Advice for HPDE1 E30 at Road Atlanta...

#1

Hey SpecE30,

I’ve sat on the sidelines for too long and I’ve finally decided to get in on the SpecE30 action. I’ve gone to several NASA events and seen the E30’s run and how much fun the group can be, so I’m registered in HPDE1 for Road Atlanta in Dec. I’m just looking for advice on some specs specific to E30’s on the track such as what brake fluid, tire pressures, coolant, oil and how much to put in, and other things I may not be aware of. Granted I have a lot to learn and need experience to fully appreciate these minute adjustments, but I want to go out there with a good base track car. Thanks.

J.A. Owen
1989 BMW 325i

#2

Brake Fluid - ATE blue or gold, or Valvoline Synpower if you’re cheap (you can get away with that in Dec but that is about it)

Tire Pressure? - what tires are you running? RA1s? Set around 30 cold and see what happens, there is no ‘right’ answer here different guys like them different.

Coolant? Full no leaks.

How many track days have you done? If this is one of your first. Basically run what you brung. The E30 will let you know what needs attention by breaking. Then you’ll fix it. This pretty much never ends.

#3

Park in the SpecE30 area with a cooler of decent beer, walk towards the first bunch of us you see, open the cooler and exclaim “My name’s Owen, I live in < >, and I need a SpecE30 mentor”.

No weasel piss dishwater. Decent beer.

#4

Scott has the answer.

In HPDE 1 you’re more worried about finding an apex rather than finding the best set-up, so drive and enjoy. Make sure it is safe and trackworthy and your car’s needs will be addressed in due time.

RP

#5

Don’t hit anything.

#6

Yea this will be my first track day. The car is safe and trackworthy so I guess I’ll just bring it out and see how the it performs. Thanks for all of the comments. You’ll definitely be seeing me around the SpecE30 area.

And yes I’ll avioding hitting anything :wink:

#7

And most important of all, go out and have fun, no pressure. The car is a blast to drive around Road Atlanta!

#8

JAOwen wrote:

[quote]Yea this will be my first track day. The car is safe and trackworthy so I guess I’ll just bring it out and see how the it performs. Thanks for all of the comments. You’ll definitely be seeing me around the SpecE30 area.

And yes I’ll avioding hitting anything ;)[/quote]

Yes, well RA gets a vote and she’s got a temper. Everyone “tries” to not hit anything. Just go nice and easy, keep your eyes and brain 5sec ahead of your bumper, and you’ll be fine.

#9

JAOwen wrote:

That’s what I said before T7 reached out and grabbed me.

Be careful, RA will bite.

Take it easy and have fun.

Matt

#10

Get a good night’s sleep. Drive regular street tires. They will “talk” to you more before you lose grip so they are better learning tools. Do not even think about trying to be fast. Be smooth with your inputs and it is easier to add speed later.

Practice hitting your marks (braking, turn in, apex, track out) on every turn, every lap (warm up, cool down). If someone is behind you, let them by with a clear point.

Figure out what kind of learner you are (visual or auditory) and ask your instructor to use a headset or hand signals as the case may be. If you are getting too much or not enough feedback, let the instructor know.

New guys go too fast in the slow corners and too slow in the fast corners.

Make sure your brake pads will last the weekend. If you spin, both feet in. Familiarize yourself with the track by watching videos (but don’t try to drive like a racer yet). Learn the corner numbers.

Run a video camera if you have one.

Brake in a straight line. Don’t shuffle steer. Drink lots of water.

Above all, have fun.

#11

So I take it to be safe, take my time, and most importantly have fun! Sounds like a good time to me.

#12

Thanks for all the advice guys. BTW can we really park with you all? That would be great if it is possible.

#13

Park with us? sure you can (heck we have trouble parking with ourselves due to poachers but that’s 27 other threads) … however, you may find it less than convenient to be on our side of the track.

The classroom, your false grid, and most importantly your instructor are going to be the other side, so decide what’s important to you (convenience or uncontrolled laughter) and park accordingly.

#14

I keep on forgetting this is internet.

Don’t ask for me cause I’m not a racer and I have no idea what a race line is.

Besides, even if I knew, I sure won’t be teaching it to a HPDE 1 beginners.

#15

As soon as you get there, check your instructor and see if he is a racer. If possible, get a racer as the race lines differ from the school line. Shorten your learning curve.

Brakes…new fluid…period. Upgrade the pads to better than street pads. If you get fast, you will warp your rotors without brake ducts…which is good and not.

Listen to your instructor…RA has subtle nuances that you must learn by turning laps. You won’t do it all in two days.

Most of all, have fun. Chuck

#16

cwbaader wrote:

Beg to differ. There is a reason that school lines exist, and a lot of it has to do with preservation of the student, instructor, and car. Searching for the “racing line” before one has the skills to do anything with it is a recipe for a very bad outcome.

Last thing a greenhorn needs is some dude egging him on to get a big old bite of curbing when the guy isn’t ready for that. Lots of really excellent instructors are not racers, and in fact most of the best DE instructors I know, in terms of actually teaching people skills, are not racers.

#17

I have had the opposite response. When I instruct, the first question is: how much experience do you have? For a first timer, I would never recommend using the curbs. However, for someone who has several DEs and aspires to race, I will definitely show the racing line. That way the student does not have to relearn lines and can practice speed, not lines.

My problem with non racers is that they sometimes don’t understand the difference between the race line and the DE line. This is prevalent at tracks like Barber. If you run the DE line, I’ll pass you at every opportunity. And that is fine if you only run DEs. I don’t, and I don’t instruct any more unless requested by someone who aspires to race. Chuck

#18

cwbaader wrote:

[quote]I have had the opposite response. When I instruct, the first question is: how much experience do you have? For a first timer, I would never recommend using the curbs. However, for someone who has several DEs and aspires to race, I will definitely show the racing line. That way the student does not have to relearn lines and can practice speed, not lines.

My problem with non racers is that they sometimes don’t understand the difference between the race line and the DE line. This is prevalent at tracks like Barber. If you run the DE line, I’ll pass you at every opportunity. And that is fine if you only run DEs. I don’t, and I don’t instruct any more unless requested by someone who aspires to race. Chuck[/quote]

Completely agree with you. When I did instruct I always wanted to know what my student’s aspiration was. I am of the opinion that if your want to race those are the techniques you should try and teach. A first DE is diffrent but you get what I am saying. You can learn some really bad habits in DE that don’t serve you well in racing.

#19

If you haven’t worked on heel-toe downshifting, practice it on the street so it is subconscious at the track.
B)

#20

Someone needs to really teach me that. I have been trying on the street but… Its a no show in my car. :S