Speedway related accidents? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

ksfrogman · 05-10-2007, 04:20 PM

I'm curious to know how many of you have any idea how frequent accidents occur during speedway track days. I have entertained the idea of trying this out as several members and past friends have done this.

I was Googling through and came across this sad story:

http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4562562/detail.html

The track was rented by the San Diego Ferrari Owners Club on that day.

cgnahc · 05-15-2007, 02:19 PM

I was just going to mention this one. This was at the 2nd turn after diving into the infield from the track. Some other tracks have larger run out areas and no grass. However, California Speedway is average when it comes to a track course. You should feel comfortable with your car setup prior to high speed...this includes max braking, slalom, and skid. This will test your feel for your brakes, suspension, and tire grip. Every day is different...even time of day. Temperature, humidity, track conditions change, thus changing the characteristics of the car. I still haven't perfected the braking in the E90.

S4to335 · 05-15-2007, 03:26 PM

It is better to go on a course that doesnt have real high speeds first. California Speedway is not an ideal first course to track your car. I teach high performance driving with several different groups. I would hit streets of willow first.

bartman32 · 05-15-2007, 07:50 PM

It's a good idea to go to a smaller track first. California speedway can be VERY fast. BMWCCA did a track event there and they put a chicane in the long oval part but I was still up to 130+ before the 90 degree right hand turn to the infield and that was with my e46 328i sedan. So I'd imagine I'd be going MUCH faster in this car. However to your point about accidents. I have done probably 15-20 BMWCCA events. In that time I have seen about 6-8 accidents. ALL of them have been single car accidents. All except one have been novice students who wanted to push and push and didn't listen to their instructors. The one that wasn't was an "A" student (highest level) with a brand new e46 M3 and he added too much gas on a tight turn at Laguna lost the back end and threw it into the wall. Can you get yourself into trouble? YES! But if you start slow, leave your ego at home and listen to your instructor you will gain speed without realizing it and be in control and its a BLAST! If you don't you will be trying to make your car go faster, you will have that kind of scared feeling in your stomach and you will be "behind the car" and you will drive past the limits.
That being said even this last weekend at Buttonwillow I had the instructor make some "corrections" in my steering wheel to keep us on the track while driving.
Oh and if you go to Willow make sure it is STREETS at Willow and not the big track. Turn 8/9 on that track are REALLY fast and bumpy and if not done right head right into a wall! Would NOT suggest that as your first school.

Chio · 05-15-2007, 07:52 PM

totally agree make sure you do not got to a concrete wall track!!! run offs are great!!!!

BzsBimmer · 05-18-2007, 05:49 PM

Thunderhill is also a great beginners track. There are no walls to really smash in to and as long as you keep both feet in when you get in to a slide, you just end up in dirt and grass.

05-10-2007, 04:20 PM	#1
ksfrogman Major General Drives: E90 330i 6MT Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: Torrance, CA Posts: 6,768 iTrader: (11) View ksfrogman's Garage	Speedway related accidents? I'm curious to know how many of you have any idea how frequent accidents occur during speedway track days. I have entertained the idea of trying this out as several members and past friends have done this. I was Googling through and came across this sad story: http://www.nbc4.tv/news/4562562/detail.html The track was rented by the San Diego Ferrari Owners Club on that day. __________________

05-15-2007, 02:19 PM	#2
cgnahc Major Drives: 06 TiAg E90 325i ZSP Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Westlake Village, CA Posts: 1,191 iTrader: (9)	I was just going to mention this one. This was at the 2nd turn after diving into the infield from the track. Some other tracks have larger run out areas and no grass. However, California Speedway is average when it comes to a track course. You should feel comfortable with your car setup prior to high speed...this includes max braking, slalom, and skid. This will test your feel for your brakes, suspension, and tire grip. Every day is different...even time of day. Temperature, humidity, track conditions change, thus changing the characteristics of the car. I still haven't perfected the braking in the E90. __________________ cgnahc = "snack"

05-15-2007, 03:26 PM	#3
S4to335 Brigadier General Drives: 07 E90 335 Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: San Jose, CA Posts: 4,297 iTrader: (5) View S4to335's Garage	It is better to go on a course that doesnt have real high speeds first. California Speedway is not an ideal first course to track your car. I teach high performance driving with several different groups. I would hit streets of willow first. __________________ Bilstein PSS9 coilovers-for sale / UR catback-sold Alcon 365mm BBK-sold /

05-15-2007, 07:50 PM	#4
bartman32 Colonel Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: The OC Posts: 2,259 iTrader: (0) View bartman32's Garage	It's a good idea to go to a smaller track first. California speedway can be VERY fast. BMWCCA did a track event there and they put a chicane in the long oval part but I was still up to 130+ before the 90 degree right hand turn to the infield and that was with my e46 328i sedan. So I'd imagine I'd be going MUCH faster in this car. However to your point about accidents. I have done probably 15-20 BMWCCA events. In that time I have seen about 6-8 accidents. ALL of them have been single car accidents. All except one have been novice students who wanted to push and push and didn't listen to their instructors. The one that wasn't was an "A" student (highest level) with a brand new e46 M3 and he added too much gas on a tight turn at Laguna lost the back end and threw it into the wall. Can you get yourself into trouble? YES! But if you start slow, leave your ego at home and listen to your instructor you will gain speed without realizing it and be in control and its a BLAST! If you don't you will be trying to make your car go faster, you will have that kind of scared feeling in your stomach and you will be "behind the car" and you will drive past the limits. That being said even this last weekend at Buttonwillow I had the instructor make some "corrections" in my steering wheel to keep us on the track while driving. Oh and if you go to Willow make sure it is STREETS at Willow and not the big track. Turn 8/9 on that track are REALLY fast and bumpy and if not done right head right into a wall! Would NOT suggest that as your first school. __________________

05-15-2007, 07:52 PM	#5
Chio First Lieutenant Drives: 2007 335i Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: STL Posts: 345 iTrader: (1) View Chio's Garage	totally agree make sure you do not got to a concrete wall track!!! run offs are great!!!! __________________ 07 335i Sapphire/ Lemon, Sport, step/paddles, sirius, Mods: Debadged, Tint 35%, Euro switch, Beyern Mesh 19's, ITG filter, TT, Borla exhaust G35x (wifes)

05-18-2007, 05:49 PM	#6
BzsBimmer 2-4-6-8 My car and house depreciate Drives: 2008 C300S Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mount. Fookyew Posts: 1,631 iTrader: (12)	Thunderhill is also a great beginners track. There are no walls to really smash in to and as long as you keep both feet in when you get in to a slide, you just end up in dirt and grass.