What are some good groups to go with to the track in SoCal?

Well, I'm not under full maintenance any more. Even if I was I doubt I'd try to get BMW to pick up the tab. I only use BMW pads in the winter and that's because I have some left. Free rotors would be useful, but they're the cheapest part of the deal. If I couldn't afford to pay for the rotors I use on the track (but could pay for everything else) it would probably be a cue to back off on the track time.

Paddle - do you use R-comps? And if so, what kind of camber are you running? I just corded my first set of R-comps (Michelin PSCs) but only the outside edge of the left side of the car was done. The inside edge of the left side tires looked fine, and the right side tires look great. I was thinking that I need more camber, but the rear has a little more than 2 degrees which is within Tire Rack's suggested camber range and it was corded (the front has a little more than a degree, below Tire Rack's suggested range, which is why I was thinking about more camber). Hot pressures were fine. Maybe it's just that track. I got 4 or 5 days out of them. Thoughts? I'm done driving for this season and was thinking of getting another pair of the PSCs for next season. Does anyone have advice on that? Should I replace all 4 at the same time?

Originally Posted by Mr Paddle.Shift

Unfortunately, 4-wheel off at a CCA event comes with more than an inspection but also a one-to-one talk with the chief instructor, a stern warning and reciting the entire incident in front of the entire class. Did I mention that it will go onto your student record for all CCA chapters to look at?

A second time off in the same day, they will send you packing. No refund.

When I offroaded at Grattan this past weekend I got flagged in.

All they did was a quick check under my car and asked what happened and if I was okay.

Don't get me started on what happened last Saturday. Long story short, on Sat morning I discovered a nail in my right front tire when adjusting the PSS9s. I had the tire patched eventually but I missed the first session and the first classroom meeting. When I got back on the track, I forgot two things: (1) my jack still in the trunk and (2) I forgot to adjust the PSS9 on the right front to stiff. So imagine stiff on 3 corners and soft on 1 corner. Carry too much speed over a right hander hill. Once the front starts to load, swooosh 180deg into dirt. My first thought was that the tire wasn't patch well and was losing air during the first few laps.

I never spun in a CCA event before and this time I did, and I felt that I was put in the limelight for the rest of the two days. Funny thing was not one instructor mentioned that just maybe the tire wasn't patched right and caused the unbalance in the car. It's always "you forgot to unwind your wheel" and "one more spin and you're out!". Remember when you were a kid, you did something wrong and the teacher made you stood up and admitted the wrong doing? Yup.

I will post a full report once I get some video clips in as well. Not the spin of course.

Originally Posted by Commander FAT

When I offroaded at Grattan this past weekend I got flagged in.

All they did was a quick check under my car and asked what happened and if I was okay.

R-comps not in my radar yet. But probably soon after I get promoted to the next level. I am running Michelins PS2s, which IMO perform extremely well compared to the old PSs. Anyway, I corner balanced my car to 50.1/49.9. Running very conservative camber numbers at -1.5 (F) and -1.25 (R).

About the uneven wear, did you corner balance your car? What suspension setup do you have?

Since you invested in R-comps, think about a notch further with a pyrometer as well. There is an entire literature on reading temperature gradient etc. Suggested camber settings may not be optimal settings, since it depends on the driving style, the car behavior and of course the track layout.

Originally Posted by jmsanders78

Well, I'm not under full maintenance any more. Even if I was I doubt I'd try to get BMW to pick up the tab. I only use BMW pads in the winter and that's because I have some left. Free rotors would be useful, but they're the cheapest part of the deal. If I couldn't afford to pay for the rotors I use on the track (but could pay for everything else) it would probably be a cue to back off on the track time.

Paddle - do you use R-comps? And if so, what kind of camber are you running? I just corded my first set of R-comps (Michelin PSCs) but only the outside edge of the left side of the car was done. The inside edge of the left side tires looked fine, and the right side tires look great. I was thinking that I need more camber, but the rear has a little more than 2 degrees which is within Tire Rack's suggested camber range and it was corded (the front has a little more than a degree, below Tire Rack's suggested range, which is why I was thinking about more camber). Hot pressures were fine. Maybe it's just that track. I got 4 or 5 days out of them. Thoughts? I'm done driving for this season and was thinking of getting another pair of the PSCs for next season. Does anyone have advice on that? Should I replace all 4 at the same time?

that is good weight distribution paddleshift. about going off the track, well we all do it at first and I believe if you dont have such an experience then you aint trying hard enough to find the limits of your car and your driving. If you get four off consistantly then maybe one should sit and think on why they are going off, are they over driving the car, are the misjudging braking points, are you driving with your mirrors, or most importantly RED MIST getting in your eyes. Remeber practice makes perfect so keep on trying. Lets keep the BMW representation going guys.

Originally Posted by Mr Paddle.Shift

Unfortunately, 4-wheel off at a CCA event comes with more than an inspection but also a one-to-one talk with the chief instructor, a stern warning and reciting the entire incident in front of the entire class. Did I mention that it will go onto your student record for all CCA chapters to look at?

A second time off in the same day, they will send you packing. No refund.

My reason to go 4 off was justified, a honda spun out in front of me, and the only to avoid hitting him was to drive thru the dirt. It was a 50-60mph corner, so I was going thru the dirt at that speed. They black flagged me in, said something along the lines of "wow, how did you do that?" checked my wheels/brakes and sent me back on the track.

During the last STUSA event held at Buttonwillow (big track), people in the "advanced" group were spinning and 4 wheeling around every other corner. I thought that was silly, but the instructors had a talk with the advanced group and sent several people to lower run groups.

The highest run group I ever ran was slow intermediate haha...