Staunch Machinery: 2020 BMW vs. Porsche at SMSP

We organised a shoot with BMW Drivers Club NSW President Alex for the morning of the BMW vs. Porsche time attack event, and killed two birds with one stone by doing a thorough pit-walk, snapping the machinery that participated on the day.

Nothing like starting a BMW and Porsche event write up with a Lotus group shot.

With other commitments later on the morning, neither Peter or I were able to stay much longer than the first sessions, hence the lack of on-track photography, but it was great for both of us to attend a motorsport event together for this project for the first time.

First spotto: Charlie’s GT4 sporting another new livery. Dude’s creative!

Didn’t even know Peter took so many shots of this gorgeous 997. Red wheels set it off!

It’s something that we want to push moving in 2021, both of us love a well-sorted tarmac eater, and this past Saturday’s event was the crème de la crème for this sort of thing.

Did you know BMW stands for Big Man’s Wang?

Parking outside the garages this gorgeous blue example caught both our eyes immediately.

Classic BMWs scattered around the paddock.

The sights, smells and sounds of motorsport are highly addictive, and having missed out on Aus Time Attack, the absence of WTAC this year and prohibition of spectator viewing for the majority of track events, seeing the Deutschland’s best mix it up against each other was extremely gratifying.

Along with a GT3 Cup car, the fastest on the day was this RSR 4.0. In love…

Not many Ultraviolet GT3s in Australia, seeing one in the flesh is a treat.

Our good friend Jason brought his angry, angry R35 GTR to play with, complete with the newly installed, chassis-mounted GT500-style swan neck. A feature of his story, and this build in the future is definitely on the cards once he’s comfortable with the set up, and a third overall coming behind an RSR and GT3 Cup Car made him a very happy chappy over the weekend.

1:38.9 for Jason’s new set up, wing looks menacing.

As an owner of an E46 M3 in Australia, I get told time and time again to cherish the vehicle as a future classic, “don’t do anything that kills its value!”. Seeing the cars at the event though, modified and driven to their extremes, I’ve decided to give a big middle finger to stock life, and will be building my perfect track toy in the upcoming year.

This was Peter’s first time shooting cars at speed, from a distance. Not bad hey?!

Despite being a two-marque event, there was a lot of variety. Even within each marque, different eras and genres, very pleasant on the senses.

Life’s too short to not be happy with what you have!

Friendly brand placement for Autohaus Hamilton.

The parking lot spottings at this event was just as impressive as the garage looks.

Overall a great dose of weekend inspiration and motivation for the both of us at SMSP, and with Peter just purchasing the Honda boy’s wet dream for a track car in the S2000, perhaps we’ll be participants in competitive track events this time next year…

For the both of us, good upgrades for hardparking at the track. I got my TE37s onto the car, while Peter picked up his AP1!

For now though, enjoy Peter’s photos, we have a lot more coming to wrap up the year!