Any feedback on the NASA GTS classes?

[mspiegle]

About a year ago, I started a project car without ever setting any serious goals for it. As it stands now, it's fairly stripped down with coilovers, bigger wheels, and a few other mods. I started thinking that I might want to competitively race the car in the future... but my mods will likely make it difficult for me run in a desirable SCCA class. I started thinking about NASA and reading through the rules for the GTS classes. They seem like they could be extremely competitive (mainly only power-weight-ratio restrictions), but I think I could also make my car qualify for GTS1 (lowest class).

What are your guys' thoughts on running an E30 in the GTS classes?

[iflytii]

I think e30's have a decent chance of being competitive in that series, especially if you can get down to GTS1. I am running my e30 in GTS next year, probably in 4 because of my new motor.

Sounds like you might also be a candidate for d mod class in BMWCCA Club Racing. If you are running your 2.5 m20, you won't stand a chance with the big guys but it could still be fun and of course you would get some good experience.

[155///MPH]

Sounds more like he would be in KP with BMWCCA.

[iflytii]

Sounds more like he would be in KP with BMWCCA.

Yup, could go there too - but it really depends on what "a few other mods" means. No doubt that would be a better class to run in from both a competitiveness and cost standpoint but it all obviously depends on what has been done to the car. I only mentioned Mod because he said his mods already bumped him out of his desired SCCA class.

[TrackAddict]

Michael, has your car been dynoed and weighed yet? The results of those will indicate which GTS class you'll run in.

I'm in a similar situation. This past summer I bought an '87 325is BMW CCA KP race car that I'm using as an HPDE car. The engine has mild mods but my car has the E30 M3 suspension, brakes, steering rack, and rear diff. I need to get the car dynoed but I'm expecting that I'll be running in GTS 2 this year. My goal is to get my comp license early this year.

It'd be great to race against another E30, plus we'll be running with the Spec E30 guy(s).

Which HPDE group do you run with? I ran in HPDE 3 this past season and will probably continue there until I get my comp license.

Take care,

Michael Colangelo (white E30, #511)

[rwh11385]

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11655&highlight=gts1

http://www.nasaforums.com/viewtopic.php?t=11335&highlight=gts1

and guess what he was running...



"exact" details are out there if you search. he was thinking about selling it maybe at one point IIRC

[155///MPH]

Mike is racing SE30 now. I don't know if he converted that car to spec or went with a new one.

[Dave]

Mike built a new one for SE30. Has bigger green flames on it - so I think it goes faster. :-P

The GTS1 car was ITS prepared, where he also did pretty well IIRC.

[TrackAddict]

cool! One more Spec E30 car in SoCal!

[Elephant]

That GTS1 car is now a SpecE30 car and does pretty well there. He, Mike, did win the GTS1 championship in 2006 in that car. His other car has been sold so he's down to the single E30. He does still have a neato 6er race car for sale I beleive. ; )

As everyone is aware and heard I'm sure, GTS is a great idea right now because the majority of cars are crossover cars. Once a GTS car is built that will be out the window and cross over cars will not be at the front unless the GTS car is poorly driven. That being said I'd guess that GTS1 and GTS2 will lag in this respect while GTS3 will be the first for this to happen. GTS4 probably next, GTS5 what's the point and then the lower classes somewhere in there.

If you truly want to build a car to compete in several series you will have to make compromises which ultimately will be the downfall in one series or another. My car should do really well in GTS but it will be a horrible underdog in DM or SM (depending on a couple mods I'm considering). There has never been a good place in SCCA for an E30 M3 anyway so that's out.

Another tidbit....I ran a GTS race in July this past year at Mid Ohio. I took a legal JS car and removed weight, added a 4.45 diff, and called it good. The car weighed 2705 with me in it and 1/4+ tank of fuel. I removed easy weight and was still on the Turner JS suspension kit so it was far from optimized for GTS. And the motor was still completely stock, dyno'd at 169RWHP and 159RWT. So that put me 255lbs overweight for my power in GTS2. How did I do? I finished 4/7 in class in both races. I more or less ran by myself. I was not fast enough to compete with the lead 3 and I was faster enough to not have to worry about those behind me. Now I will say in fairness that I think the car as it was could have been a contender for at least a podium finish if not for class win. I was pretty rusty having not raced in almost 2 years and I'd not been to MO since it was repaved (twice I think). Honestly too I think I was having some pretty major tire issues. Again, if I'd not been so darn rusty I'm sure I could have gotten more out of the car. Twas a ton of fun though.

GTS2 in the midwest seems to be dominated by Porsches, mainly 944's and 968's of course. Being new to the local crowd I really don't know how well they are prepared either. I know one of the typical front runners has a FG hood and most of them are pretty well stripped out. Other than 17" tires I don't know much more about them. This year should hopefully answer some of that.

Anyhoo, I enjoyed it a lot, it's fun racing with other makes. I will still do a couple BMW events as well, they're still a ton of fun and that's where most of my best friends are.

Cheers.

[155///MPH]

I took a legal JS car and removed weight, added a 4.45 diff, and called it good. The car weighed 2705 with me in it and 1/4+ tank of fuel. I removed easy weight and was still on the Turner JS suspension kit so it was far from optimized for GTS. And the motor was still completely stock, dyno'd at 169RWHP and 159RWT. So that put me 255lbs overweight for my power in GTS2.

Interesting. How do you think a SE30 would fit into that mix.

We're 2750lbs at SE30 weight (I'm running 100lbs ballast) and with some simple tuning could be putting almost that same power down.

JP

[Skafrog]

Pat Hanley won GTSU?
Hell yea!!

[Elephant]

Interesting. How do you think a SE30 would fit into that mix.

We're 2750lbs at SE30 weight (I'm running 100lbs ballast) and with some simple tuning could be putting almost that same power down.

JP

Well, on paper maybe not so bad but consider that most cross over cars will at least have coilovers if not other things. I will say that I'd bet SE30 cars would do ok mostly because they tend to be better drivers. That will likely vary by region of course.

If you tune and can take out some weight the car should be ok. Give it a shot, it'll be fun. The one race weekend I ran in July last year...I think there were 45+ GTS cars, not bad.

Cheers.