What you did before Spec E30

#1

What type of motorsports experience did everyone have before coming to Spec E30?

#2

My wife really didn’t like me flying since a childhood family friend she knew crashed and died, so we compromised. I got to still go fast - just had to do it while planted on Terra firma. (fast is a relative term here guys, especially from the back of the pack!).

So I did a couple of Petty Experiences, ran the 2003 Silver State Classic (in that Atlanta Blue Z3) and then of course 2 seasons of DE’s.

I’m building a legal SpecE30 (or at least I hope it will be depending on how the HP/Torque rule finalizes) and am looking forward to 2009.

Happy Thanksgiving all!

Erle

#3

Started doing DE’s in my wife’s new E46 in 2000, in my mid-40s, mostly with BMW CCA. Showed up for my Very First Driving School with a set of spare wheels mounted with Rcomps in the back seat. NOT what an instructor wants to see.

Gave the E46 back to wife and got a beautiful E30 track car a few years later, and started instructing in 2004 with NASA and BMW. Wadded up my pristine E30, built a $400 rustbucket to run for a year, then blended parts from 3+ cars to make my race car for 2006 season.

#4

Started doing DEs in a 320i in 1986…Probably before a few of you pups were born.

Did a Skip Barber school in 1988. First raced a Firehawk 944 in 1989. Did 1/2 dozen Firehawk races through 1993 (best finish second in class, won $1500). Did several vintages races in 911s in the early 90s. Took a 15 year sabatical and started back with Spec E30 earlier this year. Though I don’t have the balls I had 15 years ago, I am having just as much fun.

Don

#5

I started with a little bit of karting when I was 15 which was not a great experience. The only kind of karting available on a budget in the richmond area is dirt ovals. If you think some SE30 guys take racing too seriously, you should see what some of these guys showed up with. There were lots of fights, lots of crashes, lots of confederate flags, and no turning right. I had just started getting into it when I was finally old enough to start looking for cars. I first got pointed to nasa, then to SE30. We sold the kart and got an E30. I spent about 1.5 years in HPDE before racing.

#6

Did my first autox in June of '05. Continued to autocross with the 510 club, BMWCCA, and the Lotus club. Did my first trackday at Laguna in my e30, when all it had was swaybars and springs and shocks. eta might I add…After seven trackdays I had the car finished and ready to race which I started this year in February…Now I am completely hooked. Need to figure out what bank to rob so I may race again next year…

#7

just don’t use your racecar as the getaway car, the big numbers/name on the side might make you easy to identify :slight_smile:

#8

Starting doing DE’s in a 1991 318is in 1998, got an E30 M3 couple years later, became an instructor around 2000 started racing with BMWCCA in J-Stock in 2001. National Champ in 2005. Switched to Spec E30 in 2007 because it was cheaper,had better competition and more of it, more events closer to me and had a proper National championship event.

#9

Interesting thread!

I decided to have a midlife crisis in 2004 and bought a sports car as my daily driver. I took it to a DE weekend in October and had my SCCA license and a race car by the following February. Did my first race at VIR that May and have been hooked BAD ever since.

I’m still hanging on to the “less seat time” excuse when I compare myself to my fast friends who have been karting since 10, racing all over the globe, etc.

Steve D.

#10

In 2001 I bought an M coupe. Soon after getting it I discovered BMW CCA HPDE’s. after 2 and half years and about 13 HPDE’s… JP, Brian and I all decided we’d go racing. Brian was the first to get and e30 and then JP got 2 and let me drive one of his while I tried to sell my M Coupe. And that pretty much brings us to today. This weekends race at Road Atlanta will be the end of my second full season of racing.

#11

I just completed my first year in an E30 and getting through my requirements for a competition license.
Previously I did two years in NASA’s time trials (TTB with a '95 993), a couple of years doing time trials with the SCCA (MINI), about five years doing other HPDE events/open track days and autocrossing. I also instruct for the Audi Club, NASA and the BMWCCA. A VERY long time ago I raced a formula ford for a short time, until I realized that racing and college didn’t go well together. I started autocrossing when I was 16. A lot of seat time, but not much doing wheel to wheel racing - I’m loving the E30!

#12

2 years autocrossing with the Clemson Sports Car Club. Then the NASA members in the club talked me into flagging (working Pit Out was my favorite). That was the first time I’d ever seen a DE. Spent a year doing DEs, got my license, and here I am. Autox is a gateway drug.

#13

I started with a 93’ 318is in 2003 and spent 4 years doing DE’s with various groups, roughly 20 DE’s total. After my first school I convinced myself that the car was holding me back (what I lie) and bought a 95’ M3 that I used for the next two years until I bought the E30. I also spent a good deal of time chasing Skeen around a wet skid pad at Extreme Measures and Street Survival Clinics. I’m glad I spent as much time as I did in DE because it greatly reduced the learning curve once I made the leap to racing.

#14

Started with BMWCCA DEs in a 95 m3 that eventually became an I Prepared car for club racing. Won 2004 South Atl championship in IP. Moved to spec e30 at end of 06

#15

Since I’ve been in high school (1983), I’ve been off/on as an autocrosser. My interest level fluctuated with my car choices, as I tended to own cars I liked over ones that were competitive. :blush: Did some TSD rallying and toyed with going into ProRally but couldn’t afford it. Took a hit of the track day crack pipe with a friend of mine and have been addicted to track driving ever since. I did a few years of hill climbs in another extremely uncompetitive car I was in love with until, at last, realizing how futile it was trying to turn a turd into something else. Got to the point with that car that I couldn’t drive it any faster than I already was, either. Pondered various series and cars for a long time before finally selecting SE30 as the best combination of affordability, event availability, fun and likable vehicle. It was either this or vintage racing, and I really didn’t want to race an ‘old’ car I’d have to worry about constantly. Financial setbacks have prevented the racing license so far, but the car is fantastic and I can’t wait to battle it out with the rest of the mid-pack crowd.
:wink: