Genesee Valley Chapter Forum / GVC Chapter Forums / GVC Chapter Events

O'Fest

GMATT — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 09:58:33 GMT

:D I just wanted to take a moment to thank all involved in the O'fest activities.

I had many volunteers for Club Racing ( and some that got Volunteered!) :) without all of you the event would not have been run so smooth.

Again Thanks and I'll buy you a beer @ the next meeting!:w00t:

Gary Matteson

GVC BMW CCA

Club Race Chair

Autocross Runs

margaret — Mon, 29 Sep 2008 14:50:55 GMT

I want to thank Andy and all the GVC guys who arrive before dawn at every event to provide us with a great day at the autocross. Word has gotten out that it's a fun event and so the number of participants has significantly grown. But this has put a crimp in the # of runs we receive. I was wondering if we could discuss ideas on how to get back to 5 or 6 runs per event. Hope it was a good O'Fest and everyone's car performed well.

Margaret
'88 325is
'90 MX5

Pictures from Watkins Glen 8/27-28

ROBIN — Thu, 18 Sep 2008 14:21:23 GMT

I had a great time at the driving school last month. There was an instructor and his girlfriend that had a blue late model BMW in the corner of the parking area (along the grassy area, closest to the track, with a tent) next to where I parked. His girlfriend took several pictures of me driving on the track and even a short film clip. I gave them my email address to forward them to me, but I haven't gotten them yet. Unfortunately I did not get their names. If anyone knows who they are or if they read this message, I'd really like to get the pictures.

I was driving the black 2008 Ford Crown Victoria Police Interceptor.

Thank you -

Robin Alpaugh

ralpaugh@empire.state.ny.us

Mosport School - Thanks

MLG2CA — Wed, 23 Jul 2008 19:23:53 GMT

I would like to thank all the people behind the school that was held at Mosport Monday-Tuesday. Everything ran very smooth and no incidents :D

Even the rain cooperated by arriving at oportune times.

Thanks again guys and see at the Glen in August.

Mario

How many BMW's do you own right now?

m3jim — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:42:22 GMT

I've only got one, a 1998 M3, silver over black, ~90,000 miles

Mosport

GMATT — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 13:03:44 GMT

A BIG thank you to the people that helped me out.

A blow out @ speed:w00t: is no "fun" but my student and I were fine.

So Thanks again for all the help!

Gary

Mosport

GMATT — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 17:32:48 GMT

Greetings............For anyone interested, we are meeting @ thruway exit 47 on Sunday @ 11 am............

Might be easier to get over the border in a group:P

GVC Log Cabin Wednesdays!!!!!!!

GMATT — Thu, 17 Jul 2008 09:09:41 GMT

Hello.............A couple of GVC members go to the Log Cabin every wed. This is a open invite to ANYONE who would like to join us.

Myself, Gary M., Dan M. and Seth B. usually meet up by the Beer tent:w00t: around 6:30 pm.

Hope to see some of you there!

Bringing your BMW ( or other nice car;) is encouraged!

RIT Auto-x 7-22 Post your pics!

SIMON325E — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 09:51:01 GMT

Unfortuately I could only snap them when I wasn't driving so no BMWs. Post em if you got em.

Autocross Rules

Dan96Z3 — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 09:22:22 GMT

New to this site and BMWs in general. I just purchased a 1996 Z3 and was interested in some not-too-competitive autocross events. What are the car requirements for your events other than safety etc.?

Also, not directly related to autocross but does the club host any technical sessions etc. to help the do-it-yourself mechanics? I am currently experiencing dead power windows and wouldn't mind some advise on where to start.

autocross results archive?

root — Sat, 03 May 2008 18:01:06 GMT

is there a way to look at last year's autocross results? since we keep running BIMP in the same config year on year, i would like to keep track of the times. Alas i forgot to backup the results before the end of the year, can we resurrect them, even if just for a little while?

What can the Club do for you?

m3jim — Wed, 06 Feb 2008 19:36:48 GMT

How can the GVC chapter help it's members? What would you like us to try? How can we get more local members involved? Should we have meetings every other month at some local 'watering hole' ?

Ultimate Driving School at Watkins Glen May 10, Thank You

SHR — Mon, 12 May 2008 05:43:16 GMT

I just completed my first track day at the glen and want to publicly say thank you to the GVC. This was one of the most organized and professionally run events I have attended in or out of motor sports. Thank you also to all of the members, instructors, Jeff for the Rookie Chronicles, and volunteers such as Ekstens for offering thier advice, tips, help with the car, and encouragement. Scott

What you might want to know as a first time driver - The Rookie Chronicles

E46323i — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 09:27:44 GMT

What you might want to know as a first time driver - a beginner's guide to performance driving schools
[b]The Rookie Chronicles[/b]

[b]Description:[/b]
A new GVC BMW CCA member pictorially documents the advice he received in a year of Performance Driving Schools at Watkins Glen, Mosport, and Batavia International Motorsports Park. A 2 part downloadable pdf "book."

This resource was posted last year, and many new drivers found it helpful, so, I'll re-post it. There is a novice driver orientation in the basement of the Seneca Lodge at around 8:00, Friday May 9th for the first school - but in advance of that... skim the document if you're new to the track. The really important parts (as identified by the chief driving instructor) are marked with a blue [b](!)[/b] icon throughout the document.

[b]Reviews from readers:[/b]
[i]• "You can suck less the first time [you go to the track] if you are prepared and do your homework. Axis [axis of oversteer blogspot] recommends you read Jeff's Rookie Chronicles. Jeff did a great job summarizing the track day/driving school experience."
• "I think it's way better than any other beginners guide I have ever seen. The layout is fantastic... "
• "A great starting point and loads of info in an easily digestible form."
• "Great stuff!!! Very well done!!"
• "An excellent guide to the whole Driving School-Track Day thing."
• "Well worth the read - even if you've been on track"
• "Holy sh%t, where was this when I started?"[/i]

[b]Part 1[/b]
PDF, 3MB, 45 pages
[b]Part 2[/b]
PDF, 4MB, 63 pages
[b]Download Page:[/b]
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf.html
(there's two links on the left side of the page marked Volume 1)
[b]Direct Downloads:[/b]
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf/Rookie_Chronicles_Part1r.pdf
http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/pdf/Rookie_Chronicles_Part2r.pdf

[b]Screen Grabs of a few pages:[/b]

[img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles-1.png[/img] [img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles2-1.png[/img]
[img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/therookiechronicles3.png[/img] [img]http://www.partnersandnapier.com/gabel/Rookie Chronicles_Part 1r-21.bmp[/img]

[b]The full contents of what's covered - if you want to read:

Part1 / Getting Started[/b]
Forward
Hitching a Ride / Driving with an Instructors
Wake Up Call (showing up on time and why it matters)
What the Ultimate Driving School is Not
Cleaned Out
Tech Inspection
Tech Inspection List (what's checked at tech)
Wristbands, Parking, and Helmet Tech
[b]Tires[/b]
Under pressure, Tire Temperature, and Speed Ratings of Tires (by letter, ie: W)
Phil Abrami’s Tire Advice 1
Phil Abrami’s Tire Advice 2, Runin’ in the Rain (and tire pressure in the rain)
[b]Track Basics[/b]
Cones and Corners, Vertical Vision, and Placement
Vertical Vision Examples (Watkins Glen samples)
Anatomy of a Corner (turn in, apex, track out)
Corner Cones, turns 4, 10, 5a, and 1 (examples shown)
Classroom Sessions, Over and Under-Steer Explained
Homework Assignments (driving in your head, and why it works)
On Stage - false gridding your car at the Glen
Passing and point bys (hand signals explained)
Passing Zones at Watkins Glen
Pit-in signal, and Communications with Instructors
How to Sit Down (why it's different vs.daily driving)
Your Feet
The Car Goes Where You Look
Your Eyes
Sight picture
Mirrors
Weight Transfer (what you'll do all day with your car)
Running in the rain, an editorial
Rain, the line, and concrete locations (why concrete is different)
Concrete in turn 1 (old content since turn 1 is no longer concrete as of this posting, but the concept is still valid in other corners)
Running in the rain - the rain line in the Toe (why it's different)
[b]Brakes[/b]
Brakes - an introduction
Hawk HP plus - a review, and HT10s, a review (typical performance brake tradeoffs regardless of brand - I now run Cobalt Friction)
Brake Bedding (how to, and why)
Brake Fluid Primer (wet and dry boiling points)
DOT Brake Fluid Specs, Cool-Down Lap
[b]Part 2 /The Tracks[/b]
Watkins Glen Track Facts, and Elevations
Watkins Glen Corner Names (we usually don't use corner numbers)
Watkins Glen Corners 3 and 6 (shown)
Watkins Glen Corners 5b and 5c (shown)
Watkins Glen Corners 7 and 9 (shown)
Track Notes, Corners 1-4 (notes from a novice POV only, a perspective from day 1 )
Track Notes, Corners 5-6
Track Notes, Corners 7-8
Track Notes, Corners 9-11
[b]Mosport [/b]
Mosport Corneers 8 through 1 (pictures)
Mosport Corneers 10 through 3 (pictures)
Mosport Corners - in car view, corner by corner
Track Notes, Corners 1-2 (notes from a novice POV, with help from the Canadian Chapter)
Track Notes, Corners 3-4
Track Notes, Corners 5a-7
Track Notes, Corners 8-10
[b]The 3 series[/b]
The 3 series (pictures - what grill is what car)
“E” Designations - a list
[b]Modifications[/b]
Modifications, CAI and Shark Injection
My 323i - Specifications (pre E46M3 - a momentum ride specifications list - I liked my car)
My 323i - Description
[b]Safety[/b]
Safety Introduction
Safety Harnesses, Schroth Rallye 4 Quick Fit
Safety HANS (not addressed, Schroth Rallye 4 Quick Fit Pro, the harnesses required for the HANS)
Red Mist
Red Mist in Action (example)
Track Damage (you may pay)
Helmets, Dot and Snell Ratings, Fit
Helmet Sizing
Painting your helmet (you'll want to skip this, but there's no information out there on how to do it, so I included it... with racerboy apologies)
A Poem for Troubled Times - "If you start to spin, put both feet in" - what to do and why
Flags, Introduction
Flags and their Meanings (this is important)
Things you will need
What to bring
What to check when
Seeing the Line, Tips
[b]PTG[/b]
Prototype Technology Group (several pages of off subject pictures of PTG at the Glen)
[b]Autocross[/b]
Autocross introduction (background only)
Autocross-Track Pics, what the track at BIMP looks like
[b]Credits and Thanks[/b]

Hope this helps the newbies...
See you in May
Cheers,
E46323i+E46M3

Housing for Driving School at The Glen

watkinsglenhousing — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 23:32:27 GMT

Please let me know if any of you will need housing while at any of the Watkins Glen Events.

We have two great homes close by.

GVC Spring Break at the Distillery email out of control

SAB0276 — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 20:19:15 GMT

For some reason. I've recieved about 100 copies so far (more still coming in) of Spring Break at the Distillery email. Can someone contact the person who sent that out and stop it.

-Scott

Who's gonna be at the Distillery event?

zygotesoup — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 20:34:52 GMT

Just thought I would take a second to introduce myself. My name is Nate and I purchased a 1993 325i last year. I spoke with Jim Dresser via email about attending the Distillery get together and was wondering who else would be there with what cars. Heres a pic of the "winter beater" ;) Hope to see you guys there!

[IMG]http://i139.photobucket.com/albums/q318/zygotesoup/IMG_0369.jpg[/IMG]