Track forum general chit chat.

[kyippee]

Videos rendered and uploaded! Figured I'd share my PB session and two odd experiences

First - some weird encounters yesterday. Running in mixed run group with TrackMasters (open passing, but cars who choose to run with pink sticker on back have to give permission via point-bys)

911 turbo points me by, then it's a drag race?

Slow wagon gives a terrible point-by (hard to see, look close) then closes the door

My new PB lap starts at 7:15, more to work on but happy to be getting more in tune with things

[roastbeef]

Replaced the water temperature sensor and breather today. Not hard, just takes a little bit to familiarize yourself with taking the plenum off. Everything is back together and I'm waiting for the filter to dry.





I hope she starts. :

[roastbeef]

By the way, is it normal for a little oil residue inside the mouth of the plenum?

[PrimeBMW]

I had a little test day Friday. Everything went quite well considering this was the second time out with the widebody. So far it's about 20mph faster on the straights compared to the standard body and six cylinder. I'm just starting to wrap my head around this Beast but she is proving to be fast and more speed is to come from me and the car!

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

By the way, is it normal for a little oil residue inside the mouth of the plenum?

I've had the plenum off about a dozen times over the past 6 months for...various things...never seen any oil on it, I would definitely do another inspection

[jid2]

That pointing and lack of awareness is lame.

That E46 with the widebody is a dream! So good looking. Would love to build one like that.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by M3MPH1S

I've had the plenum off about a dozen times over the past 6 months for...various things...never seen any oil on it, I would definitely do another inspection

A dozen times? Now I'm curious why you had to take it off that much.

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

A dozen times? Now I'm curious why you had to take it off that much.

Unfortunate series of events first involving replacing valve cover gaskets because I had oil in the bottom of cylinder 8 spark plug hole (and had to redo the job after test driving down the street and realizing part of the gasket got pinched and was leaking oil), next was the worst - had it on and off about 4-5 times trying to diagnose starter motor issue, then after that throttle actuators, then lastly replaced thermostat and temperature sensor.

[roastbeef]

I would have just put a match to it. Lol

I was putting my tools away before cleaning up and going for a drive and couldn't find my pliers... then I suddenly had a flash of vision remembering setting them in the valley between the throttle bodies. I just about died for a second. Lol thought i put the plenum back on over them. (Found them)

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I would have just put a match to it. Lol

I was putting my tools away before cleaning up and going for a drive and couldn't find my pliers... then I suddenly had a flash of vision remembering setting them in the valley between the throttle bodies. I just about died for a second. Lol thought i put the plenum back on over them. (Found them)

Been there before, that "deer in headlights feeling"

On the upside, I've gotten very good at removing and reinstalling the plenum

[scotty_miller]

Currently sitting in my garage with the Trackspec hood vents all mocked up and scared shitless to cut my hood. Someone convince me to just do it

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by scotty_miller

Currently sitting in my garage with the Trackspec hood vents all mocked up and scared shitless to cut my hood. Someone convince me to just do it

Just send it bro

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by scotty_miller

Currently sitting in my garage with the Trackspec hood vents all mocked up and scared shitless to cut my hood. Someone convince me to just do it

I bought a rivet gun and played with it today... does that count? Hehe

[scotty_miller]

You're right... If Larry Enticer is saying just send it. I say I'll get the cut off wheel ripping and you get the rivets poppin! Hahaha

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by scotty_miller

Currently sitting in my garage with the Trackspec hood vents all mocked up and scared shitless to cut my hood. Someone convince me to just do it

Do it!

[jid2]

Steady hand, full throttle and let the aluminum fly

[FMLYSDN]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

A dozen times? Now I'm curious why you had to take it off that much.

I did recently and noticed the same thing. I spoke to my friend who was a BMW mechanic and he said he has seen it before. He noted to Keep an eye on it. Wasn't overly concerned.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

Videos rendered and uploaded! Figured I'd share my PB session and two odd experiences

First - some weird encounters yesterday. Running in mixed run group with TrackMasters (open passing, but cars who choose to run with pink sticker on back have to give permission via point-bys)

911 turbo points me by, then it's a drag race?

Slow wagon gives a terrible point-by (hard to see, look close) then closes the door

My new PB lap starts at 7:15, more to work on but happy to be getting more in tune with things

I have also had similar experiences like this in TMR’s mixed run group where there is a large spread between the extremes of situational awareness of the drivers, ranging from fast advanced to I-forgot-that-I-have-a-point-by-arm-attached-to-my-body-because-I-wear-a-race-suit.

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by ayao

I have also had similar experiences like this in TMR’s mixed run group where there is a large spread between the extremes of situational awareness of the drivers, ranging from fast advanced to I-forgot-that-I-have-a-point-by-arm-attached-to-my-body-because-I-wear-a-race-suit.

What's the solution? Move to advance? (slow version if there's 2 advance groups)

My concern is I don't believe I have the off-line driving skills up to par yet or the high awareness to make sure I'm not a risk to other drivers passing me. In high int at least I can hang back and typically don't have anybody passing me nowadays, so the rear view watching is less stressed. I'd hate to have some bat-out-of-hell fast driver make a pass on me and wind up causing an accident if I have a lapse in awareness or muck up a turn

[ayao]

Originally Posted by kpewpew

What's the solution? Move to advance? (slow version if there's 2 advance groups)

My concern is I don't believe I have the off-line driving skills up to par yet or the high awareness to make sure I'm not a risk to other drivers passing me. In high int at least I can hang back and typically don't have anybody passing me nowadays, so the rear view watching is less stressed. I'd hate to have some bat-out-of-hell fast driver make a pass on me and wind up causing an accident if I have a lapse in awareness or muck up a turn

The HPDE org I drive with the most has Beginner/Solo, Intermediate, Advanced (point by) and Open passing groups -- I like the overall order of pointby and when everyone is paying attention it works completely fine with minimal to no impediment to faster traffic. There was one day that my usual advanced pointby group was sold out so they persuaded me to drive in the open passing group which included some very, very fast drivers/cars including a couple of Ferrari cup cars (WTF??!). It worked out just fine even though I spent more time than usual looking in the rearview mirror - and even then I still pointed them by R/L which seemed to work out just fine according to some of the people that lapped me during the debrief session. You sound like a conscientious driver and the videos you posted suggest that you have pretty good situational awareness and would not be a safety hazard in the next group up. I used to think I was an intermediate-group-lifer but I became frustrated with the conga line and slow drivers who wouldn't point by and have found that the elevated level of awareness in advanced groups is far preferable and makes for a much more pleasant driving experience.

[kyippee]

Originally Posted by ayao

The HPDE org I drive with the most has Beginner/Solo, Intermediate, Advanced (point by) and Open passing groups -- I like the overall order of pointby and when everyone is paying attention it works completely fine with minimal to no impediment to faster traffic. There was one day that my usual advanced pointby group was sold out so they persuaded me to drive in the open passing group which included some very, very fast drivers/cars including a couple of Ferrari cup cars (WTF??!). It worked out just fine even though I spent more time than usual looking in the rearview mirror - and even then I still pointed them by R/L which seemed to work out just fine according to some of the people that lapped me during the debrief session. You sound like a conscientious driver and the videos you posted suggest that you have pretty good situational awareness and would not be a safety hazard in the next group up. I used to think I was an intermediate-group-lifer but I became frustrated with the conga line and slow drivers who wouldn't point by and have found that the elevated level of awareness in advanced groups is far preferable and makes for a much more pleasant driving experience.

Thanks, I think I'll step it up soon. Which group do you normally run with?

I normally go with Speed SF, and they do beginners / low-int / high-int / low-advance / high-advance.

Currently at 16 track days, 11 in my E92 M3 and 5 in my E46 M3. They're requiring 11-19 track days experience for low advance so I figure I'll move up after next weekend with them.

They're giving a guideline requirement (Laguna Seca examples) of <1:45 for high-advance and >=1:46 for low-advance, so I just made the high-int cut pacing wise! I suspect with a few more days at my current pace I'll feel more comfortable.

[dparm]

Thought I'd share this "critique" video of my car's PDR data from Autobahn CC south. The software is Cosworth Pi Toolbox, for those wondering. Enjoy!