![]()
BUILD IT AND THEY WILL RACE!
You CAN afford to road race for real for less than you might think, and this project can get you started, or supplement your existing racing habit. I have already built the BMW pictured above, and race it in the Optima Batteries ChumpCar World Series. If only I had a second one just like it, I could realize some economies of scale and reduce the per-driver cost and do even MORE racing, with YOU on my team. But I need your help funding the build of the second car. The good news is I have much of what I need to get it done already:
-
A second straight, and mechanically sound 1990 BMW 325i, which I'm currently using as a daily driver.
- A collection of spare rims and tires, and a stockpile of spare e30 parts including engine parts, body parts, and misc. bits stacked to the ceiling.
- Left over racing parts, exhaust and roll cage tubing, and other pieces that will be needed are just sitting around in the garage waiting for a purpose.
- A proven formula for building a fast, reliable, fun car that is intuitive to drive, and looks like a touring car legend.
ALL I NEED IS A LITTLE TIME AND MONEY
Having been there and done that (3 times now), I know how to build a race car, and having been there and done that, I know how to build a BMW e30 even better the second time around. But it won't be free. I am going to need:
- Raw material and shop time to bend up a safe, legal, light weight roll cage, then materials to weld that cage to the car properly.
- New parts to refresh a 24-year-old engine and 24-year-old suspension to behave like a race car, reliably, race after race.
-
Safety and standard racing equipment - kill switch, window net, racing seat, fire suppression system, FIA padding, lap timer, gauges, transponder - all the essentials.
AND WHAT'S IN IT FOR YOU?
Depending on your level of financial support, you* can TAKE THE WHEEL & GO ROAD RACING at some of North America's most famous, most exciting, as well as some of the country's NEWEST road courses. Check out the ChumpCar schedule. I'll be focusing on races in the Midwest and Southeast, and if fully funded, can commit to Gateway Motorsports Park, National Corvette Museum Motorsports Park, and the 37-hour race at Heartland Park. That's right. Thirty-seven hours. I'll also have some lower cost, lower stress options to get behind the wheel such as track days and autocrosses - see the perk details.
AND/OR
I can hook you up with some team swag, or awesome fabrication biproduct. Official team tee-shirts are a lower cost perk that says you are part of the most badical e30 racing team in budget enduro today. And then there's all the awesome stuff that comes out of the garage while I've got the welder fired up and just can't stop making stuff. The leftover steel and stock BMW seats should make a great video game racing simulator - I should know, I made 2 from the leftovers of the last build (note: kid not included). I'm thinking that the otherwise useless camshaft from my parts car would make a sweet lamp - your friends will be totally impressed with your genuine e30 cam shaft light fixture.
![]()
Other Ways You Can Help
- Pick up a wrench and lend me a hand! There's a lot to do, and I can use all the labor help I can get. I can't pay you, but I'll buy the pizza and age appropriate beverages! It's usually a good time.
- Get the word out. That rich relative who is a pro racer and has been dying to fund another e30 build? They need to KNOW ABOUT THIS.
- Be part of the crew. Crew is always free, and sometime you can even carpool to the track if you're local. And you'll likely get a teeshirt and eat sandwiches while have what is likely to be the best time of your life at the races.
