First DE at Lime Rock this Friday, opinions/suggestions

[BenM]

...if I have gone overboard. I will be using the '91 Turbo M42 car w/ M Roadster Rear Trailing Arms, Brakes all around, Aluminum Control Arms, GC Coilovers, ST Sways, etc., the works. The car will also be running on 109 Unleaded @ around 18psi.

In my enthusiasm for the event, and not wanting to use the 215/40/17 and 235/40/17 RT-615's that are on Staggered DSIIs for the street (heard that they tend to overheat and wear quickly), I went and purchased a set of 235/40/17 BFGoodrich R1 R Compounds for this and future DE's and AutoX. I plan to do at least another DE this year and hopefully 2 more AutoX. My main concern is that these are will be OK to use. I had the option of the Proxes RA1s, but the price was nearly identical so I chose these.

Any suggestions/opinions on the tire situation or anything else would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ben

[Jean]

Well, I can tell you that the BFG R1's do need more time to heat up compared to Kumho or Hoosier dot r tires in autox. I am not sure how they will fair in the longer condition such as hpde sessions vs. shorter stins of autox. RT615s will heat up in HPDE faster.

[BenM]

Hmm, good to know Jean. I figured going with an R Compound strictly for DE would help keep the wear down on my street tires. I'll keep that in mind for any AutoX I may be doing.

[kishg]

is this your first ever DE or first at lrp? if it's your first, R-comps may not be the best way to learn. stick to street tires till you have 5-10 days under your belt. You will love LRP, it's meant for E-30s. Hopefully you are running the classic configuration. Is this the cvc chapter day? have fun!

[BenM]

is this your first ever DE or first at lrp? if it's your first, R-comps may not be the best way to learn. stick to street tires till you have 5-10 days under your belt.

Yes it is, and I appreciate your input. In what way will the R-comps be different to sticky street tires? Why do you suggest this? and yes it is CVC chapter and thanks, really looking forward to it.

Ben

[Jean]

Most R-comps don't have the gradual break away that street tires and good autox tires (rt615s, rs2s)...so when you push to far on R tires there is a higher chance that it will take you by surprise.

[Jesse30]

not only that ^ but you'll learn to drive on the tire too much. my first time on the big track at willow i was on negotiators :D

[Scotaku]

Most R-comps don't have the gradual break away that street tires and good autox tires (rt615s, rs2s)...so when you push to far on R tires there is a higher chance that it will take you by surprise.

Agreed.

Run the Azenis since it sounds like they're the most streetable tire you've got. Expect them to go away pretty quickly as they have a tendency to overheat and get greasy (there is a reason autocrossers love them and road racers not so much). They'll talk back to you much sooner than R1s or other race tires and, as a beginner, you will need this feedback. Listen for them to squeal and trust to your own mortality. You will learn more making "lesser" equipment go fast.

[kishg]

Ben,

my reasoning is based on what everyone else said above regarding r-comps. i have a set of bfg-r1's and i still haven't run them and i will be doing my 25th day this weekend at the new Thunderbolt track in south jersey. Part of that is due to the fact that my e30 has a 4-pt rollbar in the back making carrying an extra set of tires a pain.

-kish

[Charlie]

Your first DE, and you're in a gutted, turboed e30 with big R comps.

I pray for your instructor.

-Charlie

[Jean]

lol, his instructor is going to hang on to his life!

[BenM]

hahaha, thanks guys. I'm still deciding if I'm going to run the r-comps or not. Most likely, unless I can't get them to fit.

[JRKOUPE]

de

So its your 1 st DE...ever?.....

what is your driving experience.......racing...a/x...etc?....

Ill be there as well......I THINK we are running old set up.......

....sounds like your car's set up and your track background dont jive....excuse me if Im wrong.....run non R's if you can.....

I think youll have a blast regardless...



Ill say hi...red e 30....1990

[BenM]

Hey Joel. I met you last year at the Croaton State Park meet in NY. You are right about my track experience, which is practically nothing. I've done a few AutoX's in the past couple of months so I decided to get into DE's. I was using my '91 318i 4dr. for the AutoX, so this will be the first time using the turbo car in a DE. Appreciate the insight on the car and track.

Will def. say hi. I will be hanging around a Charmonix E30 325i, a red M50 swapped E30, and a very loud '03 Mini cooper S. See you there!

Ben

[JRKOUPE]

Hey Joel. I met you last year at the Croaton State Park meet in NY. You are right about my track experience, which is practically nothing. I've done a few AutoX's in the past couple of months so I decided to get into DE's. I was using my '91 318i 4dr. for the AutoX, so this will be the first time using the turbo car in a DE. Appreciate the insight on the car and track.

Will def. say hi. I will be hanging around a Charmonix E30 325i, a red M50 swapped E30, and a very loud '03 Mini cooper S. See you there!

Ben

i recall now.......!!!!



Hopefully youll get a cool instructor..... and have a great time..........you may not get signed off to go solo though.....thats hard on your first day....did you know that?....

what run group are you in?


.......youll have classroom time as well....and alot if not all BMWCCA groups have the instructor drive your car a bit when you are a newbie.