My E90 M3 Dedicated Track build (with pix!)

[evilspiritM3]

I'll see you there- doing comp school this weekend, but in my M2 street car. I've watched a bunch of videos and 25a seems like it's gonna be fast!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by evilspiritM3

I'll see you there- doing comp school this weekend, but in my M2 street car. I've watched a bunch of videos and 25a seems like it's gonna be fast!

Cool. Hope to see ya out there. The weather looks fantastic. Wish we were doing 13CW.

I've run 25CW, but not with the A-section. One of the track managers has always claimed that he likes the A-section a lot more than Off-Ramp. It will be interesting to see what that's about. I'm sure the A-section will be easier on my splitter than Off Ramp.

I've never run with NASA SoCal. Looking forward to seeing how they do things compared to the Rocky Mountain region......I mean....you know.....if my car is running.....

[e36clubracer]

Sometime could you post pics of your trailer loaded up with car in and all? Just looking for ideas on laying out my new ATC trailer. I am adding L-track on the inside myself and just trying to get ideas for the layout. TIA!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by e36clubracer

Sometime could you post pics of your trailer loaded up with car in and all? Just looking for ideas on laying out my new ATC trailer. I am adding L-track on the inside myself and just trying to get ideas for the layout. TIA!

I should have the rig loaded up on Friday. I'll try to remember to take some pix. It's not very fancy in there. Pretty utilitarian. But it gets the job done.

[admranger]

If I remember the A section correctly (I only drove it once in each direction iirc), there's no camber on the second right. Maybe even off camber a little. My memory could be foggy. It's a fun section though. You have to remember to hustle through it as there's the potential to get comfy in that turn vs. getting after it.

Star mazda turn is fun. Been there, spun there (with the photographer snapping away).

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by admranger

If I remember the A section correctly (I only drove it once in each direction iirc), there's no camber on the second right. Maybe even off camber a little. My memory could be foggy. It's a fun section though. You have to remember to hustle through it as there's the potential to get comfy in that turn vs. getting after it.

Star mazda turn is fun. Been there, spun there (with the photographer snapping away).

Spun?! Looks like a sweet mid-drift photo to me

[admranger]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Spun?! Looks like a sweet mid-drift photo to me

That's what I meant...I was in a drifting competition and completely walked away from my competitor.

The following photo shows just a touch more yaw than is considered optimum...

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by admranger

If I remember the A section correctly (I only drove it once in each direction iirc), there's no camber on the second right. Maybe even off camber a little. My memory could be foggy. It's a fun section though. You have to remember to hustle through it as there's the potential to get comfy in that turn vs. getting after it.

Star mazda turn is fun. Been there, spun there (with the photographer snapping away).

hehe Star Mazda-------when I was a complete novice to motorsport in my first season, I always ran with full traction control on. Just didn't trust myself because I had a supercharged car and absolutely no experience. As I got a few track days under my belt, I began to wonder how much traction control was doing. Really had no concept of it at all. And mind you, I had no idea how to countersteer at the time......never messed around in the snow when I was young, never autocrossed, etc. I was at a Buttonwillow 1CW event during that first season. After going over Phil Hill, I decided to turn DSC off and see what it felt like. Star Mazda was the next turn after turning DSC off. I instantly spun the car on the exit of Star Mazda....traction control was back on after that.

I'm 10 days away from my 10 year anniversary of me being in motorsport. My first event ever was Jan 14, 2012 with Speed Ventures at Auto Club Speedway. OMG, I cannot tell you how nervous I was! Driving into that facility is daunting with those huge grandstands looming and you go through the tunnel. So nervous. Learned a lot in the last 10 years!

[SYT_Shadow]

Sounds like an important anniversary!!

[StripclubDJ]

I fixed his transmission


After 5 attempts


Lol

[rhyary]

Originally Posted by StripclubDJ

I fixed his transmission


After 5 attempts


Lol

details

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by StripclubDJ

I fixed his transmission


After 5 attempts


Lol

I am happy to report that the car is running smoothly. Ran it hard for two sessions on the Test&Tune day at Buttonwillow today.

I landed at 9AM in LA. Ran to EAS to grab the car. Ran up to Buttonwillow. Got there at 2PM. Prepped the car and headed to the hot pit. Was a bit nervous. Headed out on track and----the car ran without issue.

Config 25CW with the A-section is definitely challenging. I was more worried about the car than the layout, so I didn't really dig in and learn it the way I should have, but I think I have a sense of the A-section now. I'll work during the time trial to get that section down.

Once I determined that the car was ok, the real work began......I needed fill 5 gas jugs, I needed tires mounted, I needed to get through tech, I needed to book a hotel, I needed to book a flight home tomorrow, I needed to swap wheels so I could feel out the new scrubs....had a lot to do. Got it done in the dark.

Ultimately, the answer for my car seemed to be----tighten up all the loose bolts in the original transmission and use the original clutches. Perhaps the longer term solution will be to get new clutches, but for whatever reason, SSP just would not ship the parts out since mid-December, and then this week said I would have to pay for overnight shipping......and I still don't think we would have gotten them in time. I just don't know what was going on there......

Anyway, I just want to thank the EAS guys for their effort on this problem. This has been a tough one to chase down.

I'm looking forward to putting some good hot laps down tomorrow in the NASA TT. Hope it goes well. I'm a bit worried the morning will start with fog.....

And evilspiritM3 came over to say hi. Was nice chatting with him. Always nice to meet forum dudes.

[StripclubDJ]

Originally Posted by rhyary

details

Oil pump pressure hub bolts all backed out
It was losing pressure to the basket

[derbo]

5th time is the charm! StripclubDJ

Glad you got a working car for 2022 dogbone ! Here is to 2022 season!

[roastbeef]

random question, but you were just there- how is the new track looking at buttonwillow? it was supposed to be open decemberish, but the opening date got pushed back a bit.

[evilspiritM3]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

random question, but you were just there- how is the new track looking at buttonwillow? it was supposed to be open decemberish, but the opening date got pushed back a bit.

It doesn't look paved.

[gqeyes]

Nice build!!!! Just a quick question as I didn't see too much of tire info- I'm moving on to hoosier a7/r7 this season, as my car has stock power and I stripped down about a good 400 lbs, should I stay with 275/35/18 squared or going up to 285/35/18? If I'm going with 285, would 10 an ideal width or 10.5? Thanks!

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by gqeyes

Nice build!!!! Just a quick question as I didn't see too much of tire info- I'm moving on to hoosier a7/r7 this season, as my car has stock power and I stripped down about a good 400 lbs, should I stay with 275/35/18 squared or going up to 285/35/18? If I'm going with 285, would 10 an ideal width or 10.5? Thanks!

Thanks!

There’s no 285/35/18—-only 285/30/18 in the Hoosier line.

Running wider than 275 starts to require a certain suspension setup that allows for wider widths up front. What suspension do you have? 285 Hoosier would work fine on 10, but probably be a bit more ideal on 10.5. But again, you need to be able to fit that up front. And a 285 is most likely going to rub your fender liner.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by StripclubDJ

I fixed his transmission


After 5 attempts


Lol

Good work! Finally! Happy to hear Mr Bone's car is operating correctly, finally!!

[gqeyes]

Originally Posted by dogbone

Thanks!

There’s no 285/35/18—-only 285/30/18 in the Hoosier line.

Running wider than 275 starts to require a certain suspension setup that allows for wider widths up front. What suspension do you have? 285 Hoosier would work fine on 10, but probably be a bit more ideal on 10.5. But again, you need to be able to fit that up front. And a 285 is most likely going to rub your fender liner.

Thank you sir!!! I will be installing MCS 3WR soon, I already had a bit rub on my fender liner with 275/35/18 a7 on a 18*10 rim, so as long as it's not rubbing crazily, Im not too worried about it. Do you feel like the car would gain more on the turn comparing to 285 over 275 squared on stock power wise?

[StripclubDJ]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Good work! Finally! Happy to hear Mr Bone's car is operating correctly, finally!!

Thank you sir

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by SYT_Shadow

Good work! Finally! Happy to hear Mr Bone's car is operating correctly, finally!!

haha solve one problem------another shows up.....

ABS freaked out and flat spotted my tires in the first session on Saturday. Changed tires and the car ran ok in the second session. But the car is back at the shop to change out wheel speed sensors and see if there are any grounding issues that can be found. The code reader said something about voltage too high in the ABS system.

I'll try to write up more later.