Silver Streakin'

How do you guys get insurance for your cars and driver(s)?

Would these cars pass state inspections and be able to register as a street car?

Also, for anyone that runs in BMW CCA club racing, namely in IP, what are the competitive mods being used?

engine - namely cams, software, etc.?

brakes - rules state I can run a 4-piston setup. So, I may see if Stoptechs will sell me the correct carrier to put my Stoptechs on the M3.

suspension(s)? rules state the front can have coilovers, but the rear cannot. seems strange, no? it can have adjustable perches and springs as long as they mount in the same locations, but cannot be coilovers. (?) isn't that what coilovers are? unless inverted, I guess is what they're talking about.

tires -- are 235/40/17 RA1s going to be enough?

I'm looking at this car namely because it has the rebuilt engine with a warranty and I can add the mods that I want instead of buying what someone else did that might not be the best choices...unless I can find the car that has the competitive mods, which they are out there, but I just haven't done enough research yet to know what should be in the car as far as M3s go in IP.

This M3 meets all IP class specs, but I plan to run whatever track car I buy in DEs for at least a year or two before trying a race. I think it just makes financial sense to buy a car that is already ready for racing and the E36 M3 is a great platform with lots of parts out there and cars are relatively priced.

It's currently having a new engine being built (needs cams added, if I buy it) that would come with a 1yr/12mi warranty (big plus, imo). It could use a better suspension, but that can wait until later. The cage was also built to keep the dash, which includes a/c and radio. Again, something that can be taken out and moved back into the dash, should I get to that level. But, the current owner has raced it as it sits.

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Another Drew

I'll defer to Dave and Eric, but I thought I'd throw in a few commnts:

Register as a street car: I'm not sure I would want to drive around a car without regular seatbelts and have cage bars so close to my unhelmeted head. You can certainly do it. I know a couple who do.

Brakes: As long as the pistons are the right size, new brackets and rotor hats are probably all you need to tranfer your brakes.

Suspension: The e36 m3 doesn't have a coilover system in the rear. It has the shocks and springs located separtely....thus you can't run coilovers there since you'll be changing the mounting locations.

Tires: "are 235/40/17 RA1s going to be enough?" -- define "enough." Sure it'll get you around the track. Is it going to be competetive? BWHAHAHAHAHAHAH!!! no.

Silver Streakin'

So, what do you do for insurance?

I didn't put a cage in my A4 just for that reason about no helmet on the street, plus having my daughter in the car. I was just curious if they'd be a street car to get them insured. I assume there must be some type of racing carrier or separate policy.

Ahhh... that makes sense as to why you can't run coils in the rear

I guess I need to do some searching on the BMW forums, but Eric said it seems the Ground Control and Advance Design are popular for suspensions, but if you have the $, JRZs are a good option -- or going with custom -- maybe Ohlins. He didn't mention cams/software, which is were I would think more money would/could be spent.

HA! yeah, I didn't think RA1s would be enough, but that's what I plan to run on it to start out since I already have those for my A4.

Mr. White...any thoughts/opinions?

Another Drew

I have no insurance for my civic. I doubt most people insure their racecar.

Silver Streakin'

how are you personally covered?

Another Drew

HMO through work. Never heard of getting another policy just for racing.

mirth

I run in j-stock, so I'm not going to be able to give you much good info about IP cars in particular.

but:
Assuming your car isn't street-registered, you can get insurance through MotorsportCoverage.com for off-track stuff + storage.

Most IP cars are not registered for the street. It's doable, but probably not worth it in the end.

tires: you can always run Toyos, but you'll be giving up at least a second a lap to the guys on hoosiers.

IP is a really good class, and quite competitive. my advice is to buy a car that's already competitive in the class.

See here:
http://www.bmwccaclubracing.com/racers/Classifiedad_display.aspx

Krisko

You can't get insurance for your car while it's involved in racing activities. You can get insurance for the trailer and the car while it's not involved in racing. And if you are interested in life insurance, I recommend getting it before you start racing. If you race, you are obligated to mention it and that will increase your premium if not deny you coverage entirely.

An IP car can pass inspection as long as you have a catalytic converter. This will decrease your power so the car will be uncompetitive. You can street a race car but you'll have to make a ton of compromises...namely safety. If your head hits a rollbar at 10mph it can be a fatal accident. Rollbar padding will help just a little bit.

You can run Stoptech brakes but the stock brakes are perfect for club racing if they are in good condition. You just need new rotors and a good race pad, fluid and you're set.

Suspension....can't comment as I don't know the current rules.

Toyos would be fine as a race tire but you won't be competitive. To be honest, your car (or you) won't be competitive in IP no matter what you do to it. There's too many expertly tuned/built IP race cars being driven by really good drivers for a rookie to be competitive. If you want to be competitive, give it a few years, find $50,000 for upgrades and driver coaching and hope for the best.

A rebuilt engine is a nice thing to have and I'm shocked that anybody is giving a warranty on it. I'm not up on the latest on engine programs but Sunbelt/Bimmerworld was the leader a couple of years ago. Probably a safer camshaft (less BOOM) but less power might be a standard Schrick cam.

Hope this helps.

Silver Streakin'

Watching Eric Wong and David White at VIR, even at an ACNA DE, were damn fast.

What made you drop out of IP?

CP

I doubt you'll be able to use them.