Track driving E92M3: need advices

[bher]

So I had my first track day yesterday (at Spa with my new 6MT E92), I have to say I was not good.
Coming from my modified Lotus elise(dampers ohlins, semislick yokohama, harness, ARB, brakes pads;,...), I was driving as a Daddy. (Lotus : 3.10/lap, M3 3:30 )It took me some times to realise that I had to brake earlier not only due to the weight but also to be able to stop braking early enough to settle the car in the bend in some way (I still need to explain my feeling*) that the rear wil "lock" itself and the car wil turn under my control. At the beginning I was always to wide, missing the apex and feeling bad body roll, understeer and late throttle application, I was passively areacting and not grabbing the car myself.
Does this mean something for you? I am so bad?

• I would be very happy if someone could explain to me the trick to settle the car turning in. I felt sometimes the right move but can't describe it and reproduce it each time

Edited by bher on Thursday 3rd July 16:16

[130R]

I would have some sessions with an instructor if I were you. An M3 will feel a bit of a boat compared to a track setup elise but I guarantee if you get a pro driver behind the wheel you will be amazed how fast it can be made to go.

[bher]

130R said:

I would have some sessions with an instructor if I were you. An M3 will feel a bit of a boat compared to a track setup elise but I guarantee if you get a pro driver behind the wheel you will be amazed how fast it can be made to go.

Thanks for your reply, it is nice to read something. I am sure I need an instructor (and a better english teacher....). I was just re-acting on the track and not pro-acting.

[Pugsey]

Yep, find yourself and instructor. You have been used to a car that will react VERY differently to a heavy saloon car and you'll need what will feel like quite different techniques to get the best out of the M3. Basically it will need much more 'warning' about what you're going to ask of it and will need to be allowed to 'settle' onto a given line. It'll be much less forgiving of late inputs or changes of mind!

Just different that's all. Enjoy!

[chris7676]

Get back to the Elise

[bher]

chris7676 said:

Get back to the Elise

I am thinking about adding another toy only for track, but I wanted something I could use more often than a few days per month

Edited by bher on Friday 4th July 14:44

[CarbonM5]

bher said:

So I had my first track day yesterday (at Spa with my new 6MT E92), I have to say I was not good.
Coming from my modified Lotus elise(dampers ohlins, semislick yokohama, harness, ARB, brakes pads;,...), I was driving as a Daddy. (Lotus : 3.10/lap, M3 3:30 )It took me some times to realise that I had to brake earlier not only due to the weight but also to be able to stop braking early enough to settle the car in the bend in some way (I still need to explain my feeling*) that the rear wil "lock" itself and the car wil turn under my control. At the beginning I was always to wide, missing the apex and feeling bad body roll, understeer and late throttle application, I was passively areacting and not grabbing the car myself.
Does this mean something for you? I am so bad?

• I would be very happy if someone could explain to me the trick to settle the car turning in. I felt sometimes the right move but can't describe it and reproduce it each time

Edited by bher on Thursday 3rd July 16:16

Sounds like you could be driving it from the front too much by diving straight in to the apex.I used to do it after changing to the M5-1600 to 1800Kg needs to be settled early before any big power is applied ive found.

Now I basically enter tight corners slower and take a wider line in,use the throttle to tighten the line to the apex with as little steering lock as possible-by using the rear end to do the steering instead and to elliminate any understeer..

Once it comes together the power can be applied earlier,its nice to leave corners with just a degree of oppo lock-Mcars seem at ease doing this..Its suprising the ammount of exit speed they can generate.

Its hard to explain but easy to demo,hope it made some sense.

Edited by CarbonM5 on Friday 4th July 17:06

Edited by CarbonM5 on Friday 4th July 17:07

[bher]

Thanks Carbon M5 for your input.
I think I see what you mean, I was effectively not working enough with the power oversteering that the M3 can create. Seeing this in term of weight transfer, I had still too much at the front (braking too late), feeling the understeer in the wheel and too wide at apex to realy push the throttle hard enough to correct the move by oversteer. What I described as reacting passively.
Do you think I have to do some lateral weight transfer (in french appel-contre - appel meaning a quick and brisk move on the wheel of opposite then turning in) OR just brake early enough to apply more throttle earlier and play with the rear (no drift intented here, just efficiency)?
Any professionnal here?

[Pugsey]

bher said:

Thanks Carbon M5 for your input.
I think I see what you mean, I was effectively not working enough with the power oversteering that the M3 can create. Seeing this in term of weight transfer, I had still too much at the front (braking too late), feeling the understeer in the wheel and too wide at apex to realy push the throttle hard enough to correct the move by oversteer. What I described as reacting passively.
Do you think I have to do some lateral weight transfer (in french appel-contre - appel meaning a quick and brisk move on the wheel of opposite then turning in) OR just brake early enough to apply more throttle earlier and play with the rear (no drift intented here, just efficiency)?
Any professionnal here?

bher - the big difference between your last and current cars is that your current one needs much more 'warning' about what you want it to do and also needs time to 'settle' on line. You have to persuade it to do things a little more. This in turn requires a slightly different approach to your driving. Easy to demonstrate but, IMO, VERY difficult - and possibly dangerous - to advise how to do this here as the written word is easily misunderstood. The techniques are simple and a good instructor will show you very quickly in say half a day at your next track day. It will be money well spent. I'd be very careful about seeking too much detailed advice here and I'm sure any professionals will tell you the same.