[J Tyler]

I had the pleasure of once again being the test driver for HP Autowerks' showcase E90 335i, this time at Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca. HPA had a simple goal for the day: see how fast the car would go! We still had the same tires & setup from the last test at Buttonwillow, so the car was well balanced 'right out of the box' and there was no chassis work to do.

Here's a short clip of two hot laps in the car:

http://vimeo.com/9175125

Enjoy and thanks for viewing! Also thank-you to Harold at HPA for trusting me with driving duties, I had a blast driving this car. Comments & critiques welcome as always

-Jeff

[Hit_Apex]

Great stuff. That car is amazing - and well driven. I would've ruined some laundry getting squirrely in T9 the way you did.

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

Great stuff. That car is amazing - and well driven. I would've ruined some laundry getting squirrely in T9 the way you did.

Haha thanks... it really is the car though. Very easy to drive fast...

[330MX]

Nice, thanks for posting. Serves as a useful learning tool.

I think I have iMovie figured out enough to post my quickest lap.

Edit: Here we go.

[94JZA80]

nice driving Jeff . did a quick search and found out that the RTA 2007 Street RWD record at Laguna is a 1:42.025 laid down by a 350Z...granted the info i found was posted in mid-2008, so i have no idea if that record still stands. regardless, it tells me that the HPA 335i would be more than competent in its class.

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by 330MX

Nice, thanks for posting. Serves as a useful learning tool.

I think I have iMovie figured out enough to post my quickest lap.

Edit: Here we go.

You are really quick...!! Very cool. How many track days have you done again?

Originally Posted by 94JZA80

nice driving Jeff . did a quick search and found out that the RTA 2007 Street RWD record at Laguna is a 1:42.025 laid down by a 350Z...granted the info i found was posted in mid-2008, so i have no idea if that record still stands. regardless, it tells me that the HPA 335i would be more than competent in its class.

Thanks! The 1:41.4 lap was OK, but I think there is still a little bit of time out of me (brake later into T2, float a little more speed through the Corkscrew) and a lot more time available with fresh tires.

Yea that was Mike Bonnani's 700whp 350Z doing the 1:42. However, that was back in '07... The Street RWD cars have been getting faster and faster. Laguna is a bit of a 'horsepower' track though so it does suite the HPA 335i very well. I wish RTA would hold an event there!

If we put Hoosiers on this thing, it'd qualify right in the middle of the Grand Am Cup field

[anthony @ eas]

Nice driving

[vwong]

Originally Posted by J Tyler

I wish RTA would hold an event there!

That makes two of us! However, I don't think they will due to the damn noise limit.

[200Duece]

I gotta think that with the fresh tires you are into the high 39's. Nice work

[orionredwing]

It was very nice meeting you on Mon. As I mentioned already, you're one amazing driver!

Next time, I need to snag ya first for some tips before jbass gets to ya!

The HP Autowerks car is a beast. Wish my car was that good!

[aisthetes]

Very impressive car and driving. Now get some proper race tires on it and smash some records!

[jbass524]

I was lucky enough to get a ride. Fun and it was a lesson watching Jeff drive. Even better was having him help me understand Laguna better. I feel like I can get down to 1:48 with street tires now. Let's see what happens on the 25th cause I sure am a big talker .

Great seeing all of you and 1:56 for the first time there is awesome 330MX.

[J Tyler]

Thanks for the kind words guys, very nice of you all Harold really has these cars figured out so it makes the driving part easy.

jbass -- 1:48 is optimistic but I bet you get there. The lap you did with me in the car would've been a 1:49 if you did not have traffic and a passenger. You're very capable of driving at the limits of the car, so getting that 1:48 is just a matter of putting the car on the right line (easier said than done!). Let me know if you're ever in So Cal for a track day, I'd be happy to help out for the day.


I agree that Harold should put some race tires on the car...... Harold??

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by J Tyler

I agree that Harold should put some race tires on the car...... Harold??

Hoosiers?

[330MX]

Originally Posted by jbass524

I was lucky enough to get a ride. Fun and it was a lesson watching Jeff drive. Even better was having him help me understand Laguna better. I feel like I can get down to 1:48 with street tires now. Let's see what happens on the 25th cause I sure am a big talker .

Great seeing all of you and 1:56 for the first time there is awesome 330MX.

Thanks. I need to get Jeff in my car as well - Harold, do you sub-lease?

I'm on the wait list right now for the 25th and on top I may have a work meeting in SF. Next week the car is going in for some items from Harold so I'll be eager to get back out there.

Anyone planning any Willow events? Speed Ventures will be there on Saturday the 20th of this month. $170.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by 200Duece

I gotta think that with the fresh tires you are into the high 39's. Nice work

A 1:39 at Laguna is very fast for a street car.

[S4to335]

Originally Posted by HP Autowerks

Hoosiers?

Yeah...Hoosier R6

[mkPOTO]

great video, looks alot of fun and the driver does seem comfortable lol

[TheMadDutchman]

Originally Posted by 330MX

Thanks. I need to get Jeff in my car as well - Harold, do you sub-lease?

I'm on the wait list right now for the 25th and on top I may have a work meeting in SF. Next week the car is going in for some items from Harold so I'll be eager to get back out there.

Anyone planning any Willow events? Speed Ventures will be there on Saturday the 20th of this month. $170.

I hope to make Willow

[Hit_Apex]

The Pilot Sport Cups aren't exactly all-seasons - but agree they don't age very well. You might also consider the Hankook Z214 C51 more of a semi-slick then the R6. I haven't driven with them on the track yet so the suggestion may be premature but club racer reviews have been good in comparison to R6, R888, and NT-01.

[HP Autosport]

Originally Posted by 330MX

Thanks. I need to get Jeff in my car as well - Harold, do you sub-lease?

I am sure Jeff will be more than happy to ride with you and give you some pointers the next time we are all out together.

[J Tyler]

Originally Posted by Hit_Apex

The Pilot Sport Cups aren't exactly all-seasons - but agree they don't age very well. You might also consider the Hankook Z214 C51 more of a semi-slick then the R6. I haven't driven with them on the track yet so the suggestion may be premature but club racer reviews have been good in comparison to R6, R888, and NT-01.

^Yeah, PSC's are an 80-treadwear DOT-R. I'm sure when they're new they are stickier than the best street tires, and they definitely age better than the best street tires. At AAA Speedway for RTA in November, the new AD08 street tires felt the same as the PSC's and we ran a faster time on the street tires (the weather was cooler as well which contributed).

From what I have heard, Hoosier A6 is the hot tire now...?