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My car isn’t ready for spec yet, but I plan to run HPDE and was hoping to run into a few racers. We ran the car with the BMW club at mid-ohio in August and she ran beautifully. Hope to meet a few guys there and maybe catch a ride during practice or something.
Kevin
I’ll more than likely be there in October. I don’t think we can give rides in the race groups, either way I don’t have a passenger seat. But you’re more than welcome to stop by and check out the car.
I’m out for Saturday as I have another engagement but I think I’m going to show up just for Sunday only. I think we can do just single days with NASA.
Well I’m skipping this event all together now. The car is pretty banged up right now, so I’m going to pack it in for this year and get it back together…sorry 
Gareth, It was nice meeting you at Putnam. Hope to see you next year and let me know if you get that video up.
Kevin
It was good meeting you too, always good to put a face (and car) with an online name.
The video is up, still un-edited, so you’ll want to ffwd through the first 5 min. The smoke at the end is the power steering fluid. :}
http://williams–bmw.com/putnam.aspx
Gareth
I finally got around to posting my own video and here is the link, not edited. Let me know what you think.
Kevin Sweeney wrote:
[quote]I finally got around to posting my own video and here is the link, not edited. Let me know what you think.
http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=2185120447032596692[/quote]
Before I comment what is your experience level? and is your car prepped for Spec E30? Where you running on Toyo RA1’s etc?
Now you’ve got me worried :unsure:
Experience level on a scale of 1-10 (1 being lowest) I would say I’m at a 2-3. I have been to Putnam Park about 3 times and Mid-Ohio about three times but this was my first time in the BMW (previously in a high HP MR2). This video was shot in a HPDE 2 group. I just passed to move onto HPDE 3 for next time.
We just bought the BMW in April and the spec conversion is going slow and steady. The suspension (spec spring, shocks, bushing, etc) have been installed but the roll cage, seats and gutting have yet to be done. The wheel/tire combo is the stock basketweaves with falken azenis rt-615 tires. I plan to get some 15’s and run the toyos next year or once the falkens are shot.
Ok, now hit me with the comments…
Ok, well based on your experience level I would say you are doing very well. Your line is already pretty good. Basically you just need to get more seat time and pick up the speed, you are going to be in a higher gear than the one you’re using for most of the track. Turn 1 is very fast, you want to break later and stay in 4th. You can try to downshift to 3rd but I think you’ll find the faster you get staying in 4th will be more comfortable. The downside is you have to go to 3rd before 2 which can be a bit busy as you don’t have to brake too much there. Make sure you are flat all the way through the kink at 3 no need to breath the throttle there. I run out of revs here and actually go to 4th. I will then carry 4th gear all the way to 7. If you don’t carry the speed though you will be dead in 4th, especially turn 5, which should probably be taken in 3rd but you don’t need much brake before 5 and I find a downshift there to much work so I stay in 4th. Use 3rd in turn 7, you won’t gain anything by going to 2nd especially as you get faster. Get on the power early in 8 you should be running out of revs going into 9 pretty easily, I just hold the revs at the top and stay in 3rd. Overall I would say you are progressing very nicely for your experience level. Nice job.
Simon, Thank you very much for your input, every little bit helps. By the end of the second day (this video was on the first day) I was staying in 4th at the end of the straight and thru turn 1, then a qhick downshift and brake between 1-2. It felt faster but you are right it is very busy. I also started requiring 4th after turn 4 but would downshift before turn 5. I’ll try holding 4th next time. Turn 7 I couldn’t figure out! I tried 3rd, then 2nd, then 3rd again. If I used 2nd, I had to shift mid-turn or bounce off the rev limiter!! Thanks again and hope to see you out there next year.