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Construction at March Engines
Source
Orders had been placed by IMSA competitors Peter Gregg and Jim Busby.
Chassis #3 is being build at March Engines Ltd. in England and allocated to Peter Gregg, but ends up with Jim Busby. It's fitted with a normally aspirated BMW M88/3, the same engine that is fitted to regular group 4 BMW M1's, and produces about 480BHP. It's equiped with a more refined earo package than the 'works' car #001. -
Shakedown at Goodwood
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The car is shaken down at the circuit of Goodwood, England.
Exact date not known, info needed. -
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Shipping to Eastcoast and testing at Riverside
Source
The car get's shipped to Laguna Beach California, a journey of 8800 km.
Jim Busby said in an interview at Sebring that they tested the car at Riverside Raceway prior to the Daytona 24h. Also, former decathlete and Olympic Gold medalist Bruce Jenner was giving it a try and the team found him good enough to race the car with veteran racers Busby and Knoop.
Actual date of shipping and testing unknown, info needed. -
BMW Announces
BMW Announces that it's now testing the turbocharged engine at the bench. But soon after nothing is heard from it. -
24 Hour of Daytona, 18th Annual 24 Hour Pepsi Challenge, World Championship of Makes.
Class: GTX
Entrant: Jim Busby Industries
Entered as: March-BMW M1
Drivers: Jim Busby, Bruce Jenner, Rick Knoop
Engine: BMW M88/3
Qualified 18th but didn't finish. Official results say due to a broken driveshaft, but "Christophorus", a "magazine for Porsche fans", reported that it was crashed by Jenner. The book "daytona 24h" only mentioned cosmetic damage after a clash with a Porsche.
Photos! -
Coca-Cola 12 Hours of Sebring International Grand Prix of Endurance
Jim Busby promo
Busby and Jenner interviews, also onboards.
Television show
Entrant: Jim Busby Industries
Drivers: Jim Busby, Bruce Jenner, Rick Knoop.
Engine: BMW M88/3
Qualified 8th, but didn't finish due to a broken gearbox, as seen in television show.
Photos!
Full results -
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The big Swap at the SwapShop of Glen Blakely in Tampa
Source
The BMW M88/3 engine has not enough power to harm the opposition, and it's becoming apparent that the promised turbo version is not comming at all. BMW has favoured F1 above sportscar racing, espacially since Group 5 is going to deminish after 1982. The Busby crew respond the American way, they throw the 6 cilinder out and in 2 weeks get the car finished with a new Small Block Chevrolet, 350ci (5,7L). prepared by Traco. and a new more narrow nose. -
100 mile Road Atlanta
Entry list
Entrant: Jim Busby Industries
Driver: Jim Busby
Engine: Chevrolet small block, 350 ci, 5,7l. Prepared by firm named Traco.
We only have this picture.
Qualified as 12th, finished (!) 23th encountered problems.
Full results -
Riverside 5 Hours, Los Angeles Times / Toyota Grand Prix of Endurance
Entrant: Jim Busby Industries
Drivers: Jim Busby, Geoff Brabham
Engine: Traco Chevy V8, 5,7L, 350ci.
Qualified 16th but failed to finish due to a blown cilinder. Only 25 finished of 75, probably due hot weather. You can see in this clip of qualifying there was something wrong. so say the photos
Full results -
Laguna Seca 100 Miles
Jim Busby reportedly bought a Porsche 935 in the pits of Laguna Seca raceway after practice. If he ran the M1 in practice isen't known. The next day he raced the Porsche, he even put Ocean Motors BMW sponsoring on it.
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No sign
No sign of the BMW M1, Bob Gregg becomes the entrant and installs a state-of-the-art 6,5L, 450Ci Chevrolet Small Block with aprox 700BHP.
Some articles speculate about a suspension revision by .. -
BMW-March M1 in the pits at Laguna Seca
The M1 appears again in the pits of Laguna Seca. It has it's original colors buth with a strangely shaped front section and "Bob Gregg" on the door. It's unknown if it entered the race that day or if it made any laps.
Phtotos -
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More plastic surgery!
The car get's a new bright red paint job and a new rear section. The rear spoiler get's elevated. -
Sears Point 100 Miles, Camel GT
Entered by: Bob Gregg Racing
Driven by: Joe Varde
Qualified: 10th, did not finish (reason unknown).
Engine: 400Ci, 6,5L state-of-the-art Small Block Chevrolet, 700BHP.
Article in ..
Full results Photos -
Budweiser Grand Prix of Miami
Entrant:Bob Gregg Racing
Driver: Bob Young
Class: GTP
Engine: Chevrolet 400 V8 6554 cc
Qualified 20th, finished 25th.
This race was probably the wettest in history.
Report by Miami herald. newspaper.
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