Dj's 1999 M3 Project

[ScottyB]

motons! *presses face against window*

[Goodspeed]

Are the main springs "flat" like a giant helper spring? Never seen that before.

Pimpin' ain't easy but its necessary!

[Sully]

DJ: The new Mr. Spoiler

You should see the ridiculous wing I want.,..........

And then plans are already in the works for a much more aggressive splitter, im allowed up to 5 inches from the bumper :twisted:

I'll buy your wing if you ever decide to upgrade

[JustinG]

M3 = bad

[D_Eclipse9916]

God I need to update this thread...

As for the wing, let me know when you are available to buy it, they arent cheap however, a grand new. Of course mine is used. Ill be moving to a brooks motorsports wing.

[JustinG]

MOAR WING

[D_Eclipse9916]

This is the actual wing:

[D_Eclipse9916]

Okay, so quick review of what has happened in the past 3 weeks. My list of wants that are completed
Djs February "Has to be done list" with wants below:
1. Finish the last Ball joint into Rear Trailing Arm -Done-
2. Install Rear Trailing arm bushing. -Done-
3. Cool Tape/Fabric for front/rear ball joints to protect them -Done-
4. Power Steering Copper Washers install -Done-
5. Flush out coolant from winterization -Done-
6. Oil Change -Done-
7. Transmission Fluid
8. Rear differential Fluid -Done-
9. Straighten Front Splitter
10. Exhaust downturn and heat shielding for it. -Done-
11. From welding, prep and paint subframe and inner wheel wells -Done-
12. Press in new bushings on lower control arm -Done-
13. Drill out and tap diff for new diff bolt -Done-
14. Install subframe/diff/upper and lower control arms/rear trailing arms/sway bars/e-brake cables -Done-
15. Vinyl numbers and class numbers along with contingency stickers. -Done-
16. Install Motons and Vorshlag Camber Plate -Done (sorta went to GC camber plates)
17. Alignment -Done-

Wants:
1. Front brake duct installation
2. Reinforce front splitter
3. Reinforce and create a bit more ducting on undertray
4. Wash/Wax.

Unfortunately this all had to happen in a few days right before my track day. As well as me not getting my camber plates till 2 days before I had to leave for VIR. Getting this car ready for VIR was a flipping fiasco of parts not coming in and random failures.

First of all, some pictures of goodies that came in so I dont bore you with the rest of this...






After getting the rear end all together, I flushed the rear differential and proceded to install the Motons. I *thought* this would be easy as ive installed a ton of suspensions before, but no of course the one that is under time crunch runs into issues.

First things first, I pull off the stock front and rear suspension and notice that nicely, the previous owner had put in all the reinforcers for the top hats...sweet. But still damn, cause I paid for all new ones. After throwing on the reinforcers on the front, I noticed at the camber settings I wanted, the reinforcer was completely in the way. I ended up having to cut the reinforcer and do extensive work with the angle grinder to ensure no clearance issues. Oh, great, so im behind already. I then go the back and install the rear springs and rear shocks...easy enough. Then set the springs to the middle range as I was hoping to save some time and jsut go with it, and not worry about ride height till next event.

Moving onto the front, I set them about mid-way, install em and put the car on the ground. Measure floor to frame rail clearance....and shit..im WAYYY too high. So I decide I go to the back, jack up the car, take off the wheel and adjust them WAY down. Put it back on the ground and sweet, about 5-inches in the back. Right wwhere I want it. Jack the front, and lower it down. Get it down to about 4.75 after a few adjustments. Good! As I tighten down the last lug nut I press on the wheel to launch myself back up and notice the wheel spins for half a second...then stops dead. UUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHH!

After inspection, turns out with the helper spring, my main spring is now too long and at the recommended ride height the perch rubs straight into the tire. Considering its 12PM the night before an alignment (and work) I say fuck it, I dont have time to pull the whole front suspension apart and just raise it up enough to clear. Then I have to go again to the back and raise the back way up. Finally get it on the ground and meh, a little higher than I want, but im just going to have to deal with it.

Next day I go to work and then leave at 4 after I made an appointment that morning at Merchants for 5pm for an alignment. Get the car trailered over there and they go, no we cant do that car, its too complicated. I say...okay its just STOCK adjustments, please just align toe. After fighting with me because they say just bring it in the morning (wtf difference does that make for the complicated part), they agree to do it. I should have just taken it home, but the next morning I had to be heading down to VIR. They get it in the air, and then 30 minutes later the mechanic comes back and says..we cant get it within spec. Im like wtf, I go back there, and theyve started playing with my camber adjustment. After I told the manager, had him write it down and then reminded them again NOT TO TOUCH IT. They then start arguing with me that they cant get the TOE right without the camber right.... FACEPALM! We argue and they do the best they cna and get it off the rack.

Alignment after they touch it. Rear Right -.29 toe, Left Rear +.59 toe.... Are you ****ing serious?!!!? NEVER take your care to Merchants in Vienna, bunch of idiots and a waste of my time. So after this fiasco I harass Goodspeed and Jason Happ to help me get the car prepared. I wanted to make sure everything was tight in the rear, rotate my sway bar bushings, flush my coolant and attach the front bumper and splitter. All was going well until at 11PM, Jason informs me that the radiator plug stripped out while pulling the plug out. Flip! I gotta have the car loaded and on the road by 7AM tomorrow! Damn lucky I had a stock radiator and in the quickest radiator change (for an e36) ever, had the new radiator in.

Next morning I drove the car down through Richmond and decided id try the Merchants down in Richmond. Drop it off..and then dont hear anything for 2 hours...im like uhoh. So we drive up there and theres my car sitting in the parking lot. Shit they havent gotten to it or a complication. Walk in, and hear the greatest news ever. Your car is done...I say relaly? and they hand me the spec sheet....perfect. I Asked if they had any problems and they were like...no? GRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!! **** YOU MERCHANTS VIENNA!!!!!!!!! Never take your car there.

Sorry not many pictures, this was all rush rush rush to get this shit done. Next update includes a summary of VIR.

[ScottyB]

I've never had a good experience at any Merchants, ever. i'm surprised they didn't try to sell you a new suspension.

[D_Eclipse9916]

VIR February 18/19/20. Friday Instructor School and Saturday/Sunday Time Trials.

Get there Thursday night at 5PM for the Instructor School. 4 hours of classroom with Dan Unkefer. Definitely informative, but it is somewhat long for attention span and I was ready to get out of there by 9pm.

Friday morning we go to our classroom and are informed of our roles that day. There would be tons of open track time (yay!) and then a role playing session and a blind *autocross*.
Go out for my first session and the car works beautifully, nooo problems. And WOW, the car has immense amount of grip. The new diff, bushings, and Motons has changed the car dramatically. It just....sticks...even on street tires. Now was going to have to relearn the car...oh well. Very little understeer, car is incredibly neutral and stabile, slight 4-wheel drifts now a constant. I love it.

Then its time for the instructor role play. I am paired with Brian Bowers, a corvette Z06 guy. He goes first and almost immediately I notice he is aggressive and stuck to finding the "race line". I couldnt help but chuckle a few times when he was purposely understeering or trying to overpower the rear wheels. (OMG that z06 had tons of power and grip).
Then its my turn, my role is to be a complete newbie (unlike Brian who was supposed to be experienced) and was very agressive. I tell Matt on grid...im going to be a jackass, just in case they already didnt know this was instructor role play. After getting into the car and being called Ricky Bobby they gave us the opportunity on grid to go. I said I had to get my gloves on and shit so I waited a bit and then when everyone was clear I asked him if we were ready to go on track. He says yes, and I go ALRIGHT! In pits (disclaimer: NEVER DO THIS YOU WILL GET IN TROUBLE), I rev up and dump the clutch and basically do a hard launch after laying some tire down and go straight out of grid onto the track. Im sure then Brian knew exactly was happening and quickly ordered me to stick it in fourth gear and fourth gear only. After some complaining on my part (hey im supposed to be having fun, hey I want to go FAST!) I do as told. But im aggressive, and im a newbie so almost every other corner I late turn in and THROW the wheel understeering hard and making the tires sing! After another lap I threw it hard into 1 and held a drift out to turn 2 complaining that I wanted to go FAST!

The role play was a ton of fun, and after spending years learning the line, it was tough to get into the habit of purposely messing up. Some more open track time and now was time for the blind autocross. You literally blind yourself and have your instructor guide you through a purpose built autocross at low speeds. Its an interesting exercise due to the facts that you have to be very careful with what you say as to not confuse and use instinctual words instead of lets say turn at 3oclock.

Next up was saturday and Sunday....heres a first picture to break up the monotony of this post.


Time Trials Saturday:

First session out, its an HPDE/TT session, so untimed. I decide not to push it and David Meyer jumps into the car for some laps. Hopefully he had a good time.
Second session out is a TT only session and therefore no passengers so I decide to up the ante a bit. I start getting going and notice my pads are starting not to hold up. Deeper and more (remember to squeeze the pedal not hit) into the corners. About 5 laps in, I run out of talent and am coming in a bit too hot to oak tree. Instead of trying to save it and induce a possible spin, I just go four off at like 20mph and go back out on track. After being blackflagged (I swore in the rules it said it was up to the driver's discretion during TT but I was wrong), I came in and swore to Felton I wouldnt do it again
Third session, a new guy in a black porsche is gridded up in front of me (its supposed to be on times, but he was new so they put him where how fast they thought he was going to be. The flying lap in, im on his ass, through 1-5, he pulls hard on me through that small straight but then I have to almost slam onto my brakes entry of uphill esses as he proceeds at about 85 through the uphill ESSES. Christ, hes nice enough to let me by at the top of the esses and I pull some time but then we get to the straight. yeah...400 horsepower porsche against basically a stock powered e36 m3. He comes up to me and then ****ing passes me. Again im stuck on his ass and end up puddling my way through hogpen. This repeats the next lap (except grr he doesnt let me by again) so I back off...a LOT. I let him get as much time forward and even let another e46 M3 go by. After what should have been plenty of time, I come up on hogpen and get back into it.
This is wehre I went wrong, I got "redmist" in the fact that I thought I had to make that lap count. I am blazing through 1,2,3,4,5,6, and coming through the uphill esses I noticed the E46 M3 was not going quite as quick as I had hoped through the esses. As I go through them, I notice im catching up tremendously quick, so in a quick plan I remarked that I would back off at top of 9 and then go hard through 10 to get a run.. FAIL! I used a bit too much brake as im cresting and the car's back end starts a slow slide. If I correct ill go straight off at 10, so I hold the slide all the way down to bottom of 10 at which I correct, overcorrect and then hit the marbles at the bottom of 10 to the right. At maybe 45mph it goes into a quick flat spin and stops me. DAMN! Second DQ...im done for the day.

Sunday Time Trials
First session, another practice with HPDE4, I take it easy and have Jake Thiewes go for a ride. Have some fun, get back to relaxing and drive.
Second session, go out there and just get stuck with traffic, go figure.
Third session, This is where I finally get some free reign and go out, but having a tough time getting a quick clean lap but laying down with .2 second of my best the previous day.
Fourth session: Last and final, theres not many people there so I know I might get a good opportunity. The tires are a bit overheated and greasy and my driving was hellaciously sloppy (kinda embarassed to show video...it was bad). But when I came in...I nailed out a 2:14.3 on street tires, only .5 seconds off my class' record and grabbed first for the day in class by over 6 seconds. Shiiiet not bad for street tires when everyone else is on slicks.

Here are pictures, next debrief (wont be for at least a week I promise), I will go over my impressions of setup and what im doing to get the track record for this upcoming event.

[andrew_j]

:thumbup: Talk about a purpose built car.

[D_Eclipse9916]

NASA-MA March event, it didnt break despite bimmerworld's mess up on my tune. I dont wnat to even check out my pads, I think their down to their wear markers.

[D_Eclipse9916]

Okay, so I finally have a little bit of time and can update on the latest happening's of the MThrizzle.

NASA-MA March at VIR. This is my opportunity after getting the car sorted out before this event. I pulled the ECU and sent it out to Bimmerworld. I had requested a tune for a 3.5 inch MAF, their race intake, and a cat-back downturn. Also requested a 7200rpm rev limit. They say okaay! Send the Ecu their way.

Fast forward to a week before VIR. They finally get my ECU back and I throw it in the car. On all the forums I was told to wire in a resistor so it reads the Porsche 803 MAF correctly. Well when I start it up, it starts, then dies immediately. Crap! Check everything, everything looks fine. Weird. Start it up again, dies again. Hmm maybe that resistor isnt supposed to be there, so I pull it out and the car runs fine, a bit rough, but fine. Then throws a check engine light. Well shit. Its 2 days before VIR and bimmerworld will be there and the car runs halfway fine, so I pack up everything and head down to VIR. Get to VIR, talk with Bimmerworld all day Saturday with their laptop hooked up to my car, only to eventually say: "We dont have a tune for an 803 MAF without cams, youll have to use your stock MAF. F***!!!! Left it at home, oh well, ran the whole weekend with a loss of power, no biggie.

Saturday Morning: Nice and "somewhat" warm for March VIR. Its actually colder than February VIR. I miss the 1st Practice session to give a ride in HPDE4. So then onto the 1st timed session. Not only do I not get put where I usually am, but I got to grid somewhat late so I was put all the way at the back of the group. I fought through traffic the whole time and I shoulda just came in, but hell im a newbie, I need some practice at that stuff. Best lap : 2:15.3
Second Timed Session: Okay, now I have decent position in group, I am still on the street tires trying to get used to the car and track. Im feeling pretty good and start warming up. Unfortunately my 1st hot lap is always pretty slow due to me not trusting tires and brakes to be at temp (I should). First Lap: 2:16.474, second lap 2:14.591, only .7 seconds off my class record, third lap 2:13.359, holy crap just cracked the record by a full half second, fourth lap: 2:12.915, cracked the record by .9 seconds when I was still on street tires! I was happy, I not only was winning that day, but had cracked the TTC VIR record. Now, I just wanted to run a few mild laps on the R6s to break em in...
Third session: I had achieved my goal for the day, so I wanted to go out there and just get the R6s to temps and then let them rest, to break em in. By the time I had warmed up the tires, I felt the grip, and hell with it, ill go for a decent out-lap. First lap: 2:11.476...........What?!!?! Just blew through the old VIR record by 2.3 seconds on my first lap ever on hoosiers. Woot.
After that, I came in and just rested. No point in getting overheated or doing something stupid on track to lose the time. Put the car up on jackstands to let the hoosiers cool down with no load.

Sunday Morning: It rained, and I got a bit late to the track so I hadnt even gotten the car off the jackstands because I had to work. So I missed the first sunday session, meh it was raining. I love rain on track and got called out for not being there, oh well. Second sesion, track is still wet, but I want to see what kind of times I can do at VIR in the wet (my first time on VIR in the wet). Knocked out a best lap of 2:17, not too bad on a wet track, but definitely not going to be a record-breaking day (or so I thought).
Sunday, last session, I was in the lead by 12 seconds over second place because of the rain. I wanted to go out and just relax and knock out a few good laps, the hoo hoos were still really weird, not used to all the grip and definitely have plenty of places to make up time. Track temps werent perfect, so I didnt go out to break my own PR. First few laps, kind of slow, last lap, F it, give it a bit, and came in with a 2:11.111. I knocked out my own personal record and TTC record again. Destroyed the poor previous guy's record by over 2.7 seconds. Cant complain

Now for some pictoooorrzzzz...




And video...
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Next up: April Summit Point......

[JustinG]

needs MOAR WING!!!

[ScottyB]

atta boy. nice work!

[D_Eclipse9916]

April Summit:

Two weeks between VIR and Summit Point, thank god not "much" needed to get done. The car went back to the stock MAF and Bimmerworld and I got the tune figured out and they refunded me for the MAF I had bought they said I needed for the tune. SO no harm, no foul. Car ran a bit better and was excited to get on track with the right tune and alignment. I also tore up my front pads at VIR, they were getting overheated. So now I had made a complete transgression.

1. Burned up pads as a newbie using brakes improperly
2. Learned proper braking techniques and pads worked well and held up
3. I was now pushing the braking deeper and harder, and that was fine on street tires, but when I stepped up to R-comps, it was just too much.

Now part of the issue was the pads. As pads wear down, especially in the last 1/4 of their life, you have less pad acting as a heat-sink. This means the more you wear, the less they will hold up to heat. Since I was down to the last 1/8 of pad, I think they just started to show their weakness.

I figured I would address the heat by giving the brakes a bit more help, considering my brake system was completely stock. I completely cut out the dust shields front and rear. What this does is let the back half of the rotor see fresh air as well. In order to make sure nothing else overheated, I used cooltape and a metal zip tie to cover all ball joints/tie rod boots. I brought a spare set of pads as I wanted to burn up the pfc06s completely before I ordered brand new ones (450 a set).

I know this gets boring without pics, and im sorry I will try to find the pics and edit them in.

Saturday, Summit Point: This would be my first on Summit with the car setup the way it is and first time on hoosiers on Summit. The morning sessions would be rough, everybody was off pace and clearly not setting any good times. I was over 1.5 seconds off my pace on street tires with no mods!
I had gone to Summit under the premise that I wanted to break the TTC record there as well. Unfortunately, I knew this would be a tough ass record to break. Unlike the VIR one, this record was help by RRT. RRT built this car and fielded it with a semi-pro driver. Professional prep, shop backing, and good driver...crap. Record was a 1:23.284. I was a bit worried as I didnt have a clue with what to do with the shocks/tires, and my brakes were within 1/8 of their backing plates.

The afternoon broke and times started to drop. I managed a 1:23.729 in my third session. Not too shabby. The brakes were still there and I was happy coming in. As we are pulling in, our cars go into impound. That is, they weigh our cars, and if they feel like it they can inspect (rarely do). I was not in the least bit worried as in the morning before I ran, I weighed. I came in at 3168 at a 1/4 tank of gas. I needed to weight 3175. No biggie, I fuel starve less than 1/2 a tank, so I filled the car up to the brim before each session. At 6.5lbs/ per gallon, I should be over 56+ with the additional fuel.

Pull up on the scales at a little over 3/4 of a tank. Im estimating to be at 3210+- 10lbs. I get pushed up on the scale, and...wait what? What did you say? "3168". This was my first time failing weight and im at my previosu weight despite another 7 gallons of fuel? Im confused, pull the car next to the line and go up to Kaan. I probably sounded agitated and annoyed and immediately came over and basically was like "WTF". Kaan, being that he has dealt with about 20 bajillion of the same situation (aka annoyed driver who isnt thinking clearly), states simply get back in line. I get back in line, and voila, my car reads 3220 or something like that....way over. Never the less, later that day they changed out the scales. Whatever happened, Kaan and Tech Shed handled my situation appropriatly, and I apologize again if I came off agressive. Remember, these people control your fate and are people themselves volunteering their time for you. After about 10 minutes I quickly came up to him and apologized if I acted in any bad manner.

So now that I knew I was at good weight again...I was in the lead of TTC and just went out for a good few laps. I didnt evne think about the record after my ordeal about weight. It showed, and I pulled in with a 1:23.929. It was a tough day and was not a day for breaking records (mentally, and the track was not in the best shape). Grabbed TTC win for the day and called it a success!

Another few action shots to break it up:
Saturday warmup: yeah you better give me pointbys way in advance :lol:


Pshh, what weight transfer?



You can see my Uber-expense exhaust setup (aka cut pipes from advance auto $6 for turn-downs)



Sunday morning: Temps were about right and I was feeling great, the pads looked like they had about one or two sessions, so I knew this needed to count. Go out for my first lap, 1:23.972, okay well lets do a cool lap to bring these back for a second go around, second lap: 1:25.777, okay...car feels good, now lets do this! I go for it, Summit Point gearing with my car is just about nailed on the head, bounce off rev limiter at 7200rpm in 4th right at the finish line....1:23.244....woo!!! I had the Summit Point TTC record, and heck, grabbed it from RRT as well. But I wanted a 1:22 ooooh so desperately.

Second session: aww crap, numbnuts in front of me hold up the line on my first lap, not even close, 1:27. However, you cant blame others, so I set my car up for a fast lap, or as best as I could. I get about 3/4 through the lap before catching another person outta turn 9...ugh! I just pull in right from there. Im low on brakes and I dont want to ruin my chances later in the day. 1:23.432, not bad at all, wish it had been clean...

Third session: I swore this would be it. I clicked up the front and rear shocks to hopefully slow more weight transfer under transitioning and go out. ho ho! That first lap is a mighty oversteer. I clear out the first two laps just re-learning the car. Alright, its me up front, Scott Blair in the red M3 TTC( my main competitor), and Ron H another TTC competitor all in M3s. From the start I know this is going to be an insanely fast lap, blaze off turn 10 onto the straightaway with good speed and nail turn 1/2. I come into turn 3 and with that little oversteery setup nail out another good 4-wheel drift through turn 3 and just fly down the chute, barely hanging on hard into the chute. Come through the carousel and man the front end is gripping, but where is the rear end? Turn 8, pop off the throttle half a second for turn in and go for it!!! Turn 9 is looking good, I have it set up perfectly, this is going to be it! As I hit the bump, I get a small bit of wheelspin. Typical, just power through as usual..hmm car is still spinning the rear and is taking me a bit wide....shit. I nail the front tires perfectly on the gators, but the back end is half an inch too early hitting, and throws the car. Im at ~90mph with my face towards the wall, SLOW hands, come on slow hands, it seems to hold in the slide forever and then I can feel it....theres grip...somewhere...its coming, seems to be taking forever. Finally, it seems like ages before I feel I can start feeding back to center and the car catches and comes straight. Whew! Scared the shit outta me (and apparently Scott and Ron that had been following along on their fast laps as well). I just came in..that rattled me a good bit, just one session prior a black s2000 had ate it there good. Calm down, soften up the rear and I would have to attempt the 1:22 in the last session.

Last session: Somehow yellow z06 corvette owner had managed to nail out a faster lap than me. I was gridded behind him and was annoyed, but hey, he was faster, cant argue about that! Go out, first lap, everybodys looking fast, I give yellow vette dude a bit of space before I go for it. Im pacing behind by about 2-3 seconds. We come down the chute, theres the wiggle from the vette, hard braking into 5, doesnt seem like he quite has the steering under control..oooohhh oversteer....boom! smacks inside wall. Didnt look too hard, so I stay out hoping for them to clear....after 5 laps no clear.....end of day..done.

Cant complain, grabbed TTC win both days and cleared the Summit Point TTC Record. Great Success!

Moar Pictures:

Mmmm inside curbing (oopsies):


Coming down the chute:





Next Update: Aftermath of Summit....

[D_Eclipse9916]

Summit Point Shenandoah Circuit, May, 2011.

Trackdaze... A weekend instructing with Trackdaze at Shenandoah circuit is always memorable, some more than others for particular reasons. :lol: This one would be memorable for not only me, but Kyle C. as well, and he wasnt even driving!

After Summit at April with NASA, I was almost down to the backing plates on my PFC06s that had lasted me a good long while, and I had even bought them used! But alas I forgot to order the pads, so I was stuck using a set of pads I had relegated to backup duty: EBC yellows. Awful, awful pads. I also sold my PTG wing to my friend for his upcoming M3 Race Ka. Unfortunately my wing woudl be a week late in shipping, fawk. So I was without a wing, on shitty pads, and the forecast didnt look too good for my bald Dunlop Direzzas. Sweet.
Arrived at the track friday morning and had a good quiet sleep. Bright and early its looking good, we had a quick rain for one session that drenched us but quickly dried out. A beautiful saturday with very little rain compraed to the forecast. The car was feeling relatively good, but the pads had a ridiculous amount of vagueness, I cuoldnt threshold brake worth my life. They held up in the heat, and definitely braked hard, it was just really hard to read them.

Saturday went okay, had 2 students. 1, a red new-ish 135i, and 2, a guy with registration "2006 M3 ZCP". Oh god, a guy who just goes, its competition package yo! Turns out past the first 5 minutes of him BSing about the tractional control on the ZCP, he actually is a nice guy. Both tend to be overusing the wheel but for newbies, they were doing really well. It was fun instructing, and I had one issue pop up with the Red 135i. The driver liked to use the throttle...a lot, so we practiced a bunch leaving the car in a high gear and going around track. It ended up making the lines smoother and more consistent but it took him a while to "get it". He also tended to fade in his mind at about the 15-20 minute mark. Making more and more large mistakes and getting more agressive to make up for it. We fixed this by my reminder of his fatigue when it started happening, and by coming in at the 18 minute mark and making him sit for 2 minutes. This seemed to help immensely.

Back to me, Saturday night we have dinner and Cassie and I jump in the truck to pass out in bed. Legit 5 seconds after we get in the truck, it starts POURING rain. It would pour up until the point in the morning 5 minutes before driver's meeting. Talk about what luck! I was ready for another good day, and despite the car being a little loose the day before, I attributed it to the missing wing. I get in a good first session and im feeling great, the car rotates a bit but its fun when you dont have to care!
At this point Kyle comes to visit and asks for a ride. Sure why not? At this point ive only spun once in my entire time of driving on track, a good 6 years. So we think we are safe and out for a fun ride. Pace lap goes by unventful aside from the car feeling a bit frisky. I pick up the pace, and coming out of pistol grip on the first lap, the rear goes numb and I completely lose the back-end. Keeping my eyes up I catch the spin on its first rotation and let it drift backwards on the access road to get off the main track. Go...hmm...that was weird. Apologize to Kyle and come into a quick grid to talk to Jon Felton and say im sorry. Woot, now lets get back out there!
Go around and pick up full pace coming up to the back stretch under the bridge (again with kyle in passenger seat, first time back out on track), and just as I come down to the braking zone I see my abs light pop on as I reach for the brakes and "whiffffffff", rear tires lock up entirely and send me sideways going into the carousel at full speed. A quick throttle nudge and slow hands and we enter the carousel.......sideways..... :lol: Dont think ive ever seen somebody try to drift the carousel (not recommended, unless you like scaring the beejeezus out of everyone). Recover and pull straight into the pits. Damn WTF!!!?!! ABS light is on and I dont know what happened. Even if ABS was out, why did the rear end conk out so easily? Usually itd lock up fronts.
So I check all fuses and then reset the battery. Light goes away. Go onto wet skidpad, do a bunch of brake tests, abs is engaging no problem and no more light. hrmmm.
Decide to take it easy and go back out on track. First lap, man the car is loose, whats going on? Second lap, holy shit, cars getting uncontrollabe, no lights no nothing, but im just too worried at this point and pull it in. Right as I pull out to my paddock space I hear a PFFF!!!! TSSSHHHH!! as smoke pours out of my hood. Gauges are fine, but wtf? Of course I turn off the car immediately. Well only one session left, so F it, I get it on the trailer and check it out. Hmm looks like it blew the coolant tank (kinda common).
So...yeah...every session check your car for leaks. The car had been dousing the rear tires with coolant (saw the residue of course afterwards) and had been making the rear tires have very little grip. Ended up freaking out the ABS light. To this day, havent seen the ABS light again, so it is my assumption it was the coolant.

Scary day, but great event!! Not a good way for Kyle to come back out on track! :twisted:

[kcook]

hock: haha

[Sully]

I was like wait, why the hell did he sell das wing and then I saw the month at the top of the post. I thought this actually happened recently and you sold you hella big wing yo. Cool story though, glad you got around to posting it



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[Jake]

I thought this actually happened recently and you sold you hella big wing yo.

He can't do that, then we'd have nowhere to eat lunch at the track.