hobie

Planet wide inquiry: Does the w203 race in any organized motorsports anywhere? 2.3K engine?

Lynn

Terry McCarthy entered a C240 in the Speed Channel World Challenge race at Sebring this spring. The car qualified poorly and exited the race early. It has not been seen since and the team web site has been taken down. https://mbworld.org/forums/showthrea...ight=challenge

I do not know of any other W203's being raced, but I'm sure there are some in Europe.

Xeon

is that a hint for the coupsters to set up a team?

Accord

There are numerous C32 AMG's that race in the SCCA.

Lynn

SSGT?

tberry

gotta say i do wish there were more W203 (particularly C230k coupe) in motorsports. Coming from an Audi a4 (where i used to put the smackdown on Bimmer owners) i feel like i'm getting into a lazy man's car. The MB's are pimp and very nice but everything is sooooo automated and serene it feels like a lazy man's car sometime.

avlis

Indeed. That's why this lazy man bought a 230k and not an RSX, WRX, etc.

hobie

Xeon- I'll crew! I'm afraid racing is out of my league. I crewed for an IMSA GTU team for a couple of years. We just hit the Eastern tracks: Lime Rock, Road Altanta, Mid-Ohio. It was fun for an 18 year old kid to watch the cars and the stars. Guys like the Whittingtons, the Pauls, Danny Ongias etc. were just great. New Kremers and all the spares a truck could hold with some playboys having the time of thier life(away from more stressful endeavors.)
I 've never had the feeling that the later factory GTP guys were having as much fun. I yet to see many laughs among the club racers at the run-offs. I did not go this year, I would have if I'd expected to see C32s running. Racing is such a drain on cash. If you budget x you'll spend 2x and have your credit maxed out and a second mortgage in no time. Not to mention the ***** and skill it takes to wheel. As I wrote, "I'll crew!"

tberry- I know what you mean. Sticky tires really transform the car and my driving style. The pulley helps, but I'd suggest tires first. I plan on putting the factory tires back on when I sell it...nice rationalization, eh?

My original post was intended to unearth a track car, rally car, ice car, even a built solo car, anything.. to illuminate the cars strenghts and weaknesses, as only racing can.

patronus

I have autocrossed my C240/6 in SCCA in H Stock. I did it a little in 2001 and all season in 2002, ending up in 2nd for my class in my region.

I have $400 invested in Kuhmo Victoracers and mounted on some CLK forged wheels (ugly but light - 13lbs). That and my helmet are the only things that I have purchased that are dedicated to racing. The other stuff I wanted for street AND racing (Brabus exhaust, AMG sway bars). Koni's and Eibach's on order.

These are great cars for fun in autocrossing. Yes, they are a bit heavy for their size, but are still very tossable and controllable. It beats driving fast on the street!

Lynn

Won't the sway bars and springs put you into a prepared class? I have always thought the SCCA rules were screwy. Some of the cheap mods put you into prepared or mod classes, but you have to buy wheels and "street legal" racing tires to be competitive in stock classes.

When I was autocrossing in the '70's, my Opel would have been in a mod class with the SCCA, because I had a Weber carb. The stock junk Solex wore out at the throttle shaft bushings and replacing it would have cost $375. The Weber cost $95 and didn't change the performance at all.

patronus

Good catch. Yes, the suspension upgrades will kick me out of stock class for next season. I will be entering Street Touring Street tire (STS) which is a new class that is for moderately modified, naturally aspirated <3.1 liter, non-limited slip rear end 4 seater cars. There are exceptions (1.8T VW/Audi allowed, no Porsches allowed, etc.). Blah blah.

Yes the rules are screwy. I will have to shed the racing tires and run on real street tires next year, too. Go figure.

hobie

patronus-thanks for the feedback. There is one more non-point SCCA autocross in Central Ohio this year. I think I'll give it a try. I have Yoko AVS intermediate 225/50 16, treadwear 140. I also have a pulley. What class might I be in? Up against what?

I autocrossed a Chastain Capri many moons ago. It was fun, but the cones repeatedly trashed the fiberglasss spoiler. How does the MB bumper eat cones?

TimmyC230boy

I'm not telling you to cheat. BUT, with that pulley I would bet money that you could get by with it. whether you want to or not is up to you.

patronus

By the books you would have to move about 2 or 3 steps up the modified curve because you changed the stock boost (with the pulley). I don't know what you would be up against, but suffice it to say you have not spent enough money on your car to be competitive . I don't encourage cheating, but you may want to run stock or Street Prepared and see if anyone protests (they will if you win, probably not if you don't). If you have changed wheels to something larger than stock, you will end up in Street Prep because it will be very obvious. Guys in SP tend to be pretty serious. Go for some fun and have a great time.

The MB bumper does well with cones. Occasionally I have to apply some Maguair's #7 to buff out some rubber marks, but never any permanent damage.

hobie

Its for kicks, I'm not good at cheating anyway. Just ask my ex. Perhaps you know her, too?