A Track Junkie is "born"

[Das Borgen]

subscribed

 

road courses....the real track

 

 

OP,

maybe one day we'll see each other on track

 

join bimmerforums and hang out in the track section

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=128

 

O see you wanna get into GTS3...........very very fun and competitive racing there, at least in NASA Great Lakes/Midwest........ BMWCCA's GTS3 equivalent is IP or JP (I-Prepared, J-prepared) and they use the same ruleset pretty much...............you should come up to the Mid Ohio Buckeye-BMWCCA event next weekend

http://www.buckeyebmwcca.org/buckeyebmwcca/DS_Details.html

 

I won t be driving but I will be there to get a set of Carbotech XP8 rear pads to compliment my front DTC60s

Edited October 15, 2010 by das borgen

[nocab72]

Another great weekend at the track and another new fast lap.

 

This time @ New Jersey Motorsports Park - Thunderbolt Circuit

 

 

I really like this track, it is fast and the massive amount of run off is confidence inspiring. This past weekend was a NASA-NE event and I participated in my 2nd Time Trials event.

 

Since the car was built for NASA GTS3 class, no specific attention was paid to the "points" classification of time trials - consequently I fall into the TTS class which is an "unlimited" modifications class where the only restriction is your weight to horsepower ratio.

 

The TTS class limit is 8.7:1 (8.7lbs for each 1rwhp), that is car weight with driver at the end of a session. My #72 car with me in it and 1/4 tank of fuel tips the scales at 3100lbs and dyno'd 297rwhp (call it 300) with current mods. That puts me at ~10.33:1. SIGNIFICANTLY below the Weight to HP limit. I could drop 500lbs or add 50hp and still run in TTS class!

 

My purpose of TimeTrials this fall wasn't to be competitive in TTS but use it as a stepping stone to racing next year with the following two objectives:

 

1) Practice getting into the "Race Qualifying" mindset quickly. 1 or 2 warm up laps, then GO GO GO. This is significantly different than the DE routine of slowly bringing the pace up through the session and frankly through the day. In qualifying you head out cold and in 5 minutes you need to bring it up to a 9.5/10ths or 10/10ths level AND drive that perfect qualifying line, often times having only one chance at a flying lap - gotta make it count!

 

2) Experience in an environment that does not require point-by's. In the dedicated TimeTrials run groups no point-by is required, if you catch someone, simply make a sensible pass. This turned out to be a pretty big step, since all along in DE's I 100% knew that the car I am about to overtake is aware I am going to pass them because I sat and waited (Alan, hahahaha) for that point by from them. The first few passes were a major leap of faith in the other driver.

 

--

Even with an "uncompetitive" car from a weight:hp standpoint in TTS I managed to take 1st place in the TTS class both days by nearly 3 seconds to the 2nd place finisher in a class of five cars, one of which was the NASA-NE Regional TTS Points Champion for 2010.

 

For those 1st place finishes I earned my first "Racing Trophy", two free tires from Hoosier through their Contingency Program - (that's $600 worth of tires!) AND set the NASA TTS lap record at the track!

 

This was weekend 4 of our "5 different tracks in 6 weekends Fall Run". It has been a great learning experience in car development. The changes I made to get the car to work at VIR didn't work so well at Mid-Ohio, nor did the VIR or Mid-Ohio setup work very well at Thunderbolt - I didn't make any changes at Watkins Glen because I was simply learning the track that weekend.

 

YAY for an OCD-Datalogging personality and the .xls session log book I keep so I'll be able to quickly dial the car in for a specific track next year and waste less practice time figuring out what works. I've forwarded my .xls session log book to a couple of you, if any others are interested in a copy because it sounds like something you may want to start keeping for yourself, please let me know, I would be happy to share a copy in our mutual efforts to improve our cars and personal driving capabilities.

[nocab72]

subscribed

 

road courses....the real track

OP,

maybe one day we'll see each other on track

 

join bimmerforums and hang out in the track section

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=128

 

O see you wanna get into GTS3...........very very fun and competitive racing there, at least in NASA Great Lakes/Midwest........ BMWCCA's GTS3 equivalent is IP or JP (I-Prepared, J-prepared) and they use the same ruleset pretty much...............you should come up to the Mid Ohio Buckeye-BMWCCA event next weekend

 

I was there, did we meet and I'm simply not connecting a new face to a forum name?

[Das Borgen]

what kind of data acquisition/video setups are you using? I like the GPS overlay and stuff. (which Traqmate setup?)

 

 

you were racing at that BMWCCA event?

 

I was hanging with Anthony (Magnanoli) and got a couple ridealongs from a couple of instructors

 

 

I believe there were two H-Prepared (HP) E46 M3 racing (unlike your sig pic)...one black and one red. but since your car is GTS3 built, it should be an I-Prepared bmwcca racecar

Edited November 3, 2010 by das borgen

[kirks5oh]

awesome write up. let me know if you make it to road america this summer---i live about 30 minutes away, and wouldn't mind watching if i can get away.

[AJ]

a lot of people thought i was stupid i wanted to put a wing and splitter on my car (no on this board)

 

good example why i should and will do it.

[nocab72]

a lot of people thought i was stupid i wanted to put a wing and splitter on my car (no on this board)

 

good example why i should and will do it.

 

Wings got a bad rap from the ricers, but look at pretty much any "race car series" and you'll find tons of aero downforce - almost always provided by wings & splitters.

 

My buddies in the area with E46 M3's built up the same as mine, relatively equal drivers to me, only difference is I have aero and they don't. I'm consistently 2-3seconds/lap quicker.

 

Watch the dark blue GT3 in this video pull away from me in every straight (that's what 60-80 extra hp will do for you), but then notice where I catch him. Brake zones & twisties ;-)

 

BTW: I spoke to the driver of the GT3 after the session, his car is not stock, exhaust work, moton club sport suspension, Hoosier R6's, etc. He says "I couldn't believe how fast you were back on my bumper after each long straight, I was throwing my car all over the place in the twisties trying to stay out of your way and once I let you by, you were gone! No way was I going to keep up T2 - T7."

 

 

This is during a Chin Motorsports event in Red (advanced) group. Chin Blue (intermediate) would be like NASA HPDE3 or BMWCCA A group, Chin Red is way beyond your typical cars&drivers in HPDE3/4 or BMW A. Their Red has really fast cars, and very experienced/good drivers. Heck, James Clay was there testing their new E92 GrandAm GS car running in Red and not complaining about having to deal with "slow" traffic ;-)

 

Kyle

[AJ]

thats what i pointed out too. since i am driving too and from the track and a lot of street driving they said i would be ricer though.

[nocab72]

thats what i pointed out too. since i am driving too and from the track and a lot of street driving they said i would be ricer though.

 

not a ricer if the wing has a purpose (ie track), but definitely a cop magnet. ;-/

[AJ]

not a ricer if the wing has a purpose (ie track), but definitely a cop magnet. ;-/

 

doesn't need a wing for that. it will stick out like a sore thumb anyways.