MM Does BABE 2011: The Official Discussion Thread

[SlimKlim]

Okay kids. We've decided to take on the June 2011 Big Apple to Big Easy Rally. Check it out here. http://www.baberally.com/index.esp

It's a four day rally starting in New York City, going through Harrisonburg, Newport, through the Appalachians and into New Orleans on the fourth day. There are very few rules really; the rally must be completed in a street legal and inspected car purchased for $500 or less. Each day the teams will be thrown undisclosed "challenges" and will be given style points based on how they complete them.

MM has decided to participate in the rally this year and use it as a fund-raising opportunity for charity. Every four MMers that opt to participate will be broken up into teams and tasked with purchasing and preparing their own car this upcoming spring. We will set up a budget per team, and donate every penny we raise over to a couple of yet to be determined fundraisers. Right now I'm thinking a 100% charity goal is attainable. For every $1000 we raise to fund the rally, we'll donate $1000 to charity.

This is a thread to get you guys thinking about whether or not you'd like to participate. This is an enormous undertaking for the club. Dare I say one of the biggest things we've ever attempted to pull off. Since we're, you know, buying cars and stuff, the level of commitment needs to be considerably higher than the all too familiar "Bro, I'm totally making it to that autocross" and then losing your conviction as fast as your sobriety when Saturday night rolls around. ;-)

This will be presented more in depth this summer to discuss what charities you guys would like to see benefited, and to collect suggestions. We will also gauge interest in participation. The third meeting of the semester will be the deadline for participation. I know its early, but we need to start fund-raising this fall so that we can purchase cars by the middle of the spring semester.

All in all, this is going to be a completely biblical event. An actual road rally, good for us, good for charity, full of old crappy car and good times. Get Pumped!

[Jake]

110% in for this. Whatever post-grad job I get, the start date will be scheduled around this BABE

[terdcivic]

So this would be for the summer of 2011? This sounds like an awesome idea.

[D_Eclipse9916]

um yes....

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[Mike]

um yes....

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:?:

[Jake]

um yes....

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Yeah, see, we need the whole car for five hundo.

[V1GiLaNtE]

^ what are the rules on transplanting? Can I spend $200 for a shell and $250 for engine and put it in??

[.RJ]

what could go wrong....

[Jake]

^ what are the rules on transplanting? Can I spend $200 for a shell and $250 for engine and put it in??

Hrmmmm let's say no.

I say no because MM did the Grassroots Motorsports Challenge back in 2005 or 2006 (or both?) and the story, while hazy, involves several Merkur X4TIs, none of which ran, a few engines, and no entry in the GRM Challenge after lotsa funding and stuff.

So, let's say we have to find the car in one piece - running but with issues is okay. Missing a motor and/or trans is not okay.

[CaptainHenreh]

Charity suggestion:
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(Neuroblastoma research foundation)

Car suggestion:
E28 BMW. You should be able to find one that runs easy peasy. 528e would get good fuel economy, would be easy to get roadworthy, and should stay running the whole way. Forget any "sporty" car you can find for 500 bucks...it won't make it.

[SlimKlim]

An E28 would beyond awesome. Actually its kinda what I'm hoping my team will find. I'd say a safe guideline would be to find a running car for $500, and if it takes a few bucks to make it roadworthy it's not going to kill anyone. The rules say "purchased for $500" and I think as long as it passes the bullshit test it'll fly.

[CaptainHenreh]

An E28 would beyond awesome. Actually its kinda what I'm hoping my team will find. I'd say a safe guideline would be to find a running car for $500, and if it takes a few bucks to make it roadworthy it's not going to kill anyone. The rules say "purchased for $500" and I think as long as it passes the bullshit test it'll fly.

IIRC, Safety equipment (tires & brakes included) are "free". Not sure the rules are exactly hard and fast either.

[Mike]

Charity suggestion:
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(Neuroblastoma research foundation)

Nice. My niece has NB.

Also, guys, KEEP THIS SIMPLE. Get a cheap car that runs, and make it run better. Do not make it fast, do not put r-comps on it... Just make it bulletproof. The more work that needs to be done, the exponentially more likely this idea will fail.

[SlimKlim]

Charity suggestion:
<!-- m --><a class="postlink" href="https://www.codys-crew.org/">https://www.codys-crew.org/</a><!-- m -->
(Neuroblastoma research foundation)

Nice. My niece has NB.

Also, guys, KEEP THIS SIMPLE. Get a cheap car that runs, and make it run better. Do not make it fast, do not put r-comps on it... Just make it bulletproof. The more work that needs to be done, the exponentially more likely this idea will fail.

....so, no meth kit then? Damn.

[DavidM]

Why would we run meth, I heard only pussies run meth...

[Goodspeed]

Meyer, you bought an IS? 2JZ no shit?

Also, buy a Caprice or LTD or something. Good luck finding ancient Bimmer parts in the middle of rural Kentucky :lol:

[ViPER1313]

You SHOuld consider all car options available.....

[Mike]

You SHOuld consider all car options available.....

Parts are too scarce for my taste. Crown Vic FTW. Or a conversion van so you can sleep in it and save monehs.

[ScottyB]

i'd second a crown vic. seriously, an ex-police P71 car can be had for cheap, is designed to be abused endlessly, is built upon cheap as hell readily available parts (you probably won't have to wait a day for an odd ball part to ship in to some parts place), and can fit your whole life inside. 25mpg highway, RWD, and left lane dominance thanks to scaring everyone else on the road.

[SlimKlim]

Won't need parts cause the bimmer won't break. I mean yeah, all the stuff that makes it "livable" and "easy to drive" will be broken but the actual drivetrain on a BMW never dies. Thats pretty much all you need, maybe brakes.