Video of the M5 at the track - Infineon Raceway - Sonoma, CA
I took my M5 onto the track for the first time last Friday. I headed up to Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, CA. It is a great track with lots of challenging turns and elevation changes. Unfortunately not many straights so I was only able to reach speeds of roughly 115-120mph.
The M5 handled REALLY well through the turns, and the DSC really saves your a** when you’re pushing the car hard into the turns! I turned the DSC off and almost lost it into the wall a couple of times! Without racing tires it’s hard to maintain traction, so the DSC really helps.
Here are some videos I took:
Nice vids and nice driving Tom! Good to see the M5 holding it's own and even passing some lighter, more agile and more track oriented cars. Or perhaps you're just a better driver than some of those guys? Were you on your stock wheels/tires?
Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun and something I will definitely do again. I've never pushed the M5 so hard....I really pushed it to its full limits.
I switched over to my stock wheels and tires for the event. I probably took off about 20% of the tread on the stock Continentals! The Conti’s are okay, but would definitely prefer something stickier….or even better, true racing slicks! There was a red Cayman S that was prepped for the track…roll cage, fully tuned, coil overs, etc. It had slicks and was able to cruise through the turns without any tire squeal, while I was sliding around quite a bit!
And yes Tony….that Magnum did sound sweet!
Thanks guys! It was a lot of fun and something I will definitely do again. I've never pushed the M5 so hard....I really pushed it to its full limits.
I switched over to my stock wheels and tires for the event. I probably took off about 20% of the tread on the stock Continentals! The Conti’s are okay, but would definitely prefer something stickier….or even better, true racing slicks! There was a red Cayman S that was prepped for the track…roll cage, fully tuned, coil overs, etc. It had slicks and was able to cruise through the turns without any tire squeal, while I was sliding around quite a bit!
Glad you had fun. The M5 surprises many by its relative track capabilities. Please don't go to R-compound tires (and especially to "slicks") until you get a significant amount of track experience in the car, including with DSC off. R-comps are much less forgiving -- they break away with little warning and give virtually no audible feedback, which is why you did not hear any squaling from the Cayman's tires. DSC precludes proper rotation of the car and masks fundamental flaws. It is an invaluable safety device for those starting out (although some instructors tell their novice studends to turn off DSC from the beginning), but mastering driving without it is an essential step up the ladder. Be careful -- this is an incredibly addicting hobby. I currently have a track-dedicated M3, trailer, tow rig, and am starting club racing. And it all started with a seemingly innocent track event in the M5 three years ago.
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2006 M5 Silver Gray/Silverstone/Madeira Walnut
Dinan Stage 2 Suspension System
Supersprint Race exhaust with X-pipe
1998 M3 Coupe Technoviolet Track car
JRZ RS, Kirk roll bar, Racetech 4000W seats, GC sway bars, control arms, AA headers and 3" race exhaust (loud and proud), etc.
Cool vid and nice driving. I'm also interested to taking my car to the track, but don't have any race track driving experience. I know this is the first time you took the m5 to the track, but was this also your first track driving experience?
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