Having asked for some track/race cars for you to choose between there was quite a selection, wasn’t there. Certainly not an easy choice (did everyone deliberate as long over their vote as I did?!), but I couldn’t have hoped for a more worthy pair of winners:
Congratulations to M3BOB & initial_g !
I hope you enjoyed the chance to see both cars together at Santa Pod. They represent very different approaches to the idea of tracking an E30, but they both have some serious fun doing so - hit 'READ MORE...' for more details on the cars and their owners...
Car Details:
M3BOB
Lightweight GRP Panels; bumpers, bonnet, bootlid, rear wing and front wings. Sparco rollcage, re-roofed (was a sunroof car), repainted in alpine white. Carbon airbox, cams and Alpha N, 50 exhaust manifold (wrapped), stainless scorpion system, coilovers, braided lines, plumbed in extinguisher.
initial_g
Base 2.5 stroked to a 2.8, JE 85mm pistons, Schrick cams, stainless system and k&n, walbro fuel pump.
Z: How did you get into this sort of thing? Any plans to go racing?
M3BOB: I used to race a 2002 20 years ago, was into trackdays then. Had a break, marriage, kids, house etc then got back into it. Would like to do some classic racing at some point.
initial_g: Funny one that. I went on a track day with my cousin in his e30 and went to view my car on the way home which was destined to be a breaker. Sold my e36 cabby and bought the sorry looking e30… went from there really.
Z: What's planned for the future in terms of further mods to the car?
M3BOB: More power; I have a spare engine to play with…
initial_g: Stiffen it up, loose some weight off the front, fit my compomotive wheels, possible forced induction.
Z: Any tips for someone who's not done a trackday before but quite fancies the idea?
M3BOB: Don’t go mad spending money on power; chassis first. A car that handles well can put more powerful cars to shame if driven properly.
initial_g: Buy an e30, strip it, fit stiff shocks and springs, a set of r888's and have some fun. That’s all you need to start, then just upgrade what you feel it needs.
Z: How long have you been driving E30s?
M3BOB: 22 years, first was a 323i 2 door in cosmos blue metallic.
initial_g: 6 months.
Z: How long has it taken you to get your current one in the state it is now?
M3BOB: 5 years, it’s evolved a few times and was originally a write off.
initial_g: 3 months.
Z: What makes an E30 particularly appropriate for your use/abuse?
M3BOB: The m3 is very forgiving on track. I used to track my road car years ago, but wanted something more purposeful.
initial_g: Rear wheel drive, well balanced and powerful. Cheap when things break.
Z: Do you have another car for day-to-day use?
M3BOB: An Iveco 7.5 tonne recovery truck and a VW Caravelle!
initial_g: Fiat 500 lounge.
Z: Finally, what would you drive if there were no E30s?
M3BOB: Mmmmm it would be a BM. I did have an E28 535i which was a right hoot, nice e21 maybe lowered on splits, or another 02.
Initial_g: My missis mad.
