BMW CCA I-Prepared and NASA GTS-3 #042
Thanks for all the votes and comments to get me in the 2009 GRM UTCC! I was definitely off my game during the time trial and well off my usual pace at VIR, but it was a fun day nonetheless.
It started as a 1999 BMW E36 M3 coupe daily driver. Slowly it turned into a dual use street/track car to a dedicated track car to it's current form as a dedicated BMW CCA I-Prepared and NASA GTS3 club race car.
Page 2 VIDEOS of race weekends (4/13/09 BMW CR VIR videos uploaded)
Page 3 PICTURES of bangs and dents - the joys of owning a race car
Page 4 Favorite LINKS
Page 5 2009 race SCHEDULE
Page 6 MODIFICATIONS
Page 7 More PICTURES
A little bit about the car...
My car was built to BMW CCA prepared class rules to run in IP trim. I've put a ton of sweat equity into building my first race car and it's been about a six year process. Along the way, Bimmerworld has guided me throughout the process. I've learned that while you can do a lot of work yourself, it's important to find someone to help you and give you trusted advise as you build your race car.
More can be found at my racing blog
A little bit about the driver...
- Six years I ago I relocated from NJ to NC. In NJ, I autocrossed my M3 with the BMW NJ chapter and ended up winning my class my first time out. This got me hooked on performance driving and I autocrossed for 2 years in NJ.
- When I moved to NC, I found that autocrossing wasn't as popular, but that one of the best tracks in the USA was a short 1 hour drive from my home. I attended my first HPDE and immediately got hooked on track driving and gave up autocrossing.
- Within three years I became an instructor with most of the major clubs: BMW , Audi , Viper and the local THSCC club. By this time, I had installed a roll bar and harnesses, which allowed me to compete in the THSCC time trial series. I ended up winning the season time trial championship for my class that year.
- At the end of my third season, I attended the BMW CCA club race school at Roebling Road and ended up winning overall during the school's graduation race. From that moment, I knew that I wanted to take the jump into wheel-to-wheel racing.
- My 4th year was spent prepping my car for competition - installing the cage and other safety items - and working on my driving skills. I invested in a Traqmate system and I can point to that 'mod' as the single biggest thing that helped me to go faster.
- In year 5 (2008), I completed my first BMW CCA club race at VIR in April. For day 1, I ended up qualifying on pole for the IP class. With a bad "rookie error" start, I ultimately finished second in class. My first racing season was dissappointing because I spent more time under my car than in it, chasing down gremlins and sorting out the car.
- My plan in '09 is to make my car bullet proof mechanically (as possible) to show what it's truly capable of doing.
Here are some other pictures of my ride...
