I am very impressed with the Dark Horse on the track (VIR)

[BimmerDriver]

Actually I was looking into getting a 2nd set of tires but then decided not to just because I get bored with cars and was looking to possibly trade for another c8. Yes, I have a car disease!

I'm with you there brother, I too suffer from car A.D.D. but as I prefer manual transmissions, the C8 is out for me.

You don't need a second set of tires, whatever you've got on the car now (I presume OE) will be fine. JUST DO IT. Then if you want to go buy a midlife crisis gold-chain-wearing poseur car (Corvette) you go right ahead and do that.

Full disclosure: I've owned several Corvettes, from C4 to C7.

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[S550VIN54]

I'm with you there brother, I too suffer from car A.D.D. but as I prefer manual transmissions, the C8 is out for me.

You don't need a second set of tires, whatever you've got on the car now (I presume OE) will be fine. JUST DO IT. Then if you want to go buy a midlife crisis gold-chain-wearing poseur car (Corvette) you go right ahead and do that.

Full disclosure: I've owned several Corvettes, from C4 to C7.

I love the manual too! In fact, I traded my C8 for the DH but I am having knee issues from time to time so this is why the C8 is back on the radar.
I truly regret selling my C7 GS manual but I wanted the Mach 1. At first I regretted buying the C8 but actually really enjoyed driving it and the HTC. I thought maybe I would get a Z06 and it would be my forever car and the depreciation would end the madness...lol. One car I miss the most is my 17 gt350.

 

[N1T3MRE]

Hey Bimmer,

Have taken my DH to the local track - Qld Raceway, and it rained for 3 of the 5 sessions, and was still so much fun.....I did get the rear to step out coming out of turn 5, that was when it started raining the first time and I had the right rear on the painted line.

DH is stock, and still on the P zero's, but even in the wet I was surprised how much grip and braking performance it still had, I also have a little more confidence driving in the wet now knowing how capable the car really is.....I am signing up next year for the local Time Attack club and get out to the track a little bit more.

Another point of interest - completed 66km on the track, and refilled DH at a service station 2min from track for a total of 30 Litres before I drove home, I did see 42l/100km on the dash at one stage, but having too much fun- car was full when I did scrutineering - it did like a drink....but I like beer too.

I would also encourage everyone to take their beasts to a track day and learn how capable these Dark Horse's really are

 

[JediMindTrix]

Yesterday I went to my home track, VIR, for a day of fun in the sun. The weather was perfect, although it started cool, it stayed in the 60s.

For background, I've been doing track events since the 90s, and I've probably been to VIR 40 times or more as a driver and HPDE instructor with various groups. I've done tracks all over the Southeast as well as Mid Ohio and Road America. Corvette and BMW mostly, although I did track my S550 GT a bit.

My car is a base DH, no options, no HP, with OE Pirelli tires and OE brake pads. As I've gotten older, I've lost the desire to set record times and I don't go for maximum speed down the straights. Too many bad things can happen at those speeds and it really wears the brakes quickly. I did change the oil to full synthetic 5W30 and did a look-over on the car. Since it's relatively new, no brake fluid flush was needed.

I've already written more than most people want to read. TLDR; version: the car did awesome. The handling is excellent, very predictable and stable, the brakes are awesome and the suspension was just incredible. In track mode with the stiffest settings, the ride was compliant enough that the car never hopped or bopped around, the curbing never upset the balance and I never had any issues with the rear end stepping out under hard acceleration in turns. It was really amazing. The balance is excellent, no pushing and when it did exceed the slip angle, it was progressive and easily controllable.

My only complaint is that it was really too loud, but fortunately I was able to set the exhaust to "sport" instead of track even though you can't change the other "track" settings like steering. It would be nice if there was a quicker way to turn off the emergency braking (it resets every time you start the car) but that's nit-picking.

Even with the base seats, they held me in pretty good and I wasn't missing the Recarros. If I could ask for one thing, it would be to allow the headrest to tilt backwards more for when we wear a helmet.

Take your car to the track! That's what it was designed for, and dang, it works well!

For reference, I take my headrest out and put it in backwards for track days. It is compliant with the guide sleeves and will not cause issues. Still adjustable if it makes any difference.

 

[Junkyard Dog]

For reference, I take my headrest out and put it in backwards for track days. It is compliant with the guide sleeves and will not cause issues. Still adjustable if it makes any difference.

I had no idea you could do that. Now how do I raise the roof?

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