[meepster]

Should be a fun HPDE day w/ Hyperdrive as well:
http://nasaproracing.com/event/1221

Let's hope it's better than this past weekend at Thunderhill!

[Thumperx]

I'm already signed up. whoo!

[dbjb]

What are you signed up for 2, 3 or 4? I was really disappointed with group 1/2 last time. First session was the absolute worst I've experienced.

[skow]

I'm probably signing up... First weekend i'm free, no thunderhill on the 7th for me

Price is the same for HPDE 1 & 2, and you drive together. I figure I'll sign up for 1 again and worse case go w/o and instructor the later sessions if they have no additional tips/feedback to offer. You are right Dan, the first session was basically a waste. The instructor I had last time offered me the advise of sticking in 1 as long as you are doing the 1/2, and when you are ready to move on, jump from 2 to 3 as fast as humanly possible.

[meepster]

Doing 2 until I pass the check ride!

[dbjb]

Trust me, you will pass. It's just a matter of when you feel comfortable to do so. In 3, you will be checking your mirrors more often but trains become a thing of the past.

[Thumperx]

Originally Posted by dsbj

What are you signed up for 2, 3 or 4? I was really disappointed with group 1/2 last time. First session was the absolute worst I've experienced.

Hmm I thought you had a good time last year. Sorry to hear. I decided to be cautious and signed up for Group 1. I want more instruction and weary about hitting the walls.

Remember last year, 2-3 guys hit the wall. Out the lot, the Maserati GT Coupe was the one that made me shake my head.

There are 2 other buddies who've signed up. So we'll make it a good time.

C'ya up there Dan.

[dbjb]

Originally Posted by Thumperx

Hmm I thought you had a good time last year. Sorry to hear. I decided to be cautious and signed up for Group 1. I want more instruction and weary about hitting the walls.

Remember last year, 2-3 guys hit the wall. Out the lot, the Maserati GT Coupe was the one that made me shake my head.

There are 2 other buddies who've signed up. So we'll make it a good time.

C'ya up there Dan.

Last year was great. A little traffic but not too bad. Sad to see that maserati and m3 coupe go. Have a couple before and after pics.

My gripe was with the august event at Thunderhill. It was really bad. Horrible traffic and I had an issue that required repeated pits. So, bad day for me.

I don't think I can make this event. I assume all of you are attending Saturday, correct?

[Thumperx]

You went to TH. I was all set up to go ,but had emergency work to do. So a buddy took my spot. Sorry to hear that TH wasn't a positive experience.

Yeah, we're set up for Sat.

[CT310]

Just throwing it out there that Hooked on Driving has a REALLY good beginners program. It's costly, but worth it for the 1st or 2nd time. NCRC and Speed Ventures also have good beginners programs.

[meepster]

Originally Posted by dsbj

Last year was great. A little traffic but not too bad. Sad to see that maserati and m3 coupe go. Have a couple before and after pics.

My gripe was with the august event at Thunderhill. It was really bad. Horrible traffic and I had an issue that required repeated pits. So, bad day for me.

I don't think I can make this event. I assume all of you are attending Saturday, correct?

I'll prolly do Saturday and Sunday.

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by CT310

Just throwing it out there that Hooked on Driving has a REALLY good beginners program. It's costly, but worth it for the 1st or 2nd time. NCRC and Speed Ventures also have good beginners programs.

I agree. Add BMWCCA to that too. Faster lap times will come from a good instructor in your passenger seat. NASA has a shortcoming here as they let you loose into group 2 without much instruction.

You should never go too long without an instructor or you just repeat bad habits but maybe get incrementally more comfortable with them so you shave little time here and there.

[dbjb]

Originally Posted by jbass524

I agree. Add BMWCCA to that too. Faster lap times will come from a good instructor in your passenger seat. NASA has a shortcoming here as they let you loose into group 2 without much instruction.

You should never go too long without an instructor or you just repeat bad habits but maybe get incrementally more comfortable with them so you shave little time here and there.

That makes sense. I would benefit from an instructor even though I'm signed off for 3. Btw, never plan to do 4. For me, it may be best to go 3 with an instructor. I'm not sure they would accommodate such a request but it doesn't make much sense to step down to 1 just for the instruction. Also, I find myself getting more and more frustrated with the trains in group 1/2.

I need you guys to move up so we can do 3 together. I had some reservations about moving up at first because I thought these guys are faster and that was a little intimidating. I also assumed faster meant less safe. I was pleasantly surprised with that misconception. Yes, it was faster with more passing zones. The real benefit wasn't that I was simply trying to go Mach speed, it was that I could concentrate more on my line than what the person was doing in front of me. For example, if you watch my short clip from the last Thunderhill event, you'll see the M3 I was chasing down hit the brakes at the top of turn 5 bypass. Of course, I then had to do the same and that is the last place I wanted to scrub speed. That wouldn't happen in 3. I also barely made it past another car on the rear straight as they were oblivious that someone was making a pass. That doesn't happen in 3. Lastly, group 3 has far fewer cars on the track, probably less than half of 1/2. Trains are a thing of the past. So, frustration doesn't occur as often.

Sorry for the rant! Just been thinking of this more and more. Here's that clip I was talking about. Issues at 2:30 and 3:40. See what I mean? Btw, I know I started missing the apexes. At turn 10, my rotors started acting up and didn't relent= early end.

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by dsbj

That makes sense. I would benefit from an instructor even though I'm signed off for 3. Btw, never plan to do 4. For me, it may be best to go 3 with an instructor. I'm not sure they would accommodate such a request but it doesn't make much sense to step down to 1 just for the instruction. Also, I find myself getting more and more frustrated with the trains in group 1/2.

I would suggest getting instruction at the Porsche club (Central Coast region is easier about letting no-Porsche owners in) as they are interested in you not only being safe but getting faster. BMW club is great for fundamentals but they always teach you the safer line.

I highly suggest you guys taking a ride with me or other advanced drivers when you can.

[dbjb]

Originally Posted by jbass524

I would suggest getting instruction at the Porsche club (Central Coast region is easier about letting no-Porsche owners in) as they are interested in you not only being safe but getting faster. BMW club is great for fundamentals but they always teach you the safer line.

I highly suggest you guys taking a ride with me or other advanced drivers when you can.

I'd like that a lot. Only problem is you may have to pit halfway thru and let me out. Not trying to be a wimp but I get motion sickness. It's not bad when driving but sitting passenger, I can't last long (that's what she said). If that doesn't bother you, I'm down.

[jbass524]

No problem. If I weren't driving I'd make me sick too. See you at Infineon

[dbjb]

Originally Posted by jbass524

No problem. If I weren't driving I'd make me sick too. See you at Infineon

I probably won't make this one. Maybe the next.

Fyi, I just got the official news. Rotors are warped. Gonna upgrade now.

Also said control arm bushings might be bad. Thinking about doing m3 lower control arms? Is it worth it if I still have stock sways? Thoughts?

[meepster]

Originally Posted by dsbj

I probably won't make this one. Maybe the next.

Fyi, I just got the official news. Rotors are warped. Gonna upgrade now.

Also said control arm bushings might be bad. Thinking about doing m3 lower control arms? Is it worth it if I still have stock sways? Thoughts?

Front rotors? I'm pretty happy with the m3 control arms/bushings, so I'd recommend them. I don't know how the sways play in, but the Dinan package (which I have) does include a thicker front sway IIRC.

[jbass524]

M3 front end all the way and take out the alignment pins if you haven't already. Wait on the sway bar until you've driven the new setup.

[dbjb]

Originally Posted by jbass524

M3 front end all the way and take out the alignment pins if you haven't already. Wait on the sway bar until you've driven the new setup.

Okay, never read about those pins. I assume it's to create more neg camber? I'll search now.

[skow]

Finally got signed up for Saturday. No way am I going to find time to get tech'd before the 24th, I wish a tech lasted a month or 2.

[jbass524]

Originally Posted by dsbj

Okay, never read about those pins. I assume it's to create more neg camber? I'll search now.

It's a common mod, of sorts. Knock 'em out and get some negative camber. Add the M3 arms and maybe up to -1 camber. If you lower the car a tad, maybe even a little more.