8 Second BMW - An interview with Stuart Doignie

Stuart Doignie wanted something different and since an early age has always hankered after a BMW so, when a part built 'Beamer' came up for sale on Eurodragster.com he bought it and became the owner of the only Super Comp/Super Gas BMW that races in this country.

The thirty year old Moulton, Northamptonshire based Risk Manager for Barclaycard started out at the tender age of six, back in 1983 accompanying his Dad, Bob to watch the racing at Santa Pod Raceway and like a lot of people to witness Drag Racing was hooked, but especially on the 9.90 second Super Gas class. Hours were spent talking over what type of car they wanted and how to go about building it. However, after a few years as spectators Bob bought and raced a street legal Pontiac Firebird at Run What Ya Brung events which further ingrained the overall desire to race properly. Young Stuart's persistence finally persuaded Dad to get a real race car and they purchased an ex Andy Carter chassis for a Ford Pop and thus was born 'The Flying Doctor' in 1995 running in the Outlaw Anglia class before running it in 1997 in Super Street.

It was in 1999 when Stuart had had his fill of watching Dad enjoy the on track experience and bought a 1967 Mustang to run as a Pro Street car at many RWYB meetings ending up with a best of a 12.6 second timing ticket, but it was still not quite his dream machine. The Mustang was sold and the money invested in the Pop which of course entitled Stuart a share in the driving! It was a joint venture from around 1999 for the two to race the vehicle in turns continuing for almost two years.

There can only be so much fun in sharing and it was now the chance advert that caught Stuart's attention in early 2001, an Andy Robinson built chassis and shell that was a half finished and unwanted project complete with part BMW 325i Sport bodywork. It took two years to rebuild the car that included an updating at Jon Webster's shop and a 550bhp Big Block Chevy was shoehorned in from Stuart Peck's 'Rat Rage' Camaro that credited the race machine with a best of 9.7 seconds running in the Super Street category during the 2003 season and Super Gas in 2004. It was also a great debut for the BMW as at the Main Event it took the Super Street event trophy! In 2004 the dream came true - Super Gas time, the BB Chevy was sold to Wayne Hiscock and a purpose built 496c.i. Chevy with 800 horses from Wheeler Race Engines in Florida was fitted and proved very successful with a number four in the Championship being achieved. The new motor was debuted at the 2005 Euro Finals and puts its power through an Al O'Connor built GM Powerglide with a Hurst Pro Stick shifter, this in turn goes through an Andy Robinson Ford nine inch rear with 4.11:1 gearing and connects to the asphalt via 32x14.4x15 Goodyear Eagle slicks mounted on Center Line wheels, stopping is assisted by Strange Engineering brakes and a parachute.

Over the 2005/6 winter the engine was stripped down as it had spun a bearing at the National Finals and was rebuilt with help and FOC replacement parts from the Stateside company. It paid off at the recent European Finals with the car running its first eight, an 8.898 at 150mph - a little bit of a break-out on the 8.900 index but hey what the heck! To run in both Super Comp and Super Gas is as simple as flicking the switches that controls the throttle stop and timers and can be done just before the run allowing the excitement of getting down track twice as many times. In between round maintenance involves safety checks, making sure the battery is charged and to refuel before charging down the track again in the hope of winning another round. Transmission woes have unfortunately forced the cancellation of on track appearances at the BMW event this weekend.

Ambitions for the future are to continue in his favourite class of Super Gas as well as competing in the Super Comp wars with perhaps a trip or two to some of the European tracks such as Sweden 's Mantorp Park or Hockenheim in Germany. A possible move up to Super Modified is not ruled out but it would have to be with the permission of wife Rachael and a big raise from Barclaycard!

Roger Gorringe. Copyright September 2006.