08-30-2013, 08:34 PM | #1 |
Major
83
Rep 1,489
Posts |
BMW CCA Oktoberfest 2013 - Laguna Seca
Can't believe it has already been almost a week since I was up in Monterey for BMW CCA Oktoberfest. I was hoping to post something a bit earlier, but I didn't wait around for the CD with my images from the three sessions, so I had no pics of the car on track. They came today.
Had an absolute blast. Went up on Friday, and spent the weekend with BarryB and his wife. Spent some time in Carmel and the surrounding areas on Friday, prepped up for the next day at the track and hit the sack early. What is there to say about Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca that has not been said. It is a fun track, certainly put my abilities to the test. Was placed into the "C" run group. Don't know why, as I have some track experience but it could have been due to the fact that this was my first CCA event. Nevertheless it didn't really hamper my driving. Sure, there were folks that had less experience and there was a bit of traffic that I had to get around...but that was OK. After a driver briefing, some H2O, checking tire pressures and wheel torque it was time to drive. I was partnered up with a instructor having 20+ years of BMW/Porsche HP driving experience. He was a perfectionist. He held me to a very, very high standard. Perfect match for me, as my type A had me thinking that I had the place wired before I even hit the track. Boy, was I wrong. LS is challenging, but, I believe even more so with a car like the F10 M5. I quickly put the thought of fastest lap out of my mind and got to learning how to really extract the most out of the car as possible. The mass of the car certainly hamper its ability to really handle the corners at speed. It will absolutely fly on the straights but corners require a deft foot. It was very, very easy to get the car to break loose. If you watched the M6 lap around the track, you can see what I mean. To put it bluntly, it is almost like wrestling the car around the track. Here is a contrast for you. At M-school we really were taught to be hard on the throttle, and then hard on the brakes. Same thing at Ascari and COTA. Stark difference with my instructor. The M5 begs to be driven WOT to 10/10 braking, scrubbing speed, and then back to WOT. The time spent on track we worked to go less throttle, and explore the limits of what the car can do in the corners and letting the straights take care of themselves. Like I said...it is easier to do the former, much harder to do the latter. I'm a better driver because of it All in all, couple take aways. 1. The M5 can still do track duty a few times per year. In general, it is too heavy, has too much power, and too much torque. Want to haul ass from corner to corner? No problem. Want to go around a corner flat and fast with your foot well in it? Good luck with that. 2. Related to #1, I need a lighter, more nimble car for the track. I have been bitten by the bug bad. Deposit going down on a GT3...but I am #1 on the list at a dealer for the M4. At this point with my obligations I am better suited to have a DD that can double with track duty rather than a dedicated car. At least for now. HAHAHA! Here are a few snaps courtesy of Got Blue Milk and video compiled on RaceRender from Harry's Lap Timer GPS data, camera (hood) and a GoPro (overhead). One more item. I got black flagged on the second to last lap of the 3rd session due to noise. That is with my OEM downpipes and quiet Akrapovic exhaust. 95.2 dB at 50'. LOL...so much for quiet enough to run Laguna!
__________________
Current: '16 GT4
Past ///Ms: '13 F10 M5, Alpine Weiss III/Sakhir Orange Full '10 E60 M5, Space Gray/Black |
08-30-2013, 08:52 PM | #2 |
Lieutenant
48
Rep 434
Posts |
Looks like a blast!
__________________
Current ///M: '13 F10 M5, Sapphire Black, Eisenmann Race Exhaust, CF Delete, H&R Sport Springs, iND Cosmetics, Escort 9500ix hardwired, 21" Vorsteiner VFF-103 w/Michelin PSS, RKP Front Lip, Challenge Rear Diffuser, M Illuminated Door Projectors, and LCI M Performance Black Grills
'15 i3 BEV |
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 09:04 PM | #3 |
Major General
2856
Rep 7,883
Posts |
Awesome!!!
By the way I got around to testing my Straightpipes on my M5 with a decibel reader today. I peaked at 109db. LOL!!!!! I would have been kicked off of the track faster than GTR can do a lap at Laguna Seca!
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-30-2013, 11:40 PM | #4 |
Lieutenant Colonel
865
Rep 1,758
Posts
Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Palo Alto CA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00]
2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] |
It was a total Blast!. I had my M3 so had some light weight as well as some beef.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 12:18 AM | #5 |
Lieutenant
57
Rep 426
Posts |
flat out at LS straight underneath the bridge in the M5 with the H&R's requires huge leap of faith and is scary! It's a very fun track! Looking forward to Thunderhill with you guys. You can be a little less judicious there but still very technical.
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 12:47 AM | #7 |
Lieutenant Colonel
865
Rep 1,758
Posts
Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Palo Alto CA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00]
2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] |
Got black flagged for sound on both cars. 94db on the M3 and 98 on the E Race....
Josh you are right. You get some serious speed in the F10 going over the blind rise. Actually more fun in the M3 even though you're going slower because you can keep your foot in it longer coming into 2.
__________________
Current non-BMW's
20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 03 Cooper S (Maxi Tuned 50bhp) 60 Impala (43k orig mi) 15 Turbo S (Kobb tune and Kline exhaust) |
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 12:57 AM | #8 |
Major
76
Rep 1,341
Posts
Drives: 2013 M5 SSII
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: San Diego
|
Great stuff guys. Awesome pics. Next year for sure
(Cool to know the e-race puts out 98db)
__________________
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 03:45 PM | #10 |
Major
83
Rep 1,489
Posts |
Totally agree. Takes some balls to stay in it...especially considering the car gets a bit unsettled after turn 1...
__________________
Current: '16 GT4
Past ///Ms: '13 F10 M5, Alpine Weiss III/Sakhir Orange Full '10 E60 M5, Space Gray/Black |
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 06:58 PM | #12 |
Lieutenant Colonel
865
Rep 1,758
Posts
Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Palo Alto CA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00]
2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] |
I only got 3 laps in the F10 before being black flagged.
__________________
Current non-BMW's
20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 03 Cooper S (Maxi Tuned 50bhp) 60 Impala (43k orig mi) 15 Turbo S (Kobb tune and Kline exhaust) |
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 07:17 PM | #13 | |
Lieutenant
57
Rep 426
Posts |
so it was 92 day?? ouch! We used to have to let off and shift early on 5 by the sound booth but got meatballed even on other parts of track. Wonder if they set up another sound booth? I stopped bringing the F430 and even the E93 M3 there. Took the Z4 35is last time since i know it would pass sound and I get to have some fun. Even that got flagged once.
Quote:
Last edited by SANguru; 08-31-2013 at 07:25 PM.. |
|
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 07:22 PM | #14 |
Lieutenant Colonel
865
Rep 1,758
Posts
Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Palo Alto CA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00]
2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] |
Yep 92 day. There was only one sound check in the usual place up the hill after 5. In the M3 I would just have to upshift early 3-4 right at the sound booth and was ok.
Thunderhill is 102, btw so we all should be good.
__________________
Current non-BMW's
20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 03 Cooper S (Maxi Tuned 50bhp) 60 Impala (43k orig mi) 15 Turbo S (Kobb tune and Kline exhaust) |
Appreciate
0
|
08-31-2013, 11:08 PM | #15 |
First Lieutenant
49
Rep 317
Posts |
looks like an awesome time!! woot
how did the pss's hold up after the event?
__________________
'22 Macan GTS
'21 911 C2S '20 Cayenne '16 X5 50i M-sport (3rd row!) |
Appreciate
0
|
09-01-2013, 06:51 AM | #16 |
Curve Thrasher
620
Rep 3,773
Posts |
I wonder why you guys got flagged when the race cars are so much louder. What's the difference? At tx world speedway it is ok.
__________________
2013 Bmw M5-Alpine White/Black-Oem gloss blk powder coated wheels-Expel clear bra-35% tint-Rpi Gtm Exhaust-Rpi Downpipes-Rpi Scoops-Halim Cazimi Performance Tune-KwV3 coilovers
Country run |
Appreciate
0
|
09-01-2013, 11:00 AM | #17 |
Lieutenant Colonel
865
Rep 1,758
Posts
Drives: 30Jahre M5 plus a few more M's
Join Date: May 2012
Location: Palo Alto CA
iTrader: (0)
Garage List 2022 BMW M5 CS [0.00]
2020 BMW M340i Xdrive [0.00] 2019 BMW M2 Competi ... [0.00] 2003 BMW DINAN S3 M5 [0.00] 2017 BMW 30 Jahre M3 [0.00] 2016 BMW M4 GTS [0.00] 2015 BMW 30 Jahre M5 [0.00] 1995 BMW M3 [0.00] |
Laguna is surrounded by houses and golf courses which have influenced the sound rules, I believe. Races are unlimited but "track days" are either 92 or 102 db. There are much more 92 days than 102.
__________________
Current non-BMW's
20 Jeep Grand Cherokee 03 Cooper S (Maxi Tuned 50bhp) 60 Impala (43k orig mi) 15 Turbo S (Kobb tune and Kline exhaust) |
Appreciate
0
|
09-01-2013, 11:32 AM | #18 |
Major
83
Rep 1,489
Posts |
PSS's held up great. Ran 37 cold, and have some wear but nothing unexpected. Certainly does not look as bad as it could have been especially if I had been experiencing a ton of understeer and rolling the tires.
__________________
Current: '16 GT4
Past ///Ms: '13 F10 M5, Alpine Weiss III/Sakhir Orange Full '10 E60 M5, Space Gray/Black |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
Thread Tools | Search this Thread |
|
|