D400 E30 - Project

[Serial]

Car:     BMW M3 E30
P.I.:     D400 (unrestricted)
Track:  Diamondback Reverse

We have a current challenge running over at Exodus Racing with these specs (ends March 9th).

I'm using this thread as my test bed for the challenge.  Feel free to jump in and post builds, setups, and times as well.

This is a great car/track combo to learn how to drive without assists.  In D400 form without any tuning, the car has a slight tendency to power on oversteer.

Current Build - 02/27/08:

All Race Platform Handling
Stock Weight Reduction
Stock Tires/Width
19" MHT Rims
BMW Race Front Bumper
BMW Race Rear Wing

[bimmerlovere39]

Right now I'm at a 75.833 on Diamondback Reverse 

[TheJohnNewton]

If I run this one then it will be two BMW's in two days   

No assists huh?  I was racing online and two guys got into a yelling match over a little bumping, and who has the right of way, blah, blah, blah, and started questioning each others driving abilities.  Eventually the host turned off all assists and said something like "prove your skills now".  I normally use ABS and the breaking line.  I wasn't having too bad a time without the abs but I realized quickly how much I use the brake line both to see upcoming turns and as and additional brakeing marker.  Eventually the host went to rwd only and the only available car I had left was a Charger.  Fortunately it was a sane build, actually handles pretty well, not a missle. 

You Exodus guys can run the heck out of a car.  My top time in a Golf is only 73.250 though based on my friends list I should probably be in the 72s.  I'm almost afraid to see what I can to in this BMW    

[Serial]

A lot of people don't seem to realize how much they depend on the line (braking and/or suggested)...until they turn it off.  My guess is that 95% of FM2's racing incidents occur right at or near the 'racing line'.  Another estimation would be that somewhere around 70% of those incidents occurred because the offender was paying so much attention to the FM2 line that and trying to stick right to it that they drove right into someone.  The suggested line I would say causes many more of those accidents, but the braking line is a known offender as well.  Now, I'm not saying that we don't have accidents in our No Assist rooms, but I would say we don't have a lot of them.  We do, however, have tons and tons of close, competitive races.  And we only Simulation damage as well...but then again, our rooms rarely have any public spots in them either...mostly 'private' rooms.

Sorry for the lengthy......description (promotion?).....but I am a strong proponent of No Assist racing for multiple reasons.  And thanks for the praises about our group...we have a very diverse group of racers...some of them can really make their way around the track in a hurry.

[TheJohnNewton]

I don't actually follow the line for my "line", lol.  I use it more to see ahead (old man eyes I guess ) and judge breaking points by.  On a short track like Tsukuba it probably wouldn't matter if it's off or not but on the real wide and long tracks where the corners aren't so well defined and there are few other markers I'm kind of lost without it.  For my actual racing lines I tend to rely on the curbs or the darkish area on the track as markers.  For some reason I never really even considered following the "suggested" line so it was never a habit for me.   

[TheJohnNewton]

My initial try is a 75.407.  I can stay up with my Golf ghost until that very sharp right hander, about the 3rd turn, then it's all over.  I might be able to find a sub 75 with some more laps and tweaks.  The stock tune wasn't too bad.  I tried moving more weight to the front but didn't really like it so I'm pretty close to 50/50.  I also seem to run faster with the aero turned down from stock.  And to get the rear end in line I cranked up the camber.  Watching telemtry with the stock camber it was going positive a lot.  I ended up matching Bimmers -0.9/-0.9 from his B class BMW tune.

I can see how this is a good no assists track.  I had my normal abs/break line on but the brake line is not needed at all.  I'll probably give it another run with no assists just to be true to the Exodus crowd

Thought I should also add I used your build (not much room for variation in D on this car anyway) except I kept the stock wheels.  I just like they way they look with the paint job I bought off the AH.

[fndrbndr]

You may be surprised.  I keep going back and forth on whether to use the braking line.  I use it in online races unless it's forced off, because I tend to set up my cars so that I can brake late, giving me a little extra margin for error, since I don't use ABS and tend to have to brake then turn instead of trail braking.  Also, people tend to take out braking markers when racing online, and that's a good backup.  However, I've found that on tracks where I know the layout well enough to make the line redundant, it doesn't really matter.  I went into a room the other day without noticing that all assists were forced off.  I went ahead and ran a few races with them, and had a good time.  I missed a few turns because I tried to take them too hot, but I wasn't the disaster I thought I'd be.  I guess I know the tracks well enough that the braking line is just kind of redundant on a lot of the turns.  Still, I notice that the people who are routinely faster than me tend to be the ones who run without the line.  However, a lot of the top hotlap times are run with assists. I'm not really sure what to make of that.

[TheJohnNewton]

You hit it Fndr.  On a track I know well and have all my brake markers down (Tsukuba, Boomslang, and the like, short skinny tracks) the line is useless.  It's those super wide and long tracks where I'm less sure of the layout and best line and I can't see brake markers as easily (I do worse on these tracks in general) where I feel lost without it.