A Rowdy Twin-Turbo BMW Has Unfinished Business at Sick Powerfest, and Carl Balzer Has ‘Klaus’ Ready for a Shot at the World Burnout Championship
A drag-and-drive car by definition is forced to be able to accomplish tasks as a street car, as well as survive on the race track. As the number of burnout contests increase, it’s not uncommon to find cars and trucks that are built for the sole purpose of creating clouds of smoke and destroying tires.
But there’s a few that see street and drag strip use as well, and a unique one plans to make their return to Sick Powerfest a good one.
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We got to see Carl Balzer at last year’s Sick Powerfest with his unique Exo cart BMW known as ‘Klaus’ at the 2023 edition of Sick Powerfest Presented by Dodge and M1 Concourse, putting eyes to a project we wrote about in Sick the Magazine HERE last August.
Carl was ready to put the Hidden Motorsports ride through its paces in multiple ways, but his burnout time was short lived. “As soon as I started the burnout, about 3 seconds in, my belt immediately flew off,” said Carl. “I was on a mechanical water pump back then, so I fixed it really quick, and they said to do over. Got back in line, next up, boom, tornado. I didn't get to do my skid.”
With only a few entrants to go, the local tornado siren sounded, causing all to find immediate shelter and ending the event before a few competitors could do their burnouts.
For Carl, it was a bit of a letdown, but Klaus has still got his share of use in 2023, visiting several burnout contests and even a drag-and-drive event, the Heads Up Hustle, where Carl won the Stick Shift class.
For 2024, Carl decided to up the ante on ‘Klaus’ with a bunch of upgrades, as well as improve the output from the twin turbo LS engine.
As a refresher, the BMW sports a Texas Speed 434 cubic inch bullet with a pair of 78/75 Forced Performance turbos, backed by a Grannas Racing Billet T56 Magnum manual transmission, controlled by Holley EFI and halted by TBM Brakes and a Stroud parachute. Factory BMW suspension and a 1995 BMW M5 rear end takes the abuse and controls the ride.
The upgrades for 2024 include: a switch from Holley Terminator ECU to a Dominator, swapping the previous twin disc clutch for a triple disc XClutch set-up, and upgrading the fuel system from a pair of Holley 1800 fuel pumps to twin Holley vr2 brushless fuel pumps.
“With the Dominator ECU, we added a bunch for sensors, inputs and outputs,” said Carl. “EGT sensors, oil temp, drive shaft speed, co2 boost control, etc. The car now has traction control and a clutch delay system.”
All the changes has already gotten some test and tune time, as Klaus has visited five of a projected fifteen-twenty events on Carl’s 2024 schedule, earning a third place and fifth place finish from a pair of burnout contests.
“We have an event every single weekend starting next week until Sick Powerfest, which will then give us a 3 week break. Klaus is going to be tired by Sick Powerfest, but he should make it.”
The third annual Sick Powerfest Powered by Dodge and M1 Concourse is a huge 1-day event coming to Pontiac, Michigan on Friday, August 9th, 2024!
Sick Powerfest will redefine burnout contests with the $25,000 World Burnout Championship! Dozens of entries are gearing up, including several Aussies in the mix! It will be the ultimate smoke show!
We’ll also have the Sick Spit Show & Shine car show, the Manufacturer’s Midway, and the all-new Dodge Thrill Rides as part of their display! It’s a full day of fun you won’t want to miss!
Want to participate, or come out to watch all the action? All the information on Sick Powerfest is available by CLICKING HERE!
Written by Derek Putnam. Photos courtesy of Sick the Magazine and Carl Balzer.
If you have thoughts / feedback / ideas, please e-mail us at derek@sickthemagazine.com