Track forum general chit chat.

What did you buy? What are you thinking about? When's your next track day?

Bought this bad boy today!

I just ordered some Swift Spec-R springs.

I can't do full coilovers without getting reclassed into B2 with my mods, so this will have to tide me over until next year. These springs are a "free" modification, and I'm hoping with spring rates of 279 lbs/in in the front (160 lb/in stock M3), and 670 lbs/in for the rear (550 lb/in stock) will make a noticeable difference. I'm not expecting miracles, just something that will help me put the power down sooner in a corner.

Also ordered a Fall Line Motorsports tow strap with a tow-hook cover with a slot for the strap. Someone swiped (or it fell off somehow on the drive down to Chuckwalla) my tow hook cover so I have a gaping hole in my bumper I went to remove it on Saturday and it was already gone. Wtf!

Talked with my shop about getting an upgraded oil cooler + radiator, maybe with some custom ducting, to attack my cooling problem. Going to do that first before tackling the DCT cooler, maybe this will be enough. Shop talked about perhaps mounting better ducting or a fan on the DCT cooler, before upgrading.

i bet the tow hook covers get loose after being removed so many times.

Also trying to figure out if my Nitto NT01 tires will survive one more track day. Some of them are pretty bald. I figure maybe I'll throw the most worn ones on the back. They have probably 24-25 heat cycles in them from 4 track days (one of those track days having 8 sessions, the others 5)

These two in the back:



These two in the front, the best one on the right side (Laguna Seca harshest turns)

I'm still gauging these tires myself. I have a set the looks like that...

roastbeef wrote

I'm still gauging these tires myself. I have a set the looks like that...

I think I'll give it a try. I have my street tires for back ups if they cord on the first session, lol.

I has seen nt01's on Craigslist that were bald. Not sure if they were still good, or delusional craigslist people.

roastbeef wrote

I has seen nt01's on Craigslist that were bald. Not sure if they were still good, or delusional craigslist people.

I guess we'll see

Would really suck if they shortened my day though. Makes me want to quickly pick up another set of EC-7s, lol.

Good idea for a thread!

Where'd you get the fire extinguisher and mount from? Where does it bolt to in the car?

redpriest wrote

Also trying to figure out if my Nitto NT01 tires will survive one more track day. Some of them are pretty bald. I figure maybe I'll throw the most worn ones on the back. They have probably 24-25 heat cycles in them from 4 track days (one of those track days having 8 sessions, the others 5)

I think the rears should make it another day no problem. I had a set where all 4 looked like your fronts, and mine made it through the day with one of the fronts cording after the last session.

Since you have a backup set I'd say go for it, at least you'll know for next time either way.

picked up a set of ARC-8's and NT01's:

Downshift22 wrote  

Good idea for a thread!

Where'd you get the fire extinguisher and mount from? Where does it bolt to in the car?

redpriest wrote

Also trying to figure out if my Nitto NT01 tires will survive one more track day. Some of them are pretty bald. I figure maybe I'll throw the most worn ones on the back. They have probably 24-25 heat cycles in them from 4 track days (one of those track days having 8 sessions, the others 5)

I think the rears should make it another day no problem. I had a set where all 4 looked like your fronts, and mine made it through the day with one of the fronts cording after the last session.

Since you have a backup set I'd say go for it, at least you'll know for next time either way.

It will most likely be a custom bracket. I'll be sure to post pics.

Getting an alignment today, looking forward to my first track day of the season and in the M3. Should be interesting.

I just bought an XGPS160 for 10hz GPS updates with Harry's LapTimer, works in the middle console under the armrest which is nice:

nholmes wrote

Getting an alignment today, looking forward to my first track day of the season and in the M3. Should be interesting.

Nice, enjoy! My first day of the season is just two weeks away, can't wait.

Fearce wrote

picked up a set of ARC-8's and NT01's:

I really wanted the lighter ARC-8s, but they won't fit over these massive 380mm Brembo clappers.

///Mobbin wrote

I just bought an XGPS160 for 10hz GPS updates with Harry's LapTimer, works in the middle console under the armrest which is nice:

I've been running Harry's for years, the wife got me an AiM SoloDL last christmas, so I'm going to finally get some sensor data, too.

No laughing at the woodgrain:

redpriest wrote

Also trying to figure out if my Nitto NT01 tires will survive one more track day. Some of them are pretty bald. I figure maybe I'll throw the most worn ones on the back. They have probably 24-25 heat cycles in them from 4 track days (one of those track days having 8 sessions, the others 5)

These two in the back:



These two in the front, the best one on the right side (Laguna Seca harshest turns)

Those are considered "fresh" by some...Nitto NT01s grip until corded. No reason not to run them.

I dismounted a set like that when I mounted my "new to me" Maxxis RC1s, and my mechanic was like "dude are you going to toss that? Can I have it?" I exchanged them for free mounting/dismounting.

Maybe those tires are considered "fresh" by some, but don't forget, even if tires are stored properly in air free dark plastic bags, they still dry out if stored for a few month and get hard.

Groundpilot wrote

Maybe those tires are considered "fresh" by some, but don't forget, even if tires are stored properly in air free dark plastic bags, they still dry out if stored for a few month and get hard.

My tires typically don't last me more than 2 months, so I should be fine here

Groundpilot wrote

Maybe those tires are considered "fresh" by some, but don't forget, even if tires are stored properly in air free dark plastic bags, they still dry out if stored for a few month and get hard.

No they don't. Do you know how tire companies store their tires in containers and warehouses?

Out in the open. They certainly don't bag them individually as they're transported. As long as they're not exposed to direct sunlight, they don't go bad overtime or "dry out."

The bigger issue is heat cycles, which Nitto NT-01s are not as as susceptible to as other top end competition tires like Hoosiers. There are still golden laps, but Nittos don't fall off the cliff as they age or wear.

If they haven't aged out (3 years for R-Comps) or started showing cords, and if you're not out to set the world on fire (which you NEVER will on NT-01s), those tires in shown in the pic are by no means close to being "done."

I wouldn't go time trial or race with them, but I wouldn't hesitate one second to slap them on a set of wheels and go have fun at a DE with them.

Groundpilot wrote

Maybe those tires are considered "fresh" by some, but don't forget, even if tires are stored properly in air free dark plastic bags, they still dry out if stored for a few month and get hard.

Might want to look at the manufacture date of any new set of stickies you get then, b/c they are all about a month old when you get them (shipping from Japan) unless you are running ho-ho's. Long term storage isn't ideal, but unless you're in the running for the world HPDE championship, you can go a long time period on the same set of tires w/o losing much traction (with Toyo's/Nitto's at least, ymmv). I'm not talking years, but definitely more than a month or two. My race tires (NT01s at the end) lasted a hell of a long time b/c I didn't do as many races in a year as RedPriest does HPDEs in a couple of months... There was about 1 club race a month back in the stone ages and I had 2.5 sets of dry wheels/tires. Come to think of it, my rain tires (RA-1s, full tread depth) were perfectly fine after a couple years on the trailer (bagged). Had a wet session and they gripped like they should, no issues.

Just keep tires away from ozone producing devices as much as you can during any downtime and you'll be fine.

Attention everyone; the eagle has landed in Monterey and I'm bell on my way to being drunk.

nholmes wrote  

Fearce wrote

picked up a set of ARC-8's and NT01's:

I really wanted the lighter ARC-8s, but they won't fit over these massive 380mm Brembo clappers.

///Mobbin wrote

I just bought an XGPS160 for 10hz GPS updates with Harry's LapTimer, works in the middle console under the armrest which is nice:

I've been running Harry's for years, the wife got me an AiM SoloDL last christmas, so I'm going to finally get some sensor data, too.

No laughing at the woodgrain:

You using obd or hardwire to canbus?