Questions about S/C track tires....etc

[Cascadesss]

I'm in the market for a used 5 speed M3. After I get it, I want to add a Supercharger and use it on the track. We have a dealership here in Portland that does the Dinan modifications.

How reliable will this engine be, over time, with the S/C? And, what are the typical tire sizes used on the track? I plan to use either Hoosiers or Kuhmos.

TIA

Cas

[C.Yang]

After I left Portland for school, it seems like there are tons of M3 owners up there now. Ain't it ironic. Anyways, from what I've heard, Superchargers tend to put some strain on the engine, and cut it's life down to mid 100's. I think much of this loss is not due to actual strain, but to user aggression. If you get a supercharger, you don't get one to dink around, but to go fast. In regards to the track, what type of track do you want to do? If you mean straight line, many people use the M3 lightweight wheels. You can make a pseudo staggared setup. I only recommend superchargers and such for straightline racing, because mods usually put you in the deep end with the big boys. People spending too much money on their cars. I know this one guy who put in 5000 dollar shocks, because thats all thats allowed to stay in stock class. These are dual valved or something like that, so they act like springs as well as shocks. But he got 3rd at nationals so...........
SuperChargers are nice, but usually a hinderance for competitive racing. Im actually thinkin about taking my intake out, and just slapping on coilovers so I can run stock classes. But thats when I actually get good at this stuff.

[Cascadesss]

I run my cars on road racing tracks like PIR, Laguna Seca, Thunderhill, and a few others. These are Driver Education events and are not timed or competitive (wink).

I'll need to buy a second set of wheels and racing tires for the track. I just have no idea what to buy for a M3.

As far as the Supercharger goes, I am looking to get somewhere around 300-350 out of the engine.

Yes, I know all about suspensions and the associated costs. A really good suspension with coilovers and JRZ shocks for my car is easily $5,000.

[pete]

hmmm. ok, here's the dealy... 245 width tire all the way around is the way to go for the track. you can run this on an 18in rim, believe offset has to be from 38-42, but i'm not sure... You need a set of spacers for the front, 5mill is big enough. There really isn't any suspension that is actually that expensive for the ///M, is the typical 1500 dollar coilover routine, i guess you could get some custom built penske racing shocks, but why. i wouldn't really recommend the dinan, its nice, but way overpriced. check out the new unit from Samir @ http://www.technikonline.com also, to track it, you really should get some frozen rotors, stock ones will warp, other then that, big brakes really arent worth time time / money unless they are fo show. Here is what i figured out... You will be at about 1.5 degree of camber just by lowering it, but to get more then that, you either swap the front camber plates (lots of work) or get adjustables, which either screw ride, or are flimsy street ones. my plan is to also put in a roll bar, and 2 sparco milano's, or torino's, haven't decided yet, i don't want harnesses w/no bar. actually, SSR makes a good wheel, the competition, that you can get in a 17x9@400 ea, thats 15lbs, thats what i would buy for strictly track use. um. most guys run a DOT approved race tire, hoosier makes one, Kum-Ho makes one... I've heard that going to a full slick is a little sketchy without further bracing and such... oh, well on the topic of bracing. you should buy an x-brace, which is an OEM part off the convertable, it sharpens up the turn in, and then makes it more stable and precise in the corner... Um, the strut tower braces for anything after a '95 are useless, nofunctional, all of them have hinges and such to get up and over the traction control throttle body. anyways, that's a bit of info, email me if you have more questions.