First track day

[Barra]

So I took the 530i out for it's first track day last week. My neighbour is a member of the local Jag car club (he races mkII jags) and invited me along.
The car has had a bit of work since I've had it:
* All new front suspension with H&R springs, Koni yellows.
* Eibach sway bars front and back
* New rear air bags, poly subframe bushes, beastpowet away bar brackets
* New brake rotors, EBC red pads and new fluid
* Normal maintenance stuff - cooling system, VANOS, ccv etc

There was a vast array of machinery there (not many jags though) from MGBs, lots of Porsches (including a new 911 gt3 RS parked next to me), Lamborghinis, Corvettes, VW golfs and the local horsepower heroes (6.2 litre V8 Commodores). I was definitely the only automatic wagon there! Almost missed out on strutineering as they didn't think it was there to go on the track..

So a few notes:
* The auto sucks, even in manual mode
back end needs more work - still has original shocks...
* Need better seats or more support - thinking about the Schroth quick fit harness
* Tyres are rooted - have RE003s now so will be interested to see how they go
* More power required...

Anyway was an extremely enjoyable day and I would highly recommend anyone else giving it a go. I had 0 issues with the car and did the most laps out of everyone there. Oh and the Jag F type sounds glorious down the straights!

[speed7]

Pics of your track monster? =)

[Barra]

Ha! Not exactly a track monster but here you go1491701907419391107855.jpg

[dannyzabolotny]

Haha well this makes me excited to take my 540i touring onto the track. The whole front suspension is brand new, including Koni shocks and Dinan springs, and I'm going to do Koni shocks for the rear as well, along with an M5 rear sway bar. Mine is also an automatic but I'm hoping that my bigger amount of horsepower and torque can overcome the crappiness of the slushbox a bit.

[E39Touringoz]

Nice touring mate, good to see your giving it a run at the track.

Any mods planned?

[geargrinder]

vast array of machinery there (not many jags though)

That is common here in the states these days. Almost all the 'marque' clubs have gone to an "open invitation" format where non-members can come (usually at higher rates though) - in great part to 'keep their numbers up' although I think there's also an 'ex-member who moved on to another car but still wants to hang w/ his old buddies' factor. You'll see who knows what at a BMCCA or PCA track event...

[Barra]

You should get it out there Danny. Sounds like you've got a similar suspension set up to me, I just ordered the rear konis yesterday. The extra power would be nice!

I've been mainly focusing on making it handle better as adding more power will get expensive. I have been floating supercharging it with the powers that be, just trying to decide whether its worth spending that much on it. Also looking at a manual conversion but that will probably mean getting a box out of the UK.

I'm just trying to get some photos from the day, will post when I get some.

[Barra]

Got a couple of photos from the day, looks like I'm standing still...
_MG_0197.jpg

[adm750]

Got a couple of photos from the day, looks like I'm standing still...

shoot...if that were the case, then you're standing still in style my friend !! I'm diggin' the right hand drive...!! great to see it out there !! I think the only thing you could do better would be to strap a cooler of beer down in the cargo area while you're doing laps...haha. Just to be "keepin' it real"...!!

I'd love to track mine despite it being ALL stock...except for removing that stupid tapered restrictor horn-looking cone thing in the airbox inlet that goes into the fender cutout. I yanked that dude right away.

[Barra]

I reckon next time I'll leave the child seat in the back too. Took it out for "weight savings"..