Got the M3 aligned by Twiggs on the Sunday before Wednesday's Pod Day, went for Front Camber 2.5, Toe +0.2 and as much caster as possible without rubbing the arch liners (still rubbing a bit), Rear Camber 1.5, Toe -0.1.
Car drives great, good self steer, could do with a bit more but without cutting or raising the front that's not possible, but may be if I get some stiffer springs or have some strut top spacers made, who knows.
Packed the car up on Tuesday night ready for a wet day at pod. I have never run Semi Slicks in the wet, but I know from running them at dry days that they only lasted one session (roughly 5 mins on the Pod Big Track) before being shredded so I loaded the car up with as many as possible (spoiler alert, this was a waste of time, a full day in the wet on 265 AR1's and I could still have driven home on them, but better safe that sorry I guess...)
Got to pod in the pouring rain, miserable weather. Unpacked the cars, did briefing and headed out on track. I didn't grid up with Todd or Faisal (both the other drivers I knew on the day) all morning so was just driving on my own / with randoms and to be honest, by Lunch was talking to Sam and Todd and was pretty set on not doing another skid day. The track day at Brands Hatch GP was so much fun despite the car cooking itself constantly, there was less stress on both myself or the car, as much fun and unbelievably cheaper. The morning at pod in the wet was frankly boring. I was driving fine, but it just didn't even feel exciting.
After lunch however this all changed. I lined up with Todd for the first session and chased him. The Turbo MX5 is fast, really fast. But on a wet skid day it is really held back by the 195 road tyres he was running. This however gave me the perfect chance to try my first attempt at really chasing someone and this is when the love for drifting kicked back in. I had the best afternoon of drifting I have had so far, with Sam teaching me how to Left foot break and attempt chasing.
I have not been through all the footage yet from my car or Todd's, but here are some pictures of my first attempt at chasing someone (funny how it feels in car like you are inches from someone, when really you are more like meters...):
Once I go through the footage properly I will do a video and link it on here but expect more from the M3 this year. I was kind of falling out of love with the sporty side of the car but this has really put me back in with it
.
To Do list:
Parts to be fitted that I have:
1. New Indicators
2. Valve Cover Gasket
3. Steering Angle Sensor and Purple Tag Rack (Buy a solid steering coupler to install at the same time)
Parts to buy:
1. Radiator Vent Hose
2. Interior Mirror Glass
3. Wing Mirror Glass (both sides)
Other things to do / work out:
1. Fix the windscreen washer jets which have now decided to just dribble on the windscreen if even anything at all.
2. Re Tap / Re Fit V Brace.
3. Replace rusty hardware under the car.
4. Have a welder (maybe Sam) look at the Failing Spot Welds and Jacking Points.
5. Deal with the rusty boot area.
6. Deal with the front arches starting to rust.
7. Bonnet latches are getting very difficult to re latch.
8. Check and clean all the earths as the Dash and Indicators died after hitting a bump at Pod.
.
