Video From Drivers Appreciation Race @ Laguna Seca

[SteveWalker]

Last weekend we raced the Asahi Kiko M3 at the Drivers Appreciation event held at Laguna Seca. The car performed very well and I set the best lap time I have ever done there. Here's the link:

https://youtu.be/8-kVlZ-Ofgk

[Konig]

Looks like fun! Shame I couldn’t come down and spectate.

[mwagner10702]

HI Steve,

Wonderful to see the M3 going strong against the larger-engined competition. Would love to see some front facing videos of your work behind the wheel. Will you be at PIR in September for the Columbia River Classic?

[Ron ///Man]

Warms my heart to see (and hear) your car at speed Steve! If you don't mind me asking, what gearbox are you using?

[Ironhead]

Great video...

I know they can only have limited classes for historic racing, but still seems odd to me that they class an E30M3 with cars like 935s and fully race-prepped Corvettes. It was still amazing though how well your car held it's own running with cars that I am certain had more than twice the power along with better aerodynamics, etc.

[SteveWalker]

HI Steve,

Wonderful to see the M3 going strong against the larger-engined competition. Would love to see some front facing videos of your work behind the wheel. Will you be at PIR in September for the Columbia River Classic?

Thanks for the kind words. We will be at PIR but I will be racing the S2000 as the 2002 and the M3 will be heading to Road America for the HSR race the weekend following CRC.

[SteveWalker]

Warms my heart to see (and hear) your car at speed Steve! If you don't mind me asking, what gearbox are you using?

It's a Getrag with Samulson (sp?) internals. Very short throws and square cut gears,

[jimmy p.]

Great video, that was fun to watch. Good patience and consistent driving fending off all that V8 HP.

Baffles me,,, just BAFFLES me that Vintage orgs cant seem to come up with a small displacement (under 2.5 or 3.0 litre) class, that they insist on dumping a 2.3 litre 4 cylinder in with cars with 500+HP.
I know its all for fun, but Its kind of bullshit on their part.

[Ron ///Man]

It's a Getrag with Samulson (sp?) internals. Very short throws and square cut gears,

Probably Samsonas internals. They have the internals that fit the Getrag box. Do you have their shifter too?

[mwagner10702]

. . . they insist on dumping a 2.3 litre 4 cylinder in with cars with 500+HP

Ha! That sounds like the last two HPDE track days I attended.

[Ron ///Man]

... and the same as DM in Club Racing against de-stroked S50/52's...

[jimmy p.]

... and the same as DM in Club Racing against de-stroked S50/52's...

DM is the only Mod class with that large of a displacement delta.
They could fix it easy, they just wont for some reason.

[Ron ///Man]

DM is the only Mod class with that large of a displacement delta.
They could fix it easy, they just wont for some reason.

Yup, and it's the only class where 4 cyl's compete against 6 cyl's. Very easy fix, they just would not hear of it years ago when a couple of us tried.

[Anri]

Hi Steve,

1.38.9mins at Laguna Seca is Very impressive for what the car is. Is this your "home-track" ?

What is the hp you are making out of this 2.3 ?

I will be racing the S2000

Looks like you track s2000 as well ?. Could you please share honest feedback between the E30M3 and the S2000 ?

The S2000 advantages are several starting form the lighter engine places 100% behind the front axle, the driver is sitting further back between the wheelbase meaning better weight distribution, the rear double wishbone has also advantages on the grip etc, front double wishbone also has advantages. Track is wider. Engine power is not important in my question. I need your feedback on the rest.

1 very negative fact on the S2000 is that the car will never ever be as light as M3 due to fact being convertible...

I appreciate your thoughts.

Regards,
Anri

[SteveWalker]

Hi Steve,

1.38.9mins at Laguna Seca is Very impressive for what the car is. Is this your "home-track" ?

What is the hp you are making out of this 2.3 ?





Looks like you track s2000 as well ?. Could you please share honest feedback between the E30M3 and the S2000 ?

The S2000 advantages are several starting form the lighter engine places 100% behind the front axle, the driver is sitting further back between the wheelbase meaning better weight distribution, the rear double wishbone has also advantages on the grip etc, front double wishbone also has advantages. Track is wider. Engine power is not important in my question. I need your feedback on the rest.

1 very negative fact on the S2000 is that the car will never ever be as light as M3 due to fact being convertible...

I appreciate your thoughts.

Regards,
Anri

Hi Anri,

My home track is Portland but I love Laguna Seca. It and Sonoma just seem to fit my cars and my driving style.

My S2000 is a sports racer:



It is a swift DB2 with aa Ford YAC engine. It raced in the City League years ago. It is a completely different animal than the e30. But I think you are thinking it is a Honda?

Thnx.