SpecE30 in the works NJ

#1

After years of puffing gently on the go-fast crack pipe in the form of BMWCCA and PCA schools, I’m finally going to try my hand at some wheel to wheel racing. I’m collecting parts right now for my '87 325i. I know this list is not comprehensive but should contain the majority of the more expensive stuff. I’m going through all the soft parts on the car this summer so by winter I should be ready to install safety and go-fast gear.

Stuff I have:
Bilstein Sports
Fixed camber plates
Used Autopower bolt-in cage (as in previously installed, not previously rolled)
Sparco seat w/ brackets
Nomex suit
M&R 5 point harnesses
15x7 wheels, factory euro
RA1s

Stuff I need:
Seat back brace
Springs
Fire system
kill switch
Some sort of airdam setup to reside below the school bus bumper

Wish list:
HANS
adjustable camber plates, either my own design or whichever setup looks sound
lighter wheels
Paint to remedy the typical 80’s bad BMW clearcoat

#2

Welcome to the E30 addiction. My name is Sean and I am an addict. If you have been driving the E30 a while you know already how cool of a car it is. I am not sure if NJ is in NASA NE or NASA Mid-Atlantic but I am the mid atlantic registrar and I can say for sure that you chose one of the best groups of people to hang out/race with. E30 people are cool and that is a fact.
Your list of "to do " stuff is pretty good and I will beat Carter to the punch by saying, " Download the NASA CCR’s and the Spec E30 Rules before you do anything to the car." Use the link to the left.
Come on out to our last 2 events at Summit Point this year. Even if you don’t drive, come on down anyway and see what the competition is like. The racing is clean and close and always exciting. The people are top notch and the program is well run. If you are not already a NASA member, you will need to join to participate in any events. www.nasaproracing.com is the link to the national site, where you can join. The membership includes a subscription to GrassrootsMotorsports magazine( best mag I have read that caters to what we do) and some decent discount programs from sponsors. Welcome!

#3

EdW:

It’s good to have you here.

Feel free to ask any questions. I won’t promise that you’ll like all the answers but after you build your car and come racing, you’ll be happy.

Carter
Sepc E30 Administrator

#4

Carter wrote:

[quote]EdW:

It’s good to have you here.

Feel free to ask any questions. I won’t promise that you’ll like all the answers but after you build your car and come racing, you’ll be happy.

Carter
Sepc E30 Administrator[/quote]

It’s good to be here.

Apparently, I have been involved in SpecE30 longer than I originally thought. Rumor has it that you have nuclear spec socket head cap screws holding the cage together in your car. A long long time ago in a state far far away, I helped Rich A. install that cage in his E30 in our old shop.

#5

EdW wrote:

[quote]Carter wrote:

[quote]EdW:

It’s good to have you here.

Feel free to ask any questions. I won’t promise that you’ll like all the answers but after you build your car and come racing, you’ll be happy.

Carter
Sepc E30 Administrator[/quote]

It’s good to be here.

Apparently, I have been involved in SpecE30 longer than I originally thought. Rumor has it that you have nuclear spec socket head cap screws holding the cage together in your car. A long long time ago in a state far far away, I helped Rich A. install that cage in his E30 in our old shop.[/quote]

Are those legal? "Nuclear" whatever sounds like a performance enhancer to me… :slight_smile:

Just Kidding :slight_smile:

Ed… the car you have looks a lot like a car I was contemplating buying on cars.com for a very good price :slight_smile: I have been waiting to see when it would emerge as a Spec E30…

-Steve

Post edited by: stevekappy, at: 2005/08/24 20:20

#6

EdW wrote:

[quote]Carter wrote:

[quote]EdW:

It’s good to have you here.

Feel free to ask any questions. I won’t promise that you’ll like all the answers but after you build your car and come racing, you’ll be happy.

Carter
Sepc E30 Administrator[/quote]

It’s good to be here.

Apparently, I have been involved in SpecE30 longer than I originally thought. Rumor has it that you have nuclear spec socket head cap screws holding the cage together in your car. A long long time ago in a state far far away, I helped Rich A. install that cage in his E30 in our old shop.[/quote]

Yes, I do. The super-high strength bolts are what make the car so fast…

Carter

#7

stevekappy wrote:

[quote]Are those legal? "Nuclear" whatever sounds like a performance enhancer to me… :slight_smile:

Just Kidding :slight_smile:

Ed… the car you have looks a lot like a car I was contemplating buying on cars.com for a very good price :slight_smile: I have been waiting to see when it would emerge as a Spec E30…

-StevePost edited by: stevekappy, at: 2005/08/24 20:20[/quote]

I actually picked this car up in Charlottesville, VA in August of 2002 as a new daily driver/track beater to replace my old E28 535is. The car has served well for 60k+ miles and many track days.

#8

Despite the fact that I found two local guys allegedly selling their bolt in cages, I have drawn a big fat zero so far. Instead, I’m ordering a Kirk bolt in cage from a local place that is wrangling to be a Kirk Racing dealer. It looks like the shop has several potential buyers lined up for bars and cages so I should save a few bucks on the purchase price and a few more on shipping.

#9

I hate my bolt in. I should have spent the $$ and had a custom welded cage built by a professional.

#10

brain wrote:

I cannot comment on the "hate part" but after seeing Steve Brendle’s car and that cage Billy Rivas’ shop built, That is the way to go. Additionally for those who were there, the Curpier prelude thet went over had a cage in it built by Pete , no intrusions and no buckled tubing.

#11

Is it considered bad practice to gusset and weld a bolt-in cage? I can’t find reading material about it anywehere :frowning:

#12

mrussell wrote:

I can’t offer any actual tech so instead you get a wild ass guess:

Gusseting and welding up a bolt in cage makes for a stronger cage but you probably end up with something inbetween bolt in and custom in terms of strength. Welding up a bolt in reduces resale value to scrap levels so you might be better off selling it and starting over from scratch.

#13

The thing I have feared all winter finally happened. My significant other’s company acquired an outfit that does exactly what her department did last fall. They finally got around to laying off her whole department a couple weeks ago so I guess I have to put off my racing career one more year. It’s back to the HPDE summer points series for me. :wink:

Ed

Post edited by: edw, at: 2006/02/20 13:27

#14

Bummer. :frowning:

#15

Ed:

'Sorry to hear the news.

We’ll be here when you’re ready to race.

Carter

#16

Yo Ed

Simple solution:

Find another signif other, with $$$

Hahahahh

Fartbref

#17

FARTBREF wrote:

[quote]Yo Ed

Simple solution:

Find another signif other, with $$$

Hahahahh

Fartbref[/quote]

I’ll pass along your comment to her while wearing my Bell helmet and hockey gear over kevlar body armor.

#18

EdW wrote:

[quote]FARTBREF wrote:

[quote]Yo Ed

Simple solution:

Find another signif other, with $$$

Hahahahh

Fartbref[/quote]

I’ll pass along your comment to her while wearing my Bell helmet and hockey gear over kevlar body armor.[/quote]

Don’t forget the nomex.

#19

The race car is on again thanks to a semi-steady stream of freelance work. An Ultrashield seat is on order so I can move the slightly too small Sparco over to the passenger side. I’m currently trolling for cheap used H&R race springs as well. If I’m lucky, I’ll have the car on track this summer at some driving schools to tune the loose nut behind the wheel.

#20

I’m back in the game. The car is nearly gutted and the parts are piling up. Toyos are mounted on a set of factory euro 15x7 basketweaves. My immediate goal is to freshen the cylinder head, update steering parts, and mount seats before a late September driving school at LRP.

http://www.teamdfl.com/spece30/