Anyone with experence with Stock pads at VIR?

[Day Laborer]

I'm wanting to see if anyone here has experience with using stock pads at VIR.
Of course I plan to use Castrol SRF fluid, along with stainless steel brakelines.

Not going all out, just trying to take the M5 instead of the M3 at least once.

I have race pads for days for the M3. Usually pick up used race pads with lots of life in them, but cant find any for the F10.

[chong0]

If VIR is similar to Watkins Glen the stock pads lasted for about 7 sessions. arrived with 13k miles to replacement and left requiring new rotors and pads for both front and rears. Not a cheap replacement but totally worth the thrill ha

[Day Laborer]

Originally Posted by chong0

If VIR is similar to Watkins Glen the stock pads lasted for about 7 sessions. arrived with 13k miles to replacement and left requiring new rotors and pads for both front and rears. Not a cheap replacement but totally worth the thrill ha

Dealer should be okay with replacing them I hope

[RPiM5]

I used stock pads at VIR before, but I honestly didn't work the car that hard. I got another 20,000 miles out of my brakes and pads after my track weekend at VIR of which I probably did between 50-80 laps. The reason was because it was so cold, like below 32F, and I was in the lowest tier novice group and my instructor held me back the entire weekend.

[johntomferg]

No issues for me at Barber Motorsport Park (http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthr...ghlight=barber) with stock rotors and pads. I would say VIR has the potential for higher top speeds though. I did not have to replace the rotors and replaced the rear pads in the months since then.

[mcvaughan]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Dealer should be okay with replacing them I hope

Ha don't get your hopes up; it's a wear item.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by mcvaughan

Ha don't get your hopes up; it's a wear item.

If your M5 is still under 50,000 miles, and your dealer doesn't know that you've been tracking your car or your dealer is super cool, they should replace the pads and rotors under the BMW Maintenance Program no questions asked.

[mcvaughan]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

If your M5 is still under 50,000 miles, and your dealer doesn't know that you've been tracking your car or your dealer is super cool, they should replace the pads and rotors under the BMW Maintenance Program no questions asked.

Yes "cool dealer" is the key. �

[boots]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

I used stock pads at VIR before, but I honestly didn't work the car that hard. I got another 20,000 miles out of my brakes and pads after my track weekend at VIR of which I probably did between 50-80 laps. The reason was because it was so cold, like below 32F, and I was in the lowest tier novice group and my instructor held me back the entire weekend.

Even if u were in the lowest group in Houston at tx world speedway they would not have held you back but you would not have gotten that many Laps.

[Day Laborer]

Maybe they held Dave back because they were enjoying how comfortable the M5 was.
Instructor was like, slow down, I'm enjoying the seat massage function right now.

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Maybe they held Dave back because they were enjoying how comfortable the M5 was.
Instructor was like, slow down, I'm enjoying the seat massage function right now.

Haha! No honestly, I got held back because my M5 was too fast for the rest of the cars in the group that I was in. We were only allowed to pass another with the instructors permission on the straightaways. This mean I had to slow down too much every time I got behind someone who wasn't on a straightaway and on VIR there are only 3 big straightaways. It was super lame, but whatever I suppose. In my write up of the event on VIR, you could tell that my tone was one of disappointment. I knew the M5 was capable of so much more, yet I only got to use about 60% of it's ability that weekend. Plus the straightpipes on my car did in fact scare people and the instructor.

[Day Laborer]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Haha! No honestly, I got held back because my M5 was too fast for the rest of the cars in the group that I was in. We were only allowed to pass another with the instructors permission on the straightaways. This mean I had to slow down too much every time I got behind someone who wasn't on a straightaway and on VIR there are only 3 big straightaways. It was super lame, but whatever I suppose. In my write up of the event on VIR, you could tell that my tone was one of disappointment. I knew the M5 was capable of so much more, yet I only got to use about 60% of it's ability that weekend. Plus the straightpipes on my car did in fact scare people and the instructor.

Don't let this one experience at VIR stop you from going again; its understandable that the instructor was holding you back, not because of your lack of experience, but lack of history with the club or this specific track.
These instructors go strictly on your logbook in terms of how they instruct.
They also care about their own safety.

Since you already did a beginner's course, try and sign up for the intermediate next time. Eventually, they will sign you off to solo or advanced.
Honestly, I feel safer in Intermediate or Advanced that beginners.
Its hit or miss with these instructors, sometimes you get a cautious one, sometimes you get one that tells you to go balls to the wall. Most of them are in between.

I've done Summit Main, Shenandoah, and Jefferson, but in my mind, VIR is an experience that I keep coming back to.
“If there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” - Paul Newman

[Day Laborer]

Don't forget about all the other clubs like PCA, Rezoom, TrackDaze, and NASA that also have much more lax standards.

[chong0]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Dealer should be okay with replacing them I hope

Yeah with 2500 on the odo I had to pay out of pocket.

unlike Dave's experience I was driving it like I stole it ;-)

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by Day Laborer

Don't let this one experience at VIR stop you from going again; its understandable that the instructor was holding you back, not because of your lack of experience, but lack of history with the club or this specific track.
These instructors go strictly on your logbook in terms of how they instruct.
They also care about their own safety.

Since you already did a beginner's course, try and sign up for the intermediate next time. Eventually, they will sign you off to solo or advanced.
Honestly, I feel safer in Intermediate or Advanced that beginners.
Its hit or miss with these instructors, sometimes you get a cautious one, sometimes you get one that tells you to go balls to the wall. Most of them are in between.

I've done Summit Main, Shenandoah, and Jefferson, but in my mind, VIR is an experience that I keep coming back to.
“If there’s a heaven on Earth, it’s VIR.” - Paul Newman

Yeah I don't know man. When are you planning on going anyways?

I was thinking about trying NJMP or Watkins Glen at some point too. My car won't pass the decibel limits at Lime Rock or a couple other tracks on the East Coast, so I'm pretty limited to where I can go. The only problems with NJMP is that it is a lot smaller than VIR and the Glen is a much farther drive to get to from DC. Plus I really don't want to get put in a novice group again. I can't stand being in the same group as people who have never tracked before.

[Day Laborer]

I'll be up in VIR next weekend March 12-15, again with Tarheel in April 25-26, and again in July 11-12.

I agree, take it to VIR so that you can sign up for Intermediate (C) or (B).

It doesn't matter which club you go to, the biggest thing they care about is if you have been to this track before.