. It was a bit of a condom day at the track...good fun but it didn't quite feel right!

Doing the SCDA car control clinic tomorrow afternoon, and then it is a wrap for the season.

[paradocs98]

Thanks for posting. I'm done for the season and miss it already.

That LRP edition sure is orange.

I loved the Corvette point-by/drag-race. So typical and so annoying. I've had the same thing happen to me at Lime Rock with a couple of modified GTRs--rockets on the straight, then wayyyy early braking into turn one (and most other corners). You know you would put down a faster lap time than them if you could get around them, but they make it impossible to get by. And your rhythm falls apart. I guess it's good practice for a competition scenario, but it's very frustrating. Now I just pit in and open up space as soon as I see this happening.

[paradocs98]

Originally Posted by LiM3y

Thanks chaps. It was a bit of a condom day at the track...good fun but it didn't quite feel right!

Doing the SCDA car control clinic tomorrow afternoon, and then it is a wrap for the season.

I did the car control clinic several weeks ago. What a blast. How was it for you?

[LiM3y]

Originally Posted by paradocs98

I did the car control clinic several weeks ago. What a blast. How was it for you?

Awesome. I really enjoyed it and had a blast on the booth the auto-X and skid pan...first time I got close to getting the hang of it and drifting my ass around both parts. I shredded my front left Conti DW street tire though. I guess they aren't designed for Auto-X!

Turner has a few guys at the track day. Their driver Marsal turned up in a McLaren! They were tuning their LRP M3...they drove down to LRP on ex-Grand-Am slicks! The joy of running your own race team, I should really get one of my own. One of the instructors was a Turner research guy who had a 135 tuned to ~500HP at the wheels. It was funny to hear him sat he wasn't happy with the oil thermometer, so he was going to DESIGN his own! Awesome!