Sixty-first track day. After my fun tow home last month at Thunderhill. Have the E46 back together and back to the track for "M Day" at Sonoma. Ran double run groups - Red and Gold. Lots of wet lapping with lots of black flags.
I'm probably going to file this track day as the wettest on record thus far. Other events have matched the rain but always cleared up at some point. Today it was nonstop - consistent downpour till the last session.
Leading up to this event I was not super pumped. First time running Sonoma wet, ran a few sprinkle sessions in the past but nothing real. Is a very dangerous track and rain compounds this. After the second session tho. I was feeling confident and no longer too concerned about survival. Was able to flow state most the day and had a blast. Feel like I had a pretty good pace going on fresh RE71RS. Passing nearly anyone in front of me. Fairly happy with my 2.26 best lap. Didnt run the very last session when the rain stopped. Probably could have got it lower but I like knowing mine was a true raining lap (Not that I was really chasing anything)
That cannot be said for a dozen or so other souls. T7 had 4 wall collisions at the braking zone. Several other offs at different turns and damage to nice cars :/ Hopefully they had insurance.
Sorta surprised T10 didn't claim anyone. It had a huge puddle on the right side, and you had to go far left to find grip. It would understeer you left into the mud every lap.
My original goal for the dry day was to break into sub 50 territory with the E46 on fresh RE71. Need to try and get back to Sonoma sooner than later.
I will be taking a small break for a few months. Hopefully an event in May before it gets crazy hot.
Sonoma Raceway 2/1/25 hosted by SpeedSF. Red + Gold Groups (Open Passing)
00:50 - Garmin had issues all day connecting GPS
06:46 - Very wet and foggy. Not many people ran session 1.
16:04 - Chasing Edson for the entire session. Super fun.
22:13 - T1 BMW Sacrifice
27:40 - Nate T1 Drift
29:20 - Nate T7 Drift
32:30 - T9 GT4 Sacrifice
49:04 - Cup car / GT3RS should have gone in the slow lane :0
1:00:53 - T7 Cup Car Sacrifice
1:11:49 - Decent lap till this... Only questionable moment of the day
1:23:11 - Personal Best Raining Sonoma Lap: 2.26.58
1:30:41 - Decided to just pull over for rescue
1:32:29 - T7 GR86 Sacrifice
00:00 Catalyst Overview
00:06 Session 1 (red)
11:40 Session 2 (gold)
25:10 Session 3 (red)
33:15 Session 4 (gold)
48:39 Session 5 (red)
1:02:37 Session 6 (gold)
1:15:16 Session 7 (red - forgot to charge camera)
1:25:59 Session 8 (gold)
Suspension:
- TC Kline D/A coilovers 550/700
- Ground Control camber plates
- Bimmerworld sway bar links
- Hotchkis front sway bar
- Rogue Engineering strut bar
Brakes:
- AP Racing 9660 front bbk
- Stoptech slotted rear rotors
- Raybestos ST45/ST43 pads
- ECS brake lines
- Bimmerworld brass brake bushings
Wheels:
- Apex EC-7 18x10et25 wheels
- Bridgestone RE71RS 265 (Day 1)
Engine:
- Beisan VANOS
- BE/ARP rod bearings
- Radium oil catch can
- Eventuri carbon intake
- DO88 radiator
Chassis:
- 3370lbs full tank
- RTD REVO1 reverse lockout shifter
- OMP WRC-R XL bucket seat
- Brey Krause seat mounts
- SCHROTH Flexi 6-point harness
- Autopower roll bar
- Rogue Engineering transmission bushings
- Powerflex diff/rtab/subframe bushings
- Turner subframe reinforcement
- DIY rear seat delete
- Full interior
- Garmin Catalyst lap timer