SpecE30 @ VIR North BMW CCA

#1

SpecE30 just enjoyed an informal run at Tarheel’s driving school over the weekend at VIR. We had 5 guys running in B group: Sasha, JP, Brian Jones, Scott, and Dan. While we were polite (mostly) and obviously not racing, we did have the opportunity to run three in a row sometimes, playing follow-the-leader. As the straightaways showed and as you’d expect from spec cars, we were all evenly matched except for our driving ability, which varied.

I was extremely pleased with my first experience taking my E30 to the track. It was a hoot, and since it was much less precious than my e36 M3 was I didn’t care about letting it hang out a little more. It was really capable, too; about the only cars I had to let around me were other SpecE30s (damn them!) and e46 M3’s–stock e36 M3’s couldn’t hang with my SpecE30 through the twisties.

I also experienced some of the great comradeship evident on this site. I broke both my motor mounts going into the uphill turn 7. I borrowed some tools and received both advice and ridicule from the other guys as I changed out the mounts. Their presence and beer consumption on my behalf made the task much more enjoyable and I was up and running in about 1.5 hours. Scott broke a motor mount, too, so I’d highly recommend that people prepping cars attend to this. Even with new mounts, I also continued to have my mechanical cooling fan chew away at my upper radiator hose. This is apparently a common problem with E30’s I never heard of before and the obvious fix is to delete the mechanical fan or shorten up the hose to get it out of the way.

I’m looking forward to joining even more of you on track and really enjoyed spending time with the other guys! It was by far my best weekend yet at the track!

Sasha

#2

Glad to hear you had fun.
To clarify…did you break new, stock motor mounts? Old ones ? aftermarket?

I always zip tie a piece of old radiator hose to the vulnerable area on the actual hose that keeps my engine alive for the very reason mentioned

#3

Thanks for the report. I really had hoped to drive up and try to get in from the waitlist but I just couldn’t make it. I would have loved to have had the track time before comp school in a couple of weeks.

It would have been a blast to have 6 Spec E30 cars in the same group. That would cerntainly gotten some attention.

- Ken
#4

I broke 2 old, OEM mounts.

Sasha

#5

It was an excellent weekend… motor mount failures and all.

(BTW: mine was also an old one)

I’m looking forward to the next time not just to get more much needed seat time, but to get to know some of my fellow Spec e30 drivers.

Post edited by: scottmc, at: 2006/07/10 16:27

#6

Ex36 wrote:

[quote]I broke 2 old, OEM mounts.

Sasha[/quote]Thanks…I guess that means new ones for me and the old ones go in the spares box

#7

Sasha:

Thanks for the good report. We like to read Spec E30 adventures, regardless of the event, be it a race weekend or a school.

Early-on, I replaced my engine mounts with the urethane mounts from Ireland and they eliminated the problem.

9.3.1.8.1. Alternate, non-solid, motor mounts, providing the same height as original, are permitted.

Carter

#8

Also, are any of these cars going to the Comp School at VIR at the end of the month and do any of you need/want Spec E30 decals for the front or rear windows?

Carter

#9

Carter I would like some Spec E30 decals. What do I need to do to get them.

#10

I’d like a windshield banner, but I won’t be at the comp school–I’ll be visiting my family in CA. I gather that Scott M., JP, and Brian Jones (Beertech racing) will be passing on the comp school as well. Their cars run strong, but I’m not certain any of them is totally prepped to the SpecE30 rules–they’ve actually got things to remove, such as cams or coil overs. I don’t know if Dan Smith plans a trip.

Sasha

#11

To clarify, A car needs to pas a "race technical inspection" to get the logbook and to participate in Comp school. NASA tech does not perform a "class technical inspection" on the car, so those guys could participate in comp school as long as the car will pass the race tech. If they pass, they can register to race for the weekend and if the car is not Spec E30 legal it could be classed in PT or GTS (GTSU if no dyno sheet available).

#12

nasaregistrar wrote:

Sean,

Are we required to have a dyno test on our cars to run with Spec E30? I will be in the comp school at VIR and plan on racing Saturday if all goes well.

  • Ken
#13

Carter wrote:

[quote]Also, are any of these cars going to the Comp School at VIR at the end of the month and do any of you need/want Spec E30 decals for the front or rear windows?

Carter[/quote]

I won’t be ready to do the Comp School for another few months. Building the cage and installing a fire safety system are really the only things I have left to do… as far as the car goes. I’ll also need to get a Hans device and a suit. The other things (sway bars, sub frame bushings, trailing arm bushings, etc.) I can do as I go along.

I’d love to get some decals. You can never have enough stickers.

Scott

#14

No Dyno req. for Spec E30 but you should be prepared to put it on one in case Mr. Hunt decides to check out the cars for compliance.
GTS rules require it for the HP/Weight way they class. No Dyno and you get classed with the big boys.
Search on here for the thread where Carter lists some of the dyno results…cars are very close and If I remember, Barry Battle had a fresh engine that only pulled a few more than Carlton’s car

#15

DMoses wrote:

Send an email to me. carterhunt@aol.com

They are $33.00 delivered anywhere in the US for either the front windshield banner for the top of the windshield, or the smaller rear window decal.

I can usually have them out to you in a few days.

Carter

#16

nasaregistrar wrote:

Very good points Sean.

Thanks,

Carter

#17

nasaregistrar wrote:

[quote]No Dyno req. for Spec E30 but you should be prepared to put it on one in case Mr. Hunt decides to check out the cars for compliance.
GTS rules require it for the HP/Weight way they class. No Dyno and you get classed with the big boys.
Search on here for the thread where Carter lists some of the dyno results…cars are very close and If I remember, Barry Battle had a fresh engine that only pulled a few more than Carlton’s car[/quote]

Again, Sean is correct. And my car is available (and anonymously) to anyone who wants to check it for min. weight after qualifying or a race, and to check on a dyno at any event or for any other reason.

My car is also dyno’ed if any Spec E30 car gets dyno’ed.

Carter

#18

Carter wrote:

[quote]DMoses wrote:

Send an email to me. carterhunt@aol.com

They are $33.00 delivered anywhere in the US for either the front windshield banner for the top of the windshield, or the smaller rear window decal.

I can usually have them out to you in a few days.

Carter[/quote]

I assume you’ll take PayPal?

#19

Just wanted to say that I was quite impressed with Sasha, Scott, Brian and JP – they’re great guys and pretty good drivers. :wink: I was relieved to discover that the Beertech cars are decidedly not Spec-ready after two of them pulled away from me like I was walking on the North Course. :S

My first (of two) instructors was a very by-the-book military man and my second instructor was focused on helping me iron out the wrinkles in Hog Pen, so I didn’t get to run with the other future SpecE30 drivers that much. (I helped mow the grass on the outside of 17a while my first instructor and I were trying to figure out the best shift points and entry speeds.) :pinch:

I’ll be back at VIR north for my inaugural SpecE30 weekend at the end of the month and the car might even be painted by then. :whistle:

#20

That weekend was the best weekend Ive had so far at the track as well. It was great meeting a few more spec E30 racers and even better having them in the same run group.

Ill be passing on the comp school this month as well. Ill need a cage, fire system and driving suit etc. before then. Car will also have to be de-tuned a bit, I need to get rid of the suspension and a few other goodies before Im spec legal. I have the stock drivetrain now except for the chip and the light flywheel also. BeerTech is hoping to have our cages done over the winter and button up the other details to get to a comp school in February.

BeerTech’s next school will be August 4,5,6 w/ Car Guys at VIR Full. Anybody else coming to this one??

BTW…is anyone running # 380 on their car by cance? I cant decide on a number…

Thanks,
Jones