George’s Praga R1: Faith Over Fear

Over the last twenty years, George Kibilov’s been able to sample a wide range of popular sports cars and master a few. From his old twin-turbo 300ZX, to Spec Miatas, to a Cayman GT4, and most recently, an ST4 E46 M3, he’s been able to experience most of all that the modern track-tuned production car can offer.

George getting acquainted with the car during his first test at Atlanta Motorsports Park.

There was still one big unchecked box, though: the single-purpose thoroughbred racing car. The sort of performance a car built only to turn laps offers a level of directness and a sense of occasion that production cars, no matter how well-tuned, will struggle to match. The thoroughbred experience, however, isn’t always a pleasant one.

The Praga R1 is an English racing prototype designed to be straightforward, easily maintained, and provide a level of downforce most track rats aren’t familiar with. It was that last trait which George warmed to over time.

“I did not fall in love with it until I drove it the third time, at Laguna, when I started to explore downforce and getting sub-1:30 times. After the second session was over, I realized I did not want to get out of the car. I was addicted.”

Downforce from a “downforce car” is an incredible thing, but it forces the driver to work fairly hard before they’re comfortable using it. Building that trust is not something that’s easy for someone used to heavier cars that are dependent primarily on their mechanical grip to stick.

The range of adjustability isn’t that wide in regards to the aero kit — just a couple rear wing settings to pick and that’s it.

With a car that’s been built around its aerodynamic package like the Praga, it challenges the driver’s trust at the absolute limit. Its diffuser, front tunnels, skirts, weight, tires, and carbon monocoque give it the sort of precision that forces a driver to recalibrate their mind and question their self-preservation instinct. The faster you go, the more grip it provides (to a point).

While that may sound encouraging, it presents a new challenges that are harder to truly enjoy — at least initially. Committing to the turn-in points, trusting the balance in fast corners, and driving up to a limit that increases exponentially are mentally draining processes which ramp up the pucker factor at a similar rate.

The motor is built by the specialist racing division at Alpine Renault, and honed with bespoke engineered Praga parts for increased driveability, power, and torque. In race trim, the 2.0-liter Renault four-cylinder with a moderately sized turbo produces between 290 and 365 horsepower, though a qualifying map will bump power to 395 for one hot lap. Crucially, its 302 lb-ft produced between 3,750 and 6,900 rpm make it much easier to stroke along than some of its bike-powered rivals.

That’s production-based motor fits one of the Praga’s main design aims: easy operation. As exotic as the car looks, it’s been designed to operate without the assistance of a team of engineers. Parts are easy to come by, and their US base in Atlanta is receptive, apparently.

The inboard pushrod suspension comes with Koni two-way adjustable coilovers.

The Hewland JFR six-speed transmission is not quite PDK-precise, but it does shift smoothly enough during downchanges — it does not lock the driven wheels under braking — though its upshifts are violent. It’s designed for easy ratio changes without having to remove the gearbox from underneath the car. A clutch pedal is provided to leave from a standstill and put the car into reverse, but once up to speed, all that’s needed to shift is a pull of the paddle.

Furthermore, this particular car, being the fifth iteration of the Praga R1, most of the major kinks have been ironed out. It’s no longer as sensitive to adjustments in ride height, the steering box has been revised, and the uprights as well as the swaybars have been lightened to provide more direct feedback.

The interior is cramped; pushing a driver with an acute sense of claustrophobia to get out as fast as they can get in. George was one of these drivers, though he found the feeling of being squeezed began to fade after a few laps. “The experience is so immersive it’s hard to not feel energized by the vibrations, the smells, and the sounds. You never forget the vibrations. I can’t even rest my head on the rear bulkhead because it blurs my vision. You get so immersed in it, after a session or two, you’re able to tune out some of that violence,” he explained.

“What’s more concerning is the way it feels like it’s going to break in half when you hit the compression at (Laguna Seca’s) Turn 6. I Had to be reassured by the rep there that day that all those noises there were normal.”

All that discomfort is for a reason. Sharp and surefooted, the car can’t be described as lazy, or as George likes to describe his M3, relaxed. Even so, he wanted more, and so he stiffened the Praga’s rear bar for a little more urgency. A car this sharp must be softened slightly from factory to keep it from rotating like a top at the smallest mistake. This minor tweak provided him with the pointiness he was after. Though thrilling, this presented him with another challenge; the pointier a car gets, the more it drains the driver. “Compared to a GT3 or something like that, the turn-in point arrives about 10% faster. It really provides a kart-like feeling,” he added.

At just 1,500 pounds, it’s very much a full-sized car, but it’s still only two-thirds of a Spec Miata. That fact is never as obvious when spinning, as a firm press of the brakes brings the Praga to an immediate halt. “If I’d spun my M3 in the same corner, I probably would’ve hit the wall.”

As is to be expected with such a sharp-nosed machine, there’s still some left on the table, which George’s happy to admit. When he gets more accustomed to the way the grip builds, he believes he’ll have the confidence to push. “I’ve acclimated to the direction change and it doesn’t feel as dramatic or spiky anymore; I’ve gotten to be able to anticipate it’s movements. If you listen, it does communicate.”

“After driving all kinds of cars from Spec Miata to Ferrari Challenge, nothing even comes close to the feeling of driving the R1. It really is a marvel of engineering.”

But the challenge of reaching the limit is still daunting, as a mistake at the speeds its capable of might well result in a big one. In the event of a major shunt, he’ll be well protected; the Praga’s crash safety is stellar; its bespoke honeycomb carbon fibre monocoque, carbon/Kevlar strengthened flooring, front and rear crash boxes, and side mounted crumple zones will surely keep him safe.

“Unlike my M3, it’s never calming to drive the Praga. The speeds are so high, it’s just a bit scary. You can get into a rhythm pretty fast, actually, but I’m still not 100% confident in it yet. It might need some faith on my part,” he laughed.

That’s fine. After just two weekends at Laguna Seca, he’s already lapped the track in 1:25. Without a doubt, the svelte sports racer hugely capable; even able to chase down a normally-aspirated Radical SR8 which has the legs on it in the straights, but the Praga’s torque makes up for whatever horsepower it lacks in the infield.

“I’m still exploring the limits. I know there is so much more to gain, but driving the car is anti-intuitive at the limit, meaning that you have to slow down much less for the fast corners than what I’ve been used to in 25 years of track driving. Learning to trust the brakes and not overslow the car is not easy. The more you give it, the more it gives you. That’s not something that’s easy to understand.”

Maxxis’ VR2: A New Option for PB Hunters

Those with their ears to the ground have heard about Maxxis’ new Victra Sport VR2, an ultra high-performance summer tire for DE dudes, weekend warriors, canyon carvers, and long-time racers like Justin Ross of Magic Developed.

Built upon the VR1, a famously consistent tire, the VR2 inherits all of its predecessor’s strengths, and takes a step forward in one crucial area: peak grip. This combination of durability and sharp-end grip potentially puts it among the fastest of the current crop of Super-200 tires.

At last weekend’s Gridlife Super Touring Cup race held at Weathertech Raceway Laguna Seca, Justin Ross set his fastest lap on his VR2’s seventh heat cycle: a 1:37.8 in a 2,770-pound (with driver) E36 M3 making 212 at the tires. “We put eight heat cycles in the tires that weekend and we saw little to no dropoff,” he began, “and I know they have another dozen left in them.”

The VR2 has that cross-session consistency and repeatability, and it switches on immediately. Peak grip is available from the second hot lap, and grip does not diminish much at all over the course of a session, making it a versatile tire for logging laps as well as setting the quick one.

“The first hot lap is fast, the second hot lap is the fastest. After that, the drop off is very marginal compared to other tires. If it’s 60 to 90 degrees, you can put about four to five laps, super fast, and drop off is marginal — like tenths of a second,” said Elie Mansour, E46 expert.

“The tires have between twelve to fifteen heat cycles. Like I said, before it ran a 1:20 [at Streets of Willow]. We went two weeks ago, 90 degrees in the same configuration, after five track days — it was the sixth track day, I believe, it ran a 1:21 in the scorching heat!”

Justin and his E36 was the standout this past Gridlife event. 

“Our cars are famous for going into ice mode [under braking], so I noticed [the VR2] kinda minimizes it. Even if you have to swing it or adjust it, it’s very predictable and it gives you feedback under braking,” Elie added.

The design uses a wide outer shoulder, a reinforced bead area, a super-high turnup sidewall ply improves lateral stiffness over the VR1, giving the car great grip and predictability from turn-in through the mid-corner phase.

“At the exit, if i’m completely transparent, the lateral grip on that tire stands above every Super 200 tire that I’ve driven before,” he adds. “Once you punch it, it does get loose a little bit,but I’ve noticed it’s more of a powerslide than a drift; it keeps pushing the car forward,” he explained.

All of Ross' Magic Designed cars relied on the VR2 that weekend. 

Engineers at Maxxis developed a new reinforced Carbon Black compound that reaches operating temperatures quickly. “The RE-71RS is good for about four laps, then it falls off. In our BMWs, the VR2 is as good at the end of the session as it is at the beginning,” Justin added.

“They communicate, too. They’re not noisy, but you do get a lot of feedback through the wheel. They tell you what they’re doing,” he added.

“It’s super easy to control. So even if it slides a little bit, it gives you warning at the edge, and you can control it and keep going. So it comes in handy for, either like a beginner driver –it’s forgiving, or an experienced driver who knows how to modulate it to go faster,” he continued.

The compounds retain silica fillers to maintain solid performance in wet weather, but if that peak grip comes at a price, it might be wet weather-ability. “The VR1 had the tread blocks to move standing water. The VR2 is fine in damp and drying conditions, but it is too focused to be as capable in a downpour. You won’t be caught out if it starts to rain, but there are better options for heavy rain. Put it this way — we went out in a storm and we kept it on track,” Justin said, adding a little laughter at the end.

The same set Justin used at Gridlife Laguna will be used again at November’s Gridlife event at Thunderhill Raceway Park. As he’s seen no diminishment in performance yet, and since he’s tested the sister car on another set which performed over twenty cycles, he’s confident they’ll be able to carry him over another race weekend. That bodes well for any track junkie looking for a stable tire to give them the chance to log laps and set the one they can brag about.

Joe’s RX-7: Long Time Coming

Joe didn’t let fear keep him from starting his love affair with the rotary engine quite young. After a fling with a CRX, he picked up his first RX-7 at 17. This Turbo II, the first of eleven second-gen RX-7s he would go on to own, was a surprisingly swift car that earned him street cred he never asked for. “I once beat this girl’s boyrfiend in a drag race. He had a new Mustang Cobra and I’d just turned the boost up. She came to school the next day telling me about how her brother wanted to kill me. I didn’t get it — it was just a street race.”

He came a long way from teenage antics just as quickly as he got started in cars. The second-gen RX-7 would carry him first into drifting with Nor Cal Drift Academy back in 2004, where he was able to start getting his speed fix in a pro-social manner. Four years later, he picked up a third-gen RX-7 and jumped into track days with the intent of building a dedicated race car, but life intervened.

When his financial predicament forced Joe to take a break, he considered a more cost-effective hobby, but his love for racing won out and pushed him to find a better-paying job. Shortly after selling a lot of Gamestop stock, he put together enough money to purchase a mint third-gen. The only modifications were a set of coilovers, an exhaust, and a v-mount intercooler.

After flying to San Diego to inspect the car, he had to roll the dice. “I knew it was a gamble, but I decided to drive it back to the Bay Area. Not something anyone would do with a thirty-year-old rotary car, but this one was nice enough to convince me it’d probably make it. As soon as I got home, I replaced the OEM suspension — I mean every piece — with adjustable or track-focused parts.”

Along with a set of Tein Flex-Z coilovers, Enkei RPF1s wrapped in 275-section NT01s, and Hawk Blue brake pads, he had made his first step towards making this pristine car into a full-on race car.

Sadly, he’d have to wait longer than he anticipated to experience the RX-7s potential on track, since, after a year of enjoyable, issue-free canyon driving, it failed his first time out on track. “First time to Thunderhill in this thing, and it gave me one full session before it went bang,” he laughed.

With the car back on the track without an engine in its bay, Joe pondered his predicament for a while. As he’d rebuild the motor for more reliability and leave no stone unturned in the process, he figured he’d go ahead and make the cosmetic and aerodynamic changes he’d initially planned for a step much further down the road. Along with a Racebred splitter, he added a Battle Aero wing and both a diffuser and a widebody kit from Shine Auto, as well as their carbon hood.

As he knew what the odds of an engine failure were, he’d planned for the worst and had already picked up a Mazda crate motor, complete with an old-school Turbonetics single kit.

To spare himself any frustration, he had to adopt modern ways. “I went from having a hot rodder’s mentality to a twenty-first-century tuner’s,” he added. After picking a Haltech 1500 ECU, largely for the failsafes it offered him, he had it tuned conservatively by DK at a modest twelve pounds of boost. With a rich mixture and a healthy 300 horsepower at his disposal, he’d have adequate power and some peace of mind the next time he took the car to the track.

“I rely on a heavy premix ratio: two-stroke oil and 101 octane fuel. That’s one of the best precautions you can take.”

All the preparation paid off. During his shakedown at Thunderhill, the water never got above 180 degrees — the v-mount setup and large Fluidyne radiator doing their jobs. The oil, however, was hovering around the 215-mark most of the day. To remedy that issue, he installed a set of thirty-row oil coolers. He’s confident that the car in its current state can handle the next few track days without issue, so he’s moved from focusing on the car and addressed the loose nut behind the wheel.

“The plan for ’25 is to visit all the NorCal tracks, work on my driving, and start competing in Speed SF Challenge. There are other things I’d like to do to the car: a wider widebody, 315s at all four corners, Bosch ABS, and traction control through the Haltech. The plan is to get the car running at its best before I can dump any more money into it.

Wisely, Joe decided to throttle the power output until he’s grown accustomed to big turbo power. Once the next round of modifications is installed and operational, he’ll turn the boost up a bit, but he won’t go crazy. As much power as a tuned 13B-REW can provide, is known first for its handling, and that’s what Joe’s prioritizing alongside reliability. 

His thirteenth-ever RX-7 has been an emotional investment as well as a financial one, but it seems that twenty-odd years of working with rotaries has taught him what the platform can do when all the proper precautions are taken, including the necessary TLC, fueling, and oiling to keep things copasetic.

Brian’s Mustang: Keep It in the Family

Brian Navarra comes from good stock. His dad is a vintage racer with a penchant for Mustangs and he’s also the kind, trusting type, which is why he handed Brian the keys to his 67’ GT350 race car one seminal afternoon at Sonoma Raceway many years ago — back when it was known as Infineon.

“I probably wouldn’t have let my kid drive that car,” Brian said, laughing.

Fast forward a few years, and Brian had built his own ’66 Coupe into a no-frills track car. He quickly learned that his single-purpose car was on par with a few nicely sorted modern machines — so why build something so uncompromising and harsh if there wasn’t any speed to be gained from it? That was the thinking then, anyways.

Rather than spend months undoing all the unpleasant track-oriented modifications that worsened it as a street car, he decided to buy another ’66 and build a dual-duty track toy. Again, that was the plan, but having made a few more friends in the business and eager to try some new ideas, he ended up building another single-purpose machine without air conditioning.

However, he took this one much further in several key areas.

“It’s just on from 4,500 to 8,500,” Brian exclaimed.

At first, he aimed to race the car in a wheel-to-wheel setting, probably NASA American Iron Extreme. But as that class has fizzled into nothing over the last ten years, time trials caught his attention as it would be the most accommodating for an all-out build of this nature.

Taking his cue from the old IMSA GT Mustangs from the 1980s, he tubed the front end and added about as much structural support he could manage. “The number and size of the subframe reinforcements make the whole thing a lot like a box frame.”

It wasn’t just the IMSA cars’ rigidity which he tried to copy, but the motor as well. Back further in the body than the factory motor ever sat, Brian stuck an ex-NASCAR motor. Pieced together a Yates 358 with 13:1 compression.

Although the bottom end is basic small block architecture, it has race heads, port injection, and an Emtron KV8 ECU tuned by Nick Pavloski of Cohesion Motorsport to make a tick under 600 horsepower over a broad powerband.

To keep the powerplant lubricated once the anticipated suspension and tire upgrades were in place, he installed a five-stage Raceline dry sump system with an enormous NASCAR-grade Peterson tank.

It puts that power to the pavement via an HGT six-speed sequential and 335-section Hoosier A7s. Power application is impressive — in no small part improved by the three-link rear end. The full floater Ford 9” housing and DPI Platinum Torsen with 4.22 gears aid in turning traction into propulsion, too, provided Navarra rolls on the throttle out of slower corners somewhat cautiously.

Custom in-house 304 stainless stepped piping incorporates an oval x-pipe underneath the car and Borla XR1 mufflers.

The solid rear axle’s disappointing performance over curbs can be overlooked easily since its straightline performance is so strong. Plus, with the additions he’s made to the rear, he can adjust the rear over a fairly wide range to get the car to suit most settings well. “I added a Watts Link because it’s very tunable for longitudinal and lateral grip. If you’re able to make enough changes at the track, it’s easy enough to work around the solid axle’s shortcomings.”

To fit the 18x12.5” Signature wheels, Brian’s had to stretch the rear fenders to comfortably fit massive tire and wheel package. He ended up building his own front fenders with Eddie Venancio and an English wheel, which was wide enough to drape over his custom double wishbone front suspension.

Brian styled his suspension setup after a variety of race cars he’d studied over the years. “I had a pretty good idea of what I wanted. I still spent some time plotting the mounting points, but fabbing the arms and the uprights was easy enough."

Some things he decided to rely on a bigger company for. “I decided to go with a pre-made spindle from CorteX Racing because it was proven.”

AJ Hartman aero helps its high-speed stability.

For steering, he opted for Sweet Manufacturing’s power steering rack, then added double-adjustable JRi shocks at all four corners with weight jacker perches. Getting the balance right, despite having a hair too much heft over the front axle, was a priority. In fact, he moved the motor back towards the firewall by several inches. Now, his footwell’s noticeably hot by the third lap.

A MoTeC C125 dash and PDM keyboard conveys all necessary info.

Weighing just 3,150 pounds with driver, it has the legs on many cars at faster flowing tracks with (mostly) clean surfaces, but it still struggles administering power at Buttonwillow, say. The aero is admittedly a work in progress, with the completely unsealed front end, homemade splitter and airdam generating little downforce. AJ Hartman rear wing.

He plans for another engine with newer generation Yates parts and a promised 800 horsepower. It’s also somewhat lighter than the motor which currently sits in the Mustang by a notable eighty-five pounds, which should help him with his weight distribution aims. It’s sitting fifty-fifty at the moment, but if shifting the center of mass rearwards like a touring car’s might make all the difference with 33% more power. The more power you make, the more advantageous it is to have additional weight over the driven axle.

The short-term goals are refining the aero package, reducing weight, and continuing to tune the car to suit the driver. Long-term goals are bringing this rough but remarkably advanced Mustang up to carshow-standard levels polish and presentation. “I was kinda shocked when I brought it to Gridlife and realized how ratty it looks.”

No matter. He’s been focused on the right stuff for now. Paint and air conditioning can come later.

Forced Induction For Track Work: Supercharging Two Popular Platforms

Among E46 M3 and S2000 owners, power is almost considered a four-letter word. The majority of those who regularly lap these cars, for reasons of simplicity and cost, prefer to optimize their car’s handling and braking performance in pursuit of impressive lap times. Also, they typically pride themselves, though usually tacitly, on their ability to lap quickly without a big motor to lean on. However, the ratio of grip to power usually falls in favor of the former with most of these builds, which forces the builder to consider whether a significant bump in grunt is worth the time, expense, and possible hassle.

Two of our fastest drivers decided the relatively cost-effective path of forced induction to determine if more power makes a worthwhile difference with these two popular HPDE platforms.

Seigo Ma had been swooning over the videos of the Arvou S2000, a lightweight AP1 using an HKS supercharger to make a touch more than 400 horsepower. The already capable package could exploit that power bump well enough to lap the technical Tsukuba circuit in a remarkable 53.887 seconds.

Seigo wanted to double his engine’s output, but worried that the famously fragile platform wouldn’t be able to handle it. So, in an attempt to get some much-needed encouragement (and see F1 in person), Seigo took a trip to Tokyo. Three days in, he visited Arvou to consult with Mr. Shibata, who encouraged him to take the plunge.

Back in San Francisco, Seigo started speccing his own HKS kit. He did his homework and chose the option of the smaller pulley needed to make 400+ horsepower. After he installed the kit, he sent his car to Blacktrax for the first pass at tuning his Hondata Pro ECU. They were able to make a knock-limited 350 horsepower at the wheels available over a very narrow powerband. “It only revved to 7,000 safely. That lowered redline, the shorter AP2 gearing, and 4.3 final drive made it a challenge to drive; it required constant shifting.”

To make the most of his new kit, Seigo ordered a higher flow fuel pump, 1050cc injectors, colder spark plugs, and a surge tank with an integrated fuel pressure regulator — all the items needed to run E85 safely. A retune of the Hondata brought power up to a knock-free 420 horsepower available at 8,500 rpm. “Power delivery was like a stock F22, but with a lot more at the top end,” Seigo said.

Even with 285-section rear tires and an OS Giken differential to help meter out that power, the bump in grunt was challenging to manage. “Second gear was pretty much useless,” he added. It also proved too much for the factory gearbox; breaking fifth gear broke on his second track day at that power level. To get himself back on track, he picked up a used AP1 box and a larger supercharger pulley to drop boost and lower the power output.

Relocating the oil cooler made lowered temps enough to run full sessions on moderately warm days.

The AP1 box’s longer gearing combined with the lowered output — about 360 horsepower — helped Seigo get to grips with the car at his next outing. Usable power, strong traction, and drastically improved top speeds has helped him keep up with higher horsepower cars that previously left him in the dust. Before braking for Thunderhill East’s Turn 1, he was traveling at 133 miles per hour — roughly 15 miles an hour faster than he ever had before.

The only notable issue with the car were creeping supercharger oil temps, which he resolved by relocating the supercharger’s oil cooler under the right headlight. With that upgrade, the car has been mostly reliable.

On moderately warm days, the car can run full sessions without issue. Only on the hottest days does it begin to falter, but it still works well enough to run three consecutive laps before engine oil temperatures get too high.

A drawback of running E85 is that combined with the new powerplant, it gets quite thirsty. “I burn half a tank per session, so I’ve gotta bring a few jugs of e85 with me every day. It’s still cheaper than running 91 octane and is much safer for the engine though.”

For Christian Fernandez, power was the last box to be ticked after aero, weight reduction, and a solid suspension setup. He’d already set impressive times with his E85-fed E46 M3, but he wondered if there might be an easy solution to extract a little more from his S54.

Dan from RCrew, Christian’s dependable mechanic, made him an offer on an ESS supercharger kit which promised easy power and little-to-no hassle.

As Christian had already installed a larger pump and 550cc injectors in preparation for corn juice, there wouldn’t be much more he’d need for a successful install.

“Multiple YouTubers who’d used the same kit complained of overheating issues, though. The front-mounted intercooler wasn’t necessary with this entry-level kit, so I decided to take the band-aid solution and install a water injection kit to keep intake temps low.”

On a Dynojet, HTE Performance tuned the stock ECU to handle six pounds of boost from the the supercharged S54 put down 487 horsepower — 157 more than what the atmospheric, E85-fed motor had made on the same dyno.

The bump in power is felt largely at the top of the rev range; making the motor feel similarly linear in its delivery, but notably faster at the end of straights. “It’s pretty easy to put the power down, but the extra 3-4 miles an hour it nets at the end of the straights forces me to reconsider my braking points.”

This bump in straightline speed doesn’t overwhelm the current cooling system, which consists of a larger radiator, an oil cooler, and the water injector. “Even on 80° days, the needle never moves past the ¾ mark!

That said, I’m not sure I’m getting all that peak power over a whole session. It probably needs an intercooler.”

The blower hasn’t made maintenance a nightmare, but it has exposed a few leaks that weren’t an issue before. Running a leakdown test revealed a leak from the valve cover seal and around the aftermarket injectors, which never seat properly and require a washer for passable fitment.

Both drivers are content with their new engine setups, which have proven to be reliable after the little issues were addressed. Seigo bought a usable 150 horsepower and 2.5 seconds at his regular tracks. “So far, it’s been money well spent,” he said.

Christian is content with the improvement, though the M3 was never lacking power in the way the S2000 was. To be fair, the former has gone a step further in addressing all their supercharger’s shortcomings, while the latter has taken a more relaxed approach.

There’s still more to be done before the bare-basic ESS kit offers track-worthy performance, but once it’s sorted, there’s no reason it shouldn’t have that funny effect of shortening straightaways — so much so that Christian will have to start thinking of braking point right after he starts to accelerate.

Pauline’s Challenger: Part Car, Part Canvas

To earn her racing spurs, Pauline Yruretagoyena’s picked a car which mightn’t have had the greatest following among the track day crowd, but it pulled at her heartstrings the hardest. More than just emotive, her 2019 Challenger R/T was reassuring, stable, and safe, and having a 5.7-liter engine mated to an eight-speed automatic allowed Pauline to leave a little on the table and still get her kicks.

Which isn’t to say she was taking it easy. Pauline pushed herself to explore new and uncomfortable situations in which Her driving talent would be shaped for the better. For instance, her willingness to drive in wet conditions helped teach her how to drive smoothly and precisely. After she saw the benefit some of the arduous challenges offered her, she decided to take a two-day high performance course at the Radford Racing School. Among other skills, this school taught her how to trail-brake well enough to get the big Challenger pointed in the intended direction sooner.

Her ardent supporter and personal mechanic Adrian then equipped her Challenger with wider 285-section front tires, BMR linear springs, an Eibach hollow swaybar, Mopar strut bars, and the Brembos from a higher trim Challenger. These all contributed to an encouraging surefootedness and crisper responses when pushing the car harder than before. Most importantly, they’d get the big barge pointed in the right direction earlier so she could take full advantage of its impressive powerplant.

And as much fun as she had with the R/T, when 2022 rolled around, she had to consider the circumstances that made getting a perfect upgrade possible. Dodge had then announced the Last Call for the Challengers with their legendary HEMI engine. They also brought back the Plum Crazy paint option for the 2023 model year that had been discontinued in 2019. After two years of competing with the old automatic car, she was hankering for a manual.

So she ordered a 2023 Dodge Challenger Scatpack R/T Widebody with the T/A package — meant to commemorate Dodge’s success in Trans Am. It came with a wider footprint than her previous car, the most powerful normally-aspirated V8 in the Dodge lineup, adaptive Bilstein dampers, a limited-slip differential, and a manual transmission.

“I knew it was for me when I saw the color and the fender flares in person,” she gushed.

There’s not much more the car needs from factory. Underneath the blistered fenders is a square set of 305-section tires, and the 6.4-liter up front comes with 485 horsepower and none of the heat issues the supercharged Hellcat endures on the track. As it was already suited for track work — far better than any other variant of the Challenger — Pauline didn’t have to consider a list of modifications to make it track worthy. Instead, she could spend the first four months of ownership getting her head around its one novel (for her) features: a TR6060 six-speed transmission.

Long before she took this new car to the track, she put nearly 1,500 miles on the car — many of which in an empty parking lot or a deserted graveyard road. Without having to worry about traffic, she could practice the basics of driving a three-pedal car, as well as some of the track day techniques like heel-toe.

There was no way she could sensibly practice downshifting under heavy braking while on the street, but her time spent studying videos online helped prepare her for a Speed SF event at Laguna last June.

There, Joe McGuigan helped her fine-tune her blipping and clutch release so that she could coordinate her gearchanges crisply and keep the motor in the right rev range. Though the challenge was made somewhat more challenging by the T/A’s straightline performance — seriously greater than her R/T’s, with Hawk DTC-60s at all four corners, she never felt the new car lacked any braking performance during her first day. After a few sessions of bucking on the brakes and dragging the motor, it all began to click. By the end of the third session, she set a lap time ten seconds better than she ever had with the old car. Considering the T/A still needs a new alignment and a few other additions to make it truly track-oriented, that’s a remarkable improvement.

Her clean, level-headed driving impressed Joe enough to recommend she try the Speed SF Challenge series. “He insisted I join, but I’m still waiting to feel comfortable in the car before I begin competing with the guys here. They’re all too fast!” she admitted.

Perhaps she undersells herself, but maybe she’s just being prudent. Either way, it won’t be long before her lap times convince her she’s ready. In the leadup to the her moment of unshakable confidence, she plans to widen the footprint with a set of Apex VS5-RS wheels wrapped in 305-section Nankang AR-1s, protect her paint with a full PPF, and make a few aero additions.

Given her studious approach, she’ll be on top of her new T/A in short order. Not that she needs to, since, for Pauline, it’s always been about enjoying all the various experiences a sentimentally motivating machine can offer: customizing its appearance, learning its different features, a finding time to savor the time spent cruising at moderate speeds in scenic settings. Spyro, as she’s named the car after her favorite video game character, is less a tool than it is a personal statement and a means of finding satisfaction on a daily basis.

Between her insistence on seat time over primo parts, as well as the importance she places on feeling something sentimental for her vehicle, she could teach a new generation of spirited drivers that a successful track day has little to do with having the fastest car in the paddock.

AP’s Spec Corvette: Ferrari Fill-In For Forty Large

After a lifetime spent racing karts, Outlaws, and everything in between, AP Miranda decided to take a good chunk of the change he’d made over his career as a professional pilot and buy a Ferrari Challenge car. However, he found that the Challenge drivers he met weren’t too welcoming to his outlaw attitude. The series he’d dreamed about for so long quickly lost its luster, and he was curious if there was a better way to spend his money.

AP decided to seek out a cost-conscious alternative among a more welcoming bunch. “I met a couple of the Spec Corvette guys at a Speed SF weekend and they pulled me right in. They were a bunch of renegade guys looking to have a lot of fun — so I signed up and I haven’t looked back.”

Within a few months, he’d built a budget club racer with V8 power, a large footprint, and more than enough performance to keep a driver with racing experience in twin-turbo Ferrari entertained. Best of all, he’d done it for about a sixth the price of his old Ferrari.

The C5 Corvette doesn’t have to be expensive to run. Well, it’s always going to be hard on consumables, but compared to other cars running in the 1:37s on the old Laguna Seca, this version of the C5 Corvette can’t be called pricey. Simple, too — the formula for Spec Corvette is meant to be basic so that the fields can be fairly fat without too much expected from the participants in terms of vehicle prep.

This meant that the competition would likely be close, and so AP put some more money into a knowledgeable instructor to help him get the most from his new old car. He hired Tim Moser, a respected coach with a background in Formula Dodge-Barber, LMP3, and other serious machinery, to show him how to extract all the potential from his low-downforce, high-torque middleweight.

Strengths

Building a Spec Corvette requires little. There is the sole aero item — a three-inch ducktail spoiler from Trackspec Motorsports, but the car is compliant, stable, and predictable without major aero. This is due in part to a set of one-way Penske 8300 dampers and monoballs replacing the OEM bushings. If there’s one thing which the C5 needs to be less of a transporter to the pitch and putt and more of track scalpel, it’s removing the factory rubber.

The factory brakes are fair, but the Wilwood six-pistons are a great budget upgrade, and their rotors will last a year of racing before needing replacement. Even though the minimum vehicle weight is just 3,200 pounds, the Wilwood pads can last six weekends without losing their competitive edge. Retain the stock brakes and you’ll be working on them a lot of the weekend, but the stopping power is sufficient.

In the interest of keeping costs relatively low, the series has mandated a 200-treadwear Nankang NS2R tire, which should last three weekends or so. Considering the power and weight, that’s a relatively long life.

It doesn’t matter if the donor car is powered by an LS1 or an LS6 — either motor shouldn’t have much difficulty making the maximum 380 horsepower and 380 lb-ft of torque at the rear wheels as per the Spec Corvette rules. Both motors are under stressed, consistent, and easy to work on.

There are two options if the car comes with the less-desirable LS1. It can use the intake manifold, heads, and camshafts from the LS6 to make the allowed power, or, if the LS1 is kept totally stock, a set of long-tube headers are allowed. The LS6 only needs to retain the factory headers to make the desired output, so it’s the better choice. Plus, its “batwing” style oil pan is broad, shallow, and sufficient for Spec Corvette usage. In fact, it’s fine for just about any application which doesn’t involve slicks and wings.

However, G-forces and sustained high-revs will still cause oil to accumulate in the LS6’s heads, and to avoid this problem, some use reduced diameter pushrods, some drill holes in the lifter trays to drain oil to the sump faster.

Those are the essentials, though there are a couple preferred changes a cost-conscious owner/driver would consider. Though differential and transmission coolers help extend the lifespan of some of these consumables, they’re not necessary to ensure consistent performance over a single race — or even over a single season. The one last potential issue in this area is, thankfully, solvable with an OEM part. The LS7’s clutch is a cheap and easy replacement for an LS6’s clutch which struggles with the increased power output. Impressively, a Spec Corvette can be built with all new components for just $40,000 — quite inexpensive for the sort of lap times it’s capable of.

“The shocks work pretty well; we barely touch them over the course of a weekend,” Tim says.

Weaknesses

Now, while it would be unfair to say the car leans on its power advantage — which is enough to make it a contender in NASA ST3 — it does have some shortcomings in other areas. The braking performance is fair, though having to run the stock master cylinder makes the pedal feel a little softer and over assisted than a real race car ought to. That, combined with the oft-derided ABS system, forces the driver to learn all the braking system’s shortcomings. “You’ve gotta have the wheel totally straight if you’re going to brake aggressively,” Tim elaborates. Consider that this braking handicap would likely be worsened if the rules allowed the car to have all the camber it could use.

There is the famous lack of visibility to deal with, too. The combination of a low roofline, thick a-pillars, window nets, and a halo seat makes it tough to get a sense of what’s around you. Factor in the C5’s long overhangs and somewhat vague steering, and it might not be the easiest car to place precisely.

Such a small window opening makes rapid extrcationg an act achievable only by contortion artists.

Nevertheless, that’s a short list of shortcomings for a car with so many strengths. Tim’s coaching and Speed SF’s open lapping groups have helped AP feel at ease in the car. “We used the last event at Laguna for passing practice since we’re usually up front at race weekends and don’t get enough naturally. Everyone we drove with was courteous and aware, which made it easy to run nose-to-tail for several sessions that day.

We loved the low-key atmosphere; normally someone complains when you’re driving in such close quarters with someone else. We didn’t get any of those problems with Speed SF, and we got all our time thanks to every session running on-time.”

No major mechanical issues, close driving with plenty of opportunities to practice managing traffic, and a strong series of lap times in the low 1:37s made their last training weekend at Laguna Seca a total success. We hope Tim and AP join us again and give us a demonstration of racecraft in one of the best performance bargains around today.

AP plans to start renting these cars out on an arrive-and-drive basis to those interested in the coming months.

Alex’s FL5 Type R: Best of Both Worlds

For Alex Peysakhovich, living in NYC had its perks, but easy access to track days was not one of them. When he relocated to Los Altos and found himself with a backyard and a garage, he decided it might be time to purchase that car he’d always wanted and take advantage of California’s temperate weather and multiple tracks within a few hours’ driving distance.

His heart was always with Honda, but the then-current FK8 Type R was too boy-racer for his liking. “I really loved the car, but thought about some things you have to do with your only car, like go to a business meeting or drive in a funeral procession, and I couldn’t really imagine doing those in an FK8.”

So instead he began tracking with an ND Miata. Heavy modification made it a capable cornering machine, but its impracticality became a constant pain; it needed a trailer for long drives and couldn’t be used to take his dog and his girlfriend on weekend trips. He thought about getting an electric daily that he wouldn't track or modify, but that idea didn't last long. “What’s the point of buying a car you’re never going to take to the race track?” he asked himself.

Enter the FL5 Civic Type R, which debuted after a couple years of tracking the Mazda. The new Civic traded its predecessor’s divisive looks for more subdued styling, so Alex had to check it out for himself.

“I used to think Type Rs were a little overhyped, but after seeing it in person, I recognized why the car has a cult following,” he said.

He appreciated the way Honda’s engineers made this fifty-grand Civic feel unmistakably upmarket. But more than presence or build quality, it had real-world usability going for it. On longer trips, the comfortable seats were a welcome upgrade from his Miata’s race buckets. The interior space, the fit and finish, and the performance made the FL5 a great candidate for a daily driver-come-sleeper, and once the premiums started to shrink, Alex pulled the trigger and brought one home.

Before his first track outing, he made a few adjustments. He’d learned enough to know that a ~3,200 pound front-driver would wreck its Pilot Sports fairly fast, so he ditched those for a set of 265-section Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS tires wrapped around Apex VS5-RS wheels. Along with a set of eccentric lower ball joints to increase negative camber at the front axle, he replaced the stock pads with a set of Ferodo DS3.12s to help clamp the factory two-piece rotors.

He broke it in over 600 miles then took it to Thunderhill West for its shakedown, where he was pleasantly surprised. The steering was quick, despite a dead spot at twelve o’clock, and the gearbox was, well, Honda. If the interfaces were lacking in any way, it was the position of the throttle — as he put it, “in another zip code.” Thankfully, the auto-blip function facilitated heel-toe shifts despite the awkward pedal placement.

Being a front-drive car, he had expectations for how it might handle on a damp morning. Those were dashed on his first fast lap after mounting the dorito at Turn 3, when it hung the rear out in a big way.

“As far as a car that can pack a weekend of camping gear and do great times around Laguna, it’s a hard car to beat.”

The FL5’s mechanical LSD and brake-based stability control system do a commendable job getting the middleweight to rotate. What was less than impressive were the thermal problems which have been associated with the turbocharged Type Rs. Though not catastrophic, the heat causes the motor to pull timing by the end of a long session, but never puts it into limp mode. “I think there’s only so much you can expect from a turbocharged two-liter making over 300 horsepower,” Alex added.

Fortunately, these issues are not new to the Type R lineup and the FL5 was designed to make them easier to address than its predecessor ever allowed. The ducting routes have been established from the factory, along with a functional hood vent. Honda laid the groundwork, but more needs to be done for hot summer days. “It isn’t imperative, but it could use a bigger radiator and an oil cooler. I’ve got those sitting in my garage in anticipation for the summer.”

“The designers cared about the experience of the car; they wanted it to feel special, even when parked.” Alex added. Credit: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima CCA-SA 4.0.

Beyond that, any remaining mods are far from necessary. The FL5 is well-balanced out of the box and does not need much more power. “The engine is certainly strong. If it could use something to make it feel a little sportier, it would be an exhaust — it’s too quiet.”

That subdued exhaust note is part of what makes the car so versatile, and its wide repertoire comes at a premium. Besides requiring pricier fuel, the turbocharged front-driver is hard on its front brakes and tires, and it goes through consumables far faster than a lighter, better balanced car like a Miata.

There’s no denying the running costs are too high to track a Type R regularly — multiple track days per month will continue to be the Miata’s job — but the Civic will be doing daily driving, mountains, longer trips, and rear its head at Laguna and Thunderhill East a few times a year.

Four years ago, Alex thought fifty thousand for a Civic was steep, but he’s changed his tune as of late. “I know that sort of money for a Civic sounds crazy, but you really need to try it. It’s tough to think of something similarly priced that handles so many different tasks as well as the Type R. If I could only have one car, this would be it.”

Gordon’s M2: Iteration Cycle

After beginning HPDE during an Apple track day at Thunderhill East, Gordon Mak found a new outlet for his workplace frustrations and his analytical habits.

The Golf R he got his start with proved to be impractical, and practicality being a criteria he’s used to pick his collection of track cars, it didn’t last too long. The Golf’s nannies intervened too much to get closely acquainted with, as the instructor sitting alongside Gordon mentioned several times.

That instructor also encouraged Gordon to look in the right direction, squeeze the throttle with caution, and soften his steering inputs as much as possible. That coach did Gordon an enormous favor that day by instilling good habits in a firm yet friendly fashion. On his drive home, he had a moment to ponder the afternoon’s teachings. Gordon recognized that his new hobby would require two things: a communicative car and the right skillset needed to exploit its full potential.

By the next spring, Gordon was presented with a chance to buy a first-gen BRZ for invoice. The rawness and urgency of a lightweight, balanced car had him hooked, and the first big spin at The Andretti Hairpin had him shook. “Oversteer was a new concept to me,” he said.

Rather than remain intimidated, he tried to suss out his shortcomings then and there. In analyzing his onboard footage following that track day, Gordon could clearly see how ill-equipped he was to deal with the situation. “I just froze; my hands didn’t move at all,” he admitted. 

While some told him it wasn’t the prudent thing to do at that stage, Gordon took a leap and bought an even tail-happier car in the middle of the pandemic. The price was right, and the on-tap torque from a twin-scroll turbo motor and short wheelbase made the GR Supra a lively, exhilarating car with which he could develop his car control skills.

From then on, he committed to the invaluable skid experience of Drift SF, where he could hold long slides, connect corners, and spin without any consequence. “It was sanctioned parking lot hoonery — low credit score activity — that helped me make my first big steps as a driver. By the second event, it all clicked for me,” he said.

“I have to thank Joe McGuigan for teaching me how to slide the car with confidence. Once you move past the pit-in-stomach feeling of losing traction and the belief that you’ll be unable to respond, you can get a lot done. Without all the drift practice, I wouldn’t have felt confident enough to keep pushing,” he explained. 

As fun as it was, the Supra lacked the directness of the GT86. When the dealership he bought the Supra from offered to buy it back for the same price he paid a year prior, he didn’t hesitate. Without waiting, he replaced it with a GR86 and ran eighteen successful events over the next eighteen months.  

The unfiltered driving experience he’d missed so much during his Supra ownership had returned, but not without some adjustment. “After I switched to the GR86, I found myself - for a few events, initially - making unnecessary steering corrections because I had built up so much muscle memory from the Supra always going sideways. It took me a surprisingly long time to get over it, he explained. But even after altering his technique, there was one potential issue he couldn’t get his mind off of. “The ever-present possibility of losing an engine made it difficult to enjoy the car.”

Finding a suitable replacement was simpler at this stage, since Gordon had determined precisely what he was looking for in a track car. He wanted something dependable enough to run full sessions at Thunderhill in the middle of July, something that had adequate performance out of the box, and something which would carry a spare set of wheels and a couple suitcases if needed. Essentially, it had to be mostly turnkey and, if necessary, require only minimal modification. 

Two drivers helped motivate his decision to buy a new M2. First, Randy Pobst’s hot laps in a particular stock car at Laguna, when compared to the PBs set by amateurs in heavily-modded examples of the same model, helped Gordon recognize how big a factor driving skill truly was.

Jackie Ding, the other pro responsible for his decision, had demonstrated what the new M2 was capable of in mostly stock form. While he was worried he might have another Supra experience ahead of him, he took the gamble and sold his GR86 for a brand new M2 in Zandvoort Blue.

Since he recognized the value of seat time, he had less interest in modifying the car heavily than some of his peers. “I’m less concerned with lap times now,” he began. “I’d rather have a few modifications to help me feel calm and confident in the car, but I don’t really have a mod-itch to scratch. I’m more interested in the activities which help me improve as a driver, both on and off the track. If I have an itch to scratch, it’s an itch for self-improvement.”

That said, there’s still some room to make a heavyset grand tourer more at-home on the track, and if he can make a modification or two that will save him in consumable costs, why not? With Millway front camber plates, CSG CP pads, SRF brake fluid, and a square set of Apex VS5-RS wheels measuring 19x10”, he had all he needed to run track days comfortably while keeping his tire bill reasonable. 

The two issues with the car, besides its unignorable mass, are that it’s slightly under-tired and the ZF8 gearbox leaves a little to be desired. “I went a little too conservative with my wheel choice, possibly. It’s even tail-happier than before; I can drift the car in fourth and fifth gear now!” he laughed. 

Some of that is due to the ZF8’s short gearing and the way it shifts somewhat harshly. “It’s easy to spin and lock the wheels on even a slightly damp track.” It’s a lairy sort of car that’s constantly on the verge of oversteer, but at least slide correction is no longer a foreign concept — it’s now something he does without thinking.

Gordon still has some plans for the M2 in the future, but as it’s been happy to run coolly on the hottest days, transport him to and from the track in comfort, and make his track days a little less stressful that the rest’s, he’s content with it as it currently sits. His heart still pulls him towards something lighter and more visceral, but the M2 is about as good a streetable track toy gets. 

And that practical package makes it easier to pursue his main aim, which is to interact with the track community, get enough seat time, and hone his craft as a driver. The fact that the M2 is well insulated helps him hear his coach’s feedback from the driver seat is an added bonus. 

“If you really listen to your instructor, you will improve. I try to remain open minded, test the suggestions coaches and friends give me, and analyze the results. If I can get into an iteration cycle with whomever I’m working with, I’m confident I can find an effective solution to any problem pretty quickly,” he added.

Gordon’s story is one which demonstrates the value of analysis, and, necessarily, the importance of the human element. Rather than descending down the rabbit hole of buying parts to find speed (and justify the costs), he took a different path. He’s searched for the answer to his particular problems and found a repeatable process to keep him active, happy, and stimulated. That’s not something that can be found trawling the forums for an answer.

Michael’s 350Z: Take A Chance, Prove a Point

Twelve years with an unloved chassis has given Michael “Stubz” Hillo a unique perspective on taking the underdog route. There are other established, well-paved paths with minimal maintenance and certain outcomes, but they don’t offer a maverick a chance to prove a point.

Stubz took it upon himself to take the unloved 350Z and make it into a NASA ST4 race-winner because, well, he hated the idea of conforming. However, before he started his mission, he was after an affordable way to begin drifting. Nowadays, the 350Z is one of the few Japanese sports coupes that offers the sort of value the budget drifters offered back in drifting’s heyday. Even then, it was pretty cheap.

It was more than just an option for the cost-conscious drifter, as Stubz realized. Beyond low overhead, a torquey motor, and a rear-drive layout, the Z has a lot going for it. It’s reasonably stiff, the aerodynamics aren’t terrible, and the aftermarket is decently sized. It might not be as well supported as the E46 M3, but it offers similar power-to-weight figures and the potential to run respectable lap times at a fraction of the price.

The zeal and the commitment to proving the platform came later — at first, it was cheap fun. Beating up on pricier cars was only part of the pleasure; the steering was full of feel and responsive, the motor responded well to modifications, and the rear end put the power down decently.

Some of that luster began to fade when he tried to turn the Z into something more than a midfield car. The budget modifications no longer seemed to be enough, and so he tried experimenting with the high-end brands which only offered limited support for the Z.

After testing Penske and Godspeed coilovers, he settled on MCS two-ways with 18K springs up front and 9K in the rear. The car still lacks some of the compliance he’d like in slower corners, but it works well enough in the fast sections, thanks in part to Epsilon+ aero, that the compromise is acceptable.

The most irritation has stemmed from the car’s flawed braking system. Persistent knockback issues and lousy OEM ABS pushed Stubz into spending hundreds of hours diagnosing and attempting to find a package that would work.

Plenty of thrown wrenches and a thousand curse words later, he found a set of Stoptech Trophy big brakes that did a reasonable job. Because they moved the brake calipers closer to three o’clock, they mitigated some of the knockback resulting from the steering knuckle flexing. The remaining bugbear was the ABS system, which needed to be retrofitted with the Bosch Mk60 kit from Race Harness Technologies.

Though the braking system works decently these days, Stubz isn’t completely satisfied. Trailbraking has improved, but the outright braking performance hasn’t gotten much better. However, some of that has to do with the weight of the vehicle, which has been hard to lose with conventional stripping methods. “You’ve gotta get pretty creative when it comes to putting the car on a diet. I didn’t want to, but I had to buy carbon. Hatch, hood, front bumper, and headlight blanks from Spinnaker Composites have helped, but the car is still heavy.” he explains.

It’s transformed into a reasonably swift car in recent years, even with the diminishing returns from spending big bucks on primo parts. The 3,200-pound Z has an average of 257 horsepower which is pretty well administered thanks to 275-section Toyo RRs and the aforementioned aero. A broad powerband helps make the car less track-sensitive than some, and, anyways, Stubz no longer agonizes over finding the perfect setup. After several years of head scratching, he sees the Z as a dependable, safe, and sturdy car which is easy to run and satisfying to drive. Going for the gold isn’t his aim any longer — he’s happy with what the 350Z’s speed. Any car that can lap Buttonwillow W13CW in 1:54 is more than just fun — it’s seriously fast.

Striving to perfect the car sapped some of his ambition, but it’s also given him a few notable wins, wisdom, and a pragmatic approach that provides him with peace of mind. His lack of zeal might not motivate newcomers to try and beat the odds, but if they read between the lines, they should realize that there’s nothing with the Z as an entry/mid-level car. It might not carry an ambitious driver to the top of the podium, but its golden era-pricing lowers the barrier to entry. It’ll help them get involved faster — and in Stubz’s view, that’s better than sitting on the sidelines and dreaming of victory.

Max’s Spec Racer Ford: Lose The Ego

After Max Gokhman signed for his 2006 Cayman, his dealer insisted that he take the car to the track. “You won’t be able to fully appreciate it if you don’t,” he said. Max was hesitant — the thought of balling up his brand new Porsche terrified him, but, at the same time, he sensed the man knew what he was talking about.

Max continued to mull over the prospect of tracking his new toy, but his dealer was adamant — so much so he offered to pay Max’s entry fee. That was all Max needed to make a decision. The next weekend, he took the Cayman to Infineon Raceway and began a love affair that never tested his patience. No crashes, no major repairs, and a relatively straightforward relationship with his parts suppliers made his first few years in grassroots motorsports a breeze.

Soft Ascent

After becoming the 2014 PCA Autocross Class Champion and multiple podium-sitter in various Southern California time attack series, he sold the 987 and moved into a 2014 981 Cayman. This time, however, he wasn’t as eager to modify the car. He’d come to understand the practical shortcomings of a track-oriented car and felt he might get more from the ownership experience if he was to leave the car mostly stock.

It was around then that one of his track buddies enticed him into wheel-to-wheel racing. This would entail buying a race-only machine. Truth be told, he had considered it for some time, but the thought of wadding up a Porsche racing car turned his stomach. Even getting on track in one would be prohibitively expensive, so he explored the cheaper options available to him.

He could drive a Spec Miata for a reasonable price, but he wanted something a little different. “I was looking for a mid-engined, purpose-built platform, and — and this is subjective — something a little more interesting than a Miata,” he explained.

He loved the idea of running a “spec” car: something that encouraged close competition through mechanical parity. What about something with the same power of a Miata, but in a car which weighs one thousand pounds less? The tried-and-true Spec Racer Ford, a staple of grassroots motorsport for the last fifty years, caught his eye. Mid-engine, open-top, closed-wheel, and very cost-effective; there was a lot to like about this diminutive, bare-bones racer.

Barest Bones

The tube-frame chassis has a 1.6-liter engine from a Ford Focus sitting transverse behind the driver. These sealed engines produce 135 horsepower, and are fairly inexpensive to replace when they go bang — though this rarely happens. The emphasis here is on reliability, low running costs, and complete driving immersion.

When Max first tested the car at Laguna Seca, he was setting competitive times by the end of the day.

The sense of occasion is something that can’t be underestimated with an open-top car like this. Not only is the visibility fantastic, but getting your helmet buffeted by the wind makes driving at seventy feel like a hundred and twenty. The information relayed by the car is detailed and constant; it’s easy to feel a locked tire or growing understeer through the steering, which is remarkably sharp. “Feedback is crystal clear,” he adds.

Sitting in the middle of the chassis and knowing exactly where your front wheels are at all times inspires confidence to get real intimate with other racers when going three-wide into a turn - truly what wheel-to-wheel is about.

Some might suspect that a car this visceral and direct would come with sharp edges. In reality, it is predictable and communicative, and, as it has much more grip than power, it’s quite easy to find its limits. When it does slide, it’s fairly progressive — more so than the Cayman; nearly 300 horsepower would cause a few dicey situations when passing in a late-apex turn. Some of this is due to a compliant suspension setup, and some of it is due to the Hoosier slick made specifically for the SRF. Incidentally, it isn’t the most expensive tire. Low weight and low power help lengthen its lifespan, too.

The sequential transmission by Sadev, standard in third-gen SRFs, is another racecar element that Max learned to appreciate. Unlike an H-pattern, which is lovely for canyon drives but saps attention from racecraft; or a PDK, which is clinically precise yet fragile on cars that were built for the street; the SRF gearbox lets you bang out shifts while bouncing off the rev-limiter with abandon.

Perspective Shift

Max admits that, while the Spec Racer Ford is the more engaging car to drive, he doesn’t have the same sentimental attachment to it as he had to his Cayman. “I save the sweet feelings for my Porsche. This is a tool to help me grow as a racer. I compare the distinction between the two to owning a pet versus owning livestock.”

And with the reasonable running costs, packed fields, low power, and full calendars, he’s looking to become a competitive amateur racer as he gets up to speed on the Spec Racer Ford platform, with the help of his team Accel Racetek.

“Once I got competitive with this hobby, I learned that money spent on coaching would make me a lot faster than aero, suspension, or other bits of kit. To me, some of those seem most like things to flex over. With Perry and Travis of Accel Racetek, I not only know that the car will be ready for the next race no matter what tomfoolery I get up to on track, but that they’ll keep nudging me to be a better driver.”

Ultimately, the moral here is that with racing, as with any other passion, dropping your ego — such as by going from a venerable Porsche to a humble Spec Racer Ford — may prove to be the path to success, paved with smiles.

Sonoma’s Recent Repave Helps Set New Records

Speed SF’s drivers were fortunate to be the first members of the public to experience Sonoma’s new repave — the first in twenty-three years. One of Northern California’s most popular race tracks, Sonoma has been the site of NASCAR, IndyCar, and World Touring Car races over its fifty-five years.

Construction began after Christmas, with ABSL Construction of California milling out over 10,000 tons of asphalt from the track and pit lane, then grinding down the track, repairing old cracks, and laying the new asphalt.

Crack sealing in January.

Construction completed on February 23rd, two weeks before Speed SF was able to experience the new surface for ourselves.

The scenery was verdant, but the repave was far from green at Speed SF’s first full-track event of the season — enabling some of our front-runners to set new records in three of our Speed SF Challenge groups. Even those who hadn’t set new records set personal records. “The track is about three seconds faster than before,” Patrick Chio reported.

S4

In S4, Sean Win-Yepez cut 1.1 seconds off his previous best.

“There is more grip everywhere, but the gains are especially noticeable in T3/3A. There, there was so much grip that my power steering started to cut out!

One observation is that the curbs are not redone, so they now offer relatively less grip than the track itself, whereas before they were essentially about the same as the pavement. So, drivers who didn't use the curbs before will pick up more time than drivers who used them a lot.

My setup has remained pretty similar to last year, and I don’t think I benefited as much in the traction zones as some of the more powerful cars,” he added.

S3

In S3, power helped spread the distance from the previous bests a bit further. Spencer Kimball chopped the previous S3 record, set by him last May, by 2.59 seconds. In the last fifteen months, nothing about his setup has changed aside from some weight reduction. "The new paving really helps with consistency and driver confidence. Thanks to the smoother surface and lack of cracks, you can now take T1 and T2 on proper line instead of diverting your path to avoid surface undulations. I have yet to analyze my data and compare it to my previous run’s, but my lap times were about two seconds faster than my last event at Sonoma in 2023.

Based on my quick and dirty analysis, time was gained in T1, the exit of T6, and the T8/8A esses. One of the coolest features of this totally fresh paving is that my tires looked brand new after the event. Once it's rubbered in, I think we'll be seeing a lot more sub-40 cars at Sonoma,” Spencer predicted. 

S2

In S2, Maxwell Lisovsky was able just to show what his monster E36 is capable of. It has benefited from the most development as of late, but that doesn’t take anything away from his staggering 1:39.3 — a whopping 3.5 seconds faster than his previous best. Now, applying the power cleanly in second-gear corners is almost an afterthought for a sorted track tool wearing slicks.

It seems that, due to gaining something more in the traction zones, the punchier cars have been able to take better advantage of the new grip available. However, even those in the budget cars and the underpowered scalpels will find something to love about the fantastic new surface at Sonoma Raceway. These times bode well for the future, which promises novel challenges for drivers and opportunities to push harder than they ever have before..

To sign up for Sonoma event on June 21st, click here.

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Aidan’s GT3: Vision Realized

Photo credit: @z_stills & @tengerphoto

As Aidan Vo moved through adolescence, his affinity for cars carved out a prominent place for him in the San Jose drag racing scene. After he built an all-motor DC2 Integra capable of twelve-second passes, the big magazines came calling. This was the early 2000s, when the tuning scene was enjoying its biggest boom.

Through some of his drag racing acquaintances, Aidan eventually made the leap into road racing. Following his foray at Thunderhill, he started outlining a list of changes the Integra needed to become a corner carver, and for a moment, it looked like Endless might foot the bill.

So Aidan began disassembling the Integra and shelving the parts which wouldn’t do much good around a road course. Halfway through the teardown, he had a change of heart. He parted the car out, sold the chassis to another racer, and decided to hitch himself to the all-wheel drive wagon that’d just reached American soil.

It was in a Subaru WRX STI that really learned how to turn fast laps. His confidence bolstered by the safe, accommodating four-wheel drive, he earned his spurs in relative comfort. Then he switched camps and built a cost-no-object Evo X, which earned several magazine spots. Not only had he become well known and capable around a road course, he’d been rewarded for expressing his inner vision.

As his income grew, he started searching for a new platform. Something with a little more panache — something German.

The big Audi RS4 might not have been at home on the track, but the fit and finish of a plusher, posher machine did spark his imagination. There was something distinctive about it; something which resonated with Aidan and his appreciation for high style. The jump into the Euro market got his imagination running, but, unfortunately, that would be the extent of his involvement with cars for some time.

After living through the height of the tuner craze and enjoying all that the burgeoning market could offer, Aidan stepped away from cars to focus on his career and his growing family. All throughout this quieter interim, he couldn’t successfully quiet one part of his mind. “I missed that buzz; I had to create and build again,” he reflected.

Ten years of car-free focus had done wonders for his finances. Not completely car-free, however; he spent many evenings over that decade drooling over builds his younger self could never afford. When Aidan decided to return to his old hobby, he brought with him the means to realize a plan he’d held for a decade.

“I’ve always been captivated by the Porsche 911 since the 993 generation,” he began. “It’s always had a clean, restrained, understated design — that’s a big part of my aesthetic.”

A few weeks later, he rolled his new 991.2 GT3 into his garage, parked it, and pictured the finished product in his mind with all his planned modifications. The challenge he’d set for himself was considerable, but he had a clear plan and a few connections to help him along.

The Singer DLS was the one machine which inspired the build. “I’m not a Porsche purist who doesn’t believe in tinkering on their car. I see a Porsche as a vehicle that I can use to promote my vision.”

Knowing that the name Manthey was synonymous with Porsche performance, he did what all GT3 owners with grand aspirations for their build would do: purchase Manthey’s complete suspension, brake, and aero package.

There are only a few GT3s equipped with these parts in the Bay Area, and for good reason — one kit costs as much as a newish economy car. Most struggle to justify spending nearly thirty grand on Manthey-tuned KW dampers, solid bushings, brake lines, pads, dry carbon wing, as well as a Cup car’s front splitter, but the resulting crispness and composure is worth it to those with discerning taste and deep pockets.

Perhaps the one downside was that, for all that money spent, the car didn’t look much different than it did prior to the modifications. With so many Porsches looking so similar, Aidan decided to give a nod to the Porsche styling of yore by replacing the factory GT3 wing with a Porsche Sport Design ducktail. He learned shortly after just how difficult it would be to swap out this piece, retain all functionality, all while using OEM Porsche parts — and only OEM Porsche parts.

A hundred calls to local dealerships resulted in the same sad message: “on indefinite backorder.” It took months of perusing before he found an appropriate ducktail from a local owner looking to return his Sports Design-equipped car to stock, but he finally found the part. With the ducktail in hand, he felt as if the build were gaining a momentum of all its own. “Finding that part gave me the confidence to continue doing things the way I want to do them. Everything happened so organically, it almost felt like destiny.”

It’s subtle, but it sets it apart from the rest of the winged GT3s driving around San Francisco.

Of course, the body and the engine underneath would require several tweaks to accept the new boot-lid. Aidan had to source a 911R intake, 911R engine cover, the hinges, every nut and bolts and the oil return lines to allow this new body panel fit snugly. Unfortunately, What would seem to be a simple swap took months and countless emails.

The tradeoff was obvious. “The ducktail definitely makes less downforce than the original wing, which I learned when trying to go flat over Turn 1 at Laguna Seca, but it helps with rear visibility.”

With used 911-money spent on the suspension, it would only make sense to do the same with the powertrain. With Dundon Performance on the phone, Aidan specced out an engine package that would uncork the power of the 991.2 GT3, more mid-range torque and a top-end that reminded him of some of his fastest Hondas.

Dundon provided him with an intake, throttle body, plenum, and headers. JCR provided their titanium race pipes and titanium exhaust tips. The combination of these parts together allows the car to scream like an RSR at redline while keeping a deep, sonorous growl at lower revs.

With the way the GT3 was evolving into something like a racing car, Aidan decided to try and give his car the front track and aerodynamic grip of its race-only sibling, the GT3 Cup. He rung up his contact at Manthey and ordered the primered fenders, flares, splitter, bumper, and crash bar from a bonafide 991.2 Cup car. His painter Jesus matched the new parts perfectly and even achieved OEM paint thickness.

And now Aidan has something that is undeniably his own. Even if it were for sale, his buddies would never attempt to buy it. “‘It’s so obviously his, I wouldn’t ever feel like I owned the car,’ one of my friends told me.”

But is it a show car or a track toy? Aidan doesn’t believe there needs to be any distinction between the two. He’s made steps towards having both distinguished looks and serious performance, and all that he’ll need to do to suit his mood is change a few bolts and reorient the engine fans.

“As pretty as the trunk is, it definitely lacks downforce compared to the Manthey carbon wing. I’ve planned ahead to regain the downforce we all crave at the track. I have a Cup decklid and wing ready for track days. That arduous ducktail swap was done specifically to allow swift decklid swaps when it comes time to take the GT3 back to the track. All you have to do is reorient the fans to fit the subframe brace. After that, you’re off to the track.”

At this point, he feels he’s nearly realized his vision. Aidan cannot see himself selling the car, but that doesn’t mean he’s going to make it a collection piece. Instead, he’ll put it through its paces, enjoy it as both a driving tool and a rolling piece of art, and hope that his commitment and the car’s obvious quality will inspire the next generation of speed freaks with an eye for design.

Walter’s Sentra: Lifetime Obsession

A lifelong Nissan fan and a crew member for an old NASA team running an SE-R, Walter seemed destined to pick up this particular Sentra. His family had brought him up on Zs and Maximas, so when Walter turned 16, he bought his first car, a 1991 Sentra.

That sowed the seed for the next several years. Inspired by Need for Speed, he started tuning his Sentra and soon became a knowledgeable voice in the community as well as an in-demand mechanic. His reputation opened the door to crewing positions for several big teams running in NASA’s SE-R Cup series back in the early 2000s — some of which even ran in the 25 Hours of Thunderhill.

In 2003, Walter stepped away from cars to focus on family. That break lasted for fifteen years. After that long interim, he picked up an E46 M3 and started driving himself. As good as the BMW was on the track, the love for the old Sentra, now mixed with his recent racing experiences, led him to consider building a special Sentra for racing. However, he couldn’t spare the time he once could, and so he hoped something half or wholly-built would pop up in the classifieds.

When an old friend reached out to Walter with news of a special car for sale, he felt like his stars had aligned. Not only was this particular Sentra built by MotoIQ’s Mike Kojima, but it had been the brother of a car Walter was familiar with — one which had been raced in SE-R Cup back in the day.

That particular car from his crewing days was named “Dog I.” This was “Dog II,” the sister car. The two had been given their monikers from their Petco sponsorship; they had pawprints plastered all over them during their racing days. The latter wasn’t used much in Spec SE-R, but it had seen some action in the Pacific Tuner Championship ten years ago. Since then, it’d been stored and taken out for the annual track outing. The price was right, the build quality was obvious, and the decision was easy. Walter drove his truck and trailer down to LA that weekend and began a new relationship that joined his past with his future.

Like its sibling, Dog II is built upon a body-in-white build with all the right parts. The motor, a 2.1-liter SR20VE with 11:1 compression, produces 200 horsepower and 170 lb-ft of torque on a 50-50 blend of 91 and 100 octane fuel. It’s a peaky motor, but with only 2,600 pounds to push along, it makes do.

An oversized Koyo rad is part of the beefy cooling system that helped Kojima run the car comfortably in desert heat.

Handling comes courtesy of a square set of 235/40R17 NT01s wrapping Volk TE37 wheels and an intricate cage connecting all four shock towers. Ground Control coilovers, plenty of front camber, and a bump steer kit help the car follow every minor steering input. The final touch, a little bit of rear axle bending to toe the rears out slightly, contributes to the Sentra’s immediate turn-in — the kind that is vital in a front-drive sedan. “Super oversteery” were the words Walter chose to describe its balance.

The car was just about perfect. Aside from updating the safety equipment, Walter felt it needed nothing. That was until he drove it on track for the first time and struggled with the peakiness of the motor. Despite the SR20VE’s variable valve lift, it isn’t quite as tractable as he wanted. So when picking out a new Nismo LSD, he specified a 4.75 final drive to keep the engine in its sweet spot more of the time. And like that, he was done with modifying it.

The problem with a car like this, even a relatively simple car that’s nearly completed, is that it requires a trained race shop to maintain it. He leaves it to Tarek at All Automotive in Mountain View. “They have the suspension geometry expertise and motorsports experience needed to direct the continuing development of the vehicle as well as continue the maintenance needed after every season,” Walter adds.

Now that the Sentra’s up to date and running reliably, he hopes to put in as many track days as he can. It hardly uses its brakes; the Wilwood four-pistons and 11.75” rotors are understressed. For how fast it is, it’s remarkably easy on consumables. It’s still on the same set of tires the car came with, too.

He played a supporting role for many years, but once the ball was rolling and he was able to sit himself in the seat, things have gotten steadily better. His racing education helped him make the right decision when it came to buying a purpose-built car — one which has given him the opportunity to put in his 10,000 laps without having to regularly wrench on the car. The fact that he’s finally getting to hone his driving skills on track in such relaxed fashion is sweet, but it’s not quite as sweet as being able to simultaneously revisit his tuning heyday and witness his racing future expand.

Speed SF Challenge 2023 RECAP

Speed SF’s committed clan of drivers kept the Challenge season full of excitement this year. The competition was fierce throughout most of the classes, the fields were full, and the number of new course records — nearly a dozen — proved the rapid rate of evolution, both from car and driver.

In S1 and SX, Steve Melson was our standout. His more-is-better approach to track days; running his McLaren 765LT, his Audi R8, and his Mercedes GT S simultaneously, proved he knows how to make the most of his (seat) time.

Unfortunately, his busy schedule prevented him from attending the required number of events to qualify for a podium place, but his occasional appearances were filled with laps thanks to the triple-session approach he’s made his own. Still, even with relatively few appearances this year, Steven was able to set a new S1 record at Laguna as well as a new S2 record at Thunderhill West. We look forward to seeing him next year.

Steven’s McLaren is, without a doubt, the fastest stock car currently in our ranks.

In S2, George Brooks, a newcomer to our series, established himself as a front runner from the start. His potential was clear after winning the second event, and the combination of consistency and his C7 Corvette’s acceleration kept S2000-driving Champion Gary Yeung on his toes. George's early-season pace wasn’t a fluke, either – he proved himself quick at numerous circuits with front-running positions all throughout the season. In fact, George did not miss a single event this year.

His commitment paid off; culminating in a double-points victory at the season finale at Laguna. Though George’s effort could not beat Gary’s outright pace in 2023, we have no doubt George will give Gary and the rest of the S2 contenders hell this year.

A simple Corvette and good support helped Thomas find his potential quickly.

Newcomer Thomas DiGioacchino rounded out the podium. His C5 Corvette and his driving improved considerably over the course of the season, and his five podiums stand as testament to the fact that, even with relatively little experience, putting yourself in good hands can help you hone your craft quickly.

On top of the regulars, there were four reclusive geniuses making up the ranks this year — each of their one-off wins kept everyone guessing. Seigo Ma (S2000), Steve Melson (Mercedes GT S), Kai Anderson (Camaro ZL1), and Tailai Lihe (Supra) might not’ve been in attendance every weekend, but they didn’t need to be to stand at the top of the podium.

In S3, we saw the closest title battle among any of our classes. It was Spencer Kimball and his well developed E92 M3 who eventually took the crown, but Legend Brandenburg in his modestly tuned Supra kept most of us guessing. The title wasn’t decided until the season finale — where the difference between these two was a mere eight points. Legend took the win that day, but it wasn’t enough to offset Spencer’s dominant performance from February to December.

Spencer’s M3 has had all its issues addressed and now puts in remarkable times consistently.

Tailing closely behind, mainstay Joe McGuigan in his recently sorted IS-F made the last step of the podium, and, it should be said, kept Legend and Spencer honest throughout the season. Also worth a tip of the hat was Ken Cemo, who attended every event and drove his Camaro exceptionally well. His upbeat attitude and commitment slate him as a future podium finisher.

Sean’s tidy driving made him the dominant driver in S4.

The S4 field was by far the largest, with thirty-three competitors and a close battle between S2000s at the top three steps. Sean Win-Yepez followed the wise words of Aki at Blacktrax and kept his S2000 simple and the changes minimal. Additionally, Sean started running double sessions to maximize seat time. This allowed him to run most of his best laps in the Gold Open Passing group, which reduced the pressure and made it easier to set a hot lap. With seven wins and eight new lap records at the end of the season, Sean’s holistic approach had clearly paid off.

While Sean set the S4 standard this season, it was wildman Nate Hackman in his milder S2000 sliding close behind and providing the entertainment. His flamboyant driving style was not merely exhilarating to watch, it was seriously fast; his bests often just marginally behind Sean. Maybe Nate will max out his allotted points in 2024 and give Sean an even tougher time.

David Haro snuck in a solitary win — another gold for the S2000 clan. We anticipate the other S4 contenders — Scott Smith (987 Cayman) and Patrick Chio (E46 M3), winner of the S3 season finale — nipping at Sean and Nate’s heels throughout the coming season.

Patrick (M3) added a passenger seat in order to run in S4 for the final event and showed most of the class his heels.

In S5, the two heavy hitters in the lightest cars traded positions all season. In addition to setting a slew of records at Thunderhill, Tyler Packard took his RX-8 to the title, but that was not certain until the final few rounds. S5 is anyone’s game as long as they show up frequently, as Patryck Sworonski (NA Miata) proved with an equally impressive series of wins and seconds. In the end, Tyler attended one more event than Patryck, and that made all the difference.

We hope to see both new and familiar faces ready at Laguna Seca on February 18th, where this year’s Challenge will officially begin.

On a technical note, our Competition Director Scott Smith has made a few modifications to both base and modification points to further converge on competition parity.

To view our class calculator for the 2024 season, please follow this link.

Passing Etiquette: Making Space and Saving Face

Photos (unless specified otherwise): Trevor Ryan

Overtaking is a tricky business, and learning how to pass decisively and safely takes time and practice. It pays to err on the side of caution — especially with unknown drivers. After all, squabbling for position isn’t the most judicious thing to do when there’s no prize on the line. Nobody wins a track day.

As a general rule in racing, the overtaker must present themselves alongside the driver in front — typically with the overtaking driver’s front wheels ahead of the overtaken driver’s rears before the turn-in point. This way, they’re able to see the other driver through their peripheral vision. Studying one’s surroundings and knowing where other cars are at all times is necessary to become a capable track driver.

It pays to be seen. Credit: CC-by-2.0/MIDWST.BLUR

Of course, this is a rule followed in wheel-to-wheel racing. With Speed SF, the passing car must have its front wheels in-line with the passed car’s front wheel before the beginning of the braking zone if they want to attempt a pass. It’s worth giving everyone a little more room since nobody can truly win at a track day, after all.

Our aim is to give all our drivers their own space and help the faster drivers safely navigate the slower traffic so nobody gets held up.

To give assertive advanced drivers the leeway to pass freely while allowing novices time and safety to ease their way into it, we have outlined some hard and fast rules for our various run groups. For those groups with stricter passing rules, like Green and Blue, the process of passing is made as simple as possible.

Novice Group (Green)

Responsible novices dedicate most of their mental energy to driving their own car, so they likely lack the bandwidth to watch their mirrors while driving. For this reason, we only allow passing on the designated straightaways — never through the middle of a corner — to simplify the mental burden. The courteous driver being passed should lift off the throttle to make life easier for the passing driver. This really helps when overtaking in a Miata.

When the driver being passed decides to lift off their throttle, they give the passing driver more room to complete this overtake prior to the braking zone, which is our second requirement. The passing driver should not be pressured into squeezing themselves down the inside at the turn-in point. Just because someone, especially a novice, gives the point by does not mean that a pass is possible; the passing driver must carefully judge whether it is going to work. If it’s doubtful the pass can’t work, back off — nobody wins a track day.

Keep an eye out for that point-by. Credit: OpenTrack

Generally speaking, we like the driver being passed to allow the passing driver to rejoin the conventional driving line before turning in. If they insist on turning into the corner from an inside line (ie. a line closer to the apex than the standard line), they must navigate a shorter radius and therefore reduce their entry speeds accordingly.

Because the novice’s situational awareness isn’t as great as a regular who instinctively checks their mirrors, we require the passing driver to wait for a specific gesture from the driver ahead. By leaning their left hand out the window (or right in a RHD car) and pointing at the portion of the track they’d prefer the overtaking driver to use while passing, they give a sign of recognition and avoid confusion. Wait for a clear signal, and preferably before a longish straightaway — it’s safest and easiest to pass there.

Intermediate Group (Blue)

Even with their experience, we want members of blue group to follow the same passing rules as the members of green.

HARD RULES: GREEN/BLUE

Point-by passing is required at all times. Under no circumstances is passing in the corners allowed, and passes along the straights must be completed before the braking zone.

Point-by Recommended/Mixed Group (Yellow):

After a dozen days or so, driving alongside others at a quick pace is no longer terrifying like it once was. We try to encourage these drivers to be assertive with their car placement so as to begin the two-part process of an advanced pass. Both parties must be aware of one another, and as long as there’s enough room to overtake safely, we allow passing without a hand signal. Though a point-by is still recommended to make sure everyone is aware, it isn’t required.

There are other ways to communicate reaching an arm outside the window. For instance, the driver being passed taps their rear-view mirror prior to the turn-in point (a common acknowledgement). This indicates that the driver attempting the pass is seen and will give way. The driver ahead can also offer a corner without signaling by slowing than necessary before turn-in, usually off the ideal line. If the driver behind sees the “door opening” and the driver ahead taking an odd line slowly into the corner, they will know they’ve been given a chance to pass.

When overtaking and turning in on a tighter line, remember more braking pressure (if braking is necessary) is likely required.

HARD RULES: YELLOW

The fundamental skill required to run in this group is strong situational awareness. Drivers are allowed to pass anywhere, but only at a moderate pace. Point-by passing is recommended, but not required. Exercise caution and make sure to read the driver ahead before attempting a pass.

Open Passing Group (Red + Gold):

Highly experienced drivers aren’t protected by such rules, which means they need to read the subtler signs of a driver giving way, learn how to pass decisively, and how to present themselves so as to be seen.

To run successfully in the Open Passing Group, you must know how to improvise with car placement while keeping the general level of grip in mind. Even while driving through a corner side by side, both drivers must be able to react and, hopefully, anticipate the other’s move.

Limited visibility and reduced grip make overtaking in the rain even more challenging. Remain patient and, due to the tricky conditions, avoid forcing the issue.

Of course, open passing doesn’t mean fighting for position like it would in a true race setting, but the increased level of competition typical in this run group

Assuming both parties can recognize each other’s position on track and drive in harmony, these sorts of overtakes can be done safely. They do, however, require a good deal of spatial awareness, decisiveness, car control, and forethought. For that reason, we only allow drivers with over twenty track days under their belt (or those holding a racing license) to join this group.

HARD RULES: RED/GOLD

Twenty-plus track days or racing license needed to partake. Must be experienced with open passing. No passing restrictions as long as drivers exercise good judgment.

Final Thoughts

Cooperation is the name of the game, so try to wait until a definite sign is given before attempting a pass. Make sure there’s adequate grip available to take a tighter line than the conventional line if that’s what the situation requires. The tighter the line, the more deceleration prior to the corner is required. Trailbraking helps here.

If a train of cars ahead makes life difficult for a faster driver bringing up the rear, they’re advised to pit momentarily to establish a gap. This makes life much easier and offers a better chance of achieving a personal best.

When deciding whether or not to attempt an overtake, remember that the passing car is always responsible for ensuring a safe pass. Even if the car ahead closes the door on the driver behind, it’s the latter’s fault. Leave a little space whenever possible and never squeeze somebody on a track day.

Keep eyes up at all times, scan the environment for faster and slower cars both and behind, and try not to fixate too much on rolling speed into the corner during an overtake. Instead, prioritize a strong exit. Well, the beginners should try to do this to avoid sliding off when overtaking on the inside. The experienced drivers know that, in racing, sometimes getting ahead of the driver in front is all that’s needed; an overtaken driver can’t always respond if the overtaking driver exits the corner slowly. Again, that’s racing, and this is track day driving, where the objective is to bring the car home in one piece.

Lastly, remember that there’s nothing to win here. Track days exist to help people gain experience running independently, so giving way to a faster driver when they’ve demonstrated superior speed is a mark of maturity. Yes, it might sting, particularly if they’re in a much slower car, but leave some room for humility and open the door — following a faster driver closely can be the best sort of instruction anyone can get.

Hubert's MKIV Supra: Soft Spot

Like Ken Yu, Hubert Chan first got a taste of speed on two wheels. His motorcycling antics with his cousin Wil sowed the seed, but it wasn’t until one of Wil’s dearest friends gave Hubert a taste of acceleration that made even a 600cc bike feel a little lackluster. The stoplight-to-stoplight sprints in Phil’s modified fourth-generation Supra Turbo had Hubert hooked. “It just never stopped pulling,” he said.

However, Hubert wasn’t pushed in the direction of drag racing — he had an affinity for corner carving. An E30 M3 seemed to him the coolest cornering machine in his price range, but he struggled to find the right one. Eventually, he decided another platform might be more accessible, so he gave the big Supra a chance. This was 2013, back when both these iconic cars cost half of what they do today.

The Supra had left an indelible mark on him, and though not many had taken them to the track, his knowledgeable friends signed off on the Supra as a worthwhile sports car. When Hubert found the online listing for a clean, reasonably priced, and unmodified 1994 Turbo, he bought a one-way ticket to Salt Lake City and drove it back to the Bay, dreaming of future modifications the entire way.

The Supra Turbo had proven itself as a stellar road tripper; comfortable, quiet, and still torquey enough to pass anybody quite easily. However, it was a little on the boaty side, and Hubert sought out a few ways to improve the footwork.

First came a set of Fortune Auto 500 coilovers, and the resulting agility proved that the car was more versatile than its reputation had led him to believe. The Supra’s long wheelbase didn’t feel like an encumbrance on tighter backroads, and the way it sat securely over bumps and cambers made it quite confidence-inspiring.

The foundation was there for more power, which Hubert always knew would be the most exhilarating part of tuning this new toy of his. The promise of easy horsepower encouraged him to amass a large collection of engine parts over the course of the first year. By the time he’d had it for twelve months, he was ready to move onto the second chapter and double the power output.

With the help of mechanically-inclined friend, they pulled the factory turbochargers and replaced them with a log-style cast manifold and a Precision 6266 turbocharger, then fitted Kelford 264° cams and a full 3” Tanabe Medallion Exhaust. With some meth injection and a safe tune of the AEM V2 from Lawrence Shipman, the motor made a healthy 580 horsepower on 91 octane.

With the way the Powerhouse Racing turbo kit emphasized low-end torque, it became challenging to turn that into propulsion. To address the wheelspin issues, he followed the forum recommendation to replace the factory torsen with a TRD 1.5-way differential and increase the rear tire size to 295s, which he was able to do via widening the factory rear wheels.

For the final touches to the footwork, Hubert had consulted the Supra community for an appropriate sports alignment, but upon taking it to Elite to have it aligned, Melody Cannizzaro suggested a few alterations to his provided specs. With additional toe-in at the rear, the Supra felt reassuring and stable; enough so that Hubert was comfy stepping on the throttle in second and third gear. No longer was he hindered by the big torque, which gives relatively little warning before it hits.

The Supra had established itself a capable cruiser and a competent canyon car, but Hubert was most interested in seeing what it was like in an environment where he could really stretch its legs. It wasn’t long after that his friend Janning encouraged he take the Supra to Laguna, where he met his friend Samson, another track driver who’s been instrumental in getting Hubert up to speed.

After a few spins and some big slides, Hubert began to get a sense of just how much of the power he could use in Turns 2 and 11. The power must be applied gently in the slower corners, but it will put the power down in third, assuming the car is mostly straight. “The car was definitely driving me that day, but I didn’t care. I was addicted!” he exclaimed.

Over the next few events, Hubert began addressing the handling problems only apparent after a few fast laps. It was still a little too floppy from factory; the annoying targa top would flex to the point of requiring readjustment after every session.

Hubert parked beside his friend and mentor Samson’s M3.

Titan Motorsports’ four-point rollbar, reduced the flex and the need to fiddle on the targa between outings. Still, it remained too soft to transition crisply, so Hubert installed a set of SuperPro polyurethane bushings at the critical points in the suspension, Titan anti-roll bars, and a TRD strut bar. It’s tauter than it’s ever been, but it’s still a little on the comfier side. As a car which sees more street duty than track action currently he’s content with the setup.

Its ability to cruise to and from the track in total comfort isn’t something he’s willing to forgo in the name of going faster quite yet. The power is more than adequate, the car is controllable, and the engine doesn’t show any signs of stress. Essentially, it’s barely breaking a sweat with such limited lapping.

“I’m happy with the Supra in its current state for now, but once I get a little more comfortable pushing it, I might improve the brakes and the suspension.

It’s just an easy car to live with, and I’m afraid of ruining that. Plus, it gets so much attention in the pits. Some people ask me why I risk driving such a rare car, but I think it’d be wrong to keep it in a garage. Most people think it’s only good for drag racing, but the Supra is a great performance car — it’s very much at home on the track.”

Thomas' Corvette: In Good Company

Finishing out his senior year of high school, Thomas DiGioacchino listened to a friend’s suggestion and scrounged the money together for his first track day. Crap tires, decent weather, and a near-stock Mustang GT were all he needed to find that thing that’s been steering his life for the last five years.

Thomas decided to pursue the mechanical side of things and enrolled in Ranken Technical College’s High Performance Technology course with a focus on Chevrolet LS engine design.

That emphasis allowed Thomas to build a motor for a car he hadn’t yet bought. It began with an iron-block LQ motor and LS1 heads, and as the LQ block only displaced 5.3 liters, he bored and honed it out to 5.7 liters to fit the LS1 head. With forged pistons and rods, oil pan baffles, and the other pieces that made it a 500-horsepower workhorse, he unknowingly set the tone for the rest of this build.

The car itself came next. During his final year at Ranken, he found himself a base 2002 Corvette within his price range and tucked it away in his side yard until graduation, when he loaded up his truck with his furniture, his motor, and began his drive from Missouri to his hometown.

Back in San Mateo, he reached out to his then-limited network for car parts and, with some luck, gainful employment as well. As he’d relied on Elite Performance to direct him towards a few bolt-ons for his Mustang, they were the natural resource to consult. One day, while speaking to Elite’s Melody Cannizzaro about getting his Corvette aligned, she provided up with a job opportunity. He didn’t have to think twice.

Working with Elite gave him access to one longtime customer who happened to be offloading some go-fast bits from their recent Corvette build. Thomas was able to grab a set of Titan 7 T-S5 wheels for peanuts, and then came big brakes, bushings, and a bucket seat. Soon, the plans for keeping the Corvette tame and civilized went out the window.

Wisely, he went for safety equipment next, and decided that this car would only help him become a truly quick driver if it was reliable first and fast second. “I knew that seat time would be the priority if I was going to run with guys like Gary Yeung,” he said.

That said, it would be silly not to make use of the big motor sitting in his parent’s backyard. Soon, it found a new home in the Corvette’s engine bay, and Thomas took the half-built C5 to its first track day, where it ran without a hiccup. It ran well the second day, too, as well as the third. Clearly, he’d paid attention in class.

Aside from the minor repairs any twenty-year-old car needs, it was the epitome of dependable. His focus was on learning to drive the car better, but, to his credit, a C5 on stock suspension does leave a lot to be desired. It would lean excessively, and under trail braking, it had a habit of snap-oversteering.

After several months of saving, Thomas bought a used set of JRZ two-ways. While he was at it, he pulled and refreshed the entire drivetrain, then upgraded the springs and clutch packs in the OE LSD. Those modifications made the Corvette much more progressive at the limit, regardless of whatever cheap tires he happened to be running.

When he found the time to fine-tune the suspension, he increased the rake to increase rotation at corner entry. A square 295-35/18 setup was the cost-conscious tire option, and he stretched every set until the cords showed. Still, the car was mostly neutral with a hint of understeer in the faster stuff thanks in part to his APR GTC-300 wing.

As his confidence grew, he started to recognize that driving around on worn rubber was no longer the training tool it had been, so he sprung for a set of AR-1s and turned his first sub-two-minute lap at Buttonwillow 13CW. “I had to fight it the whole way around, but I got 1:58. A sloppy 1:58, but still,” he said.

Good tires helped, as did having a hare to chase. With Gary Wong driving his S2000 off into the distance, Thomas was able to see where he could push harder than he believed was possible. It’s a huge help having an experienced driver luring your outside your comfort zone.

Logging that first milestone lap gave him the confidence to try the Speed SF Challenge the next weekend at Thunderhill’s five-mile configuration. He did his homework and studied several record laps, focusing on curb usage. With Gary Yeung giving him some basic feedback the day of, Thomas saw his lap times fall by as much as four seconds. In the end, he was able to clinch third place in S2 — just half a second behind Kevin Schweigert in his BMW M2.

That success turned Thomas into a sponge. His subsequent lapping days have been spent studying data and having the experienced drivers like Joe McGuigan critiquing his onboard videos. “Joe’s been a huge help; giving me pointers on which gears to use so I can put the power down more easily.” The result of this traction-conscious approach to driving is evident in the footage below:

He’s also benefited from picking a short list of prime parts. In fact, he’s never bent his Titan 7 wheels or broken any suspension parts, despite hammering curbs and dropping wheels regularly. Maybe it has something to do with emphasizing robustness with this build—a tip he picked up from his mentor, Gary Yeung.

‘I’ve learned a decade’s worth of motorsports knowledge in the last two years. Everyone’s been so supportive, and I owe my progress to all of them. They’ve pushed me to improve as a driver and a builder—especially Gary. Watching him work inspired me to raise my game, and I think it shows. My Corvette’s overbuilt, so I can push it all day. Like Mango, my Corvette is a workhorse that’s made it possible to attend almost every Speed SF event in the last two years. All I do now is change the fluids and try to find out where I can go faster.”

Parts

• JRZ motorsport coilover conversion

• Titan 7 T-S5 wheels 18x10.5”

• Trackspec hood vents

• Dewitts radiator

• Spal fans

• Improved Racing oil cooler

• Improved Racing oil pan baffles

• Prothane polyurethane bushings

• APR GTC-300 wing

• APR splitter

Fenton's Integra Type S: A Change of Heart

“I used to be the biggest hater of FWDs,” he started. Despite his introduction to cars coming in the form of a Civic, he rapidly transitioned into rear-drive platforms when he took up track driving. After a pair of S2000s, he moved onto Porsche Caymans, 911s, and, most recently, a Subaru BRZ. What they all had in common was their rear-drive layout, which cemented in Fenton the belief that all other drivetrain configurations were beneath consideration.

Lately, he’s had a change of heart.

It was an unexpected decision to sell his BRZ. Oil starvation issues concerned him, but he had also owned the car for eighteen months and was starting to wonder what decent replacement was out there—something new, fun, and practical between fifty and sixty grand.

Actually, he was a little more particular than that:

1) It had to be track-capable.

2) It had to have been endorsed by Throttle House, savagegeese, or TheTopher.

3) It had to be at least as practical as the BRZ.

4) It couldn’t break the bank in the event of an incident.

Not much in that price range met his requests, but the faster Hondas, despite driving the wrong axle, were fairly close. But it was more than the drivetrain that deterred him at first.

“I remember when the base Integra was first announced, I thought Acura was disrespecting the Integra name. It looked like a boat; it had no resemblance to the DC2 or the DC5 and, I believed, was probably an overpriced Civic.”

A few months later, the Integra Type S was announced, and Fenton found himself torn. “I started to love the way it looked. Even though the general shape was the same, they tweaked the right areas to make it look like a driver’s car. This had proper flares, an aggressive rear diffuser, a vented hood, gaping intakes—it was unique and purposeful.”

“The Integra wasn’t really on my radar until, one day, I was bored at work and decided to configure a car on the Acura website. I specced out my ideal Type S, and figured I’d add my email to their list—why not?

The next day, Acura of Pleasanton, just seven miles from my house, contacted me and offered that exact car at MSRP plus $1,000 of non-negotiable dealer add-ons. One prospective buyer had backed out and my name came up on their list.”

At the time, he’d been considering the FL5 Civic Type R, though the markup was significant. Plus, the car has a number of creature comforts and tuning differences over the Civic that makes it a better daily. An Integra-specific re-tune of the K20C1 engine, shared between the two, provides much more mid-range torque. Additionally, the Integra’s electronic dampers benefit from new tuning to make it a more supple road car.

The case in favor of FWD was growing, but he still had his bias to overcome. “I used to believe that, if you cannot powerslide it out of a corner, it’s not a sports car.

However, he couldn’t find anything else under $60,000 that is spacious, has a backseat, has a manual transmission, is track-capable, and is rear-wheel drive. I realized that, in order to hit my price point, I’d have to make one or two concessions.

I figured I’d at least give the Integra a try. In person, it looked fantastic, and it felt like a $50,000 car inside. It was something I could live with on a daily basis. The shifter is nearly as good as a Honda S2000’s, the ride quality is phenomenal; with the dampers in comfort mode, it rides almost as well as a luxury car. It has minimal torque steer and phenomenal brakes. After driving it around the block, I was sold.”

He bought it that day.

Since then, he’s beaten nearly all of his previous bests. At Laguna Seca, Thunderhill East, and Thunderhill West, he’s beaten his bests in the BRZ by 2 to 3 seconds. Some of that has to be down to Integra having twice the torque, but, as Fenton’s learned, a FWD car might be easier to come to terms with.

“I can lean on the car more confidently, whereas the BRZ would break away more abruptly. I know that, on turn-in, it’s going to understeer, and while that might sound boring, it means I can get up to speed a little bit faster, especially on cold mornings.”

At Laguna Seca, he drove the tires off his car—literally. Underinflating the PS4S tires to try and keep them in their ideal range seemed sensible, but during turn-in to Turn 6, the front-right tire debeaded. “I only stopped a few feet from the wall. It taught me not to track 30-profile tires with soft sidewalls any longer.”

If there was one issue beyond that, it was the lack of support from the stock seats. “The OEM seats are inadequate for track driving; they are the same design as the base Integra with very little bolstering. The OEM FL5 seats are supportive and soft enough for daily driving and track duty. I’d happily exchange the Integra seats’ heating and electronic adjustability for the FL5’s greater versatility.”

And so he started adding the first round of modifications, beginning with a set of 18 x 9.5” + 45 Apex VS-5RS wheels wrapped in Kumho 265-35 V730s (the same as he had on his BRZ for fair comparison), as well as a set of Ohlins Road & Track coilovers.

The Road & Tracks have a reputation for being more road than track, but the Integra-spec 6kg front and 10kg rear springs are much stiffer than what’s normally offered. “The spring rates have helped a lot with tucking the nose. You can get consistent mid-corner rotation with a lift-off the throttle.”

Along with those mods, he added some Castrol SRF fluid and a set of Endless ME20 pads from RHD Japan since the yen is weak now. Their torque rating is much higher than the standard pads, which were at least resilient enough to run sessions at Laguna without fade.

With the first round of modifications in place, he took it to Thunderhill West and ran a 1:24 in his second session—some 2.5 seconds faster than he ever went in his hardcore S2000 on Federal tires. “It felt adjustable; it wasn’t a battle against understeer in every corner. You can transfer weight with the inputs and rotate the car in small, measurable increments. That’s something I find a modern GTI just won’t do.”

Most recently, Fenton ran Thunderhill East Bypass for a day that he found encouraging, if not a little frustrating. After spinning in the first session and getting the black flag, he found himself without traffic in the second session and logged a 2:01. “I believed I could find another one to two seconds in the third session, but one of the flaws of the car held me back.”

In order to completely avoid fuel starvation, the tank needs to remain above half-full. After dipping below the middle hash five minutes into his third session, he spent the remainder dealing with fuel cut. He couldn’t leave too miffed; he’d only had one real session to push the car, and with that 2:01 indicated on his Garmin, he’d already gone three seconds faster than he ever had in the BRZ.

Considering he’s only done three modifications and is already three seconds faster than the BRZ, he has no regrets. “I might not be powersliding it everywhere, but it’s taught me that there are other, subtler ways of manipulation.”

Beyond all this, I can drive to and from the track in complete comfort. With radar cruise control, lane-keep assist, blind spot monitoring, heated seats, a premium ELS sound system, and even a sunglasses holder—I’ve never been so comfortable on my way to and from the track before. Going from a partially gutted S2000, to my mostly-practical BRZ, to this, I’ve experienced three distinct improvements in comfort. Plus, I can ferry people around. There is plenty of space for four adults—roughly the interior space of an Accord from fifteen years ago.”

It’s still a little too quiet to hear with his helmet on, so he’s planning on upgrading to a modest exhaust that should make it easier to gauge where he is in the rev range, reduce backpressure, and find a little more grunt. That said, it’s not lacking in that department; it has more than enough torque to run third gear through most of Thunderhill West. Oh—it could use more front camber.

In Fenton’s eyes, it deserves to be seen as Acura’s flagship sports sedan—it’s a deserving successor to the DC2 Integra Type R. “It’s a compromised car at the end of the day, and yet they have kept all those compromises from adversely affecting driving enjoyment. To me, it’s the perfect compromise.”

Jacek's M3: In Good Hands

Indoor karting lay the foundation, then construction gigs throughout college gave Jacek Kozubek the chance to scrape enough money together to buy himself a two-stroke kart. He flipped a few cars on the side, too. It seemed there was never enough money to fund his new habit back then.

Frustrated though he might’ve been, he kept going with his entrepreneurial pursuits, and these put him in touch with more experienced racers who could make his transition into racing full-sized cars even easier.

Once out of school and making a little more, he started scanning his surroundings for the right track car. It was R-Crew Inc. who helped guide Jacek through this often frustrating process, and after an introductory period with a healthy DC2 Integra, Jacek followed R-Crew’s advice and picked up two of the more popular platforms in today’s track scene.

After the end of this trial period, he decided he preferred his E46 M3 to his S2000. “The S was great, but I felt a little disappointed with the straightline performance. It was better than the BMW stock-for-stock, but when I got to drive Don’s M3, I could see how good an M3 could be with the right modifications.”

Wisely for a man buried in work and family obligations, Jacek handed the car over to R-Crew for modification and maintenance. The first order of business was the typical set of wheels, brakes, and coilovers, though he saw no sense in half-assing it. Fancy footwork it would be, and after adding AP Racing 5000R brakes, JRZ 11-series coilovers, and a set of 18x10” Volk TE37s, the M3 was no longer the plush and porky thing it was in stock trim. It was now a riveting street-track car, but far from perfect.

There was still some sponginess to the car, as well as a notable lack of traction in hairpins. R-Crew replaced the poly bushings with heim joints, then fitted a 1.5-way OS Giken diff to minimize inner tire fire. The resulting surefootedness provided the platform upon which Jacek could add some aero grip; a Bimmerworld splitter and full-carbon wing only helped the car—there were no slow-speed shortcomings from the wings.

Since Jacek handed the car to R-Crew for transportation to and from the track, he didn’t see any reason for keeping the car even remotely streetable—it would be a full-on track build. Out went the interior and in went a Tony Colicchio cage. Additional weight shedders included a set of lexan panels to replace the rear quarter glass, Bimmerworld fiberglass doors, and R-Crew’s full exhaust. After the dieting measures, the M3 weighed in at a respectable 2,850 pounds with driver.

That full exhaust was the only modification made to the motor, and that simple recipe made it into a dependable lump. The S54 sometimes gets a bad rap, but with the right sort of maintenance, it’s a workhorse—Jacek’s record is testament to that.

In four years, he’s run roughly thirty-five faultless track days with this particular engine. These aren’t standard track days either; Jacek typically runs multiple run groups on the same day. Sometimes, he’ll drive two consecutive twenty-minute sessions, and after missing the first few laps of the third session to fill up at the pump, he’ll finish out was is nearly a sixty-minute sprint.

With all the big boxes ticked, there’s not much more that the car needs. For Jacek, a driver who prioritizes seat time, he’s absolutely fine with that. However, the car could go from welterweight to lightweight with the two big jobs on the horizon. After fitting a carbon dash, the guys at R-Crew plan to pull the entire wiring harness and install an AiM PDM32: a solid state power distribution module that allows them to pull the fusebox and all relays. With some luck, these two mods might shed another two-hundred pounds.

Hoosier A7s have been his choice for a long time now.

Over the last fifteen years, from scrounging cents to run karts to spending big dollars at the track, Jacek’s enjoyed good luck with his hobby. When money was tight, he focused on getting the most track time in the way that was feasible: through karting. Now, after making some money, he’s learned to spend it wisely. With all the newfound freedom it’s brought, he’s come to value his time more, and rather than spend it wrenching, he’ll happily hire those who do this stuff better than any hobbyist would.

By leaving the car to R-Crew, he’s been able to ensure his time at the track is spent as efficiently as possible. The car runs without hiccup, it’s set up to suit his driving preferences, and if ever he’s got a question about a change he could make, he has an experienced crew to consult. He’s gone from frugal to experience-focused. If an ambitious driver has the means to leave maintenance and transportation to the professionals, why not? It’s always better to be in the best hands possible.

The money’s been spent, and now all that has to be done is drive, really—drive it into the ground. “I use my iPhones until they’re so cracked I have to replace ‘em, and I’ll drive this car until I put it into a wall.”

It’s amazing how he’s been on the money the whole time.