First track event with e30 = success! pics and vid inside

[hpde30]

Hey all, just got back from my first HPDE with the E30. I did 2 days at Pocono with the RTR region of PCA (Porsche Club of America).

I recently picked up a BONE STOCK 89 325is with 209k for the sole purpose of making it a track car and maybe, eventually, turning it into a spec e30 car. After finding the right car I did a ton of maintenance to make sure it would be safe and reliable out there on track. I want to thank all the people on this forum who contributed to the various how-to's and other helpful information that allowed me to do just that.

Now to the fun stuff. The first day we did the double infield (which was full of ruts and holes, the track REALLY needs to fix those) and at the end of day 1 they opened up the whole NASCAR Tri-Oval for a session and I got to see how fast this thing car go (which isn't very fast). I was able to hit about 125mph as indicated on my speedo (club doesn't allow a timing device unless its hard mounted, so speedo is all I have to go off) which was more than fast enough for a 23 year old car with OEM safety equipment.

Day two we were supposed to run the IMSA course, which is a very fast course with few turns, but for whatever that idea was scrapped and we continued with the double infield. That was fine for me considering on the tri-oval I was pointing EVERYONE and their mother by. lol. At least with the infield course I can have fun in the twisties.

First off I want to say I am very impressed with how well balanced the car is. it was very easy for me to approach my limit and stay there without fear of the car biting back. It only took one session to feel comfortable enough with the car to really start to push it. I'm very happy to say I did the entire weekend without a single issue. although I did notice some things that will need attention prior to returning to the track again, more on that below.

Here is a video of the third session on day one. Please watch/comment if you like seeing E30's racing around with Porsche, z06's and other fast cars.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UxkWfDPbc0o

and a pic of the car in the pits: note the ride height!!!





Here is the part where I ask a couple of questions...
the ride height: I installed 4 new KYB struts from Pelican because the car had 3 blown struts when I picked it up. I didn't touch the springs. I was expecting the car to settle a little after the suspension install but what you see above is after about 500 street miles and one day of track driving. I have about 4" of gap between the tire and fender. as a result the MAX camber I can get in the front is .5* and the rear is actually POSITIVE camber. Not sure why this is because the car was 'normal' ride height when i picked it up and I only did struts, not springs.

I double checked the parts I received were the ones I ordered and that I didn't mistakenly get struts for a vert but everything checked out. what can I do here to lower the car other than buying a whole new suspension, which I don't want to do.

Safety equipment: After fighting all weekend to stay in my seat with the stock 3 point belts I'm now looking to install some seats, harnesses and a roll bar. I would like to support the community so anyone who has suggestions where to go I'm all ears. I was looking at getting a Kirkey Road Race deluxe seat for me and an Kirkey road race intermediate seat for the passenger, both with six point harness.

other reliability mods...
I don't want to add power or anything like that, just looking for things to do that will increase the durability/reliability of the car for future events.

Thanks for reading and lets hear those comments please!

[BMWLOCO]

Congrats! Welcome to the slippery slope. Great time at the track!

[Jaxx_]

clean car. see you in spec e30 in a few years.

If you're planning on doing spec e30 get someone to do a 1/2 cage for you, they'll be able to add on to it later, but it will still be safe for the street.

ride height seems normal. If you get springs, get H&R race for M3 fitment, they're the spec e30 springs. You'll need bilstein sports down the road as well.

[R3Z3N]

Congrats! Same reason I bought my car, and am doing the same, hitting any little reliability problems first, and only AutoX'd it 3x so far to bring out the any problems that hard running may bring out. So far it's been just tits!

If your not trailering your car (I will be to HDPEs..) Keep an eye on worn bushings, arms, wheel lugs, and keep up your timing belt maintenance, possibly changing a touch sooner, and start to bring along important spare parts. Don't forget simple stuff like bringing extra oil, brake fluid, distilled water, brake pads and rotors. Try to bring another set of tires just incase you eat a curb too hard or roll the rubber off the rim. Bring tools...lot's of them.

Don't forget to listen to what your car is doing either, and don't be ashamed to call it a day if you feel something to be amiss. It's actually disrespectful and wrong to try to keep running if you feel that something is wrong or may go wrong, as then you are endagering others on track, and making your problem everyone's problem.

One tip, put clamps adjacent to your sway bar bushings if your running thick bars. I found mine like to try to squirm out, especially as I am running just M3 springs, as they are not overly helping with body roll, the bar is doing all the work. Probably reinforce the sway bar tabs as well. I regularly check look under the car for ANY issue, even when just daily driving the car. Keep the engine bay, underbody, and diff clean so that you can see any leaks or issues as well. Probably roll your fenders just to be safe. I see that you are running TRM C1s, and you will want to if you are running the 15x8s.

[bmwguy325is]

Looks like a fun course. Practice makes perfect you were late alot.

[hpde30]

Congrats! Welcome to the slippery slope. Great time at the track!

thanks. it was a lot of fun.

clean car. see you in spec e30 in a few years.

If you're planning on doing spec e30 get someone to do a 1/2 cage for you, they'll be able to add on to it later, but it will still be safe for the street.

ride height seems normal. If you get springs, get H&R race for M3 fitment, they're the spec e30 springs. You'll need bilstein sports down the road as well.

I'm looking at bars right now. Are there any vendors that make a legal spec e30 bar you can add to later like you suggested? Right now I'm looking at the Kirk bar but I'm wide open to suggestions.

Congrats! Same reason I bought my car, and am doing the same, hitting any little reliability problems first, and only AutoX'd it 3x so far to bring out the any problems that hard running may bring out. So far it's been just tits!

If your not trailering your car (I will be to HDPEs..) Keep an eye on worn bushings, arms, wheel lugs, and keep up your timing belt maintenance, possibly changing a touch sooner, and start to bring along important spare parts. Don't forget simple stuff like bringing extra oil, brake fluid, distilled water, brake pads and rotors. Try to bring another set of tires just incase you eat a curb too hard or roll the rubber off the rim. Bring tools...lot's of them.

Don't forget to listen to what your car is doing either, and don't be ashamed to call it a day if you feel something to be amiss. It's actually disrespectful and wrong to try to keep running if you feel that something is wrong or may go wrong, as then you are endagering others on track, and making your problem everyone's problem.

One tip, put clamps adjacent to your sway bar bushings if your running thick bars. I found mine like to try to squirm out, especially as I am running just M3 springs, as they are not overly helping with body roll, the bar is doing all the work. Probably reinforce the sway bar tabs as well. I regularly check look under the car for ANY issue, even when just daily driving the car. Keep the engine bay, underbody, and diff clean so that you can see any leaks or issues as well. Probably roll your fenders just to be safe. I see that you are running TRM C1s, and you will want to if you are running the 15x8s.

The car is bone stock and I don't plan on trailering it to HPDE events. I do have a pretty big pile of parts and supplies I bring with to the track. you can kinda see my stash behind the car in the pic i posted. My wheels are 15x7 trm C1's. I read the 15x8 aren't spec e30 legal so I didn't get them. Anything I do to the car I want to keep spec e30 class rules in mind because I 'think' thats where I'll eventually end up with the car.

[hpde30]

Looks like a fun course. Practice makes perfect you were late alot.

It was very fun in the infield but boring on the straights. That first vid I posted was still day one. I got a little better feeling for the track as the event went on and my line improved, but I still have lots of work to do.

I couldn't stop the car from understeering on corner entry. I think I either need more camber or I just need to enter slower. I was trailbraking at turn in and still couldn't hit the apexes on some.

Here are a couple more vids.

This one is session 4 of 5 from day two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-2GkQ08YkxI&feature=channel_video_title

and here is session 5 from day two:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ih60anQCno8

[Don Stevens]

I just watched the first 10 mins of the last video. I liked your commentary in the turn 1& 2 complex the first few laps. ;-).

These cars are pretty pushy in stock trim. It is hard to say what the best tip for your driving is but you are probably right when you say "I just need to enter slower". See Randy Pobst's driving tips in the newest edition of Grassroots Motorsports. You need to get the nose to those apexs and the car pointed down the track if you are going to progress in your skills, regardless of how the car is set up.

I have a Spec E30 car and I think your mindset to prep the car in that direction is a good one. Even if you never race it, the platform makes for a very streetable, very satisfying, track car.

I used to use KYB as well (had two sets on an E21, on an E28, and on my E30). They DO push the car up. The only remedy is lower springs and that tends to over stress inexpensive shocks like KYB and Tokico. My advice is to live with it for now and wait until you can afford the whole spec E30 suspension set up and change it out all at once. "Hey Mom and Dad. I know what I want for Christmas!"

I also like your thought that the seat and belts are a good next step. Dr. Chin from Chin Motorsports driving schools recommends this as an important first mod that will help your driving. Ask around alot though. It sounds as if you want a streetable solution (at least for a while) and I don't think the Kirkey set up is street friendly. You can find used track seats on these forums fairly inexpensively.

I also think the Kirk roll bar (the one that is upgradeable to a full cage) is a good step as well.

Good Luck, keep us posted relative to your progress, an check us out at Spece30.com

Don.

[hpde30]

I just watched the first 10 mins of the last video. I liked your commentary in the turn 1& 2 complex the first few laps. ;-).

These cars are pretty pushy in stock trim. It is hard to say what the best tip for your driving is but you are probably right when you say "I just need to enter slower". See Randy Pobst's driving tips in the newest edition of Grassroots Motorsports. You need to get the nose to those apexs and the car pointed down the track if you are going to progress in your skills, regardless of how the car is set up.

I have a Spec E30 car and I think your mindset to prep the car in that direction is a good one. Even if you never race it, the platform makes for a very streetable, very satisfying, track car.

I used to use KYB as well (had two sets on an E21, on an E28, and on my E30). They DO push the car up. The only remedy is lower springs and that tends to over stress inexpensive shocks like KYB and Tokico. My advice is to live with it for now and wait until you can afford the whole spec E30 suspension set up and change it out all at once. "Hey Mom and Dad. I know what I want for Christmas!"

I also like your thought that the seat and belts are a good next step. Dr. Chin from Chin Motorsports driving schools recommends this as an important first mod that will help your driving. Ask around alot though. It sounds as if you want a streetable solution (at least for a while) and I don't think the Kirkey set up is street friendly. You can find used track seats on these forums fairly inexpensively.

I also think the Kirk roll bar (the one that is upgradeable to a full cage) is a good step as well.

Good Luck, keep us posted relative to your progress, an check us out at Spece30.com

Don.

Thanks for the input Don. What I bolded above I think it my biggest problem... I have a habit of over-driving, badly. I do it in other cars, I do it on autox courses and I do it on the track. I got this car to expose those bad habits and its doing just that, every lap. :roll: Adjusting the suspension right now will probably just be a temporary bandaid, I need to fix the driver.

[Nsquared97]

Adjusting the suspension right now will probably just be a temporary bandaid, I need to fix the driver.

Not many people will admit to this, but it's a very good thing you understand it. Fast driver>fast car anyday.

[dude8383]

Not many people will admit to this, but it's a very good thing you understand it. Fast driver>fast car anyday.

x eleventy billion.

You're already on the right track ;)

[etxxz]

aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand you're hooked. done. nice video man.

i too started with a completely stock e30 many years ago. drove it to every event and back. Eventually got decent suspension (which i'm still running even as 5-lug!). tracked it like this for two years. It was a LOT OF FUN, SUPER RELIABLE AND LOW MAINTENANCE which allowed me to afford more track time.... and then it was game over. 3 chassis later, i've rebuilt two s52s, shreaded hundreds of tires (drift car too), and i still drive to events every now and then 120% fully gutted FIA seat and 6pt harness. I will only trailer it when a track is >2hrs away.

Hope to see more of you later~!

[kalib0y]

nice...there is no other feeling better than getting some great runs out on the track. I hope your addicted

[hpde30]

I'm not hooked, i can quit anytime I want, lol.

[etxxz]

yeah.. keep telling yourself that. this isn't marijuana, crack or heroine that you can just quit... its worse.

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