The TRD Series: A Simple Path To Finding Camaraderie
Designed to help bring the Toyota community together across California, Speed SF’s TRD Series has established a simple, straightforward set of rules to put most models from Toyota, Scion, and Lexus—even a few related BMW and Subaru models, too—closely together in time trial competition.
Popular models at the sharp end of the grid include the AE86, MK5 Supra, MR-S and MR2, as well as the ever-popular GT86/BRZ/FR-S, though most cars wearing a Toyota badge can find some form of competition here. With a simple but effective points system designed to ensure mechanical parity, a well chosen set of modifications can give an IS350 or even a Prius a shot at being a front-runner.
Entrants are divided into five groups: Unlimited, Grand Touring, Touring, Street, and Enthusiast. Ranked highest to lowest in terms of performance, these classes are divided by the aforementioned points system and a second factor, tire width and compound.
Support from One Toyota of Oakland has been critical in this series’ development.
Each chassis is assigned a starting points value which, depending on the motor, can vary slightly. The go-fast goodies added to each chassis determine the amount of points to be added to the original value and the overall point count, assuming tire widths are in line with the regulations, determine precisely which class a car will run in.
Sound simple enough? In reality, things are a little more complicated than that. Splitters and other aero pieces will have to fit a certain set of dimensions. Only certain tires are accepted and each are assigned a different value depending on TW rating. Modifications to the engine, suspension, drivetrain, and brakes all incur the addition of more points. Interestingly, safety modifications will reduce the total point count—more reason to get a roll cage and a halo seat and a HANS device.
The points-related specifics and a points calculator are here to help initiates get a sense of where their car would fit. To find out where they could fit an event into their schedule, here’s the complete 2021 calendar.
For those of you that don’t like links, here’s the Northern California schedule for the rest of the year:
August 7th: Thunderhill East
September 4th: Thunderhill 5 Mile
September 5th: Laguna Seca (Norcal vs. Socal)
October 23rd: Buttonwillow (New track)
November 26th: Buttonwillow (CW13)
Raffles, trophies, and talks of contingency prizes are reason enough to give the series a look, but perhaps more appealing to the typical MR2 track rat is the sense of community the organizers are after. “We don’t want this to get too serious; the TRD Series is definitely about building camaraderie with like-minded friends on track,” said Co-Founder Jerel Natvidad. “As long as we’re competing and smiling, we’re content with whatever outcome we get.” .