Bought a Spec E30 Race Car (well it will be)

[gtncpa]

You guys are going to think I am nuts ... but I just might do it. I love my car and part of the reason I am not faster on the track is ... I LOVE my car




I am looking at one like this that is street legal and set up for the race track. Stock engine with headers and tune and performance brakes and suspension.

Toyo RA1's are about $80 for it and the brake pads are cheap too! I could race it in the GTS 1 series.

Any comments, suggestions concerns ...

[walker2t]

ah man I feel so sorry for you! tell you what, I can't drive my car they I want so I'll sell my lola to you for $50,000 and I'll go see my friend John at skillmans to help ease my pain...

[Utmost1]

If it's the right price and runs ok, I wouldn't tear up my love either. You could always by a newer Mustang though and keep your old one for tearing up. If you've got the fundage...

[gtncpa]

It is for a price I can't pass up. It cost a little bit more than my 6 piston StopTechs! My buddy has all the connections so it wont be uncharted territory.. It will have suspension and brakes from Tuner Motor Sports..... If I get serious about my comp license I would never subject my Mustang to it. They go by the "Rubbing is Racing" philosophy.

[walker2t]

It is for a price I can't pass up. It cost a little bit more than my 6 piston StopTechs! My buddy has all the connections so it wont be uncharted territory.. It will have suspension and brakes from Tuner Motor Sports..... If I get serious about my comp license I would never subject my Mustang to it. They go by the "Rubbing is Racing" philosophy.

oh no!!! your not rubbing fenders with my Lola get your own car!!!! lol the BMW would be perfect for this.. lol

[RickRoush03]

i say go for it, then you won't worry about the roush if something happens, this car is prob cheaper to fix/repair and you are emotionally tied to it.

[Ryan.]

After watching the Spec guys this past weekend, it looked like a blast! If you got the $$$ I'd go for it. IMO, the biggest pay off is your expendables will be so much cheaper!

[gtncpa]

My buddy is headed out to pick it up on his trailer this morning. The car is located in NJ. We hope to have it set up before Pocono by the July 14th. I think one reason the E30 guys are so quick is the cars are so cheap to fix. Imagine brushing a tire wall in one of our cars!

In the E30 if you hit the tire wall all you need to do is to do a touch and go thru the pits to make sure no major bits fell off and you are back racing!

[Utmost1]

It's the most worry free way to go. It's cheap all the way around. Plus it's lighter to boot.

[gtncpa]

Got the headers already







It's not a race car yet ... but it will be!!!!

[walker2t]

nice!! that was a fast decision! how much do you have to change to make race car?

[gtncpa]

Well I want to get a little more "snap" out of it so that is why I am putting headers and a tune in it. I can't run in the Spec E30 with those mods .. but they can be taken off.

To start with I am putting:

• a roll bar in it much like the one in my Mustang. Four point with two cross bars. It is a custom roll bar that can be added on to later to get it up to race snuff
• Track Rims
• Toyo RA1's
• Full suspension set up from Tuner - Bilstein's, sway bars, strut tower braces ect..
• Brakes - calipers, race pads, SS brake lines
• New rear spoiler

That is enough to get me ready for track days. If I like it I will add the full roll cage, fuel shut and electrical shut off, race seats and harnesses, window net .... and some other stuff.

Bugity bugity bugity lets go racing.

[Black Gold 380R]

You keeping that luggage rack? I think it would be cool to race with it LOL. Cool car BTW. It looks like it is in VERY good condition. Almost a shame to turn it into a race car....ALMOST… LOL.

[WVTrakPak]

Wow, this is the only place I have ever heard a BMW referred to as "cheap!" Granted the buy in price is but every nut and bolt is double what you would expect. I have owned one 325 and a 944 and I am done(except maybe a Boxster one day and not for the track.)

I dont think the "I" has the LSD like the "Is." Am I correct?
Dont bring it to VIR, too many long straights, they are really behind the power your Stang makes.

Good Luck!

[gtncpa]

Upgrade parts start arriving Monday!

[walker2t]

so this car will be faster or slower than mustang when it's done?

[gtncpa]

It will never be faster but it is cheap car that handles well. I can run it at 10 10ths because it is cheap to fix and I have no emotional tie to it. I can also run it in a real race series against similar cars. Kinda like bracket racing.

It is also safer because it is not a vert and eventually have a full cage with other safety features.

[walker2t]

that's awesome so are you retiring the mustang all together?

[gtncpa]

No! I plan on taking both of them to Pocono in July.

[Matt'sRoush]

I like it. I think those make fun little race cars.