Attention Florida area members - Track Day - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

Kent_B · 22nd September 2002, 20:35

Chin Motorsports is doing a track day at Sebring on December 22, 2002. What better way to celebrate the birth of our lord and savior than to drive around a race track as fast you can a few days prior to Christmas.

I'm signed up and I don't want to be the only M5 (again). So if you've got an M5 please sign up and we'll run around one of the best tracks in the country together.

To sign up go to: ChinMotorsports.com and become a new member. (It's free.) Then you can sign up for the 12/22 Sebring event which I believe is $250 for the day.

I've done other track events but I am amazed at how much track time you get with Chin. You get on the track when you want, and off the track when you want, all day. You can literally be on as long as you and your car can handle it. And, I believe they usually limit the number of drivers signed up to 80 or so, so the track is never terribly congested. It will be a good time.

I hope to see some of you there.

Apples · 24th September 2002, 11:30

KENT...I'm doing my first "Chin" day on the 6th of OCT in Miami and l can't wait to get the beast out there and learn how to drive smooth and quick....l hope she's a good girl and hangs in there for the 5 hours of time you can use??....l'm sure 4000lbs would get to become hard work after 1 hour + need a rest??

It's 4am right now (jet lag) and l'm going to get the last Schroth harness fitted, and then givem a test run......l would like to get some sparco seats fitted before that day as well???

KENT do you live down here part of the year or do you like long drives to get to your drack days?...very committed drive that one from up north.
Do you know if they would let me take the vid camera for some in car action on the day.....l've been warned that l MUST get some by the board????
ps......Sorry l won't be there for ya on the 22nd as l will be home on OZ sucking on some coldies about that time.

Enjoy the day....coz l will.
APPLES

MarkM5Lauderdale · 24th September 2002, 19:20

I can see I need to plan a Sunday over at Homestead on the 6th!! Stuart, mind if I tag along as a guest? Love to get some pictures of your ride. Afraid the Mini will not be ready for an extended track day just yet but would sure love to watch.

Apples · 24th September 2002, 23:31

Mark your welcome to come on that Sunday.....I think there is a cost to be a spectator though??? not sure what it is.. the charge isn't because you have to pay to watch my driving skill.....maybe it's a laughing fee.
l will be having an instructor for the day....rookie l should have her hummin around there in no time.
If your serious about coming l will get in contact with Chin Motorsports to find out what the deal is.
You should track the mini that day, it would be great fun......If the cars not ready yet the get your *** into gear and hurry up!!!!
I would love to see a pic of the M5 right next to the Mini.
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MarkM5Lauderdale · 24th September 2002, 23:46

Apples, I'm barely going to have the Mini ready for the Oct 26th event. Finances and time are tight right now. I can afford the entry fee, just not the maintenance leading up to running.
I'm now meeting Aussie there as well. He's buying some left over parts from me. So I will see you then. I just won't be chasing you around the track!

Kent_B · 28th September 2002, 00:05

Apples,

Congrats on your decision to take the M5 to the track. I wish I could be out there with you, but I won't be in Florida in October. But I am envious all the same.

Quote:

Originally posted by Apples
l'm sure 4000lbs would get to become hard work after 1 hour + need a rest??

You may be joking, but I found that I needed to rest after every 20 minutes or so on the track. If I stayed on too long my concentration started to wain and I made more errors.

Quote:

It's 4am right now (jet lag) and l'm going to get the last Schroth harness fitted, and then givem a test run

That's great. How are the harnesses working out? I'd love to see some pics if you have some. Did the harness require alot of modification to the current seats or seat belts?

Quote:

KENT do you live down here part of the year or do you like long drives to get to your drack days?

My brother and my parents live in Tampa. So, I end up visiting them frequently. I was going to be in Tampa for Christmas anyway, so I figured why not sign up for the December Chin event. I'm just crazy enough to not mind the 16 hour road trip from VA to FL and I like doing track events in FL with my brother.

Quote:

Do you know if they would let me take the vid camera for some in car action on the day

Yes. Chin allowed me to run with an in car camera at Sebring recently. Just make sure that you are using a good quality mount. The Hama suction mount on the HMS Motorsports web site is my favorite.

You can see some video I shot at a Sebring Chin event at the following link:

Sebring Video - 7 mins

Next time you, Mark, or any of the other florida guys signs up for a track day let me know. I'd love to get out on the track at the same time as some of my fellow board members. I look forward to seeing some pics and/or video of your october track day soon.

Aussie2U · 28th September 2002, 07:49

I've decided to go ahead and wait to track my M5 until a new clutch is installed. This event, with all that track time, would seal it's fate. However I am coming down to take photos so be ready for some Nowack shots from Homestead!

Apples · 30th September 2002, 01:21

Kent here are some pics of the Schroth harness with ME strappin it on!!!!.
I ordered mine from www.hmsmotorsport.com and got a left and right set....$199 each for the E39 kit.
They are very easy to fit and takes 30sec to remove them for normal use.
l found instructions from MarkLauderdale...do a search for it "schroth" and youre of.
Mark made instructions for the whole process of fitting them for another sales company that has the E39 kit as well...same price though.
If l had to do it again it would take 30 - 60 min to fit it both sides.
Once you get in and pull the stomach left/right straps firm you can the tighten the chest straps.....you won't move once you straped in....very racey feel to them.

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mazkar67 · 30th September 2002, 04:54

Kent B, i'm an instructor at the BMW Performance Center in Greenville, SC. I live in West Palm Beach and would like to attend the Track day on Dec. 22 at Sebring if that's possible. Please advise. Thanks, Paul Mazzacane

2001's X5/Z8 · 30th September 2002, 06:00

Apples,

I would like to watch you run and get some good video and Snapshots.......

Let me know.......

PS...Maybe I can be part of the pit crew....I'm real cheap labor