Final week, I took you behind the scenes at Vink Motorsport, a BMW-centric race automobile store within the Netherlands. Right here, Ton Vink and his workforce meticulously construct and restore basic machines from motorsport’s golden eras, making ready them for historic racing meets throughout Europe.
In that characteristic, I showcased a number of automobiles at present within the store. At this time, let’s delve deeper into 4 extra Vink Motorsport builds.
Crew Eggenberger Motorsport BMW E28
Getting into Vink Motorsport, the primary automobile that caught my eye was the Crew Eggenberger Motorsport BMW E28 that clinched the European Touring Automotive Championship (ETCC) in 1982. On the season’s begin, BMW confronted new Group A laws, rendering the sooner Group 2 635CSi unsuitable. Thus, the newly launched BMW E28 528i was chosen to compete.
Partnering with Switzerland’s Eggenberger Motorsport, BMW developed a package to remodel the E28 for Group A touring automobile racing. To fulfill the 1,035kg weight restrict for its engine class, the automobile had all pointless elements eliminated. Moreover, its inline-six engine was expertly tuned to provide practically 240hp, up from the manufacturing mannequin’s 180hp.
Pushed by Umberto Grano and Helmut Kelleners, the E28 dominated the early rounds of the 1982 ETCC, successful 5 consecutive races. Though no additional victories adopted, they amassed sufficient factors to safe the championship title.
In Vink Motorsport’s arms, the E28 has undergone an entire rebuild. A re-shell was mandatory because of in depth rust across the exterior of the unique physique, but many elements have been salvageable and reused. Elements past restore have been recreated from authentic blueprints or donated from one other automobile.
Ton and the Vink workforce can remanufacture sure elements, similar to uprights or entrance steering arms. They do that utilizing molds created from authentic components of that period, replicating the manufacturing strategies utilized by BMW. Which means that many beforehand unavailable components at the moment are accessible by channels like BMW Basic or the second-hand market.
BMW Alpina E30 DTM
Subsequent up is a mid-restoration BMW Alpina E30 DTM, one in every of solely two remaining (the opposite resides at Alpina). After its time within the Deutsche Tourenwagen Masters (DTM), this automobile was offered to a racing workforce in England, later ending up in a barn till Ton found it two years in the past.
Opposite to my perception within the existence of a number of Alpina E30 DTM automobiles, most are replicas; many have been even constructed by Ton himself. Nevertheless, this specific automobile was constructed and campaigned by Alpina within the 1987 and ’88 DTM seasons. It options many distinctive particulars like inexperienced mirrors, which have been deliberately chosen for simple identification throughout races.
One other notable element is the onboard radio, which Ton acquired throughout a go to to Alpina. A retired mechanic from the automobile’s racing period was current in the course of the go to and identified the precise location of the radio’s mounting, with screw holes completely matching these on the chassis beneath the dashboard.
These wonderful tales, shared by Ton, spotlight his ardour for guaranteeing historic accuracy in each venture he takes on.
BMW E36 325i Coupe DTM Linder
This automobile was unearthed in Thailand, the place a Vink Motorsport buyer bought it from a collector. Upon its return to the Netherlands, its dire state necessitated an entire restoration. After a meticulous chassis rebuild by Jan Buijs of Multi-tech, adhering to the unique specs, the automobile has simply returned from the paint store with contemporary coats of Jägermeister orange.
In Vink’s canteen, an array of mannequin automobiles features a scale model of this precise automobile, providing a glimpse of its future look.
Scattered across the store are numerous components from the automobile, together with the hood on the primary flooring and the entrance bumper and rear hatch with a spoiler on one of many cabinets. As soon as the automobile takes form, I plan to return to Vink Motorsport and seize it in all its glory.
BMW M1 Procar
Lastly, we come to the BMW M1, which began as a manufacturing road automobile however is now present process a outstanding transformation right into a Procar – a transfer harking back to what BMW Motorsport has carried out prior to now. Vink has been entrusted with this formidable conversion, and progress is obvious within the array of components lining the cabinets subsequent to the automobile. The one factor left to finish is the engine, which is at present being assembled.
The BMW M1 is critical as the primary to hold the long-lasting ‘M’ designation. Produced between 1978 and 1981 in collaboration with Lamborghini, a complete of 453 M1s have been constructed, with 399 being road automobiles and 54 devoted Procar variations commissioned for Group 5 racing. Whereas the precise variety of road M1s transformed into Procars is unknown, quickly, one other will be a part of this elite group.
Keep tuned as this BMW M1 undergoes its gorgeous transformation, including one more chapter to the storied legacy of one in every of BMW’s most legendary fashions.
I hope you’ve loved this second and last characteristic from my go to to Vink Motorsport. Huge due to Ton and the workforce for having us!
Jeroen Willemsen
Instagram: jaccojeroen
