first time tracking my car

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 10:33 AM

So i just have to say, the M4 is incredible. I did the performance driving center at Thermal several months back and had a blast. But yesterday I took my car out to Thermal for a day with an instructor and got to drive the actual track this time. I had an absolute blast. This car is unreal. There was no point in the day I wish the car had any more power. I feel like the only thing I would have liked would have been to have had proper tires on and the CCB's. But all things considered, completely stock.... this thing was a blast to drive. if you haven't had the opportunity to get out to Thermal, do yourself a favor and do it. Man..... that place is so nice! I'm a complete noob and by the end of the day I think I brought my time down by a whole minute. I'm hoping by next time we can bring it down about another 8 seconds. I think my fastest time around was like 2:35. For my first time out there I didn't do too bad.

qspring · 11-16-2015, 11:09 AM

Nice! I'm planning on doing the same as well. Any advice for another first timer?

mike@x-ph.com · 11-16-2015, 11:40 AM

Nice!

ftp222 · 11-16-2015, 11:49 AM

How were you able to get on the track with your car? I don't know much about the structure, but I thought it was private and you had to be a member. Is there a way to rent by the hour or day?

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 12:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by qspring

Nice! I'm planning on doing the same as well. Any advice for another first timer?

only advice is give is go with an instructor. they'll make sure you're safe and comfortable. Drake Kemper, who's on here does it. he's a member at thermal and offers lessons out there. it's way more fun and cheaper than doing it through the BMW performance school out there. plus you get sooooo much more track time. If my brakes hadn't started to go bad on me I would have done another hour or two.

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ftp222

How were you able to get on the track with your car? I don't know much about the structure, but I thought it was private and you had to be a member. Is there a way to rent by the hour or day?

I went as a guest of Drake Kemper, who is a member there. He's a professional driver/instructor. If you're interested in going out there, I highly recommend checking into using him. Definitely something I'll be doing a few times a year now.

SROC3 · 11-16-2015, 04:45 PM

pricing? his contact info perhaps?

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 05:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SROC3

pricing? his contact info perhaps?

PM sent

keylime503 · 11-16-2015, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrduder

PM sent

Can I also get his pricing/contact info? Super interested. Thanks!

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 05:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by keylime503

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrduder

PM sent

Can I also get his pricing/contact info? Super interested. Thanks!

I'll send it to you as soon as I get home. give me about an hour

bd307 · 11-16-2015, 05:16 PM

Please PM me his contact as well.

Launch Control · 11-16-2015, 05:18 PM

Same, contact info and pricing would be great. Thanks

btw. I'm assuming you used your own car the whole day? How many laps do you think you did? I'm just wondering how much wear and tear I'll put on by doing a full day at the track.

Thx

mrduder · 11-16-2015, 05:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Launch Control

Same, contact info and pricing would be great. Thanks

btw. I'm assuming you used your own car the whole day? How many laps do you think you did? I'm just wondering how much wear and tear I'll put on by doing a full day at the track.

Thx

did a LOT of driving. you'll have more time than what you'll even be capable of using. I could handle about 5-6 laps or so at a time before I started getting fatigued and sloppy. then you come in and rest a bit and can go out as much as you want. it's totally up to you. only thing I had an issue with was my brakes. I have stock steel brakes. I got deposits on them from improper braking I guess and they started sounding bad and shaking the steering wheel quite a bit under braking. but I did some 60-10mph braking a lot today and they're good again. your car should do just fine. it's plenty capable. it's more capable than us! hahaha the track has mechanics on site as well for all your needs if anything is needed. it's crazy nice out there.

afadeev · 11-16-2015, 06:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrduder

[...]only thing I had an issue with was my brakes. I have stock steel brakes. I got deposits on them from improper braking I guess and they started sounding bad and shaking the steering wheel quite a bit under braking. but I did some 60-10mph braking a lot today and they're good again. your car should do just fine. it's plenty capable. it's more capable than us!

Nothing wrong with stock steel brakes, but the OEM pads do overheat after repeated track speed stops. If you are going back on track, consider getting and swapping in (easy) a set of track pads that will not fade and maintain consistent coefficient of friction at higher temperatures. Paged RS29's do the job really well, but there are other options as well.

a

Launch Control · 11-17-2015, 11:45 AM

This may be a silly question, but does anyone know if you can rent track brake pads or tires for the day you visit?

M3 Number 86 · 11-17-2015, 11:57 AM

why PM everyone his rates when he has a post welcoming everyone in m3post?

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...t=drake+kemper

CanAutM3 · 11-17-2015, 12:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Launch Control

This may be a silly question, but does anyone know if you can rent track brake pads or tires for the day you visit?

Tires and brakes are consumables for track days. One would be quite stupid and not very business savvy to rent them

.

mrduder · 11-17-2015, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3 Number 86

why PM everyone his rates when he has a post welcoming everyone in m3post?

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...t=drake+kemper

because he sent them to me in a pm and I didn't know it was public

Biorin · 11-18-2015, 03:42 PM

Sounds like you had a good time! I just did my first autocross(at UDE) and you quickly discover just how addicting it can be - definitely looking forward to a track day as well.

CosmosMpower · 11-18-2015, 03:53 PM

If you're intermediate or higher get real track pads and flush your fluid to high temp stuff. I melted stock F80 pads to the rotors in 1 session before. The car is super neutral and easy to drive.

mrduder · 11-18-2015, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

If you're intermediate or higher get real track pads and flush your fluid to high temp stuff. I melted stock F80 pads to the rotors in 1 session before. The car is super neutral and easy to drive.

yeah I think that's what happened. I'm getting some Pagid pads

mcvaughan · 12-01-2015, 10:54 AM

Anyone have a DIY video on a pad swap?

11-16-2015, 10:33 AM	#1
mrduder Captain 472 Rep 787 Posts Drives: 2015 M4 Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	first time tracking my car So i just have to say, the M4 is incredible. I did the performance driving center at Thermal several months back and had a blast. But yesterday I took my car out to Thermal for a day with an instructor and got to drive the actual track this time. I had an absolute blast. This car is unreal. There was no point in the day I wish the car had any more power. I feel like the only thing I would have liked would have been to have had proper tires on and the CCB's. But all things considered, completely stock.... this thing was a blast to drive. if you haven't had the opportunity to get out to Thermal, do yourself a favor and do it. Man..... that place is so nice! I'm a complete noob and by the end of the day I think I brought my time down by a whole minute. I'm hoping by next time we can bring it down about another 8 seconds. I think my fastest time around was like 2:35. For my first time out there I didn't do too bad.
	Appreciate 3 Tweet Quote

11-16-2015, 11:09 AM	#2
qspring Second Lieutenant 105 Rep 259 Posts Drives: 2016 M4 Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Orange County, CA iTrader: (1)	Nice! I'm planning on doing the same as well. Any advice for another first timer? __________________ 2016 BSM M4 - BBS FI-R, Hex tune stage 2, JRZ RS1, DP/CP/Intake/exhaust Follow me on Instagram @qs_m4
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2015, 11:40 AM	#3
mike@x-ph.com BimmerPost Supporting Vendor 24364 Rep 191,163 Posts Drives: 07-335/12-328/18-M4/21-M4CP Join Date: Sep 2013 Location: Las Vegas iTrader: (23)	Nice! __________________ Check out our current sale by clicking on this link! https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2015, 11:49 AM	#4
ftp222 Private 16 Rep 58 Posts Drives: 2016 SO M3 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: SoCal iTrader: (0)	How were you able to get on the track with your car? I don't know much about the structure, but I thought it was private and you had to be a member. Is there a way to rent by the hour or day?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2015, 04:45 PM	#7
SROC3 The limit of adhesion is my home. 1702 Rep 3,778 Posts Drives: Like a Boss. Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: three.one.zero iTrader: (1)	pricing? his contact info perhaps? __________________ 2019 X3 xDrive30i Glacier Silver \| Cognac w/ Fine Cove \| MSport \| Premium \| Dynamic Handling PKG \| Drive Assist \| HK w/ Bavsound Upgrade \|
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2015, 05:16 PM	#11
bd307 Chef 928 Rep 1,059 Posts Drives: Things with wheels or no wheel Join Date: Dec 2014 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0)	Please PM me his contact as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-16-2015, 05:18 PM	#12
Launch Control Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 235 Posts Drives: F80 - SS/SS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	Same, contact info and pricing would be great. Thanks btw. I'm assuming you used your own car the whole day? How many laps do you think you did? I'm just wondering how much wear and tear I'll put on by doing a full day at the track. Thx __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 M3 SS/SS DCT 2011 X5
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2015, 11:45 AM	#15
Launch Control Second Lieutenant 47 Rep 235 Posts Drives: F80 - SS/SS Join Date: Aug 2014 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0)	This may be a silly question, but does anyone know if you can rent track brake pads or tires for the day you visit? __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 M3 SS/SS DCT 2011 X5
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-17-2015, 11:57 AM	#16
M3 Number 86 Major General 3221 Rep 6,218 Posts Drives: black m3 Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: pasadena iTrader: (1)	why PM everyone his rates when he has a post welcoming everyone in m3post? http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...t=drake+kemper __________________ dadmobile IG: @M3number86 youtube: track vids
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-18-2015, 03:42 PM	#19
Biorin Lieutenant 2785 Rep 421 Posts Drives: to get cheeseburgers Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Sweatervests & Range Rovers iTrader: (0)	Sounds like you had a good time! I just did my first autocross(at UDE) and you quickly discover just how addicting it can be - definitely looking forward to a track day as well.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-18-2015, 03:53 PM	#20
CosmosMpower Brigadier General 2052 Rep 3,714 Posts Drives: F87c, GT3, MK7 GTI Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	If you're intermediate or higher get real track pads and flush your fluid to high temp stuff. I melted stock F80 pads to the rotors in 1 session before. The car is super neutral and easy to drive.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

12-01-2015, 10:54 AM	#22
mcvaughan Lieutenant Colonel 706 Rep 1,917 Posts Drives: F87 Competition Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Katy, TX iTrader: (1)	Anyone have a DIY video on a pad swap? __________________ Matt
	Appreciate 0 Quote