The time has come for my e30 to hit the track.

[Jordan]

Terry has lit a fire under my ass. He has convinced me in a mocking, high pitched, girlie voice to "take that garage queen to the track"

Most likely looking at Texas World Speedway as my first venue. Will be doing a DE there as soon as I get my new head/exhaust on and everything is going smooth.

I'm wondering just what I need to be prepared for. What I need to prepare the car for, and what to expect in general.

[DarkWing6]

Does recent sale of your stereo have anything to do with this decision?

[Jordan]

Somewhat yes, but realisticly no. The sale of the stereo system was not genuinely related to this decision.

[Dave]

Make sure everything is in proper working order (of course you will!), get a good helmet, have an open mind.

Whether its a CCA event, or NASA or something else, chances are the instructors know a HELL of a lot more than you. If you can, try to get more than one instructor to work with you. At the DE I did in October, my guy was unavailable one sessiona nd the "fill-in" helped me immensely on a few things the other guy did not.

Oh, and make sure you check your mirrors. You will be pointing by people with lesser vehicles for a while.

All I can say is its about damn time!!!!

Have fun, and don't r3v the car!!!!!!

[m20e34]

Make sure you have plenty of pad life left, bleed your brakes, have fun.

A 5pt harness is not required, but I have found not having to exert effort to keep yourself in your seat goes a long way to making your driving smoother.

[Charlie]

The fact that you've rebuilt damn near everything on the car is a good thing. However, that also means go back and check all suspension & brake points for proper torque values a second and third time, just to be safe. Obviously make sure the cooling system is in tip top shape, make sure all hoses are tight, mounts are good, etc. That's the big stuff that goes on m20 powered cars

Fresh good pads & fluid are obvious. With the suspension and tires you're running, that car is gonna be fairly twitchy, so depending on what suspension settings you have to play with, dial some of the "twitch" out of it, for the first couple of schools, keep it softer to give you a small margin of error.

As for you yourself, check any ego, that's step one. Step two, realize that no matter what, your motions are gonna be a lot jerkier than you expected. In terms of "practice", work on heel-toeing on the street or in a parking lot. I've been tracking the car for years, and I still can't heel toe smoothly worth a shit. Watch your mirrors, and work on calming yourself down if you happen to get "red mist" easily. It's always a grab bag in the novice group, you may be slow, or you may be a whole lot quicker than everyone else out there. The problem is, it's a grab bag for everyone else out there. You almost have to do more "Defensive" driving in the novice groups than in the intermediate or advanced groups, as most people in those are pretty well aware of the other traffic on track.

Again, the big things mechanically will be brakes and cooling, since this is all pretty much new on your car, you should be pretty good.

-Charlie

[Jordan]

For what its worth the cupkit will be sold shortly.

I have full Ground Control (375/450), IE camber plates, and Koni SA's on the way. I won't be hitting the track to all of that is installed.

What kind of camber should I set the plates to? My last alignment was -1.6º in the front.

[e30sd]

practice your point-by

i want my amp you fucking turd

[Dave]

The fact that you've rebuilt damn near everything on the car is a good thing. However, that also means go back and check all suspension & brake points for proper torque values a second and third time, just to be safe. Obviously make sure the cooling system is in tip top shape, make sure all hoses are tight, mounts are good, etc. That's the big stuff that goes on m20 powered cars

Fresh good pads & fluid are obvious. With the suspension and tires you're running, that car is gonna be fairly twitchy, so depending on what suspension settings you have to play with, dial some of the "twitch" out of it, for the first couple of schools, keep it softer to give you a small margin of error.

As for you yourself, check any ego, that's step one. Step two, realize that no matter what, your motions are gonna be a lot jerkier than you expected. In terms of "practice", work on heel-toeing on the street or in a parking lot. I've been tracking the car for years, and I still can't heel toe smoothly worth a shit. Watch your mirrors, and work on calming yourself down if you happen to get "red mist" easily. It's always a grab bag in the novice group, you may be slow, or you may be a whole lot quicker than everyone else out there. The problem is, it's a grab bag for everyone else out there. You almost have to do more "Defensive" driving in the novice groups than in the intermediate or advanced groups, as most people in those are pretty well aware of the other traffic on track.

Again, the big things mechanically will be brakes and cooling, since this is all pretty much new on your car, you should be pretty good.

-Charlie

Sounds like damn good advice from a voice of experience. Even if he needs a phone book to see over the steering wheel.

[Bimmerfanatik]

About time Jordan :) And very impressed to see you ask for help with something you aren't an expert on - this humble side you've been showing is a nice change.

That said, I'm in the same boat - come springtime, the track bitch is going to start doing her job, and with no seat time, I want to be as ready as I can be.

Let us all know how things progress, how tech goes, etc. And we expect LOTS of pictures.

I wouldn't have the balls to track that car. Too clean. Maybe if I was more experienced, but as my first? no way. Good for you :up:

[Jand3rson]

Terry has lit a fire under my ass. He has convinced me in a mocking, high pitched, girlie voice to "take that garage queen to the track"

About damn time to see what this machine can really do.

Glad you decided to ditch the CupKit. I was never really a fan of it, and it's by no means a track-ready suspension kit.

[joshh]

Just go have fun and try to listen to at least one of the instructors.

[Avus E30]

I am glad to hear its gonna be on a track soon. Good Luck!

[StereoInstaller1]

My suggestion? Go buy a POS, make it adequate, track that...save your "Queen" till you are more experienced. WAY too much blood sweat and tears to lose.

Speaking of experiences, I remember you taking me for a little spin in yo' Mama's E36 M3...that corner "we" drove at about 120, going out of Corvallis onto Hwy 20, (the one with the overpass) had a HUGE freaking wreck tonight.

Well, as huge as 2 cars can get anyway.

As I understand it, some rich little college slut lost her WRX into an oncoming old dude (prolly younger than me though) in a Ranger...messy.

Closed casket, I bet. I am not real clear on the details, but had to be nasty from the pics on the news.

Seeing those news pics made me remember you hauling ass in that fucking thing...fun times, eh?

/hijack

Luke

[Bavarian3]

I recommend what everyone said above but I have something else to add..

Since this is your first time out, I wouldn't worry about heal/toe technique.... or threshold braking....or trail-braking.... just been smooth and look ahead...

I would study the track map and even watch some videos just to see what to expect from the track..

http://www.specmiatavideos.com/one_lap_videos.htm

Since I assume you will be using the banks... watch out for the transitions and pavement changes... I would recommend using your street tires because you will hear when they are on the edge of coming out on you.....

But the best advice I can give you is just be calm and smooth.... that is the key.....

And have fun...