noob looking to get into tracking my car

[M3crit]

Actually nvm on the links idk why but i missed the bottom of catchmeifyoucan's post with the links. just want to say thanks for all the info you have all been a great help. this forum is a great community and its def one of the great things about joining the bmw family. so again, thank you everyone!

[M3 Esq]

Originally Posted by M3crit

Actually nvm on the links idk why but i missed the bottom of catchmeifyoucan's post with the links. just want to say thanks for all the info you have all been a great help. this forum is a great community and its def one of the great things about joining the bmw family. so again, thank you everyone!

Sent you a PM with more info.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by Majdnoon

I agree with what most of the people posted that, if you're going to do it only a few times a year, go with the E90 and be VERY careful and cautious with it. But if you are planning on making it a regular thing (which you will, soon as you try it you'll fall in love and look forward with a fevered passion for the next track day) but an old, beat-up E36 or something of the sort. Mine was 3K, has no AC and no radio no nothing but its great fun, light and nimble and agile, and it puts a smile on my face every time I get it. That can be your track beast, while the E90 remains your DD

Man... a track buddy of mine who's on this forum and I are discussing this very thing (E36 or S2k, actually).

[aus]

First time at the track?
BMW CCA and no mods are needed to this car.
you'll have a blast!!!

.

[CatchM3IfYouCan181]

Originally Posted by M3crit

Im in manhattan, but I'm back and forth to CT (danbury mostly) on some weekends. i will def be looking into CCA, any links? I'm currently looking through motorsportreg.com to see if there is anything i can get into over the coming weeks.

there's an autocross event for BMWCCA tomorrow at Nassau Coliseum. I'm from Manhattan also and i'll be getting there by 7:30 in the morning tomorrow. If you do happen to go and need advice when you get there, just look for me in the white M3, name's Ray

[M3crit]

Originally Posted by CatchM3IfYouCan181

there's an autocross event for BMWCCA tomorrow at Nassau Coliseum. I'm from Manhattan also and i'll be getting there by 7:30 in the morning tomorrow. If you do happen to go and need advice when you get there, just look for me in the white M3, name's Ray

Wont be able to make it this weekend but on their website it says there is one on September 29th, are they all held at the same place? If so that would be something I'd try to make. Any shot you'd be going to that one as well?

[Slapshot9]

Good info here. E36 is a truly ideal track car, cheap and fun. I sold mine a year ago, to make room for my e90 and wish I had kept it. I had a 325is, and there are plenty of clean, set up, bargans around. Good luck!

[Porschefile]

I had a 2600# E36 M3 racecar with aero and all of that, and my E92 is almost the exact same speed and I can drive it there. Downside is that I'm risking a $50k car now and operating costs are higher.

[CatchM3IfYouCan181]

Originally Posted by M3crit

Wont be able to make it this weekend but on their website it says there is one on September 29th, are they all held at the same place? If so that would be something I'd try to make. Any shot you'd be going to that one as well?

I'm actually going to Evo school on Sep 29th. there's one every week though. closest to us(since you're in the city) is either Meadowlands or Nassau Coliseum. Next weekend there's one in Nassau again and that's NYR-SCCA which is not all BMW so although you will see a few BMW's such as myself, it won't be a sea of M3 E90's and E92's which is what this weekend would be.

Evo school is a good school to get into since youre a noob like me.. it'll be an all day event where they teach you different situations and teach you what your car can really do. Runs about $350 and you get 30 runs in for the day.

autox4u.com
motorsportreg.com
bmwcca.org

all great sites to read up on.. also if you really want to learn up go to sccaforums.com and you'll learn a lot about racing.

bimmerpost is the best for E92 specific topics.

[CatchM3IfYouCan181]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

I had a 2600# E36 M3 racecar with aero and all of that, and my E92 is almost the exact same speed and I can drive it there. Downside is that I'm risking a $50k car now and operating costs are higher.

I feel the exact same way. this car is expensive to tune. my brother is tuning a Subaru brz and everything is so much cheaper and every tune adds a lot

[M3crit]

Originally Posted by CatchM3IfYouCan181

I'm actually going to Evo school on Sep 29th. there's one every week though. closest to us(since you're in the city) is either Meadowlands or Nassau Coliseum. Next weekend there's one in Nassau again and that's NYR-SCCA which is not all BMW so although you will see a few BMW's such as myself, it won't be a sea of M3 E90's and E92's which is what this weekend would be.

Evo school is a good school to get into since youre a noob like me.. it'll be an all day event where they teach you different situations and teach you what your car can really do. Runs about $350 and you get 30 runs in for the day.

autox4u.com
motorsportreg.com
bmwcca.org

all great sites to read up on.. also if you really want to learn up go to sccaforums.com and you'll learn a lot about racing.

bimmerpost is the best for E92 specific topics.

Thanks for all the links, ill have to read through all of this as best i can, should keep me busy for a bit. im sure ill be seeing you around sometime soon, ill keep checking back to see what everyone is up to. who knows maybe ill head to the NYR-SCCA just to pop the autoX cherry.

[Car54]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

I had a 2600# E36 M3 racecar with aero and all of that, and my E92 is almost the exact same speed and I can drive it there. Downside is that I'm risking a $50k car now and operating costs are higher.

At least you can insure the E92 at the track.

[turbo8765]

Originally Posted by OC3

Man... a track buddy of mine who's on this forum and I are discussing this very thing (E36 or S2k, actually).

I've owned both an e36 M3 track car and an s2000 track car. I regretted getting rid of my e36 until I got the s2000.

Honestly both are nearly ideal track cars, but the s2000 is more fun for me.

[OC3]

^It appears that E36 is cheaper? (around 12k for a E36 with motor swap, coilover, etc? And, around 15k for one w/ rollcage, Recaro/Sparco, 6-point harness & aero?). That, to me, is disposable. I'd push it hard, without a care for insurance.

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by OC3

^It appears that E36 is cheaper? (around 12k for a E36 with motor swap, coilover, etc? And, around 15k for one w/ rollcage, Recaro/Sparco, 6-point harness & aero?). That, to me, is disposable. I'd push it hard, without a care for insurance.

Agreed. The pain in the ass is hauling the thing around and paying for tow vehicle gas and a tow vehicle etc.

[OC3]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Agreed. The pain in the ass is hauling the thing around and paying for tow vehicle gas and a tow vehicle etc.

^Errr, that's why I haven't moved forward yet.

(trying to see if, somehow, one that's streetable can be built)

[Car54]

Originally Posted by Porschefile

Agreed. The pain in the ass is hauling the thing around and paying for tow vehicle gas and a tow vehicle etc.

+1000

See my sig...had to let the track car go. I'm having more fun driving the M3 to and from the track than towing the Mcoupe around. Add in a few Chumpcar races a couple times a year and I'm a happy camper.

[bigjae1976]

I'd just go and leave MDM on.

Ideally, you'd get a car control clinic or something similar under your belt first and run without the nannies from the start. Because at some point they just get in the way and actually make the car harder to control. The ass kicker is not when you start out but its when you're gaining skill and DSC starts getting in the way. You're not sure about your car control skills to control oversteer so you never really get into things like trail braking and throttle steering. I would say that is a common stumbling point in the learning curve. It was mine until I did a drifting practice.

I usually do DEs with the Driver's Edge. I've found that while the track time is great, the people that you meet are just as great. We have quite a large group where we all pitch in to change tires and brakes, fix cars, share water coolers and tools, and sit around and have fun bustin' each other's balls all day...to include some women.

Originally Posted by OC3

^It appears that E36 is cheaper? (around 12k for a E36 with motor swap, coilover, etc? And, around 15k for one w/ rollcage, Recaro/Sparco, 6-point harness & aero?). That, to me, is disposable. I'd push it hard, without a care for insurance.

In the cost debate of E36 vrs E90...I have one word. Fuel.

For a dedicated track car, I think the E36 is ideal. Its cheaper. And for all of the extra power in the E46...it gives it back in extra weight. Plus, parts and consumables are way cheaper. You can go with 17s on an E36...half the price of 18s.

[besiktas]

I started going to track with trackdaze. i loved the group. fun and most importantly i felt safe. I started as novice.

They have an event coming up in october 6/7 in summit point. i suggest starting with them. I think if you have a great first experience, you will fall in love with going to track. Trackdaze did that for me. if you just want to try how it feels, go for one day. See how you like it...

Mods: One thing is definitely necessary. Brake fluid change. It is a must. Get ATE blue or motul. I also advise you to not run with old engine oil. In my experience, engine ran at about 20F lower temperature with engine oil at 2k miles compared to engine oil at 10-11k miles.

Let me know if you plan to attend to summit point on Oct 6-7, i will probably be there in running on intermediate group.

Below is a link to the footage of my last VIR event. It should give you an idea on what to expect. (novice is slower pace and less passing)

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=738432

Hope it helps

[Porschefile]

Originally Posted by OC3

^Errr, that's why I haven't moved forward yet.

(trying to see if, somehow, one that's streetable can be built)

Cage= no street driving. And any dedicated track car/race car should be caged. So you have to get a trailer and haul it around. I'll get another racecar at some point, but for now I'm quite content hustling my E92 around the track.

[JoM3z]

+10000 I can totally relate to this...

Originally Posted by Team Plutonium

^ +1

And check your ego at the door... I ate a huge piece of humble pie when I went to the track the first time... and the time after.