Car is almost ready for prime time, got much to do before the big race October 1st. Here's a sneak peak.

Looks nice!

GL with the race! Must be crunch time getting it ready.

Where are you racing? If it's close, I might want to watch.

9/25 in Savannah, that's really just a tune up for RA on Oct 1-3. There is a 90 minute enduro on friday, tied in with the Peachtree DE. That will be cool, a huge field with some really fast cars (I won't be one of them...I'm talking 1:30 PTG cars) and pits stops and everything. Hell, I'd love to watch the race...I'll catch the second half when my co-driver steps in. :buttrock

Only things left to do is a suspension change, fresh fluids and some interior cosmetic stuff. So who's going to be at the DE anyway, I heard it sold out in under a week as usual.

purdy.

I'm going to be at the Oct 2-3 DE. It's crunch time to get my crap ready too. I'm still rolling on brakes that fade in TWO 60-0mph stops(not joking.. it's that sad), and craptastic mismatched all-seasons on 5" wide steelies. I got my tires mounted today, and not sure if they're going to fit under this thing... These 275's are WIDE.

Oh well, we'll see what happens! Worse comes to worse, I roll the fenders like nobody's business and raise the car up an inch or so. The springs are stiff enough that it shouldn't be able to compress the car that much.

Sweet! :alright

Schweet :buttrock

9/25 in Savannah, that's really just a tune up for RA on Oct 1-3. There is a 90 minute enduro on friday, tied in with the Peachtree DE. That will be cool, a huge field with some really fast cars (I won't be one of them...I'm talking 1:30 PTG cars) and pits stops and everything. Hell, I'd love to watch the race...I'll catch the second half when my co-driver steps in. :buttrock

Only things left to do is a suspension change, fresh fluids and some interior cosmetic stuff. So who's going to be at the DE anyway, I heard it sold out in under a week as usual.

I'll be there... Should be a good weekend. I've got sway bars coming in this week that I should have on in time for it!!! Good Luck in the race! see you there.

I'm jealous! :)

Super-sweet!!

Looks nice!

GL with the race! Must be crunch time getting it ready.

Where are you racing? If it's close, I might want to watch.
Hey Colin, I might head to RA to watch. I still want to take a spin in your car to see how the suspension is. Are you thinking of going?

Hey Colin, I might head to RA to watch. I still want to take a spin in your car to see how the suspension is. Are you thinking of going?

Yeah, probably so! I bet that would be a fun time!

I just live 20 minutes away... so just a short drive over for me. I'll definately stop by for a while that weekend just to hang out, etc.

I'll be there. ONly thing I have to do is get some stiffer rear springs for my LTW and it is set to go.

Just out of curiosity, what do you have bugeted for a 'season' of racing? I've always wondered what it'd run for an amateur setup (no offense implied).

I'll be there. ONly thing I have to do is get some stiffer rear springs for my LTW and it is set to go.

So you are racing with Lehmann then driving your LTW in the DE? I would think at your level a DE is kinda small potatoes.

Just out of curiosity, what do you have bugeted for a 'season' of racing? I've always wondered what it'd run for an amateur setup (no offense implied).

No offense taken, this 10/1 race is my graduation ceremony to amateur racing. I haven't even thought about consumables (brakes, tires, gas), the scary part is the cost of getting the car ready. I wouldn't be surprised if I have $30K into the car at this point, for all I know it could be $40K. I'm too scared to add it up.

I think my consumables cost will be reasonable. I use Toyo RA1s which are known to last a while. I'm pretty easy on brakes and I don't use race fuel which keeps my gas cost down. Of course these notions are based on DEs, racing is a different animal and I'll surely use up brakes and tires faster.

So you are racing with Lehmann then driving your LTW in the DE? I would think at your level a DE is kinda small potatoes.

Not really. I DE can actually be pretty relaxing. I get lots of track time (which I find helpful) and I get to hang out with people. At the races we really don't get to hang out with people that much. We are usualy busy enough doing other things we can't stand around. Plus I am instructing, kind of giving something back.

I definitely want you drive my car to show me where I can pick up a tenth or two. I'd like to do some lead/follow with you as well. That could be interesting, while I have the semi-race prepped car you have much more experience. It'll be interesting to see if I can keep up with you.

EDIT: Just noticed that your LTW has GT parts and a euro race motor in it. So much for trying to keep up with you now. :eek:

It looks awesome. Good Luck with it!

Plus I am instructing, kind of giving something back.

If I would have known that, I would have signed up!

Can I bring my helmet and get a ride 1 session? :) That would be awesome! :buttrock

Looks nice. Give that trailer a once over to make it worthy of carrying the that sweet ride. :)

Looks nice. Give that trailer a once over to make it worthy of carrying the that sweet ride. :)

I do have to clean the trailer...my sender unit wasn't torqued down and I got oil all over the damned thing.

What would get the oil off the trailer, simple green?

Just wondering if you win or place high enough in each race is their a cash prize? I'm shocked you spent $40K if their is no money at the end. Just wondering if their is a payoff off some sort or if you are trying to get good enough to be a racer car driver for a living in the future or if this just an expensive hobby?

Simple green will seemingly clean anything!

It's pretty much a really expensive hobby. I seriously doubt someone could go from BMWCCA club racing to a professional paying driving position.

It's pretty much a really expensive hobby. I seriously doubt someone could go from BMWCCA club racing to a professional paying driving position.

No but it can be done. Anthony Lazzaro is one who has done just that. He used to work at Buckhead Motorworks here in Atlanta, put all his money, time and effort into becoming a driver and did just that. Last time I checked he was driving for one of the Ferrari GT teams. So it can be done but it takes a lot of work.
Dean asked about the rewards for club racing. There is nothing more than bragging rights, trophies and lots of friendships. Nobody really gets paid. I think last year in racing SCCA Club Racing I received about $2500-$3000 for 11 overall wins, 1 second, and 1 third place finish. Not a lot. But I did have a lot of fun and met some of the coolest people. People that are very similar to the members of this forum. One exception though is the friends you make are also your competitors but they will drop what they are doing to help you out even if it means you might beat them. So $40k in a car (mods + cost of car) and season of racing is worth it if you can afford to do it. Spending this much on a car is very similar to the guys on this forum spending money on modifying their cars. The only difference is that Krisko has chosen to modify his into a racecar. And racing is a lot more fun than just driving it on the street. :D

Definately sounds like an expensive hobby.

Maybe someday when I become a better driver I've been kicking around the idea of racing a spec e30 or something cheaper than my M3.

Spec Miata seems discouraging as I hear there are some pretty good drivers in that series. I want something easier to start with, lol!

What else makes a good, cheap racer? I have a preference for RWD. :)

Thanks for the words of encouragement...$40K is still a boatload of money no matter how you slice it.

I have no illusions about what I'm doing out there. I think I've heard it said that only 10% of professional racers actually make any kind of money.

Ultimately my goal is to be able to retire in about 11 years and go GrandAm or Atlantic racing or World Challenge if it's still around.

I'll be at Road Atlanta for the DE. I assume I'll be in the D group still since it's only my second BMWCCA event. I'll be the old fart driving a 2002 Topaz Blue M3. Pretty much stock other than pads, fluid, and camber. Come by and say hi.

Definately sounds like an expensive hobby.

Maybe someday when I become a better driver I've been kicking around the idea of racing a spec e30 or something cheaper than my M3.

Spec Miata seems discouraging as I hear there are some pretty good drivers in that series. I want something easier to start with, lol!

What else makes a good, cheap racer? I have a preference for RWD. :)

All hobbies are expensive if you take them seriously. Racing can be either cheap or expensive. If you are going to race and want to do it on the cheap there are a couple ways you can go besides Spec E30. You can get a late 80s to early 90s 240 hatchback, E36, E30, Mercedes 190, Nissan 240Z and that is just what I can think of off the top of my head.

Basically here is what happened to me. I used to be the guy that loved having a fast car and would modify my car just like everyone here to go faster. Then I did a BMWCCA school. After that I wanted to go from making the car seem faster to actually making it faster on the track. I started modifying it to make it actually handle better (ie putting the right suspension on it instead of lowering and adding all the aftermarket parts I thought would work), make a little bit more power, and stop. I started caring less on how the car looked on the street and more about what was functional on the track. Then I actually started racing. Once I did that I really didn't care about having a fast, modified street car. So I would buy cheap tires for the street instead of the best. I would used the money saved on parts for the racecar.

It is a weird cycle and thought process. Once you get the bug for racing and actually do it you will be hooked. It is definitely worth it. Now if I had to choose between having a cool, fast street M3 or a Civic racecar I would choose the Civic racecar any day. The reason is because racing is that much fun to me. That is my opinion though. I am a single guy now and that view might change when I get a wife/kids. Some people may think differently but that is because they probably haven't driven on the track before ;)

I do have to clean the trailer...my sender unit wasn't torqued down and I got oil all over the damned thing.

What would get the oil off the trailer, simple green?

I'd try some Dawn dishwashing detergent. Amazing stuff for cleaning up oil and grease. get one of those car wash brushes with the long handle and make a few passes. It'll be like new again.

No but it can be done. Anthony Lazzaro is one who has done just that. He used to work at Buckhead Motorworks here in Atlanta, put all his money, time and effort into becoming a driver and did just that. Last time I checked he was driving for one of the Ferrari GT teams. So it can be done but it takes a lot of work.


Yea, I can totally see how it could happen, just very unlikely. I didn't mean my response to come off as curt as it did, I just reread it. I think I was procrastinating before going to a test, so I was trying to maximize my posting time. :D

Club racing does look like alot of fun - more fun than a DE. I was balking at the price of consumables for a stockish E36 M3 going slow at DEs though, I can only imagine what it'd be once you got stickier tires, more power and actually started going faster than most people go on their parade laps. ;)

I was balking at the price of consumables for a stockish E36 M3 going slow at DEs though, I can only imagine what it'd be once you got stickier tires, more power and actually started going faster than most people go on their parade laps. ;)

Well thank God you don't own an M3 anymore. Would hate to see you so miserable. :eek:

You make M3 ownership seem like the worst thing to ever happen to anybody. :)

Hey krisko,
I just want to know how much Tim and Gary paid you to put that BIG decal on your car.

Just kidding, I know they do most of your work. I have a little sticker of theirs on my car.

Well thank God you don't own an M3 anymore. Would hate to see you so miserable. :eek:

You make M3 ownership seem like the worst thing to ever happen to anybody. :)

???

Where the hell did that come from? All I said was that my stock weight M3 was expensive(to me) to run on the track due to the consumables. E36's aren't exactly lightweight when outfitted with all the luxury do-dads that came on most M3's - no getting around Phyzix.

I don't know why you guys think that because every comment about my M3 isn't gleamingly positive I'm putting them down. They're awesome cars, but that doesn't change their minor faults or "quirks." That was my experience - take it for what it's worth.

I can definitely see why every other message board has such a negative connotation of BMW owners though...

Anthony didn't go from not driving and working on cars / club racing to race car driver. He was in karts back when I was (mid 80's) if not sooner. He was also part of Team USA's shifter kart effort at that point in time, along with another GA local Nathan Liber.
I don't think there are many PAID drivers that made the jump from club racing to pro stuff without lots of other little steps in between, or just lots of other experience in general. There are plenty of *gentlemen racers* out on the pro racing circuit though just playing with the big toys.
Anthony ran FF2k for a while in the mid 90's through Team Atlanta, sponsored partly by BG. He was able to move up from FF2K to Atlantics by ~96 iirc. I think he was actually getting money from BG at that point in time too. We were also running in FF2k that year, with sponsorship from BG and Kroger, but only product sponsorship from BG. Getting money from people isn't easy. BG stuck with him for a good long while (still are with him actually), though BG will be ending their motorsports support this coming year.
He then got a ride in IRL, but lost that after not too long. IRL was pretty dead at that point anyway. That and they kept injuring drivers. (Sam Schmidt being one, another that had driven for Team Atlanta in the past. Sam Schmidt is actually who Anthony drove for in IRL.)
(Somewhere in all this mess is a Trans-Am thing too.) He then got a ride in NASCAR, but that didn't last long either. He also, somewhere along the lines, got in the good graces with some of the FNA people. Dave Sibert (sp?). Don't know when exactly that union was made, but that lead to deals with Risi. He drove for Risi in ALMS and Grand-Am, then went to run some events with Bill Rand. (Rand racing.) Bill Rand had done some Ferrari Challenge stuff for a while, and decided he wanted to really go racing. Rand needed drivers too, so through the *Ferrari* connection, Anthony hopped on board. When the Rand stuff went away (another long story) Anthony went back to Risi. Anthony is still with Risi, and there is still a BG sticker on the car. :stickoutt


In racing, its about talent, commitment, money, and who you know. The *who you know* can make up for some of the others. Money can make up for any/all of the above though. (At least to get you out there.)

If you are building a club racer now, the chances of ever spending less money are very slim, and the chances of making it to pro racing are even smaller. If you love the way your sedan feels on the track and think it handles great, do yourself a favor and NEVER drive a formula car. :)

Club racing is a hobby. A relatively expensive one, but there are others that are more expensive. As long as you stay sane, the spending doesn't have to get worse. Problems arise though when you drive something faster for a bit. Going back to something slower isn't easy. (Have I mentioned that you should stay out of most formula cars yet? Add LMP or proper GT cars to that list too. :) )

As long as you treat/view it as a hobby and don't get too up tight about things, you should stay very happy with what you have. The E36 seems well suited for a DE/club racing type car. Parts are readily available and they are easy to work on. Krisko seems to have a great mindset about it. Run on RA1's and pump gas. If you are easy on the brakes and the balance is good, then you should get good life out of those components too. (Proper brake bias will make a HUGE difference in wear/longevity of pads, rotors, and tires too.)

Hey krisko,
I just want to know how much Tim and Gary paid you to put that BIG decal on your car.

HaHa, paid? Glen is going to pump my gas and maybe twist a wrench if needed at the enduro but I certainly don't get paid. Somehow I don't expect to become one of the 1% of racers that actually makes a profit from their hobby.

Looks great, Chris! Good luck getting her ready before October! :clap