[DeTomaso] #6859 Track Outing

Sat Oct 18 10:11:46 EDT 2008

Very cool,

I love that quote!

Man room is very nice this time of year!

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

-----Original Message-----
From: detomaso-bounces at realbig.com [mailto:detomaso-bounces at realbig.com] On
Behalf Of adin at frontier.net
Sent: Saturday, October 18, 2008 9:44 AM
To: detomaso at realbig.com
Subject: Re: [DeTomaso] #6859 Track Outing

Yeah, a driven Pantera.  Nothing better!

A famous quote in our group from my friend's wife:  Did we always have  
this many wheels and tires?

Out to the man room to thrash a little . . . .

Quoting "Mirril M. McMullen" <mirrilm at earthlink.net>:

> 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
>
>          ___/___
>      o/         ?  \o
>     (OO =00= OO)
>     [|||||] = = = [|||||]
>
>
>
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