Getting the M3 warm in time for when grid departs?

[Apex Everything]

I will be going to my first track day with the M3 (not my first personal one) usually there is a lot of downtime between start when I get there and the first session. Between sessions is not too long but how should I get my M3 warm enough for the first session?

I know I could just start it up wayyy before the first session, but looking for suggestions you guys do?

[Estoril Blue]

Generally, your engine should be at or very near temperature even though 3 run groups have been out since you came off track. Engines don't lose heat that quickly. Its a lot of thermal mass.

Just start your car, do your walk around checks, helmet and gloves on and it should be right in range. Just check it.

[Apex Everything]

Originally Posted by Estoril Blue

Generally, your engine should be at or very near temperature even though 3 run groups have been out since you came off track. Engines don't lose heat that quickly. Its a lot of thermal mass.

Just start your car, do your walk around checks, helmet and gloves on and it should be right in range. Just check it.

Yep, I agree but I mean for the time between arriving at the track and the first session.

For example for my track day gates open at 3pm (which I plan on being there for) and first session is 4:40pm almost 2 hours later.

[PandaM3]

Between run groups it take me about 1/2 to 1 lap before the oil temp gauge says ok then I step on it

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by Apex Everything

Yep, I agree but I mean for the time between arriving at the track and the first session.

For example for my track day gates open at 3pm (which I plan on being there for) and first session is 4:40pm almost 2 hours later.

Car will warm up quickly since its only been an hour and a half. Cold start may even be shorter. Do an outlap and go. start your car 5 minutes early if you feel the need. Stop by and take a leak and wash your hands. It might be ready by then lol

[jphughan]

I come to grid 3-5 minutes before the session starts, then if needed I'll keep it under 4500 RPM or so for the first half lap or so, which is usually under yellow flag anyway and a good time for me to do track recon looking for fluids or something rather than going balls out right away -- plus the tires and brakes have to warm up too, which means balls out isn't even an option. But anyway, the oil warms up much faster when you're driving than just idling on the grid, so it doesn't take very long. As soon as oil hits 210 F and redline has moved all the way up, time to get going.

[Richbot]

Heh.

I will have to remember pushing on the out lap is not an option because the brakes and tires aren't up to temp next time I'm out. I've been an outlaw renegade this whole time





Annmnnnyway, yeah just drive the car. Short shift a bit for a lap or more if not fully warm and it will be warm, quickly.

[roastbeef]

first run group of the day, the car is a little bit cold because it has been off for about an hour (maybe a little more). my first lap out is pretty slow and i don't beat on the car. i try to focus on getting back into the groove, warming up the brakes, and listening/feeling out the car. she's usually ready to howl after that. for the rest of the day, the car has enough heat in it that she's up to temp by the time i get to the grid.

[MRV99]

Usually I end up driving to the track so that usually takes care of initial warm up. They usually do a call to grid maybe 10 min before your session. I usually start up, get all set and then take the long path to the grid. After sitting a few min the car is usually at temp.

[admranger]

First lap is a recon lap to see what the idiots who were on the track before you did to it since the last time you were there...oh and also to checkout the corner workers to see which ones are asleep and which ones are awake so you'll know where to go if you need help fast!

[dparm]

Originally Posted by admranger

First lap is a recon lap to see what the idiots who were on the track before you did to it since the last time you were there...oh and also to checkout the corner workers to see which ones are asleep and which ones are awake so you'll know where to go if you need help fast!

Exactly. You always want to do the first lap at < 10/10ths to make sure everything is ready. You'd feel awful stupid gunning it out of the pits, coming into the first corner, and skidding into the grass because the tires were cold.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by dparm

Exactly. You always want to do the first lap at < 10/10ths to make sure everything is ready. You'd feel awful stupid gunning it out of the pits, coming into the first corner, and skidding into the grass because the tires were cold.

That seems to happen with Corvette drivers. Once at TWS and once at CotA I've seen a Vette go off on the warmup lap of the first session of the first day (T4 at TWS, T2 at CotA), both times resulting in major damage and a flatbed out of the track. And at my last TWS event a Vette rear-ended an E46 M3 on the cooldown lap -- and no, he hadn't missed the checkered flag. Some people....

[Kong Sheng Han]

Originally Posted by jphughan

That seems to happen with Corvette drivers. Once at TWS and once at CotA I've seen a Vette go off on the warmup lap of the first session of the first day (T4 at TWS, T2 at CotA), both times resulting in major damage and a flatbed out of the track. And at my last TWS event a Vette rear-ended an E46 M3 on the cooldown lap -- and no, he hadn't missed the checkered flag. Some people....

Where at T4? I thought it was a relatively safe corner, besides the mud pit you can go into if you understeer.

And rofl at rear end collision. I saw the M3 this past weekend and was wondering why it was missing its rear bumper. Learned later on that he got hit on cool down.

[jphughan]

Originally Posted by Kong Sheng Han

Where at T4? I thought it was a relatively safe corner, besides the mud pit you can go into if you understeer.

And rofl at rear end collision. I saw the M3 this past weekend and was wondering why it was missing its rear bumper. Learned later on that he got hit on cool down.

Outside of T4. It was in the wet and I think he just went straight off, so maybe he didn't have enough brakes. But yeah it was muddy out there.

[dparm]

Man, I would be furious if some dude rear-ended me on a cooldown lap.

OP, be sure to take advantage of the cooldown lap. If you have OEM brakes, they are going to get REALLY hot and the last thing you want is to try coming into the pits only to realize you have no brakes.

[MRV99]

Originally Posted by dparm

Man, I would be furious if some dude rear-ended me on a cooldown lap.

OP, be sure to take advantage of the cooldown lap. If you have OEM brakes, they are going to get REALLY hot and the last thing you want is to try coming into the pits only to realize you have no brakes.

Last weekend they told the drivers that when you see the checker at pit out (on the ACC south course) to drive corners 1,2,3 and then slow down. Some people did not listen and were mashing the brakes just out of 14. Needles to say it caused for some interesting situations when you are not expecting that

[dparm]

Originally Posted by MRV99

Last weekend they told the drivers that when you see the checker at pit out (on the ACC south course) to drive corners 1,2,3 and then slow down. Some people did not listen and were mashing the brakes just out of 14. Needles to say it caused for some interesting situations when you are not expecting that

Ouch. I was at the full course this past Monday and they gave us TONS of time to slow down. I basically just drive at a constant 50mph and don't touch the brakes.