Track forum general chit chat.

[NoCarrier]

Originally Posted by admranger

That's fantastic. Bet you were tired after all that seat time. Trying to pass offline into 5 is a fools errand unless he had even less hp than you.

Longest I ever ran at a single time was a 2 hour "enduro" at PIR in Phoenix with NASA. Included a mandatory 5 minute pit stop to facilitate safe driver change outs. Race had everything from Porsche Cup cars on slicks with air jacks to my E30 325iS (aka money pit #1). Fun race.

There's a real art to endurance races like the one you raced in. Figuring out max fuel load, etc., to minimize pit time, maximize tire and brake life, etc. Wish I'd have done more when I was active in the sport. Lemons and Chump Car look like fun as well.

That NASA race sounds exciting. Much more intense paddock vibe I would guess. I've been really tempted to start slow-building a Spec e46 to eventually race in NASA.

You're right about the endurance aspect of it. It's much more than just getting out there and chasing fast laps. We normally race an e36 in Lemons, which is a class A car, so you'll run a 2+ hour stint while constantly navigating traffic and trying to stay cool and relaxed so you don't wear yourself out. And you soon realize that being a tenth faster per lap on the track is worthless if you come in for pit stops and everyone's standing around as if you're not in the middle of a motor race. You also have to be smart with taking advantage of full-course yellows. Oh, and follow the dang rules so you're not getting black-flagged. Six years in, we've learned that preparation and organization is just as important as talent behind the wheel. We think there's a chance that we could go for an overall win with the e36. We would have to keep it at three stints per day, so over 2.5 hours each, and with lightning fast pit stops and a bit of luck we might be able to get the best of the 150-car field.

[NoCarrier]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

It's on Michelin PS4's. Actually the brakes were the limiting factor - they must have used some long life low wear compound due to regenerative braking. Works great on the street and panic stopping, but can't stop the car at 125mph. I overheated them on the warmup lap, did this lap, then came off.

I was glad to be back in the M3 after I got it fixed later in the day

Kudos for putting the model 3 through its paces! That probably puts you in a fairly exclusive club. Cool video.

[NoCarrier]

Anyone doing Speed District at Buttonwillow next weekend?

[rymerc]

Originally Posted by CorruptCommie

It's on Michelin PS4's. Actually the brakes were the limiting factor - they must have used some long life low wear compound due to regenerative braking. Works great on the street and panic stopping, but can't stop the car at 125mph. I overheated them on the warmup lap, did this lap, then came off.

I was glad to be back in the M3 after I got it fixed later in the day

Are you captain slow? Damn I've seen you there a few times. Was that model3 at NASA too over by the concessions?

[CorruptCommie]

Originally Posted by rymerc

Are you captain slow? Damn I've seen you there a few times. Was that model3 at NASA too over by the concessions?

Yep, that's me! I wasn't at the NASA event, that must have been somebody else. I'm going up again this weekend with NNJR (The E46, not the Tesla ) and with OVR in June, let me know if you are going to either of those I'll stop by and say hi.

-Rudy

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by NoCarrier

Anyone doing Speed District at Buttonwillow next weekend?

I'm likely going on 5/27. Are you interested in sharing a garage?

[dogbone]

Originally Posted by macdude357

I'm likely going on 5/27. Are you interested in sharing a garage?

(Speed District only has 5/25 and 5/26 - Fri and Sat. Motorcycles have Sun and Mon 5/27-28.)

[NoCarrier]

Originally Posted by macdude357

I'm likely going on 5/27. Are you interested in sharing a garage?

As dogbone said, they're only there 5/25-26. I'll be there Saturday the 26th.

*checks forecast* How much is the garage rental?

[redpriest]

Originally Posted by NoCarrier

As dogbone said, they're only there 5/25-26. I'll be there Saturday the 26th.

*checks forecast* How much is the garage rental?

$100 per day for a full garage (enough for 2 people). You have to call the track itself to reserve it.

[roastbeef]

How's everything going Alex?

[scotty_miller]

After a long weekend at the track for Memorial Day, coming home and deleting the rest of the hvac and am going to use the Bimmerworld S54 block off kit. Any s54 guys on here have any tips or tricks to putting in the freeze plug?

[1MOREMOD]

I don't as didn't do the fix but had a freeze plug come out on front of block below the water pump at start of a 2 day. Trailered from auburn WA to lake Oswego OR and back in time for second day. Was a pain for a dollar part.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by dogbone

(Speed District only has 5/25 and 5/26 - Fri and Sat. Motorcycles have Sun and Mon 5/27-28.)

Ack! I'm doing Bimmerfest on Saturday and was looking to do another track on Sunday. Guess I'll head down to Chuckwalla on Sunday instead.

[roastbeef]

Yo Tim! I wish I could make it out to chuckwalla.... looks like a nice track.

[NoCarrier]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

Yo Tim! I wish I could make it out to chuckwalla.... looks like a nice track.

Lovely track in the middle of nowhere. Nearest gas station/mini-mart is half an hour away.

I guess the drive isn't quite as bad from where you are, though.

[roastbeef]

Originally Posted by NoCarrier

Lovely track in the middle of nowhere. Nearest gas station/mini-mart is half an hour away.

I guess the drive isn't quite as bad from where you are, though.

I'd air bnb in Palm Springs... my second favorite part of a track day is the diner, drinks, and exaggerated stories afterwards.

[ayao]

Originally Posted by roastbeef

I'd air bnb in Palm Springs... my second favorite part of a track day is the diner, drinks, and exaggerated stories afterwards.

LOL at exaggerated stories!

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by NoCarrier

Lovely track in the middle of nowhere. Nearest gas station/mini-mart is half an hour away.

I guess the drive isn't quite as bad from where you are, though.

No gas on site?? The M3 is really thirsty with a small gas tank....so do you normally bring extra gas and food/drinks with you? I'm looking forward to trying Chuckwalla at some point soon...even in the scorching heat...just want to be prepared. Thx.

[macdude357]

Originally Posted by Longboarder

No gas on site?? The M3 is really thirsty with a small gas tank....so do you normally bring extra gas and food/drinks with you? I'm looking forward to trying Chuckwalla at some point soon...even in the scorching heat...just want to be prepared. Thx.

They have gas at the track but it's around $6-7/gal for 91. They have food available as well (sort of like a permanent food truck). I usually bring some extra gas just to avoid paying their prices but still end up needing to buy a few gallons from the track.

[Longboarder]

Originally Posted by macdude357

They have gas at the track but it's around $6-7/gal for 91. They have food available as well (sort of like a permanent food truck). I usually bring some extra gas just to avoid paying their prices but still end up needing to buy a few gallons from the track.

Ok thx for the info!! The M3 has lots of space so bringing some extra gas shouldn't be a problem. Look forward to checking it out before it gets too hot out there.

[NoCarrier]

I'm investing in some driver upgrades this weekend... I hired a private instructor who's meeting me at Buttonwillow. I've found that every time I get a good instructor in the car my driving takes a major step forward. Especially when they drive my car and I can see exactly what I can be doing better in certain spots. Not as sexy as upgrade parts but I'm excited nonetheless.

[Chris_PDX]

Originally Posted by NoCarrier

I'm investing in some driver upgrades this weekend... I hired a private instructor who's meeting me at Buttonwillow. I've found that every time I get a good instructor in the car my driving takes a major step forward. Especially when they drive my car and I can see exactly what I can be doing better in certain spots. Not as sexy as upgrade parts but I'm excited nonetheless.

Driver upgrades are the best upgrades.