Progress on the bmw1602.com car ...** UPDATED 09/16/24 *

[bmw1602.com]

 

Getting ready for next weekend’s race by spending some time in my “sim”. The E30M3 actually feels pretty close in gearing,power and handling.... they did a remarkable job modeling willow in this game... I feel the same bumps in the game in the same places in certain corners. Off line marbles etc.... pretty amazing actually... 

[bmw1602.com]

 

Looks like I’m going have to learn to share...lost my racing seat....

[bmw1602.com]

 

Last min. Race prep continues as usual. Luckily I have awesome neighbors like Scott @sxsconnection who was nice enough to let me use his lift for a couple hours to knock off some last min prep. work... also got to check out his new toy..... one these days I will get a V8 in my life.....

[bmw1602.com]

Nails happen but full size rivet? Stuck a plug in it, hopefully it will hold and get me to the track.....

[bmw1602.com]

 

Going thru tech in good company.... after 4 months of summer break it’s race weekend!!! Finally I’m so ready to make her scream and bend it into a corner....

[bmw1602.com]

Qualifying went well! I went 3 secs faster than my last PB from a few months ago!! All the work on the dyno paying off.... qualified P4 in class with a 1:40.2 ! I’m thinking I can do pretty consistent laps in this range on these tires. For tommorow’s flag race I have my race set of tires and maybe I can break into the 1:30’s club. It’s really hot this weekend so it’s hard to say... but it’s good to have goals!

[bmw1602.com]

Ready and waiting for this afternoon’s qualifying race. 100 degree weather typical willow summer heat...oil temps running 250degrees.... time for a bigger oil cooler! (Mine is only a 9row setrab) Might have to back off during the race if it climbs too much higher than that..... hopefully I can give her the full beans till the checkered. 

[bmw1602.com]

 

A 50cent O-ring brought down the space shuttle and today a 50cent tiny little clip ended my day halfway thru the race ? the spring clip that secures the distributor cap fell off, making my cap loose which my spinning rotor crashed into....with the rotor no longer spinning no more spark= dead car.... and me sweating inside the car watching the race go on without me.... ☹️ Good news is that is was a simple fix, thanks to @vintagebmwracing for lending me a spring clip so I can see what I can do in tomorrow’s race starting from the back. I’d be happy to finish the race and break into the 1:30’s club... that be a win I’d take home happily. Tomorrow is a new day! Let’s do it!

[bmw1602.com]

Well, it started better than it ended, still improved my personal best by 3 seconds and I had a great time hanging out with everyone. Thanks to @vara_racing for the great event! My Sunday race was not much to talk about, started at the back of the grid due to my DNF yesterday and while the car ran well in morning practice...things went from bad to worse at the start at in the first lap my car developed a engine problem (stumbling rich, misfiring etc) that just got progressively worse each lap. Was hoping to cross the finish line to get a point but when the car nearly made it up the hill in 3 and would nearly run I decided to quit being a bonehead/rolling chicane and bring her in and throw in the towel. So it was extremely disappointing after showing great pace on Saturday but that is how it goes racing these old cars. Try as you might sometimes the gremlins get the best of you. Hopefully I can get it sorted in time for the Octoberfest race in a month’s time. Let’s see! ....

[bmw1602.com]

 

The only good thing that happened this weekend. Unfortunately never got a chance on better tires (Sunday) to see if I could finally crack into the 1:30’s club. Now to see if I can figure out my engine problems before the next race in only 3 weeks! .

[bmw1602.com]

VARA Thunder from Down Under 09/19/19 B-Sedan Sunday Flag Race.

On sunday's flag race my car immediately developed a weird rich condition and it ran rough and misfiring and it just got worse every lap. When it barely got up the hill I decided being a moving chicane was not smart and I was being a dummy for trying to nurse it home so I pulled it in and threw in the towel.......The start was exciting with Armin and Wayne following each other off of turn 1 then after than my video gets pretty boring......but if your bored at work.......enjoy!

 

 

 

[bmw1602.com]

 

Pure Sounds - A lap around willow springs looking in...

During Friday practice at willow springs.....come take a look inside the and enjoy the sights and sounds this time looking inside for a change....the glorious BMW M10 engine making all the right noises!
 

1w

[bmw1602.com]

Parts of willow springs are still painted for the movie “Ford vs. Ferrari”. Pretty cool! Can’t wait to see that movie.... 

 

 

[bmw1602.com]

 

Best race of the year is in 2 weeks!! Double header weekend! Double points! One day we race clockwise and the other anti-clockwise!! Love it!! Time to start getting ready!! .

[bmw1602.com]

When I bought my car in 1998 I always had a “dream wheel” that I always envisioned for the car. Unfortunately I was never able to find a proper set as usually they are wider.... I also needed mine to be 13x6 per my racing rules. Very hard to find a set of 4. In the past I foun centers only or 2 or 3.... or barrels with the wrong offset or damaged barrels etc, etc.... luckily a year ago @frank_franker from #powderwheels got me a beautiful set of 1pc. BBS basketweaves... the purchase went smooth and the wheels beautiful, so I gave him the challenge to find me my “dream wheels” He took on the challenge, it’s taken many many months ... but finally it is happening. My race car will have a proper set of period correct 3pc. BBS racing wheels. The wheels I always dreamed of.... I can’t wait! Not saying what they are yet.... ? .... letting Frank do his magic to them.