Watkins Glen wrap up

czm3 · #1 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 07:43 PM

Hi everybody,

I'm chilling here in a hotel room in Toledo on my way to Chicago. As some of you know, I was at the SCDA school yesterday and today. It was my first track event of the season, and also my first in my e36 track car (pics coming soon).

A friend had trouble with his car, so he asked me if he could co drive my car. I said yes, and he trailered the car to NY.

Monday morning 6AM

My co driver and I cannot find the key to the track car. The e36 has an ignition lock that eliminates hot wiring. I frantically called friends to see who could make it out of work and bring me the key. I thought I could salvage the second day, but even Fedex, could not deliever until 10 AM. Instead of wasting my time trying to find a solution, I decided to get the spare key myself. So I hopped in the Jeep, drove to Cape Cod, and back to the Glen. I got back at about 930PM and logged 920 miles.

SCDA was extremely cool about my mishap, and allowed me to make up my lost sessions on the second day. Wow, 6 half hour sessions in one day!!!!

Session one and two allowed me to become aquainted with the car, and reaquainted with the track. My co-driver (an instructor) showed me what my car was truly capable of. Great start.

I decided to solo on the third session. On the warm up lap, I noticed that my car went from normal to really fucking (red light) hot in half a lap. I limped to the pits, opened the hood, and saw coolant sprayed allover the engine and the quarter panels. oh oh.....

A fellow BMW driver from NJ helped us with the car. We determined that the hoses were all in place and that the radiator is good. Finally, we decided to purge the system of air. We replenished the engine with coolant and the temp guage was normal. However, there was A LOT of air in the system. I took the car for a cruise around the track facility that replicated typical suburban driving. The gauge was fine, the engine and coolant level were fine. I decided to take the car back to the track to test it more. Maybe it just was an air pocket that entered the system when the heater core was removed.

Lap one, I kept my eyes on the temp guage and drove the car softly.

Lap 2, all good as I pick up the pace..

Lap 3, I am pushing the car harder, and the temp guage has not budged from straight up (normal)

Laps 4 through 7? Temp is ok, I am having my best laps of the day. The sun is on the track and there is beaucoup grip.

Lap 8? I cross the finish line, check the guage (normal) and continue in to turn one. Blow through the esses and the bus stop, and make my way through the boot. Driving along the "sole" towards the heel, I notice a flag at the far end of the straight. Check the guage, red light on the temp, check the rear view, ssee nothing but white smoke. I pull of the track immediatly and wait for the corner worker's instruction.

I got out and told him it was coolant. I popped the hood and showed him. He said sorry and admited that I was ripping on the laps before. The car is towed to the pits, and my codriver immediately winches it onto his trailer. Our day is over, and while I sit here in Toledo, my co driver in bringing the car to Turner.

What can I say???

This weekend was a test of charactor. Life threw a wrench in the works, but we rose above it. I kept a smile on my face, and looked at the positive. I still had a great time!!!!!!!!!

The car was absolutly amazing. I know this car will kill my e46 on the track. I cant wait to drive again!!!!!!!

DocWyte · #2 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 08:14 PM

Sounds like you had a good time despite your car troubles. Sorry to hear about the cooling woes! Hopefully it's something that can be easily and quickly fixed! Luckily you had a trailer!

SG_M3 · #3 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 08:20 PM

Congrats on getting the car up and going, but sorry to hear about your cooling issues. A guy I normally track with was having tons of cooling issues, he replaced the whole cooling system and still overheated. He wound up having to rebuild the head and putting in a new head gasket.

czm3 · #4 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 08:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SG_M3

Congrats on getting the car up and going, but sorry to hear about your cooling issues. A guy I normally track with was having tons of cooling issues, he replaced the whole cooling system and still overheated. He wound up having to rebuild the head and putting in a new head gasket.

Wow, you hit the nail on the head!

After determining that it wasnt the radiator, my only culprits are the water pump (replaced 10000 miles ago) or (gulp) the head gasket which as never been replaced.

The engine has 120K on it and is on its last legs. If it is the head gasket, I might decide to just replace the entire engine.

I dont want to spend $1000 only to spend another $500 later and etc etc. Maybe a new (rebuilt) engine is the key. The rest of the car is world class, so why not get an engine to match it?

SG_M3 · #5 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 09:47 PM

what class are you building this car to?

czm3 · #6 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 09:56 PM

I prepared

SG_M3 · #7 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 10:19 PM

depending on your funds, maybe just a rebuilt head, don't know if you have cams or not, and 3.2 bottom end.

Dado · #8 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 10:29 PM

ouch sorry to hear about the mishaps. Forgetting the key must have been a big bummer but I am sure that all went away as soon as you got the car on the track

Sucks about the headgasket. I been through two in the last 7 months and going on my third in the next week or so. Doesn't take much to warp a head by overheating so keep a close look on those temps.

czm3 · #9 (**permalink**) 05-04-2004, 10:35 PM

I'm thinking about a partial rebuild. Something that will hold me over for a while. Right now there is so much to explore in the range of handling and braking. Afterall, this car weighs about 600 lbs less than my last track car. But the lust for power will arise soon enough, and I'll let you know after I talk to my mechanic.

Baer · #10 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 04:17 AM

Damn sorry to hear about the overheating Chris. Looks like we shall be putting the additional gauges in sooner rather than later.

Sounds like you still had a chance to get acquainted with your e36.

Have a good trip in Chicago.

sweet///Motion · #11 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 06:28 AM

Damn! What a story. This is a perfect example why I always keep an extra key ON the car. At least you got first hand instruction by an instructor whom has a similar set up on his track car. I'm sure you learned a bunch load in those last sessions. Ian is a great guy to allow you those extra laps. Your attitude is unbelievably calm. The drive back to the cape and back would have killed me considering I had to drive the next morning. Talk about fatigue. Glad you made it htru it. I guess things could always be worse.

Fix the head for now and save some money for the track season. Think about a rebuild during the winter. My $.02.

later

lose2abmw · #12 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 07:48 AM

Coulda been worse...

How were the BRAKES though???

sunir · #13 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 11:18 AM

you have a really good attitude about stuff...man I know shit happens at the track to all of us...way to keep positive and not let it get you down

I was really down when I blew my head gasket twice inside of 3 months at VIR each time...then again in my first race, the hood came up smashing the windshield not allowing me to race in Friday's sprint...then we had some rear end problems on Sunday...but Saturday's Enduro race and results made it all worth it...

hang in there man....I'm sure you'll get things sorted once again, glad you liked your IP racecar (they are truly different with a stiffer chassis and lightened quite a bit aren't they!...heck you don't even need a lot of horsepower to post fast laps...) what races are you planning to do this season? Hopefully we'll get a chance to dice it up out there

czm3 · #14 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 12:08 PM

I talked to the garage where the car was towed to, and they seemed pretty sure that is was a blown head gasket. I am waiting to see if I caused any damage to the engine when it overheated. This will determine what I am going to do next.

Peter, the brakes were unbelievable, thanks to you.

Most of my track driving will be done in the NE area. Lots of Watkins, Lime Rock, and NHIS. I also look forward to the new track being built in NH.

The car's incredible performance is what is keeping me happy. The key thing is one of those things that wont happen to me again.

sunir · #15 (**permalink**) 05-05-2004, 12:19 PM

what kinda times are you turning at Watkins Glen? I'm going to either do the double points premier race there in the fall or the Grand Am opener in June...may also instruct at a couple of DE's in July for some additional tracktime and test for gearing (don't know if the 3.73 will fall short out of the uphill esses before the chicane) up there ...man I love the Glen!