This is my third draft of this post. I've written over 600 words each time before realizing that my writing wasn't supporting my intended conclusion that sometimes we don't know what we don't know. This metaphor is also known as a black...
I've had a few car topics on my mind lately, so I apologize if this post is scattered. This week's central theme is that things don't always go as planned. Racing License Scare I had a mild panic attack last week during Gridlife'...
Yesterday, NASA announced a new competition format for the 2024 season: Time Trial Target (TTT). In short, TTT is bracket racing within Time Trials, awarding podium positions for the most consistent drivers of the day, regardless of which class they participate in. "The three drivers with the smallest delta...
I recently sold one of my E30s. If you want the short version, it's because building and maintaining race cars is a lot of work. If you want the slightly longer version, it's also because my love of E30s has cooled off a lot this year....
I recently read a great article by the inimitable Ross Bentley, which highlighted some of the shortcomings of HPDE instruction. As a seasoned instructor and driving coach, Ross included many excellent ideas for better ways to coach and train new drivers. Train the Trainer: Monkeys, Late Apexes & Classroom SessionsWhy...
Frequently I will come across a vague setup advice question along the lines of: My E36 understeers. How much front camber should I run? A question like this is needlessly restrictive (why camber?) and hard to answer accurately. There are so many missing variables, such as:
I'm pretty surprised by how many conversations I have with people expressing their disbelief about the legitimacy of FCP Euro's Lifetime Guarantee. In fact, to this day, I'm pretty sure that I'm the only one within my circle of car friends that...
This week I was going to write a post about goals for 2023, but truthfully, I have never been much of a goal-setter or a New Year's resolution type of person. While I do think that the holidays and the dawning of a new year are a good...
Last week I took part in a conference call about the future of R3VLimited. For those that aren't familiar, R3VLimited is one of the oldest and largest E30 forums left on the internet. As with most forums, it has been dying a slow death, and I for one...
SpecE30 is dead. Long live SpecE30. Alright, so not completely dead, yet. But it's headed that way. Let's discuss why. Availability For the better part of two decades, donor cars were $500-1,000. Not anymore. Clapped out rollers can command $2,500+. Decent running cars seem...
When I'm at the track, I like to poke around the paddock and check out other cars for inspiration. Sometimes I'm more appalled than inspired. I can't understand why safety is often neglected in race cars. (Note that I am speaking here about dedicated...
If you've been around cars for any period of time, you've probably heard the phrase "built not bought." You may have even uttered it yourself. It is stated as a point of pride, as if building is the only noble path to owning a...