Summit point Shenandoah & Control arms review

[Focusedintntions]

So Saturday was my first time on the Shenandoah circuit at Summit Point Raceway in WV, and as anytime you're on a racetrack i had a fantastic time. It's a tight/slow and very technical racetrack that is extremely bumpy. I had a fantastic instructor named Adam Conrad who was a freaking amazing driver. By the end of the day when I was finally learning the track I started getting air on 2 place in the track which was totally fun. This is definitely a patience track as early turn in really hurt on exit speeds. Out of the 22 turns I'd say like 15 of them are late apex's. This was also my first event running the new m3 lower control arms and man what a difference they made in reducing understeer! The car still has some but no where near as detrimental as before. Highly recommend them as they're an extremely easy install. Can't wait to get rid of it completely.

This track also has a full wet skid pad to practice car control. I found this to be extremely helpful in learning the balance of the car and throttle control. Just wish I had more time on it, as it's extremely fun to mess around and not have to worry if your car spins out.

Finally I rode with my instructor Adam Conrad in his 06 911 S, and omg. Just on the orientation laps in the morning you can feel how much better his car rotates than ours. When we finally got out during the instructor session he freaking blew my mind how fast he was. In a bone stock 911 other than race pads, he was blowing by everybody. Including guys with e30 m3s with s54 engine swaps that def weren't stock. I can't wait till i'm that fast one day. It def left me wanting a 911 for a few hours haha.

Sadly I left my go pro at home so no vids of this event But already trying to figure out my next time back

[jsublime]

Nice! Glad to hear about the control arms, sounds like you just need some camber plates to perfect your setup. What tires are you running now?

There is an NCC event there early Aug.

[Focusedintntions]

I'm running Michelin PSS's now. I'll most likely do the camber plates when i do the full suspension. Not sure if it's worth doing those w/o it for now. I'm probably going to do the July 11th and 12th events at the summit main course, and VIR in August. Don't think I can do anything in Sept b/c of work. October and November will depend on weather and vacation plans.

[pixelblue]

great track, huh? I love the shenandoah! so where was the second place you got air borne? there is one after you go pass the bridge over the crest but can't remember anywhere else.

[Focusedintntions]

If you're going fast enough down the back stretch you can get a lil air too if you're far enough left. Found that out passing people. Happened both in my instructor's car and mine haha. I'm signed up for he July 11th and 12th with Trackdaze on the main circuit now too. Planning on camping out there.

[pixelblue]

can't remember about the back stretch. why are you camping? it's only an hour drive from tysons. where are you driving from?

[Focusedintntions]

Alexandria from Rt1. Took me 2 hours on saturday morning to get there b/c i ran into traffic. Took me hour and half home w/o it. So i'm looking at an additional 3 hours in the car each day plus the gas. Cheaper and easier to camp out and enjoy the paddock parties haha. Get more sleep that way too.

[GaryS]

Oh, I saw a 135i that said something about Alexandria on the plates. I was the white 135i parked with a red 135i and white 128i near the air and gas pumps.

[Focusedintntions]

I was the other white 135i there with teh gunmetal wheels. The silver one with the BMW alexandria plate surrounds was another member of the forums. He had a berk exhaust along with the afe intake...his first ever track day. The red 135i was Joe, he bought my stock wheels a few weeks ago haha. Are you going for the july event?

[GaryS]

Well I'm glad Joe is sticking with stock wheels. He's already faster than I am without anything except some Hankooks.

My next event is the Main circuit with NJ Chapter in July. I'm thinking about Shenandoah with SCCA two weeks after that.

[Focusedintntions]

I wonder how i compare to you guys in speed now. I know i was by far the fastest 135 in teh novice group haha. Didn't get passed all day and I was lapping the group. Hopefully they'll finally stick me in the intermediate group as i'm requesting here soon.

[pixelblue]

If you are lapping 1:45 or better, you are going fast. 1:40 and below would be pro driver times. I'll be going to both events depending on weather. Hopefully I'll see you guys

[Focusedintntions]

Never timed myself ...nobody timed me either...dammit!

[GaryS]

Originally Posted by Focusedintntions

I wonder how i compare to you guys in speed now.

I'm not very fast. There were three cars in my group that were faster - Joe and an E92 M3 and an Evo. If you're getting a consistent squeal from your tires through all the turns, you're as fast as I am.

Anyway, in the BMW clubs, if you always see your mirrors and the flaggers when you should and don't scare anyone to death when you're passing and getting passed, you're not a beginner anymore.

[pixelblue]

Here is a video from my last time July '10. I didn't have all of my mods and were running on the run flats. Best time was 1:48

[Focusedintntions]

We had a slightly different track configuration than you did there. We had to do the turns on the pistol grip where you had the straight by pass there. That'll add a lot of time to a lap.

[pixelblue]

interesting. been there three times and never had that configuration. so you are talking about the kink right after the hammer leading into the stone house straight?

[Focusedintntions]

I'm talking about the range esses after the hook turn just before the bridge straight. If you go to 1:36 in your vid you can see you go straight where we had to turn right there.

[GaryS]

This. Turn 7 was included on Saturday, but not on Sunday.

[pixelblue]

aww, funny never noticed that before. yeah that should add another 5 sec to your lap time

[Focusedintntions]

I kind regret not doing sunday now, but at the same time it lets me go on July 11th and 12th now haha.

[pixelblue]

I'll be doing one of those days. Not sure which yet. I think it's a mid week event not on a weekend