Looks like Akard is selling his cars

[makard]

I'm extremely partial to readily available stock-based parts!

Nothing quite as bad as towing across country to some huge event and breaking a piece of unobtanium in the first practice session. Once that happens a time or two, especially in Club Racing (where we're only in it for the fun of doing it), the old saying "In order to finish first, you must first finish!" starts to really push one toward the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) design strategy to make sure we're actually reliable and racing after those long tows, spent vacation time, expended yard passes from "The Boss", etc!

I think it's really neat to be able to have an extremely competitive, best handling race cars around, and also be using readily available stock BMW parts! Parts that can be gathered-up at any number of salvage yards around the country at a fraction of the cost of some specialized part (whose source may not be open for business until next week once the big racing event is over).

The next e30 Mod class project (assuming the rules don't change back to requiring stock suspension mounting points), would be to utilize the same E46 M3 Trailing arms & dual adjustable control arms system that's on the #03 car now, but keeping the smaller, lighter e30 differential setup with a custom mount directly to the roll cage the way the current e36 M3 stock subframe & diff is mounted. Not that I've given it any thought? LOL!

[craz azn]

BTW Mike probably has the fastest e30 racecar around. Whoever will buy it will end up with a winning car...

Fastest e30 around, eh Lee? I bet you are forgetting Mike Boekdrukker's e30 M3 then ;)

[Massive Lee]

Fastest e30 around, eh Lee? I bet you are forgetting Mike Boekdrukker's e30 M3 then ;)

Yup

Mike's M3 is indeed very fast too. Even Corvettes can't touch him.

[makard]

Fastest e30 around, eh Lee? I bet you are forgetting Mike Boekdrukker's e30 M3 then ;)

Mike's car is indeed very fast! IIRC, I've only had the opportunity to race with him once, but we had a great battle at Mid-Ohio. He certainly has a better lap time at WGI than the #03 car. But, the #03 car has a few DM track record lap times, multiple O'fest & North American Challenge Event wins, as well two BMW CCA Club Racing National Championships on the resume' too. Tough call. Mike has certainly proven that S14s aren't over-matched by 6 cylinder engines in DMod! ;)

Isn't bench racing during the off-season great fun! :D

[madformx5]

Seems ashamed to get rid of two cars that are so well sorted and also have had so much time and money dumped into them.

[makard]

Seems ashamed to get rid of two cars that are so well sorted and also have had so much time and money dumped into them.

Definitely bittersweet! :(;)

[SA E30]

I'm extremely partial to readily available stock-based parts!

Nothing quite as bad as towing across country to some huge event and breaking a piece of unobtanium in the first practice session. Once that happens a time or two, especially in Club Racing (where we're only in it for the fun of doing it), the old saying "In order to finish first, you must first finish!" starts to really push one toward the KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) design strategy to make sure we're actually reliable and racing after those long tows, spent vacation time, expended yard passes from "The Boss", etc!

I think it's really neat to be able to have an extremely competitive, best handling race cars around, and also be using readily available stock BMW parts! Parts that can be gathered-up at any number of salvage yards around the country at a fraction of the cost of some specialized part (whose source may not be open for business until next week once the big racing event is over).

The next e30 Mod class project (assuming the rules don't change back to requiring stock suspension mounting points), would be to utilize the same E46 M3 Trailing arms & dual adjustable control arms system that's on the #03 car now, but keeping the smaller, lighter e30 differential setup with a custom mount directly to the roll cage the way the current e36 M3 stock subframe & diff is mounted. Not that I've given it any thought? LOL!

It does make sense now, but I figure the e30 M3 rear DTM subframe is just as good but as you say if you bend a trailing arm or subframe. What are the chances of those DTM parts being anywhere near the vicinity or even a stock one that has been modified.

While i'm picking your brain (something I've wanted to do for years after I 1st saw the 03 car) what does you front suspension setup look like? Tubular arms or something still using stock type components?

I like the sound of the updated rear setup, I contemplated for a long time using a small case diff on our build but lack of ratios scared me off.

[Massive Lee]

It does make sense now, but I figure the e30 M3 rear DTM subframe is just as good...

The so-called DTM trailing arms, or any of the 8 versions that existed, are still working on the same principle as a plain-jane e30. Only weight has been removed, reinforcements added, adjustments included and angle was slightly changed. On the other hand, the e36 Z-link rear suspension is a totally different ball game. It allows easy adjustments but most of all, it gives am almost constant contact patch.

[makard]

It does make sense now, but I figure the e30 M3 rear DTM subframe is just as good but as you say if you bend a trailing arm or subframe. What are the chances of those DTM parts being anywhere near the vicinity or even a stock one that has been modified.

While i'm picking your brain (something I've wanted to do for years after I 1st saw the 03 car) what does you front suspension setup look like? Tubular arms or something still using stock type components?

I like the sound of the updated rear setup, I contemplated for a long time using a small case diff on our build but lack of ratios scared me off.

The front is basically a shortened stock e36M3 setup except that more angle was added to the mounting points on the strut tubes to provide additional wheel clearance for the big 18x10 wheels I'm running on this car. Stock e36 M3 spindles, hubs, bearings, etc. We had to slot the strut towers to provide additional movement inward due to the angle changes, but the net result is improved performance under full corner loading...once again focusing as much as possible on stock BMW parts. I install brand new e30 M3 Aluminum control arms each season. I have been using the Treehouse Racing "Eyeball Arm" control arm brackets with special high-temp bushings (since the header nearly touches the one on the right side). I have toyed with the idea of fabbing some custom A-arms or the like, but having witnessed the failure of a similar custom part cost a fellow racer the entire event in addition to a load of cash on repairs last year....I'm pleased I stuck with the stock pieces!


As for small case e36 diff.... We tried multiple configurations that resulted in failure and elected to give-up despite there being very real potential for it actually working. The biggest issue is the fact that one needs diff flanges that fit both the big axles required to fit the splines of the hubs and small enough to fit the small diff case. We were unable to find a stock part that solved both issues, so we machined a stock piece to fit. Our piece was not the part that failed any of the times we experienced failure, but it could have been a factor. Given that we're talking about Club Racing and the expense to do all those long tows, entry fees, etc. Sitting beside the track waiting for the hook for the tow back to the paddock wasn't worth the few pounds we were attempting to save....so, we went with a medium case diff and haven't had a problem since.

[BeirBrennerE30]

i love threads like this... lots of great info

[2002maniac]

Mike, please give us some kind of hint as to what you'll be running next season. I've been a big fan of your E30 for years.

[SA E30]

The so-called DTM trailing arms, or any of the 8 versions that existed, are still working on the same principle as a plain-jane e30. Only weight has been removed, reinforcements added, adjustments included and angle was slightly changed. On the other hand, the e36 Z-link rear suspension is a totally different ball game. It allows easy adjustments but most of all, it gives am almost constant contact patch.

With the spring rates and setup I'm running my contact patch stays fairly consistent. It's only when you start running softer spring rates that and the car starts rolling around is then it becomes an issue. Camber is also an issue as we all know but that is solvable with the raised subframe and adjustment as we both know. You do make a great argument with regards to easy adjustability. When I say hard spring rates at least 600lbs in a coilover position.

The front is basically a shortened stock e36M3 setup except that more angle was added to the mounting points on the strut tubes to provide additional wheel clearance for the big 18x10 wheels I'm running on this car. Stock e36 M3 spindles, hubs, bearings, etc. We had to slot the strut towers to provide additional movement inward due to the angle changes, but the net result is improved performance under full corner loading...once again focusing as much as possible on stock BMW parts. I install brand new e30 M3 Aluminum control arms each season. I have been using the Treehouse Racing "Eyeball Arm" control arm brackets with special high-temp bushings (since the header nearly touches the one on the right side). I have toyed with the idea of fabbing some custom A-arms or the like, but having witnessed the failure of a similar custom part cost a fellow racer the entire event in addition to a load of cash on repairs last year....I'm pleased I stuck with the stock pieces!


As for small case e36 diff.... We tried multiple configurations that resulted in failure and elected to give-up despite there being very real potential for it actually working. The biggest issue is the fact that one needs diff flanges that fit both the big axles required to fit the splines of the hubs and small enough to fit the small diff case. We were unable to find a stock part that solved both issues, so we machined a stock piece to fit. Our piece was not the part that failed any of the times we experienced failure, but it could have been a factor. Given that we're talking about Club Racing and the expense to do all those long tows, entry fees, etc. Sitting beside the track waiting for the hook for the tow back to the paddock wasn't worth the few pounds we were attempting to save....so, we went with a medium case diff and haven't had a problem since.

I would be incredibly curious to see pictures of your front struts. I'm having the same problem where I can only get a 8.5j wheel under the front and that extra half inch is what I need As I understand is that you reduced the kingpin inclination and the compensated by moving the upright mounting points further inboard?

See, I can get away with out having to move the upright mounting points inboard as we're running tubular arms and have camber plates up to but they are set to the factory center position.

[Skafrog]

Mike, its great to see the development you have put into the car. Thanks for sharing the details.

-"Chillin Rob"

[rwh11385]

I'm extremely partial to readily available stock-based parts!

I like it. Makes a lot of sense to minimize risks of a crappy weekend due to rare go-fast items.

[makard]

Update... "New" street-legal e30 "Vader" preview....

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