Making a track car?

[Super Eta]

I continued a thread of mine in auto x but no one checks there so i will ask here.

I am planning on turning my old E30 a 1986 325ES into a track car. I will need to keep this car street legal as i will be driving it occasionally and i will be driving it from my home to track events.

What are some good tips and how to's of making a good track car?

[e9nine]

Do nothing now. Modify the driver then move on to the car. Sounds corny but its very true. With a car like that, all you need are good brakes, tires and a healthy engine.

You also didn't state if you mean std auto-x, bmwcca, scca track car etc? Depending on what you want to head into you want to see what their rules are which class you wnat to start off in etc. You also don't want to illegally modify your car or buy stuff which is not legal etc for that will be a waste of $$

If you were on the east coast, specE30 would've been worthy to get into. Talk to the people who track out your way or spectate/go to an event or two and move on from there

[Ryan Stewart]

Up in the west coast there is a racing series that has something almost identical to SpecE30. It allows basically minimal suspension mods and otherwise stock. That would be a great cheap place to start.

Start as simply as possible. Its the only way to be competetive. If you go crazy modifying you will get tossed in a class with guys who have much more seat time than you.

Find out your local series ( know there is another version of series besides the SCCA up there that runs this E30 race). Get thier rulebook and modify the car to the limit that class will allow.

[Charlie]

Fix the worn out and broken parts. Budget in replacement brake pads, rotors, and brake fluid.

Spend the money on improving the driver, and as you build experience, worry about "track car" mods later.

-Charlie