BIR has a drag strip and a road course. We will be going to the road course, its amazing and you can really see what the evos are all about.

 

What group are you guys going to BIR with?

I've gone up to BIR a number of times with the BMW club (used to own a '91 M3, RIP), but it would be fun to be on the track with some other evos, although my car is still completely stock and would probably be a back-marker...

Also, has anyone heard much about this possible new road course in the Twin Cities area?
http://www.pinerunracing.com

 

I usally visit BIR with the Corvette Club. They are a great bunch of guys and will let in other makes to help cover the cost of the event. I've been on the track with a Lamborghini, Vipers, full-on race prepped and heavily modded Corvettes, RX-7's, STi's, ITR's, spec Miata's, etc. Plenty of track time, and a great environment to learn your car.

Is the BMW club pretty open to letting non-members participate? I'm always looking for more track time.

I've seen a few things about the proposed track, but I'm not sure how far they have gotten. It's one of 3 different efforts I've heard about to get another road course built here in MN.

<Way OT>
News of the Head! - My ported head has finally shipped and I should have it in my hands next week. If all goes well it will be in the car within a week of arrivial. Now I just need to hope that Burschur Racing manages to get the new turbos into production this month. When I talked with them yesterday, they expected to be able to deliver within thiry days. Of course things don't always work out acoring to plan...
</Way OT>

 

I think you still have to be a BMW CCA member to attend their events, but I think it's something like $40/year, so if you go to both BIR events that's an extra $20 per event over the $200 or whatever the fee is. (The BIR events are two day weekends, so while they are kind of expensive, you do get a lot of track time).

I would say that probably at most two thirds of the cars at these events are BMWs. In the past I've seen some pretty interesting vehicles up there, such as a Ferrari challenge race car (which went off track and ripped up a very expensive chin spoiler), some heavily modified 911s, supercharged M coupes, Z06s, etc., but you also see Audi station wagons, Integras, and so forth.

There's been one guy with an STi the last two times I've gone, which was fun. I think I was the only car running in the A group on street tires last time, although with the Evo's stock Advans that isn't entirely fair...

Anyways, they tend to be pretty friendly, and they have different run groups based on driver/car ability. You have to pass by contract and only on the straights, lap timing is not allowed, and there are classroom sessions. Also, you always start out with an instructor in the car, but they can sign you off to go solo. So, it's not the same as an open track day where you just show up and get on and off the track whenever, but I don't find it too restrictive, and at my experience level I still find the instructors useful, plus you can get rides during the instructor lap sessions, and some of them have pretty cool cars.

 

It sounds alot like the running with the Corvette Club, except that their events tend to be one day, mid-week affairs. They also seperate inexperienced drivers, pass by contract, start you out with an instructor, classroom and braking exercises, etc. I'll have to dig up a link and contact them.

Having ready access to instructors in nice; it allows you to go back to the experts and keep finding areas to improve.

 

The ported head has arrived! (actually it arrived on Monday) I'm on a waiting list for a 10.5 hotside at Dyno4mance (probably next week); and BR has just announced that they will be testing a new turbo compressor wheel next week.

I'm excited! I'll put in the head and clean up my intake manifold this weekend. It looks like I'll need to order some new injectors and wait on the turbo upgrade, though. I suppose I can clean up the stock exhaust manifold while I'm waiting, though.

I'm hoping the car will be fully back together and tuned before the end of the month. Then I just need to buy some new track tires (probably RA-1s again) and a hopefully a new set of Advans. It never ends, does it?

 

Yeah, never ending , i know all about that. One things leads to another and another, its just goes on forever!!! Let me know when its all tuned and what not i would like to come check it out.

 

in case anyone is interested, the website of the local BMW CCA chapter is
http://northstarbmw.org

They usually have two BIR events a year, one in May, one in September. I've only been to BIR with that club, and they don't allow lap timing, but with a pretty consistent, tire-howling run off of turn 10, swinging pretty wide inside the pit wall and arcing back, my totally stock Evo on the stock Advans gets up to about 135 before turn 1 (i was able to chase down the new M3s in the back half of the track, but the top end doesn't seem that strong on the big straight--luckily most people are pretty polite and let you by on the straights if you've been on their tail through the twisties).

I'm curious as to what kinds of speeds you guys with your monster modded Evos (and probably better driving skills than me) get up to on the straight... IIRC, I think I would usually hit redline in third at around the start of the pit wall--i bet with track tires you could carry a little more speed through ten (do you have to take 10 in fourth?) There was a 911 turbo widebody with roll cage and who knows what else that could just blow by me on the front straight like i was driving a minivan...

oh well, must put thoughts of spring away and get back to chipping ice and trying to deal with the huge lake that has formed in my driveway before it freezes again...

 

I dont rember how fast we were going in eroishis evo at the end of the straight but man we sure were moving. I rember the first time around at full speed into that big corner after the straight and it was on of the best feelings ever.

 

Thanks for the info on the BMW club, I'll have to get in touch with them. As for speeds, there are only a few that I've watched closely.

I'm generally hitting 150 by my brake point before turn 1. My skirt generally blows up over my helmet at that point and I tend to brake back down some. I've heard that I should be able to go through turn 1 at close to that, but the thought of sliding off turn 1 at 150 is pretty scary stuff. I've found 110 to be the fastest I can apex turn 2 and I generally drop to about 80 (I think) then and trail-brake (dropping to about 60) into turn 3. I can't quite remember my other corner entry speeds, but 60-70 sounds right for the next couple. I'm generally hitting 125+ (I think) before braking for 10 again. I take 10 in third - that concreet wall is a bit scary.

Please note that I'm cornering on a set of RA-1's. The R compounds make a huge difference as I found the stock Advans tended to heat up and get greasy after a few hard corners. The two other big changes that helped for track events were adding the Mitsubishi dealer provided brake cooling guides and a good set of brake pads. The stock pads are very good though; but when I added power they ended up a bit light. The brake cooling guids are a couple of plastic air deflectors that sell for way too much, but work really well.

 

YES! While it looks like the BR 20g needs a bit more development, today has been good for my Evo. My morning started with a call from Andrew at Dyno4mance letting me know that my 10.5 hotside was about to ship! I followed that up with a trip past RS Motors where Ron is machining my intake manifold and gasket to match the runners on my reworked head. He's made great progress and I will be able to pick up everything tomorrow. It looks like the head at least will be going on this weekend.

 

I'm sure this is too late but the Club DSM website is:

http://www.knight-rider.org/mn-dsm/

Gives you high octane gas stations, parts discounts, etc. Hope it helps.

 

Hey eroishi where did you get the 10.5 hot side ??? How much was it ?

 

I called Andrew at Dyno4mance for the hotside. The price was about what they had posted on the website - $230.00 or so.

 

Do think the improvement is worth it, its a pretty good price but how much do you think you will gain. Im looking into maybe doing this.