Sticky tyres on BMW Car Club Track days

[DawieM3]

Hi guys,

Threre`s an intresting thread around the use of R compounds and slicks on track days, primarly the BMW car Club BDD`s ( Better Driving Days ), and is a hot topic of debate on the Car Club Mpower forum at the moment.
It also has a a few questions that can be answered on the preference of sticky tyres and club membership.

If any zoners have had any expirence out on track are or have been or may be tempted to join / become members of the BMW car club your views will be appreciated. I don`t want to influence anyone in any way, but would appreciate if you could view the thread and post your honest answers.

The thoughts and views posted from both parties have merits and if the Zone at any stage is going to host any track days in the future, will be insight into the politic`s and sensitive issues of hosting club track days.

Many thanks for reading this and to those posting your views.

Regards,

Dave.

[MONSPORT42]

Hi Dave, I know quite a few E30 owners who won't go on the club's BDDs because of this tyre restriction and also because they seem, on the face of it, to be expensive. I've been on a few and as I only use road tyres anyway it's not an issue for me except those who do use stickies do tend to throw their cars around more which suppose increases the risks for all concerned. As I understand it, BDDs are designed for people to drive their road cars to their limits safely and not to compete with track dedicated cars. If you want that anyone can just book a session through easytrack or the like.
Could you post a thread address for the forum discussion?

[psychochild187]

slicks dont ..ive allways though ...give u that much more than a set of good road tires maybe a second or two ,thats it.

i can under stand why you would make a track day slicks only or semi only,
but it must give an idea to ppl that its a day where ppl will be pushing hard .

most annoying thing about track days is beeing held up by someone because there just slow and getting them lap after lap. i guess the tire restrictions is like says , nobody will be going slow eveyones pushing.

i would think a bmw owners club day would be cheap . i remember going on a track day with them at bedford and beeing told it was cheaper than easytrack.

[DawieM3]

Hi Guys,

Thanks for your inputs but need to clarify the issue.

It is not a proposal that all must run r compounds or slicks, just that some drives have progressed there skill levels to the extent where by the tyre is limiting further progression. Road tyres tend to overheat after a few laps making them less safe than sticky rubber.

The club took a unilateral decision to ban slicks and r compunds without discussing it with the participating membership, and hence attendance has suffered making the events more difficult to subscribe, increasing the costs.

Better driving days are about driving within your limits, wether you are slow or fast. This means if somebody closes up on you let them past. Many novice drivers cannot resist the urge to try and stay ahead, or on being passed try and stay with the guy who has passed them. By doing this he has already exceeded his limits and is unsafe wether he is on sticky or normal tyres.

Problems also start as all drivers have Ego`s, drivers of slower cars want to run in the same group as the more expirenced guys but do not have the tallent to match their ego. Basic rule is to start in the slowest novice group and work you way upwards. Drivers of the quicker groups don`t appreciate a novice in a quick group because he will always be on the ragged edge and be unsafe. The novice will also not enjoy the day as he is always being under pressure.

The thread is worth a read if only to understand and appreciate how seriously the days on track are taken by all participating.

Regards,

Dave