Track forum general chit chat.

[//steve\\]

Originally Posted by rhyary

If you need to drop the subframe for any reason, I strongly recommend getting an SB that is 50% stiffer than stock, if you do track days. It is a bigger job than the front so it should be done while you there for other stuff. Or if you do decide to replace the rear SB, also do the other stiffening usuals.

Won't be happening unless I ever decide to put a serious diff and/or change the final drive. Car already has solid subframe and diff bushings.

My experience with other cars is that stiffer rear sway bars usually feel better on the street but ultimately don't help (and often hurt) overall rear grip.

[fsmtnbiker]

If you don’t have a way to adjust them on the ground, disconnect one side and find a flat/level surface and make sure with the swaybar disconnected, that the front ride heights are equal. If they are, then lift the whole front of the car up and take out the preload at full droop - this will be extremely close to no preload. Close enough that until you’re getting a corner balance done you’ll never need to worry about it.

[//steve\\]

Originally Posted by fsmtnbiker

If you don’t have a way to adjust them on the ground, disconnect one side and find a flat/level surface and make sure with the swaybar disconnected, that the front ride heights are equal. If they are, then lift the whole front of the car up and take out the preload at full droop - this will be extremely close to no preload. Close enough that until you’re getting a corner balance done you’ll never need to worry about it.

Great! Thanks. I'll give that a shot. This isn't a track car (yet) for me either. Just sees a lot of fun on the road.

FWIW I didn't buy all this stuff either, previous owner of the car did it all so I'm just looking to make the most of what I've got. Only thing I've changed recently is swapping the Bilsteins that were on it to MCS.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

I feel like I'm full of questions for you guys lately, but does anybody have a source for PFC Z54 pads other than bimmerworld? They are out of the 11 compound and I need to order soon.

Give Dave Zeckhausen a call at Zeckhausen Racing.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Or ride the rev limiter in places because extra shifting is either not possible for a section and/or would slow us down. I'm actually getting a tune revision for 8600 rev limiter for this reason.

I do this at COTA on the back-straight. The shift from 4-5 at 150mph doesn't get me any extra speed or reduced lap time.

[turbo_joe]

Originally Posted by dparm

I do this at COTA on the back-straight. The shift from 4-5 at 150mph doesn't get me any extra speed or reduced lap time.

Manual trans?

I think 145mph (gps speed) is about my limit in fifth with the DCT

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

I feel like I'm full of questions for you guys lately, but does anybody have a source for PFC Z54 pads other than bimmerworld? They are out of the 11 compound and I need to order soon.

I just returned 3 sets of PFC11 pads to BW. Call again.

I usually stock enough PFC hardware for at least a season at a time.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by turbo_joe

Manual trans?

I think 145mph (gpd speed) is about my limit in fifth with the DCT

Yes, manual. I have tried a variety of things on that back straight and looked at the data. The fastest thing for my car is to just leave it in 3rd and send it a bit earlier, then let it bounce off the rev limiter in 4th for a moment before the braking zone.



downshift to 2nd at corner entry before the straight --> too much time lost on the 2-3 shift

upshift to 5th before braking zone --> too much speed bled off during the 4-5 shift, plus 5th gear is borderline too tall to make up for it

no-lift-shift all gears --> slightly faster but risky on 2-3 and 4-5; probably not worth the drivetrain shock unless you're fighting for a prize or on a flying lap



I'm usually at about 152mph at redline in 4th gear before the braking zone, FWIW.

[turbo_joe]

Originally Posted by dparm

Yes, manual. I have tried a variety of things on that back straight and looked at the data. The fastest thing for my car is to just leave it in 3rd and send it a bit earlier, then let it bounce off the rev limiter in 4th for a moment before the braking zone.



I'm usually at about 152mph at redline in 4th gear before the braking zone, FWIW.

I have the same issue at Summit Point on the main circuit. Topping out 5th just before the brake zone but I haven't been back with my aero setup, I am probably going to lose 3-4mph and it will no longer be an issue lol

[kayha12]

Originally Posted by turbo_joe

I have the same issue at Summit Point on the main circuit. Topping out 5th just before the brake zone but I haven't been back with my aero setup, I am probably going to lose 3-4mph and it will no longer be an issue lol

I added a pretty big splitter since my last time at Summit and only lost about 2 mph on the front straight, however after reviewing data with other drivers... everyone lost max mph in all sectors since we were all comparing our laps from November. The heat will kill your power/max mph more than aero

Unless you have your wing set to an aggressive angle it shouldn't rob your top speed by much.

[Bartledoo]

Originally Posted by kayha12

I added a pretty big splitter since my last time at Summit and only lost about 2 mph on the front straight, however after reviewing data with other drivers... everyone lost max mph in all sectors since we were all comparing our laps from November. The heat will kill your power/max mph more than aero

Unless you have your wing set to an aggressive angle it shouldn't rob your top speed by much.

Yea my aero didn't harm my top speed at all (on the main straight of my track main track), and it's coming out of a 2nd gear corner.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by OG Shark

So just how long is the not fully healed from knee surgery excuse good for? Looks like I’m headed there again late summer - would be nice to know how long I can run that excuse afterwards before having to find a new one.

A month after arthroscopic is where I was at. Taught classroom session b/c I couldn't brace myself in the car for long periods. Ximian's response was proper, of course. I hate it when the Dr. cheaps out and doesn't use the red gel loctite on the screws.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by kayha12

Here’s my fast lap at summit main. And yeah you can tell when I try to ease into the throttle it hits too hard and I back out of it. If you look closely enough the grip does not like this either haha I’m going to have it turned off moving forward

That's properly quick. I've only done the Summit Point main track once (and then I got transferred...). That down hill right hand kink always caused my seat leather to gather. Turn 9 is supposed to be the bad turn but it was super easy (maybe I was too slow...lol). I admit I was conservative as I hadn't been on track for a couple years but I hung with the A group and eventually was running with some of the non-heavily modded "fast guys". Fun track.

[kayha12]

Originally Posted by admranger

That's properly quick. I've only done the Summit Point main track once (and then I got transferred...). That down hill right hand kink always caused my seat leather to gather. Turn 9 is supposed to be the bad turn but it was super easy (maybe I was too slow...lol). I admit I was conservative as I hadn't been on track for a couple years but I hung with the A group and eventually was running with some of the non-heavily modded "fast guys". Fun track.

Thanks for the kind words! This is my "hometown" track and I can easily say once you're into the lower 1:20s, finding time becomes much harder! You really begin to push those brake zones, and need to up those cornering speeds by quite a bit. But I agree, it's a fun track

[turbo_joe]

Originally Posted by kayha12

I added a pretty big splitter since my last time at Summit and only lost about 2 mph on the front straight, however after reviewing data with other drivers... everyone lost max mph in all sectors since we were all comparing our laps from November. The heat will kill your power/max mph more than aero

Unless you have your wing set to an aggressive angle it shouldn't rob your top speed by much.

I have my wing at a very non aggressive angle right now. Good to know about not losing much speed. Looking forward to comparing my data. Last time I was there was late August 2019, also crazy hot and this weekend looks not to much different

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by kayha12

Thanks for the kind words! This is my "hometown" track and I can easily say once you're into the lower 1:20s, finding time becomes much harder! You really begin to push those brake zones, and need to up those cornering speeds by quite a bit. But I agree, it's a fun track

I was looking at records and Roberto Crescencio had a 1:16 in ST3 trim. How is that even possible?

[turbo_joe]

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I was looking at records and Roberto Crescencio had a 1:16 in ST3 trim. How is that even possible?

That is hauling ass, my buddy runs with CCS/WERA expert with his R6 at a 1:15 but thats a fully prepped race bike

[roastbeef]

figured i'd ask in here in case anyone that tows can offer some insight... anyone use these tires? we don't see snow, but the wet performance is supposed to be great.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...cleSearch=true

[CorruptCommie]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

figured i'd ask in here in case anyone that tows can offer some insight... anyone use these tires? we don't see snow, but the wet performance is supposed to be great.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...cleSearch=true

I just run Conti DWS on the X5d, we don't get any snow here either.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

figured i'd ask in here in case anyone that tows can offer some insight... anyone use these tires? we don't see snow, but the wet performance is supposed to be great.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...cleSearch=true

When I see a UTQG above 200:

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

figured i'd ask in here in case anyone that tows can offer some insight... anyone use these tires? we don't see snow, but the wet performance is supposed to be great.

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...cleSearch=true

That's the top of the line '4 season' tire that has the snowflake symbol on it.

I bought my sister a set for her 2017 Mini Cooper in Switzerland. They work quite well. I have not met a Michelin tire I did not like

[kayha12]

Originally Posted by turbo_joe

I have my wing at a very non aggressive angle right now. Good to know about not losing much speed. Looking forward to comparing my data. Last time I was there was late August 2019, also crazy hot and this weekend looks not to much different

If you have AIM Data, happy to share my data. We have a folder with a bunch of friends in various cars. Easiest way to talk smack to one another haha

Originally Posted by ThunderMoose

I was looking at records and Roberto Crescencio had a 1:16 in ST3 trim. How is that even possible?

wow really? so the official TT record was reset by DJ Fitzpatrick last April in his e46 m3, 1:16.8 I believe... whatever files online are not up to date