Driver development day.. |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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Posted: 18-April-2007 at 10:32 |
Had a great day out yesterday with the M3 on the Driver Development Day at Prodrive.
I think the old girl knew what was coming though. For a track novice like me it was money very well spent having an instructor giving me the confidence to really attack the corners, I must admit to being a bit nervous before we started, mainly due to my desire to keep the car in one piece. However after the instructor had a few laps I was absolutely amazed what my own car was capable of. I have been around a track a few times in my previous Evo2 and been passenger in many cars, including Richard Baxters DTM and with Chris Wadsley in his Sport Evo, but certainly I have never driven any car like I did yesterday. With every lap I grew that much more confident and the "fear" of stacking it disappeared. There were sessions on the skid pan, a circle sprayed with water/oil and a straight section covered with basalt tiles and also kept wet where you could practice controlling a snaking car. I also had sessions on the adverse handling" circuit, a really twisty short track that really got the adrenaline pumping as you want to really attack it. I would really recommend this to anyone that could benefit from instruction. Now, the car has (probably) never been driven like that and after the first 6 laps of the Tower Circuit, the petrol light came on, I thought thats stupid because I filled up the and before and track driving isn't THAT thirsty. We came in and I asked them to put in 35 litres and had a coffee. Went out again on the skiddy bits and there was a right old stink of petrol, petrol could be seen coming out the overflow. It seems there was still half a tank left in it before, so looks like the sender or whatever is playing up now. On the way, stuck in traffic the temp went up to the last mark and down to the first a few times, the slow speed fan is now not working, the high speed one does though. I replaced the double switch in the thermostat housing last year, I hope the fan hasn't packed up. All in all had a great day including some spirited laps in the back of a CSL. Cheers. |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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Nico G
Senior Member I Joined: 22-December-2005 Status: Offline Points: 148 |
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Sound like a very worthwhile experience - especially for individuals such as myself who are hankering after a 'ring pilgrimage !! May I enquire as to the financial implications of such a day?? Cheers - Nick |
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Eamo
Moderator Group Joined: 13-May-2003 Location: Ireland Status: Offline Points: 3450 |
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sounds like a great day kevin.
hi nico! m3 back on the road yet? |
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Nico G
Senior Member I Joined: 22-December-2005 Status: Offline Points: 148 |
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Hi mate, She went into hospital on Monday - Much better than I could have hoped for: need only a new rear panel, bootlid and left light cluster. As always, labour is the killer - Without painting it's gonna come in at just the right side on £2.5K Not including the panels and parts I sourced through work with the discount. Sounds like a lot but It had to be done properly to be worth doing at all. I said I don't want it done at all unless it's going to be perfect/undetectable and he assured me he could do that.... I will post some durings and afters when I get the chance So it won't be destined for the track, but don't worry Martin, I have other plans for that....! Cheers |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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Nico
£295, plus wear on tyres from understeering too much when turning in too hard! |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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trackM3
Really Senior Member II Joined: 13-April-2005 Location: Brands Hatch Status: Offline Points: 549 |
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Nico let us in on the track plans then ? |
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Oops i went and got an E36 !
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M3cK
Really Senior Member II Joined: 13-April-2006 Status: Offline Points: 616 |
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Sounds really good! I'm aiming to do a driving course this year so maybe.......
It's good to hear that you were 'nervous...and wanting to keep the car in one piece'. Relating to this, my main question is: apart from tyre wear, how much 'abuse' do you reckon the car took? I haven't tracked my M3 (sad I know) and it's in standard road spec. It's well looked after but I don't want to give it a hernia , if you know what I mean! Very tempting...... Did Martin go too? If so, lets have ya full report fella! |
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'89 E30 M3
Made in Munich |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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Yes Martin went, his car sounds fantastic at full chat.
He is a damn sight more experienced than me and enjoyed it. He is a firm believer in instruction. Being nervous is a normal reaction to an unfamiliar situation, some may claim/ brag about never being nervous, thats just bolloc*s. It was really addictive. Re abuse, I believe the car loved it, thats what it was built for. I can understand why people upgrade the brakes though, my pedal travelled quite a bit further in the afternoon as the fluid got hot. If I did more of this stuff I would fit other than standard pads and discs, and maybe upgrade calipers too to 4 pot stuff. I think when you are learning you don't need to worry about power upgrades. |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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texas2201
Really Senior Member I Joined: 27-July-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 278 |
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HI Kevin Glad you enjoyed the day - I did say it is addictive and I sense a start of something here :-) I really wanted to get to know the limits in the wet and the two skid pans were excellent for this and with one instructor per two drivers it was very focused. the adverse handling track is just over a mile long with more corners than you can shake a stick at - but bumpy - good exercise in car control and positioning - helps you understand the racing line The track was very bumpy in places and my car with it's very hard suspension didnt like some parts of it - on the long right hander i could feel all four wheels bouncing in a sort of drift before hitting the smooth apex :-) Also still got problems with my disks - even after skimming (and bedding in properly) as soon as they got hot they were all over the place again - bit the bullet today and ordered two new ones - its only money Good course and would reccommend it to anyone starting out on track days Martin |
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Martin - www.iconicmotorcars.co.uk
E30 M3 now sold :-(/Lotus Elan SE Turbo/Lotus Excel SE/Lotus Excel SA/Audi A8 - now Tow Barge - Quattro 4.2 |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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Martin,
It was bumpy in places, deliberately so, and I was glad to have relatively soft suspension as it rode over the bumps very well without crashing or feeling skittish. The right hander where you aim at the middle of the Prodrive board was scary the first time as the instructor kept saying keep going, keep going before jumping hard on the brakes then off them to settle the car before turning in . After that putting the foot to the floor was such a great feeling coming out of the bend and drifting over to the far left before the next bend. What a rush. Where next, Cadwell..... |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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texas2201
Really Senior Member I Joined: 27-July-2004 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 278 |
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In the BMW yes but in the Lotus Elan Turbo I am going over to France to do abbeyville and Folembray the weekend of the 4th May See you at Caddwell?
Martin |
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Martin - www.iconicmotorcars.co.uk
E30 M3 now sold :-(/Lotus Elan SE Turbo/Lotus Excel SE/Lotus Excel SA/Audi A8 - now Tow Barge - Quattro 4.2 |
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andyclient
Really Senior Member II Joined: 26-October-2004 Location: suffolk Status: Offline Points: 648 |
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Sounds like you had a great day would love to give it a go myself someday but like you ( were at the begining) i'm a bit worried about breaking something cheers Andy |
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01 E46 320d Touring 88 E30 M3 Sadly Gone 93 E36 325 TD Gone but still going 87 E30 Hartge 325 (gone but not forgotten) |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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andy, see other post on help.. http://www.bavarian-board.co.uk/forum_posts.asp?TID=36882
Edited by thepits |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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andyclient
Really Senior Member II Joined: 26-October-2004 Location: suffolk Status: Offline Points: 648 |
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OOPS Still that doesn't look to expensive does it , pretty good if that was the only casualty of the day Probably a so & so to get to though cheers Andy
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01 E46 320d Touring 88 E30 M3 Sadly Gone 93 E36 325 TD Gone but still going 87 E30 Hartge 325 (gone but not forgotten) |
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PaulS
Really Senior Member II East Anglia BMWCC Regional Chairman Joined: 03-July-2004 Location: Aylsham, Norfolk Status: Offline Points: 2516 |
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Kevin, You up Cadwell Park on May 16? I've been asked to pop up as well to meet the 'old guard' and am doing my best to, depending on my future employment as it's very uncertain at the moment. Will only be spectating though Paul |
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95 E34 530i V8 Auto Maldives Blue |
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playo
Senior Member I Joined: 18-October-2005 Location: south wales Status: Offline Points: 138 |
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Glad you enjoyed! I've been eyeing that same course at prodrive up, nice to know it's a worthwhile day out!! |
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'98 M3 evo conv'-Sold
'91 E30 M3' |
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Hoofty
Senior Member I Joined: 24-July-2005 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 102 |
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Very interested in getting myself on this, but I couldn't find any details about it on the prodrive website - could someone point me in the right direction please? Thanks! |
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'89 E30 M3
'99 106 GTi |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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Hoofty
The web site is www.driverdp.com |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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Hoofty
Senior Member I Joined: 24-July-2005 Location: Northants Status: Offline Points: 102 |
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Thanks Kevin, I'll have to book that up, sounds like an excellent day.
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'89 E30 M3
'99 106 GTi |
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M3Nally
Really Senior Member II Joined: 28-May-2003 Location: United Kingdom Status: Offline Points: 1302 |
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There was a photographer there taking some publicity shots, i am pleased to say there are a couple of great ones of my car so thats a good bonus.
You can see those taken here www.damianharty.com/07019 |
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E30 M3 Macao blue metallic Evolution 2
E39 530d Sport Auto, Aegean blue Edition, Sat Nav, TV, comms pack etc. E39 540i Auto, Sat Nav, TV, leather, luxo barge |
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