[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

Hi everyone! So after having a bmw for about 4-5 years and after modifying my current car over the past few months, I'm finally going to go to the track with my car for my 21st birthday! Im planning on going to the Streets of Willow in August on the 14th and 15th with the BMW Club. Could someone point me in the right direction about how to sign up for the track day and whether or not other cars can join in also? (My friend in his Miata wants to join me for my birthday)

Any and all help is very appreciated!

All good tips here.

Also, keep in mind that most BMW clubs won't allow convertibles on the track without an approved roll bar, so you will want to clarify that with the local chapter before having your friend with the Miata sign up.

[E30M3Driver]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

And one additional question, you said I should have left the car stock... Well, I was planning on doing 3 last upgrades before I go to the track. Should I cancel that plan? I was going to do Cool Carbon brake pads, stainless steel brake lines and better brake fluid. What do you think?

Stainless steel brake lines are really unnecessary. Add them because you want them, but not because you expect to see improved brake performance with them.

If you use Cool Carbon pads be sure to bed them in properly BEFORE you arrive at the track. Otherwise you will find your better brake pads are much worse than having stock pads.

High quality brake fluid is good, but fresh stock brake fluid is better and fresh, high quality brake fluid is best.

[twinturbopg]

awesome...I'm a newbie too...and just been starting my research...thanks for all the tips guys...I'm subscribe to this thread....I guess I just need to decide between which car I want to take now.

[T7R_Sky]

Originally Posted by swartzentruber

Lot's of good tips. One other I'd add is try to hold off buying a new helmet, even if you think you'll keep doing this, and try to borrow one for this (and other events this year). New snell ratings come out every 5 years, and the Snell 2010s will be out this fall. You can probably find a 2005 rated helmet cheaper, but at least for the events I've been too, you'll be limited to 5 years of life (the events allow a helmet one generation out of date, so a 2010 helmet can be used 1 generation after the 2015s are out -- to 2020, 2005 only to 2015).

Also, after reading that audiworld list from S4to335, a few other items popped into mind -- things I wished I had realized earlier
1) if you have a manual, don't be afraid to just leave it in one gear (i.e. 3rd or 4th). Shifting can come later, and most tracks don't have such a spread of speeds that you can't make it in one gear.
2) Be careful with the berms. It's fine to "kiss" them, but I've bubbled a tire running over one (at least I'm pretty sure that's what did it).
3) If you are going to bring one tool, make it a torque wrench. Check tq before/after/during.
4) Remove as much as you can from the car BEFORE the event. You don't really need those rear floormats for the drive to the event, do you? The more you remove before the event, the less to remove and possibly misplace/lose during the event.
5) Bring a bag for your stuff in case of rain. Nothing like a soaked owners manual.
6) If you hear the statement -- "you should always either be on the throttle or on the brake", ignore it. Worse piece of classroom/instructor advice I've ever heard (and I've heard it a few times). Go a speed you are comfortable with -- going 100mph down the straight does nothing for you, if you aren't comfortable bringing your car back down to 40mph for the turn. Fine advice for advanced students, but terrible advice for newbies.

Perfect. I actually had no intention of going all out on the track anyway (i'd rather drive halfway than never drive again :P)

Originally Posted by E30M3Driver

All good tips here.

Also, keep in mind that most BMW clubs won't allow convertibles on the track without an approved roll bar, so you will want to clarify that with the local chapter before having your friend with the Miata sign up.

I'll definitely keep that in mind. When the day comes closer i'll double check with the LA chapter to see what's up

Originally Posted by twinturbopg

awesome...I a newbie too...and just been starting my research...thanks for all the tips guys...I'm subscribe to this thread....I guess I just need to decide between which car I want to take now.

Haha. Isn't this an awesome thread? I dont think I could have asked for anything more helpful than this

[The HACK]

Originally Posted by swartzentruber

3) If you are going to bring one tool, make it a torque wrench. Check tq before/after/during.

Actually, if you are ONLY going to bring one tool, bring a tire pressure gauge.

[The HACK]

For the Streets of Willow event on your birthday, check with the autocross chairperson...He posts here as "2e9x's" occasionally and I believe his contact information is listed on the club website (www.bmwclubla.org). If not I can probably PM you his contact information. You will want to check with him to find out if your friend in the Miata can join. Speaking strictly from experience, there are no restrictions on convertibles for L.A. chapter autocrosses. And if I recall, last year's Streets of Willow ax they set up some cones and obstacles on the front straight to keep the top speed down for that specific reason. Although I've heard for this particular autocross they may change the format, so you will definitely have to double check with him to make sure the Miata is kosher.

The May L.A. chapter driving event at Auto Club Speedway will be held in conjunction with a Car Control Clinic, where they set up the parking lot with courses to teach you the basics of braking and steering under control, and vehicle spin recovery skills to make sure you have the very basics down pat before they send you on the big track. And a big track it is, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana has the LONGEST straight this side of the Rockies and speeds up in the 150mph range can be obtained by good drivers in high HP street cars. It is not something I would recommend doing without at least doing the Car Control Clinic that is for certain, and it is not something I can possibly recommend doing in a convertible without a roll-cage...And the L.A. chapter will likely enforce that rule as well. But your friend in the Miata can probably attend the Car Control Clinic with you.

Doing the Auto Club Speedway DE with Car Control Clinic on Saturday and the big track on Sunday for the weekend, then do the Street of Willow event for your birthday would probably be the best way to get things started. This way, you get the fundamentals of controlling your car down pat with the Car Control Clinic, then experience the HIGH SPEED of the big track for almost 2 hours on Sunday, then get a taste of timed competition in the autocross at Streets of Willow. This will give you a really good and wide gamut of events in your first couple of events to determine if this is something you would like to do more of in the future.

That is, if you have the funds to do so. IF I only have enough available funds to do one, I'd sign up for the Auto Club Speedway event and put the Street of Willows event on credit.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by The HACK

Actually, if you are ONLY going to bring one tool, bring a tire pressure gauge.

Sorry, Hack, but I think I'd rather have a low tire than have a wheel fall off

I say this from almost experience, as I personally badly torqued a wheel after changing it, and I'm surprised it didn't come off on the drive home. I agree though, both are pretty essential.

[T7R_Sky]

Originally Posted by The HACK

For the Streets of Willow event on your birthday, check with the autocross chairperson...He posts here as "2e9x's" occasionally and I believe his contact information is listed on the club website (www.bmwclubla.org). If not I can probably PM you his contact information. You will want to check with him to find out if your friend in the Miata can join. Speaking strictly from experience, there are no restrictions on convertibles for L.A. chapter autocrosses. And if I recall, last year's Streets of Willow ax they set up some cones and obstacles on the front straight to keep the top speed down for that specific reason. Although I've heard for this particular autocross they may change the format, so you will definitely have to double check with him to make sure the Miata is kosher.

The May L.A. chapter driving event at Auto Club Speedway will be held in conjunction with a Car Control Clinic, where they set up the parking lot with courses to teach you the basics of braking and steering under control, and vehicle spin recovery skills to make sure you have the very basics down pat before they send you on the big track. And a big track it is, Auto Club Speedway in Fontana has the LONGEST straight this side of the Rockies and speeds up in the 150mph range can be obtained by good drivers in high HP street cars. It is not something I would recommend doing without at least doing the Car Control Clinic that is for certain, and it is not something I can possibly recommend doing in a convertible without a roll-cage...And the L.A. chapter will likely enforce that rule as well. But your friend in the Miata can probably attend the Car Control Clinic with you.

Doing the Auto Club Speedway DE with Car Control Clinic on Saturday and the big track on Sunday for the weekend, then do the Street of Willow event for your birthday would probably be the best way to get things started. This way, you get the fundamentals of controlling your car down pat with the Car Control Clinic, then experience the HIGH SPEED of the big track for almost 2 hours on Sunday, then get a taste of timed competition in the autocross at Streets of Willow. This will give you a really good and wide gamut of events in your first couple of events to determine if this is something you would like to do more of in the future.

That is, if you have the funds to do so. IF I only have enough available funds to do one, I'd sign up for the Auto Club Speedway event and put the Street of Willows event on credit.

Haha. Everyone is recommending me to take the Autoclub Speedway event so I think I am going to take all your advice on that and change my plans a little bit. Now can anyone tell me how much im gonna need to stash away to take part in the clinic and track day?

Originally Posted by swartzentruber

Sorry, Hack, but I think I'd rather have a low tire than have a wheel fall off

I say this from almost experience, as I personally badly torqued a wheel after changing it, and I'm surprised it didn't come off on the drive home. I agree though, both are pretty essential.

Haha. Im glad I can take more than one tool. I winder what other tools I will need to have, lol.

[swartzentruber]

Originally Posted by T7R_Sky

Haha. Im glad I can take more than one tool. I winder what other tools I will need to have, lol.

I'd start with a portable air compressor (either 12V or battery), some window cleaner and paper towels. I'm assuming you'll run on the stock wheels, otherwise you'll need a real jack (although you can borrow). Maybe bring magazines or a book for downtime.

[3Aims]

Originally Posted by swartzentruber

Lot's of good tips. One other I'd add is try to hold off buying a new helmet, even if you think you'll keep doing this, and try to borrow one for this (and other events this year). New snell ratings come out every 5 years, and the Snell 2010s will be out this fall. You can probably find a 2005 rated helmet cheaper, but at least for the events I've been too, you'll be limited to 5 years of life (the events allow a helmet one generation out of date, so a 2010 helmet can be used 1 generation after the 2015s are out -- to 2020, 2005 only to 2015).

Also, after reading that audiworld list from S4to335, a few other items popped into mind -- things I wished I had realized earlier
1) if you have a manual, don't be afraid to just leave it in one gear (i.e. 3rd or 4th). Shifting can come later, and most tracks don't have such a spread of speeds that you can't make it in one gear.
2) Be careful with the berms. It's fine to "kiss" them, but I've bubbled a tire running over one (at least I'm pretty sure that's what did it).
3) If you are going to bring one tool, make it a torque wrench. Check tq before/after/during.
4) Remove as much as you can from the car BEFORE the event. You don't really need those rear floormats for the drive to the event, do you? The more you remove before the event, the less to remove and possibly misplace/lose during the event.
5) Bring a bag for your stuff in case of rain. Nothing like a soaked owners manual.
6) If you hear the statement -- "you should always either be on the throttle or on the brake", ignore it. Worse piece of classroom/instructor advice I've ever heard (and I've heard it a few times). Go a speed you are comfortable with -- going 100mph down the straight does nothing for you, if you aren't comfortable bringing your car back down to 40mph for the turn. Fine advice for advanced students, but terrible advice for newbies.

Good tips, I am going out to my first event in two weeks. Here: http://www.eaglescanyon.com/2008/facilities.php. I have a 535i AT with JB+ at 100% and I am nervous as heck. I will be with the local Porsche club and plenty of GT3s. I'm in the Green group with an instructor at all times so I should be ok. The one thing I am somewhat worried about is the helmet. I've never driven a car with a full helmet before.