raz451
Club Guest
- Joined
- May 25, 2007
- Messages
- 514
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Hello Z4ers!I post to share my experience I had at Sepang for the High Performance Challenge yesterday. Although, I had initially registered my E46 for the event, a voice inside my head kept bugging me to take the Z4 out to play. Call me crazy, but that was just what I did! As a newbie to track driving, I was enrolled into the Group 1 category, with a sit-in instructor. I almost gave up the idea on my arrival to Sepang F1 Circuit. I was jittery. Despite the assurances from fellow members who were there, that it was going to be more disciplined in Group 1 with no overtaking on corners, and that I should go about it at my own pace, I was still paranoid. The thought of having someone bumped into me from the back sent shivers down my spine. (Well, it’s only natural I would feel that way as insurance coverage does not include track driving!)
I started off really bad. Think I was the most courteous driver ever on track. Willingly letting others passed. :driver: Hey! There’s always the first time. I was really tensed and my palms were sweating a river. I was busy looking out for cones for braking and cornering and with the cars coming nearer at high speed behind me, I almost freaked out.On the second session (we were given 3 sessions of 25 minutes each in all) I did a tiny bit better, according to my instructor, although I did not feel the difference. But I managed the corners more at ease in comparison to the first round but still letting others passed me. The third round was wondrous! I went in with the top down. I should have done that earlier. At least I could have felt more comfortable despite the never-ending nervousness. With the full-faced helmet and the soft-top up my head, I felt restricted and cooped up. This last bit was more spirited. Corners were taken with more power and surge. With the wind gushing through me, my confidence built-up and the adrenaline level pitched high. I had refused overtakers initially but gave in when I made a sharp turn a little too late thus having the others too near for comfort.I would strongly recommend that you guys consider this event the next time around. It’s an experience of a lifetime. You can never get the feel of the real Z4 no matter where you take it to, be it the trunk road of Ulu Yam, up and down the hills of Genting Highlands or through our infamous evenly distributed pot-holed roads. I realised yesterday that the Z4 is actually a sensuous roadster. I could feel the smoothness as it crooned its way into my heart, especially during the last few rounds. Shifting the gear to Sports make the Z4 even more responsive. It grips like a leech on corners. The handling and brakes, like all BMW, are almost flawless. It’s definitely not a racer’s car and I, of course, did not push it hard enough but it did turn a mediocre driver like me to a speed demon (wannabe lah!).I hate to admit this but I think I’m hooked. Maybe, the next event we could all go together? How’s that?
I started off really bad. Think I was the most courteous driver ever on track. Willingly letting others passed. :driver: Hey! There’s always the first time. I was really tensed and my palms were sweating a river. I was busy looking out for cones for braking and cornering and with the cars coming nearer at high speed behind me, I almost freaked out.On the second session (we were given 3 sessions of 25 minutes each in all) I did a tiny bit better, according to my instructor, although I did not feel the difference. But I managed the corners more at ease in comparison to the first round but still letting others passed me. The third round was wondrous! I went in with the top down. I should have done that earlier. At least I could have felt more comfortable despite the never-ending nervousness. With the full-faced helmet and the soft-top up my head, I felt restricted and cooped up. This last bit was more spirited. Corners were taken with more power and surge. With the wind gushing through me, my confidence built-up and the adrenaline level pitched high. I had refused overtakers initially but gave in when I made a sharp turn a little too late thus having the others too near for comfort.I would strongly recommend that you guys consider this event the next time around. It’s an experience of a lifetime. You can never get the feel of the real Z4 no matter where you take it to, be it the trunk road of Ulu Yam, up and down the hills of Genting Highlands or through our infamous evenly distributed pot-holed roads. I realised yesterday that the Z4 is actually a sensuous roadster. I could feel the smoothness as it crooned its way into my heart, especially during the last few rounds. Shifting the gear to Sports make the Z4 even more responsive. It grips like a leech on corners. The handling and brakes, like all BMW, are almost flawless. It’s definitely not a racer’s car and I, of course, did not push it hard enough but it did turn a mediocre driver like me to a speed demon (wannabe lah!).I hate to admit this but I think I’m hooked. Maybe, the next event we could all go together? How’s that?
