How I'm going to be when teaching the kids to drive...

Maybe not in a rally...

Hellooooooooo

Bit quiet last night.

No worries, it's the off season, and I know we all have lives to live etc, but don't forget the season starts on the 12th September.

I'm away next week, so if any BMW fixing fairies care to visit I'd be a. amazed, b. in debt and c. joking.

Have a good couple of weeks folks, see you all at the start of the season.

Start your day with this...

I went on the Internet and I found this...

Sunset Season Details

League update time folks.

Updates
I've updated the charter to include the Group B (GB500) class, that's the only charter change to date.
I've also updated the stats on the right to reflect the new season, and of course we have a new race calendar (see below).

Basically we're ready to roll from Mid September onwards, as is traditional we have a bit of a break around about now - and I'm off around Australia again in a few weeks too, so waiting until after then.

Do check the links, over on the RHS - there's a fair bit of effort into this blog, enjoyable as it is I do it for you lot!

Race season
So here it is, do you have your slide rule handy?

Yes, click to zoom in.

What's different about this season?

• Exotiques are back (587pp road cars if you're not sure).
• Only two endurance races.
• Group B replaces Clubman.
• One make racing in the off nights.
• Back to back weeks, to cram in a longer season.
• Different tracks/cars on the night - much more complex.

Group B

Do email me pics of your GB500 car in the next week - I'll do a post of them before the 19th which is their first race and the start of the season.

If I don't get a car from you I'll assume you're not racing GB500, or at least not contributing to points, get a car spec/pic to me ASAP!

So far I know:

• I'm in an S15 RM (bad, bad car).
• Chris is in a Subaru rally car.
• Evan is in a Lotus RM.
• Paul (I think) has the Mitsubishi RM

Wrap up

That's about it folks, a new season, more points, more of everything in fact, and only marginally overshadowed by the release of GT6 - think we'll get the season completed before then?

Only thing left to say is that we're well down on racer numbers for this season, I have to assume that Rod isn't racing (didn't make a single race this season) and Luke is travelling. Please do ask friends and family to join in - I can add them any time, but they'll of course only get the points for the races they join in with.

And so it begins...

Got home from a weekend in Brisbane and I've been itching to do something with the E30.

But, I don't want to be doing the big stuff at 4pm on a Sunday, what to do, what to dooo  - not like there's anything left on my concourse car really...

So fit the door card back on the drivers door, it's all there, I can have that done in a jiffy.

Not.

Parts to order:

• Door Latch - turns out that the one I have is broken.
• Electrical mirror controller. Nice.

So good and bad. 

Whilst I'm there I decided to take off the front bumper to have a looksee at what's going on there - see for yourself (play the game, don't look at the list below...):

Here's the list:

• Creased front cross panel/beam.
• Indicators electrical tape connected.
• Fog lights not connected, nothing coming from the car...
• Bumper - toast.
• Front 'black' grill - not it's matt spray on.
• Front 'black' grill - not attached (by anything approaching German engineering).
• Fan -as above, rattles when touched is best approximation.

But there is good news!

• Oil Cooler radiator down the front!

Not sure that's factory standard for a 320i, but I'll take it where I can get it.

So this car is a bad car with a few redeeming features sort of thing. I can live with that, and really, the front is a day's messing around and it would be sorted, just some new parts (more new parts).

I'm thinking more than anything it's time to get the engine started and be sure that compression etc. is good before I go any further - if it's good then this is all worth doing, if not, well, "spares or repair (but mostly spares)" is the go. Project car it certainly is!

Blog news:

I've tagged posts about GT5 and E30, so if you're wanting to avoid this train wreck then click on GT5 on the right. 

Also, I've added in local motoring events that a few of us will likely be attending, it's not a comprehensive list but it is a list nevertheless.

E30 - The new blogspot...

OK, so get used to more posts on E30s as I complete my research.
This one is even the right colour, number of doors and cylinders in the engine.
I suspect that it's not the same overall spec (not least as it obviously runs):

Move over Skyline

Move over 911 GT2

Move over desire to drive this in anything but a long straight line.

Extra points for using the bump stops on the rear suspension too I reckon.

Try not to wince...

Ferrari F40 @ Circuit de Catalunya. This is Ferrari Racing Legends, you need sound more than anything with this replay, turn it up loud...

Certainly I wouldn't watch the abysmal driving I was doing, shifting down too early (I'm sure there's a point I blow the gear box) and somewhere around lap 2 I have "a moment" that covers a few corners.

This game isn't for the feint hearted for sure, and not for armchair racers like me, I'm stuck way down the levels.

But if there's ever a cheat released for this game (unlikely, published by defunct Atari) then it's worth every penny.

That TC500 Race...

And here is the TC500 race around Madrid of the other night, worth a watch:

What's interesting about this race is that it's just four cars, Callum, Chris, Evan and myself, but it was great. I'm not sure if it was the tight track, the boost (on low) or the closeness of spec of the cars, but it was a five lap battle to the line. Indeed, as I write this I can't remember who won!

I've recorded this one only focussing on my car, by not switching around it's made for an engaging viewing. Nice!

And here's another video of rally, this one is WRC3 for the PS3, it's what's been taking my gaming time of late. This vid the same track from two points of view...

Of league business - I'm working on a 10 race season, with some interesting escapades in it. More in the next week.

Catch up next Thursday folks.

What have I done...

GT5 meets reality folks.
Or at least it would if it had E30s in it.

Say hello to the BMW MPS - as purchased by me today...

MPS? That'll be Money Pit Special.

She (actually, a long way before gender is applied to this car), it runs which is great. I won't go with a list of all the things that are broken, but highlights include:

• Leaking some fluid "I think it's power steering fluid" from the front.
• Less than standard under the hood. By less than standard I mean a few WTF is going on here elements such as dual header tanks for the after market radiator.
• Air con buttons? Check. Air con mechanics? Fail.
• See above for heater too...
• "It's got a welded Diff" - errr great. 
• a "you don't say" moment regarding the need for track rod (included) at the front - the wheel is at best wobbly.
• I learnt a new term today too - "Hunting for idle".

Why did I buy it? I bought it because selling one of my plethora of bikes is going to pay for it, and it won't be the expensive one I sell - This car is the right side of a grand. 

And... it's lowered, reasonably tidy inside (I squinted) and has a straight six engine in it which sounds great.

For the uninitiated, it's an E30 1989 (probably) 320i.

Cost breakdown to get it on the road is eye-watering, until you consider that to buy a RWC ready car you'll pay this at least this amount - albeit you'll have less conversations that use the words: Fluid, Replace and Expensive in them I suppose.

Cost estimates to get the car on the road (mostly pessimistic):

Total costs including my desire to make this a nice car again is around the $7k mark. Maybe that's a touch too far. Though, as a project, this is going to be fun!

Watch this space.

Cheers
Andy

p.s. Anyone know any friendly mechanics?

BMW - The art of refinement in engines

I've always liked BMWs and their Euro-refinement...

Needs sound, a lot of sound.

Final race, Final points - End of Season

It's the end of the season folks.
More on that later, but what about a race round up...

Clubman
The super allegro race was something to behold I think. Or not.
Nothing really springs to mind other than those cars can't really decide if they're understeer or oversteer. I can't really remember too much about the race either, which probably says it all...

Championship
Hmmm, a wet race, planned to be a wet/dry race, but if you discount the start to first corner I think it rained the whole time.
For me an excellent race, my Bently is quite compliant in handling, is lower powered than most and I had traction control on - these three factors really played to the wet conditions. That and an early stop and full refuel meant I ended up being able to two stop strategy at just the right time. If anything I think I was less fatigued than most...
Special mention to Chris, or whoever he was racing as on the night, in the stolen Diablo (yes stolen, the owner hasn't seen it since!). And special mention to Callum too, I think you saved all your season's spins for the one race chap. And still managed second place!
Last special mention to Paul - unlucky chap, you've had an epic season, I'd say your car was wound too tight, you just couldn't get it under way!

Some race pics, because I don't have the care to upload an hour long crash fest...

The one and only time/corner in the race it wasn't raining.

(and that Chris was at the front too)

An early stop played to the wet strategy.

Squint and you'll see I was racing hard - you're back there somewhere!

Clear vision counted for a lot in this race.

Marking the occasion of Callum's love of sand traps in this race.

George's drift club in full swing 

(swing left, swing right, spin around and repeat).

Official Results:

Clubman:

1. Callum

2. Paul

3. Random Driver (pretending to be Chris)

4. George

5. Evan

6. Andrew

Championship:

1. Andrew (breaking a drought of the whole season).

2. Callum

3. Evan

4. George

5. Stolen Diablo (Driven by the Random Driver)

6. Paul

And that's it folks the season is over. So what of the overall results...

Season Standings

Championship:
1 - 61 Points - Callum
2 - 51 Points - Andrew
3 - 50 Points - Evan
4 - 48 Points - Chris
5 - 35 Points - Paul
6 - 28 Points - George
7 - 14 Points - Luke
8 - 01 Points - Rod
9 - 00 Points - Simon

Clubman:
1 - 32 Points - Callum
2 - 24 Points - Paul
3 - 18 Points - Chris
4 - 16 Points - Evan
5 - 12 Points - George
6 - 07 Points - Rod
7 - 06 Points - Andrew
8 - 05 Points - Luke
9 - 00 Points - Simon

Not unexpected we have Callum as an outright winner of the season. We've kind of known it's coming, you've been an excellent racer for the league - and I think we've all raised our game doing our utmost to catch and pass you whenever possible!

Chris, I'd have had you pegged for second place, but I think this last race was your nemesis. As is the rule in our seasons, the last race is double points, so endurance and double points hit hard there I think. Certainly I think I don't deserve a second place (but try and push me off the podium!). More in keeping for my season is the clubman in which I look like I crashed as much as I really did!

What's next?
A few weeks of thrash nights I think. It wouldn't hurt to have a racer or two extra, Rod/Simon/Luke I'm assuming you're out unless you want in, which does take us to the boarder line of not enough racers.
Next season will be longer I think, or at least more races, perhaps a few weeks with a race each week, I think it allows for more points catch up.
As for cars? Expect less 650Open car races (feels like that's all we do) and of course the Group B (GB500) class is going to run instead of clubman - this reflects our current crop of racers who've all got a bit of experience now!
Also, I'll think up some one night specials - I still want to do the Targa Florio in 540pp 1970's racers, I think that'll be a top night. Also, I want to do something with 2 door RWD cars, to make use of the 86 GT etc, I have a well sorted Z4 M I'd like to race.

Expect a post soon with updated race rules and a season to look forward too - let me know if there's any specific racing you would like to see, it's a team event.

Anyway, it's been a fantastic season this time, excellent racing and as always my Thursday night is a highlight of my week!

Here are a few historic pics to remind us of the season...

Flying without wings

Honda supremacy in GT590

Remember racing these...

Gentleman racing HRC460, till this rolled up.