First DE at Lime Rock this Friday, opinions/suggestions

[Stu]

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

I pray for your instructor.

-Charlie

Just what I was thinking, but you said it much better. :D

[gobuffs]

You need to read this thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1061825

I hope you have another car you can use.

[JRKOUPE]

Just what I was thinking, but you said it much better. :D

Stu........sent you a pm....

[Dave]

You need to read this thread: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum....php?t=1061825

I hope you have another car you can use.

Ha- you beat me to the punch!

Seriously - if you have a non-turbo 318 - take that. You'll get more out of it - and your instructor will be focused on making you a better driver rather than worrying about whether he will make it through the weekend alive.

[BenM]

Jeez, what a coincidence. I was just reading that thread.

I do have a non-turbo 318i, but I'm not confident in it at the moment. Some light clunking from the front end during steering, and the U-Joints are nearly toast. That and the driver's Recaro seat is sitting up way too high (my head can barely move with my helmet on). The schnitzer S5 has a bad wheel bearing, so that car is out. My dad's 325i has too tall gearing, and snow tires, so that car is ruled out as well.

Anyways, I will probably not use the r-comps, and just take it easy out there on Friday. I will let you guys know if I kill the car / myself / instructers while I'm there.

Thanks for the advice.
Ben

P.S. I made a mistake. The car will only be running 10psi on a 93/109oct. mix, with a 3.07 Diff. That should be a good safeguard for me. :)

[Brian D]

Your attitude is at least as important as your equipment. Leave the R-comps off, turn the boost down, and focus on car control and what your instructor is saying. If you keep your head on straight you'll do alright.

Oh, and have fun!

[Hallen]

Great advice here and you have the right attitude. Trust me, you will have more fun and have more than enough to learn your first few times out than you can believe. You actually don't have to use full throttle down the straights either. I know a lot of people with mondo cars that get way overwhelmed their first time out. Simplify and slow down on the straights (anybody can drive fast on a straight). Concentrate on the corners and braking. Then start taking advantage of the power you have on the straights. (yes, I know braking points will change, but you just have to plan for that).

One instructor I know had a driver with a new (to them) Porsche 997 Turbo. The student couldn't keep up with downshift and braking and maintenance throttle when going into curves. So the instructor had the student leave the car in third gear for the whole lap. The car had enough power and range to go plenty fast on the straights and enough torque to work through the corners all in one gear. The student really picked up speed after that and got quite good in the corners to the point where I had a hard time keeping up with them.

[jlevie]

For your first DE, street tires and only street tires. And as mentioned above, turn the boost down as low as you can. Only shift to R-comps when your skills have improved to the point that the tires have become the limiting factor.

[kishg]

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.

joel,

it's his first day, he'll be in novice no? how come your running lrp instead of t-bolt man? you should be down in s.jersey with us for 3 days !!


OP,

listen to your instructor and take it easy. go in with a learning attitude and check your ego at the track entrance. you'll do fine and hopefully get hooked! always nice to see e30s at the track!

[JRKOUPE]

joel,

it's his first day, he'll be in novice no? how come your running lrp instead of t-bolt man? you should be down in s.jersey with us for 3 days !!


OP,

listen to your instructor and take it easy. go in with a learning attitude and check your ego at the track entrance. you'll do fine and hopefully get hooked! always nice to see e30s at the track!

KG........

You know I love LRP!!!!!.........have fun!!!! I will get there maybe in Oct.....after Ofest.

[JRKOUPE]

Follow up....

I know Ben is too humble to post this........

he had a solid rocking day.....car seemed well set up and driven smartly. Its a nice ride......well done.

[BenM]

Thanks Joel! It was nice seeing you there too, and looks like you did well yourself. You're running solo, correct? I am really hooked on the DE's now, and am going to try and get to the Pocono's in October with the Delaware Chapter. Octoberfest is a conflicting week, so can't make that. Here's my feedback from Motorsportreg:

Beginner. First time student. His skills are developing rapidly. Ben takes instruction well. He needs a more precise line and smoother inputs. Progessing well.

Again, nice seeing you, and good luck with the '02 project!

Ben

[Jean]

Good job Ben!

Are you hooked yet? :D

[JRKOUPE]

Thanks Joel! It was nice seeing you there too, and looks like you did well yourself. You're running solo, correct? I am really hooked on the DE's now, and am going to try and get to the Pocono's in October with the Delaware Chapter. Octoberfest is a conflicting week, so can't make that. Here's my feedback from Motorsportreg:



Again, nice seeing you, and good luck with the '02 project!

Ben

So...lo........ baby..hehehe......10 yrs....I better be.

good seeing you too.....you and your Pops belong at Ofest!!!!!! you are Ofest peeps...truly.

I think your dad paid off your instructor on that review........hahahahaha

[kishg]

good job ben. glad you are hooked. i will be at pocono with delval in august.. did you run the r-comps or street tires?