[e93]

Hi all. Got a chance to go to this event in Sydney on Sunday. It was fantastic, well organised, well catered for and there was plenty of track time on the skid pan and the circuit. Surprisingly, it was a WOT event - even on the shortened circuit we were able to pull up to 200kph behind the pace car driven by Geoff Brabham. Cars ranged from 320d to 335i sedans, coupes and touring. The only rule was DHC had to remain on. Some idiot ignored this on Saturday and ploughed into a wall - they had to cut the roof off to extracate him. Lucky for him no serious injury. Heres a few photos.

[daninsyd]

cool shots,,, geez they must have been pissed at him.

I just completed the basic one the other day, we went around Easter Creek in the 325i's which was ok but i would have rather have been in my 335i!!

[e93]

Originally Posted by daninsyd

cool shots,,, geez they must have been pissed at him.

I just completed the basic one the other day, we went around Easter Creek in the 325i's which was ok but i would have rather have been in my 335i!!

Advanced 1 or Advanced 2? I want to do the Adv 2 (m3's) and then Perfection and then maybe ($$$ permitting) Racetrack 1. Let me know if your planning to do more - I'll join you.

[danielt]

The fascination 3 event is/was a free promo event which appears to be being held all around Australia ... esentially flogging the 3 series around a race track (within limits) - different to the BMW driver training days.

anyway you are lucky you got to 200km/hr, the fastest the straight at the Gold Coast allowed (foot to the floor in the 335) was about 140km/hr from memory. There was no mention of leaving full traction control on ... sounds like your track in Sydney was much more conducive to a faster top end speed!

[e93]

Gidday Daniel. Yeh, the main straight at Eastern Creek is long and the corner coming into the straight has a very fast apex exit speed. Could probably have gone faster if Geoff got out of the way - joking When asked how the 335i compared to the current M3 Geoff commented that a good driver in a 335i could take the M3 no problem. While not a training day, Geoff led three cars at a time. He drove a manual m3, used a handheld radio to talk to the drivers of the cars, offered tips and commentry on their driving skills and race line as he watched in his rear view mirror and adjusted the pace according to the competency of the drivers behind him. I was just trying desperately to keep up!!!

[1q2w3e4r]

Hehe I think they may have been doing the effective marketing routine. I don't see how the heavier, less powered 335 with no LSD beats the E46 M3 with less weight, more power, better brakes and the M diff. Driving both the M is defiantly quicker point to point.

All that aside anyway, it sounds and looks like it was a great day out. Glad the sunshine turned out for you! Did you manage to snap any pics of the wreckage? And what did they have to say?

[moO moO nEL]

Yeah it was a fantastic day.
Which group were you in, e93?
I was in the white group.

[e93]

The damage occurred Saturday afternoon. I was there Sunday Arvo. They were trying to keep it quiet (not something you'd promote I guess). One of the instructors let the details slip during a conversation about the competency (or lack there of) of some of the participants. Seems that some of the guys thought they were race legends but over estimated their ability - imagine that

Brabhams comments about the 335i where simply that a good driver could take the M3. Maybe not so much about the car and more about the driver? Is the 335i competitive - you betcha.

moO moO nEL - I was in the silver group.

[CaptOz]

I never got an invite.......

I would have loved to have gone. I think I'm becoming a track addict.

e93 - What type of people were mainly there? Older 3-series owners?

I must say even though Alto has had some negative posts here, they were good to me. I was invited to their M Day where we drove as hard as we could. We had the Geoff Brabham and Alan Moffat (my childhood hero) with the same rules as you encountered e93.



Alto also invited me on another race day.... this time horses - in their box at Rosehill.





Col Crawford have given me 2 pairs of movie tickets so far.

Did you get a video e93?

Cheers.

[e93]

Originally Posted by CaptOz

I never got an invite.......

e92 - What type of people were mainly there? Older 3-series owners?

Did you get a video e92?

Cheers.

E92?

There was a mix of drivers. Most aged 35 -50 but there where some 20 something and some 60 something drivers too. Mostly men but a few women braved the track. All drove at their own pace which only became an issue on the circuit. Brabham was pretty quick to change the order and put the slower drivers at the back. (there were only ever 3 cars in a group)

No video this time although I would take one next time for sure - I didn't expect we'd be able to drive at that kind of pace.

[CaptOz]

Originally Posted by e93

E92?.......

No video this time although I would take one next time for sure - I didn't expect we'd be able to drive at that kind of pace.

e92....OOPS Sorry e93.

I want to take a video camera with me on Friday. Hopefully get some footage.

Cheers.

[VGR00]

Originally Posted by danielt

anyway you are lucky you got to 200km/hr, the fastest the straight at the Gold Coast allowed (foot to the floor in the 335) was about 140km/hr from memory. There was no mention of leaving full traction control on ... sounds like your track in Sydney was much more conducive to a faster top end speed!

I was able to get to about 165Km/hr (as I was told by my passenger) down the back straight and I was right on Geoff's bumper at the turn. I left a good gap from a couple of turns before and then I let it have it before getting into the straight. Nobody told us to leave traction control on however I was very thankful it was on because I'm no race driver and comming off the back straight I would have been in trouble otherwise. All the electronics on boeard these days can make you look my capable than one is. Centainly in my case anyway.