Alpina B3 2.7 Track Car

[SA E30]

The car was weighed at the race event, coming in at 1064 kg with roughly 40-45 liters of fuel. Considering how stripped it is, that does seem heavy. My own car scales confirm that weight.

There was another E30 track car there with lexan windows and a small plastic fuel tank. This car weighed 1067 kg. So I guess I'm not too bad with my much bigger steel fuel tank and all round glass windows.

That e30 has a 60lt Ally tank though. None the less. Your weight loss is commendable, makes me a little more optimistic with our 999kg goal.

[Massive Lee]

... we are not allowed to come to a complete stop unless the track ahead is completely blocked. If the session is red flagged, then we must slow down and enter the pits immediately. Stopping on the track is quite risky IMO since there is always the danger of being rear ended by someone who has not seen the flag (not uncommon).

Which is just fine, as it is the usual standard Race procedure. Different from the Driver Schools procedure where a red flag means stopping safely on the side of the track, waiting for instructions. It is true that an over busy (novice) driver might not see the red flag and rear end another (stopped) car.

[Andreas]

It was the first video and it looked like you got cut off by someone entering the track. I had the sound off so I could be wrong about the stopping part, but that is how it appeared.

I am pretty sure that I know which incident you're referring to. That woman seemed totally oblivious to her surroundings and would have turned in on me ; I think my car's noise caught her attention just in time. I think that I did come to a stop there and only continued when I saw her looking over at me.

[Andreas]

How much does your car weigh? 900kilos? From the video it looks like you have it completely stripped.

The car was weighed at the race event, coming in at 1064 kg with roughly 40-45 liters of fuel. Considering how stripped it is, that does seem heavy. My own car scales confirm that weight.

There was another E30 track car there with lexan windows and a small plastic fuel tank. This car weighed 1067 kg. So I guess I'm not too bad with my much bigger steel fuel tank and all round glass windows.

[SpecRaceM5]

I am not sure which video you are referring to but regardless, we are not allowed to come to a complete stop unless the track ahead is completely blocked. If the session is red flagged, then we must slow down and enter the pits immediately. Stopping on the track is quite risky IMO since there is always the danger of being rear ended by someone who has not seen the flag (not uncommon).

It was the first video and it looked like you got cut off by someone entering the track. I had the sound off so I could be wrong about the stopping part, but that is how it appeared.

[madformx5]

I wonder how kw compares to horsepower? I might have to look that up because even if you compensate for the altitude that sounds low to me.

Ok I looked up and if the conversion was correct you are making about 143+hp at the rear wheels at a little less than a mile high. Those are pretty good numbers. At sea level if I am correct you are putting to the ground what the stock m20 puts out ot the flywheel. How much does your car weigh? 900kilos? From the video it looks like you have it completely stripped.

107 wheel KW compared to the Supercharged 540i that made around 220 wheel KW.

Bear in mind that this was at 1600m altitude where naturally aspirated cars lose around 15-18 % power. Driving your car down to the coast is a revelation for us power starved reef dwellers.

[Andreas]

Here is a onboard video of my co-driver's adventures in the 2 Hour Enduro race.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ixoIlGG1ysc

And here is additional trackside footage as well as onboard footage of when the wheel broke loose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OI367Tjwze0

[Andreas]

At least you were having fun on my birthday. What exactly were your numbers on the second pull? The curve looked a lot better but I missed the final numbers.

107 wheel KW compared to the Supercharged 540i that made around 220 wheel KW.

Bear in mind that this was at 1600m altitude where naturally aspirated cars lose around 15-18 % power. Driving your car down to the coast is a revelation for us power starved reef dwellers.

[Andreas]

I agree. Cool vid, but someone should go over track etiquette with everyone. Did you come to a complete stop when the white car came on the track at the first corner?

I am not sure which video you are referring to but regardless, we are not allowed to come to a complete stop unless the track ahead is completely blocked. If the session is red flagged, then we must slow down and enter the pits immediately. Stopping on the track is quite risky IMO since there is always the danger of being rear ended by someone who has not seen the flag (not uncommon).

[pedal2metal]

I suggest installing a fuel cell (with baffles or foam and/or multiple pick-ups). Ditch the stock tank, it's a piece of shit! And update to a single fuel pump! Higher volume of course. My 2 cents!

[madformx5]

At least you were having fun on my birthday. What exactly were your numbers on the second pull? The curve looked a lot better but I missed the final numbers.

Thanks.

I'll put up some pics soon to show which bolts came loose. I believe the South African 325is suspension is the same as the E30 M3.

I had the car tuned on a notoriously stingy dyno. Here is a video of that.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FHhFlRc50kk

[madformx5]

Sucks about you car and you tow vehicle.

[madformx5]

I love love love love love love love love love love love love love love the sound of you car. Did I say I love it enough or too many times? Just listening to the audio as I'm typing this post. I will probably restart it again when it finishes just so I can listen to it again.

[SpecRaceM5]

cool car. how much track experience do you have and what kind of run group was that? Eveyone's lines were all over the place, in combination with open passing. looked like a dangerous mix

I agree. Cool vid, but someone should go over track etiquette with everyone. Did you come to a complete stop when the white car came on the track at the first corner?

[Andreas]

Oh MAN! That is heart breaking. and to add insult to injury with the Tow Truck.
Wel I'm sure we all look forward to seeing the fixes and what else you have up your sleeves. Keep up the hard work my friend.

I had just closed up the hole left from removing the spare wheel well. There are no more edges for airflow to catch on and it is also a bit of a rear diffusor.

For next time (mid July), I will continue to work on the underbody, making it nice and flat to reduce drag. Hopefully I will also have the ITBs installed.