e92 M3/Laguna Seca Track Day Download

[SP33DRCR]

I drive a 2009 e92 M3, and although I've had the car for a few years I've just started taking it to the track about six months ago. Yesterday was my tenth track day, and my fourth at the awesome Mazda Speedway Laguna Seca (this one was with Hooked on Driving). The other six were at Thunderhill. I thought I'd post my experiences.

My lap times have been improving steadily, and yesterday I dropped a lot of time. My fastest lap, in the second session of the day, was a 1:45.32. Not too shabby. Here is a video of my faster laps, on the tail of a white Porsche GT3, with a lap time of 1:46.47. [u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uCbaB76Oeq0[/u2b]

The car is basically stock. I did put "lowering springs" on it, which reduced the ride height a bit. Cost a couple of hundred bucks. And I went to 18" wheels (ended up with the Volk Racing TE37SLs) and Toyo Proxies R888s (265/295) for the track. Kind of pricey, but it allows me to stops the harsh wear and tear to the stock wheels.

The tires have awesome grip, but can be difficult to dial in properly. My first session of the day yesterday was actually pretty crappy, and the last session they were getty greasy again: [u2b]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHtr-IkvTeE[/u2b]. Lots of fun, tho.

I am now on my third type of brake pad, and continue to have issues. Started out with CarboTech XP-10s, and pretty much got the braking system so hot that I melted the brake line where it attaches to the caliper in the front-left. The pads were toast after one day. I changed to the CarboTech XP-12s, and although they felt really great especially when really pushing them hard, they also lasted one day. Just tried two sets of Pagid RS-19s. First set lasted three track days, but I ended up burning through one set yesterday. Maybe its time for me to upgrade to a big brake kit.

[mdosu]

Fixed link for ya! Note you only need to paste the part of the url after the equal sign.

[smmmurf]

Cool video. You can definitely get on the gas sooner in some corners like t3 and carry more speed in t6. Randy pobst did a 1:42.96 in a stock DCT car and I was able to do a 1:45.1 on LS completely stock down to the PS2s and oem brake pads,6mt with a wet t2 and t4.

I also had major brake problems but I was on oem pads which are notoriously not up to the task of track use.

[zamboni]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

Cool video. You can definitely get on the gas sooner in some corners like t3 and carry more speed in t6. Randy pobst did a 1:42.96 in a stock DCT car and I was able to do a 1:45.1 on LS completely stock down to the PS2s and oem brake pads,6mt with a wet t2 and t4.

Here's my hotlap. http://contour.com/stories/ls-12112

That was impressed you can manage 1:45.1 on the track.

[smmmurf]

Originally Posted by zamboni

That was impressed you can manage 1:45.1 on the track.

Thank you. The car can go faster by a second if I decide to shift faster and the Track was totally Dry. DCT is faster for sure though.

[RingMeister01]

Nice driving. The Carrera is quick but you held with it well.

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by mdosu

Fixed link for ya! Note you only need to paste the part of the url after the equal sign.

Hey thanks!

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

Cool video. You can definitely get on the gas sooner in some corners like t3 and carry more speed in t6. Randy pobst did a 1:42.96 in a stock DCT car and I was able to do a 1:45.1 on LS completely stock down to the PS2s and oem brake pads,6mt with a wet t2 and t4.

I also had major brake problems but I was on oem pads which are notoriously not up to the task of track use.

That's pretty impressive. I'm not yet very smooth, and I tend to be pretty hard on the brake system. I still have a long way to go, but I'm pretty jazzed that I seem to be making steady progress. I'm really having a blast out there.

[SP33DRCR]

Here are some external video shots of T11

[dagolfpro]

1.45 is a great time. I just ran 1.49 last month. It's only my 3rd track day and 2nd day at Laguna. I'm sure if you had BBK, you could save a couple of seconds for sure. We're going again on 2/11, maybe 2/18, and 3/4. If you're going any of theses days, please stop by and say hello.

[JMB]

Great track and great vids. I was up there doing Skip Barber a few months ago and learned a ton. Looking forward to many track days coming up in SoCal !

[SP33DRCR]

And another

.

The white M3 is my buddy Jim, and this is the last session of the day.

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by smmmurf

Cool video. You can definitely get on the gas sooner in some corners like t3 and carry more speed in t6. Randy pobst did a 1:42.96 in a stock DCT car and I was able to do a 1:45.1 on LS completely stock down to the PS2s and oem brake pads,6mt with a wet t2 and t4.

I also had major brake problems but I was on oem pads which are notoriously not up to the task of track use.

Originally Posted by dagolfpro

1.45 is a great time. I just ran 1.49 last month. It's only my 3rd track day and 2nd day at Laguna. I'm sure if you had BBK, you could save a couple of seconds for sure. We're going again on 2/11, maybe 2/18, and 3/4. If you're going any of theses days, please stop by and say hello.

Yeah, definately. With better brakes, I think I'd stay flat out until the #3 brake marker on T2. The first few laps of a session, I can get pretty close. But after that, even the Pagids fade. It forces me to practice my trail braking. Better brakes would help on just about every other turn as well.

I don't think I'll be there on the 11th, but I am signed up for the 18th. I'll definately look for you.

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by RingMeister01

Nice driving. The Carrera is quick but you held with it well.

Hey thanks. The lap felt very good--but looking back at the video, I see lots of mistakes. I chased that guy for almost the whole session, and he was definately moving. The car was a GT3 model--at least that's what it said on the trunk lid. Not sure if that is the same.

[Alekshop]

Originally Posted by SP33DRCR

Yeah, definately. With better brakes, I think I'd stay flat out until the #3 brake marker on T2. The first few laps of a session, I can get pretty close. But after that, even the Pagids fade. It forces me to practice my trail braking. Better brakes would help on just about every other turn as well.

I don't think I'll be there on the 11th, but I am signed up for the 18th. I'll definately look for you.

I think we met you at the NCRC day a few weeks ago and your buddy with AW M3 ... Looks like you guys ran good times !

Braking later into T2 probably would not improve your time as you typically want to got faster out of the turn and not in.

Try running stock tires to see where is the limit and see if you can get same time This is my goal for next Monday!

Aleks.

[RingMeister01]

Originally Posted by SP33DRCR

Hey thanks. The lap felt very good--but looking back at the video, I see lots of mistakes. I chased that guy for almost the whole session, and he was definately moving. The car was a GT3 model--at least that's what it said on the trunk lid. Not sure if that is the same.

The car you were chasing is a GTS model. I have a GT3, its a different animal. Any case, practice practice!

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by RingMeister01

The car you were chasing is a GTS model. I have a GT3, its a different animal. Any case, practice practice!

Okay, that makes sense. I guess I'm not a Porsche guy. Although they do make me drive faster when I am chasing them.

My prior session at the track was on MLK day. I seemed to be stuck in a rut--I was able to do a 1:47.9, but could otherwise only manage 48s and 49s. Pretty steady, though.

On this session, a buddy slotted in behind me in a white GT3 (not the one in the vid) in the pits as we were lining up. I was able to keep him behind me for a few laps, but he ended up passing after a few laps. I actually think I drive a little better when I'm chasing. After a few more laps, I passed him, and then started to gap. That's when I did the 1:45.3--a pretty big drop. Everything just seemed to connect. I was hitting all of my marks, getting on the power early, and felt very comfortable in the car. The lap felt great. Sounds weird, but time seemed to slow down.

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by Alekshop

I think we met you at the NCRC day a few weeks ago and your buddy with AW M3 ... Looks like you guys ran good times !

Braking later into T2 probably would not improve your time as you typically want to got faster out of the turn and not in.

Try running stock tires to see where is the limit and see if you can get same time This is my goal for next Monday!

Aleks.

Thanks. It was actually a pretty fun day--things really felt great. In terms of T2, I'm not sure how much quicker it makes the lap, but I'd like to brake at or after the #3 marker-staying flat out until them. Unlike the CarboTechs XP-12s, the Pagid 19s only seem to work well on the first couple of laps. After that, no matter how hard I mashed the pedal, the car would not slow. It actually helped (read: forced) me to trail brake, which seemed to rotate the car very well. But I had the same problem into T5, T8a, and T11. With better brakes, I could stay on the power longer in all of them.

You do raise a good point, though. And that is, as times drop at these track day events, what do you do next? Do I modify the car, and try to go even faster? Or do I keep the car totally stock and try to match Pobts' 1:42--bascially overcoming the shortcommings of the car?

[yandy]

Originally Posted by SP33DRCR

Thanks. It was actually a pretty fun day--things really felt great. In terms of T2, I'm not sure how much quicker it makes the lap, but I'd like to brake at or after the #3 marker-staying flat out until them. Unlike the CarboTechs XP-12s, the Pagid 19s only seem to work well on the first couple of laps. After that, no matter how hard I mashed the pedal, the car would not slow. It actually helped (read: forced) me to trail brake, which seemed to rotate the car very well. But I had the same problem into T5, T8a, and T11. With better brakes, I could stay on the power longer in all of them.

You do raise a good point, though. And that is, as times drop at these track day events, what do you do next? Do I modify the car, and try to go even faster? Or do I keep the car totally stock and try to match Pobts' 1:42--bascially overcoming the shortcommings of the car?

What brake fluid are you using? I would try the XP20 or even the RP2 compound, you'll probably get longer life from them. The XP12 and XP16 are great pads, but wear quickly (longest was about 4.7 hours of track time).

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by yandy

What brake fluid are you using?

I'm use the ATE Super Blue Racing. But I don't think that's my issue. In this last session, the pedal remained firm. Toward the end of a session, nothing would happen when I would press on it--well, I mean, the car wasn't slowing as rapidly as it had been.

Also, during the break periods, I noticed that there was a metallic-looking substance filling in the cross-drilled holes in the rotor. I think that is melted pad material, with a little rotor mixed in.

I think I'm going to try the Endless pads next--although I am not really expecting any difference.

[yandy]

sounds like you need brake ducts. do they make backing plates (titanium) for the M3? That helped the heat transfer in my car allot as weel (mostly to protect the pistons).

[SP33DRCR]

Originally Posted by yandy

sounds like you need brake ducts. do they make backing plates (titanium) for the M3? That helped the heat transfer in my car allot as weel (mostly to protect the pistons).

On my second track day, I burst/melted the OEM brake lines. I upgraded to stainless steel lines, and also ducting.

I picked up some carbon fiber backing plates, and installed the whole thing myself. But I don't think my routing of the ducting is all that great, however. I've noticed zero improvement with the ducting. After a session, I still get lots of rotor pinging, and continue to blistered away the powerdercoating on the front calipers. My brake pads look like the bottom of my old Weber BBQ. Whats left of the outer seals is crunchy. But the inner seal and piston are holding up very well.

I have friends who drive the same car at the same track at a similar pace, and who do not have similar issues. My style, which is still very novice, is more than a little harsh.