My Buttonwillow journey so far

[itsnotme]

Hi.

I picked up an F80 M3 about two months ago. I told myself I would not modify the car like I usually do until I became a better driver. I have spent the last two months studying, talking to my instructors, my friends and learning.

I took the car out with only track pads (PFC) and high temp fluid. I ran a 2:08. I was ok with that, but not stoked. I ran a 2:11 in my E92 on A052's. That was my first track day ever.

1st track day ever - 2011 E92 M3 on A052's. It was my first track day ever. I sold the car late 2020.



2nd track day - 2018 F80 M3 with track pads (First track day in the F80)







3rd track day - RE71R tires





After 30 laps... two days old, lol.





I'm feeling more confident. I was able to understand where I was forming bad habits and break them. I had traction on for the first few laps... then I tried MDM and made up a LOT of time. At the end of the track day when I was about to leave, my friend Erik in his M2 told me that I could follow his line. He backed off a bit so I could keep up. His record is a 1:54, so I was a bit intimated even though I was running 2:01's all day and even ran a 2:00 FLAT mid-morning.

Everybody went in for lunch and I kept going. I had the entire track to myself. I did 10 laps back to back to back to back. 2:01 over and over and over again. Once Erik let me follow him it was...

1 warm up lap, felt great.
2nd lap was a hot lap, I kept up about 10-15 car lengths behind Erik. Flat out through the S's at the end, hard braking into the last left turn, foot to the FLOOR BOARD and across the the line.... 1:59.

I was screaming and throwing my hand out the air with about 3-4 of my friends around me in their cars giving me a thumbs up. I had a ton of high fives and some SERIOUS love on social media. I've never been competitive with myself until now, and I'm hooked.

Now I'm fighting for 1:55 next time after I do my coilovers and bucket seats, lol.

This is just a thread to document my fun journey.

Thanks.

[jmg]

That's a great time for what sounds like only your 3rd time on the track ever?! I've had 9 track days (plus some autocrosses and school days) and I only managed a 2:14 my first time at Buttonwillow a few weeks ago. Did you happen to take any video of the 1:59 lap? I'd love to see your line.
I am NOT flat through the S's so I know there's some time there.

[warrenw]

Great choice dude and congrats on the sub 2! As much as I want to continue my build I've promised myself the same thing, focusing on driver mods first before anything else goes in the car. Have some lessons coming up this month.

[itsnotme]

Originally Posted by jmg

That's a great time for what sounds like only your 3rd time on the track ever?! I've had 9 track days (plus some autocrosses and school days) and I only managed a 2:14 my first time at Buttonwillow a few weeks ago. Did you happen to take any video of the 1:59 lap? I'd love to see your line.
I am NOT flat through the S's so I know there's some time there.

Haha, thanks man!

Yeah, here's all the videos so far at the track.

[itsnotme]

Originally Posted by warrenw

Great choice dude and congrats on the sub 2! As much as I want to continue my build I've promised myself the same thing, focusing on driver mods first before anything else goes in the car. Have some lessons coming up this month.

Thanks so much! I agree, driver mod is super important. I feel x10 confident now. Have fun!