Does anyone still run BSP???

How are you doing this season?

Everyone got scared off by the AWD rally cars. Which is too bad. I think the M3 is still competitive on a lot of courses, and even a moderately prepped BSP M3 is still a blast to drive. Decent power, great balance, great brakes, etc.

yeah.

I still run in BSP locally. Me and another guy in M3's are very competitive. He is usually first and I am second. There is another guy in an STI that is just running slicks and a sway and is right behind us.

I wonder if the SCCA is going to make some changes?

I don't think they will. The M3 is still close. Lee picked up 5th at Nationals last year. And Harold Olsen, who has been right with the M3's previously took 3rd. That's showing the M3 is still solid trophy contender. With the idea that the DSP BMWs were going to get combined into BSP now gone, I don't forsee a change in the near future.

That being said, the SPAC has been talking about a relatively major rehaul of a bunch of classes, so we shall see.

Lee is an amazing driver with a car that was arguably the top BSP M3 in the country. 5th is an amazing finish. Anyone checked the times for Lee in BSP this year?

Lee is an amazing driver with a car that was arguably the top BSP M3 in the country. 5th is an amazing finish. Anyone checked the times for Lee in BSP this year?

Lee's car is *now* the top BSP M3. Tunnell's was awfully fast back a few years ago, but then he moved to Street Mod, and now, X-Prepared, where I have to face him in 3 weeks at Nationals. :)

Lee bought a 350Z for B-stock, and he's been racing that this year.

My last car before the M3 was the '93 MR2 that Lee drove with Doug Newhard back in the beginning of the decade. Sold that last month and picked up the M3.

I don't think they will. The M3 is still close. Lee picked up 5th at Nationals last year. And Harold Olsen, who has been right with the M3's previously took 3rd. That's showing the M3 is still solid trophy contender. With the idea that the DSP BMWs were going to get combined into BSP now gone, I don't forsee a change in the near future.

That being said, the SPAC has been talking about a relatively major rehaul of a bunch of classes, so we shall see.

Nope, all that was dropped. I keep seeing this misinformation posted on various boards and commented on it last week. Best of Breed is dead. DSP E36s to BSP is dead.

As to the original poster's question, I think an E36 M3 can be competitive locally fairly easily and it will be a blast to drive. At the national level, it will take fantastic driving, prep to the absolute limits of the rules... and a bit of weather luck.

Unfortunately such a car will not be street driveable. It won't have a cat, will have a custom exhaust, maximum intake development, standalone engine management, delrin bushings/spherical bearings wherever permitted, flares, stiff springs, top-grade shocks and all the "add lightness" tricks available. Those aren't the kinds of mods that work well driving down the street, so if you're looking towards Nationals it'll take a trailer and tow vehicle in addition to the car.

Tom Berry is a formidable competitor and he's running a BSP Evo that is working very well. Tom Berry in a BSP M3 would be equally difficult to beat.

Mike

Unfortunately such a car will not be street driveable. It won't have a cat, will have a custom exhaust, maximum intake development, standalone engine management, delrin bushings/spherical bearings wherever permitted, flares, stiff springs, top-grade shocks and all the "add lightness" tricks available. Those aren't the kinds of mods that work well driving down the street, so if you're looking towards Nationals it'll take a trailer and tow vehicle in addition to the car.

Mike




This IS S/P. Just in the last 5 years or so a s/p car has gone from all the bolt ons and big tires to built engines, flares, huge tires, custom built parts etc,etc. But like I mentioned that IS WHAT S/P IS. At least on the national level.
Down not a single S/P class has a model that can be mildly prepped and be faster or as fast as a fully built car of another model in the same class.

Admittedly I've not seen Lee's car since Oscoda Pro 05'. At that time I sure hope that wasn't the most 'built' M3 in BSP. A 315/35/17 tire is a bit taller than a 285/30/18 but does anyone actually KNOW that an M3 isn't faster with the taller wider tire? Did lee's car have lightweight doors? Completely de-optioned? Fully built 3.2 with engine management? like almost ALL s/p cars there was almost certainly places to drop weight on his car even in it's latest guise.

Weather issues suck. Even if the rally cars are a good match weather AND pro-solo classing issues will always bite you in the ass when mis-matched with AWD cars.

Since I both help build and raced Lee's BSP car for several years I figured I would chime in here. The car has had quite a bit of work since the '05 season. As it sits today it does have lightweight doors and is nearly 100% deoptioned (if that is a word. :confused). Of course there are some more items that could be done to lighten the car, but nothing drastic.

The one big thing that could help is a built 3.2L. It has a 3.2, just not much work done other than bolt ons and tuning. Even with the extra money and work it would take one superb drive to win nationals in a BSP M3 at Heartland Park. Could it be done? I don't know...

That said, it is one seriously fun car to autox.

Doug

PseudoRealityX - who bought my old MR2???

Lee is an awesome guy and a dear friend but he is at a distinct disadvantage due to his being .. uh .. a giant? :)

Still, I think Doug hit the nail on the head, until HPT gains some grip I can't see the M3 being a top car at nats.

Which is part of the problem with awd cars. Especially when the cars are close in general. Add low grip conditions which include course dependant features and they have a serious advantage. SUCKS.

This IS S/P. Just in the last 5 years or so a s/p car has gone from all the bolt ons and big tires to built engines, flares, huge tires, custom built parts etc,etc. But like I mentioned that IS WHAT S/P IS. At least on the national level.


For the record, I *like* the SP rule set. I was merely posting for the OP that SP development can become quite involved and costly, and that sounded like it wasn't his aim.

Mike