Requirements for racing with BMWCCA CR

#1

I went thru the BMWCCA Rules (They don’t call it a CCR I guess) and this is what seemed of interest to a SpecE30 type looking to run with BMWCCA CR.

  1. Getting your license. Become a member of BMWCCA (www.BMWCCA.org). Then go to http://bmwccaclubracing.com/NewRacerApplication/NewRacers.aspx, read the license policy and fill out forms. Process takes about a month but if you give them more $$ they’ll rush it. Have to get a Dr. to sign the medical.

Just for clarity, their Rules make no provision that would allow you to just show up with your NASA Comp license and expect to be allowed to race. That being said, I imagine that the race marshall can decide whatever he wants.

  1. Decals. There’s now 13 required decals, down 2 from last year. The only one of which that is particularly irksome is the Tire Rack windshield banner. So don’t remove it’s backing paper and just tape it in place for the race. You get the decals in the mail when you get your comp license. The decals are all from folks that you buy stuff from every day, so it’s not so bad. I’m going to put some of the decals on a magnetic sheet (get this from your local sign shop) and then just slap the sheet on a fender with a little helper tape for CR races.

The number board requirement does not apply to us because we are not a BMWCCA CR class. I’ve confirmed this with BMWCCA.

We need “SE30” class decals near our #'s, but that’s no burden since it’s now required in our own CCR too.

  1. This is a big one. Apparently we need an onboard Fire Suppression system. Not just an extinguisher. Maybe one of the guys here that have actually raced with BMWCCA can weigh in on this requirement.

  2. Right side nets and Window nets expire in 2yrs (December)

  3. Aluminum seats have to be bolted in at both base and back. Not just supported in the back, but fastened.

  4. To be allowed to race in the SpecE30 class, your car has to be 100% SpecE30 compliant. Leave your Kumho’s at home.

  5. Bring a copy of the NASA and SpecE30 CCR’s to the race.

BMWCCA CR Rules http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/static/ForTheRacer/BMW_CR_Rules-2009-v14.1.pdf

#2

if the medical form that you submitted for your NASA license is still less than 2 years old, you can use it for BMWCCA CR licensing as well.
bruce

#3

Note on fire suppression systems: I asked for a rules clarification from BMWCCA since I had a current SCCA log book. Since SCCA does not require a fire suppression system, only a hand held, CCA agreed to require only what SCCA required. You can request a clarification for NASA, but it should fall under the same clarification that covered my car. Chuck

#4

I’m a little surprised. I would not have thought that BMWCCA would make exceptions on what they perceive as safety issues. I’ve emailed them to see if we can’t get a buy on the issue.

#5

Ranger wrote:

Why would you want a by on this? A fire suppression system makes so much more sense as compared to a hand-held and isn’t all that expensive.

#6

Jim…some of us don’t need the extra weight:) While I agree that a system is better than a hand held, fact is an e30 is a very safe car and I know of no fire incidents with this chassis. In addition, Spec is a low buck class and a great deal of people don’t want to spend the extra bucks (a race entry) on unneeded equipment. Just say’n…Chuck

#7

jlevie wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

Why would you want a by on this? A fire suppression system makes so much more sense as compared to a hand-held and isn’t all that expensive.[/quote]

I don’t need a buy on this, I have a FS system. But I’m trying to get other guys to come to the BMWCCA races too and not everyone has a FS system.

Later edit. I heard back from BMWCCA. We’re good with a fire extinguisher because that meets the SpecE30 class requirements.

#8

Just so’s I’m clear. Like many of us, I have numerous decals on my car already. Can I just add the 12 various stickers to the car somewhere, tape the tire rack windshield decal and bring my current nasa comp license and ruleset to cca races and be legit?

#9

cwbaader wrote:

this is probably the worst justification for not having a fire system i’ve ever heard…

#10

Ranger wrote:

[quote]I don’t need a buy on this, I have a FS system. But I’m trying to get other guys to come to the BMWCCA races too and not everyone has a FS system.

Later edit. I heard back from BMWCCA. We’re good with a fire extinguisher because that meets the SpecE30 class requirements.[/quote]

interesting that bmwcca cr is letting people slide on the safety requirements…they have historically been very progressive with safety requirements (first club to require hans, right side nets, etc)…

are they letting you guys race without ride side nets as well?

seems that if they require equipment for safety reasons, everyone they allow on track would have to follow those rules…

#11

Age wrote:

you have to have a bmw club racing license to race in club racing…

not sure about the other requirements though…it would seem that everyone will have to display the required series sponsor decals since that is part of the sponsorship agreements…

#12

Age wrote:

See point 1) in the first post. Your NASA Comp License qualifies you for a BMWCCA license. But you still have to go thru the application process and get that BMWCCA Comp License.

#13

dmwhite wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

[quote]I don’t need a buy on this, I have a FS system. But I’m trying to get other guys to come to the BMWCCA races too and not everyone has a FS system.

Later edit. I heard back from BMWCCA. We’re good with a fire extinguisher because that meets the SpecE30 class requirements.[/quote]

interesting that bmwcca cr is letting people slide on the safety requirements…they have historically been very progressive with safety requirements (first club to require hans, right side nets, etc)…

are they letting you guys race without ride side nets as well?

seems that if they require equipment for safety reasons, everyone they allow on track would have to follow those rules…[/quote]

Our class requiries right-side nets, so they would be required for us to run in CR. But for those classes that do not require right-side nets (SCCA?), BMWCCA “highly recommends it”.

This is a copy/paste from a the Rules:

[i]A. Non-BMW CCA Classifications

  1.   BMW’s, defined to be BMW manufactured chassis and engine combinations, prepared to and competing in other non-vintage regional or national sanctioning bodies programs may participate in BMW CCA Club Racing adhering to the applicable sanctioning bodies class preparation rules and within the class for which they are prepared.

  2.   Competitors must be able to present an official copy of the most current rules and regulations applicable to the declared class.

  3.   Competitors must present a logbook complete with a current annual issued by the sanctioning body for the declared class at Technical Inspection.

a. Stewards may allow a one-time, one-race exemption that must be noted in the BMW CCA Club Racing logbook.

b. BMW’s prepared to the rules of a sanctioning body that does not issue log books or annual inspections must present evidence of recent participation in the declared class.

(1) Complete technical inspection for compliance with applicable safety requirements is required at each event.

c. Without logbook or participation documentation the entrant must conform to appropriate BMW CCA Club Racing class rules.

  1.   Competitors must comply with all of the declared class vehicle preparation rules without exception.  

  2.   Personal safety gear (including but not limited to: head and neck restraint, suit, shoes, gloves, suit, helmet, arm restraints, etc) must meet or exceed BMW CCA Club Racing requirements.

a. Interior nets are highly recommended.[/i]

Copy/Paste ends.

#14

Ranger wrote:

i cant find any mention of right side nets in the spec e30 rules…and nasa has the either/or wording for right side nets and halo seats…

[quote]5. Personal safety gear (including but not limited to: head and neck restraint, suit, shoes, gloves, suit, helmet, arm restraints, etc) must meet or exceed BMW CCA Club Racing requirements.

a. Interior nets are highly recommended.[/i]

4.A.5 says the drivers personal safety equipment must meet BMW CCA CR requirements.
[/quote]

again, i’m very surprised that they are going to let cars race in bmw cr that don’t meet the safety equipment requirements of bmw cr…

#15

Mr. White…evidently you have not had much discussion with drivers on this very subject. I was echoing general feelings.

I requested that clarification in 2007 and had forgotten they expire at the end of the year if not implemented in the rules. So that request has expired. If you hold a current NASA log book and your car is built to those rules I still think you would be good. However, I would ask for another clarification to be safe. Mention that it has already been approved once.

BMW races are, in general, hurting for numbers. Most races in the SE are run with other organizations. This makes them somewhat more accessible to NASA and SCCA drivers. Chuck

#16

Ranger wrote:

[quote]Age wrote:

See point 1) in the first post. Your NASA Comp License qualifies you for a BMWCCA license. But you still have to go thru the application process and get that BMWCCA Comp License.[/quote]

haha - you sound like my high school math teacher. Mr.
Goldsmith, please refer back to what I said 5 minutes ago… guess that explains why I joined the army instead of going to college :wink:

Anyway, thanks for championing this, getting the details and sharing it, much appreciated. Too bad CCA doesn’t recognize the NASA licenses the way SCCA does, but no prob getting it done.

#17

cwbaader wrote:

however true that may be, it does not change my feelings about the justification for not having a fire sytem…

i guess my feelings that you should never skimp on safety equipment aren’t shared by the spec e30 crowd (i’ll get over it :wink: )…after a recent side impact (car vs armco) i had, i’m very thankful i had a halo seat and right side net. both did their job and i walked away from a pretty heavy impact with zero injuries…thankfully i have never been in a burning car, but if it ever happens, i’d much rather have a fire supression system that will buy me a little more time to get out of the car (vs a handheld extinguisher that is going to do zero for my safety)

i view safety gear as items that we should have just in case the worst happens…and the better the safety equipment is, the better off i will be…

cheers

#18

dmwhite wrote:

[quote]Ranger wrote:

i cant find any mention of right side nets in the spec e30 rules…and nasa has the either/or wording for right side nets and halo seats…

[quote]5. Personal safety gear (including but not limited to: head and neck restraint, suit, shoes, gloves, suit, helmet, arm restraints, etc) must meet or exceed BMW CCA Club Racing requirements.

a. Interior nets are highly recommended.[/i]

4.A.5 says the drivers personal safety equipment must meet BMW CCA CR requirements.
[/quote]

again, i’m very surprised that they are going to let cars race in bmw cr that don’t meet the safety equipment requirements of bmw cr…[/quote]

You are right about the Halos, I’d forgotten about those. it’s net or halo for our class as specified in the NASA CCR.

I’m also surprised that BMWCCA isn’t requiring meet/exceed their safety standards. This whole “foreign class” inclusion business is new and may get some tweaking over time.

#19

Fire suppression was one of the first things I bought in my build and never wasted time with a hand held bottle. If you watch in-car vid of a burning race car (remember the Rolex race last year at I believe was Watkins Glen?) there is no time to release your harnesses, reach across to the floor of the passenger seat, release the extinguisher, use it, and get out of the car. A pull handle is the only reasonable mechanism available before getting the hell out of the car. Why suppression systems are not mandatory for all race classes is beyond me. It may not be the E30 burning - it might be another car run into you, pins you into a wall and burns. If it were me, I would have wished the other car had a suppression system instead of a hand held so it could have been prevented or at least provided an additional measure of safety.

The differential weight and cost are not strong arguments against fire safety but hey, rules still allow it and it’s your arse and car that’s burning. If mine’s burning I’m pulling the handle and getting the f out. Hopefully the car will be salvagable.

#20

Back to decals. I’ve seen nothing that gets us out of the decals requirement. So my assumption at this point is that the BMWCCA decals requirement still applies. Seems only fair to the BMWCCA sponsors. But I was surprised that we got out from under the fire suppression sys requirement so who knows.

That being said, with the number boards gone, 2 of the other decals gone, and class markings required for us anyhow, the decal requirements are certainly less of a hassle now then they were last year.