CO track thread

[iamsam]

I run no PS right now and I have for about 6 months. I know about all my options. I would prefer a E36 rack I just don't have the tools to do it right now. If I remember right I need to cut the firewall just a hair because the steering column moves over slightly. I think with the airbag car I don't have to do anything to the steering linkage. There is so much mis-information in the E36 swap thread about airbag cars though it is hard to figure out who is telling the truth or just guessing.

heh heh, misinformation is sometimes worse than no information. If it was me, I'd get the rack, and then figure it out from there. may as well try to use some of my engineering/fab skillz... ;)

[blefevre]

Yeah. I need to get it into a shop to see what they think about the dead zone. It can be pretty scary sometimes. I just hope it doesn't turn into something big.

[iamsam]

Yeah. I need to get it into a shop to see what they think about the dead zone. It can be pretty scary sometimes. I just hope it doesn't turn into something big.

if it does, dibs on your iS lip, passenger door, driveshaft, shadowline trim, passenger fender...

[blefevre]

Lol.

[Bimmerman325i]

goddamnit sam.

[iamsam]

hee hee!

[Eric]

Let's see how this goes. As I am actually serious about getting my car on a track this season this thread will make it so we don't get lost in general chat.

Provide opinions on the following. I am only going for a setup for learning, I don't care about speed.

I need brake lines. I was going to get the turner ones. Opinions?

Brake fluid. Is super blue good enough?

Tires - are star specs good enough? They are pretty cheap. So are 205's RE11's

Helmets: Open face vs closed face. I want open because it gives more visibility while learning and I have glasses. David mentioned problems at pueblo with open face?

GO!

-Turner lines are good. I think I have bimmerworld ones, but that is just because I was buying a whole bunch of other crap, and added those to the list. Pretty much all of them are good quality.

-I run Super Blue and like it.

-Star Specs are good and wear very well. I'd caution against too much tire for a beginner though. It might be good just to get some normal tires so you can feel what the cars limit is at a lower mechanical grip threshold. Finding ways to go as fast as you can on normal tires might be more fun than only going 75% on a set of near R-compounds.

One of my favorite sayings is, "it's more fun to go fast in a slow car than go slow in a fast car."


-Helmets can usually be rented at the event for $35 or so... but be sure to ask first.

I'd definitely do a HPDE instead of just a el' cheapo track day. HPDE's teach you a lot, and the focus is on car control, safety and fun instead of burning up laps.

[blefevre]

So besides the BMW CCA HPDE, which I will be out of town for, what are my options? I'm not having much luck finding anything.

[Bimmerman325i]

NASA puts on PDX/Time Trials pretty often, and the PDX is a shorter version of the CCA driving schools. Aside from those, I can't think of much. Porsche club does schools but only if the school isn't filled can BMWs/non-Porsches come.

[monkeytaco]

I will join in track days. My car needs many things, but even if it's not ready I may tag along and take some video. If I can figure out a cheapo DD the m52e30 will get rebuilt into a track only car (caged, stripped, lexan etc...).

[blefevre]

I have been working on getting my car "track ready" for 2 years now. I won't miss another summer! I am such a slow worker. I think this is all I need.

Brakes
Helmet
Windshield probably
Tires

[Bimmerman325i]

I have been working on getting my car "track ready" for 2 years now. I won't miss another summer! I am such a slow worker. I think this is all I need.

Brakes
Helmet
Windshield probably
Tires

Brakes:

Hawk HP+ and rotors from www.raceshopper.com or bimmerworld, depending on who is cheaper. Just get plain rotors, they'll be fine. Don't worry about brake lines (the rear inner lines are a major pain to do), as the difference isn't worth missing track over. If you've got time, go for it, but it's not a must-have.

Helmet:

just get a decent Snell M2010 one, or I might be ably to borrow a CU full face one.

Windshield:

Unless it's missing, don't let it make you miss track. My e30's had big cracks and pitting, and I tracked it.

Tires:

I tracked on my Subaru's 700 treadwear all seasons. If you can, get Star Specs for the Dforces, otherwise just run whatever you have.

[Bimmerman325i]

I will join in track days. My car needs many things, but even if it's not ready I may tag along and take some video. If I can figure out a cheapo DD the m52e30 will get rebuilt into a track only car (caged, stripped, lexan etc...).

Don't, if you've not spent lots of time on track in your car/other cars. Otherwise you'll modify your car so far beyond your limits that it will be much harder to learn to drive properly. You don't want that, keep it as stock as possible.

Additionally, you don't want to build the car without building it for specific rules. Lexan is forbidden in nearly all racing classes except the highest ones, which an E30 will not be competitive in.

[blefevre]

Brakes: I already did rotors and pads so I don't need those. I just need to get my leak under control. The brake lines are cracked and it is still leaking good somewhere. I am going to do lines and calipers to start. Brakes are too important for me to ignore even for DD.

Helmet: Yeah I need to figure this one out

Windshield: I found the forum on HDPE for NASA. They technically aren't supposed to pass my car with the full length cracking. That one is optional unless they tell me it has to be done.

Tires: I will not race on the Hartges. The D-forces have winter tires so I have to buy SOMETHING so it makes to most sense to get star specs off the bat.

thanks for all the help everyone! I just ordered the turner brake lines and more fluid. I need to figure out where I want to buy calipers from so hopefully the brakes will be good to go soon.

[Bimmerman325i]

Good point. For calipers, you can either buy reconditioned ones or buy the caliper rebuild kits and DIY (bimmerworld sells the kits). If you decide to DIY, I know Ben and Garrett were also going to rebuild theirs, so we should have a caliper hate-fest/fix-party