[Eric_K]

We won the 4 Hours of Pacific Raceways yesterday in my friends e36 BMW M3. It was a great result for the car's first enduro run. As is typical in these kind of races it took plenty of luck and keeping your nose clean.



The car felt and sounded faster than my 968, but there was not a huge difference in lap times. It has about 60 more hp and ~150lbs less weight but I couldn't carry the same speed in the corners. Part of that was the older Toyos we were using, and it not being my car, I didn't want to take too many chances. Did I mention how good it sounded? The staight six with a nice exhaust sounds so sweet.



I started the race and was able to grab the overall lead into turn 1, but it didn't last long as by turn 2 a couple of the faster cars were all over me. I settled into a groove and tried to keep the pace up but the tires became 'greasy' and the car was becoming loose. It really hurt exit speed but it was a nice luxury to have the power to drive around people on the straights. I was not used to that.



The pitlane at Pacific is massively long and slow so pitstops must be kept to the absolute minimum. The car had a new and untested fuel system. We wanted to make it to 2 hours (halfway) but it was going to be tight. At about 1:40 into the race the car started stuttering on the straights and it was getting worse every lap. The guage still showed gas in the tank but obviously it was not picking it all up. I pitted at about the 1:45 mark for gas and a driver change. At that point we were 1st in class and 4th overall. The bad news was that we were going to need to stop for another splash of gas.



Over the next hour, every car in front of us encountered a problem or dropped out. With about an 1:15 to go we had the overall lead but the second place car was on the same lap and closing. That car was also a yellow e36 M3. (The same one that has appeared in other enduro stories) They had a bigger fuel cell so it was only a matter of time before we had to give up the lead. With about 45 minutes left in the race there was a full course caution. It was perfect timing for us. We pitted from the lead for a splash of gas. We were able to get out of the pits before the pace car came around but the race went back to green before Steve could catch back up to the field. We were now in 2nd but almost a lap down. There was a brief battle of yellow M3's but Steve spun trying to keep the leader from lapping him.



We had now resigned ourselves to second and were happy. Then out of the blue the lead car pitted with 5 minutes left. What!!?!!! They were out of gas! Steve passed them for the lead as they were exiting the pits on the final lap. I was jumping up and down.



I'll post some pics when I get them. Unfortunately the in car camera did not work. Renalicious was there with a camera so maybe he will post some too.



Eric

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[Renalicious]

Congratulations on your win Eric (And Steve!) You guys were really going at it with the other M3 in the closing minutes, I got some great footage of that. For a couple laps at least you guys were neck and neck all the way down the front straight, it was great! The 2nd place BMW was a surprise to me, because it didn't stand out or look like it was the fastest car out there. But endurance is all about a steady pace, right? <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I have to agree about the straight 6 and the sound, especially when it's barreling towards you at WOT and redline. Even the Mustang and Datsun with their V8's didn't sound as extreme, but they sure sounded mean and growly though! And all the four bangers didn't sound all that bad either, just not as good as the rest <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I remember that full course caution, at least a couple of cars lost their exhausts in a short period of time. The black VW, and the red and white BMW, which I think lost it's ENTIRE exhaust! I was taping the track worker as he picked up a full exhaust and tossed it over the guard rail because it wouldn't fit in the truck heh! Needless to say the BMW kept on running, and it was bloody LOUD!! I was on the top of the grandstand and it was uncomfortable when the car passed by. As opposed to the 964 Carrera (turbo??) which passed by with only the softest of whispers <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Overall I'm really glad I came to the event, as was my friend, because those 4 hours went by pretty quick! I made it to the track just as the race got the green flag, so I didn't get the start on tape <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" /> (Stupid day lught savings!) My friend and I will most likely come to the next seattle event and get more pictures / footage of the race. Hopefully your 968 will be back in it and scoring wins! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



I'll post pictures and videos later this afternoon. I've got a fresh install of Windows and don't have any of the software installed yet. Congrats again! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Torbjorn968]

Congratulations!



Question: what do you think of a well sorted E 36 as a track car compared to the 968? Both in terms of performance and in running costs.



Best



T

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[968rz]

Congrats Eric! now get out of that BMW and win one for the old 968 ;-)

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[Eric_K]

[quote name='Torbjorn968' post='48967' date='Mar 10 2008, 12:47 PM']Question: what do you think of a well sorted E 36 as a track car compared to the 968? Both in terms of performance and in running costs.[/quote]



They are pretty close. It depends on the engine in e36. The US (and especially the Euro) M3 motors will put out a lot more power than a N/A 968. The 968 seems to communicate its intentions better than the bimmer. It could just be I'm more familiar with the 968. This is the only e36 I've driven in and not against. I don't see the costs being significantly different. Its all expensive!

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[Eric_K]

[quote name='Renalicious' post='48963' date='Mar 10 2008, 10:59 AM']The 2nd place BMW was a surprise to me, because it didn't stand out or look like it was the fastest car out there.[/quote]



If you are referring to the yellow e30, it was actually 3rd overall. The yellow e36 was 2nd. If you are keeping track at home, the top 3 were all yellow BMWs! Kind of strange.

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[Renalicious]

Here are some images of the winning BMWs, as well as most of the other races. I figure it'll be easier to just put them all in one location rather than attaching each one induvidually =/



http://www.renalicious.com/Images/Misc/Car...%204h%20Enduro/



I'm still in the process of getting all the videos done up, but I'll pick out some of the more interesting racing highlights rather than post those whole 57 minutes of footage <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/wink.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[rhudeboye]

Good job Eric. I'm quite the fan of your racing posts. hope to get out there and see ya some day.



Gotta admit that I'm a bit disappointed tat it wasn't the 68 in that pic. <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/sad.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />



Oh well congrats

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[Eric_K]

Ren - Thanks for putting up the pics and videos. Do you have any of the 2 e36's racing each other?



The top 3 (at least they are German)

   

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[Renalicious]

Yes, the videos that are with the photos are just teasers, really. I'm encoding the highlights reel as we speak (type). It'll probably be about a 120MB file, 15 minutes long.



Edit: Ok, video is up! http://www.renalicious.com/Images/Misc/Car...4h%20Enduro.wmv



<img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/biggrin.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Eric_K]

That was cool. You captured the flavor of the event. I forwarded it on to Steve and the crew.



Too bad you can't get to the other side of the track during the race. All the best shots are back there.



Here are some pictures my dad took:

Pre Race:





Start:





Me in the car:





Splash of gas:





Last lap pass for the lead:





Victory:

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[Jim Child]

Congratulations!! It sounds like an exciting finish. As much as I love racing the 968, it would be interesting to try racing another car at some point just to get some more diverse experience.

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[Eric_K]

It was fun trying a different car. It was similar enough that once racing, the differences were minor and it was just driving like I always do. The shift points were about the same etc. I'm going to miss the horsepower though.



Jim - You should try a BMW.

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[Renalicious]

So when you say it's up 60HP, is that 60HP over a stock 968? Isn't it possible to get at least most of it back with exhausts and chips? From your previous results in the 968 it seems as though you would have been at least just as fast as the M3, and you have a stock motor. Who knows maybe you would have won even if you had the 968! <img src="/forum/images/smilies/968/smile.gif" class="smilie" alt="" />

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[Eric_K]

That is 60HP over my car, which is basically stock but headers and chip. If I had the same mods (motec, cams, header) on a fresh engine it would be much closer. Remember, I'm still using the original engine Porsche put in the car in 1994! However, he is still not within a second of the 968's best time at Pacific. That should tell you something about our cars.

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[Torbjorn968]

How are the E 30 M 3s meassuring up in Endurance races over there? My first ever race in one of these in a month so saving up for a bit of courage....



T

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[Eric_K]

Personally, I've never seen a e30 M3 racing. Lots standard e30s. They seem to be pretty reliable. Good luck with your race.

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[sguy]

Eric, Great Win! Too bad it was not in your car. Congratulate Steve for me too. It sounds like the end of last year's enduro at PIR when the second place car ran out of gas. I wish I had come over to help with the crew, but it looks a lot like the crew you had last fall. They must have worked well had certainly share in the win. Are you going to have to beat Steve in the fall enduro at PIR? I can't wait to start my racing season in 37 days.

Cheers,

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[RS Barn]

Erik,

With new NASA and PCA rules we are up 20-30HP from where you were. More on the Horizon

Pete

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[333pg333]

Congrats mate. Well done!

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