Things happen on track. Parts break, whether it’s the result of impact, fatigue, failure, or fatigued parts failing due to impact. Having the right parts on hand can mean the difference between going home early and going racing again the next day.
This is the first in a new series of features in Speed News and we’re calling it “Essential Spares.” With this series, we hope to educate people in a given class or who own a particular model of car that’s popular in NASA racing, Time Trial and HPDE.
We reached out to people who know the class inside and out. They’re champions and people who have been flogging the E30 platform since Spec E30 began. They know what to bring, what works and what usually ends up sitting in the trailer unused. But even if you have never needed something, one of your competitors might need it, so it’s good practice to bring it anyway.
We tried to get a good cross section of Spec E30 racers from around the country. We contacted Robert Patton in NASA Southeast, Andrew Clark with NASA SoCal and Eric Pennington with NASA Great Lakes.
Of course, any good list of Spec E30 racers must include Carlos Mendez, who owns and operates BMW specialist Condor Speed Shop and races with NASA Florida, and NASA Mid-Atlantic standout Robert Grace. We even heard from NASA Southeast Regional Director, who has been racing E30s ever since Carter Hunt said, “Hey, I’ve got an idea for a new racing class.”
Their answers were similar in many respects, but what follows is the wisdom that comes with years of experience. That experience includes wins and losses, championships, cars still in the game and cars that have been written off, stripped and shipped to the crusher. If you race in Spec E30 or are considering it, this installment of “Essential Spares” should serve as a good guide to what you need to stay in the game.
Name: Andrew Clark
Region: SoCal
Car: 1989 BMW 325i
Years Racing: Ninth year in Spec E30
Spares List
All brake parts
Mass Air Flow sensor
Crank position sensor
Wheel speed sensor
Fuel pump
Rear subframe adjuster parts
Front control arms
Throttle cable
Guibo
Clutch slave cylinder
Wheel studs
Wheel bearings
Head gasket set
Plugs, cap, rotor, wires
Miscellaneous BMW bolts, fasteners, and clips
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: I’ve never actually ended a weekend due to not having a part, knock on wood! There have been things I didn’t have, but through our Spec E30 community I’ve always found the parts needed. Most notably, one year at Western States Championships, I got rear ended and damaged my exhaust. Our cars have a spec exhaust with a very specific “S” bend in it. The damage occurred right at that bend. No one at the track had the exhaust, or the ability to duplicate it. Luckily for me another car broke down and wasn’t able to run. I borrowed his exhaust and finished the weekend, then reinstalled it on his car so he could head home.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: It’s usually the simple things that you carry but don’t end up needing. I’ve never needed an alternator, control arms, or radiator hoses, but I have them.
Name: Carlos Mendez
Region: NASA Florida
Car: 1984 318i
Years Racing: 9 years in Spec E30
Spares List
Crank position sensor
Rocker arms
Air flow meter
Alternator belt
Brake master cylinder
Clutch master cylinder
Slave cylinder, with line
Starter
Alternator
Radiator
Rotors, front and rear
Brake pads, front and rear
Front hub
Wheel studs and nuts
Fuel pump relay
Fuel pump
Brake Calipers
Brake hoses
Coil
Spark plugs and wires
DME
Misc. hoses
Nuts and bolts
Wheel spacers
Fuel and coolant hose
Hose clamps
Wheel spacers
Brake hardware
Tie rod end
Driveshaft guibo
ABS wheel-speed sensors
Center driveshaft support
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: I once needed a brake booster, but I didn’t have one.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: I always have spark plug wires, but I haven’t needed them yet.
Name: Robert Grace
Region: NASA Mid-Atlantic
Car: 1989 325i
Years Racing: 12 years in Spec E30
Spares List
Brake pads and rotors — You can never have too many. Order a bunch before the season from KNS Brakes and you won’t have to think about it again.
Tie rods — It doesn’t take much to bend or break one, too much curb or a little bit of wheel to wheel contact is all it takes.
Control arms — See “tie rods.”
Sway bar end links — Knock on wood, I’ve never broken one, but I have handed out at least three over the years to other people.
Full clutch
Wheel bearings
Basic maintenance stuff — fuel filter, spark plugs, wires, hoses, coil, etc.
Shifter linkage
Air flow meter(s)
Tires
Know where everything is. When things break at the track, you’re typically in a hurry and you’re going to want to know if that part is in the blue box under the counter or in the yellow box up in the goose neck.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: A transmission, twice actually. Fortunately DriveGear racing was able to hook me up. Come to think of it, being friends with DriveGear racing is the best spares package you could ever have!
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: I have a differential in the trailer that hasn’t moved since I put it in there. Hopefully it stays that way.
Name: Eric Pennington
Region: Great Lakes
Car: Spec E30
Years Racing: 7 years
Spares List
Crashy bits — Calipers, wheel bearings/hubs, wheel studs, control arms, struts/shocks, and end links.
It-won’t-run inventory — Plug wires, coil, ignition distributor, AFM (times 3, always suspect), DME, fuel pressure regulator, injectors, fuel pump, and rocker arms.
I hope that doesn’t happen again — Shifter, shifter linkage, half-shaft, and assorted bolts from parts-car teardowns.
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: Sway bar mount bushing. Really every part I bring now, I once needed and didn’t have. The Spec E30 group is great when it comes to sharing parts. When I borrow something, I generally buy two after the event. One to replace, and one to add to spares. It’s how I built up my spares inventory.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: I used to bring a spare differential, among other large and labor intensive replacements. When that level of repair is needed, now I just explore the paddock for entertainment. I’m just there to hang out with my friends anyway!
Name: Jim Pantas
Region: NASA Southeast
Car: 1989 BMW 325i
Years racing: 25 plus
Spares List
Front rotor
Rear rotor
Front and rear brake pads
Front hub/bearings
Rear hub/bearings
Brake fluid
Extra wheel/tire
Fan belt
Fuses
Q: What is one spare part you have needed at the track, but didn’t have with you?
A: Tie rod end.
Q: What have you always had on hand, but never had a need for?
A: Fan belt.
