My Space Gray M3 in action

[skierman64]

Originally Posted by DJ9

The corkscrew was awesome, but challenging to get through at the speeds you are carrying; as it follows a 100+ mph up hill run....I just kept reciting "oak tree, oak tree, oak tree."

As far as the numbers, i'm not sure, I just followed what everyone else did. I know when I do BMW CCA events, the numbers are smaller and we do put them on the rear windows. The adhesive on these were the equivalent to painters tape, so it was easy to take off....plus I have about 2 pounds of Klasse All- In-One wax on the thing.

Great color combo

Reading this post Lynyrd Skynyrd's "That Smell" popped into my head "Oak tree you're in my way"

I also have a clear bra on my Space Gray M3.

Did you get passed in group B? If so what cars got by you? Not that it matters in the competition for the Driver's School World Championship.

I love the pic of the point-by on the P car.

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by Mx3

Dave,

Great pics. The car looks right at home on the track.

I'll have to bring mine out to Laguna one of these days.

So do your front tires really need replacing? I saw the pics from your other thread.


Yes, clear bra is the only way to go.

Front left is good for the street for the most part, however the front right did not do too well with the excessive heat. The tires will be ok for the track, but for generally street driving they are not flat, rather angled. I think if I drove them enough, the tread would eventually wear flat again; but since I do not have track rims, I might as well use these guys for them.

This never happened on my e46M3, I guess this could be attributed to additional speed this M can carry, the weight of the vehicle(plus 200 for passengers), the hard braking I did while learning the track, and the fact that the tires only had about 1.6K miles on them prior to that day.

As I will only be going to track events, maybe 3 to 5(max) times a year, I decided to buy two new fronts today, and will just remount the old ones for the days I head to the track. This will also not lead any obvious suspicions in the event I bring my car in for servicing.

Originally Posted by skierman64

Reading this post Lynyrd Skynyrd's "That Smell" popped into my head "Oak tree you're in my way"

I also have a clear bra on my Space Gray M3.

Did you get passed in group B? If so what cars got by you? Not that it matters in the competition for the Driver's School World Championship.

I love the pic of the point-by on the P car.

I did get passed indeed. I was passed by a Z06, 997 TT...back and forth with a 996C4s & GT3RS (he was super conservative on turns and holding back), this one modified EVO was quick, even a Z4 one time(same guy couldn't brake quick enough and drove off track at turn 11, where the blue porsche is in the pic, had to be towed out of the sand, no bigge at all), and a boxter that had modified suspension to name a few.

The funny thing was it was really back and forth with almost everyone. Since it was a mixed group, cars would pass eachother and then catch up again in given areas of the track; as each vehicle had it's positive attributes & draw backs. When the course was wet in the morning, obviosuly the AWD Porsche's, EVO's, and RS4's were on the move. Based on the time we were clocking in my car..my average time was high 1.4's to 1.5 per lap..not sure how that ranks

The M was exceptional all around, and it's handling was key, rather than the obvious pull away speed a TT would have. The one car that was really hard to gain on at times was the modified EVO.

Originally Posted by monsta

Also why are the guys sticking their arms out the window? waving you by? or holding you up?

You couldn't pass a car unless they pointed you by...

[Davinhci]

great pics, I love those pics going downhill.

[montreal red]

wow i love your pic... youre lucky to have a chance to really test the car out on such an awesome track.

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by montreal jet black

wow i love your pic... youre lucky to have a chance to really test the car out on such an awesome track.

I know, when you step back, it is indeed very fortunate

[moog55]

awesome track pics!! space gray ftw!

[smmmurf]

Cool photos! The car looks good on the track. Good to hear your writeup. Car sounds like it's well set up from the factory right out of the box.

See what you think about this: I've found that the fast line in the corkscrew is quite a bit closer to the apex. If you don't turn left as much at entry you can ride closer/on the berm on the right of the corkscrew. I'm all the way on both apexes in my race car. Of course, I'd probably drive more conservatively if my track car were my street driver as well.

The funny thing was it was really back and forth with almost everyone. Since it was a mixed group, cars would pass eachother and then catch up again in given areas of the track; as each vehicle had it's positive attributes & draw backs. When the course was wet in the morning, obviosuly the AWD Porsche's, EVO's, and RS4's were on the move. Based on the time we were clocking in my car..my average time was high 1.4's to 1.5 per lap..not sure how that ranks

That's an interesting observation. I'd actually think that the differences would be mostly attributed to driver skill rather than the differences between AWD/RWD/FWD and different types of cars. If you look at some of the pro racing like World Challenge, you'll see that the factory Hondas and BMWs in "Touring" are quite close in entry and exit speed despite their huge design differences. But at trackdays, you have much less experienced drivers. Lots of people are pretty far off the line at trackdays. I.E., some may be nailing T2 with a nice trailbrake to the first apex but they may turn in way too late for T5/T6 and kill their entry speed. RE: laptimes--A time in the mid 1:40's is a great time in a 335i. I think an E92 M3 could be a couple seconds faster (:43's or :44's). I've run 1:45's in my Spec Miata.

Sean

(have logged a couple thousand laps at Laguna & won a race there last month--absolutely love the track)

[dechoong]

Originally Posted by DJ9

and a few more

Awesome corkscrew Must be quite exhilarating approaching the blind corner with such a dive angle

Btw, what happened to the white Z4 behind you in the picture? Did the driver chicken out of the corkscrew?

[Nate@IND]

Nice photos! Looks like you had a great time

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

Cool photos! The car looks good on the track. Good to hear your writeup. Car sounds like it's well set up from the factory right out of the box.

See what you think about this: I've found that the fast line in the corkscrew is quite a bit closer to the apex. If you don't turn left as much at entry you can ride closer/on the berm on the right of the corkscrew. I'm all the way on both apexes in my race car. Of course, I'd probably drive more conservatively if my track car were my street driver as well.



That's an interesting observation. I'd actually think that the differences would be mostly attributed to driver skill rather than the differences between AWD/RWD/FWD and different types of cars. If you look at some of the pro racing like World Challenge, you'll see that the factory Hondas and BMWs in "Touring" are quite close in entry and exit speed despite their huge design differences. But at trackdays, you have much less experienced drivers. Lots of people are pretty far off the line at trackdays. I.E., some may be nailing T2 with a nice trailbrake to the first apex but they may turn in way too late for T5/T6 and kill their entry speed. RE: laptimes--A time in the mid 1:40's is a great time in a 335i. I think an E92 M3 could be a couple seconds faster (:43's or :44's). I've run 1:45's in my Spec Miata.

Sean

(have logged a couple thousand laps at Laguna & won a race there last month--absolutely love the track)

Funny you should mention that, as the day went on, I actually did start going closer and closer to the apex, which sling shot me faster out of the corckscrew towards the following left hand turn( Turn 8 ?). Have a look.

To elaborate on the times i quoted above, with DSC on it was high 4's/1.52; with DSC on MDM (too new of car for no DSC) it was indeed low/mid 4's; so ave would be the high 4's....i would lose time quite a bit on turn 11...took me a while to figure that one out, lol. Keep in mind, i did not have a transponder, just my buddy hitting the stop watch on the iDrive; so don't take my times as official time stamps by any means.

Anyhow, as far as lap times, i'm not racing here, just have a good time in my M.

Thanks for the feedback!

[icemang17]

Dave
Great pics......I haven't driven Laguna yet....but plan on it soon!! High 1:40's in a street car is very good.....I think the M3 can run a low 1:40's under ideal circumstances with a race driver....maybe 1:42-3 or so....since a GT3 did 1:39.5 and Z06 did 1:40.8....

Have you driven Thunderhill yet?? I can't wait to get my M3 here and broken in to take it up there! The bummer is it will probably not be before they resurface the track in July....

[!Xoible]

i been looking for this thread

thanks, that's awesome man. my friend in laguna seca e46 m3 was there and saw u. we were talking about it yesterday

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by ///Mantis

i been looking for this thread

thanks, that's awesome man. my friend in laguna seca e46 m3 was there and saw u. we were talking about it yesterday

Yup, that guy was very fast. Is his car ok? Think he went off the track too.

When a car has black rims(like his)....that means fast in my eyes...LOL!

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by icemang17

Dave
Great pics......I haven't driven Laguna yet....but plan on it soon!! High 1:40's in a street car is very good.....I think the M3 can run a low 1:40's under ideal circumstances with a race driver....maybe 1:42-3 or so....since a GT3 did 1:39.5 and Z06 did 1:40.8....

Have you driven Thunderhill yet?? I can't wait to get my M3 here and broken in to take it up there! The bummer is it will probably not be before they resurface the track in July....

Ya, I have a ton to learn and I know the car itself really compensates for lack of driving technique us intermediate guys may have. If one of the advanced guys or instructors got there hands one of these and tuned everything to their liking; that would be a great ride along to be in.

Thunderhill...I've been there about 3 times in my e46M3; awesome very fast track, with plenty of run off room. I plan to go in August or TMR over the next few months.

Hope to see you there!

[PIMP "E"]

the thing gotta be a beast on the tracks

[KonigsTiger]

It does look hot, needs the Euro bumper though.

[DJ9]

Originally Posted by BMW-M-Mexico

It does look hot, needs the Euro bumper though.

Damn reflectors!!!!

[Flying_Dutchman]

Great post Dave It's encouraging to hear your experience of tracking the M3. I look forward to trying out mine in Spa and at the Nordschleife - once it'll be broken in.

Did you install racing brake pads or adapt anything else to the brake system. I understand this is probably THE weakest part of the car when going for a sustained track-drive. In Spa E46 M3's with stock brakes would typically have to return to pits after 3 - 4 laps because of brake fade.

[///kory]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

See what you think about this: I've found that the fast line in the corkscrew is quite a bit closer to the apex. If you don't turn left as much at entry you can ride closer/on the berm on the right of the corkscrew. I'm all the way on both apexes in my race car. Of course, I'd probably drive more conservatively if my track car were my street driver as well.

The fastest line through the cork screw is just charge through the dirt narrowly missing the wall!! At least that is the fastest in video games, unfortunately never had a chance to try it in real life .

In all seriousness amazing photo's, must have been so much fun. WTB video

[devo]

Thanks for the photos. It looks like so much fun. Your M looks very menacing in the corkscrew.

[lucid]

Did MDM kick-in for you? If it did, when? I didn't run with DSC fully on as I figured that would be too instrusive. I didn't turn it off completely either. I found MDM to be an excellent compromise.

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by ///kory

The fastest line through the cork screw is just charge through the dirt narrowly missing the wall!! At least that is the fastest in video games, unfortunately never had a chance to try it in real life .

Well, hitting both apexes is probably the closest I'm adventurous enough to try. Zanardi was pretty successful using the dirt.

Originally Posted by icemang17

Dave
Great pics......I haven't driven Laguna yet....but plan on it soon!! High 1:40's in a street car is very good.....I think the M3 can run a low 1:40's under ideal circumstances with a race driver....maybe 1:42-3 or so....since a GT3 did 1:39.5 and Z06 did 1:40.8....

Have you driven Thunderhill yet?? I can't wait to get my M3 here and broken in to take it up there! The bummer is it will probably not be before they resurface the track in July....

Trust me, the resurfacing is a good thing! Not many people know this, but TH presently chews up tires about 5 times faster than Laguna!

I was up there for four days at the end of May and will return the weekend before they resurface it (mid/end of July). Can't wait to see what it will be like after the repave.

BTW, I agree with your assessment. 1:43's are certainly possible at LS with a fast driver. Kinda interested in seeing what I can do. Someday, I'll get back into a street car on the track... too busy with racing this season... maybe next year.