Rara
Hard-core CEG'er
Cut and pasted from another forum I post on. The Bobby I mention in this post is the previous owner of my M3 . . .
So, last weekend, at the last minute, a couple friends convinced me to join them for an open track event at Gingerman.
First, the stock brake pads Bobby had on the car were nearly shot even before I bought the car, and I hadn't changed them yet. So, I hunted all over town on a friday afternoon to locate track pads for the M3. For the fronts I really lucked out, and a friend got me some Hawk HP+ pads for cost . . . Not my first choice, but they would certainly do the trick. For the rears, I bought some random parts store ceramic pads and crossed my fingers, lol.
So, saturday I swapped pads and flushed the fluid with some decent stuff (ATE blue) and I taped up the torn under tray (Bobby said he didn't do it, that the previous owner did) with the really good racers tape so it wouldn't hang down and drag under really heavy braking.
Started the day with tire pressures too high, and the car was a basket case. by the second session I dropped the pressures to a more manageable level (though still too high) and the car was much much better. Each session I dropped a few more psi and the car got pretty good, though I felt it was awfully soft. I was running about the same times (estimates based on video taken at the event put me in the high 1:42s and low 1:43s) as some friends in modified mustangs with about the same power and slicks. I was running the BFG KDW's. There definately is more in the car, since I was running only in 3rd all the way around, and there was about 4 places where dropping to 2nd for a corner would have let me come out WAY harder. But, I didn't want to abuse the clutch . . . because someone else already hadlol.
Overall I'm pretty happy with the car, but it definately needs more front tire. The whole staggered thing is dumb on a car like that; it's no 911. I think the staggered tires may be why the steering isn't more aggressive; if the rack was any faster, it would just make the understeer worse for most drivers. Other than that, I think the car was just a bit soft, but well composed.
I found out I can supposedly fit 275/35/18 tires all the way around, which is good and bad, because I can get all the Hoosier GAC slicks in that size I want, but it means I'd be dumping money into this car to make it a track whore . . . I think it would be awesome with 18x9+ wheels around, decent front brake calipers (needs some fixed calipers) camber/caster plates, and some springs/dampers/bars that are a little more stiff. Maybe a good seat w/ harness too.
I need to sell this car before I let it make me broke. I need to build a competitive race car instead that can make me even more broke, but at least I can race wheel to wheel with . . .
