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

[UNHCLL]

1) Your fedner lips will be fucked before the day is over. Car is to low, with tires to wide.
2) You will be slow, very slow. Expect to be passed by many many many cars.
3) Check the ego. Infact, drop it off at daycare about 30 minutes before you even strat driving to the track.
4) Ignore people who are blathering on about "destroying" the car. Its a DE... your first. You will be to nervous and intimidated to get into any serious trouble that could total the car. If you do... well then you didnt follow item #3
5) Helmet. Buy it, dont skimp.
6) Camber/toe/etc.... dont even worry about it. You wont notice a difference, nor will it matter for your first DE.
7) Clean out the car... INSIDE (Fuck the outside). Every possible penny, wraper, etc will come disloged and fly around inside the car at turn #1.
8) Remove your floor mats (if applicable)
9) Wash the windows, streaky windows suck in sunny situations.

10) Leave your Digital Camera at home. If its a well run school, you will have ZERO time to take pictures. One more thing to potentially be stolen/broken/lost while sitting in the paddock. Anyone who thinks a novice driver will have time to take pics at a DE has clearly never been to a DE.... *cough*Scotty*cough*

11) Bring water. Lots of water. Preferably in a cooler.
12) Did you remember to check your ego????
14) You'll fuck up almost every apex. Accept it. Work on fluid driving (steering inputs, pedal transitions, etc.)
13) Have fun, accept you'll be slow, and be passed.



Burnouts and powerslides arent proper track etiquitte either. ;)

[BimmerToad]

FYI: Eibach Pro Kit Vs. Ground Control (IIRC) 450F 650R springs w/ sways
Edit: spring specs changed :D

Crappy pic, but you get the point:

[e30sd]

ok you elitist emo fuck i never had a cup kit,

edit: todd i hope you have a prosperous and healthy sex life. cheers.

pasha

[KillerCalypso]

1) Your fedner lips will be fucked before the day is over. Car is to low, with tires to wide.
2) You will be slow, very slow. Expect to be passed by many many many cars.
3) Check the ego. Infact, drop it off at daycare about 30 minutes before you even strat driving to the track.
4) Ignore people who are blathering on about "destroying" the car. Its a DE... your first. You will be to nervous and intimidated to get into any serious trouble that could total the car. If you do... well then you didnt follow item #3
5) Helmet. Buy it, dont skimp.
6) Camber/toe/etc.... dont even worry about it. You wont notice a difference, nor will it matter for your first DE.
7) Clean out the car... INSIDE (Fuck the outside). Every possible penny, wraper, etc will come disloged and fly around inside the car at turn #1.
8) Remove your floor mats (if applicable)
9) Wash the windows, streaky windows suck in sunny situations.

10) Leave your Digital Camera at home. If its a well run school, you will have ZERO time to take pictures. One more thing to potentially be stolen/broken/lost while sitting in the paddock. Anyone who thinks a novice driver will have time to take pics at a DE has clearly never been to a DE.... *cough*Scotty*cough*

11) Bring water. Lots of water. Preferably in a cooler.
12) Did you remember to check your ego????
14) You'll fuck up almost every apex. Accept it. Work on fluid driving (steering inputs, pedal transitions, etc.)
13) Have fun, accept you'll be slow, and be passed.



Burnouts and powerslides arent proper track etiquitte either. ;)

Good advice-The best pointers would be those already stated, don't worry about wrecking the car. At a DE you can't get into much trouble. Make sure the interior is completely empty and yes, bring lots of water...you will get suprisingly dehydrated.
Have fun

[Stu]

I agree with what Mike, Chris and Charlie have stated. Other than that, I'd say you probably won't get into much trouble given the suspension and almost unlimited brakes.

[oh2fly]

Jordan, I question your choice of spring rate. They are very soft for an e30 with a 6 cylinder. My car has 440 front and I am going to 500 front and 650 rear. I know it is a street car, but you can soften the Konis and live with these rates on your commute. Your car will have a ton of lean with soft springs even with good sway bars once you get 3 or 4 DEs under your belt and you are pushing it more. BTDT. Forget the advice to buy a beater. You aren't stupid. Pretend there is a switch on the console between 5 tenths and ten tenths in the agressive driving mode. Don't go past 7 tenths until you are cleared for a higher run group and you will be fine. Set your front camber to -3.5 degrees and the turn-in will be great and you won't toast the outside corners of your front tires. Glad to see you trying it out. It is worse than drugs. One track day and you are hooked for life. That's a good thing. On your way home from the track it is normal to fantasize about all the things you want for the next day $$$$$
Oh, I forgot something. If you are worried about rock chips, bring a roll of blue body shop tape and cover all the lower areas where the tires fling crap. Looks goofy, but works well.

[Dave]

It is worse than drugs. One track day and you are hooked for life. That's a good thing. On your way home from the track it is normal to fantasize about all the things you want for the next day $$$$$
Oh, I forgot something. If you are worried about rock chips, bring a roll of blue body shop tape and cover all the lower areas where the tires fling crap. Looks goofy, but works well.

So true. I cannot wait to get back to the track after that weekend in October.

As for the tape, do wahtever you want to protect the car. It can't look worse than those Elise guys who cover their entire cars in blue tape. I just did the headlights and fogs on my Lexus when I went.

[permit]

Jordan, I question your choice of spring rate. They are very soft for an e30 with a 6 cylinder. My car has 440 front and I am going to 500 front and 650 rear. I know it is a street car, but you can soften the Konis and live with these rates on your commute. Your car will have a ton of lean with soft springs even with good sway bars once you get 3 or 4 DEs under your belt and you are pushing it more.

Liar, I have 375/475 spring rates with burly sway bars and any 'sway' you feel around corners is just inertia. Its not too soft for sticking the ground, however it might be too soft for how low you have your car. Knowing that you have front tire tuck, I would have bought 500/650 setup like IL Duce to prevent any fender damage. Buy a bra for your car, your paint will most likely get fucked up pretty good. Build a camera mount to video it all :D

[ColdAccord]

work on your line, you can worry about threshhold braking later. depending on how many passes you have you may start to get into it though.

what kind of pads do you have?
also, even if you were already running ate or something, get new fluid, might want to bleed again even right before you start the driving.

you will be nervous, dont sweat it. its all fun in a controlled environment

remember, if you go 2 or 4 off, steer straight with both feet in. don't try and correct, you'll lose your car. last track day I did an e30 318 fell victim to this fate.

enjoy it. its addicting. really. like a drug. you do this once, and it will be all you want to do for the rest of your life

[Axxe]

Um, have fun?

Everything else is covered.

Oh, and make sure you break the konis in before going to the track.

[Jordan]

New springs are cheap. I will be getting stiffer springs later on without a doubt. Right now 375/450 is what came with the used kit and thats what I will run for awhile. That might be "soft" but it is significantly harder then the progressive cupkit.

Most likely first quarter of 2006 I will have 18x8.5 CSL wheels and 245/35's on all 4 corners so a stiffer setup will be a must.

As of right now I do not have any problems with my front tires contacting the fenders. What I do have problems with is the plastic brake duct backing plate fender liner thing. The tires have actually worn holes though them :)

Rock chips aren't of any concern. I will make sure the glass is protected, and not worry about anything else.

I'm currently running OE Pagid/Jurid pads. Despite my best efforts I haven't experienced any fade thus far.

My car is always imaculate inside. Only thing I ever carry is a flathead in the mappocket to open the hood with.

Someone else will be at the track with my camera to take pictures for me :)

SO far great advice/comments. Keep it coming.

[permit]

the plastic brake duct backing plate fender liner thing.

Probably word-for-word what I would have called it.

[b00b00]

Try to keep revs to 6k and under unless you like changing rockers...
(If you still have stock rockers that is)

~a~

[Jordan]

Nah. I run this engine as hard as I desire. I won't have problems with the rockers for years.

New m20 rockers just don't break. Only ones I see broken are old ass original ones that have taken 15+ years of beating.

[Axxe]

No hood latch cable either? I thought I was the only one running around with a flat head popping my hood.