OT: Going Racing.. (2015-10-15) - Season Over - 7th :(
Turbo Mini Forums

Hey guys,

A bunch of you have already seen this on Facebook but I thought I'd keep a log anyway, and where better than here, right?

So; I've bought a race car which has previously raced in the Production BMW Championship (http://www.pbmwc.co.uk), and plan to take it racing in 2014. It's tatty and needs quite a bit of work before it'll be ready, but I think it should be a laugh, and it was pretty cheap.

Also, thanks to Tom Fenton who went over to take a look at it on my behalf as it was about a million miles away from me (and him, it turned out..!).

The car has a relatively recent (mileage wise) rebuild at X-Sport, but everything else looks tired.

So; I have three things in my plan..

1. Mot the car
2. Trackday trackday trackday.
3. Race it

Feel free to ignore the thread if it's not your thing.


I've got a todo list too:


--
General Todo
--
Gearbox exhaust mount?
Paint rear valance
Buy & Replace suspension
Replace exhaust
Buy new race wheels
Wiper Motor Clean
-- Gearbox mounts
-- Engine mounts
-- Stickers? (work related + more?)
-- Fuel stickers on dash (safe, full and minimum)
-- Fill with fuel (to full line!)
-- Door pulls
-- Fit mirror glass
-- Fit race wheels
-- Raise suspension 5mm? (if still crap on race wheels)
-- 2 wheels in boot (for rolling road)
-- Number plate mounts
-- Lap timer bracket
-- Fit mirror glass
-- New race tyres
-- Replace Gearbox
-- Fit rear discs
-- New road tyres (to solve rubbing - didn't solve)
-- Blower Motor Replace
-- Replace Propshaft Center Bearing
-- Indicators (water ingress - front bumper? - take apart and re-seal)
-- Knocking (Propshaft / Rubber doughnut)
-- Paint interior
-- Fix oil leak on front of engine
-- Replace dipstick (current one is not a 320 one)
-- Raise steering wheel (new spacers) ??
-- Raise seat a touch at rear
-- Side trim (rear quarters)
-- Email SD about rollcage
-- Replace / improve gearstick surround thing


--
For Race 1
--
-- Short shift kit
-- Replace safety bonnet stickers
-- Remove pass seat (and weigh - 12kg)
-- Fix safety pulls
-- Cut away bonnet
-- Rubber doughnut (check first)
-- Replace mirror glass
-- Weigh car & get it to min weight
-- Fit 12v socket
-- Fit steering wheel spacer & wheel height
-- 2014 Sticker Pack / vinyls / Black cross sticker
-- Sticker on dash
-- Seat adjustment
-- Resistor on cut-off (for ECU)
-- Rear exhaust mount
-- WD40 Rear Shocks - Free up adjusters.
-- Check brakes (again).
-- Re-adjust harnesses
-- Fit Injectors
-- Fit new hub-cups and caps
-- Fire Extinguisher checkup (Sent to service centre on 26/02)
-- Rear demister screen
-- Replace bleed nipples on front calipers
-- Raise steering wheel (different mounts)
-- Raise rear of seat
-- Speedo drive
-- Rear diff
-- Stalling issue (TPS or Air Leak?)
-- Solve the long-brake pedal (bar thing)
-- Rear bearing(s)
-- Front hub/bearing(s)
-- Weld up rust holes in pass front foot well
-- Video camera wiring (regs mention it)
-- Fit new rollcage padding around driver area
-- Battery in Lap Timer
-- Rear grinding / rubbing noise
-- Front towing eye/mount ()
-- Fit wide rear view mirror
-- Fit high level rear brake light
-- Check battery in lap timer
-- Ensure fitting of timing sensor is OK
-- Check fitting of lap timer thing
-- Fit standard airbox


--
For MOT
--
-- Adjust tracking
-- Fit brakes
-- Fit new headlight bulb
-- Investigate front suspension knock
-- Replace crossmember
-- Replace control arms
-- Fit steering rack
-- Weld boot floor
-- Replace missing wheel bolt
-- Replace downpipe nuts for proper ones
-- Replace gear knob
-- Fit horn
-- Exhaust leak (manifold to downpipe)
-- Move seat forward (Raise seat?) (yes I'm short, shut up)
-- Fit 2nd seat (for test/trackdays)
-- Fit new tyres / wheels
-- Fit number plates
-- Remove numbers
-- Sticky rear brakes

Edited by AlexB on 15th Oct, 2015.

This is how the car arrived on Nov 7th 2013:











As you can see it's tatty, covered in dents, and needs a fair bit to get it 'nice'.

Today I had a few minutes spare so I removed all of the wheels and tyres from the inside, and gave the car a quick look over. I noticed a few extra things to fix, but hopefully nothing too bad.


A 'few' spare wheels and knackered tyres..



Found a big crack/hole in the boot





Not sure what this thing is? It was stuck to the cage with wires going to it, sitting in the rear window..





Engine bay


Need to replace this hose/pipe with a proper BMW air-box for the regulations

Box is the timing transponder, which is also the number on the washer bottle.
I didn't see that grotty bit at the back though, sorry mate :(

Like.

Don't worry Tom - it looks like damage from when it's had the bump up the arse, the bumper mount has been pushed forward and torn the body.

Should be relatively easy to fix as it's not rot - bumper off, hammer back, clean and weld up.

That's my hopeful plan, anyway!!

Edited by AlexB on 9th Nov, 2013.

Oddly i like it with the dents shows its seen some real action, looking forward to seeing you compete

I don't mind the sides, but the bash up the arse is a bit hard and it's put a crease up the C-pillar. Still, beggars can't be choosers.

Good stuff Alex. Hope you have fun.

Makes me want to sort out all my projects and go racing too

Nice. What is the engine specs?

www.shag.no

Vegar: It's just a 320i.

So; spent a bit of time looking at the car today; finally without rain pouring down.

Things I've done:
Moved seat
Fitted 2nd seat
Removed numbers sticker

The rust/crack worries me a bit and I think it's a bit beyond my crappy newbie welding, so I suspect I'll pay the MOT chap to sort that for me.

Also the boot floor is all bent up - but I don't suppose it matters too much in the grand scheme of things. I'll have the car Geo'd before I take it on track to make sure everything is pointing the right way.

Some pics from today:




















Bent/rusty bits..











Someone likes it, though..


a

Edited by AlexB on 10th Nov, 2013.

Thats cool Al

I seriously doubt it!

Gearstick looks like one of Andys butt plugs

That is suberb Alex, and your right to change the gear knob- looks like someone's wedged a massive turd on it!

On 5th Oct, 2014 Shauna said:
What that's crazy, you go commando hahaha! How heavy is your helmet ?

Looking good, My mate prepped his E36 318ti to race in the compact cup a couple years back. I could try and find the link if you wanted some ideas of what to do (especially for camera mounts, etc)
=]

Hmmm, Well that's a strange noise O.O

Yeah that'd be useful - the compact cup is pretty similar to the one I'm running in.

The forum seems to be down at the moment, I've got a few pics of it on my phone that I can try and get to you
>_<

Hmmm, Well that's a strange noise O.O

S'ok - just link me when the site is back up.

Awesome, looks rough and ready!
Screaming to be taken sideways somewhere safe and appropriate

Got to love an e30!

good luck racing next year buddy, you should bring it along to the welsh sports and saloons championship, great series with loads of different cars to race against.

Team www.sheepspeed.com Racing

Not much to report - removed the tape off the headlights.
Fitted the standard airbox (for the PBMW regs).
Also ordered an exhaust gasket from BMW, which should be there to pick up on Thursday.

Edited by AlexB on 12th Nov, 2013.

Get peeling all those bloody stickers off!

I'm worried the bodywork will just fall to bits when I do that.

Tried to get the horn working earlier but failed - no power at the horn despite the wiring all looking OK where you can check it - annoying.