Racing COTA in May!!!! Chump Car. Austin. Someone please cook me some BBQ....

nolaegghead

....or I'll be forced to wait in line at Franklyn's.

Here's the story... I filled in for a friend of mine on the Nucking Futs race team in 24 hrs of Lemons.  This was at MSR in Houston.   Fun as hell.

They need another stand-in, my buddy called me up.  Paid all my fees, renewed my license...ready to race.

Never been to COTA, but I hear it's a great track.  Formula 1 great.

The team sold the old Miata and started building a new car.  BMW E30 ('87 325is). 

I can't divulge the $$ spent, but I'm told it's going to be a fun car to drive, and that we won't be very competitive because we'll probably be doing penalty laps for a while.  But fun to drive, and fast lap times.

I talked to Cen-Tex...looking at options for couch surfing for a couple of days.  He has a friend in the race.  Small world.

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

Looking forward to the pictures! 

nolaegghead

The pictures of the car work are classified, but here's a teaser.

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

I'm guessing there isn't much left of that car. 

nolaegghead

Eggdicted_Dawgfan said:

I'm guessing there isn't much left of that car. 

Interior - if it burns, has no structural or functional purpose in a race and has weight, comes out.  Need to make it light, room to weld in safety stuff like the cage, fire suppression system, seat, etc.

Suspension, brakes, wheels are done.  Can't show those pictures. 

Next up: drivetrain

Little nervous about racing a newly built car.  It could blow up on the first lap and make that lap costly.  Good thing most of the team members are mechanical engineers and grease monkeys.

We blew the diff on the test and tune in the last race, found one in a junkyard and put it in at night in the freezing rain. 

God, I love the smell of high octane gasoline in the morning.

nolaegghead

Team:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UwFMjVV2gI0

caliking

Don't know if you're planning a stop in Houston, but mi casa, es su casa.

Eggdicted_Dawgfan

I run high octane in the dirt bike and you are right it's hard to beat that smell anytime.  That race is going to be a blast. Be safe!

nolaegghead

caliking said:

Don't know if you're planning a stop in Houston, but mi casa, es su casa.

Thanks Cali!  I'm probably going to drive through on the way there, but maybe I can stop and say hi on the way back....

YukonRon

When is the race?

Jeremiah

Are y'all building it for the lemons class or the spec e30 class??

blind99

That's going to be a blast!

YEMTrey

This post made me happy.  Thanks for posting and sharing @nolaegghead

Smokin_Trout

You may want to keep the horn in working condition, just in case a door gets in your way.

chuckytheegghead

Sounds like a good time. Have fun out there. 

bgebrent

You one bad azz dude Nola!  Sounds so fun!

GATraveller

That will be an absolute blast!!  I've always wanted to try something like that.

JohnInCarolina

Pretty cool!  Let me just say that I have been a passenger in Nola's car when he was driving about as fast as he could (aka the way he normally drives), and I can't imagine what could possibly go wrong here...

nolaegghead

Jeremiah said:

Are y'all building it for the lemons class or the spec e30 class??

It's Chump car/Lemons spec.

@YukonRon

May 12-May 14
CIRCUIT OF THE AMERICAS: Double 8, $1800
"ChumpCar World Series at Circuit of The Americas"
Entrant List
Download Supplemental Rules and Event Info

nolaegghead

JohnInCarolina said:

Pretty cool!  Let me just say that I have been a passenger in Nola's car when he was driving about as fast as he could (aka the way he normally drives), and I can't imagine what could possibly go wrong here...

They say it is much safer than a daily commute in Aleppo.

WeberWho

Sounds super fun. My mom used to own an 84 318i back in the day. Fun little coupe. Nice and light with rear wheel drive. Not so good for winter driving. Looking forward to your updates 

The Cen-Tex Smoker

nolaegghead said:

....or I'll be forced to wait in line at Franklyn's.

Here's the story... I filled in for a friend of mine on the Nucking Futs race team in 24 hrs of Lemons.  This was at MSR in Houston.   Fun as hell.

They need another stand-in, my buddy called me up.  Paid all my fees, renewed my license...ready to race.

Never been to COTA, but I hear it's a great track.  Formula 1 great.

The team sold the old Miata and started building a new car.  BMW E30 ('87 325is). 

I can't divulge the $$ spent, but I'm told it's going to be a fun car to drive, and that we won't be very competitive because we'll probably be doing penalty laps for a while.  But fun to drive, and fast lap times.

I talked to Cen-Tex...looking at options for couch surfing for a couple of days.  He has a friend in the race.  Small world.

I'll make the BBQ and bring it over. 

fishlessman

sounds fun, if you need any tips on safely rolling a vehicle ......

FearlessTheEggNoob

52 teams on the COTA track at the same time?

That
Will
Be
Epic.

Sea2Ski

You are going to have a blast!! 

My first BMW was a '82 e30 318i. I think it was an '82...  inherited it from my grandmother. Then moved on to an e46 M3, then a 335 e90, and my wife now has a F25 x3.  I really like how these cars drive. Interior is really lacking imo and needs an overhaul to get updated, but I love the way they drive, and after all, that is what is most important.

Have a great time!

nolaegghead

FearlessTheEggNoob said:

52 teams on the COTA track at the same time?

That
Will
Be
Epic.

There were over 80 teams registered for my last Lemons race.  At any given time probably 15 cars were broken and a few never made it on the track.  Spent the whole time dropping in a new engine. 

Spread out over 2.5-3 miles of track, it's not as crowded as you'd think.  The slower cars are easy to pass.

nolaegghead

Sea2Ski said:

You are going to have a blast!! 

My first BMW was a '82 e30 318i. I think it was an '82...  inherited it from my grandmother. Then moved on to an e46 M3, then a 335 e90, and my wife now has a F25 x3.  I really like how these cars drive. Interior is really lacking imo and needs an overhaul to get updated, but I love the way they drive, and after all, that is what is most important.

Have a great time!

They make great cars (except for the 7 series).  We're on our second X3.  Used to have an old E3.

nolaegghead

fishlessman said:

sounds fun, if you need any tips on safely rolling a vehicle ......

nolaegghead

The Cen-Tex Smoker said:

nolaegghead said:

....or I'll be forced to wait in line at Franklyn's.

Here's the story... I filled in for a friend of mine on the Nucking Futs race team in 24 hrs of Lemons.  This was at MSR in Houston.   Fun as hell.

They need another stand-in, my buddy called me up.  Paid all my fees, renewed my license...ready to race.

Never been to COTA, but I hear it's a great track.  Formula 1 great.

The team sold the old Miata and started building a new car.  BMW E30 ('87 325is). 

I can't divulge the $$ spent, but I'm told it's going to be a fun car to drive, and that we won't be very competitive because we'll probably be doing penalty laps for a while.  But fun to drive, and fast lap times.

I talked to Cen-Tex...looking at options for couch surfing for a couple of days.  He has a friend in the race.  Small world.

I'll make the BBQ and bring it over. 

Right on!  If your kids are into it, they always take volunteers to work around the track....

Eoin

fishlessman said:

sounds fun, if you need any tips on safely rolling a vehicle ......

You said you would see the funny side eventually ..........

DaveRichardson

Man, this line had me rolling.....

"Interior - if it burns, has no structural or functional purpose in a race and has weight, comes out. "

Reminds me of a lowrider some neighborhood punk had a few years ago.  Stripped to the bones with the "pooter pipe" on the a$$ end....  He had a sticker on the door on the passenger side that read, "No Fat Chicks, Car Will Drag"

Have fun, NOLA.  That looks like it'll be a blast!!!!!