Author Topic: Big Willow last weekend (Read 3842 times)

Katz Tsubai · « **on:** February 04, 2007, 11:46:23 AM »

I ran Willow Springs big track last weekend with Speedventures (as I usually do). No other E30s were found, unfortunately, other than my buddy's 325i. He drove out from Flagstaff, AZ just to hang around. He was going to drive, but backed out at the last minute when PS started to leak.

IMO, you owe it to yourself to try a track event or auto-x if you drive an E30. Typical "Hard/spirited driving" on street is really about 4/10th driving for those who have done track/auto-x, and you WILL NEVER be able to appreciate the good handling nature of these cars or true potential of expensive suspension mods at that level. If you think you're driving above that level on street, you either have no clue or are danger to other motorists and pedestrians.

Many track events offer instruction for newbies. Getting quality instruction itself is worth the cost of entry. It'll make you a better driver on and off the track. Chance of wrecking your car is not much more than a chance of an idiot running a red light T-bone your car, unless you do something stupid.

Anyways...Not much change to my car since the last track event at Streets of Willow Springs (SOWS) - H&R race springs, Magnecor wires, and Porterfield R4 pads have been added. I still have crappy under-valved dampers, which makes T8 and the crest of T6 interesting.

Although turn-in was pretty good, I noted understeer during mid-corner and exit - I couldn't rotate the car much with lift, which made it somewhat difficult to drive. I was in desperate need for camber plate, better dampers and stiffer rear bar but that's gonna have to wait until the next time.

As I wrote in my SOWS thread, my target lap time was 1:42s. I missed it by miserable 0.1 second

Upon returning home, I studied the line on good driving videos on YouTube and realized I was on completely wrong line at the entry of T9 and T2.

There's one interesting thing I confirmed. During previous outing to Big Willow last year with my M10 318i, I realized my laptimes were better with gas tank almost topped off. I thought it was a fluke, but the same thing happened again this time around. My educated guess is that due to the location of tank, the weight of gas changed corner balance to better suit the track layout (right-hand sweeper dominant). It's something to try out if any of you drive on Big Willow.

Speedventures offer informal time trials during Sunday events. The classing isn't as detailed/strict as NASA TT, and a 318is is placed in "2.0L and under Normally-aspirated" class. Meaning, you get to compete against Lotus Elise/Exige and Miata. Fortunately for me, there were only two Lotus'es (or Lotii?) out there, and one Miata was a couple tenths behind me. Elise and Exige snagged 1st and 2nd place in the class, and I got 3rd place and $20 credit towards SV's future events.

One of the coolest things we saw was a German guy who happened to be in SoCal for business or something, and he showed up in a rental Mustang. FTD went to a guy with race-prepped 993, with 1:27.xxx. A driver who can dip below 1:30 in a production-based car at Big Willow is considered very fast.

Sorry, no pics or video. Laptimes are shown in the link below.

http://speedventures.com/event_results_db.asp?event=1/28/2007+-+WSIR&results=OA&s=lt

e9nine · « **Reply #1 on:** February 04, 2007, 05:13:12 PM »

Threads like this make me smile. I can't wait till the season opens back up :cool:

Katz Tsubai · « **Reply #2 on:** February 04, 2007, 09:53:06 PM »

Lucky me... There's virtually no off-season in SoCal, though there's a hell of a price to pay (ridiculously expensive housing, state income tax, miserable traffic, etc).

Willow Springs isn't a world-class track like Laguna and Sears Point, but I do recommend driving it once in your life. Some events even allow a rental car, as noted above. T8/T9 will give you pure adrenaline rush even in slower cars like ours. I really think it's a momentum track, despite high average speed. It really rewards drivers who can carry speed through corners, and it gets better and better as you get faster.

jpod999 · « **Reply #3 on:** February 04, 2007, 10:39:17 PM »

I missed the signup for Infineon this month. HPDE1 is already filled up and I am totally bummed. I want to go out to Thunderhill again next month though. I am addicted to track driving now that I have done it once.

Katz Tsubai · « **Reply #4 on:** February 08, 2007, 10:46:00 AM »

I'd like to try Sears (Infenion) and T-Hill this year. I'm guessing you run with NASA? I'll see you out there sometime.

jpod999 · « **Reply #5 on:** February 08, 2007, 06:30:07 PM »

Yeah I am a NASA member. I might be going to Thunderhill in March. Let me know if you are going too.

christophbmw · « **Reply #6 on:** February 18, 2007, 12:50:19 AM »

ive been thinking about taking my DD 318is out to thunderhill (i live like a few hours away) this year. i have no track experience. is NASA a good club for starting out? if you guys head out there let me know, id like to get some track time. thanks.

1991318is · « **Reply #7 on:** February 19, 2007, 03:03:00 AM »

So lucky you have a track like that. To do HPDE1 we are at a small enough track which is totally flat like a parkinglot type of deal. Hopefully this year I'll get out and start racing the m42 ...

sumyungguy · « **Reply #8 on:** March 05, 2007, 11:47:49 PM »

NASA HPDE's at Infineon are usually pretty full.. I know this cause Im on the sides taking pictures.:cool:

Im going to go up there for "myself" one of these days.