Tracking my wagon.... ?

[iwrock]

Been thinking more and more about taking the wagon out to one of the next outings at the track (thunderhill or similar), and running it....





Opinions?

[Ara T.]

Well im sure you know how hard it is on a car to do a track day. If you're prepared to do a bunch of stuff before and after.. go right ahead. Don't you have a more able vehicle though?

[t walgamuth]

If your vehicle is sound it shouldn't hurt it. If there are any weak points they might show up. The wagons handle as well as the sedans in my experience.

[ramonajim]

Did a day at Willow Springs with my CLK55 back in 2002. Was a kid there with a W124 wagon that he'd dropped the engine out of an E55 into. Lowered, stiffer springs, good tires. Sweet, sweet ride. He wasn't much of a driver, so I don't think he came close to finding his car's limits - but he had one hell of a good time.

Think about which track you want to run..... Thunderhill is an absolute hoot in a Miata or other nimble car. More power doesn't buy you much, poor handling is a challenge.

Willow Springs has the road course - 2.5 miles that is very well suited for a torque monster like the CLK55 (hit turns 8 & 9 just right a couple times and actually hit the limiter at 157MPH on the straight a couple times), but would be not so much fun in a Miata.

Streets of Willow - all handling, all day. Me driving my stock-engined Miata embarrassed more than a few far more powerful (and expensive) cars on the Streets (a testament to the match of car to course far more than my driving skills).

Go to a "performance driving school" and get grouped with cars/drivers that make sense for you/yours. I had a WONDERFUL day every time I attended one of Bonni Weatherwax's events (T.E.A.M. Racing web site here). Mostly Miata's, but enough others mixed in to keep it interesting.

[SwampYankee]

Originally Posted by iwrock

Been thinking more and more about taking the wagon out to one of the next outings at the track (thunderhill or similar), and running it....





Opinions?

Yes.

[DieselPaul]

Do it, have fun and take a lot of pics.

[SirNik84]

let me know, we'll ether get Babe or have Donnie and his dodge standing by to haul your car home

You may want to get a place to work on your car before you commit to the track day... my garage is full of OM617... so bribe your dad, I'm sure he would like the idea of going to the track, just make sure hes cool with us taking over your driveway again.

Just to keep your bases covered

[Jim B.]

DRIFT that sum na *****.

[diametricalbenz]

DO IT

..and post pictures

[Bondavi]

the m103 drift does not. Ask me how I know.

Altho you DO have a car capable of drifting in your stable, iwrock.

[RobertFini]

Do it!

I used to autocross my 1984 300TDt with the Mercedes-Benz Club's Greater Washington Section, so I had a separate set of wheels with nice sticky racing tires on them. That car was stuck to the pavement so well that it would routinely lift the inside front wheel on certain maneuvers.

I had this car on Summit Point's full circuit twice and did nothing special to prepare except a thorough inspection and renewing of fluids (especially brakes). After about 20 minutes of running hard on the track, the pedal got a bit mushy but it always stopped. I'd get up to about 95 MPH before standing the car on its nose for the hairpin at the end of the front straight. With so little power and so much handling, I became expert at maintaining momentum, using trail braking and two-footed driving.

Do it. Do it! DO IT!!!
(And take pictures.)

[Johnhef]

2nd what Bob said. DO IT!

[tonkovich]

when you taking the carat out there, mr hef

(sorry, off thread. and yes, i am obsessed with that car. )

[iwrock]

So....


Driving school is/was fun!

[Johnhef]

pics or ban.