It must just defy all logic for a heavier 240hp E36 M3 to run well against them then, eh

 

One guy has made an E36 run good times in BSP..... None of the others are close. Also I think the BMW gains more power in SP than the RX8 will. I also think the M3 has better tq and gearing than the Mazda. Dont get me wrong I am a RX8 fan, I just dont think it has a chance in BSP.

 

This is some good stuff. Keep it coming guys. I have learn more on this thread about autocrossing than I did the 2 years I have competed. Right now I'm just trying to get my bearring with the RX8. I know alot of people are very competative out there, so I will try to run in the corect class.

 

Most important thing is seat time.... There is an event at California Speedway on Sun...

 

Lee didn't even have his 3.2 motor in the car last year, and from a power standpoint that car isn't far from stock. Intake, HFM, exhaust, cat-delete, software only puts the car at 230-240hp at the wheels in SP trim, and lower torque numbers. Headers don't do **** except shed weight. Not much to be had, but still loads more than the RX-8.

Now his 3.2L motor is in so he picked up a torque advantage but lost probably 400RPM (3.2L has a lower mechanical rev limit than the 3.0L) on the top end and is making roughly the same peak power as a 3.0L.

Of course the M3 is narrower and lighter... but the RX-8 is even more so.

 

So did that new motor make up the 3 seconds he was behind last year at natls.... I guess we will se in Sept, but I doubt it.

 

Maybe not, but maybe having working ABS, the new motor and not having to run Hoosiers anymore should help...

Don't get me wrong, if I were going to build a BSP car for national competition it'd be an LT4 car. But don't count Lee out. He's a hell of a good driver.

 

you'd think an expereinced autocrosser would realize that there could be any number of explanations as to why someone would be 3 seconds out, it's not always what it may appear to be ... that one driver's been a lot more than "close", which makes it possible for anyone, it wasn't that long ago that the old Z car was a contender too ... and there are plenty of C4's that don't do so well either ...

 

I recall reading about the Z winning with Vic at the wheel in 2001, and I assume it was the same car won in '98. Makes me wonder what was done to that car and where it is now. I've always wanted a Z car.

Back on topic, BSP will be another exciting class to watch run. We don't get any BSP Corvettes locally and Lee hasn't been doing Tours or Pros.

 

but as Jason mentioned the new turbo rules and other changes potentially having the whole SP category in flux. I seriously doubt we'll see RX-8's running against pony cars though ...

Vic has been campaigning an M3 in SM the last several years, you can always call him at Sias Tuning and ask. He also used to frequent Bummerforums.com