Track time at BIR

[jdando]

Hey Gang;

Got the Marauder all loaded up with a trunk of family stuff and a back rack of Daddy Stuff! Dunlop Super Sport track tires, 245/35/18 with a treadwire of 100. Nice and sticky.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/trunkload.jpg

The weather is a bit below average even for Minnesota. It was 45 and rain on the way up.:( The forecast is for a chance of showers tomorrow.

Stay tuned for all the details!

Here is the track map
http://www.mercurymarauder.net/gallery/data/500/medium/BIR_track_map2.jpg

This year I have Wilwood H compound brake pads:banana: Todd at TCE hooked me up and said these babies will haul my MM down. He is right, the only downside is brake dust out the yahoo and lots of squeaks.

More later,

jeremy

[GarageMahal]

Can't wait for the next report. Hopefully the weather clears up for you.

jta

[shakes_26]

oh crud, the camera mount wont make it to you until tuesday. dammit.

[jdando]

It was a cold and drizzly day today. Conditions ranged from "dry" to moderate rain. This is my second trip here to BIR so I had a clue about the track and my car.

This session I had the Wilwood H pad up front and B pad in the rear. These pads ROCK! Thanks to Todd at TCE for hooking me up. My instructor was really amazed how much brake I had.

Here are a few pictures from some of the other run groups, with any luck someone was shooting my car.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/vette_113722.jpg

A nice stock Z06 Vette

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/stang.jpg

Another FOMOCO product!

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/rollup.jpg

Looks like my cornering speeds are up. Notice the rolled up rubber.

http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/racecar.jpg

Looks like a race car with those numbers:banana2:


http://www.mercurymarauder.net/showcase/files/3/1/0/2/dot.jpg

Notice the little yellow dot on the top of the windshield. My instructor approved me to drive alone. :woohoo: It means I have skills, I hope girls dig guys with skills.


The best comment of the day was from another driver who came up to me while I was rotating tires and said
"Your car sounds great, I called my friend and then held the phone up as you drove by!".

Tomorrow the conditions should improve and be drier, I hope.

jeremy

[shakes_26]

Thats pretty sweet!!! Way cool on the solo authorization!!!!

[Tallboy]

Awesome job and pics, Jeremy! Road racing is quite punishing, I'm glad to see you put this thing through its paces. Keep us informed and up-to-date!!

[jdando]

Hey Gang

Had a great day two on the track. I had so much fun I had to fill up prior to the last two sessions:D

The weather improved greatly, we got sunny and dry conditions in the afternoon. Lots of track time. I had four good sessions, learning the car, the lines and being smooth. Got some rides in the Mustang GT and a turbo Lexus with other instructors.

In one session I was following the Z-06 Corvette. He could not drop me for two laps and then I was getting sloppy and the tires were getting greasy. I ended up hanging the rear end out quite-a-bit in turn 8. Not a problem gettting back under control, but a good learning experience that the car will step out, but in a predictable and recoverable manner. I backed way off and let the Vette disappear into the distance. I guess having bigger tires, 1000 fewer pounds, better weight distribution does matter.

Had a great last session, good weather, minimal traffic (I lined up away from the Vette so I would not be tempted to chase). I always like to finish on a positive experience, no sense in pushing to hard and having to walk 120 miles home.

The car worked flawlessly all weekend. I am very pleased with the brake pads and tire upgrades I did. The car is filthly after running hard in the rain. I have about 1/8" of brake dust on the track wheels, the H pads make it sound like a garbage truck when it is slowing down, but man does she stop. On the ride home the tranny shuddered a bit on torque converter lock up. I may have cooked the tranny fluid (again:o). I will give it a week to cure itself, if not another tranny flush. With any luck I can spend next Sunday with the clay bar, wash mit and Porter-Cable.

Peeled off the numbers last night, but I left my dot. I will keep it on until Sunday, it makes me smile:coolman:


Momentumphoto.net was shooting the event, so I will post a link to any good photos.

jeremy (off to the airport today)

[juno]

Thanks for the updates! You done good Dude!!!

[Hotrauder]

Jeremy, Great report and a sterling represent. I love running with the 06 Vet. Must have been bugging that guy no end:D Congrats on the solo. Shakes will be running solo the next time for us. I doubt I will live long enough but that is ok. Track time is the best time of all. Please post the pics. dennis:beer:

[Todd TCE]

Time to check the rotor wear. The H pads may prove to be more than you need yet. Awesome pads but high wear rate can be a sign of too low a rotor temp. The H pads really do like the heat.
http://funkadelic.org/i/misc/wayot/sjgp/GX4A4305.jpg
And will run there for long periods of time.

[jdando]

Here are some of the photos from the track.

I am linking to the photographer's site

www.momentumphoto.net (http://www.momentumphoto.net)

http://www.momentumphoto.net/events/bmw/06may/sun/1145c/images/BMW06_BIR05_1376.jpg

Turn nine heading for the bridge:eek:



http://www.momentumphoto.net/events/bmw/06may/sun/1145c/images/BMW06_BIR05_1389.jpg

No clue where I am:o



http://www.momentumphoto.net/events/bmw/06may/sun/1445c/images/BMW06_BIR05_1650.jpg

No clue what corner, looks like I got the apex:D....

http://www.momentumphoto.net/events/bmw/06may/sun/1445c/images/BMW06_BIR05_1671.jpg

I believe this is coming into turn 3. Very hard braking from 100 down to 40 mph. It appears that I am unloading the back-end and lots of weight transfer to the front:eek:. Probably time for coil-overs:rolleyes:

I guess I need to remember to clean the wheels each session if I am going to have my picture taken:help:


The weather was crap for shooting photos, on and off drizzle, bad light, cold. Not sure if I like how the photographer shot the cars, he seems to have some "artsy" angles that do not work for me. I would have preffered a crisper focus on the wheels, perhaps there was not enough light for higher shutter speeds? Also maybe more of a surrounding area in the photo would have been good. The guys at Sebring Florida had some great shots, must have been the weather.



More later,
jeremy

[wesman]

Awesome report Jeremy, looks like you had lots of fun. I'm jealous of your brakes.
Wes.