Rum Bum Racing is going bigger and better in 2010 and with that, we've outfitted a 2010 BMW M3 e92, which has loads of torque and a monster 4.0 liter V8 engine. This beauty was made for the track long before we slapped a number on it, just check out her street stats: The 414-horsepower engine goes 0-60 in 4.6 seconds and has clocked a 12.7 second quarter mile. And that's just in a straight line. Take her around curves and she handles like a dream thanks to her balanced chassis and keenly responsive steering.
The Rum Bum M3 is lighter than the street version, and has a DINAN-prepared race motor, which is essentially the BMW motor rebuilt for the harsh conditions of racing. This year, she’ll run on 17’’ Continental race tires, specifically made for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge set to begin January 29 in Daytona. The Rum Bum Racing team is sure to run into some tough competition during the challenge, but with the new M3, combined with everything we learned in preparation last year, we’re more than ready. In fact, our engines are revving just thinking about it.
Meet Rum Bum’s racing wheels. This Buell bike was custom made with a 160 cubic inch S&S Pro Stock billet engine and is legal to race in NHRA Pro Stock Motorcycle Racing. Pro Stock racing sets two riders against each other on a quarter mile track. Rum Bum’s bikes can tackle the drag in under seven seconds.
At upwards of a half a million dollars for both of the Rum Bum Race Team bikes (on which the engines’ twin downdraft manifolds and large diameter throttle bodies for the S&S VFI come standard), the impressive machines still constantly need replacement parts and repair by their expert pit crew. Not so surprising since the motorcycles race at almost 190mph. According to Team Manager, Mac, one of the reasons that the team chose a Buell is due to the relative ease of repair. That and, of course, because the bike runs ridiculously fast.
One of the distinguishing elements of a Pro Stock motorcycle is the racing wheels. The humongous rear wheel provides all the bike’s power, while it’s skinny neighbor 70” to the front is just for steering. Another feature unique to Pro Stock bikes is the tell-tale, well, tail. Technically referred to as a wheelie bar, these aluminum tails stretch behind the rear tire to make sure the bike doesn’t flip and buck off the racer. Because even these bikes are no good without a rider.
