Calling all BMW E36 owners!

[elegal]

Originally Posted by MattS

No Paul. You don't take points for stuff that is STANDARD on the car. That is how the rules are written. Otherwise the '95 should be classed separately. With that said, the traction control on the E36's is crap unless you are in the rain. It is basically a separate throttle body that closes off air to the engine which reduces power which should reduce wheelspin. Not exactly what you want on a race car. Removing this part helps getting off the corner and increases horsepower since it is a very restrictive part on the intake. That was the first thing I took out when I was building my car.

Now as far as running GTS here in AZ... Do we really need to go down that path? GTS bases your car on power to weight and you are allowed to do anything you want to it after that. PT is nice because in a way it keeps costs down. You can get into an arms race in GTS. My car right now is almost a maxed out GTS3 car. But in GTS3 I can run Moton 4 way adjustable remote reservoir shocks which I could not do and still stay in PTA. We do not have enough race cars as it is to separate off into another class. I think all the BMWs we have out running should be built up as PTA cars (which could also be run as GTS3 cars and BMW IP cars depending on each person's modification restraint) or if you want to up the power run in ST2. Personally I think PT has served NASA AZ well. Until we double the amount of race cars out there we should stick with the classing that we have.

I agree about running PT/ST classing. I will always want to run in the appropriate PT/ST class. I would only do GTS if there was some way to run it as an additional class that the car fit into.

[tursongs]

Originally Posted by MattS

My car is a 325is with a M3 motor swap. I am classed on weight and hp so Paul can't harass me!

How does this work? I thought PT was points.....

[Tage]

Originally Posted by tursongs

How does this work? I thought PT was points.....

For engine & engine modifications in PT you can do either. It used to be only if you had an "engine swap" (which Matt does) but I think there's provisions in the rules now where even if you don't have a swap you can choose to do your base class on power to weight. You still need to do the traditional PT points for everything else that's not associated with HP though (Ex: aero, suspension, brakes, transmission). Ask Paul for details on your specific car.

[tursongs]

I have went through the points with Paul and he was very helpful in me understanding how to build and prep this car for PTB or PTA.... I just love tinkering with these cars, it's so much fun... Especially starting with a HPDE track car and getting it ready for race group...
I know Jeremy had a blast with his build....

[Tage]

Originally Posted by tursongs

I have went through the points with Paul and he was very helpful in me understanding how to build and prep this car for PTB or PTA.... I just love tinkering with these cars, it's so much fun... Especially starting with a HPDE track car and getting it ready for race group...
I know Jeremy had a blast with his build....

x2!!!

The car build is "almost" as fun as actually driving. PT/TT has some flaws but overall I think it's the best classing system out there. Where else can you find such a diverse set of cars all racing in the same class and in many cases, still be competitive regardless of the year, make or model!

Unlike other series (especially with "stock" type classes) where if you want to be competitive, you pretty much need to litterally buy a *NEW* car that has been found to be the hot ticket for that class for that particular year.

[MattS]

Originally Posted by Tage

For engine & engine modifications in PT you can do either. It used to be only if you had an "engine swap" (which Matt does) but I think there's provisions in the rules now where even if you don't have a swap you can choose to do your base class on power to weight. You still need to do the traditional PT points for everything else that's not associated with HP though (Ex: aero, suspension, brakes, transmission). Ask Paul for details on your specific car.

My car is a 1994 325is. I have to base class on the motor swap and hp/weight. I thought that I could just get away with calling it a M3 (since everything is M3 including engine, transmission, rear end, suspension, bumpers, mirrors, dash, door trim, etc.) but if anyone ever protested me at the Nationals or away from AZ Greg Greenbaum (the national classing director) said my car would be DQ. I could put all the M3 pieces on the car (I am only lacking side skirts) but I would STILL have to have him base class it on power to weight. But for my 325is, I had to take points for transmission (even though it is heavier duty and the gear ratios are within 0.02 or the same for each gear), bumpers, M3 brakes, control arms, etc.

Why did I do it this way? I crushed my M3 into turn 1 at PIR in March of 2008 and I did not want to spend the money to find a decent M3. 325is's are much cheaper and some parts on those are beneficial to run (i.e. electronics and intake manifold) which I still would have had to buy separately from another M3. And after I parted out the 325is it only set me back just over $500.

So if you ever want the whole story, just come and see me at the track.