Its with great sadness that the car I've poured my blood, sweat and tears into is no more. I've owned this car for about 7 years now and its gone from a basic m42 318is, to an autocross beast and then a super fun HPDE track car with a built S52. I've prided myself on not just building a fully gutted track car but one that retained many of the comforts that a full interior car would have, and goddamn did I keep it clean.
Over the last few years I have been attending track events and trying to learn as much as I can in hopes of one day doing some competitive racing later in life. I began transforming the car after years of learning from autocross and helping to instruct autocross for my local BMWCCA Chapter. Different suspension setups, tire setups, brakes, you know... the bug you get when you see seconds start to drop off.
I do love that I'll still be able to retain all the knowledge and relationships I've built over the years as these do not remain in the the car itself. From late nights spent at Guten Parts pestering Levent as we built this car up over the years. The anticipation of driving it after it received a motor from an e36 m3 race car. Making the transfer from being the borrower of tools from all my family in the NYBMWCCA to one that lends tools out, calling locals with questions when I was stuck and getting great input from forum members when I needed ideas. Working with Denis at OMG to add pits an pieces and bugging the hell out of everyone in my phone when I hit a snag doing things on my own. These are relationships I find more valuable than any car and ones that I intend to grow as I build the next.
Now on to the events that brought me to this post. It was the second morning at Watkins Glen of a two day HPDE. That morning the car felt the best its ever felt, my inputs were growing significantly better and I was really happy with the balance and the feedback it was giving me. I even ran a personal best 2:16:94 lap, three laps before the incident. Thirty minutes into the session without any warning the brakes were gone and I had no pedal pressure as I entered the braking zone into turn 8. I did my best to try to get the car turned and scrub off some speed and not hit head on as I was taking the turn off line. The rest is history. My instructor and myself walked away with no injuries. That is the most important part.
With the important part out of the way, I can now express how heartbroken I am to have lost this car that has been my canvas for many years. That being said I will take what I can from her and build a stronger, safer, and faster car. I don't want to jump the gun and hop right into someone's project but I am itching to get back on the track asap. I would appreciate input as to what I should do next, I know building a car from scratch is the most expensive road to take but most satisfying in the end. I've been constantly debating in my head about changing platforms, perhaps buying a full caged and prepped e36 or e46, maybe making the jump to something that is a full fledged racecar and learning from there. Or starting from scratch with the e30 platform I know best, gain more knowledge and save my race car dreams for later in life. After this accident I really do want a full cage with door bars. I could ramble on for days with pro's and con's of each, the right situation will pan out in time. But if you have a rust free 318is slick top you are hiding for a great owner, let me know. I'll also entertain any 2 door Caylpsorot or Lagunegrun rust free cars.
I'd like to share some pictures of the car, not only in its sad state now but as it has grown through out the years.
Cheers Holly 1991-2017
Onto the next one.
-Greg
Over the last few years I have been attending track events and trying to learn as much as I can in hopes of one day doing some competitive racing later in life. I began transforming the car after years of learning from autocross and helping to instruct autocross for my local BMWCCA Chapter. Different suspension setups, tire setups, brakes, you know... the bug you get when you see seconds start to drop off.
I do love that I'll still be able to retain all the knowledge and relationships I've built over the years as these do not remain in the the car itself. From late nights spent at Guten Parts pestering Levent as we built this car up over the years. The anticipation of driving it after it received a motor from an e36 m3 race car. Making the transfer from being the borrower of tools from all my family in the NYBMWCCA to one that lends tools out, calling locals with questions when I was stuck and getting great input from forum members when I needed ideas. Working with Denis at OMG to add pits an pieces and bugging the hell out of everyone in my phone when I hit a snag doing things on my own. These are relationships I find more valuable than any car and ones that I intend to grow as I build the next.
Now on to the events that brought me to this post. It was the second morning at Watkins Glen of a two day HPDE. That morning the car felt the best its ever felt, my inputs were growing significantly better and I was really happy with the balance and the feedback it was giving me. I even ran a personal best 2:16:94 lap, three laps before the incident. Thirty minutes into the session without any warning the brakes were gone and I had no pedal pressure as I entered the braking zone into turn 8. I did my best to try to get the car turned and scrub off some speed and not hit head on as I was taking the turn off line. The rest is history. My instructor and myself walked away with no injuries. That is the most important part.
With the important part out of the way, I can now express how heartbroken I am to have lost this car that has been my canvas for many years. That being said I will take what I can from her and build a stronger, safer, and faster car. I don't want to jump the gun and hop right into someone's project but I am itching to get back on the track asap. I would appreciate input as to what I should do next, I know building a car from scratch is the most expensive road to take but most satisfying in the end. I've been constantly debating in my head about changing platforms, perhaps buying a full caged and prepped e36 or e46, maybe making the jump to something that is a full fledged racecar and learning from there. Or starting from scratch with the e30 platform I know best, gain more knowledge and save my race car dreams for later in life. After this accident I really do want a full cage with door bars. I could ramble on for days with pro's and con's of each, the right situation will pan out in time. But if you have a rust free 318is slick top you are hiding for a great owner, let me know. I'll also entertain any 2 door Caylpsorot or Lagunegrun rust free cars.
I'd like to share some pictures of the car, not only in its sad state now but as it has grown through out the years.
Cheers Holly 1991-2017
Onto the next one.
-Greg
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