It's here... 2015 season in F-street, Street Touring Ultra, and E-Street Prepared can now begin.

And already up on scales

Just a hair under 3600 lbs

And the 328 is sold and off to be stripped, caged, and eventually a full on race car for Vorshlag Motorsports shop team for WRL racing. Can't wait to see it out on the track, even if it won't be me driving.

Funny Story...

Yeah, so I'm not getting the M3, or likely the Z3.


Deposit put down on this, which was always a dark horse candidate:


Non-performance pack (no brembos, no 19" wheels/tires/upgraded springs), and non premium, no leather, lots of doo dadds missing, but either way, PP, or premium it was going to be $4k more. I'd rather invest that in suspension and moving to ESP where you can really let this thing sing.

Looking at bumping the tires to 265/35-18's and run F-Street for a while, then upgrade the exhaust, intially, and start getting advice on suspension, for a move to E-Street Prepared. Supposedly, the move to a Magnaflow exhaust yields another 30hp at the wheels, so engine hp the car would be in the 470hp range. I don't know that I need to do much more than that. I'll be focusing on suspension and getting the R-comp rubber to stick.

Tick, Tock, waiting for the money tree to bloom

I'm waiting for the funds for this season to materialize, which should hopefully be in the next few weeks.

Although I'm still jazzed about an FP/XP Z3 build, I've been in the hunt for a no-sunroof, manual seat E46 M3 to have as a backup car for F-Street class. E46 M3's took a number of top positions at SCCA Solo Nationals so it would be a great car for a daily driver to replace the 160k, 328i.

I had one sourced, but sadly, the dealership that had it, knocked off $1k in price, and it sold pretty much immediately after sitting on their lot for the better part of 6 months. MurphysLaww racing for ya'

I'm keeping a lookout for more with this lack of options, as it's also that many fewer electronics that can go wrong. This is the weight savings I'd be looking to get out of one.(this is an estimate based on other peoples postings. I will weigh mine myself and update it)



This should bring it down below CSL weight, and be closing in on Z3 Prepared class lb/hp ratio.

I think the CSL is not allowed in stock class, but I may be wrong

New Season coming, closed out the last well

Getting progressively more excited about the coming season. Funds for the season, which I expected in January, won't be available until mid feb, though, so I'm still looking for my rides.

I have a good prospect for a Z3 3.0 that was a former STR car, but it's up north. Logistics could be a problem. I'm thinking somewhat about skipping F-Prepared, and jumping straight to X-Prepared too, which would allow me to pick up a Z3 M instead. There have been a few reasonably priced ones around here locally recently. It's going to pain me though to cut the windshield off of an $8k + car though, so I'm not sure I'll go there.

Finished the season well, and picked up my first season class trophy.

Take it with a grain of salt as the more competitive F-Street drivers in our class with appropriate cars were running in what we call Pro-Pax class. I was probably running one of the lowest powered cars allowed in the class, so there's that.

Two of those three did trophy at Nationals this year, and the other was just a bit out. If I can come up with a more appropriate F-street car for next year, I'll bump to Pro-Pax as well.

Been looking at this one... It will probably last due to some significant issues, but appears to be a no-sunroof, manual seat car. I'm not sure if one would be competitive against the 15' stang, but It will be my daily, and I'll generally be focusing on the F/X-P car so that doesn't really matter.

Dreamin' and list of parts that will be coming off the Z3

VF engineering S/C

308hp on the 2.8, and 330 on the 3.0.

Should wild hair arise, and I pick up a Z3M, it would be more like 350.

This is all at 6 psi, and since this would be for Auto-x only, I think we could bump that some.

I'm hoping for reliable hp in the range of 350-400 at the wheels and then spend some time working on the loose nut behind the wheel.

This is at least the beginning of the list of what will either be coming off, or be altered to make it lighter. I'll be weighing all of this as I go for posterity.

AC blower fan

AC compressor

AC line compress to cond

AC Line evap to compress.

aux condens. cooling fan

bonnet struts

cruise control actuator

dash airbag

door ajar chime gong

driver seat belt

drivers door lock actuator

pass seat belt

pass door lock actuator

engine cover

driverside door airbag

pass door airbag

fan clutch

fan

Fuel injection plastic cov.

fuel cap actuator

headlight ari vent

heating core

high beam light module

hood bonnet hinges

hood weather strip

horn

HVAC compressor mount braket

HVAC condensor

interior sun visors

left window glass

right window glass

Windshield

low side AC line

mirrors

OEM battery cabling

OEM battery

OEM headers

OEM wheels

pass. A pillar trim

drivers A pillar trim

pass AC vent

driver AC vent

pass corner window

driver corner window

pass rear fender liner

driver rear fender liner

pass front fender liner

driver front fender liner

Speakers

Radio Head unit

drive. power mirror switch

pass. power mirror switch

pass window switch

driver window switch

driver seat

pass. seat

spare

spare tire bracket

stearing column trim panel

trunk lid release

trunk lid hinges

under dash trimp panel

vert top hydraulic lines

vert top

washer reservoir

pass. window door trim

driver window door trim

windshield washer pump

wiper motor

wiper relay module

wiper stalk

wipers

wiring harness

Windshield

OEM flywheel

OEM engine

In the interest of not putting the cart before the horse...Tow vehicle acquired

Even a little bigger than I thought I'd go:

5.7L, 4x4 (not intentional), and Tow package (intentional...)

Seems to be solid. but the weird transmission I was warned about is definitely there.

Has a pretty cool SnugTop bed cover that the PO wired with some lighting. I like it, and already feel more manly, and less of a Texan transplant.

So next, have to decide on open or enclosed trailer. Leaning towards enclosed.

Also, looks like I'll end up winning F-street. No one showed for F-Street in the last event, so it ended up being a done deal.

I don't think I lost a race in class after mounting the Koni's. Made a big difference even on toasty tires. But I lost every race to the guys that were running X-Pro class. Fastest of the also rans. With some new 255's I think I could have been within a second of them, but generally was a good two seconds out. Giving up 200hp can't be made up with just a well balanced car.

Beginning planning for both a DSP 328i, and an FP Z3

So I'm beginning the planning for the conversion of the 328 to DSP(a lite prep), and a future purchase Z3(full on strip and prep pending tow vehicle and trailer purchase).

The trick for me is to get as much stuff that can be used on both cars. This will mainly be Wheels and tires. This will also likely be the order that I begin purchases.

Wheels:

For both cars, I'll likely be trying to run either 17x10 or 18x10 wheels.

Probably hit the easy button here and order these from Vorshlag.com

Tires:


Tires will be R-comp 295/40-17, 295/30-18, or 305/30-18 Kumho V710, or Hoosier depending on availability.

Tire Rack will get this order.

Suspension:

This will probably not be something that will be swappable.

DSP 328:

I may just use the Koni's already on the 328, and add the Bavarian Auto (hard) springs that I already have.

FP Z3:

For the Z-3, I expect to spend some cash:

Suspension

TC Kline Racing Double Adjustable kit:

Brakes:

Wilwood

Forged Narrow Superlite 6R Big Brake Front Brake Kit (Hat)

Near the end of the 2014 Season

So, haven't blogged for a while, but have gone from unemployed, to finishing my CCNP, to employed by a pretty shady company, to unemployed, to employed by the State of Texas, and then a short time later, as a Network Architect for the City of Austin.

Now that I've got a steady paycheck coming in, wife is finished with school, it's time to start taking autocross seriously again.

The 328 has had the Koni's installed, and that's it. It's running in F-street class, which I should win locally as the heavy hitters, including the 2013 F-Street national champion, race in what we call the X-Pro class, which is mainly for people that have had success at the national level and want to run on a PAX basis against the others with similar experience/car prep.

It's a bit fun still to likely win a class in what is probably the most underpowered, mis-classed car in the class, which includes V-8 Mustangs, Camaro's, and the E-46 and E92 M3. I mainly did it by showing up to the required 6 races. I'm not sure anyone else did or will have. A win by default. I'll take it, lol.

I don't think I've finished less than third, so I think I've put out the effort, and I think most of the cars competing had me by 100hp, except for one 128i, which was up by probably 35-50 hp.

This was all done on a set of cast off used Dunlop Z-2's. Autocross on a budget to the max !

and year end points with one race left

The 328 was rear ended a couple months ago, pretty much sealing it's fate to be an autocross car for the rest of it's life. The wreck has cracked the exhaust manifold, it appears, and will get some e-bay headers sometime soon. I'll have coinciding builds going on with it going to D-Street Prepared class, and a to-be-purchased Z3, for which the spare motor and tranny will be built up for for the F-prepared class.

I've been toying around with some ideas for an E-46 M3 as a daily as well, but one of the previously mentioned projects would have to give for that to happen. I'll need a tow vehicle and trailer of some sort as well, but that may not happen until later in the year. I'll be coming into some $$$ around the beginning of the year, but it is earmarked for quite a few different things.

Before

After

I've been toying around with some ideas for an E-46 M3 as a daily as well, but one of the previously mentioned projects would have to give for that to happen. I'll need a tow vehicle and trailer of some sort as well, but that may not happen until later in the year. I'll be coming into some $$$ around the beginning of the year, but it is earmarked for quite a few different things.

The 328 is BACK...

Don't know if I should be setting too much store by this, but the addition of used Dunlop Z1's brought the handling up on the 328i more than I expected. It may be able to be competitive locally.

I now have a second set, so I should be set into next year with tires.

Next up is:

1. pick some street/autocross brake pads
2. rear shock mounts
3. bump stops
4. mount the Koni's 
5. Get an alignment

It will be interesting then to see if I can pick up the second I need to be competitive locally. Ended up 5th this last event, only about a tenth of a second out of third.

Now that I'm thinking about the future Z3...

Saw these on Craigslist. $125 or best offer...

MurphysLaww Racing, may be back in limited business soon...

After nearly half a year sitting on the sidelines during lack of funds, time, and opportunity, I should be returning to limited racing in the Street tire class, with some hopefully semi-competitive tools.

Finally caught Koni's 20% sale with money in the Paypal account from recent new homebased business profits.

Added to a set of used Dunlop Z2's, I should have a somewhat added performance envelope over the stock suspension and crap tires I had been using.

The BMW 2.8 has a plan now too. I expect to be placing it in a stripped BMW Z3 chassis sometime next year, to compete, initally in F-prepared class if I can get the chassis into the class(the porsche boxter is there, so shouldn't be a problem), and then after adding an Active Autowerkes stage two supercharger to it, then to move to X-prepared class.

Not much racing, but this...

Recently acquired. Not sure for what yet.

2.8 from a 97 328i. (and 5spd Tranny)

I'll hopefully be rebuilding it completely.

2013 starts Sunday... with a sigh.

New racing season coming up, but I'll be somewhat on the sidelines. I'll be running, but in Street tire stock class.

The wife's schooling has stepped up a notch and will be at full speed this fall. Studying for network engineering certifications at work will take much of my time this year with at least 5 tests and 3 certifications planned.

The Bimmer will get new tires and suspension at some point, hopefully in the next month. I plan on attending the Texas National tour at the end of March, and probably the Texas Pro-Solo as well.

I have added 255/40-17 Sumitomo HTR-z II's to the rear, replacing the 225/45-17 all seasons and it resulted in  quite a bit of improvement at the Harris Hill event, autocrossing on a race track. Moving up to 4th out of 21, after some dismal finishes on the skinny all seasons.

Due to this, I think I may be remotely competitive in tire class with 255/40-17 Hankook or Dunlop Autocross tires, and new Bilstein sport or Koni Sport suspension.

Money's tight, so I have no idea when that may happen.

Screeching to a halt

Life stepped in and decided it was best for the family if I back off of Racing for a while, and get our finances a little bit more in order.

Sold the WRX, yep, sure did. Still can't believe it some days. It was a GREAT car for about 4 of the 4 1/2 years of ownership, including the last 3 years straight without an issue.

I will say that I don't enjoy driving it as much as I did the ol' BMW... And so, here is it's replacement.

1999 BMW 328i Sport Package w/ 125k on the odometer. Got it for about $3k below bluebook retail with a few issues. It needed some cleanup, a drivers side window lift, and has a door ding in the passenger side about the same size as the WRX had, ironically.

Took a week off of work, cleaned it up, replaced the the window lift, removed the tint, banged out most of the dent, Autocrossed it, Tracked it, and then had to replace the belts, and belt tensioner. Still seems like a good buy.

Not sure if it will be a good STX car or not. It's hard to find these things without sunroofs, so I'm just going to go with the flow on that. The problem also with this car is the Diff is generally open, and it's hard to find, if not impossible to find, a limited slip in a 2.93 ratio. May have to have it custom made. It may have a diff issue right now, so it will probably get replaced one way or another anyway.

It will at least get Koni's, 17x9 D-Force's and 255 star specs for some RTR/STX class action soon.

2012 Mineral Wells Pro-Solo, Spokes event #3, SASCA/Spokes event #4

Well, the wheels are back on, but literally, the rubber is off them now.

Learned some things about excessive Toe-out and daily driving, namely, it destroys tires.

As the car has never been aligned since the suspension install, and now camber plate addition, I finally checked the Toe again after James had said at the Nat. Tour that it's "a bit too much"

My measurements with crude home built toe plates came out to nearly an inch of toe out at full camber, which is negative 4 degrees plus. I'd guess that at race camber (-3) we were still at 1/2" toe out, which is WAY too much.

Adjusted the toe down to zero at the middle of the plates which is about -2 degrees camber. With that, we ended up with pretty close to 1/8" toe out for the Pro-Solo. Unfortunately, running the car daily with that much toe, caused the insides of the front tires to be pretty close to corded when we got to the event.

With the tires that far gone, we we're probably at a mental dis-advantage, worrying about them.

The first day's morning set of runs ended up being my best with a 47.7 on both courses in my second runs on both sides. I suppose the tire degradation may have been getting us by this time, but the front tires were, for the most part, fine. James, was doing just about as poorly as I was, but I think we ended up 5th and 6th after the first day. He fought back to 4th on the second day, but I'll have to update this since our local club is about 10 times faster at posting race results than the SCCA is. Getting real tired of their website "upgrade"

Locally, the added camber has evened things out between Todd and I. We're still extremely close, but I've been able to pull one nasty run out of each of the last two races to end up on top. I'm pushing much harder at the local races than I can seem to make myself go at the big ones, but the car still needs a bit more work, and of course, new tires.

2012 SCCA SunBelt National Tour

My second National tour was yet another learning experience. Co-Driver James Wilson proved that the car can be competitive, which was important. The money tree needs to start bearing fruit soon, so the power upgrades can be made. The camber plates were a big help, proven by catching up to Todd at the local events. I actually ran 5th, and only a couple hundreths of a second off Mark Sipe's fastest clean run on the second day.

Ended up 6th out of 9 in STX. James missed winning STX by less than a 10th of a second over two days runs. Overall, ended up 1.3 seconds out of 1st, and only 0.9 seconds out of the trophys. I never felt like I put together an "all or nothing" run. I know when I'm pushing the car, because I hit ABS when I brake, and I don't think I ever hit ABS. I don't trust my braking, or the car's ability to "un-bog" itself. More power will help with that.

The Spokes Hotel 

 Tech Trailer

James, the co-driver, and Todd, the competition (He took 4th in the MS-3!)

"The Road to Lincoln" Trailer

I love the smell of burnt rubber in the morning...

Vitek's Banshee, and Federico's Alpha Boxster

SASCA Event #3

Well, the wheels seem to be falling off now. Not losing any hope yet, but suffered the second consecutive loss.

Had another difficult time with tight turns and bogging. Also gave away two runs by somehow forgetting to turn off the traction control both of my first two runs. There was a really tight turn at the finish that took me totally out of boost and left me pushing into the outside cone if I tried to carry any speed. I tried shifting to first there on the third run, but it didn't seem fruitful.

I think with the lack of camber, a tight corner at the end of a course is going to find me with over-heated tires and just not enough grip to carry speed.

I'm taking measurements myself and ordering the camber plates tomorrow. Never heard back from Eibach.

Sold my iracing/CCNP study computer to pay for the camber plates, so I'm experimenting with Win8 right now, on the living room entertainment PC, so I don't have all the pics, and vids from the last race yet uploaded to this computer.

Pics from Spokes event #2

Spokes Event #2

Well, first loss of the season had to come eventually. Total domination wouldn't have been as much fun though, and Todd's catching up will mean we'll be pushing each other harder, which should pay off with dividends in the Big Races, versus the non-Spokes competition.

It looks like in comparing to one of the pacesetters, I may have had a slightly off race driving-wise, going from -3.65% off his PAX time to -4.64%. It's possible that the car may do worse on longer, more open courses.

This will likely mean I'm going to HAVE to come up with some scratch for Camber plates ASAP. This course had more slaloms, and the first one was a double with an offset in the middle of it, so I think the camber would help there. With the Wife's birthday coming up, and a friend coming to town the week before the National Tour, it doesn't look promising. Next after camber plates would be the downpipe and tune, which should help with the longer courses by adding power and turbo spool up.

The ugly truth...

Warning. For those that cannot stomach cone abuse, skip the first video. I'd like to say that no cones were harmed in the filming of this video, but I'd be lying if I did...

Much better, but not enough to catch Todd

Statistics allude to good things coming ?

I'm in the process of converting these statisics to percentage of certain pacesetters times, so as to compare my results to those that will likely be in my class at the big races. So far it's looking pretty good, but I'll be close.

This was done to help me decide if I probably need to invest in the camber plates, and downpipe and tune. And it looks like I probably should as soon as possible, and it may actually allow me to be competitive for a National tour trophy if I don't choke...

My time the last two races has been at 103% to 104% of my pacesetters time.

The STX competitors I'm comparing myself to have been very close to that range or worse, all in trophy positions, so if this extremely small amount of data can be attributed to anything then I might do well. Unfortunately, almost every one I race with are engineers of some sort with solid grasps on statistics, and tend to remind me of the many outside factors that can come into play, ruining my little ray of sunshine here.. ;-)

I probably need to get to 102% to 103% of pacesetters time to be solidly in the trophy's at a tour, So that's the goal. Mark Sipe, an RX8 driver is at that pace, and is registered for the event. I'm going to have to pick up some time in the next couple local events to get close to him.

On a 30 second course, that's going to mean picking up a half second to only be a second behind the pacesetter. Tall order.