Track forum general chit chat.

[Davisca455]

Total track noob here, 4 events in 3 years, so not fast, certainly not offering advice, just sharing the set of circumstances that set me on the path of tracking with everything off.
I feel fortunate that I'm close to Thunderhill, which relative to Sears Point and Laguna Seca there just isn't nearly as much consequence for an off-track.
My car has a +210hp supercharger and my first time on track it rained for the first 3 sessions.
I was fortunate enough to have multi SCCA champ as a coach in the car.
He got in the car and told me to turn everything off and to put it in Comfort mode.
I was all "Are you sure? Never been on a track, reflexes not what they used to be, raining, 600hp."
He says "You aren't going 10/10ths today, you will be learning the track, but you also have an opportunity to learn throttle control today. Yes, we will probably spin today, but this is the track for that, just be extra careful exiting 13 and 15."
So I just started off carefully and slowly added speed as I gained familiarity with the car on track and the conditions.
The coach would tell me things like "You have more grip than you realize, try going in faster next lap."
It was invaluable to have him in the car as a 2nd set of eyes to help me be confident enough to sneak up on my limit.
Didn't spin, but definitely had some wiggles as the day progressed.

A month later I went for my 2nd day and it was dry.
Even with everything "Off", the car would still intervene in certain situations.
At Thunderhill, it's downhill to Turn 10.
When I would get into 10 super aggressive (for me), the car wouldn't let me pick up the throttle when I wanted. I'd try to roll on the throttle exiting 10 and all I can guess is the car says "Nope, wheel speed sensors and steering angle sensor not in acceptable parameters for throttle increase."
When I should be accelerating toward 11, I'm instead brake checking the poor guy that was kind enough to point me by.
VERY frustrating.

[tsk94]

^ Everything couldn't have been off if it was still intervening. Maybe you were in MDM mode?

Off in the E9X is OFF.

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by tsk94

^ Everything couldn't have been off if it was still intervening. Maybe you were in MDM mode?

Off in the E9X is OFF.

There isn't an MDM mode available with the G-Power tune, circa 2009.
DSC on, or DSC off.
It might be time to save up for throttle actuators?

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

There isn't an MDM mode available with the G-Power tune, circa 2009.
DSC on, or DSC off.
It might be time to save up for throttle actuators?

Did you car come with MDM from the factory? Not all cars did. The tune you have for your supercharger wouldn't eliminate MDM, perhaps you didn't have it to begin with.

Would need to know more specific of what you mean by it's intervening. If the TA are going they should throw a code I believe. Not sure if that's the cause of your issues though.

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Did you car come with MDM from the factory? Not all cars did. The tune you have for your supercharger wouldn't eliminate MDM, perhaps you didn't have it to begin with.

Would need to know more specific of what you mean by it's intervening. If the TA are going they should throw a code I believe. Not sure if that's the cause of your issues though.

I push the throttle and there is fraction of a second lag, then it's game on.
It only happens when I'm braking hard enough to get the car out of shape entering 10.

I use two different DMEs.
The original was tuned by G-Power in 2009, and is used with the supercharger kit of parts, MDM is not a choice.
The second DME is from a junkyard and has been "cloned" to work with my stock kit of parts. It sees my mileage, VIN, everything. It has MDM available.
In fact I remember noticing the green MDM light for the very first time last summer when I installed the junkyard DME and stock parts.

Here's a short video with the DSC "Off".
It seems to behave as I would expect?

I think the DSC is off, because when I push the M button I get the warning that the DSC is inactive.

[OG Shark]

I'm not digging my hood much anymore - anyone have a better suggestion? CF & vented.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by OG Shark

I'm not digging my hood much anymore - anyone have a better suggestion? CF & vented.

Maybe cause it's missing the BMW roundel?

I was going to say the M24 one, but it honestly doesn't look much different..

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by OG Shark

I'm not digging my hood much anymore - anyone have a better suggestion? CF & vented.

[IMG]https://hosting.photobucket.com/imag...#38;fit=bounds[/IMG]

Besides the m24 offering?

And may I suggest some drilled hinges? :

[Redd]

This one! Cheap too at $1.4k.

https://www.hgkshop.com/collections/...32304955588705

[OG Shark]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Maybe cause it's missing the BMW roundel?

I was going to say the M24 one, but it honestly doesn't look much different..

Hey man I just mastered doing a half assed job on the wrap - haven't made it to badges yet.

I like the flush vents better on that one, might be a contender

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Besides the m24 offering?

And may I suggest some drilled hinges? :

Hinges please, don't insult me. Little bit of double sided tape and some bailing wire, we don't need any hinges.

Originally Posted by Redd

This one! Cheap too at $1.4k.

https://www.hgkshop.com/collections/...32304955588705

That's like the love child between an M3 & SN95, but I kind of dig it

[leftfootbr8king]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

It's mostly a financial thing at this point. I invest heavily and a car isn't a huge priority if I was to ball it up and had to start over, so I'm clinging to what I have.
Once I can go more consistently, I'll start working and building with everything off. Until then, it feels like I'm rusty every time I go. I'm not afraid of the car, I'm afraid of doing too much too soon.

How many years have you been at the track @beef?

Fuggin send it bro, you got this

[roastbeef]

About 5-6 years I think, but only two last year.

[DRLane]

Do ya'll change all four track tires together, or per axle? I roasted my NT01s earlier today and had to cut the day short after 3rd session. The rears look like they have another day easily but could also be persuaded to try something else. Contender are AR1, AO, RT, or back to RR. Need to drive on tires 80 miles each way so i need to stick with DOT although it's less than ideal to drive on these as is.

And I was cursing all the understeer in the right hand corners all morning. Ha, i think the tires were just on their way out...

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by DRLane

Do ya'll change all four track tires together, or per axle? I roasted my NT01s earlier today and had to cut the day short after 3rd session. The rears look like they have another day easily but could also be persuaded to try something else. Contender are AR1, AO, RT, or back to RR. Need to drive on tires 80 miles each way so i need to stick with DOT although it's less than ideal to drive on these as is.

And I was cursing all the understeer in the right hand corners all morning. Ha, i think the tires were just on their way out...

Need more negative camber based on that picture.

Tough when the other 2 only have a day left. It's not really worth while buying 2 new ones as you'll be left in the same situation -2 tires with life left and 2 that are done. Just rotate them front to rear more frequently and you shouldn't have the issues (at least as badly).

[roastbeef]

Needs more camber. Usually it's the inside shoulder that gives up.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Needs more camber. Usually it's the inside shoulder that gives up.

I'm running just shy of negative 4 degrees. Not much more camber for me to obtain.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by Davisca455

I push the throttle and there is fraction of a second lag, then it's game on.
It only happens when I'm braking hard enough to get the car out of shape entering 10.

I use two different DMEs.
The original was tuned by G-Power in 2009, and is used with the supercharger kit of parts, MDM is not a choice.
The second DME is from a junkyard and has been "cloned" to work with my stock kit of parts. It sees my mileage, VIN, everything. It has MDM available.
In fact I remember noticing the green MDM light for the very first time last summer when I installed the junkyard DME and stock parts.

Here's a short video with the DSC "Off".
It seems to behave as I would expect?

I think the DSC is off, because when I push the M button I get the warning that the DSC is inactive.

Seems like everything is off. Not sure what the problem could be, honestly. Do you have any TA related codes? Unless your tune somehow is cutting power when everything is off, but I don't think that's likely.

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by DRLane

I'm running just shy of negative 4 degrees. Not much more camber for me to obtain.

Are both front tires wearing the same?

Yeah, -4* is already a lot, but the tire wear won't lie. If both tires are doing the same you need more, which can be done if you have adjustable lower arms or slotting the strut towers. The only other option it to flip the tires of the front wheels to wear them more evenly - I do that all the time.

[roastbeef]

They look pretty worn, might just be their time. -4 is pretty good.

[DRLane]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Need more negative camber based on that picture.

Tough when the other 2 only have a day left. It's not really worth while buying 2 new ones as you'll be left in the same situation -2 tires with life left and 2 that are done. Just rotate them front to rear more frequently and you shouldn't have the issues (at least as badly).

Unfortunately i'm staggered. 275 / 305 Maxed out camber is just shy of 4 degrees.

HPR is hard on the driver side shoulder with both the high speed aero corners and critical "slow" corners as right handers. The insides get their abuse from heavy breaking but otherwise the temps are generally consistent. Plus i'm now running 0 degrees toe in the fronts (where previously i was toed out) to protect the insides.

Those had ~20 sessions but should've gotten me through the day. It's the rears that still have thread and some life in them. Was just curious if folks replace in sets. Bummer to toss the rears that have another day on them...

Thx guys!

[Davisca455]

Originally Posted by tsk94

Seems like everything is off. Not sure what the problem could be, honestly. Do you have any TA related codes? Unless your tune somehow is cutting power when everything is off, but I don't think that's likely.

No codes...

[tsk94]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

They look pretty worn, might just be their time. -4 is pretty good.

Nah. The inside still has the groove clearly showing. My NT01's look like a slick for a solid day of use before they cord.