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      03-13-2013, 01:19 PM   #1
Rob///M5
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First track day advice

I am doing my first track day ever this weekend and am looking for any experienced advice to prep.

For example, do you recommend that I use track wrap or painters tape on the front bumper to protect the car? I already have XPEL ultimate wrap on the front bumper and hood, so would that be overkill?

Any other advice is greatly appreciated.

Really fired up to see what the M5 can do!
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      03-13-2013, 03:01 PM   #2
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5 View Post
I am doing my first track day ever this weekend and am looking for any experienced advice to prep.

Any other advice is greatly appreciated.
These two days will be more about you than about the car, so just the basics on the car. Tire pressures, driving position, settings for the steering, shocks, etc. and work on what you as a driver need to do for better lap times. As you get more experience and feel, then you might tweak the car a bit to fit in with your driving style. If you're able, find someone experienced with the track you're at and follow him for a few laps to get the feel for the lines needed.

My guess with a car like the powerful but heavy M5 would be to find your braking points for the corners and then try slow and controlled into the turn which should allow you to hit the gas early on the way out to take advantage of all the power. I haven't had mine on track yet, so just a guess. Be sure to have fun!!
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      03-13-2013, 03:23 PM   #3
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Leave your steering in comfort.
Enjoy!
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      03-13-2013, 03:26 PM   #4
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Rob if you want, I can come down to your house and help you tape up your bumper and stuff on Friday night.
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      03-13-2013, 03:28 PM   #5
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These threads are all over the m3 section, tons of good advice there too.

Basics

- Get instruction, in all cases. Having been to numerous days I get instruction with out fail.
- Unless your a crazy car detailer don't worry about your car, you wouldn't be doing a track day any how...
- Get insurance it is possible with a big excess $5k..(in NZ anyway)
- Tyres wont wear down
- Brakes are fine
- anything over about 100-120 mph is SUPER DANGEROUS (rest of the day is just dangerous) and of dubious value IMHO (sure run it up to get the rush, but only a couple of times) your not in a racecar with a cage/harness/etc etc, corners well that's a different story that's why your at a track day!
- Don't put your handbrake on when you pit (can warp the rotors)
- Do as many laps as you can
- Always turn up with a full tank
- Don't go on track for the first 30mins of the day, why, everyone races out and its busy...wait for the last 30mins of the day - I regularly have the track to myself...
..when you can learn to do nice little, then big drifts.....:-) Even better with the instructor who by that stage is bored....tell him you not interested in the fastest lap you'd just like to learn to "step it out nicely from the hairpin".....

This will make your day!

You tube: E92 Hamptons

This is me in my old M3, I just listed my actual approach above!

Cheers
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      03-13-2013, 06:14 PM   #6
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Great stuff guys! It is a 2-day driving school event. I'll head over to m3post and do some reading there.

Dave, I leave Friday around lunch to get exhaust swapped at EAS and then head east.
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      03-13-2013, 06:26 PM   #7
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If you go with a buddy, please don't try to 'keep up' with them on the track. Most instructors have horror stories of 'guys that were keeping up with their buddy'.

Different story if it is an instructor leading you around the track to show you the line. That is always an A+.
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      03-13-2013, 06:32 PM   #8
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Good advice above!

My biggest surprise the first time I drove on a track was how easy it was to overdrive the car and end up sliding around and actually being quite slow. Over the years, I've discovered that driving smooth is much faster than driving 'hard'. You can be smooth without being fast (and this is where to start), but you can't be fast without being smooth.

You'll have a lot more fun if you stay safe, so brake earlier than you need to at first, work up to carrying more speed through corners, and make sure you're aware of your surroundings - particularly other cars!

Enjoy!
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      03-13-2013, 06:45 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5
Great stuff guys! It is a 2-day driving school event. I'll head over to m3post and do some reading there.

Dave, I leave Friday around lunch to get exhaust swapped at EAS and then head east.
Oh that's cool! Your gonna have a blast!
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      03-13-2013, 06:58 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5 View Post
Great stuff guys! It is a 2-day driving school event. I'll head over to m3post and do some reading there.

Dave, I leave Friday around lunch to get exhaust swapped at EAS and then head east.
Are you throwing your stock exhaust back on?
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      03-13-2013, 07:06 PM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayblack
Are you throwing your stock exhaust back on?
Hell no! I need moar loud. Going E-Race
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      03-13-2013, 07:49 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayblack
Are you throwing your stock exhaust back on?
Hell no! I need moar loud. Going E-Race
I thought you just installed the supersprint?
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      03-13-2013, 11:15 PM   #13
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SEWELLGT
Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5
Quote:
Originally Posted by Grayblack
Are you throwing your stock exhaust back on?
Hell no! I need moar loud. Going E-Race
I thought you just installed the supersprint?
Exactly! What's up Rob?
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      03-13-2013, 11:36 PM   #14
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Use to track bikes a lot. Big piece of advice is look where you want to go not necessarily at the Road in front of you. Also try and learn the right gear to be in and then stick with it. Alot of times you are basically in 2nd or 3rd and then up a bit for the straights. Also learn about trail braking; allows you to get on the brakes later into the turn and on the gas earlier. Make sure to keep the same hand position on the wheel and never coast you are either on the gas or the brakes. Finally, stay relaxed and enjoy the day, plenty of time to become a pro

Btw make sure the track you are going does not have any noise level requirements, read about your need for roar etc
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      03-14-2013, 12:03 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5 View Post
Hell no! I need moar loud. Going E-Race
Ha nice!
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      03-14-2013, 12:51 AM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Timberwolf View Post
Leave your steering in comfort.
Enjoy!
Agreed!... sport if really high speed track


Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5 View Post
Hell no! I need moar loud. Going E-Race
Its intoxicating!... Can't wait for down pipes

Aloha
Alex
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      03-14-2013, 01:40 AM   #17
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Listen to your instruction
Respond with "Check" when you understand what he/she is telling you
Study the track before you get there, watch some videos to understand the basic layout
Pay attention at the drivers brief in the morning
Do not touch any of the M modes in the first half of the first day
In the second half of the first day add in one M mode per session
Do not let the car shift down for you
Learn which turns are taken in when gear for you, way easier than remembering speed or anything else
Finish your breaking before you add a steering input (initially anyway)
Do not keep lap times
Listen to your instructor
Ask the instructor to take you out for a lap in his/her car during the instructors only session

Check your oil and tire pressure after each session
Lift the hood when parked between sessions if its a hot day
Line up in the back of the pit lane so you do not feel like you have to go faster
Line up in the front of the pit lane is you find yourself passing a lot of people by end of day 1
Breath
Don't forget to have fun
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      03-14-2013, 01:40 AM   #18
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Get behind somebody who knows what they are doing was the best thing I could do for myself. copy them make sure they know their stuff lol


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      03-14-2013, 02:55 AM   #19
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Buy a Go Pro Camera and record the day. Also, there are iPhone apps that can record the track times, splits, etc. Enjoy!
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      03-14-2013, 06:21 AM   #20
Rob///M5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by smoorebmw
Get behind somebody who knows what they are doing was the best thing I could do for myself. copy them make sure they know their stuff lol


S85
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      03-14-2013, 09:10 AM   #21
Rob///M5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by SpotM5
Buy a Go Pro Camera and record the day. Also, there are iPhone apps that can record the track times, splits, etc. Enjoy!
GoPro...check
iPhone app...do you have a favorite or recommendation?
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      03-14-2013, 09:28 AM   #22
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rob///M5 View Post
GoPro...check
iPhone app...do you have a favorite or recommendation?
I have used the Harry's Lap Timer and it works great. There are some that you can sync with your GoPro but don't recall which ones.
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