Portland folks: Pro-3 E30s racing at Portland Int'l Raceway Sept 23-24

[Lance Racing]

There will be 8 or 9 Pro-3 E30s racing at Portland Int'l Raceway this weekend as part of the a big race weekend there. Over 200 race cars will be participating in different classes. The Pro-3 cars will be running in Group 4.

Schedule is Practice and Qualifying on Saturday, more Qualifying Sunday morning, with the race Sunday afternoon.

We usually try to park all the Pro-3 cars together for the weekend, so if you come, be sure to swing by and say hi and check out the cars.

[KenC]

Nice!

Is the event on PIRs website? What is the cost to get in to spectate?

[Van Westervelt]

On the weekends I have gone it was free.

[browntown]

where does everyone get their panasports from? Wasn't sure how I like'd em on the e30, but those pics are changing my mind.

[DarkWing6]

Lance,

I love the "Please Return..." message on your lip. :)

[Mot]

any one else gonna be going?

[Lance Racing]

I'm not sure if the event is listed on the PIR web site.

It is on the Cascade Sports Car Club web site as the Doernbecher Dash.

http://www.cascadesportscarclub.org/calendar.asp

The latest is 9 of the Pro-3 cars will be there.

For those that don't know the story, my front yellow-painted lip spoiler says "Please return to #135 Lance Richert" because it has fallen off enough times out on track that we made it easier for the turnworkers to know who to return it to at the end of the day, LOL. Sometimes a cone will get kicked onto the racing surface and if we hit the cone, the little spoiler will pop off. We duct tape it on a little bit, but we want it to be the weak link so if we do hit a cone, it doesn't try to tear the whole lower valance off the front of the car. You would be amazed at how much damage a soft orange cone can cause at 120mph. ouch.

If there is an entry fee, it is pretty nominal. It is non-profit group running the race and all the workers are volunteers. Except the paramedics actually.

[Lance Racing]

Regarding the wheels, most of the cars are running 14x7 Panasport wheels. The "Pro Rally" style. They are not street legal, but Panasport do make street wheels too:

http://www.panasport.com/

Up until this year, the rules required we run a stock diameter wheel, which is one reason why everyone was running Panasports, because there was very little else available. We've since changed the rules to allow 15" wheels, so a couple more options are available. The competition wheels weigh around 13 pounds. We dediced to allow a 15" wheels mainly for cost considerations. The Panasports were around $220 each. ouch. Team Dynamics make a nice lite 15" wheel that Bimmerworld sells, going for a more reasonable $135 each.

Our spec tire is the Toyo RA1 tire. Those that do choose to run the 15" wheel will pay a little more for their tires, which offsets somewhat the cost savings on the wheel purchase. The choice is either 225-50-14 or 225-50-15.

We've noticed no competitive advantage this year to the 15" wheel versus the 14" and actually think the slightly smaller 14" wheel is better because you get a little more launch out of the turns. Most of the cars run a 4.10 lsd rear end.

[Jand3rson]

For those that don't know the story, my front yellow-painted lip spoiler says "Please return to #135 Lance Richert" because it has fallen off enough times out on track that we made it easier for the turnworkers to know who to return it to at the end of the day, LOL. Sometimes a cone will get kicked onto the racing surface and if we hit the cone, the little spoiler will pop off. We duct tape it on a little bit, but we want it to be the weak link so if we do hit a cone, it doesn't try to tear the whole lower valance off the front of the car. You would be amazed at how much damage a soft orange cone can cause at 120mph. ouch.

Lance, you should use zip ties. That's what most professional drifters use to attach most of their body kit panels. Even in a slight impact, the zip ties will just break, and will avoid the panel being ripped from the car and damaging other panels when it goes.

[KenC]

Sounds cool. I'm planning on hitting it up on Sunday afternoon for the race if it isn't raining...

[cthulu703]

I'll be there on Sunday, helping my dad with his VW.

[Van Westervelt]

...Sunday ... if it isn't raining...

Me too! hehe

[DarkWing6]

Lance,

If you were to start with a stock e30, about how much $$ does it cost to just get the car to the point that it would be a somewhat competative e3o for pro-3?

Is the best way to get into pro-3 just to start hitting all the track days and driving schools you can afford/make?

[Van Westervelt]

Lance,

If you were to start with a stock e30, about how much $$ does it cost to just get the car to the point that it would be a somewhat competative e3o for pro-3?

Is the best way to get into pro-3 just to start hitting all the track days and driving schools you can afford/make?

I have talked with several guys on this at the track. Bare minimum is about 10 to 12k to get the car track worthy. 15k is more doable though. You dont want to skimp on the thing do ya? Their days run them about 500 a weekend or so I was told. I really would like to get into it. In a year or two.

[StereoInstaller1]

Shit, guys, lets try and make SpecE30 happen in the PNW!