Would you road race a stock 318ti?

[Super Phil]

I've always wanted to race in the Silver State Classic or the Wendover race they are bringing back this year. www.openroadracing.com
Do you think a stock 1996 318ti (with manual transmission) has enough power to run in the lowest Touring Division (95mph)??

I think it would, but are there any suggestions for cheap mods that might give you an extra 5-10 hp??

[bmvw]

Sure you could. Make sure your cooling system is A-1. Pull out everything not bolted down. Keep an eye on your rearview so you don't react wrongly to a car coming behind you at 225+mph.

[pdxmotorhead]

I've personally run my TI the same distance as the silverstate and the little computer on the dash showed me a 100 average speed (remote area with spotters in front of me). Its not even that hard to do.

The thing about the silverstate is that as long as you have the mileage accurate there are only a few spots you can't drive at 95.... And remember, they won't give you a time if you break out over the entered speed, and they will kick you out.

I'd install a rollbar, add 6 point belts, and remove the airbags. Khumo Ecsta's in the DOT race compound would be a really good tire, they are tough and will last the event.

I know the guy who co-drove (Gary Bockman) the record holding car a couple years back. @ 207.7801 mph The guy who was the driver died in about 2002 from health issues.

Gary told me at one time, he would probably never do it again. There are some long sections with Rock walls on one side and wahoo drops off the other. Even in what was essentially a Nascar level prepped car they new if they went off it was not going to be pretty. He said the real shocker is how fast it all goes and that he never realized what the intensity level would be like when they were planning it.Gary drive some wicked fast machinery in SCCA road racing and I'd say he could hold his own just about anywhere.
He drives stuff that pulls past 140 on any race weekend.

It sounded like one hell of a rush...

Dave

[mohaughn]

a Ti will easily pull up to 95 and run at that speed for a long time. i find my car starts to run out of steam around 110. It'll go faster, but it takes a pretty good run to get up over 116. most road courses, other than like daytona, don't have long enough high speed sections to get up over 116. But if you need to strive for an average speed of 95, it shouldn't be a problem.

[Budget M3]

I say go for it...and if you do, get lots of pictures!!!

I picked up my ti in Germany in 1998. I drove it stock on the autobahn for ~3 years and found 100-105mph to be the sweet spot for cruising in light or no traffic. These cars were built for that kind of sustained speed.

BTW, I still got 25-27mpg at those speeds!

[Super Phil]

Awesome...thanks for the input! I'd really like to do this because I only live about 100 miles from Wendover. I figure it's kind of silly to live so close to cool events and not do them....that's why I took my bike to Bonneville last year.

They separate the classes, so I wouldn't have to worry about anyone screaming by me at 200mph.

Race entry is around $500....plus tires and other safety equipment...the costs add up quickly. I'm not sure if I'll be able to swing it this year, but I'm going to try!

[Eireguy]

Hey Neighbor! Kind of dumb to ask, but the Wendover is run on the salt??

[Super Phil]

Originally Posted by Eireguy

Hey Neighbor! Kind of dumb to ask, but the Wendover is run on the salt??

No...the Wendover road race and Silver State Classic are on highways. They shut down about a 100 mile section of highway, and they run the race there.

The Bonneville Salt Flats are out by Wendover....but that is a whole other animal. They have lots of events out there too...land speed stuff...but it is totally different than the open road racing.

Ha...I went to Weber State...used to live in Layton!