Author Topic: track day at miller full 4.5 miles (Read 3301 times)

dino245 · « **on:** September 06, 2006, 02:08:35 PM »

Well after a busy season of working as a race mechanic and getting to see a few tracks I finaly get to drive on one. I will be driving the full 4.5mile track at Miller motorsports. I have been trying to set up my car before then and have a few extra parts on order that just might get here before Saturday. I ordered the IE front and rear swaybar set in the 25mm/22mm configuration. And after installing the cheap ass Cosmo racing coil over's I ordered some Bilstein sport shocks. I only have the stock 14" wheels but they are shod with good rubber. I will try to take some pictures to let you all know how it is.

D. Clay · « **Reply #1 on:** September 06, 2006, 03:46:30 PM »

How about some pics and info on the Cosmos also. How do like the spring rates? Do they have a skid pad where you are. I like to dial a car in on one so that the front and rear go at the same time. Then when you hit the track the car will have a slight push or understeer as the non oval trackers call it. Oversteer I always called loose until I got smarts.

dino245 · « **Reply #2 on:** September 06, 2006, 05:02:51 PM »

I will take some pictures of the car before the track event so that you can see how the Cosmo's look. They were not that bad especialy for the price. The springs rates are 337lb/in front and 450lb/in rear and dont feel too bad but I have yet not installed the Bilsteins and the Tokicos I have now cant control that much spring so the car bounces alittle.

I will hopefully be installing the swaybars and the Bilsteins about friday and then set my corner weights before I track it. I will post an undate after the event.

Katz Tsubai · « **Reply #3 on:** September 07, 2006, 12:30:57 PM »

Is this a private test session, or can anyone attend?

Not that I can make it to SLC, I was looking for a track day at Miller near the dates of Bonneville event. Most seem to use only half loop of the track.

Your rear springs seem bit too soft compared to front? Here's rates of various springs taken from this thread

-----------------F / R
"Stock M3 -> 140 /250
Dinan Sport -> 172/ 300
H&R Race -> 315/ 570
H&R Sport -> 185/ 380
Eibach Pro-kit -> 102/ 277
Eibach Race -> 160/ 445
Ireland Stage 3 -> 315/570"

I'd imagine H&R Race springs, being spec springs for Spec E30, are pretty well balanced. Their rates are 125% and 128% more than M3's front & rear springs, respectively. Your springs are more like 140%/80%. Might cause too much understeer? I hate severe understeer - it's frustrating.

Of course, all this assume that your anti-roll bars are proportionately stiffer than stock ones, and that coil over kit doesn't change motion ratio drastically in the back.

Just my thoughts. Have fun, and please show us some pics!

2002maniac · « **Reply #4 on:** September 10, 2006, 12:59:40 PM »

well, how was it? I was signed up for this event but I needed the entrance fee to pay tuition

Are you going to go to the October event? I would love to chase "faster" cars with a fellow M42.

D. Clay · « **Reply #5 on:** September 10, 2006, 06:02:34 PM »

Waiting with "bated breath" (a contraction of abated through loss of the unstressed first vowel (a process called aphesis); it has the meaning �reduced, lessened, lowered in force�. So bated breath refers to a state in which you almost stop breathing through terror, awe, extreme anticipation, or anxiety.)

dino245 · « **Reply #6 on:** September 11, 2006, 09:09:32 AM »

Well I forgot to take the camera but I had an amazing time. I was running the Yokohama AVS ES100 tires in stock size so there was not enough tire for sure. I also have to agree with Katz about the spring rate I think I need more rear spring and I always need more power.

The car did realy well, nothing broke and it kept up with the 115mph at the end of the 3800 ft strait. I will be looking into some better brakes not that I cooked them just they did not instill confidence on a coupe occasions. I think it could be the pad compound, there was not enough initial bit when ever I needed them.

I have some swaybars from IE on order that will help alot but mostly I need wheels and tires in a 15x7 of 8 for sure. I was able to stay infront of all of the miatas on the strait but in turn one which is a hard left they would out brake me and ofcourse out corner me.

I want a racing seat and harness, I kept sliding around on the pleather sport seats and removing the extra weight could not hurt.

But even with the few short comings I had an amazing time and learned how far I can push my car. It never was scary of unpredictable and the few times the rear tires gave up and I started to slide in an unpowered situation I just added power and the car straitened out. I spent so many years dumping money into Audi's and Vw's and never had a car that could handle and comunicate as well as this little car.

I would like to go to the next event on the 20th (i think) but only money will tell.

If any one has 550lb springs in a 2.5" diameter by 5-6" long let me know.

BrandC · « **Reply #7 on:** September 11, 2006, 01:46:21 PM »

Quote from: dino245

I spent so many years dumping money into Audi's and Vw's and never had a car that could handle and comunicate as well as this little car.

Amen. That's why I dropped my MK3 GTI VR6 like a bad habit. They are not balanced cars. E30's are very good at telling the driver what it likes and doesn't. It's a fucking blast to drive them on the track!

Please list your mods!

BrandC · « **Reply #8 on:** September 11, 2006, 01:46:21 PM »

Quote from: dino245

I spent so many years dumping money into Audi's and Vw's and never had a car that could handle and comunicate as well as this little car.

Amen. That's why I dropped my MK3 GTI VR6 like a bad habit. They are not balanced cars. E30's are very good at telling the driver what it likes and doesn't. It's a fucking blast to drive them on the track!

Please list your mods!

Author Topic: track day at miller full 4.5 miles (Read 3301 times)

dino245

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

D. Clay

Pics.

dino245

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

Katz Tsubai

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

2002maniac

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

D. Clay

Dish!

dino245

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

BrandC

track day at miller full 4.5 miles

BrandC

track day at miller full 4.5 miles