Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.
Soggy Donington
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
Finally got a trackday in this year
After last years' engine woes, COVID lockdowns etc, and then our firstborn son arriving in January 2021, the Zed has not had much use this year, but some mates & I finally managed to all book onto an evening slot at Donington on Weds 7th July.
Predictably of course the weather looked perfect for most of the day, but come sighting laps for the evening session at 5pm the heavens opened!
Full disclosure, I was being a bit of a fanny - my first wet trackday, and first time at Donny in the Zed, I left the TC well alone (fully on!), and just focused on getting a feel for the car. It was quite surprising how much grip was out there in places, but it was quite changeable all evening with rain stopping for periods then dumping down again.
The car performed faultlessly all evening and held it's own well, keeping with my mates E92 Comp pack (longer wheelbase, wider track and softer suspension so FAR more forgiving in the wet). All in all a great evening had in spite of the weather - almost feel like I learned more about the car than had it been dry. Can't wait to do the next one now!
Anyway - enough waffling, a few pics
After last years' engine woes, COVID lockdowns etc, and then our firstborn son arriving in January 2021, the Zed has not had much use this year, but some mates & I finally managed to all book onto an evening slot at Donington on Weds 7th July.
Predictably of course the weather looked perfect for most of the day, but come sighting laps for the evening session at 5pm the heavens opened!
Full disclosure, I was being a bit of a fanny - my first wet trackday, and first time at Donny in the Zed, I left the TC well alone (fully on!), and just focused on getting a feel for the car. It was quite surprising how much grip was out there in places, but it was quite changeable all evening with rain stopping for periods then dumping down again.
The car performed faultlessly all evening and held it's own well, keeping with my mates E92 Comp pack (longer wheelbase, wider track and softer suspension so FAR more forgiving in the wet). All in all a great evening had in spite of the weather - almost feel like I learned more about the car than had it been dry. Can't wait to do the next one now!
Anyway - enough waffling, a few pics
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
-
Onlinebigwinn
- Lifer
- Posts: 4671
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:13 pm
- Location: Lincoln UK
- Contact:
Soggy Donington
Looks ace- well impressed as I think I’d not even be confident enough to get my Z on a track!!!
Photos look good
Photos look good
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me
EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
Cheers Honestly, my advice would be to have a go, but be warned it gets quite addictive (which is where it starts to get really expensive)
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
- AndyBeech
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:25 pm
- Location: Reading / Bath
Soggy Donington
Looking good! Also had first wet day at Bedford a few weeks back, traction control was also left on though I did make the mistake of leaving the Cup 2 tyres on rather than PS4's hoping for dry weather! Certainly a handful that's for sure but good fun and learnt a fair bit like you. Going to do a Skid Pan day down at Thruxton in a few weeks to learn some proper understeer/ oversteer control in relative safety
Z4MR - Gruppe M, Bilstein PSS10, CSL's + 18" CSL reps with semi's, RTAB Limiters, Powerflex’d, PF Camber Arms, K-Sport BBK / RSL-29, GC Camber Plates, Strut Brace, Exhaust valves, custom brake cooling, complete underside refresh!
-
Onlinebigwinn
- Lifer
- Posts: 4671
- Joined: Wed Jul 08, 2020 7:13 pm
- Location: Lincoln UK
- Contact:
Soggy Donington
I think I like the idea of Bedford- I’ve driven it before with the track cars (excellent day) and I prefer the lack of Armco to wrap my car aroundAndyBeech wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 12:22 pm Looking good! Also had first wet day at Bedford a few weeks back, traction control was also left on though I did make the mistake of leaving the Cup 2 tyres on rather than PS4's hoping for dry weather! Certainly a handful that's for sure but good fun and learnt a fair bit like you. Going to do a Skid Pan day down at Thruxton in a few weeks to learn some proper understeer/ oversteer control in relative safety
If the forum helped you, why not help the forum back. Thats the Z4 way!
EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me
EWS Delete PM me
Coding- airbags etc PM me
- inkey$
- Lifer
- Posts: 10479
- Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
- Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
- Contact:
Soggy Donington
Excellent work!
How did the brakes hold up? Prob okay due to the wet?
How did the brakes hold up? Prob okay due to the wet?
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0
- AndyBeech
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:25 pm
- Location: Reading / Bath
Soggy Donington
Absolutely, it's as safe as they get for tracks but nice and long with a good spread of high / slow speed corners and a nice long straight to stretch the legs. Ideal for learning about the car and limits before going in on tighter more traditional tracks. Only complaint is the paddock area is quite small and usually very busy!bigwinn wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 12:54 pmI think I like the idea of Bedford- I’ve driven it before with the track cars (excellent day) and I prefer the lack of Armco to wrap my car aroundAndyBeech wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 12:22 pm Looking good! Also had first wet day at Bedford a few weeks back, traction control was also left on though I did make the mistake of leaving the Cup 2 tyres on rather than PS4's hoping for dry weather! Certainly a handful that's for sure but good fun and learnt a fair bit like you. Going to do a Skid Pan day down at Thruxton in a few weeks to learn some proper understeer/ oversteer control in relative safety
Z4MR - Gruppe M, Bilstein PSS10, CSL's + 18" CSL reps with semi's, RTAB Limiters, Powerflex’d, PF Camber Arms, K-Sport BBK / RSL-29, GC Camber Plates, Strut Brace, Exhaust valves, custom brake cooling, complete underside refresh!
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
Cheers
Oh the brakes are absolutely fine - AP Racing 6-pots on the front with 356mm semi-floating discs & DS2500 pads, and AP Racing 4-pot Rears with OE discs & Pagid RS42s. I wasn't troubling the limits of the brakes this time out
Not wildly impressed with the DS2500s on track to be honest (although that shouldn't be surprising as they aren't really a track pad) - I was starting to get a long pedal out at Goodwood last year. They were fine this time out but I'd say that's more as it was wet so speeds were generally lower!
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
- AndyBeech
- Senior Member
- Posts: 1632
- Joined: Mon Feb 18, 2013 2:25 pm
- Location: Reading / Bath
Soggy Donington
How you finding that 4.1 drive by the way Ed? Just seen you’ve got that in from your sig. Tempted myself but not sure could live with it on the roads, thinking 3.91 might be a good compromise…
Z4MR - Gruppe M, Bilstein PSS10, CSL's + 18" CSL reps with semi's, RTAB Limiters, Powerflex’d, PF Camber Arms, K-Sport BBK / RSL-29, GC Camber Plates, Strut Brace, Exhaust valves, custom brake cooling, complete underside refresh!
-
- Member
- Posts: 946
- Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:29 am
Soggy Donington
Looks amazing on track.
We were at Donnington in the Clio 3 weeks ago. Had a good mixture of sun and rain.
Not a big fan of how you get on track there- right on the racing line after a long straight!
We were at Donnington in the Clio 3 weeks ago. Had a good mixture of sun and rain.
Not a big fan of how you get on track there- right on the racing line after a long straight!
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
I'm loving it, but then I can't really comment much on daily use as mine is really only for fun and trackdays! I've driven it a fair bit of mileage mind (the drive to and from Donington alone was a 300+miles round trip of mainly motorway miles round the M25 and down the M1!) and have to say it's not terribly intrusive to live with. You'll tend to shift more quickly when pottering about (obviously) because the lower gears do feel shorter, and 70mph in 6th is about 3100rpm, so it certainly makes a difference to cruising, but honestly, imo you get used to it so quickly it's not even a thing. Personally fwiw I'd go full hog 4.1, not 3.91 - any shortening of the drive is going to be noticeable, might as well get the 4.1 for the added performance!
Cheers
Yeah I agree - it's quite difficult to see what's tanning it down the straight when you're trying to join and as you say you're beholden to people leaving you room to join the track bang on the racing line! Cracking circuit though isn't it - craners in the dry is such a rollercoaster!
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
-
- Member
- Posts: 946
- Joined: Wed Sep 25, 2019 8:29 am
Soggy Donington
Real good fun. Craners was a delight, the boys that I went with could nail the mid section without lifting off. Myself, I had no where near the talent and would lift for the second part.Ed Doe wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 4:00 pm Yeah I agree - it's quite difficult to see what's tanning it down the straight when you're trying to join and as you say you're beholden to people leaving you room to join the track bang on the racing line! Cracking circuit though isn't it - craners in the dry is such a rollercoaster!
I was going to take the C63 on the track but it tipped down at the end of the day and I just bottled it. I was thinking that the 86si would have been a good car for circuit but an 86M would have been perfect. The clio just felt a bit slow as it was a quick course.
- Attachments
-
- clio.jpeg (131.38 KiB) Viewed 869 times
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
I had donny booked last year for the M but the top end leg go at Goodwood the month before - I popped along with some mates who let me drive their v8 m3 and M4 - in the dry - both were absolutely sublime - the m4 was something else, but yeh I didn't have the stones to keep my toe in all the way through craners either! Probably as much because they weren't my cars and I already had a big bill pending with my own but stillmgrlane wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 4:40 pmReal good fun. Craners was a delight, the boys that I went with could nail the mid section without lifting off. Myself, I had no where near the talent and would lift for the second part.Ed Doe wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 4:00 pm Yeah I agree - it's quite difficult to see what's tanning it down the straight when you're trying to join and as you say you're beholden to people leaving you room to join the track bang on the racing line! Cracking circuit though isn't it - craners in the dry is such a rollercoaster!
I was going to take the C63 on the track but it tipped down at the end of the day and I just bottled it. I was thinking that the 86si would have been a good car for circuit but an 86M would have been perfect. The clio just felt a bit slow as it was a quick course.
There was an e86 3.0si there during the day on weds, saw him putting in a few laps when I was waiting for the evening session (and before Donington turned into a river!) - he looked like he was having fun! Is donny local to you? If so I'll give you a shout next time I'm booked up there - welcome to pop by for a few passenger runs
There were a few clios there and a Meglio too, they always seem to go very well on most tracks! Coming from a Peugeot 306gti6 back in the day, I've always had a real soft spot for a hot hatch of that era - still fancy a cliosport trophy but they're so expensive now!
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
- TheDan
- Member
- Posts: 627
- Joined: Wed Aug 19, 2020 1:58 pm
- Location: Warwick, UK
Soggy Donington
Looks like you had a great time despite the weather!!
Maybe see you around Donny in the future?
I have got out of shape at craners in the Z4 a few times. I found that if I carried too much speed over the crest with a little bit of turn in and small amount of lift off, the rear end kept trying to lead! Definite squeaky bum moment!
Maybe see you around Donny in the future?
-
OnlineEd Doe
- Senior Member
- Posts: 2222
- Joined: Tue Apr 22, 2014 6:06 pm
- Location: Ashbourne or Frimley
Soggy Donington
Yep I had a similar squeeky bum moment too - the bump on the right hand side which is in effect the turn in point for the left at the bottom - if I didn't go into it with a bit of power on it wanted to get all crossed up on me, did it a couple of times until I just put a bit more throttle inTheDan wrote: ↑Fri Jul 09, 2021 5:11 pm Looks like you had a great time despite the weather!!
I have got out of shape at craners in the Z4 a few times. I found that if I carried too much speed over the crest with a little bit of turn in and small amount of lift off, the rear end kept trying to lead! Definite squeaky bum moment!
batch_PR_210607_MSVT_DP_EVE_1030_edit.jpg
Maybe see you around Donny in the future?
I'll make sure to let you know next time I'm up there - it's a bit of a trek for me but I've got a few mates up that way so we're taking it in turns as to who goes to the local and who travels! Looking at Bedford in August right now, and if weather holds for September maybe another Donny one!
Carbon Black '07 M Coupe: Intrax 1k2 Coilovers, AP-Racing, Raybestos ST45s, Tillets, Schroth, Vibratechnic, Apex EC7, Strongstrut, Eventuri, H&S, RTD, 4.1FD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD
Silver Grey '06 3.0si Coupe - SOLD