Grassroot Motorsport - December issue

[Lof8]

Car looks great, man. Why'd you choose the 7" TRMs over the 8"s?

[TomSuddard]

A few reasons:

Mainly, I wanted to run the Kumho Ecsta XS and a 15" wheel, and they only make it in a 205/50/15.

I was concerned about rubbing, this being a street car 90% of the time.

It's been planned for a while to eventually go megasquirt with a turbo. At that point I'll go as wide as possible with my track wheels, and keep the 7" TRMs as street wheels.

[SoloSol]

Tom are you going to have the car at Daytona next month? I think I remember seeing it there last year but didnt see you. I recall stopping by your house a few years ago meeting you and your Mother. Your Dad showed us around the garage. I think you guys were just getting your first kart going. I also think I saw your Dads M3. Does he still have it?

[TomSuddard]

I'll be at Daytona again this year, along with my car. I usually hang around the tent, if not then I'll be the kid on the longboard cruising around. My dad sold the silver M3 not long after you saw it, but he's since bought a white '90 to replace it.

[SoloSol]

Cool. Ill be over there at some point im sure. If I see you ill say hey.

[hoveringuy]

Car looks great, man. Why'd you choose the 7" TRMs over the 8"s?

Tire Rack shows the 7" C1 as backordered until March. There is an amazing selection of tires in 205/15 compared to 225/15!

[makard]

A few reasons:

Mainly, I wanted to run the Kumho Ecsta XS and a 15" wheel, and they only make it in a 205/50/15.

I was concerned about rubbing, this being a street car 90% of the time.

It's been planned for a while to eventually go megasquirt with a turbo. At that point I'll go as wide as possible with my track wheels, and keep the 7" TRMs as street wheels.

If one gets VERY creative with fender "rolling" it is possible to put 18x10 wheels and 305 rubber under stock sheet metal fenders (no add-on flares required). With add-on flares, my latest racing e30...VADER...will have 355 rubber on the rear now that we've got a V8 under the hood!

[Massive Lee]

^^^ That could be a next article in GRM. ;-)

[Blip Bavarian]

With add-on flares, my latest racing e30...VADER...will have 355 rubber on the rear now that we've got a V8 under the hood!

Im looking forward to seeing this. 355s front and rear?

[makard]

Im looking forward to seeing this. 355s front and rear?

305 on 18x10 wheels front & 355 on 18x14 rear. In the sig pics, I'm running 285 on all 4 corners, so it should make a big improvement!

[kishg]

is the red car sold mike? was looking for you at sebring this past weekend, but didn't see you.

[makard]

is the red car sold mike? was looking for you at sebring this past weekend, but didn't see you.

Long story, but since that's what I'm famous for here goes:

Red car has been parted-out rather than sold. The shell reworked (new cage design) and returned to being street legal. Brand-new body panels (doors, hood, fenders, quarters, bumpers, deck lid, & skirts) were installed on VADER in addition to the new seats, console, and other comfort features. The red car's old body kit is now being fitted on the #96 DM car (following the damage from tire wall contact at RRR) as well as the fuel cell, exhaust, and driveline. The black car "VADER" shares the same VIN as the red car, but now very little beyond that at this point. I put a bunch of toys on liquidation sale in late 2009 and let the buyers determine our path for 2010. Since my Porsche stuff sold and my BMW stuff didn't we decided to transform 3 of the 4 BMWs we were planning to work on leaving the SE30 BMW project on the back burner a while longer.

VADER has returned to action as a proper two-seater with headliner, insulation, and carpeting. It actually handles better with the redesigned cage that ever before and despite being considerably down on power in its first outing (for testing) at Road America during Ofest it was able to produce a lap time in the DE session that immediately followed the CR qualifying session, with a passenger as well, that would have put it starting 9th on the grid for the feature race! We're currently in the final stages of installing a V8 in VADER for racing this year in a totally street legal Mod class e30. It's going to have the monster contact patch described above to go along with the additional torque of a V8 powerplant which I anticipate will improve its already incredible handling even more by lowering the CG as well. We are very excited and hopeful that we can complete the major work that both cars are currently undergoing in time to make Road Atlanta next month.

We originally hoped to be ready in time for Sebring, but our chances of making Sebring were ruined by the PBOC refusing entry for the #03 car at Barber in the November BMW CCA Club Racing sanctioned event and thereby extending our plans for ending the season for the #03 car until after RRR in December.

[kishg]

that sucks mike. sebring was a good time. are you going to RA in feb?

[makard]

that sucks mike. sebring was a good time. are you going to RA in feb?

Yes. Definite plans to participate with both #03 and #96 cars at Road Atlanta. LOTS of work yet to be done to be ready with major changes to both cars this winter, but things are looking good at this point!

[Knockenwelle]

Nice wheels.