So, I've come to the end of my 2017 racing season. I was hoping to run one last race at Watkins Glen this weekend, but the transmission isn't ready.
Here's a short recap of the summer. I raced at
Mosport (1000 miles round trip),
Calabogie (950 miles),
Pittsburgh (775 miles), and
NJMP (just 255 miles). I mention the distances because I'm still driving the car to and from events ... kind of a PITA with full race suspension and no interior, sound deadening, or HVAC system!
Two of the events were vintage races: the VARAC Canadian Vintage Grand Prix and the Pittsburgh Vintage Grand Prix. The other two events were BMW CCA Club Races that I was allowed to enter and run for points with special permission.
Got tired of the black and orange. Decided to change up the color scheme...
Here’s how the 16v looks these days...
Did OK for myself as a relatively new racer...
Here's how the car looks loaded up for a race weekend. A lot easier to manage when living in NYC compared to a trailer and tow rig.
Driving to and from events has a major disadvantage I hadn't considered. On the way to the very first event of the season, a hillbilly literally backed his pickup truck up and over the front of my car! I was stopped for gas and the guy "didn't see me." We were able to pull the fender and hood up off the tire so the car could roll again. Damn, these W201's are tanks!
Installed some hood pins to keep the deformed front end from coming apart...
Remember those gorgeous (IMNSHO) BBS wheels? Well, I bent not one but two of them at NJMP. Went a little wide in Corner 1 and dropped both driver's side wheels off the track. The transition caught the inner lips badly. Hope they're fixable!
Thanks to my main sponsor, Guten Parts...
My favorite shot! Wheel lift in corner 1 at Mosport, well into 4th gear...
Plans for next year. I'm switching from Hankook DOT-R tires to true slicks: picked up a brand-new set of Hoosier radial slicks for testing. The Hoosier folks say I shouldn't need to change my alignment settings, but I suspect I'll need more spring rate to go with the slicks. We'll see.
Finally, I've created a new FB page for the "Hammerzeit" race team. I'll be posting lots of pics, videos, and updates there:
https://www.facebook.com/Hammerzeit-642984859203237/