Track forum general chit chat.

[Ximian]

Got a couple of track days and over 5k miles on this oil so I changed it today. Filling out the Blackstone form and... only 3100 miles on it. What a waste.

[roastbeef]

yea, the blackstone reports are a waste for sure.

[Ximian]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

yea, the blackstone reports are a waste for sure.

I agree, but I thought I'd take a look for fun to see if anything is really out of whack.

[dparm]

This was a bad weekend for racing at RA -- multiple crashes at The Kink. As much as I want to do it as a bucket-list item, seeing shit like this from professionals scares me. I will definitely be getting the insurance.

https://wtf1.com/post/road-americas-...-this-weekend/


In particular, this one is monstrous:

[Visceral]

Is there general wisdom on the way to move to solid bushings in the front that everyone follows? Does anyone *regret* taking any particular rubber/poly out?

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

yea, the blackstone reports are a waste for sure.

I disagree. There are lots of other issues besides RB that they can catch. I had an aftermarket air filter installed and all of a sudden I started seeing silicon (aka dirt) and aluminum in my reports. Malek suggested going back to a stock air filter. I did so and the next report was clean. Had I not been doing oil reports, I would never have known I was getting dirt in my engine and who knows what that could have eventually led to.

[Ximian]

Any source of cheaper polyester tow straps? $100 from Turner per strap is way too much.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Any source of cheaper polyester tow straps? $100 from Turner per strap is way too much.

That actually seems cheap. Isn't the BMW Motorsport one almost $200?

I saw some in Fall-Line's showroom the other week but I suspect they won't be any cheaper. I can ask next time I'm there.

[kyoo]

Originally Posted by macdude357

I disagree. There are lots of other issues besides RB that they can catch. I had an aftermarket air filter installed and all of a sudden I started seeing silicon (aka dirt) and aluminum in my reports. Malek suggested going back to a stock air filter. I did so and the next report was clean. Had I not been doing oil reports, I would never have known I was getting dirt in my engine and who knows what that could have eventually led to.

what air filter were you using?

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by dparm

This was a bad weekend for racing at RA -- multiple crashes at The Kink. As much as I want to do it as a bucket-list item, seeing shit like this from professionals scares me. I will definitely be getting the insurance.

https://wtf1.com/post/road-americas-...-this-weekend/


In particular, this one is monstrous:

I saw that yesterday and cringed hard. I've never driven RA for real, but love that track in PCars etc. Taking that corner flat out is always tricky even in a game/simulator. Doing it for real... I couldn't. I'd have to lift.

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by Ximian

Any source of cheaper polyester tow straps? $100 from Turner per strap is way too much.

Whatever you get, make sure the bolt holding it is steel, not aluminum. I had one of those BimmerWorld aluminum tow hooks rip out at the track. Threads were all smooshed and warped afterwards. Luckily the shop was able to re-thread the receptacle and I went to a steel bolt for the strap I use now.

[Richbot]

You'll have the sense to not PITT or be PITT-ed by somebody in the kink at a track day, I'd think

There was a lot of clown behavior amongst the IMSA GT cars yesterday too, shameful intentional contact and just generally terrible. These races are a) usually not "pros" and b) are not better at not crashing, it's much worse on average than your typical club race weekend from

There was a fatality in a formula car in the kink recently too IIRC, last I heard was potential steering failure.

I'm of the opinion they need penalty rumbles and pavement ouside of that corner. It's very easy to hook a wheel in the dirt/grass if you're still saving the car on exit and end up doing somersaults. Exiting the kink we're brushing the limiter in 4th at ~120mph in the spec racer ford Gen3 which runs similar laptimes to a mildly modded E92M track car on Hoosiers, but unlike the E92M, we can do the kink comfortably flat on warm tires and it's STILL spooky especially in close quarters when you can't see around the car(s) in front and the cars behind you can't see around you either, because as soon as somebody has a little bobble, issue, everybody has to correct and you're still right on the edge.

[CorruptCommie]

Just don't crash, what's the big deal? I heard you can go flat through there anyway, so just keep your foot down and you can't mess up.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by Chris_PDX

I saw that yesterday and cringed hard. I've never driven RA for real, but love that track in PCars etc. Taking that corner flat out is always tricky even in a game/simulator. Doing it for real... I couldn't. I'd have to lift.

Ironically it's lifting that tends to cause crashes. You need to have the car "settled" before you enter. The rookie mistake is to lift, unsettle the car, and then bounce off the wall.

Originally Posted by Richbot

You'll have the sense to not PITT or be PITT-ed by somebody in the kink at a track day, I'd think

There was a lot of clown behavior amongst the IMSA GT cars yesterday too, shameful intentional contact and just generally terrible. These races are a) usually not "pros" and b) are not better at not crashing, it's much worse on average than your typical club race weekend from

There was a fatality in a formula car in the kink recently too IIRC, last I heard was potential steering failure.

I'm of the opinion they need penalty rumbles and pavement ouside of that corner. It's very easy to hook a wheel in the dirt/grass if you're still saving the car on exit and end up doing somersaults. Exiting the kink we're brushing the limiter in 4th at ~120mph in the spec racer ford Gen3 which runs similar laptimes to a mildly modded E92M track car on Hoosiers, but unlike the E92M, we can do the kink comfortably flat on warm tires and it's STILL spooky especially in close quarters when you can't see around the car(s) in front and the cars behind you can't see around you either, because as soon as somebody has a little bobble, issue, everybody has to correct and you're still right on the edge.

Yes, the race yesterday was a bit ridiculous in GTLM and GTD. I was glad to see Tandy get a penalty for just deliberately ramming the Ford GT, and then having the audacity to smile and laugh it off as "oh well I tried to give him room". No, you intentionally accelerated into him 3 times in succession. What an asshat.

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by dparm

Ironically it's lifting that tends to cause crashes. You need to have the car "settled" before you enter. The rookie mistake is to lift, unsettle the car, and then bounce off the wall.

I meant lift a bit to get the entry speed down, not lift mid corner. Probably a dab of the brakes too. Too many walls, not enough run off, and too small of testicles lol.

[Richbot]

Going through there slow unloaded feels oddly wrong, like walking outside to get the mail with no pants on

[SQ13]

Originally Posted by Richbot

Going through there slow unloaded feels oddly wrong, like walking outside to get the mail with no pants on

That’s oddly....descriptive. Is there anything you need to share with us?

[dparm]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

Just don't crash

Sage advice, thanks for sharing!

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by M3MPH1S

Wait so then they still recommend 90 ft-lbs in the installation instructions PDF? I think somebody dun goofed

I have always torqued my Apex studs to 88 ft-lbs on both my E46 and E92. I get about 24-25 track days before I feel like I need to change my studs. I only had a stud break on me once when I was at the track, and that was when I was swapping wheels on to drive home. Since I have about 90 track days now, that means I've gone through probably 2-3 replacement cycles. (once on E46, 2x on E92).

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by macdude357

I disagree. There are lots of other issues besides RB that they can catch. I had an aftermarket air filter installed and all of a sudden I started seeing silicon (aka dirt) and aluminum in my reports. Malek suggested going back to a stock air filter. I did so and the next report was clean. Had I not been doing oil reports, I would never have known I was getting dirt in my engine and who knows what that could have eventually led to.

My thoughts were more along the lines of measuring bearing wear.
And that when the bearings go, they go quicker than the amount of time it takes for an oil change interval and a report back on oil analysis.

Malek told me the same thing about my filter- oem is better. I trust his advice and opinion. My other problem is, I really like my intake.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by dparm

This was a bad weekend for racing at RA -- multiple crashes at The Kink. As much as I want to do it as a bucket-list item, seeing shit like this from professionals scares me. I will definitely be getting the insurance.

https://wtf1.com/post/road-americas-...-this-weekend/


In particular, this one is monstrous:

So, someone tell me about the kink... looks like a basic high speed right. What's the big deal? Is there something I'm missing?

[Mantii]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

So, someone tell me about the kink... looks like a basic high speed right. What's the big deal? Is there something I'm missing?

I'm heading up there in October. If I don't die, I'll share my experience lol.

Hearing from people that have been there, it's a fast corner that requires commitment and generally cannot be taken flat out in touring cars. I think even GTLM cars can't go flat out. There is a video on YouTube, "A Lap around Road America" in a 911 Porsche GTLM with commentary. I think people get spooked mid corner and lift off causing the car to snap and loose control.
This was obviously a racing incident that just happened to be at the kink. Would love to hear personal experiences from anyone that's driven RA.