[DeTomaso] #6859 Track Outing

Sat Oct 18 09:17:54 EDT 2008

Listers,

After 9 seasons of owning 6859, I finally got it out on the track.

I live in Western NJ, 60 miles door to door to Pocono.

DelVal BMW Club always has a two day event in October at Pocono North. Usually it is Rainy, Cold, Foggy and miserable. This weekend it was gorgeous. 

6859 has been getting ready for the track since I bought it in 99, but something was always wrong and I could never get it to the track (clutch, wheels, AC, weather, PMS (not me) etc…)

The instructor run group can be a tough bunch. Lots of Porsche guys and a bunch of E36 IP race cars (some not as fast as they think :-)). They don’t suffer fools or nascent drivers lightly.

The first run group was looking good. I was lined up and ready to go. I wanted to get out in the first couple cars so I could get warmed up with the big guys and not be trying to figure out the car as I was getting dive bombed by a bunch of instructors that already had their cars warmed up.

Then, some friggin kid knocks on my door and asks for a ride. Instructor etiquette says you always take passengers… and I didn’t want to act like an Italian car snob, so I let him in….

I asked him if he knew how to get in a harness,  he lied. So I get him in the harness, and pull up to the line, with everyone already 5 laps warmed up. 

Well crap here we go.

First couple of laps I spent doing point bys until I started getting the revs and shifts worked out. Pocono North is pretty small for something like the PCar. 3rd gear 3500 to 4500 through the infield then up to 5000 in 4th on the NASCAR turn 3.

The car pulls hard (compared to my E36 track car) 100mph by the Apex of Turn 3 and then as fast as you want to go before you dive into the infield.

I used to think the steering wheel extensions were for weenies. Holy crap my arms were so tired and my fingers were going numb half way through the run group. And no dead pedal to plant against. I was sliding under the dashboard.

I was impressed with the stock suspension with 20 year old Konis. The stock suspension was completely rebuilt with Urethane bushings (shocks and bars have rubber outers) but the car was pretty neutral). I thought it would push more then it did (more push then oversteer though).

Once I missed the brake and hit the clutch in the left hander and went around the turn with no brakes. I thought I was going off for sure, but the car leaned and went around the outside without sliding off or getting loose.

There is also a lot to be said for modern brakes with ABS. This car has the Hall Baer brake kit. It was definitely goofy as you felt brakes catch and stop at different split seconds. With this car you really learn how to threshold brake. All braking done in a straight line :-)

Check out the Pic. (Mo, I’m buying a poster for my garage buddy :-))

http://picproofs.net/tbranoff/delbmw3/pages/delbmw%20black%20mini%20-%20mini-BRA_0730.JPG.php

I think the car has potential, but it needs a few things:

1.       R Rubber required, no street tires unless you want to entertain everyone else on the track (which I did)

2.       Kirkey seat on the floor all the way back 

3.       Big mirrors, the sail panels really hide a lot of the view

4.       Dead Pedal somewhere, someone must have figured out a solution

5.       Steering wheel extension with a 20in wheel

6.       Ditch the Brake Bias and Brake Shuttle Valve

7.       GTS sway bar in the back

After the third run group, a bunch of instructors came up to me and asked if my brake lights were working, We checked them out and they weren’t working. Checked the fuse, looked for some open connections, Couldn’t find anything. Well, I wasn’t taking any more chances. I finished up with my last student and skipped the last run group.

I drove home, parked it and then thrashed on the E36 to get it ready for the next day.

I got to the track the next day and everything was great. After driving the PCar, the E36 was a dream. So easy to drive after pushing the PCar around the track.

I had my best track day ever. I was comfortable running with the race cars and was very comfortable mixing it up with guys I couldn’t run with before.

The PCar was a great workout and helped me drive my Bimmer better then ever before.

I don’t think I am going to rush back to the track with the PCar soon. To really appreciate this car on the track, I have to make the cockpit more functional and put R Comps on it (just what the boss wants, more wheels and tires in the man room).

Overall it was great experience. Everybody in the pits had to come look at it and one guy said he knew John Taphorn and Kirby Schrader. Definitely an attention getter.

The only regret I have about not bringing the PCar back on Sunday is that a Ford GT was going up Rt. 33 at the same time I was going to the track in the E36. Maybe its’ a good thing I didn’t have the PCar.

Maybe Thunderbolt in the spring. Could be fun in the Octopus.

Mirril M. McMullen 
Mobile: 917 295.9587 
AIM:      MirrilM 
email:   MirrilM at earthlink.net 

74 Pantera WAYBAC

E30 M3

E36 M3 Ragtop

E36 Trackcar

X3

74 Bronco

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