Spencer Kimball’s BMW E92 M3 Time Attack Car

Photo Credit: Goner.ARW & SDC Charles

Meet Spencer Kimball. With a background in Mechanical Engineering he has always had a passion for building and developing his personal track cars. As a Bay Area native, Spencer is fortunate to have Sonoma, Thunderhill, and Laguna all in his backyard to routinely test and develop his E92 M3 in Time Attack competition.

"I'd say that I'm 50% builder and 50% racer", Spencer says. "Once I got my first real job, I picked up a 135i that started as a daily driver and testing platform for my BMW tuning, a side gig at the time. I focused mostly on high horsepower and drag tuning for enthusiasts but found a local HPDE group (NorCal Racing Club) and ran Thunderhill in my mostly stock 135i. I was immediately hooked; the car was upgraded in every way and slowly turned into a semi-capable "very budget" time attack car... even winning a few events in Global Time Attack."

Once you get hooked, most want to go faster, which would be the case with Spencer. He found his way into a 2008 DCT M3 Coupe with a

Carbon Roof. "I've owned it for about two years. I purchased it with 95k miles fully stock. I chose the E92 platform for the motor & longer wheelbase after dealing with turbo track cars for years. I knew the motor was fantastic, and the car could put down lap times equal to newer cars with more power when set up properly. At my last event, I ran within 0.2sec of a well-driven 992 GT3RS." Considering the price differential between the two cars, the E92 M3 provides exceptional value for track day enthusiasts.

Spencer's E92 M3 has seen a few upgrades over the past few years.

- S65 4L V8 ~390whp @ 8500RPM
- Akrapovic Ti Axle Back
- Epic Tune, thanks, Randy!
- AP Pro5000 Brakes w/ XR2 Pads
- MCS 2 Way Remote Coilovers via TC Design
- Custom 210mm "SPX spec" ZF LSD
- Ridgeline GT4 lip & APR GT250 Wing
- Pinnacle MS Cage
- DIY OMP Paddle Shift wheel (SLG parts)
- Sabelt X-Pad Seat & Harness via Grid Partners!
- Apex VS5RS (RE71RS) thanks Apex! / Konig Hypergram / Titan 7 TS5 (RE71RS or Pirelli DH) 285-295 tires, depending on the event.
- HGK Composite Doors

When we asked Spencer what modifications have made the most difference in dropping his lap times, he quickly pointed out that it's a combination of multiple elements. "Weight reduction, MCS 2 Way Remotes, AP Brakes w/ Cobalt Friction XR2 pads & ZF LSD w/ 3.45 Final Drive. Everyone knows that the E9x M3 and S65 motor are incredible together, but the car weighs about 1k lbs more than it should, which puts incredible stress on the brakes and suspension. By removing weight and upgrading to the Cobalt Friction XR2 + AP Pro5000 brakes, I could focus on driving the car without worrying about fade along with super consistent modulation."

With such a heavy car by nature, it's a tricky balance to find a brake package that can handle consistent abuse throughout a session or race. "Moving to Cobalt Friction pads has improved the consistency of my braking points and allows for greatly improved modulation/trail braking compared to other pad options with similar aggressive Mu ratings. Other compounds I've tried feel more like an on/off switch, making it tricky to keep the weight transfer in check and trail brake with a car that still weighs over 3100 lbs without the driver."

Photo Credit: Goner.ARW & SDC Charles

Spencer regularly competes in a series called SpeedSF, which competes at Thunderhill, Sonoma, Laguna, and Buttonwillow. All of which are within three hours of Spencer. SpeedSF is a community of laid-back drivers focusing on fun while providing a competitive atmosphere with their SpeedSF Challenge series. "It has really good parity in classing, with podiums spread by less than a second at many of the events. SpeedSF Challenge has historically attracted the faster grassroots NorCal drivers. Of course, none of us are quitting our day jobs and getting a ride at Ferrari, so the driver community is a huge component of this hobby/sport. I've seen countless competitors help out other drivers between sessions or lend tools to drivers they will race during the next session." The camaraderie aspect of motorsports is something everyone seeks and enjoys nearly as much as going fast.

Spencer won the S3 class SpeedSF Championship in 2023 and every BimmerChallenge event he attended last season in his class. Spencer has already started his 2024 campaign by attending Round 1 of the BimmerChallenge at Buttonwillow. He managed a podium in the Unlimited against some of the fastest BMW time trial drivers in CA.

Photo Credit: TYR Photo & SpeedSF

For the rest of 2024, Spencer plans to try some new Time Attack series while continuing to drive in the SpeedSF Challenge. "I will be moving to the S2 class this season, which is mostly for purpose-built race cars fabricated by race shops. I'm also working to get the car into TT3 spec for certain events, which will require a bit of a down tune and/or ballast. The goal is to run local NASA NorCal events and the entire 2025 season in TT3 after getting my feet wet this year."

This will be his first year trying out some proper Hoosier racing slicks, so Spencer anticipates doing some setup work to help maximize the additional grip. We know this will also increase his braking capacity. Tires are a significant factor in braking performance, and the Hoosiers will help.

Spencer has a "never-ending pursuit" kind of mindset that we really admire. We’re pretty confident there are more trophies in Spencer’s future. His engineering background gives him an edge when it comes to car development and from what we’ve seen, he’s also got all the necessary skills behind the wheel as well.