Track forum general chit chat.

[k_mann]

Originally Posted by dparm

These TNIA events are really "YMMV" -- I'm quite surprised the flagging stations and SCCA folks aren't coming down on people for being asshats. I'd be tempted to send the chapter president a note saying the event was run like shit and you won't be back, and that it will probably discourage others from trying it. TNIA is cheap track time, yes, but it's also a recruiting tool.

Well I should clarify, that was all in the first session. Like I said those people were quickly addressed and the last two sessions ran fine, no issues I saw. I got plenty of point bys in my second and third session. One was the c4 who held me up before so it was nice to see he listened.

[ThunderMoose]

Originally Posted by dparm

These TNIA events are really "YMMV" -- I'm quite surprised the flagging stations and SCCA folks aren't coming down on people for being asshats. I'd be tempted to send the chapter president a note saying the event was run like shit and you won't be back, and that it will probably discourage others from trying it. TNIA is cheap track time, yes, but it's also a recruiting tool.

I've done one TNIA in NOLA and had no issues.

But I cannot in good conscience recommend it for a novice driver. Not when there are so many great HPDE programs focused on proper education of students such as PCA (nationally) and The Drivers Edge (Texas).

Get a year behind you and then branch out.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by dparm

These TNIA events are really "YMMV" -- I'm quite surprised the flagging stations and SCCA folks aren't coming down on people for being asshats. I'd be tempted to send the chapter president a note saying the event was run like shit and you won't be back, and that it will probably discourage others from trying it. TNIA is cheap track time, yes, but it's also a recruiting tool.

It's not that easy. Takes a lot of work to fix issues like that. It comes down to race control, flangers and then...is the driver even seeing the flags or know what they mean.

[Montaver]

Finally got myself a GoPro, this was my best lap of the day before today was a wash out. I could definitely make up some time in turn 4 with a higher entry speed, that corner is notorious for big accidents though. Probably turned in a fraction early on a couple of the later corners but overall beat my PB by a second which I was pretty pleased with. Car is begging for more rubber on the front, 255 cant quite cut it.

[bigjae1976]

Originally Posted by SQ13

No, every time I try to drift, I go off track lol.

If he isn't checking his mirrors and not letting you by...the drift/pass is much more effective in sending a message.

[Grillpt]

Great meeting you!

Today sucked, be glad u left when u did. I never went out but stuck around all day for my student. They compressed the schedule in the afternoon and ended up black flagging the last session due to deteriorating conditions. All of paddock was flooded and there were lakes in areas on track. It was bad.

Second event in a row driving home on semi slicks 🤦🏻*♂️

[k_mann]

Originally Posted by bigjae1976

If he isn't checking his mirrors and not letting you by...the drift/pass is much more effective in sending a message.

I'll have to remember that. It would seem aggressively swerving back and forth to keep my tires warm didn't give him the hint

[Montaver]

Originally Posted by Grillpt

Great meeting you!

Today sucked, be glad u left when u did. I never went out but stuck around all day for my student. They compressed the schedule in the afternoon and ended up black flagging the last session due to deteriorating conditions. All of paddock was flooded and there were lakes in areas on track. It was bad.

Second event in a row driving home on semi slicks 🤦🏻*♂️

You too man! Shame about the Sunday wash out. My drive home was sketchy as hell, biblical rain on dead RE-71's is not the most relaxing driving. It's going to be a long wait to next year

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by Grip Addict

out of curiosity, what is written on your rear passenger side window?

looks like a to-do list

Ha yeah they were some notes / checklist items. Finished up some major changes late the night before loading up and trailering to the track. I have a hard enough time remembering anything normally - let alone when on very little sleep.

[Grillpt]

Originally Posted by Montaver

You too man! Shame about the Sunday wash out. My drive home was sketchy as hell, biblical rain on dead RE-71's is not the most relaxing driving. It's going to be a long wait to next year

For sure

It was not ideal for either one of us

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by dparm

These TNIA events are really "YMMV" -- I'm quite surprised the flagging stations and SCCA folks aren't coming down on people for being asshats. I'd be tempted to send the chapter president a note saying the event was run like shit and you won't be back, and that it will probably discourage others from trying it. TNIA is cheap track time, yes, but it's also a recruiting tool.

I sent the guy at SCCA who runs TNIA nationwide a long email about my experience. He responded with "thanks, I'll look into it" and who knows if they ever did.

I get that they want to make it a relaxed "fun" environment to get people into the sport, but people can die or get seriously injured doing this.

[Bartledoo]

Anybody sim racing in the off season? I'm giving it a try with VR soon.

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by Bartledoo

Anybody sim racing in the off season? I'm giving it a try with VR soon.

I do iRacing. Also run in the Lucky Dog Racing League iRacing league (tonight is MX-5 Cup cars at Summit Point).

Sometimes I'll hop into Project CARS 2 but that's mostly to make sure I still hold my World Records at Oulton Park in the R8

[gmx]

Anybody here with eyelet shock mounts; especially at the rear lower camber arm experience any corrosion, grime/debris buildup and ultimately binding? I noticed all the major premium aftermarket shocks that use a monoball don't come with a dust boot: MCS, JRZ, Bilstein CS etc.

[M3MPH1S]

Originally Posted by b4hand

Would you guys do monoballs for the LCA or https://www.splparts.com/products/fr...t-version.html

I'm pretty sure you are mixing up 2 different parts - I did the same thing initially, and it's due to many vendors using the wrong terminology (including Dinan). The actual lower control arm is the wishbone arm (#19 in the diagram below). The part you linked from SPL is actually a replacement LCA. As far as I know, nobody makes replacement monoballs for the LCA. You either replace the whole thing or don't. I've never done it, so I can't comment on performance improvement.

As for the control arm that is very popular to swap monoballs into, I'm not sure what the "100% official" term for the part is, but I know BMW calls it a "tension strut" and another "correct" term is "thrust arm" (#14 in the diagram below). Since the M3 uses a MacPherson strut, there is no "upper control arm" at the top of the strut, but the tension strut is technically above the wishbone, so it's actually kind of an upper control arm (I still wouldn't recommend using that terminology). For this, I can offer some advice since I've gone both the monoball OEM route and currently SPL. Go ahead and order the SPL replacement part (LINK) instead of wasting your time with the monoballs. It's a pain to get them pressed in and you are still stuck with the OEM rod end/joint on the other (small) side. Not that it's bad, but SPL offers an improved rod end on top of the overall better design for not much more money than the monoballs alone. But either way you choose, it's a VERY tangible upgrade on track. Worth every penny.

[gmx]

The use and repetition of incorrect terminology also confused the f*#@ out of me. The inboard LCA is already a monoball. The thrust(aka tension/caster) arm and LCA are ball jointed to the knuckle.
You only need monoballs for #15 in the above diagram and decide what you want to do with your upper strut mount to eliminate rubber.

The SPL LCA is great if you've maxed out camber adjustment on the camber/strut top mounts and need more. I think you can get more caster too. This looks unavoidable and you may rub the front section of the wheel liner obviously depending on tyre/wheel specs and how much adjustment you have on the strut / camber plate.
Imo, it's more suited to race cars running aero looking to maximise efficiency by running lower to the ground. The camber curve is commonly messed up by slamming it to get more static camber or aero efficiency - it's counter intuitive past a certain point. Only someone who has modelled the kinematics would know what that point and exactly is. The SPL spacers on the LCA outboard joint are designed to alleviate this.

[admranger]

Originally Posted by Grip Addict

out of curiosity, what is written on your rear passenger side window?

looks like a to-do list

Milk
Eggs
Tampons
Juice boxes, red ones

I’m pretty sure that’s what it says.

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by admranger

Milk
Eggs
Tampons
Juice boxes, red ones

I’m pretty sure that’s what it says.

Yeah got me there - just a few items to pick up for the porsche drivers at the track. The eggs were for me though, needed something for breakfast. Sadly didn't hand many out that weekend - I was what you would call an easy target constantly going into drivetrain malfunction

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by SQ13

No, every time I try to drift, I go off track lol.

Lol

[M3 Number 86]

Originally Posted by gmx

Anybody here with eyelet shock mounts; especially at the rear lower camber arm experience any corrosion, grime/debris buildup and ultimately binding? I noticed all the major premium aftermarket shocks that use a monoball don't come with a dust boot: MCS, JRZ, Bilstein CS etc.

I'm replacing the guide bearings on mine soon just need to find the time. Will report how crappy it looks.

[roastbeef]

really cool vid on diff cooling.

[SYT_Shadow]

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

I'm replacing the guide bearings on mine soon just need to find the time. Will report how crappy it looks.

That bottom part does get screwed up. I don't drive the MCS cars in winter and also didn't when I had JRZ and it still gets screwed.

I guess we're supposed to lube them from time to time