SpeedSF Blog
Every Build Has a Story – Meet the Cars of SpeedSF
Lex’s RX-8: Underdog Pride
Mazda’s unloved little brother got a chance to shine when Lex moved on from his turbocharged FC3S RX-7 and bought this lightly tuned RX-8 from Gordon Peng. The necessary mods were already in place, which served as a foundation for Lex to acquire easy seat time in this reliable rotary.
Sergey’s E46 M3: Stay Frugal and Avoid Rabbit Holes
After finding a Miata with the basic HPDE mods, Sergey Smirnov committed to improving his skills and avoided fussing around with upgrades. When it came time to get a new car, he followed the same approach with great results.
Spencer’s GT3: Scoping New Territory
Eager to track a Porsche but worried about the expense, Spencer Kimball had to consider if it was worth leaving his E92 M3 behind for a lightly used 991.1 GT3. As he learned, the process wasn’t nearly as painful as he worried it’d be.
Justin’s FC3S RX-7: Displaced Wankel
Justin Merritt’s desire to keep up with the Mustangs pushed him to ditch his FR-S for an LS1-swapped RX-7 in need of some TLC. With a little bit of work, he’s made the Mazda into a surprisingly approachable machine with plenty of untapped potential.
Miles’ BRZ: Holistic Approach
Fueled by a desire to rise above middling, Miles Kodama bought his BRZ, enrolled in the 86 Challenge, and did everything in his power — including a serious diet and exercise regimen — to become series champion.
Connor’s E36: Standing on Solid Ground
After transitioning into HPDE from autocross, Connor Lydon recognized how taking the next step into time trials would be made easier by starting with a sorted car.
This IP-winning E36 M3 came to Connor already proven, and with a little massaging as well as a few chassis mods, it’s been able to set remarkable times with a modest amount of power.
Brandon’s Alfa 4C: Inconspicuous Exotic
Tired of Spec Miata and needing to build an unusual track car, Brandon picked up this Alfa 4C and gave it all the chassis mods needed to help it shine on the road course.
Piers’ 240Z: From First Principles
After rebuilding a carbureted bike in his apartment’s underground parking lot, Piers bought a pretty 240Z and began learning how to make an old Datsun work on track.
Bennet’s C8: Driver Mod Comes First
After making the jump from a Tesla Model 3 into a gen-two BRZ, Bennet realized that he had to continually tailor his driving approach to suit the new platform. He took that understanding into his next purchase, a C8 Corvette, and soon grew to love the MR platform which, initially, had been a little too challenging.
Fan’s NC Miata: Truncating Ten Years
Proper planning and dedication to simulator racing helped Fan learn the skills needed to run fast laps in roughly a third of the time it takes people without a well-researched plan. Now, he laps Laguna Seca in this mildly modified MX-5 in the 1:45-range.
Abdul’s E46 M3: Checking All Boxes
It didn’t take Abdul long to realize that seat time was all-important, so he made a point to avoid the typical impediments to his progress. Then he bought a versatile M3, had the right guys set it up, and put in his time learning his craft.
Cody’s C6 Z06: Father-Son Duo Builds Best Of Both Worlds
Some claim a true street-track car can't be good at anything, but Cody Bulkley thinks otherwise. His background in FSAE and his current role with GM have given him special setup insight to help strike that elusive balance between race car and street car, which is reflected in the performance and versatility of this C6 Z06.
Speed SF’s First Enduro Goes Off Without a Hitch
We've had our own enduro in the works for a while now, and it turns out our planning paid off. This month, we successfully completed our first 2.5-hour race and established a new race format for those looking to make the leap into wheel-to-wheel.
Brian’s Mustang: Keep It in the Family
With the help of capable friends and a fairly sizable budget, Brian decided to build this 1966 Mustang Coupe to a standard that most only dream about. NASCAR engine, sequential gearbox, big aero, and a elephant’s footprint make this machine one of the most extreme we’ve featured yet.
Forced Induction For Track Work: Supercharging Two Popular Platforms
The S2000 and E46 M3 have weight and nimbleness going for them. Do they need more power?
Speed SF Goes Karting: A Thank You to our Coaches
Miles Kodama, Nate Hackman, and Matt Misencik put in an incredible number of hours this past year, and to thank them for their time and effort, we sponsored them in a charity karting event at Sonoma Raceway.
Cory’s C6 Grand Sport: Safe Not Sorry
After Cory Smetzler saw the light during a ridealong in a C6 Z06, he bought a Grand Sport from the same generation. It might not have the biggest motor or the lightest chassis in the lineup, but it has a few features which have offered him peace of mind with small few setbacks.
Alex’s FL5 Type R: Best of Both Worlds
The FK8 was too gaudy, the MX-5 was too cramped, and the FL5 was just right. When Alex was able to bring home a new Civic Type R for the occasional track outing, he knew he’d found the best possible compromise within his budget.
Gordon’s M2: Iteration Cycle
Rather than descend down the rabbit hole of modification, Gordon Mak decided to study the human element in the racing equation to find a process that would help him advance as a driver.
Richard’s MR2 Turbo: Not Too Pretty To Pirouette
Although Richard already had an E92 M3, he decided to spruce up his mid-ship sports car and spin his way into driving competence.