E61 excelled on race track
05-30-2009, 08:35 AM
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Being a full bread petrol head, I've been yearning to get a race license for many years. Through my membership in Club Alfa Romeo Svezia (that's "Sweden" in Italian) I opted for license course Friday 29 May thinking that there would be plenty of time to get my Alfa ready. Two years in a barn doesn't do good to a car, so it had to spend more time in the garage than first thought... but, then again I thought, this could be a window of opportunity for our family's E61 to show what its got...
Cooly, I added "BMW 5-series. Wagon" in the application form, and lo and behold I showed up as the only guy with a wagon at the race day!
The course as such was great, I had an instructor that first let my drive some laps myself, then he jumped in and after a couple of laps commented what was good and what I needed to do til next time. I then had a hour or so to work on "my areas of improvements". When I felt like it, I stopped my car in a special area in the pit to show that I was ready for a new ride with the instructor, etc etc. You get the drift.
The real revelation came after lunch when my instructor (I knew him from the Alfa club, so we met several tijmes before) asked if he could try my car, just to show me what my car was capable of. Well, he's been driving as a professional since the 80's so I reckomn I could learn a few things.
Holy sh***! And I thought I was going pretty fast
But it gave me a couple of "Aha!, so THAT's the way to do it!". And I managed to drive some 15-20 km/h faster than before, really by attacking much harder than before. And especially I learnt to drift with all four wheels spinning and still being able to control the car. That was a defining moment as a driver, I can tell you.
And the E61? Did she enjoy it? The instructor said after one lap that the car had "amazing balance", and was "extremely calm when loosing grip" and "so easy to control". Afterwards he said, "this is one hell of a car".
If anyone in Munich reads this - thanks guys for making a car that is excellent both on motorways and on a race track!
All the 500km drive home, I had a big smile on my face.
P.S.
All the stuff in front of my car on pic 3 belonged to a nice guy in a Porsche 968 - I told him that HE should have been here with a wagon.
Cooly, I added "BMW 5-series. Wagon" in the application form, and lo and behold I showed up as the only guy with a wagon at the race day!
The course as such was great, I had an instructor that first let my drive some laps myself, then he jumped in and after a couple of laps commented what was good and what I needed to do til next time. I then had a hour or so to work on "my areas of improvements". When I felt like it, I stopped my car in a special area in the pit to show that I was ready for a new ride with the instructor, etc etc. You get the drift.
The real revelation came after lunch when my instructor (I knew him from the Alfa club, so we met several tijmes before) asked if he could try my car, just to show me what my car was capable of. Well, he's been driving as a professional since the 80's so I reckomn I could learn a few things.
Holy sh***! And I thought I was going pretty fast
But it gave me a couple of "Aha!, so THAT's the way to do it!". And I managed to drive some 15-20 km/h faster than before, really by attacking much harder than before. And especially I learnt to drift with all four wheels spinning and still being able to control the car. That was a defining moment as a driver, I can tell you.
And the E61? Did she enjoy it? The instructor said after one lap that the car had "amazing balance", and was "extremely calm when loosing grip" and "so easy to control". Afterwards he said, "this is one hell of a car".
If anyone in Munich reads this - thanks guys for making a car that is excellent both on motorways and on a race track!
All the 500km drive home, I had a big smile on my face.
P.S.
All the stuff in front of my car on pic 3 belonged to a nice guy in a Porsche 968 - I told him that HE should have been here with a wagon.
05-30-2009, 01:50 PM
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My Ride: 2008 E61 530i M-Sport
Carbon Black, black Dakota leather, advantage, comfort and M-Sport package, comfort seats, sport automatic transmission, alarm system, rails, folding and auto dimming mirrors, PDC, xenons, hi-fi loudspeaker system, USB interface, detachable towbar, navi pro, bluetooth phone prep.
light package.
That's pretty cool narvselius, is that Kinnekulle ring? maybe I should attend some trackdays with my wagon ..... 
Btw I was an Alfisti too and was a member of both the danish and swedish alfaclub. I have owned seven Alfas, the first one was a '91 Alfa 33 16v QV which I still miss to this day - it was indeed a very entertaining ride.
I love your GTV6 
Btw I was an Alfisti too and was a member of both the danish and swedish alfaclub. I have owned seven Alfas, the first one was a '91 Alfa 33 16v QV which I still miss to this day - it was indeed a very entertaining ride.
I love your GTV6
05-31-2009, 11:06 PM
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My Ride: 2007 530i. Purchased 6/28/07. Titanium Silver Metallic, Black Dakota Leather, Dark Poplar Trim, Steptronic, Premium Package, Cold Weather Package, Bluetooth, Adaptive Control Xenons. 10/30/07 Added OEM 124s with 245/40/18 & 275/35/18 Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires. Installed red Cal Covers� from BavAuto. 11/21/07 Added OEM all-weather floor mats (for winter, carpet in summer) and coat rack. 6/26/08 installed M5-style rear spoiler. 6/30/08 put on red reflectors. 8/22/08 Euro turn signal stickers applied. 3/20/09 Installed Shadowline Trim. 3/27/09 Added Matte Black Kidney Grilles from Trinity. 4/03/09 Installed Bimmian Shadow Matte Black 530i Badges. 4/04/09 Installed LED license plate lights from Trinity. 5/01/09 Installed Brabus Interior LED Kit and White Angel Eyes. 5/02/09 Put in Brabus 6K Fogs. 5/14/09 Removed charcoal filter. 5/15/09 Installed light smoke LED side marker lamps from Trinity. 5/21/09 Sprint Booster. 6/12/09 Painted exhaust tips flat black. 6/13/09 Pulled red Cal Covers and painted calipers low gloss black. 6/27/09 RPI Ram Air Scoop from Trinity. 8/15/09 Installed Brabus's silver invisibulbs front and rear. 9/24/09 Installed R-Dash license plate LEDs from Brabaus (John).
Looks like fun!
05-31-2009, 11:36 PM
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My Ride: 2005 BMW 530d M-Sport TouringExterior: Titansilber Metallic, M5 mirrors, ACS rear roof spoiler, BMW Carbon Fiber rear diffuser, Adaptive Xenon headlights, AngeliBright v.3 Angel Eyes, F1 Autohaus Euphoria 6000K LED license plate lightsInterior: Black
Nicely done! Sounds like a lot of fun. 
Which track were you at? I am guessing NOT Mantorp. Or?
Which track were you at? I am guessing NOT Mantorp. Or?
06-02-2009, 01:25 AM
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My Ride: F11 -14
Originally Posted by Richard in NC' post='895628' date='May 31 2009, 02:48 PM
Nice! Did you embarass any of those Porsches with the E61?
06-02-2009, 01:26 AM
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Originally Posted by Patrick E61' post='896443' date='Jun 1 2009, 09:36 AM
Nicely done! Sounds like a lot of fun.
Which track were you at? I am guessing NOT Mantorp. Or?
Which track were you at? I am guessing NOT Mantorp. Or?
06-02-2009, 01:27 AM
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Originally Posted by hafnia' post='895108' date='May 30 2009, 11:50 PM
That's pretty cool narvselius, is that Kinnekulle ring? maybe I should attend some trackdays with my wagon .....
Btw I was an Alfisti too and was a member of both the danish and swedish alfaclub. I have owned seven Alfas, the first one was a '91 Alfa 33 16v QV which I still miss to this day - it was indeed a very entertaining ride. I love your GTV6
Btw I was an Alfisti too and was a member of both the danish and swedish alfaclub. I have owned seven Alfas, the first one was a '91 Alfa 33 16v QV which I still miss to this day - it was indeed a very entertaining ride.
I love your GTV6