Novice Lapping Session

decoupe

decoupe

(deceased)
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Alberta, Canada
Race City Motor Park is slated to be closed at the end of this season and the local vintage car club was holding races with a novice lapping session between heats. One hour in controlled track time (passing only on the two long straights) for $65 so I decided it was time to go. The other 12 cars included a Lambo, two or three newish Vettes, Cobra kit car, M3 Coupe, various race prepped brits and a beater Datsun 310.

Way too much fun and the car was a champ.

DSC_2153.jpg
 
How Fast?

Don't know. I went in thinking maximum 5500 rpm and no fifth gear. Hah! Ended up using everything available with the rev limiter set at 6300rpm just to be safe.

The front straight was very long so lots of room to find out but I obeyed my self imposed 160km/h (100mph) limit so I don't know how fast the car could go in a straight line - lots left in the car. I was just more interested in learning to drive faster in the corners and didn't want to flub the braking point. Very impressed with the braking.

Interesting that 220km/h in a hopped up STi (used it in a driver school last June) felt slow in comparison to the CS at 150km/h - it ( STi )was so quiet. That car was so capable but not as much fun and definitely less excitement.

On another note, I'll be installing your old motronic intake manifold/injectors/TB etc this winter. This will be the third generation going from L Jet, L Jet with 320i runners to motronic to see if the improvement in performance keeps improving with the more modern design.

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Doug were the bars in the car when the dog shot was taken? I enjoyed doing track days when I had a Corrado that was set up for it. Bought a Go Kart after that to save the car and raced at Mosport for two years before it was stolen.
 
No, the dog died and then bar went in. Miss the dog but like what the bar does for ride and handling. Also really pleased with the ST sway bar set - feels more balanced - 28/23mm - is this what IE and La Jolla are selling?

Mosport must be a gas to drive. Race City is flat which is probably a good thing for me.

DC
 
Thanks Ray. The roll bar ( it's really a half roll cage) was done by Chris McQuay who is a welding instructor at a technical collage in Calgary where I took an Introduction to Welding night course. His business is Unobtainium Welding and his website http://www.higherarcing.org/home

Unbelievable what Chris can weld and fabricate. My car is in the Project section but look through the site and you'll see an incredible range of fantastic technical knowledge and superb workmanship. Some very pricey cars - big hp American and the unusual cast of exotic characters.

Here's a link to the file on the fabrication and installation. I asked for as much protection and stiffening and still allowing the removal of all the interior panels and access for bags and gear. http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/decoupe/Roll Bar Prep and Seam Weld/ Note: There are two pictures lifted from the fantastic CSL project of lafngrvy for reinforcing the subframe at the firewall that I'll copy - apologies if that is too presumptuous.

Highly recommend Chris and his work.

Doug
 
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Wow, I didn't know your car was so hardcore. Interesting bar design. I have never seen anything like that, where it loops around. I took a welding course two years ago, but it was quite unsatisfactory instruction wise. Mostly practising stick welding plate with minimal feedback. Do you remember what TIG your fabricator used? I bought one I am not worthy of and hopefully will get decent skills on it one day (Miller DX 200). I use Mig for my caveman projects so far.

Was the rust issue caused by the sunroof? Is that really common, , hiding under the headliner?

BTW, at Mosport, we only used the small development track. I have been a passenger around Mosport in the Marcus Glarner CSL. Scary moments.
 
Thank You for the link, Doug.

I did some laps at the former Moroso (now Palm Beach International) a couple of years ago, really enjoyed the experience.

Looking forward to going back with the upgraded components in my coupe.

Ray
 
Roll Cage/Sunroof

Nicad said:
Wow, I didn't know your car was so hardcore. Interesting bar design. I have never seen anything like that, where it loops around.

Was the rust issue caused by the sunroof? Is that really common, , hiding under the headliner?
Click to expand...

Winters are long so lots of time to do things with the car - don't know if it will qualify as hardcore but definitely not original. Except the body which is what made me buy the CS - that will be unaltered. Removing the sunroof is actually out of character for me as it is returning the car to it's original build. http://s54.photobucket.com/albums/g120/decoupe/Sunroof Delete/

There is one more cross piece to go in against the rear bulkhead to tie the loops together - it will be removable. The design could have been much simpler and cheaper but I wanted to follow the window openings from the side view and easy access for gear on road trips. The boxed floor connection braced with the transmission tunnel saddle really adds stiffness as does the removable diagonal.

There was some minor surface rust under the track guides in the roof opening and a lot of glue on the sheet metal but this was a unit that was transplanted from a mid 80'2 6 series and a lot of nasty cutting was done to the C pillars. By design the CS sunroof is problematic in that the drains empty into the rocker cavities with tiny drain holes that probably take nonseconds to plug with dirt and vegetable mater if not factory paint. Several restorations include re-routing the drains to dump into the wheelwells - Sven shows this on his website. Whatever CS you buy, if it has a sunroof pay particular attention to those areas.

Good luck hunting,

Doug
 
Sunroof problems--often exaggerated--

"By design the CS sunroof is problematic in that the drains empty into the rocker cavities with tiny drain holes that probably take nonseconds to plug with dirt and vegetable matter if not factory paint." Several restorations include re-routing the drains to dump into the wheelwell. Sven shows this on his website. Whatever CS you buy, if it has a sunroof pay particular attention to those areas.

I would take slight issue with the broad brush condemnation that Doug is pointing out as to certainty of the problems that sunroof equipped E-9's will experience. Agreed--that the drains should have been routed to exit outside--not into--the rockers. However--when REGULARLY AND CORRECTLY MAINTAINED--especially the matter of sunroof seals--the problems so described will not develop! The BLUMAX has a factory equipped manual sunroof and just turned 42 YOA and 419,450 miles. Sunroof complications not there and remains rust free, without mechanical issues--why--it has been properly maintained. Yes--any system when given enough neglect will become problematical as described and the broad brush scenario given above will occur when neglect of the seals enters into the care and upkeep of an E-9 sunroof--the narrow drain holes plug from silt and debris, moisture enters the drains, etc.--keeping seals in good condition will prevent that end result.

Any mechanical system if not correctly serviced when due, maintained according to factory recommendations or just good old common sense--will assure that failure will follow!!
 
blumax said:
Any mechanical system if not correctly serviced when due, maintained according to factory recommendations or just good old common sense--will assure that failure will follow!!
Click to expand...

Fair enough comment but with so many cars having 2, 3 or 4 owners possibly/probably not doing that maintenance, it may be a case of too little too late. Not a reason to skip it but the damage may already be done before you even buy the car. How do you clean out the drain holes anyway?

How many single owner cars are out there I wonder? Given the mileage on Bluemax, you may be the only one.

Doug
 
BLUMAX--now with his

second owner--since February 1972.

Cleaning sunroof drains--try flexible wire--an old speedo cable is good candidate with small cloth securely tied around end--twist as you go--replace cloth and repeat as necessary until clean.
 
Nice cage!

Have fun and give 'em hell!!

You have now crossed over to the Dark Side...;-)
 
blumax said:
second owner--since February 1972.

Cleaning sunroof drains--try flexible wire--an old speedo cable is good candidate with small cloth securely tied around end--twist as you go--replace cloth and repeat as necessary until clean.
Click to expand...

Sorry, I meant the drain holes from the rockers and second owner since 1972 = one owner in my book. Congrats on the Bimmer article.
 
Draining the sunroof and the C-pillar roundels inside the rocker panels is pretty stupid in my book but not nearly as bad as the open slot over the front tires that trap all the dirt, pebbles and water thrown up by the tires. Heck, even the lowly VW bug had sunroof drains that drained outside the car. Then you have the mechanics & even mutt body men that insist on jacking our coupes up by the rocker panels which crushes the drain holes shut and likely cracks whatever paint or protective coating is down there.
Sorry to be the bearer of bad news, I’m just telling it the way I see it. If you do body work in the Northeast for a living you get to see all the rust problems probably 10 years before the rest of the country. Salt is hard on cars, the bridges and even roads but I guess it’s the only way to keep winter traffic moving. ~ John Buchtenkirch

P.S. I am impressed by the roll bar myself --- so nice it could be artwork. I tip my hat to the fabricator.
 
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