[BMW GENIUS]

Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing my very first track day at Palm Beach International Raceway in my M235i and it was a blast to say the least! I didn't originally plan on bringing my 2 series as it is my daily driver, and I have a 1989 Mazda FC RX7 with an LS2 swapped into it that we have dedicated for track days but we couldn't get the cage finished in time. However, when I was offered the opportunity I wasn't going to say no! So my best friend and his father headed down to West Palm Beach from Ocala! We ended up bringing my 235i, his ESS blown E92 M3 and his Spec Miata so we had plenty of toys to play with!

So we arrive in West Palm the night before and got a great nights sleep and we woke up bright and early the next day and got to the track @ 7:30 for the driver's registration and driver's meeting! The track day was with PDG (Performance Driving Group) and the cost for the day was $300 and that included five 25 minute sessions and one 40 minute session AND also an instructor to ride in your car (for the beginner class only) at no additional cost! After our meetings we got to meet our instructors and got ready for our first session!

My instructor was a Romanian named "Mike" and he had his own performance shop in the area and was a common volunteer as an instructor at the local raceway. My first session I learned that I was going too fast in and too slow out of the corners, so Mike invited me to go out on the track during the "Advance" session with him as a passenger in his track prepped Subaru BRZ to learn the ideal racing line and to see how he never brakes and corners at the same time. I learned quite a bit in that session and it gave me a lot more confidence in what was possible in my car before the next session.

I got back into my 2 series for the next session and I improved my technique and my braking dramatically and I was able to find a rhythm for the track. Before long, it was my last session and we were able to go out on the circuit with both the "Intermediate" and the "Advance" classes and that was a blast! I was able to share the track with some sweet cars and I ended up surprising myself with how much better I became and what I became competitive with! Although I have modded my 2er with JB4, Catless DP, aFe intake, and H&R sport springs, I was able to keep up and pass a few C6 Corvettes, a C5 Z06, a 993 Porsche Carrera S, and a Nissan R35 GTR! (obviously due to other driver) I started off with my fastest lap time in my first session being a 1:55.3 and by the end of the day I had shaved off of 16 seconds from my time to give me a 1:39.1! Not only that, but my buddies best lap in his ESS E92 M3 was a 1:38.6 which made me happier all the more!

When the track day was all over, I had the President of the SCCA of Florida come to me and tell me I had a lot of potential with it being my first experience on a track and that made me feel like a million bucks. I had such a great first track day experience that I have without a doubt found my new and expensive hobby! In the end though it all seems worth it!

[MrBimmerM235i]

Don't believe all they said about you... They just want your money. lol

But one thing for sure... is a LOT of fun!

[BMW GENIUS]

Originally Posted by MrBimmerM235i

Don't believe all they said about you... They just want your money. lol

But one thing for sure... is a LOT of fun!

If he is tracking a Mclaren 650s the last thing he needs is my money. Lol

[Merc for hire]

At $300 per customer, every customer is a important part of his business plan.

[MrBimmerM235i]

Exactly! He needs your money to pay the McLaren. lol

[BMW GENIUS]

Originally Posted by Merc for hire

At $300 per customer, every customer is a important part of his business plan.

As I stated he is a volunteer instructor and president of the SCCA of Florida. This was not an SCCA event. This is also another reason why I contemplate leaving these forums. It must be totally impossible for the guy to inspire me to want to better myself right?

[quinntheskimo]

Originally Posted by BMW GENIUS

Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing my very first track day at Palm Beach International Raceway in my M235i and it was a blast to say the least! I didn't originally plan on bringing my 2 series as it is my daily driver, and I have a 1989 Mazda FC RX7 with an LS2 swapped into it that we have dedicated for track days but we couldn't get the cage finished in time. However, when I was offered the opportunity I wasn't going to say no! So my best friend and his father headed down to West Palm Beach from Ocala! We ended up bringing my 235i, his ESS blown E92 M3 and his Spec Miata so we had plenty of toys to play with!

So we arrive in West Palm the night before and got a great nights sleep and we woke up bright and early the next day and got to the track @ 7:30 for the driver's registration and driver's meeting! The track day was with PDG (Performance Driving Group) and the cost for the day was $300 and that included five 25 minute sessions and one 40 minute session AND also an instructor to ride in your car (for the beginner class only) at no additional cost! After our meetings we got to meet our instructors and got ready for our first session!

My instructor was a Romanian named "Mike" and he had his own performance shop in the area and was a common volunteer as an instructor at the local raceway. My first session I learned that I was going too fast in and too slow out of the corners, so Mike invited me to go out on the track during the "Advance" session with him as a passenger in his track prepped Subaru BRZ to learn the ideal racing line and to see how he never brakes and corners at the same time. I learned quite a bit in that session and it gave me a lot more confidence in what was possible in my car before the next session.

I got back into my 2 series for the next session and I improved my technique and my braking dramatically and I was able to find a rhythm for the track. Before long, it was my last session and we were able to go out on the circuit with both the "Intermediate" and the "Advance" classes and that was a blast! I was able to share the track with some sweet cars and I ended up surprising myself with how much better I became and what I became competitive with! Although I have modded my 2er with JB4, Catless DP, aFe intake, and H&R sport springs, I was able to keep up and pass a few C6 Corvettes, a C5 Z06, a 993 Porsche Carrera S, and a Nissan R35 GTR! (obviously due to other driver) I started off with my fastest lap time in my first session being a 1:55.3 and by the end of the day I had shaved off of 16 seconds from my time to give me a 1:39.1! Not only that, but my buddies best lap in his ESS E92 M3 was a 1:38.6 which made me happier all the more!

When the track day was all over, I had the President of the SCCA of Florida come to me and tell me I had a lot of potential with it being my first experience on a track and that made me feel like a million bucks. I had such a great first track day experience that I have without a doubt found my new and expensive hobby! In the end though it all seems worth it!

sounds really fun. thinking about doing this myself as a birthday gift in a few months. worth the $300 you'd say?

[scottyn]

Originally Posted by BMW GENIUS

Yesterday I had the pleasure of experiencing my very first track day at Palm Beach International Raceway in my M235i and it was a blast to say the least! I didn't originally plan on bringing my 2 series as it is my daily driver, and I have a 1989 Mazda FC RX7 with an LS2 swapped into it that we have dedicated for track days but we couldn't get the cage finished in time. However, when I was offered the opportunity I wasn't going to say no! So my best friend and his father headed down to West Palm Beach from Ocala! We ended up bringing my 235i, his ESS blown E92 M3 and his Spec Miata so we had plenty of toys to play with!

So we arrive in West Palm the night before and got a great nights sleep and we woke up bright and early the next day and got to the track @ 7:30 for the driver's registration and driver's meeting! The track day was with PDG (Performance Driving Group) and the cost for the day was $300 and that included five 25 minute sessions and one 40 minute session AND also an instructor to ride in your car (for the beginner class only) at no additional cost! After our meetings we got to meet our instructors and got ready for our first session!

My instructor was a Romanian named "Mike" and he had his own performance shop in the area and was a common volunteer as an instructor at the local raceway. My first session I learned that I was going too fast in and too slow out of the corners, so Mike invited me to go out on the track during the "Advance" session with him as a passenger in his track prepped Subaru BRZ to learn the ideal racing line and to see how he never brakes and corners at the same time. I learned quite a bit in that session and it gave me a lot more confidence in what was possible in my car before the next session.

I got back into my 2 series for the next session and I improved my technique and my braking dramatically and I was able to find a rhythm for the track. Before long, it was my last session and we were able to go out on the circuit with both the "Intermediate" and the "Advance" classes and that was a blast! I was able to share the track with some sweet cars and I ended up surprising myself with how much better I became and what I became competitive with! Although I have modded my 2er with JB4, Catless DP, aFe intake, and H&R sport springs, I was able to keep up and pass a few C6 Corvettes, a C5 Z06, a 993 Porsche Carrera S, and a Nissan R35 GTR! (obviously due to other driver) I started off with my fastest lap time in my first session being a 1:55.3 and by the end of the day I had shaved off of 16 seconds from my time to give me a 1:39.1! Not only that, but my buddies best lap in his ESS E92 M3 was a 1:38.6 which made me happier all the more!

When the track day was all over, I had the President of the SCCA of Florida come to me and tell me I had a lot of potential with it being my first experience on a track and that made me feel like a million bucks. I had such a great first track day experience that I have without a doubt found my new and expensive hobby! In the end though it all seems worth it!

Awesome! I've never been to a track day but have been tempted to try one out since I've gotten my 228. It seems like my options are Palm Beach or Florida International...

Anyone in Florida been to both of these and can compare?

[2+3=5]

Any pics?

[i8ur911]

Glad to hear you had a good experience. HPDE's become very addicting. The 2 series can be a very capable chassis. I'd recommend finding a way to get more negative camber up front as well as a square wheel/tire set up.

Congrats!

[BMW GENIUS]

Originally Posted by quinntheskimo

sounds really fun. thinking about doing this myself as a birthday gift in a few months. worth the $300 you'd say?

It is EASILY worth the $300 cost! I highly recommend Performance Driving group to anyone interested in tracking their car here in Florida!

[quinntheskimo]

Originally Posted by BMW GENIUS

It is EASILY worth the $300 cost! I highly recommend Performance Driving group to anyone interested in tracking their car here in Florida!

Ive only got about 1500 miles on my 2er and no mods - you think I should wait to break her in a bit more or do some mods before taking her out?

[Cyberdemon]

Originally Posted by quinntheskimo

Ive only got about 1500 miles on my 2er and no mods - you think I should wait to break her in a bit more or do some mods before taking her out?

Your engine and brakes are broken in, and there's really no reason to do any substantial mods. When you are first learning having a car with a lower limit is fine. Once you start pushing harder you'll want to gauge how to spend your money.

[quinntheskimo]

Originally Posted by Cyberdemon

Your engine and brakes are broken in, and there's really no reason to do any substantial mods. When you are first learning having a car with a lower limit is fine. Once you start pushing harder you'll want to gauge how to spend your money.

good idea - thank you