My first track experience in the beast.....impressions
Had a great weekend last week. Spent two days with BMWCCA out at Thunderhill raceway in Willows, CA. The event was superbly organized. Each driver had an instructor riding shotgun with us in our own cars for each session. We ran about four sessions a day for 30mins each with some class time in between sessions. I cannot emphasize enough how quickly you learn that track driving is all about technique, and less about the car. Instructors focused on teaching technique, method, and track etiquette with a focus on turn in, apex and turn out points. Through the weekend I learned that the brakes, and accelerator are more like instruments to be played than things that simply make you stop and go. By the end of Sunday I was able to take some turns at 30mph faster than I was on Saturday. The track is fairly fast, although with that said, the fastest I was getting down the home straight was about 120mph. The entire track is run in the beast in a combination of 3rd and 4th gear. While the beast shows it's weight, the S62 torque is awesome on a track. The M3's would gain in the twisties, but as soon as you exit a corner, you can get right on their but again. In the straights, the only things faster were an E60 M5, Z06 and GT3. DSC was cutting in all over the place, (you lose a lot of momentum) but this was more a measure of me not being able to drive as well as I should. My measure at the end of the weekend was that I could do the whole track without DSC cutting in, and still do it faster than before. My tires did well, although I ended up melting the top layer and smooshing it all over the tire, so the treads looked all fubar. Another thing that amazed me about the beast was the braking power. Until you have taken this thing out on a track and slowed down hard from 120mph+, trust me you have no idea how potent the stock brakes really are. OK, I'm rambling now, but all I wanted to say was if you truly love this car, do yourself a favor and get it out on the track. The car is made to do this stuff. Sure, you wear your tires and brakes a little more, but IMHO it's a shame to not enjoy the true capabilities it offers. I also think there's something to be said for the Italian tune up factor....I swear my engine is smoother now after being wound out to 7000 rpm all day long. It's not only good for your driving skills, but bonds you more with your car. You'll also learn exactly where the limits are, and that the car has very broad limits while the driver is the real limiting factor. Oh, and one more thing, the BMWCCA and it's instructors are just about the most awesome group of individuals on the planet. I'm now a track addict. My wife's fear has come true.
__________________
Ash
2003 M5 TiSi / Silverstone (Squidward)
2007 Prius (Piglet)
I wholeheartedly agree, the BMW CCA events are excellent. (but what do I know, I've only gone to 17 of them...)
__________________
1989 750iL sadly ignored, but still runs great
2000 M5 117,000 miles
2001 Tundra Hauls Stuff
2008 Z4 M Coupe On the cover of Oct. '08 Roundel
2008 Mercedes C350 Sport wifey's car
2009 BMW R1200GS-Adv for on & off-road
Yes, they sure run better after a weekend of WFO. As you probably saw, the exhaust tips go from sooty to milky white. I'm impressed that you were eventually able to drive without the DSC cutting in. I never got to that point and just turned it off.
__________________
"The richest people in the world build networks. Everyone else is trained to look for work" - Robert Kiyosaki, Rich Dad Poor Dad
I've done about 10 weekend track events in the M5. I often run the morning session with DSC on and then without it the rest of the day. With DSC on, I can manage corner entry without it interfering but not corner exit, especially the tighter ones. I like extra throttle to balance the car and rotate the tail just a bit.
__________________
Richard NEW 2008 550i Space Gray, Creme Biege/Black/Dk Poplar : Sport Package, Cold Weather, Sport Auto, Nav, HUD, CA, Logic 7, iPod/USB, SAT, HD Radio, Lane departure warning
'06 X3 Black Sapphire/Tan PP, Steptronic, Xexons, Heated seats, Privacy glass, UGDO, Compass, bike rack, iPod adapter
Sold '06 650i Black Sapphire/Cream Beige sport package, 6 speed
'02 M5 Titanium Silver/Black Luxury/Burl
Welcome to one of the most expensive hobbies in the world :-)
DSC drives me nuts at the track. With the stock suspension the car pushes so much you just have to slide the tail to get the car to rotate in slow corners. Expensive in tires and real expensive if you make a mi$take!
If you haven't already got them, you'll soon want:
Wider front tires
Front camber plates
Better brake fluid (ATE Superblue/TYP-200, Motul, or Castrol $RF)
Racing (or nearly) brake pads
New tires
New tires
New tires
Well done.... makes me want to find a track right now .... I'm literally about 1km from the local racetrack but alas the V8 supercars are there this weekend
__________________
1999 Imola Red M5. Extended Caramel Interior Mods on my pre-update beast:Eisenmann "Race" exhaust (76mm tips), 19" Hamann PG2's, AACAI, Clear Angel Eyes, MK4 Nav, GC's M5 Coilover kit w/front camber plates, Dinan Front and rear sway bars, D/A swaybar mounts, Dinan front and rear strut brace, Braided brake lines, Eibach 3mm wheel spacers, Rogue Engineering underdrive pulleys, IATS Relocation, Powerchip, Xenon foglights & Lower engine covers w/Brake duct cutout
2008 Volkswagen Golf GTI. The wifes new car
2005 Ford Territory Ghia. The wifes car. (Sold)
1986 Toyota Landcruiser HJ75. The farm ute.
Linear Mode
