Spent all day Sat. out at Willow Springs, with a bunch of nice(& fast cars). My tripmeter showed 130 miles(which happened to coincide with a full tank of gas) of track time when I called it quits. While I know that my driving ability is the main limiting factor, I just felt so slow & down on power on the straights. You name it, it passed me eventually, a couple of Porsche TTs, Vipers, an older air cooled Porsche turbo(he did have R comp Hoos on), Cobra(replica) with a 429?, oh yeah, a Mitsu Evo 8, a Nissan Sentra race car, an M5, a supercharged Z06, etc.
For the most part, I was holding my own in the turns, but passing was only really allowed on the straights, & guess what, that's where I got passed .
One of the Porsche TT guys ran a stopwatch on me, & said that I was running consistent 1:45's. I had never been timed before, so I don't know if I'm improving or what, but that gives me starting point for next time.
Some of my kills were a Mustang Cobra, who after talking to him, found out this was his first time at this track, so I had a bit of an advantage since this was my 3rd time at Willow.
There was a nice 360 Berlinetta, that was pretty slow in the turns(I was all over him), & then when he hit the straights, I couldn't out drag him. That's ok to do a couple of times, but come on, let me by eventually, which he didn't do, so I made an early pass between 2 to 3. That was the end of seeing him. BTW, I think this car was driven by a couple of different people, but I witnessed 4 off road excursions by this 360. I took some pics of it at the end of the day. They got pretty lucky, cause it was still running & the wheels didn't look damaged either, but the front bumper/air dam was cracked pretty good, & it was very dirty(even in the engine compartment,cuz you can see thru the glass .
The coolest thing happened near the end of the day. I was coming down the front straight, & I see a car entering the track ahead of me. I noticed a BIG wing & thought it was a Race Mustang that I had seen. Well I get down to the first turn & am close to this guys rear & realize this is a full race 360(that I hadn't seen all day. I think he crashed the track from a local garage?). The exhaust sound was incredible, it must have just had straight pipes, cuz it was way loud & cool. So I thought, maybe I can get a cool view of this car for a second or two before he's out of sight, but I was wrong. I'm guessing that his tires were not up to temp, cuz I was on his ass all the way to T5, then he motions me to pass him. I was thinking, OK, then what, he'll just pass me again down the back straight ? Well, he didn't, I continued on for a while & never saw him. I don't really know what the story was with that car, but it was a blast running with him for 3/4 of a lap .
Anyways, I know that if I had some real HP, I would not get so hammered down the straights, a supercharger might help me out a little . It was still a fun time, & I think I was able to improve my technique & line from all the practice.
Right you are Ken!
coughgetblowncough... :
And then get a supercharger.
Are those 19's or 20's? A smaller diameter race wheel may help out a little. Are you running stock engine management? Dinan, Jim C... stuff comes to mind. Cams would help alot. Take the passanger seat out when you race. CF hood.
Otherwise, FI car will get you every time...
4-BNGR
1997 Z3 1.9L - Downing Atlanta Super Charger,Rspeed Check Valve,VDO Boost Gague,Custom Panel,NGK Plugs,SS CatBack Exhaust,Dinan CAI,Ron Stygar Short Shifter,Ron Stygar Clutch Stop,Alpine CD Tuner,MBQ 5.25" Drivers
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII - 6.5 RS TME conversion
:Originally posted by surfacewound
And then get a supercharger.
I think he was being funny...
I had to run my street wheels(OZ), because I had no tread left on my track wheels(Stock). So to answer your question about the OZ's, they are only 18's, but still heavier than my stock 17's. I don't think that there would be a big difference between the two, but I normally try to run the 17's on the track or AutoX.Originally posted by 4-BNGR
Are those 19's or 20's? A smaller diameter race wheel may help out a little. Are you running stock engine management? Dinan, Jim C... stuff comes to mind. Cams would help alot. Take the passanger seat out when you race. CF hood.
Otherwise, FI car will get you every time...
4-BNGR
Yes, on the stock engine software. I think I will hold off on all the other engine mods, & just save up for a blower. Thanks for the other suggestions though.
All things being equal, your car is faster w/ 17's rather that 18's.
Remove the spair tire... etc.
http://www.altechcorp.com/Z3/ZTrack.rm (cool video)
4-BNGR
1997 Z3 1.9L - Downing Atlanta Super Charger,Rspeed Check Valve,VDO Boost Gague,Custom Panel,NGK Plugs,SS CatBack Exhaust,Dinan CAI,Ron Stygar Short Shifter,Ron Stygar Clutch Stop,Alpine CD Tuner,MBQ 5.25" Drivers
2003 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VIII - 6.5 RS TME conversion
Is willow springs a HP track or a technical track?? E.g., what do you top out at in the straight? VIR you can top out at 170+ mph, vs. Summit = 120-130 mph straight.
After having done a Ferrari Event ... I will always run with the Ferrari group now. Nothing makes you feel better than taking your old and LOWLY E36 M3 and lapping the intermediate drivers! Except for the occasional F50 and F40 drivers that fly by you like I was standing still ...
Sounds like you had a blast .... you and the car came home in one piece ... that's all that matters
Originally posted by AwesomeM3
Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the coughgetblowncough meaning that he should get a s/c.......lol
Surfacewound musta missed that.
Matt.
Uhm, for the non owners, the M Coupe has no spare tire.
Even with a supercharger I am not sure how well you would keep up with supercharged ZO6s and Porsche TTs.
It is a high HP track, I'm in 3rd & 4th for the whole time. I can only get up to about 115 on the straights, I don't know what the faster cars hit?Originally posted by NoSoup4U
Is willow springs a HP track or a technical track?? E.g., what do you top out at in the straight? VIR you can top out at 170+ mph, vs. Summit = 120-130 mph straight.
Yes, that is the truth. I had fun, stayed on the track, & my car performed flawlessly. I can't wait until the next time!Originally posted by NoSoup4U
Sounds like you had a blast .... you and the car came home in one piece ... that's all that matters
I've went 130+ down the straight there in a 996 TT and a 360 Modena, 120ish in an NSX. I was the passenger in all three occasions, with moderately skilled drivers.
It's not a very long straight, all things considered, and keeping a high exit speed out of that last decreasing radius turn is bit challenging.
Of course, every time I've been there, people have lost it right before the straight at (T6?), then those dust clouds tend to promote caution by everyone else after that happens. As a matter of fact, I think 6 is the only place I've ever seen anyone loose it there.
But the track itself is a blast, especially this time of year when the temps aren't 100+.
93 325is - total M3 conversion and more - Dinan SC kit - RMS aftercooler and tuning - 395rwhp on 91 octane.
"....She may not look like much, but she's got it where it counts, kid. I've made a lot of special modifications myself." -Han Solo
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I considered quoting Dave's post, but thought it'd be a little more funny if I was more vague. My wording should have shown that I was responding to it (the "and then" or perhaps just the "and" wouldn't really have made sense if I hadn't read it).
But yeah, I was just jokin around.
Hey, some pics from the day are uploaded on this web site. There is even one shot of me . Enjoy.
Photos of fast cars at Willow Springs
Hey, sounds like you had fun though.
good stuff, great pics, I want to try that kind of thing soon in my SRT, but I'm kinda wary about taking it into the turns.. how much does a race like that cost to get into anyway?
it's NOT a race. It's a driver's/education event. Feel free to come with us to the track ... Summit point is the local track for md/dc/va. VIR is a bit farther and requires staying overnight.
he was making a sexual joke I assume.....Originally posted by AwesomeM3
Correct me if i'm wrong but wasn't the coughgetblowncough meaning that he should get a s/c.......lol
Surfacewound musta missed that.
Matt.
but anyway... good read... wish I had time to get to a track and learn how to drive....
Don't like my driving? Get off the sidewalk!
oops, sorry, just looked kinad like a fun 'race' type thing.. driver's event makes it sound more civilized i guess j/k, next time a big group goes up there post a thread and I'll try to make it, cause I love driving my car.
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