Random Capture: E30 M3 on the Nurburgring

Once upon a time, "M" stood for something in BMW-speak. To be technical, it stood for "Motorsport."  These days, with 556bhp automatic equipped 5,327lb SUV's masquerading as true M cars, it seems more like "M" is for "Marketing."

Hasn't always been this way, though.  There was a time when the M division cranked out some of the most wonderfully hardcore stuff on the road.  If you're reading this site, chances are you need no introduction to the BMW (E30 generation) M3 Coupe.  The Group-A fighter body with it's bulky flared fenders, the huge boy-racer wing, the high-winding 2.3L twin-cam four banger, the steering that was like a Ouija board to the soul...

And what goes more naturally with the race-derived E30 M3 than the most challenging, most respected race track in the world?  This is a shot by Flickr user "Nordschliefenfan" of a Hellarot E30 M3 in the Adenauer Forst.  Hard to tell at speed, but I'd bet those are some top-shelf BBS's, too.  The E30 crowd doesn't fool around.

Don't you wish you had the time and money to be this guy?  And how awesome is this shot, too?  Great depiction of motion, great lighting... fantastic work.  Long live the E30.