THSCC Forums

I've been away from autocrossing with the THSCC since the early 1980's, but I'm pondering running the event this weekend with my 2001 M5. If the car was stock, the SCCA class is AS. However, I have it set up for track events (Ground Control camber plates, Dinan rear sway bar, 9.5" rims up front -- rear size up front, and r-compound tires), and for the life of me, I can't figure out what class to put the car in.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Chuck

_________________
Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

IIRC, it's ASP. - AB

_________________
'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

I think the camber plates throw it out of Street Prep. The street prep section mentions shims and eccentric bushings but not camber plates. Unless Fast track has allowed this later I think it goes in Street Mod unless the displacement is too big 3 Liter OHC. If this is the case them E Prep per the line BMW sedans NOC.

_________________
George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

Camber plates were legal in Street Prepared last I knew.

_________________
2010 Honda Fit Sport
Couple of bicycles

OOPs I did not read far enough into the street prep rules. Page 88 allows for camber plates as long as the original center hole is not modified. What I was mentioned before was on an earlier page.

The M5 is not listed in ASP. Is it a sports car? Then it would go in the catch all of ASP. If it is a sedan over 3 Liters it might fit the ESP catch all clause.

Maybe we should ask Dr. Daystrum about M5. I am sorry he had a breakdown during that episode.

_________________
George Bright Member # 141
One of the youngest of the old farts.
Yes I voted against you joining the club.

It's a V8, but hardly your base model 5 series. I bet it rolls up to ASP, for it starts in SS. The base 540i is in ESP, but the M5 '00+ is a special beast, and I'd define it as sports car. - AB

_________________
'14 Toyota Sequoia Platinum 4WD
Super Westerfield Bros - '93 Integra - LeChump Du Jour
STX 93 - Scion FR-S

Thanks for all the input so far. I thought about ASP until I saw that the BMW Z8 is listed in BSP??? The Z8 has the M5 motor (5 liter, 400hp) but in a much smaller and lighter car, so that led to my confusion and post herein. I did think that perhaps BSP shouldn't provoke anyone to complain about it since, after all, the Z8 is classed there. In any event, I'm thinking ASP sounds best for now.

Any further thoughts are appreciated.

Chuck

_________________
Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Why don't you just bring the 330 out to play in DS?

It might be coming too...my daughter wants to try her first autocross, but she's either driving the 330 or the 850R. Since the 850R is an auto, it may be a better learning car for a first autocross (i.e. not having to worrying about shifting, etc., just concentrate on learning the course and driving). Oh, btw, the SCCA class for the 330i ZHP is BS.

_________________
Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

Next year it gets to go to DS.

_________________
02 Focus SVT
STF 9

Not for long

Highlights of stock class changes (Scott and Sally go back to GS!)

http://www.scca.com/_FileLibrary/File/0 ... strack.pdf

STOCK CATEGORY
- Per the SAC, the following previously published class change proposals, effective 1/1/2006, are being recommended to the BOD:
- Audi TT (225hp, dual intercoolers) from BS to DS.
- Audi TT 3.2 V6 from BS to DS.
- BMW 330 with ZHP, all from BS to DS.

Edit: Oops, Ryan beat me to it.

Interesting...that article shows the E39 M5 (2000-2003) moving from AS to FS also! I wonder how (if) this effects the (officially not stated) street prepared class for the car.

_________________
Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

From the way I'm reading the rules, the M5 should go into ESP. Since, surprisingly, it is NOC as far as I can tell. That would make one heck of and ESP car if so...

Well, I enjoyed the autocross, and the car did pretty well. However the driver managed to miss a gate entering the first slalom for all but the last two runs .

I had put it in ASP given the uncertainty of the class; however I just heard from the SCCA on this subject, and those above thinking "ESP" were correct about the E39 M5.

Here's a clip from the e-mail I just got from Doug Gill, SCCA Solo Technical Manager:



So, the official word from the SCCA is ESP for the M5. Especially on open courses, this will be interesting I think.

Chuck



P.S. My daughter enjoyed her first autocross very much in our 850R. She was in the novice class, but the 850R has IPD front and rear sway bars and 8" wide wheels (stock size was 7"), so from what I can tell, its class is ESP also. However, it has street tires, so perhaps I should have classified it in the TIR class (and will do so in the future). That car desperately needs more negative front camber which it is in the process of getting.

_________________
Current stable:
2019 BMW M2 Competition slicktop 6MT
2011 BMW M3 sedan slicktop 6MT
2007 BMW 328i wagon (slushbox for now)
1975 CanAm 125MX2

glad you could make it out Chuck. if i am not mistaken, your daughter can only run one or the other class ( NOV or TIR ) and have an ESP Pax.
i would personally reccomend the NOV class as we have a novice mentor program in place.

i need some info regarding my 97 328is. if an M5 is ESP how can i still be in DSP? probably a stupid question but i am curious.



FSP?