The last race of the season was with the CSCC at Snetterton back in October and since then there's been some activity and a lot of thinking and consideration.

One definite decision I did make was to sell my current Caterham.

Despite the upgrade and how well we're getting on, it is starting to get very tired cosmetically and would need yet more money spending to bring it up to a standard I'd be happy with. This combined with the proliferation of the the more modern and better long term prospect Duratec cars meant it was time to part with it.

I advertised it a few weeks back and it didn't take long to find a buyer whose needs it met exactly.

Unfortunately on the hand over track day, after a year of total reliability, it developed a fairly serious engine problem so it's back with me to get sorted before he takes it off my hands. F**king thing

I was due to go and see a rather nice but very expensive C400 that afternoon, but obviously didn't make it. I think, for the best.

The thing is, a lot of the value in these official Caterham race cars is that they've had engines done by the series' (very expensive) builders. This means nothing to me as I'll be racing in an open series and can go elsewhere for the engine.

Also, the exact spec would have been determined by the regulations and maybe not always the best it could be. I'd be paying extra for this privilege.

Over the last few months, without really realising it, I've been getting more and more involved in the spannering including a couple of quite big jobs almost entirely on my own. And I've enjoyed it.

So, the latest silly idea is to build one exactly how I want it. It's something I'd always wanted to do but thought it would happen later on in life.

I've still got a lot of research to do and people to get advice from but the ideal spec spec would be the current R300 race car but with a lazy, mildly tuned 2.3 Duratec, sequential gearbox and fancy inboard suspension which is available from an independent Caterham specialist.

I'd like it to be capable of running at the front of one of the open series even if I'm not. I've got enough experience now to know when the pace is coming from me or the car, something I didn't have before and why I went with a lower powered car to start with.

I may do the whole thing from scratch, get something part built or in kit form from Caterham or buy a used car and rebuild it. Don't know yet.

If I go this route, it could potentially leave me without a race car for while and we can't have that.

So......

 

BMW..................???

 

I mentioned on another thread that my brother had bought himself his wife a PBMW 320i race car to play with.

For those not in the know, PBMW is a series for almost standard BMW E30 320s and 318s, very strictly controlled and the grids are huge.

Last weekend I went to look at a 320 and bought it



I need to get a seat and harness but other than that it came with loads of spares and is all ready to go.

I'll hopefully get it out on a track or test day before Christmas to check everything out and maybe do some setup (not that's there's much to adjust).

Should be interesting, quite a come down from the Caterham but considering how much fun I had in the 2CV last year I can't see that being a problem.

Luckily the chap my brother shares his workshop with is a bodywork specialist by trade

 

 

I hope you're going to fix the spelling mistake.

 

Did I get it? Or is there another one?

 

Just read this back and it doesn't sound right.

I don't mean I want something that will run at the front even if I drive badly, it just has to be able to if I drive well.

 

I think Dembo is on about 'TOYO TIRES'

 

Hadn't noticed that.

As you can probably tell from the other thread, I'm not at my best today

 

The Beemer should be fun! What's the website of the race series?

Lot's of really nicely prepared westies and caterhams out and about....some really expensively built machines! I take it you're going to build one of those up during the year?

BTW: Did my ARDS test last weekend so will have a race license next season and hoping to do 1 or 2 arrive and drive events. Looking at the MX5 series or MR2 series. Do you know anyone who hires out the Beemers?

Matt