Tracked SLK350 at Motorsports Ranch

**F111F** · 03-18-2007

Tracked my SLK350 at Motorsports Ranch in Cresson, Texas (west of Fort Worth). Ran on the new 1.3 mile track CCW. It was a beginners class, so expectations can be a bit lower, but I must say that my SLK performed really well. It is a short track with lots of curves and elevations. You need brakes and tires to do well on this course. Drive as fast as you dare and then hit the brakes late and hard. No fade on the MB brakes(!!!), and the standard Bridgestones (Pole Positions) held up really well. It was a blast! Squealing tires, brake dust all over my rims. It was great!

If you want to see the video of the track it is at:
YouTube - Motorsport Ranch RUF Porsche
If you want to see the layout it is at:
http://www.motorsportranch.com/1.3-road-course.cfm

So while power is helpful, driving skill is probably a better indicator, as I was smoking several cars that should have been faster. So here is a ranking of cars (imho).

Audi S4 - Stage 3 (best performance - but overheating turbos, pulled him out early after several laps during each session).
Cadillac CTS-V (Supercharge/Special Suspension) - SC helps this Corvette engine, and he could pull away, but pure weight (large car!) allowed for me to catch up on braking (I could brake much later) and in cornering I was faster. He spun out several times and even shut down the track because of all the dirt he put on the course.
SLK-350 - MT, brakes, tires, sport suspension, low end max torque allowed me to progress to where I was hitting 90+ mph and running the course in 3/4 gear.
WRX-Sti - Close, but didn't keep his turbo's spooled up on corners, so he and I were close, but MB power really helped here.

- The rest weren't close, but also some guys just don't want to push their cars very much (or are scared, as you drive straight to a hairpin curve, hit your brakes, apex and then push it, also you turn from right to left at the top of a blind hill, go over, hit your brakes, and then suppose to double apex the inside curve before hitting the second hairpin, the top by the pit, you drive to what looks like you are going over the edge, hit brakes and apex - the porsche in the video is driving the course really poorly).
2nd WRX-Sti;
2 ea. 350Z (no low end torque or poor driving technique hurts their pulling away ability - if they add turbo's probably would blow me off the course);
SLK-320 (older model - really drove great on this road course),
Inifinite G-35 Sedan;
Audi TT 1.8Turbo;
Porsche Boxster;
S2000 & Corvette (drove like a grandmother, safe, conservative, boring!)

I will post some pictures when I get them.

412driver · 03-18-2007

Sounds like a fun day, lookin forward to pixs. Best we can do round here is gittin Humpy Wheeler to open Charlotte Motor Speedway for us. Back when our hospital was supporting NASCAR with our helicopter at Rockingham, Wilkesboro and Martinsville, I made friends with most of the track owners and even took my Lightning for a run one afternoon. Left turns only sucks.

**dsb** · 03-18-2007

I just tried the video link. I got a top gear episode. Can you post the correct link?

Baron7700 · 03-18-2007

that video does put some good points on both cars tho. I personally love audi's a4 line, (s4 and rs4). But I wish they would of did the newer s4's with the v6 twin turbos again, instead of the v8. Imagine a m3 with twin turbos or supercharger, it would be an airplane. Now throw all wheel drive on it.

Back to topic, i wish we had a track up here that actually was managed correctly. All we have is pocono raceway, and they take about a month + to answer any emails or phone calls about getting on the track.

*easty* · 03-18-2007

I've ran that track many times in the 55. I've sure my friends were there. Ian In a grey elise and todd in a 318i BMW. I miss the days there and TWS alot. TWS is a whole different track you should try that also.

here's a vid of a BMW day there. I generally run the porsche track days.

Google Video

**F111F** · 03-19-2007

Fixed the You Tube to the correct one. Thanks for finding this.

**Ynot** · 03-20-2007

Just did my first track day yesterday, what a blast, the SLK does handle very well, will write about it in a separate thread later this week.

V8SLK · 03-20-2007

F111F thanks for a great write up and video, looks like a blast. i'm curious how the boxster, s2000 and vet would have done with more aggressive drivers. was the boxster an "s"? were there any cayman out there?

slktyperice · 03-21-2007

F111F, that sounds like a VERY tame track day. We had the same types of cars here at Streets of Willow running with SpeedTrialUSA, and the results were quite different. I figure the level of drivers (in the intermediate groups) were pretty similar, since nobody was really blowing by anyone too quickly.

I ran bone stock at the track (non-AMG SLK350) 2 months after I got the SLK in May 2005, and the main issues were brake fade, the crappy Michelin Primacy tires, and horrendous body roll. Yet I still was able to keep up with stock 350Zs and Audi A4's and the such.

I ran with upgraded 19's with Toyo tires, and ceramic brake pads last year, and I could totally feel the difference. The tail wasn't as slip-happy, and the brakes didn't fade as quickly. I could keep up with an Acura NSX, lightly modded 350Z's, beat S2000's, yet was hanging even with a Mini Cooper S *gasp*.

The stars of the track were consistently the LanEvo's, WRX STi's, and the Lotus Elise in the $30-45k range. They're light, have a great power/weight ratio, and handle very well while stock or lightly modded.

This week I finally put in my Green Filters, gonna get my 2nd Service A (38k miles), my SLK55 AMG full suspension conversion (coilovers, rear spring/chock, SLK55AMG sways) in. Too bad I couldn't just put in the H&R springs since my rears will rub (picked up 265/30/19 Yoko Advan Sports).

I'll run with this setup for the summer, then I'll probably take up JLevi's $579 ECU upgrade for a claimed ~20hp/20tq boost. That should put me competitively with modded ~300hp cars.

I guess one thing I learned (I knew from before but I really saw it and felt it) from the track is WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT. The less weight you have (chassis, rims, etc) hauling around, everything just works easier, faster, and better. My SLK, the S2000's, and the 350Z's were being eaten alive by $6000 gutted NA Civics. Now that's sad. We may catch up on the straights with pure power, but they don't have to brake at all on the corners. So for us SLK folks, saving a couple pounds of unsprung weight (read, getting light forged rims) is just like adding more horsepower, but also aids in handling.

**Ynot** · 03-21-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by slktyperice

The stars of the track were consistently the LanEvo's, WRX STi's, and the Lotus Elise in the $30-45k range. They're light, have a great power/weight ratio, and handle very well while stock or lightly modded.

Yep, I have to agree, this modded evo was only two seconds away from a raced prep Noble M400 and NSX, that's extremely fast on a 2.2 mile track. Both of those cars compete on a national level. The STI was fully stock and it did well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slktyperice

This week I finally put in my Green Filters, gonna get my 2nd Service A (38k miles), my SLK55 AMG full suspension conversion (coilovers, rear spring/chock, SLK55AMG sways) in. Too bad I couldn't just put in the H&R springs since my rears will rub (picked up 265/30/19 Yoko Advan Sports).

I'll run with this setup for the summer, then I'll probably take up JLevi's $579 ECU upgrade for a claimed ~20hp/20tq boost. That should put me competitively with modded ~300hp cars.

Please post your comparison's between the two suspensions once installed.

~20 hp, you will feel a difference, let us know how that goes as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by slktyperice

I guess one thing I learned (I knew from before but I really saw it and felt it) from the track is WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT. The less weight you have (chassis, rims, etc) hauling around, everything just works easier, faster, and better. My SLK, the S2000's, and the 350Z's were being eaten alive by $6000 gutted NA Civics. Now that's sad. We may catch up on the straights with pure power, but they don't have to brake at all on the corners. So for us SLK folks, saving a couple pounds of unsprung weight (read, getting light forged rims) is just like adding more horsepower, but also aids in handling.

There was a scale at the track, so I weight my SLK with the top up, (forgot to weigh it w/ top down) 3430lbs w/ me sitting in it. LF=921(26.85%) LR=827(24.11%) RF=895(26.09%) RR=788(22.97%), so the SLK can lose some weight, it's fat compared to S2000's, RSX, etc and nose heavy. btw I'm about 160ish, yes I'm light, if only my car was like me.

MCFaisal · 03-22-2007

The only thing I don't like about the R170s is that there not as nimble around the curves as porsches, lotus, bmw, or honda cars are. I have lots of trouble keeping up around the curves against my buddies S2K, his is stock and he keeps up with 911s and Ferrari 360s through the turns. I have a few mods planned such as stiffer springs and shocks. I also plan to lower the car and put 18inch wheels. The mod I can't wait to do though is to get a full header back supersprint exhaust system.

**alroumi** · 03-23-2007

Thank you for sharing with us, Sounds like Fun! I think we SLK owners should track our cars more often, judging from the posts people seem to be amazed by how well the SLK handles at the track.

**Ynot** · 03-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by alroumi

Thank you for sharing with us, Sounds like Fun! I think we SLK owners should track our cars more often, judging from the posts people seem to be amazed by how well the SLK handles at the track.

Definately, people usually laugh when it arrives, most people think it's just there to watch and not participate. I let my instructors drive it last year and they love it. Everyone loves the way it looks but many think it handles like a boat. They were very surprised when they got in, they have nothing but praises, it's very rare to see a mercedes on the track and everyone cheers once it gets going, like being an underdog, usually it's BMW, Porsches, and Japanese cars on the track.

**dsb** · 03-23-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ynot

Definately, people usually laugh when it arrives, most people think it's just there to watch and not participate. I let my instructors drive it last year and they love it. Everyone loves the way it looks but many think it handles like a boat. They were very surprised when they got in, they have nothing but praises, it's very rare to see a mercedes on the track and everyone cheers once it gets going, like being an underdog, usually it's BMW, Porsches, and Japanese cars on the track.

Yeah, it's nice to see the people's expression when a MB is on the track. I rarely ever see anyone with exception of one other MB owner driving a C230. I've had a couple people comment things like, "that car is too good looking to take on the track." I take it as a compliment, but I wonder if they think it only looks good. After a session, I'll usually see other enthusiasts come by and compliment it's performance. It sure makes you feel proud.

Now, I'd love to get a ride in that Ariel Atom. I'd probably throw up because of it's lateral road grip but I wouldn't mind. That's probably the ultimate, road-going track car available and it's reasonably priced.

**alroumi** · 03-24-2007

Ive seen an ariel atom, looks Fantastic.

**Ynot** · 03-24-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by dsb

Yeah, it's nice to see the people's expression when a MB is on the track. I rarely ever see anyone with exception of one other MB owner driving a C230. I've had a couple people comment things like, "that car is too good looking to take on the track." I take it as a compliment, but I wonder if they think it only looks good. After a session, I'll usually see other enthusiasts come by and compliment it's performance. It sure makes you feel proud.

Now, I'd love to get a ride in that Ariel Atom. I'd probably throw up because of it's lateral road grip but I wouldn't mind. That's probably the ultimate, road-going track car available and it's reasonably priced.

Yep, not a lot of mercedes on the track, makes it more special.

The owner of the ariel atom was a nice person, he was taken whoever wanted a ride in it. On some turns it looks like four wheel steering, the car was literally going sideways. Fun to watch.

**F111F** · 04-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8SLK

F111F thanks for a great write up and video, looks like a blast. i'm curious how the boxster, s2000 and vet would have done with more aggressive drivers. was the boxster an "s"? were there any cayman out there?

Hopefully they would have driven better with agressive drivers. I am not sure if the Boxster was an S or not. I didn't see any Cayman, but lots of Carrera and others in the higher grades. It was a beginner course, so quickly became apparent who was there to drive and there to just putter around.

**F111F** · 04-12-2007

Quote:

Originally Posted by easty

I've ran that track many times in the 55. I've sure my friends were there. Ian In a grey elise and todd in a 318i BMW. I miss the days there and TWS alot. TWS is a whole different track you should try that also.

Yep, the grey Elise was there in the intermediate group. I hope to join them next time out.

03-18-2007	#1 (permalink)
F111F Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plano, TX Vehicle: SLK55 Black Mocha Designo Posts: 290 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 22 Times in 10 Posts	Tracked SLK350 at Motorsports Ranch Tracked my SLK350 at Motorsports Ranch in Cresson, Texas (west of Fort Worth). Ran on the new 1.3 mile track CCW. It was a beginners class, so expectations can be a bit lower, but I must say that my SLK performed really well. It is a short track with lots of curves and elevations. You need brakes and tires to do well on this course. Drive as fast as you dare and then hit the brakes late and hard. No fade on the MB brakes(!!!), and the standard Bridgestones (Pole Positions) held up really well. It was a blast! Squealing tires, brake dust all over my rims. It was great! If you want to see the video of the track it is at: YouTube - Motorsport Ranch RUF Porsche If you want to see the layout it is at: http://www.motorsportranch.com/1.3-road-course.cfm So while power is helpful, driving skill is probably a better indicator, as I was smoking several cars that should have been faster. So here is a ranking of cars (imho). Audi S4 - Stage 3 (best performance - but overheating turbos, pulled him out early after several laps during each session). Cadillac CTS-V (Supercharge/Special Suspension) - SC helps this Corvette engine, and he could pull away, but pure weight (large car!) allowed for me to catch up on braking (I could brake much later) and in cornering I was faster. He spun out several times and even shut down the track because of all the dirt he put on the course. SLK-350 - MT, brakes, tires, sport suspension, low end max torque allowed me to progress to where I was hitting 90+ mph and running the course in 3/4 gear. WRX-Sti - Close, but didn't keep his turbo's spooled up on corners, so he and I were close, but MB power really helped here. - The rest weren't close, but also some guys just don't want to push their cars very much (or are scared, as you drive straight to a hairpin curve, hit your brakes, apex and then push it, also you turn from right to left at the top of a blind hill, go over, hit your brakes, and then suppose to double apex the inside curve before hitting the second hairpin, the top by the pit, you drive to what looks like you are going over the edge, hit brakes and apex - the porsche in the video is driving the course really poorly). 2nd WRX-Sti; 2 ea. 350Z (no low end torque or poor driving technique hurts their pulling away ability - if they add turbo's probably would blow me off the course); SLK-320 (older model - really drove great on this road course), Inifinite G-35 Sedan; Audi TT 1.8Turbo; Porsche Boxster; S2000 & Corvette (drove like a grandmother, safe, conservative, boring!) I will post some pictures when I get them. Last edited by F111F; 03-19-2007 at 07:03 PM.

03-18-2007	#3 (permalink)
dsb Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: NorCal Vehicle: '06 slk55 Posts: 1,176 Country: Thanks: 67 Thanked 120 Times in 42 Posts	I just tried the video link. I got a top gear episode. Can you post the correct link? __________________ SOLD! 06 Mercedes Benz SLK55 Caspian Blue / Black & Ash *To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.*

03-20-2007	#7 (permalink)
Ynot Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Colorado Vehicle: 06' MBZ SLK Posts: 2,795 Country: Thanks: 135 Thanked 35 Times in 30 Posts	Just did my first track day yesterday, what a blast, the SLK does handle very well, will write about it in a separate thread later this week. __________________ 06' SLK 350, Iridium/Ash all pkgs. 6-spd, 19" DCR. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts.

03-23-2007	#12 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	Thank you for sharing with us, Sounds like Fun! I think we SLK owners should track our cars more often, judging from the posts people seem to be amazed by how well the SLK handles at the track. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-24-2007	#15 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,271 Country: Thanks: 288 Thanked 231 Times in 145 Posts	Ive seen an ariel atom, looks Fantastic. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

03-18-2007	#2 (permalink)
412driver Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Salisbury North Carolina USA Vehicle: 99 SLK230 Other Toys: TOO MANY TOYS Posts: 1,010 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Sounds like a fun day, lookin forward to pixs. Best we can do round here is gittin Humpy Wheeler to open Charlotte Motor Speedway for us. Back when our hospital was supporting NASCAR with our helicopter at Rockingham, Wilkesboro and Martinsville, I made friends with most of the track owners and even took my Lightning for a run one afternoon. Left turns only sucks.

03-18-2007	#4 (permalink)
Baron7700 Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Pennyslvania Vehicle: 2006 Slk 350 Other Toys: Lots of ATV's Posts: 1,599 Country: Thanks: 3 Thanked 3 Times in 3 Posts	that video does put some good points on both cars tho. I personally love audi's a4 line, (s4 and rs4). But I wish they would of did the newer s4's with the v6 twin turbos again, instead of the v8. Imagine a m3 with twin turbos or supercharger, it would be an airplane. Now throw all wheel drive on it. Back to topic, i wish we had a track up here that actually was managed correctly. All we have is pocono raceway, and they take about a month + to answer any emails or phone calls about getting on the track.

03-19-2007	#6 (permalink)
F111F Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Plano, TX Vehicle: SLK55 Black Mocha Designo Posts: 290 Country: Thanks: 39 Thanked 22 Times in 10 Posts	Fixed the You Tube to the correct one. Thanks for finding this.

03-20-2007	#8 (permalink)
V8SLK Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Home of the brave Vehicle: 05 SLK55 AMG Posts: 1,071 Country: Thanks: 40 Thanked 48 Times in 26 Posts	F111F thanks for a great write up and video, looks like a blast. i'm curious how the boxster, s2000 and vet would have done with more aggressive drivers. was the boxster an "s"? were there any cayman out there?

03-21-2007	#9 (permalink)
slktyperice Senior SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 114 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	F111F, that sounds like a VERY tame track day. We had the same types of cars here at Streets of Willow running with SpeedTrialUSA, and the results were quite different. I figure the level of drivers (in the intermediate groups) were pretty similar, since nobody was really blowing by anyone too quickly. I ran bone stock at the track (non-AMG SLK350) 2 months after I got the SLK in May 2005, and the main issues were brake fade, the crappy Michelin Primacy tires, and horrendous body roll. Yet I still was able to keep up with stock 350Zs and Audi A4's and the such. I ran with upgraded 19's with Toyo tires, and ceramic brake pads last year, and I could totally feel the difference. The tail wasn't as slip-happy, and the brakes didn't fade as quickly. I could keep up with an Acura NSX, lightly modded 350Z's, beat S2000's, yet was hanging even with a Mini Cooper S gasp. The stars of the track were consistently the LanEvo's, WRX STi's, and the Lotus Elise in the $30-45k range. They're light, have a great power/weight ratio, and handle very well while stock or lightly modded. This week I finally put in my Green Filters, gonna get my 2nd Service A (38k miles), my SLK55 AMG full suspension conversion (coilovers, rear spring/chock, SLK55AMG sways) in. Too bad I couldn't just put in the H&R springs since my rears will rub (picked up 265/30/19 Yoko Advan Sports). I'll run with this setup for the summer, then I'll probably take up JLevi's $579 ECU upgrade for a claimed ~20hp/20tq boost. That should put me competitively with modded ~300hp cars. I guess one thing I learned (I knew from before but I really saw it and felt it) from the track is WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT. The less weight you have (chassis, rims, etc) hauling around, everything just works easier, faster, and better. My SLK, the S2000's, and the 350Z's were being eaten alive by $6000 gutted NA Civics. Now that's sad. We may catch up on the straights with pure power, but they don't have to brake at all on the corners. So for us SLK folks, saving a couple pounds of unsprung weight (read, getting light forged rims) is just like adding more horsepower, but also aids in handling.

03-22-2007	#11 (permalink)
MCFaisal SLK World Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: lexington Vehicle: 2001 Stock SLK230 silver Posts: 95 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	The only thing I don't like about the R170s is that there not as nimble around the curves as porsches, lotus, bmw, or honda cars are. I have lots of trouble keeping up around the curves against my buddies S2K, his is stock and he keeps up with 911s and Ferrari 360s through the turns. I have a few mods planned such as stiffer springs and shocks. I also plan to lower the car and put 18inch wheels. The mod I can't wait to do though is to get a full header back supersprint exhaust system.