M3 at COTA

[Electron mike]

First track weekend with the M3 which was a huge improvement from all my issues with my Z06 (that's another story).

Modifications:
1. HRE wheels with Michelin pilot sport cup 2's in stock 19" sizes.
2. RS29 brake pads
3. Motul 600 brake fluid

I drove the car with DSC completely off, and the M3 really comes alive on track with good tires. Turn in is excellent with some mid corner understeer and exit oversteer, although more controllable on the cup2 tires versus the stock PSS.

The car pulls hard and I think surprised a few folks down the long straights at COTA.

The car does move around quite a bit during high speed braking, and I did have pad knock back issues through the esses that required tapping the brakes before my braking point. It could also use more negative camber, but overall it was great fun on track and was reliable. No fade with the RS29 pads, and COTA is very hard on brakes with the high speeds.

Some pics below, it was the usual car show at COTA which is always fun.. F1 car, Indy car, Porsche GT3 cup, and many exotics.

[JTO24]

Awesome! Great color M3, too that's what I ordered. Are those the flow formed wheels? I can't tell since they are super dark lol

[03///m3]

Sounds like a blast. Love the black HRE's with the SS color.

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by JTO24

Awesome! Great color M3, too that's what I ordered. Are those the flow formed wheels? I can't tell since they are super dark lol

Yep, they are HRE FF01s in tarmac and covered in brake dust in the pic. I got satin black to hide the dust since they are track only wheels, and the satin finish hides imperfections better than gloss black.

I think you will be very happy with SS. It shines in the sun and takes on a really cool bluish tint in the shade and at night.

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by 03///m3

Sounds like a blast. Love the black HRE's with the SS color.

Thanks, it was a great time!

[Doctor///M]

Sweet!

Did you guys get rain? Was at TWS this weekend and had slick conditions all day yesterday.

[UH_TX]

Great Event. How do we get on this action?

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by Doctor///M

Sweet!

Did you guys get rain? Was at TWS this weekend and had slick conditions all day yesterday.

It poured at COTA on Sunday until about noon, then the sun came out and the track dried quickly. Two afternoon sessions at full tilt!

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by UH_TX

Great Event. How do we get on this action?

motorsportreg.com has a great calender with events at many tracks through several groups.

[nicknaz]

looks great! Baller track wheels!

OP, I think I see the blue calipers but wanted to confirm whether you have those or the CCBs

Also, which Z06 did you have ? C6? If so, can I PM you some questions? I was thinking about getting one as a track car

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by nicknaz

looks great! Baller track wheels!

OP, I think I see the blue calipers but wanted to confirm whether you have those or the CCBs

Also, which Z06 did you have ? C6? If so, can I PM you some questions? I was thinking about getting one as a track car

Thanks, they are the blue non CCB calipers with Pagid RS29 brake pads.

I was referring to the 2015 C7 Z06 I had, but I have also owned a C7 Z51, C6 Z06, C6, and C5 Z06 if I can help with questions let me know.

[evanescent03]

I'm hoping to get down there in the fall or spring .. recommendation for the best time of year to go or what group to run with? I've had friends go down with BMWCCA and MVP before..

sounds like you had a good time. can you explain your pad knock back situation a little more? I'm too much of a newbie to be familiar. were you tapping the brakes to position the pads for faster braking or to prevent the "ice pedal"?

thanks! nice list of vettes! which was your favorite for track duty? I would love a C5 or C6 (okay or c7!) for track duty at some point but I have seen more of them get into trouble at/off track than most other cars. gotta respect it

sorry for all the questions!!

[SakhirM4]

One of our friends crashed his E36 M3 at COTA this weekend. Did you see it? If so, how bad?

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by SakhirM4

One of our friends crashed his E36 M3 at COTA this weekend. Did you see it? If so, how bad?

I did see the aftermath and fealt very bad for him as it was in the first session of the day Sat. Front hit the guardrail and damaged the car. The good news is I heard that both he and the instructor were ok.

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by evanescent03

I'm hoping to get down there in the fall or spring .. recommendation for the best time of year to go or what group to run with? I've had friends go down with BMWCCA and MVP before..

sounds like you had a good time. can you explain your pad knock back situation a little more? I'm too much of a newbie to be familiar. were you tapping the brakes to position the pads for faster braking or to prevent the "ice pedal"?

thanks! nice list of vettes! which was your favorite for track duty? I would love a C5 or C6 (okay or c7!) for track duty at some point but I have seen more of them get into trouble at/off track than most other cars. gotta respect it

sorry for all the questions!!

The fall is great at COTA as its cooler, it gets pretty hot in the summer and was even in the high eighties this weekend. I have run with many groups there and had a great time with all. The track officials keep the show going well and are really cool folks as well! Check out the control room when you go, it's amazing with all the cameras.


Some explination of pad knock back here:

http://stoptech.com/technical-suppor.../pad-knockback

I was pumping my brakes to make sure they bite. I did it left footed and it's not decelerating the car, just enough to bring the pistons back closer to the rotor.

I liked the C7 Z51 the best for the track among the vettes as I had fewer problems with it. The brakes on the C5 and C6 were not up to task, and I broke all kinds of parts on the C7 Z06.

[adc]

OP, would you elaborate a little on the issues you've had with the C7 Z06? This is supposed to be the balls to the wall track weapon, so to hear you mention all sorts of problems has really surprised me, and I'm sure a few other folks.

Particularly with all the drama and passionate arguments on this forum.


BTW I've recently been thinking crazy thoughts of taking 10 days off and driving to Texas for a COTA track day...

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by adc

OP, would you elaborate a little on the issues you've had with the C7 Z06? This is supposed to be the balls to the wall track weapon, so to hear you mention all sorts of problems has really surprised me, and I'm sure a few other folks.

Particularly with all the drama and passionate arguments on this forum.


BTW I've recently been thinking crazy thoughts of taking 10 days off and driving to Texas for a COTA track day...

Regarding the C7 Z06..I had several issues:
1. The car would overheat after only a couple laps on the rare occasion it was running ok in 65 degree ambient temps. GM says the design limit was 86 degrees for track duty, which I think is a high estimate.
2. the computer pulls timing as the engine gets up to temp and the car loses significant power.
3. Broken lower control arm (scary!)
4. Dead mass airflow sensor
5. Broken wheel
6. broken brake rotor
7. Gauge cluster goes completely blank intermittently.. very disconcerting
8. Random check engine light for intake issues that GM couldn't fix, caused limp mode
9. Car went into limp mode on track after very few laps and would not make boost. GM couldn't fix.
10. Grinding transmission until the trans warms up.. which is about 30 mins on the street.
11. Fuel delivery issues in high g corners.

I was very happy when I sold it. Perhaps I got a bad one, but others on track have had issues as well. I'm no Vette hater either as it was my 5th one, but unfortunately will likely be my last.


Re: COTA: I can say that driving down for COTA would be great fun if you haven't been here before! I drove to Laguna Seca from Texas and did a track day, and the trip was awesome! COTA is very smooth, forgiving with large runoff, interesting with elevation changes, and it's fast. Austin is a great place to visit as well, and I feel lucky to have an F1 track in my back yard. You also see some serious hardware out here... couple more pics below. I had the pleasure of getting passed by the P1 and Radical V8 on a few occasions.

[adc]

Originally Posted by Electron mike

Re: COTA: I can say that driving down for COTA would be great fun if you haven't been here before! I drove to Laguna Seca from Texas and did a track day, and the trip was awesome! COTA is very smooth, forgiving with large runoff, interesting with elevation changes, and it's fast. Austin is a great place to visit as well, and I feel lucky to have an F1 track in my back yard. You also see some serious hardware out here... couple more pics below. I had the pleasure of getting passed by the P1 and Radical V8 on a few occasions.

I was there for the inaugural F1 race, had a blast at the track and in the city. That's why I see the appeal of going back, it's a great place.

[MasterP]

I saw this car in the paddock. There was two other F82's also. What group were you in?

What speeds were you hitting before entering T12? I'd like to see how much the increased power is helping these cars.

I almost took my F80 there but I'm still playing with tire and wheel fitments.

I took my E92 as usual but I would like to take the F80 there eventually since it is quite a bit more powerful.

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by adc

I was there for the inaugural F1 race, had a blast at the track and in the city. That's why I see the appeal of going back, it's a great place.

Yeah, it's a great place to watch a race but even better driving!

[Electron mike]

Originally Posted by TrakBch

I saw this car in the paddock. There was two other F82's also. What group were you in?

What speeds were you hitting before entering T12? I'd like to see how much the increased power is helping these cars.

I almost took my F80 there but I'm still playing with tire and wheel fitments.

I took my E92 as usual but I would like to take the F80 there eventually since it is quite a bit more powerful.

Yellow group. I saw 152 indicated on the HUD before T12, and 135 before T1. The car was moving around a ton under braking so I left some margin.

What does your car look like? Is it the white one with the wing on the back?

[MasterP]

Originally Posted by Electron mike

Yellow group. I saw 152 indicated on the HUD before T12, and 135 before T1. The car was moving around a ton under braking so I left some margin.

What does your car look like? Is it the white one with the wing on the back?

Yes was the white one with the wing on the back. I assume I was the only one there this time. I get mistaken for ortho281 sometimes. Lol. 152 is pretty good. It probably Pulls hard off 11