Track forum general chit chat.

[evilspiritM3]

Originally Posted by scotty_miller

Clowns as in bad drivers or just like show off and not give point by? :

Don't get me wrong- they are as well organized as any good group and they listen to the corner workers if there is silliness out there. I would run with them again, but would manage expectations of who is in my run group.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Driving one gear higher than normal in the rain is a great way to go really slow in the rain. It's called part-throttle, it comes standard with every car, there's a secret unlock code hidden between the top of the travel and the floor and once you unlock it, you can use it whenever you want, like magic up up down down left right left right a b select start

Agree on stay off the paint, and the shiny stuff, and STAY OFF THE GRASS

Also, at Road Atlanta, if somebody drags clay on the track in the rain, you might as well park the car through that portion and the next corner while your tires clean themselves

Well, truth be told, running one gear higher wasn't my idea, it was Derek Bell's when he was talking to the group I was running the A1-Ring with (in a downpour). That was in 2002 though so maybe things have changed (and he could have been referring to a more close ratio box, etc.).

Yeah, staying off the grass seems like a good idea. Newton's laws of motion don't apply to a racing car on wet grass.

The clay thing makes sense. Wet clay = no traction at all. Yeeech.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by evilspiritM3

Not too much vetting of run groups so you will see some clowns in the higher groups.

So you're saying I can run in the most advanced group then. Cool.

[evilspiritM3]

Originally Posted by admranger

So you're saying I can run in the most advanced group then. Cool.

Well played-

[roastbeef]

i started running in advanced group after three or four track days. there wasn't a vetting or check-out process. just run where you're comfortable. i haven't had any problems.

however, i think there is a direct correlation in the cost of entry to the quality of drivers. if any idiot with $140 can go track their car, its going to be a crowded day with lots of idiots or people who are new to tracking and just don't realize this. if its a $260 day people who have no clue about tracking and are simply comparing costs are going to go for the cheaper day.

[redpriest]

Drove a friend's track prepared E46 M3. It was a big mistake on my part - now I want one bad. The steering is immediate and far more direct than either my E92 or F82. The cabin is intimate and compact. I totally get this car now.

Even driving just on the highway, it didn't feel underpowered at all. Felt like a caged beast when you started revving it beyond 4k RPM. Felt very S65-esque in power delivery. He had a custom exhaust made for it which was just perfect. It's the best E46 I've ever heard.

The clutch was super-stiff so we had a good laugh as I stalled it at least 4 times backing it out of the garage, it didn't want to slip.

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Drove a friend's track prepared E46 M3. It was a big mistake on my part - now I want one bad. The steering is immediate and far more direct than either my E92 or F82. The cabin is intimate and compact. I totally get this car now.

Even driving just on the highway, it didn't feel underpowered at all. Felt like a caged beast when you started revving it beyond 4k RPM. Felt very S65-esque in power delivery. He had a custom exhaust made for it which was just perfect. It's the best E46 I've ever heard.

The clutch was super-stiff so we had a good laugh as I stalled it at least 4 times backing it out of the garage, it didn't want to slip.

It's because omp vs your m cushioned school bus steering wheel bro!!

E92 has quicker steering which to me will always be an advantage.

Don't be comparing hwy to track now.

[Mantii]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Drove a friend's track prepared E46 M3. It was a big mistake on my part - now I want one bad. The steering is immediate and far more direct than either my E92 or F82. The cabin is intimate and compact. I totally get this car now.

Even driving just on the highway, it didn't feel underpowered at all. Felt like a caged beast when you started revving it beyond 4k RPM. Felt very S65-esque in power delivery. He had a custom exhaust made for it which was just perfect. It's the best E46 I've ever heard.

The clutch was super-stiff so we had a good laugh as I stalled it at least 4 times backing it out of the garage, it didn't want to slip.

I have an f80 and an e46 m3. The e46 is getting a cage and getting fully Track prepped. I don't have to tell you how much more advanced the f8x series is, but there is just something special about the e46 that makes me smile a lot more and a ton more fun to track. I took the f80 out to track once just to give it a quick spin and immediately bought an e46 for track duty. I am even contemplating about selling the f80 and getting a truck and trailer at this point

[scotty_miller]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Drove a friend's track prepared E46 M3. It was a big mistake on my part - now I want one bad. The steering is immediate and far more direct than either my E92 or F82. The cabin is intimate and compact. I totally get this car now.

Even driving just on the highway, it didn't feel underpowered at all. Felt like a caged beast when you started revving it beyond 4k RPM. Felt very S65-esque in power delivery. He had a custom exhaust made for it which was just perfect. It's the best E46 I've ever heard.

The clutch was super-stiff so we had a good laugh as I stalled it at least 4 times backing it out of the garage, it didn't want to slip.

Once you go e46 you never go back

[roastbeef]

Got my tiny catalysts for my secondary O2 sensors. Pretty beefy.

[lutfy]

Originally Posted by Mantii

I have an f80 and an e46 m3. The e46 is getting a cage and getting fully Track prepped. I don't have to tell you how much more advanced the f8x series is, but there is just something special about the e46 that makes me smile a lot more and a ton more fun to track. I took the f80 out to track once just to give it a quick spin and immediately bought an e46 for track duty. I am even contemplating about selling the f80 and getting a truck and trailer at this point

I feel the same way. The E90 chassis is superior to the E46 (easy to drive at the limit, rotation is not abrupt etc) but the E46 is a hoot! I have a close friend who has a caged E46 with MCS, power mods, diff and the works and I always have a blast driving one.

I thought long and hard about tearing up my E90 now that is sorted, paid off etc for track work and ended up getting an FRS for just that There is something magical about tracking a 2700lb momentum car but I can't part with the E90 either..... Luckily you all get it, most people think I am...... but I am totally normal.

Lutfy

[Mantii]

Originally Posted by lutfy

I feel the same way. The E90 chassis is superior to the E46 (easy to drive at the limit, rotation is not abrupt etc) but the E46 is a hoot! I have a close friend who has a caged E46 with MCS, power mods, diff and the works and I always have a blast driving one.

I thought long and hard about tearing up my E90 now that is sorted, paid off etc for track work and ended up getting an FRS for just that There is something magical about tracking a 2700lb momentum car but I can't part with the E90 either..... Luckily you all get it, most people think I am...... but I am totally normal.

Lutfy

Haha most people think we are lunatics, hence we are not normal

[Richbot]

Originally Posted by admranger

Well, truth be told, running one gear higher wasn't my idea, it was Derek Bell's when he was talking to the group I was running the A1-Ring with (in a downpour). That was in 2002 though so maybe things have changed (and he could have been referring to a more close ratio box, etc.).

Yeah, staying off the grass seems like a good idea. Newton's laws of motion don't apply to a racing car on wet grass.

The clay thing makes sense. Wet clay = no traction at all. Yeeech.

Derek was trying to keep you from killing yourself and/or having to do paperwork

[///Mobbin]

I'm curious what front-tension-arm/lower-control-arm bushings folks are running? I have been running the Rogue Engineering street kit but I believe it's making some creaking noises now, probably just needs to be lubricated but also considering swapping them for monoballs. Thoughts?

I also finally picked up another DD so car is going a more track focused mod path now. Forget those 450/750 spring rates I was talking about for MCS re-install, back on 600/900 or 700/1000!

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

I'm curious what front-tension-arm/lower-control-arm bushings folks are running? I have been running the Rogue Engineering street kit but I believe it's making some creaking noises now, probably just needs to be lubricated but also considering swapping them for monoballs. Thoughts?

I also finally picked up another DD so car is going a more track focused mod path now. Forget those 450/750 spring rates I was talking about for MCS re-install, back on 600/900 or 700/1000!

I'm running the fall line monoball ones and I love how they feel. Steering feels more direct and they feel like they take abuse from curbing a bit better. The only downside is they like to click and clack when driving around at low speeds.

[///Mobbin]

Originally Posted by M3MPH1S

I'm running the fall line monoball ones and I love how they feel. Steering feels more direct and they feel like they take abuse from curbing a bit better. The only downside is they like to click and clack when driving around at low speeds.

Thanks, I appreciate it. I am getting that same click/clack with the Rogues, good to know that is common with this sort of mod. I didn't really feel much difference on track with them so thinking this is an all or nothing mod, ie. either OEM (benefit of no click/clack) or monoball to actually feel the effects.

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

Thanks, I appreciate it. I am getting that same click/clack with the Rogues, good to know that is common with this sort of mod. I didn't really feel much difference on track with them so thinking this is an all or nothing mod, ie. either OEM (benefit of no click/clack) or monoball to actually feel the effects.

Yeah that's probably a good assessment. I went to these directly from 100k+ oem ones and even then it wasn't a "night and day" mod.

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by ///Mobbin

I'm curious what front-tension-arm/lower-control-arm bushings folks are running? I have been running the Rogue Engineering street kit but I believe it's making some creaking noises now, probably just needs to be lubricated but also considering swapping them for monoballs. Thoughts?

I also finally picked up another DD so car is going a more track focused mod path now. Forget those 450/750 spring rates I was talking about for MCS re-install, back on 600/900 or 700/1000!

Using Dinan mono balls. No noise, no squirm under braking. Perfect.

[///Mobbin]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Using Dinan mono balls. No noise, no squirm under braking. Perfect.

Nice, thank you! I just noticed the claims in their description, "The quietest bearings on the market are virtually noise free so you can live with them everyday." and from Turner's website, "And thanks to the inner liner and sealed rubber boots there's none of the extra noise or reduced service life of fully solid race bushings." Glad to have a real-world verification.

Turner also recommends swapping the aluminum arms themselves if you've swapped bushings previously, "We strongly advise using these with new control arms. BMW recommends that the bushings be replaced only once per set of control arms. So if your thrust arm bushings have been replaced already then we do not recommend re-using the arms. The other reason is that the aluminum arms stretch over time which will make the bushings loose inside the arm. Other manufacturers recommend filling the stretched arms with paste but replacing the control arm is the better solution. "

May go for some new OE or maybe non-OE arms and Dinan monoballs. Thanks all!

[redpriest]

Road trip to LA this past weekend to pick up some scrubbed Pirelli slicks. Also just bought brand new set of Apex SM-10 in 18x10 et25. Now I have two sets of track wheels - one for fun and one for setting fast lap times:

[elim11]

Originally Posted by redpriest

Road trip to LA this past weekend to pick up some scrubbed Pirelli slicks. Also just bought brand new set of Apex SM-10 in 18x10 et25. Now I have two sets of track wheels - one for fun and one for setting fast lap times:

Cool! How much do used, scrubbed slicks costs? And how much life will you get out of them.

[NoCarrier]

I ran slicks once and it was some of the most fun I've ever had at a track day. I was a bit devastated when they only lasted for one and a half events though.