Autocross nut and n00b on here!

[dotslashapex]

Hi everyone,

First of thanks Mark for getting me setup. I've been lurking on here for a very long time, and after about a year of ownership, I figured I'd ask to be added to the community...seems like a fun place to hang out.

Both my wife and I have been autocrossing for about 4 years and we recently took home 2nd and 3rd place in DSP in our e36 in San Diego Region for 2012. Considering that we're not even on coilover suspension, but a bav auto spring package, I'm fairly happy with that. We both are fortunate to be sponsored largely in part by Midnight Oil Motorsports, a local shop specializing in BMW repair and race car prep for a variety of disciplines including Spec E30. But you guys don't want to here about that...

The ZHP coupe that I own is currently bone stock, but we are contemplating running it in either RTR-DS or STX next year. I saw a build thread on here that really got me interested in possibly running the car in the 2013 Season. I'm hoping to learn and grow in the ZHP's knowledge base and get to meet some cool folks.

Thanks again for letting me join :) :applause2

[BCS_ZHP]

Welcome to the Family.

[kayger12]

Welcome to the Family.

Would love to see pics of both cars.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

[dotslashapex]

Derp...I forgot to show pictures!

ZHP Photos :)

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/549323_10150756233365983_1077865945_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/521914_10150756233900983_1494032913_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-prn1/528267_10150756234030983_610481696_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/555904_10150756234280983_1127111975_n.jpg
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/561836_10150756234615983_45095719_n.jpg

You Get the Idea...

Here's a few of my e36 in action...

First off...wifey taking a friend of ours for a ride :)

https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/546610_10151264084765983_1366510344_n.jpg

Damn Cones!!
https://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ash3/562170_10150877970830983_86463525_n.jpg

So yeah! Hi guys lol

[dotslashapex]

Welcome to the Family.

Would love to see pics of both cars.

Sent from my kick-A Galaxy S3

Thank you! I have gone ahead and added some in a reply. Hopefully they show up for ya. BTW...totally drooling over your car in the sig lol

[static667]

Welcome the the mafia, man. We don't discriminate against any model of BMW. E30s are welcome, too.

[dotslashapex]

Thanks man :) 16x7 Kosei's! I had those on the e36 before I switched to the DSI's since I wanted to run a 245/40/17 setup for the e36 :)

[M0nk3y]

Did you run at a national event? Where at?

Welcome! RTR is kinda a unknown right now. It will be here for 2013, but no one know what it will be after that. A prep'ed E46 ZHP in STX should do very well.

Welcome!

[dotslashapex]

Did you run at a national event? Where at?

Welcome! RTR is kinda a unknown right now. It will be here for 2013, but no one know what it will be after that. A prep'ed E46 ZHP in STX should do very well.

Welcome!

Thank you! I edited the initial bit in the post. I wanted meant to say that we placed regionally in 2nd and 3rd place in the Region (San Diego). I do plan on running the cars in the San Diego National Tour for 2013 in April.

Our classes in SD include the SK1/SK2 classes which are essentially street tire classes with stock indexes. From my understanding RT classes are supposed to be considered nationally for all members wanting to run street tires 140TW or above seeing that SCCA stock classes allow for R-comps. We'll see what happens. Chances are the ZHP will get prepped for STX anyway, so....

[JupiterBMW]

Welcome to the family new guy (I would use your name, but didn't see you state it!)... You'll find amazingly good people here and a LOT of BMW knowledge amongst them. Looking forward to seeing you build your ZHP for auto-x. :thumbsup

[danewilson77]

Welcome.

[johnrando]

A SoCal welcome. Nice cars and we do accept non zhps fo sho.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

[M0nk3y]

Thank you! I edited the initial bit in the post. I wanted meant to say that we placed regionally in 2nd and 3rd place in the Region (San Diego). I do plan on running the cars in the San Diego National Tour for 2013 in April.

Our classes in SD include the SK1/SK2 classes which are essentially street tire classes with stock indexes. From my understanding RT classes are supposed to be considered nationally for all members wanting to run street tires 140TW or above seeing that SCCA stock classes allow for R-comps. We'll see what happens. Chances are the ZHP will get prepped for STX anyway, so....

SCCA will have the RT classes for 2013, but it is unknown what will happen past that (depends on level of attendance at national events ultimately)

As you know, be ready to throw money at the car :)

[Marcus-SanDiego]

Welcome.


Sent from my ZHPMafia.com iPhone

[RedTRex]

Welcome! I am pretty new here as well. I have run a 135i in STU for the last 4.5 years but just sold it and picked up a ZHP car. I too am trying to decide which class to run next year - RTR or STX ..... STX will require a bunch of money to be most competitive. I am low on funds but can probably be competative in STX locally anyway.
--- For a really good read check out Murphy1379 STX build thread on e46fanatics - he has some info on here as well.... Think I read that he just picked up a spot on the SEB too.
Rick

[Hermes]

Finally... I was wondering when you would make it on here. I have to say I always love the E36 cone killer pics you occasionally post on the CCA fb page. I haven't been down to autoX in a while but I'll be sure to say hi next time I see you. I'll be in one of the cars you see in my sig

[M0nk3y]

Cone Killer picture are always funny.

Luckily, no one has caught me doing it except for this one when I spun out:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/379128_4131780381052_136151574_n.jpg

[dotslashapex]

Welcome to the family new guy (I would use your name, but didn't see you state it!)... You'll find amazingly good people here and a LOT of BMW knowledge amongst them. Looking forward to seeing you build your ZHP for auto-x. :thumbsup

Thank you!! Yeah it's really cool to see the lack of bs normally seen on a lot of forums. Glad to be here. I'll be sure to try and keep the build thread updated.

[dotslashapex]

Welcome.

Thank you!!! :ineedabeer

[dotslashapex]

A SoCal welcome. Nice cars and we do accept non zhps fo sho.

Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2

Thanks! really glad to be here. Lovely 'vert btw :)

[dotslashapex]

SCCA will have the RT classes for 2013, but it is unknown what will happen past that (depends on level of attendance at national events ultimately)

As you know, be ready to throw money at the car :)

Good point.....2012 was expensive...only gonna get worse for 2013 running both cars hahah :)

[dotslashapex]

Welcome.


Sent from my ZHPMafia.com iPhone

Why thank you!! :)

[dotslashapex]

Finally... I was wondering when you would make it on here. I have to say I always love the E36 cone killer pics you occasionally post on the CCA fb page. I haven't been down to autoX in a while but I'll be sure to say hi next time I see you. I'll be in one of the cars you see in my sig

Hahaha thank you :) Yeah for sure! Always exciting to meet a fellow gear head. All your cars look like a lot of fun :)

[dotslashapex]

Cone Killer picture are always funny.

Luckily, no one has caught me doing it except for this one when I spun out:

http://sphotos-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-snc7/379128_4131780381052_136151574_n.jpg

You look like you're just practicing your drift skills! +200 style points!

[Avetiso]

Welcome from the better half of California. (North) =P

[dotslashapex]

Lol agree to disagree but thanks! I <3 San Diego haha

[Ryans323i]

Welcome to the Mafia. Great looking cars. It's awesome to hear couples racing together. I wish I could let my other half race with me, but I don't trust him with my Lucy.

[BimmerWill]

Welcome to the family.

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

[Mike V]

Welcome! Did your E36 have LSD? If it did, you might find that the ZHP can be a bit frustrating on course. The first BMW I drove was a 95 325is at a Utah region autocross event. That was in 2000 and ever since then, I've had a BMW (or 5) of my own. I had been big into VWs before that, and I was amazed at how well the BMW handled. I currently have an E36 M3 sedan, but I've been autocrossing a buddy's 99 M Coupe. Fun stuff!

[dotslashapex]

Welcome! Did your E36 have LSD? If it did, you might find that the ZHP can be a bit frustrating on course. The first BMW I drove was a 95 325is at a Utah region autocross event. That was in 2000 and ever since then, I've had a BMW (or 5) of my own. I had been big into VWs before that, and I was amazed at how well the BMW handled. I currently have an E36 M3 sedan, but I've been autocrossing a buddy's 99 M Coupe. Fun stuff!

The e36 actually did come with a factory LSD! It was one of the reasons I bought it! The zhp is definitely frustrating in that regard but my wife actually is better at adapting behind the wheel than I am. She likes a more tail happy car which is why we are thinking of having her in the e46 for 2013. I like a gripper setup and running on r-comps. The m3 sedans are something else. Love them, just couldn't afford one lol.

[derbo]

welcome! I like to do some auto-x someday. It would be nice to not have to drive hours to the track to have some fun.

[M0nk3y]

welcome! I like to do some auto-x someday. It would be nice to not have to drive hours to the track to have some fun.

You should, completely different animal.

After I did a HPDE, I saw the greatness in track days, however you can't really compare the two (like many people end up doing)

Especially when it's wet, you'll learn a lot about correction needed. It's natural to me know, I can sense when I lose tire grip up front and rear, before it happens.


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[LivesNearCostco]

One difference for me in 2012 is with AutoX I'm not afraid to let the back end step out and explore the traction limits. I enjoy the occasional corner drift and would like to become better at initiating a drift, even if it's slower that way. I don't worry about hitting anything or having another car hit me if I spin. With HPDE I'm always afraid of going off sideways at high speed and rolling the car, I'm afraid to find the limits of traction on corner entry and mid-corner. (Corner exit is okay as I feel I can throttle steer during track-out without too much risk.) This is limiting my progress in HPDE.

[Hermes]

The e36 actually did come with a factory LSD! It was one of the reasons I bought it! The zhp is definitely frustrating in that regard but my wife actually is better at adapting behind the wheel than I am. She likes a more tail happy car which is why we are thinking of having her in the e46 for 2013. I like a gripper setup and running on r-comps. The m3 sedans are something else. Love them, just couldn't afford one lol.

FYI, John has a full E46 M3 rear end minus R half shaft at Autobahn right now. IIRC he wants around $1500 for it

[derbo]

FYI, John has a full E46 M3 rear end minus R half shaft at Autobahn right now. IIRC he wants around $1500 for it

OMG.. i want.. lol hmmm

[Mike V]

The e36 actually did come with a factory LSD! It was one of the reasons I bought it! The zhp is definitely frustrating in that regard but my wife actually is better at adapting behind the wheel than I am. She likes a more tail happy car which is why we are thinking of having her in the e46 for 2013. I like a gripper setup and running on r-comps. The m3 sedans are something else. Love them, just couldn't afford one lol.

Nice, the last of the non-M cars with an LSD.

I'm not sure about the tail happy comment though. That's actually one of my frustrations with non-lsd. The rear end of the zhp wasn't as 'steerable' with the gas pedal as the m3 is. The zhp would just one-wheel-peel and understeer. :)

I really like the m3 sedan too. Hopefully it holds up another couple years until I decide to get into an e90 m3. They are still commanding more money than I'm willing to spend on a car.

[dotslashapex]

OMG.. i want.. lol hmmm

^ this lol. oh to have 1500..oh wait. If I had 1500 i'd buy suspension for the e36 first lol.

[dotslashapex]

Nice, the last of the non-M cars with an LSD.

I'm not sure about the tail happy comment though. That's actually one of my frustrations with non-lsd. The rear end of the zhp wasn't as 'steerable' with the gas pedal as the m3 is. The zhp would just one-wheel-peel and understeer. :)

I really like the m3 sedan too. Hopefully it holds up another couple years until I decide to get into an e90 m3. They are still commanding more money than I'm willing to spend on a car.

Well the ZHP when we bought it had 300TW Dunlop Direzza's on there. To get the ZHP to actually clear the corner, I found it was easier to do a slight initiation and clear the corner, with the back end out. But yes, unless you got it perfect every time, you'd just have buckets of understeer and punching of the steering wheel. Crappier tires make the car more fun, with sacrifice of all out speed lol.

Actually we don't have a M3 sedan, it's just a 325 with LSD and a few suspension goodies...

I'm wanting to get into a V8 myself, but seeing that we already have a 2 BMW's, I was contemplating getting an 03-06 E55 AMG as daily and awesome road trip car.

[Mike V]

ya, the M3 sedan comment was in response to your "the m3 sedans are something else" comment.