SL55/63/65/R230 AMG: Anybody takes their SL55 to the track?
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Joined: May 2003
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From: West Toluca Lake, CA.
2004 SL55 AMG
Hey BobCanada:
I hear that IngenereAMG takes his SL55 AMG to the track often and truly enjoys the experience. I recall several instances where he's stated that the SL55 handles well and is highly capable of great track performance despite it's hefty weight and electronic angels. I'm sure he'll impart more of his insights and experience on this topic.
As for me, I will be focusing on track days/race schools for my new Yamaha R1 although It sounds enticing to take my SL55 to Willow Springs big track someday just to explore the vehicles capabilities.
I hear that IngenereAMG takes his SL55 AMG to the track often and truly enjoys the experience. I recall several instances where he's stated that the SL55 handles well and is highly capable of great track performance despite it's hefty weight and electronic angels. I'm sure he'll impart more of his insights and experience on this topic.
As for me, I will be focusing on track days/race schools for my new Yamaha R1 although It sounds enticing to take my SL55 to Willow Springs big track someday just to explore the vehicles capabilities.
Last edited by RU_MATRX; Jun 11, 2005 at 04:57 PM.
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Hi:
Yes its true. I do plenty of track days, and when I am running street cars my weapon of choice has become the SL55. You have to adjust your turn in points, but it is really quite good....and very little can stay with it.
I have taken it on a Ferrari club blast into the mountains, and to my friends disbelief they couldn't hang with the SL on the straights OR the mountains!!
Have fun..............
Yes its true. I do plenty of track days, and when I am running street cars my weapon of choice has become the SL55. You have to adjust your turn in points, but it is really quite good....and very little can stay with it.
I have taken it on a Ferrari club blast into the mountains, and to my friends disbelief they couldn't hang with the SL on the straights OR the mountains!!
Have fun..............
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Zoetermeer, NL
SL 55 AMG
At the recent AMG driver training at SPA-Franchorchamps in Belgium, 7 of us drove SL 55. There were also 2 CLK DTM, 2 SL 65, 3 E 55 and a lot of other AMG cars. A great way to explore the abilities of your car - and yourself - on one of the worlds most fascinating race tracks. In the fall the event takes place at Nurburgring Nordschleife...
Newbie
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 5
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From: Zoetermeer, NL
SL 55 AMG
AMG Driver Training 2005
Originally Posted by JR.
ETHOME, how do i sign up.. ??
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Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
AMG Drivers Training / SL on trackdays
Hello EThome...
Nice to see you "here" again. I think we met at the AMG trackday in SPA ( I was the French SL65)
Obvously a SL is not made for trackdays - I have to admit, but it is a lot of fun on fast tracks, like SPA Francorchamps. I tried the SL as well last weekend in Dijon, which is much smaller and slower as well - it was not a pleasure at all, to be honest.
Another point to take into consideration; are the costs - discs, pads, rims, etc.. At SPA I "used" up THREE rims ....
.... Last year I had to change the rotors as well - and they are NOT a bargain ...
Honestly, I prefer to take my CSL to trackdays - more fun, better handling, and as well, I do not have to think about costs or damage of the car.
greetings from France
Walter
Nice to see you "here" again. I think we met at the AMG trackday in SPA ( I was the French SL65)
Obvously a SL is not made for trackdays - I have to admit, but it is a lot of fun on fast tracks, like SPA Francorchamps. I tried the SL as well last weekend in Dijon, which is much smaller and slower as well - it was not a pleasure at all, to be honest.
Another point to take into consideration; are the costs - discs, pads, rims, etc.. At SPA I "used" up THREE rims ....
.... Last year I had to change the rotors as well - and they are NOT a bargain ... Honestly, I prefer to take my CSL to trackdays - more fun, better handling, and as well, I do not have to think about costs or damage of the car.
greetings from France
Walter
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
Likes: 5
From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by Walter.fr
Hello EThome...
Nice to see you "here" again. I think we met at the AMG trackday in SPA ( I was the French SL65)
Obvously a SL is not made for trackdays - I have to admit, but it is a lot of fun on fast tracks, like SPA Francorchamps. I tried the SL as well last weekend in Dijon, which is much smaller and slower as well - it was not a pleasure at all, to be honest.
Another point to take into consideration; are the costs - discs, pads, rims, etc.. At SPA I "used" up THREE rims .... .... Last year I had to change the rotors as well - and they are NOT a bargain ...
Honestly, I prefer to take my CSL to trackdays - more fun, better handling, and as well, I do not have to think about costs or damage of the car.
greetings from France
Walter
Nice to see you "here" again. I think we met at the AMG trackday in SPA ( I was the French SL65)
Obvously a SL is not made for trackdays - I have to admit, but it is a lot of fun on fast tracks, like SPA Francorchamps. I tried the SL as well last weekend in Dijon, which is much smaller and slower as well - it was not a pleasure at all, to be honest.
Another point to take into consideration; are the costs - discs, pads, rims, etc.. At SPA I "used" up THREE rims ....
.... Last year I had to change the rotors as well - and they are NOT a bargain ... Honestly, I prefer to take my CSL to trackdays - more fun, better handling, and as well, I do not have to think about costs or damage of the car.
greetings from France
Walter
You used up 3 rims!!! Were you riding the curbs? Damaging 3 wheels at the track can increase the costs remarkably.
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
Hello IngenereAMG
Unfortunately it is a fact, Pirelli mechanics discovered this, when they changed the tyres after the trackday at SPA. I am NOT riding the curbs, I always try to avoid this - but maybe .... I cant remember ....
All of them had slightly damages on the inner side of the wheel - outside was still ok - so now I have a new set of wheels - and the others are for repair.
nice day
Walter
Unfortunately it is a fact, Pirelli mechanics discovered this, when they changed the tyres after the trackday at SPA. I am NOT riding the curbs, I always try to avoid this - but maybe .... I cant remember ....
All of them had slightly damages on the inner side of the wheel - outside was still ok - so now I have a new set of wheels - and the others are for repair.
nice day
Walter
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by Walter.fr
Hello IngenereAMG
Unfortunately it is a fact, Pirelli mechanics discovered this, when they changed the tyres after the trackday at SPA. I am NOT riding the curbs, I always try to avoid this - but maybe .... I cant remember ....
All of them had slightly damages on the inner side of the wheel - outside was still ok - so now I have a new set of wheels - and the others are for repair.
nice day
Walter
Unfortunately it is a fact, Pirelli mechanics discovered this, when they changed the tyres after the trackday at SPA. I am NOT riding the curbs, I always try to avoid this - but maybe .... I cant remember ....
All of them had slightly damages on the inner side of the wheel - outside was still ok - so now I have a new set of wheels - and the others are for repair.
nice day
Walter
I have never seen damage to the inside of the wheel. How did you do that?
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
Trackdays ...
Originally Posted by IngenereAMG
Walter:
I have never seen damage to the inside of the wheel. How did you do that?
I have never seen damage to the inside of the wheel. How did you do that?
Unfortunately I do not have an idea - how this is possible. The right - front, and both rear wheels have been damaged .... a "little" bit flat on the inner side of the rim. I really did not "eat" the curbs, on the track - therefore I don't really know, where this is coming from.
Nice weekend to U
Walter
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Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by Walter.fr
Hello IngenereAMG
Unfortunately I do not have an idea - how this is possible. The right - front, and both rear wheels have been damaged .... a "little" bit flat on the inner side of the rim. I really did not "eat" the curbs, on the track - therefore I don't really know, where this is coming from.
Nice weekend to U
Walter
Unfortunately I do not have an idea - how this is possible. The right - front, and both rear wheels have been damaged .... a "little" bit flat on the inner side of the rim. I really did not "eat" the curbs, on the track - therefore I don't really know, where this is coming from.
Nice weekend to U
Walter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
Originally Posted by IngenereAMG
........... Keep having fun and enjoy your weekend......
I learned from this - and taking my SL not to trackdays any longer - enjoying my M3 CSL on the circuit ... and all this with no worries at all, because rims are much cheaper for the BMW, than for the SL65...
Honestly - fun is bigger with the CSL than with the SL... because the weight is different...but I do not have to tell YOU this...
Nice weekend to U
Walter
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
Video SPA - AMG drivers event
Hello Bilal
Hello AMG fans
Ok - even when this will kill my ISP bandwith ......
here is one vid
http://sl65amg.free.fr/Vid/SPA_SL_Indication.wmv
(rightclick - save as...)
enjoy - and PLEASE dont forward the link - thank you
kind regards from France
Walter
Hello AMG fans
Ok - even when this will kill my ISP bandwith ......
here is one vid
http://sl65amg.free.fr/Vid/SPA_SL_Indication.wmv
(rightclick - save as...)
enjoy - and PLEASE dont forward the link - thank you
kind regards from France
Walter
Almost a Member!
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 64
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From: Palm Beach County, FL
SL65 AMG
Originally Posted by Walter.fr
Hello Bilal
Hello AMG fans
Ok - even when this will kill my ISP bandwith ......
here is one vid
http://sl65amg.free.fr/Vid/SPA_SL_Indication.wmv
(rightclick - save as...)
enjoy - and PLEASE dont forward the link - thank you
kind regards from France
Walter
Hello AMG fans
Ok - even when this will kill my ISP bandwith ......
here is one vid
http://sl65amg.free.fr/Vid/SPA_SL_Indication.wmv
(rightclick - save as...)
enjoy - and PLEASE dont forward the link - thank you
kind regards from France
Walter
AWESOME! Thanks.
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 3,703
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From: Arizona
SL55AMG, Ferrari 348, Ferrari Testarossa, Ferrari F40, Ferrari Mondial t, Ducati 916, Indycar
Originally Posted by Florida Chris
AWESOME! Thanks.
Member
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 137
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From: France
SL65/ML55/BMW M3 CSL
Originally Posted by IngenereAMG
It looked like about a 3 minute lap. That just shows how much faster F1 cars are.........
You are right - the video was a lap with about 3 min. lap time. Best ever reached was a little bit better.
Even when you compare "my time" with the DTM cars (2.13) there is a huge difference ... but these guys get paid to drive ... and I just enjoy
Originally Posted by Frisco
Any more pics of the DTM at the driver's training day?
I shoot some 500 pictures of the 4 training days .... but would be far to much to post all these ...
kind regards
Walter
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From: Bay Area, CA
03 CLK500, 04 X3, No 07 GT3RS :(
Originally Posted by Walter.fr
I shoot some 500 pictures of the 4 training days .... but would be far to much to post all these ...
