Steven Melson's Secret to Fielding Two Cars Twice Every Weekend

Four years into track days and he’s taken a few trophies and made plenty of friends. More than those accomplishments, Steven Melson’s been able to field a couple of spectacular cars with more enthusiasm and energy than guys half his age.

When I heard he would frequently take his two cars to weekends, driving double sessions on consecutive days and doing most of the work himself, I thought he must’ve had some sort of trick he uses to him through that slog. My first guess at his secret was crystal meth, but the answer turned out to be something a little less exciting.

This ‘91 300ZX, the car Steven started track driving with, is still brought along every weekend. It’s a little faster than it was when he started fifteen years ago, though.

Steven abstains from all the fun little vices most folks need to get through the day. No booze, no cigarettes, and only rarely will he sip coffee. “It’s only Frappuccinos—and I drink them for the taste.” His ability to sleep soon after drinking a couple of them is indication that either caffeine has no effect on him or that he’s simply a serene sort of person. Either way, his only real rush comes from driving.

With more vigor than most twenty-somethings, this fifty-two-year-old loads his two cars in his 34’ trailer and starts the trek from Reno to his favorite tracks in Northern California. He abstains from camping and usually gets five or so hours of sleep the night before the first day, which makes his first morning at the track the hardest. After a few sessions, he gets his adrenaline boost which carries him through the remainder of the day. That night, he retires early and is usually out as soon as his head hits the pillow.

“I don’t get much downtime, but I’m alright with that. After years of drag racing in which all you’d do was wait, I’m happy to have to hustle a little.”

Not only does running double sessions drain him a little faster, but he has the added challenge of jumping between two different vehicles. Either one is an unusual sight at most track days, but the combination of the two is rare. A highly modified ‘91 300ZX and a lightly tuned 2014 Audi R8 aren’t a typical duo; they don’t even belong to the same genre, but this pairing is easy to explain. The bug first bit Steven when he was younger and driving the Z: a car which he slaved to afford as a youngster. As the years passed and he came up in the world, he bought himself the supercar. That’s simple enough, but it’s a little strange to witness someone who can both afford and appreciate a modern supercar, yet still holds the fondness for the machines which first ignited the racing flame. Stranger still, he races them both.

The 650-whp 300ZX has been a regular source of frustration up until recently. Once, after having to change the power steering belt six times one hot Sonoma afternoon, he considered hiring some mechanics to tag along to keep the car humming, but help from the Speed SF community kept him from ever having to do that. An observant Joe McGuigan stopped by and offered some assistance in the form of an electric power steering pump—something which has helped make the Nissan, the car dearer to Steven’s heart, a car that now gets thrashed a little more frequently.

The Nissan and the Audi run in S2 and S1 respectively, but the limits of the Z haven’t really been found yet. It weighs less than the R8, but the somewhat temperamental nature of a tuned turbo car has made it harder to get seat time in. It’s mainly that the R8 is easier to drive, much more comfortable, and the one which will always start that has made it the regular choice. As a result, Steven’s a little quicker in it.

Fortunately, they’re both fairly easy to get started now that the Nissan has an aftermarket ECU running the show. Even so, there are still some differences in preparation Steven must take with each car. The race car runs exclusively on C16, so Steven prepares for an optimistic weekend by filling a 55-gallon transfer tank with this special brew. An electric pump lightens his load slightly.

In the case of the Audi, he usually loads a couple pails full of 100 octane—a little simpler, sure, but it still contributes to the significant fuel load. Sometimes he brings as much as 100 gallons along with him.

The help he receives is minimal. When he has an instructor working alongside him, he’ll ask them to check tire pressures after a few warm-up laps, but coaching isn’t something he always gets. Most days, he’ll simply have to extricate himself from his race seat, pull out the pressure gauge, and do it himself—all while rushing to work within the schedule’s constraints. Provided there isn’t a timed event happening that day, he’ll usually stick to one car if he’s running back-to-back sessions, since maximizing track time is his main objective,

Good health, nicely tuned cars, and a supportive environment has helped this one-man show chug along for the past four years without any signs of slowing. True, Steven’s usually out cold the moment he turns out the lights, but he’s never dragging ass around the paddock. It might seem like a Herculean effort to some, but for him, it’s a matter of combining luck, logistics and adrenaline that ensures a successful weekend.

Steven's '91 300ZX: An Old Lover Grows Up

A few decades spent drag racing and Steven wanted something else. He’d been through a few motors and a few 300ZX chassis—one combo making more than 1,000 horsepower—and he felt he needed a new way to expend his boundless energy. After some of the local Z enthusiasts lured him into tracking Thunderhill, Steven found that outlet.

It may have done more harm than help to have had a 3.2-liter JUN stroker motor powering this ‘91 300ZX Twin Turbo at that stage, but he still managed not to crash during his first few eye-opening lapping days. That was his greatest accomplishment those first days out, as he wasn’t quite quick enough to keep the well-driven Miatas at bay. Then and there, Steven accepted that seat time, a predictable chassis, and a little more grip were what made the difference here.

Fortunately, his tire needs were addressed by a shop next door which supported Ferrari Challenge cars. With all the scrub tires available to him for nothing, he started mounting them to a set of 19” 370Z wheels with the OEM Akebono brakes underneath. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.

Steven then selected a set of Powertrix coilovers and polyurethane bushings in cheap adjustable arms. Nothing exceptional, but it was sufficient for his needs at the time. He realized that seat time was what would make the biggest difference at that stage.

After a year spent running fifteen track weekends annually helped him get up to speed quickly. Furthermore, he was typically running double sessions those weekends. It didn’t take too long before he felt capable enough to assess some of the limitations of his then-current hardware. For this phase of his car’s development, Steven consulted with Andre Haranto to ensure every additional upgrade brought with it significant gains.

Around that time, it was evident that the JUN motor was a little tired. One year of regular road racing and three years of quarter-mile blasts before that had cracked the crankshaft and Steven had been noticing the oil pressure dropping. Out went that motor and in went another which had been sitting on a shelf for a few years.

This 3.0-liter motor sports a Callies crank, Crower rods, CP pistons, JW RMS cams and Tomei solid lifters, a pair of GTX2860 turbos, and a Link ECU. It makes a healthy 630 horsepower at the wheels—which it drives through a Tremec T56 and then to a Quaife LSD. Not surprisingly the factory five-speed didn’t last long at that power level. It’s more than sufficient for his needs, but this power combined with his growing comfort with the car necessitated a few upgrades in the handling, stopping, and safety departments.

First, he felt the existing bolt-in cage would no longer do with the speeds he was comfortable carrying. The talented Austin Tischler installed a rollcage. Along with that came a set of Momo seats and a fire suppression system. The interior was mostly scrapped, though most of the Buck Rogers dash was kept, and in the place of the factory gauges went an AIM display to help convey all the info from the Link ECU.

The first order of business was scrapping the so-so shocks he had on in favor of a set of Penske racing coilovers. Then, the mediocre arms were replaced with pricier SPL items. It had become clear that the 370Z brakes, though fine for street usage and light tracking, were no longer sufficient for the speeds he was carrying. The needed stopping power came from a set of Stoptech ST60 brakes with Gyrodisc rotors kept cool through a set of brake ducts made by Austin’s brother, Reno.

That mostly sorted out the issues regarding mechanical grip, but the aero hadn’t been touched yet. Steven fabricated a wooden splitter, another one of Reno’s creations, and then purchased an APR GTC300 wing for the rear, which he connected to the body with a pair of Ferrari 488 Challenge mounts.

To trim a little heft from what is a very complicated, slightly porky car, he added carbon t-tops, a fiberglass hatch, a carbon hood, and a pair of lightweight lithium batteries. In total, the Z weighs just 3,200 pounds. For a machine with two turbos, glass in the roof, rear steering (though it was removed), and an iron engine, that’s reasonably svelte.

That’s pretty much how the car’s been outfitted for the last couple years, but it’s far from complete. Steven has a new carbon hatch on the way, as well as a 3.2-liter stroker kit and a Dailey dry sump. There are some larger wheels planned as well.

Those who love Japanese turbo cars, especially those from the ‘90s, we know the Z doesn’t get the spotlight. It’s one of the tougher cars to work on and is needlessly complicated, but that was the spirit of the day back then. Despite all that, some guys stick with them; this was the car which elicited those strong responses in their formative years, after all.

It’s not like he hasn’t experienced some of the best modern supercars, but the sentimental value of this ‘90s Japanese GT has kept Steven working hard at making it into a quick and dependable track toy that can keep up with most of the Camaros, GT3s, and other modern trackday staples. There’s something touching about that.

From Momentum Car to Turbo Rocket: David's '95 Mazda Miata M Edition

Photo credit: Ryan Bula/Sharplite Media

Considering how far it’s come, it’s wild to learn this Miata started its partnership with David Fitz-Randolph as his daily driver. Perhaps even stranger was how this car wasn’t what he had started his trackday obsession with. When he’d finish his commute with this Mazda, he’d set aside an hour or so most nights to tinker on his track car: a 2002 WRX sedan. The four-door his track car of choice. It didn’t take too long before he recognized that the car which he valued for its fuel economy was actually the better handler and, with a realistic budget, likely the quicker car around a track, so he swapped their roles. 

And for two years he enjoyed this Miata with the mildest modifications: decent brake pads, a set of sticky tires, and budget coilovers. Straightforward and honest, the car was more than enough for his tracking experience, and its lack of grunt helped him reinforce good habits.

But the anemic engine became a nuisance. “When I went to Laguna, the drive from Turn 6 to Rainey Curve was agonizing; I was a sitting duck.” So he sought out more power in a cost-effective way. Rather than swap the motor or try forced induction, he built a higher compression engine using an NB1 head, an NB2 block, and a Megasquirt ECU. This package was enough for a peppy 130 horsepower—an amount which kept him mostly satisfied for the next two years. 

The car in it first iteration with aero.

With his need for moderate power satisfied, he sought out ways to improve the car’s cornering speeds. Bigger Wilwood brakes, an APR rear wing, a splitter, and a diffuser helped him some. Eventually, he swapped the APR item for a Nine Lives Racing wing with swan neck mounts. The benefits in both downforce and efficiency were obvious. However, it’s still far from being fully utilized—David runs the rear wing at 0° and the car still exhibits a little understeer!

After time passed with the aero-clad iteration of the car, he felt like he’d seen what the car was capable of. In Nik Romano’s hands, the car did a 1:41 around Laguna Seca. Then COVID hit. David lost his job and suddenly had free time to tinker. So, like any sensible track rat, he ordered a turbo. 

With the Kraken manifold and downpipe, a BorgWarner EFR 6258 turbocharger, Supertech pistons, Manley rods, an E85 system, and a Link G4 controlling the whole package, he now had a motor which gave him 300 horsepower at the wheels. Best of all, it didn’t turn every prod of the throttle into some smokeshow, either. That power moves through a six-speed NB2 gearbox, made to shift more crisply thanks to Miataroadster.com’s shifter kit, to an OS Giken 1.5-way LSD with a 3.9 final drive.

To get the most from the bump in power, some supporting mods were in order. Big Stoptech ST42 brakes with 11” floating rotors, a wider 245s at all corners, a pair of splitter ramps adorning the new air dam, and a full cage.

With this setup, David went on to set personal bests at all his local tracks, which probably comes as no surprise. However, the more convincing indication of this car’s capability is the way he was able to snag the Speed SF Challenge S3 record at Buttonwillow on his first attempt there with the new setup. 

Fortunately, work has since picked up. With a new A90 Supra added to his track-car collection and the occasional night spent sleeping under his desk, it’s easy to see why his tinkering time is at a premium these days. Nevertheless, he found a weekend to rebuild the head and crank up the boost. On 16 pounds, the motor now makes a stout 335 horsepower at the rear wheels. That ought to keep most muscle cars, and even a few exotics, fairly honest—even at power tracks like Laguna and Willow Springs. This Miata is stripped and weighs in at just 2,100 pounds, after all. 

Now, he’s satisfied with most aspects of the car. It’s semi-approachable with a little experience, very quick down straights, manageable in slower sections, and stable the faster ones. Still, David feels limited by the front axle and is devising a new collection of aero bits to minimize the understeer. With a little time and very little luck, he’ll have himself a monster that ought to take a few more Challenge titles without much effort. 

Reviewing the Maxxis RC-1 R2

A popular option for the focused trackday driver, the Maxxis RC-1 R2 has an few traits which might entice drivers of differing styles and vehicles. Sticky and very cost-effective, it works well for most. However, the tire works within a specific window and, like a couple other popular tires at this moment, the performance of the RC-1 varies depending on the weight of the car it’s used on—both static weight and the weight downforce places on them. 

Strong on Lighter Cars

David Fitz-Randolph tried a set on his Miata and was immediately thrilled. “In comparison to the Toyo RR, the RC-1 has a similar level of dry-weather grip,” he begins. The breakaway on a sun-baked track is very smooth and progressive, though not accompanied by much of that telltale squeal before letting go. For novices less sensitive to subtle changes in yaw, not having this auditory warning might make it trickier to feel comfortable using the RC-1. Only on the very last laps of a twenty-minute session does he really notice a dropoff in performance.

Unquestionable is the RC-1’s superiority in the wet. David describes it as “astonishingly good for a full slick. Especially in greasy and damp conditions, I had much more traction than I expected.”

On this stripped NA-generation Miata, a low-power machine which weighs in at just a little over 2,000 pounds, the RC-1 lasts a reasonably long time. With just 130 horsepower at the driven wheels, the rears aren’t that stressed in power-down situations, but a full aero kit does put his tires under some added strain. After about 6-8 track days with 5 sessions each, the tires are due for a refresh. 

Interestingly, this is not the same wear rate as with his girlfriend’s Miata, another track-oriented car with similar power and weight on the same rubber. This particular car fares far better on this tires as it doesn’t have the big wings and splitters. Granted, he doesn’t track this car nearly as much, but David hasn’t noticed any discernible dropoff in the RC-1’s performance in this lower-spec car during casual track days. In short, downforce will wear these tires down much faster. 

Performance on a Porkier Car

Kevin Schweigert has tried this tire on two of his cars. “I felt the RC-1 really suited my BRZ. Everything felt so precise and happy with the sort of slip angle I like to drive with,” he chirped. “It was so forgiving—not spiky at all. That was what encouraged me to push hard. It didn’t fall off sharply, so I never felt like it’d ever surprise me.”

A big part of the blistering laps he could achieve with this car was its willingness to move around without surprise.

That was the behavior of the tire on his 2,700-pound Subaru BRZ, a car which he’s been using less and less of lately due to a spate of supercharger-related issues. For a challenge and a little more peace of mind, he recently picked up an A90 Supra is also a little heftier. On a car weighing 600 pounds more, the RC-1’s performance isn’t quite the same—but not terribly different.

“During a morning session when the tires are fresh and the temperatures are cool, they’re so sticky from the get-go. Those first few laps are sensational—especially since I don’t have to warm them up like some of the others,” he adds. “After that, lap times might fall off by a couple tenths or so.”

Furthermore, they enjoy a reasonably long life for the Supra’s weight and power coupled with Kevin’s aggressive, tail-out style. “I find they’re at their best for about 9 or 10 heat cycles, then they’re not quite as strong.” So, 4-5 track days of consistent, accessible performance with minimal dropoff at a good price.

If he’s experienced any shortcomings on the Supra, it’s that it doesn’t feel quite as sharp and incisive as the BRZ, though he attributes that more to the chassis than the tire. “The grip is there and you can hear a slight tone change when they’re near the edge, but I just can’t drive as accurately as I could with the BRZ on these tires,” Kevin concludes. 

Conclusion

For the money, the RC1 is hard to argue with. It’s proven itself more than capable on light cars and still impressive on tubbier, torquier machines. True, the RC-1 isn’t right for all seasons and all conditions, but it’s surprisingly versatile for a slick and its performance is accessible from the first lap. These qualities make it a strong choice at this price point, especially for those who enjoy driving with a little more slip angle than some. 

A No-Compromise Toyota MR2 Named Frog

Joe McGuigan made a bit of reputation for himself with a nicely sorted FR-S. Light, agile, very pointy, and usually driven with a lot of slip angle, Joe’s FR-S was an attention getter. It was genuinely fast, too. He spent a few years developing the car and hit that hard-to-find medium of both playful and quick. Like few other cars in its class, it would genuinely fire off corners while sliding in a way that few vehicles really can.

But the limitations of an FR car are noticeable when you’re trying to find every mid-corner mph available. Basically, its engine placement and suspension design might not strike some as perks. True, an FR car—and particularly the FR-S—is usually an easier car to drive and his is fairly forgiving for how much it slides, but Joe sought more in cornering performance. No compromises, no luggage compartments, and no forgiving weight transfer mistakes.

The nickname “Frog” definitely fits this squat scalpel.

The replacement was about as harsh and confining any streetable car gets. This third-generation Toyota MR-2, better known to fans of Best Motoring as an MR-S, is a truly tiny car.  Surprisingly, the interior is relatively spacious, hence why a 6’3” guy like Joe has not one, but three in his garage currently.

But once he started tracking it, he gelled so well with the little roadster that he forgot about his bruised knees and elbows. Although the MR2’s wheelbase was lengthened to improve stability, it’s still about five inches shorter than the FR-S’. Its overhangs are unusually short, and with an engine placed in the ideal position (mounted laterally, no less), the weight is in the right place everywhere. Speaking of, there isn’t much weight to consider; the MR-S, when fitted with a hardtop, weighs only 2,200 pounds.

“I’ve got a habit,” Joe laughs. “It’s the fifth MR2 I’ve owned, and by far the best. Once I picked this one up, the floodgate opened with all my friends offering parts for cheap. I guess that’s called a good problem to have.”

With the right setup, Joe would be able to get the car to do things that the FR-S simply couldn’t. Swifter steering and shorter braking distances were the obvious benefits, but as he learned, he had easier access to more mid-corner rotation and better traction at corner exit. He could exact his will over this car in subtler ways; its response to weight transfer made it a little spikier and certainly more sensitive to his inputs, but when driven properly, much more adjustable.

That development period was further shortened by having a friend, Tony Rodriguez, who gave Joe a proven modification route to follow with his own track-spec MR2. In addition to following all the suspension leads that his friend gave him, but he learned that the ZZ motors need a little cooling assistance for track work. In fact, the original 1ZZ in the MR-S couldn’t handle the summer temperatures and popped after just eight track days. Though Joe considered throwing in the towel, he grabbed a better motor—one with an oil cooler to keep things in order on August afternoons.

The Link ECU from Panic Wire was used on the 1ZZ. To make life easier for Joe, they have included a subharness for the VVTL-i sensor and oil pressure sensor to make installing the 2ZZ a plug-and-play affair. They actually transfered over the 1zz OEM engine harness as everything plugs in the same

The 2ZZ motor, improved by a Link ECU, a set of cams, and a little optimization from Unrivaled Tuning, is a real lively, top-endy sort of engine that will trump a lot of mid-range turbo motors in terms of sheer exhilaration. Plus, it’s not gutless; the little 1.8-liter makes a healthy 190 horsepower at the wheels. Coupled to a Lotus six-speed with revised ratios, this featherweight MR2 is not a momentum car in the truest sense of the term.

The current modifications are:

Monkey Wrench Racing Stage 2 Cams

PPE Header & Gokey's Garage Custom Exhaust

Konig Dekagram Wheels 15x9 & 15x10

Tires 225/45-15 & 245/40-15

Annex Suspension CSP Coilovers (7K/11K)

Addco Front Swaybar

Raybestos ST43 Brake Pads

TRD Front & Rear Strut Bar

TRD Front Underbrace

TRD Rear Arm Braces

Battle Version Complete Front & Rear Arm Setup (courtesy of Battle Version)

TougeHQ Rear Bash Bar

Custom Front Splitter (Tony R. Special)

Custom Vented Rear Bumper (Tony R. Special)

C-One Replica Sideskirts

OEM Hardtop

GT300 Vented Hood

ARP GT200C Wing with custom risers

The only setup changes made post-swap are a little more rear wing angle, fender flares, and a slight stagger instead of the original 225/40/15 square setup he originally ran. It neutralizes the car, which now enjoys an additional 60 horsepower over the original iteration.

It still verges on oversteer at most times. For that reason, the tired phrase “handles like a go-kart” might actually be appropriate in this instance. This MR2 is pointy, eager to change direction, snappy when trailbraked incorrectly, and on a fast lap, usually dancing under his control. In many ways, it really is like a quick kart.

It should only get easier to drive and less frenetic when the setup is improved, but for now, it’s plenty thrilling, even with a few rough edges. 

MAXXIS TIRES SPEEDSF CHALLENGE (ROUND 6) AT WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA - JULY 2, 2021

INTRODUCTION

With temperate weather, cool cars, and 21 drivers still trying to close the gap in points and lap times, every event matters from here on out. A lot of drivers find WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to be their favorite track, so close times were bound to occur. We’re halfway through the season and the battle is definitely heating up!

CLASS S1

Quite lonely at the top for Steve Melson - double medals for him on the day! That Audi R8 is just fantastic; a 1:36.260 for his troubles! He definitely has been in tremendous form this season and we expect him to continue as we progress through the second half of the season!

CLASS S2

Not sure what’s more amazing - the gap between the drivers on the podium or the fact that Steve Melson drives his 300ZX just as fast as he does his R8! A 1:36.659 lap time sealed the deal for him; great stuff! Gary Yeung and the Dirty Mango S2000 put in a 1:39.502 lap time for a wonderful 2nd place finish, while 3rd place David Fitz-Randolph got in there with a 1:41.148 lap time behind the wheel of his GR Supra! I can only imagine David will get a whole lot faster as the season progresses!

CLASS S3

Fast car is fast! TJ Mercier showed no mercy by taking his Porsche Cayman around Laguna for a 1:41.191, though we had 2nd place Jake Montinola coming in hot with a 1:41.569 lap time behind the wheel of his 2001 Honda S2000! Great lap times set by these two drivers given this is the first Challenge appearance by both of them! Legend Brandenburg, not to be outdone, kept his lap times in the 1:41s as well by throwing down a 1:41.972 lap time for his efforts. Great close driving by everyone in this class!

CLASS S4

Ah, yes, Tony Rodriguez. All alone on the podium but only because the two other drivers decided lunch was more important than getting a medal! In any case, Tony took 1st with his 1:41.290 while sporting a not-MR2! His 2004 Honda S2000 sure is potent with him behind a wheel, though it certainly is not a surprise. In 2nd place, we have Nathan Hackman who took his S2000 around Laguna for a great 1:42.659 lap time while 3rd place driver Jason Parraga took his own S2000 to a 1:43.396 lap time!

CLASS S5

Miata class here we go! Thanks to doggo Vash for providing the pivotal emotional support, Zoe Downing was able to achieve a 1:48.364 lap time to take her to a cool 1st place finish. Tadeu Zagallo took the 2nd step on the podium thanks to a 1:49.2 lap time while Patryk Skowronski-Stec rounded out the podium in his own Miata with a 1:53.373 lap time!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 7 will be held at Thunderhill East on August 7th. We look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! We are expecting weather high-90 degree weather, so please be prepared and drink lots of water! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them.

Thank you especially to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

MAXXIS TIRES SPEEDSF CHALLENGE (ROUND 5) AT BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY - JUNE 27, 2021

INTRODUCTION

WOW was it a hot day! With temperatures hitting upwards of 106 degrees, it surely was going to be an interesting day at the track, coupled with a small group of drivers this round. Though the day started fast and ended just as fast, it was great to see some new faces on the podium! Buttonwillow is always a time for good fun!

CLASS S1

Gary Wong switched it up yet again for this round of the Challenge, this time bringing back the GR Supra and decimating the other drivers in his class thanks to a 1:52.746 lap time. Meanwhile, 2nd place podium was taken up by Kenton King in a 2016 Porsche GT4 Clubsport and a 1:54.488 for his efforts. Thomas Lee took 3rd place on the podium, though he was VERY close to getting 2nd place. However, a 1:54.654 is still good for a 2019 Porsche 718 GT4 Clubsport. More seat time = shaving down the tenths!

CLASS S2

Two drivers, two podium placers - easy peasy! It was Gary Yeung in the Dirty Mango S2000 who tore it up and just eeked by to get 1st place on the podium. A 1:53.289, literally just a gust of wind in the right direction, helped push the Mango faster over the line against 2nd place driver Kevin Schweigert who took his 2021 Supra to a 1:53.330. Mega battle between these two drivers at the top of their game!

CLASS S3

A little mistake after the fact here! At the time, it appeared Joe McGuigan was the only S3 participant on the grid so 1st place was ALL his with a 1:59.660 behind the wheel of his MR-S… HOWEVER, we had 2nd place driver Max Paolozzi join the fun. He took his 2013 Subaru over the line with a 1:59.727! Great work from Max and Joe here!

CLASS S4

Alex Shen done did it again! A 2:02.334 lap time all but guaranteed top step on the podium. He’s been putting in the work behind the wheel of his 2002 Honda S2000 and it shows! This is the 2nd time he’s won a round this season and it’s been great to see his progress improve immensely. Keep up the great work, Alex!

In a not-so-distant 2nd, Artem Rakhov’s efforts behind the wheel of his 1998 BMW M3 were rewarded thanks to a 2:02.891 lap time, a great show!

Justin Sacbibit, our 3rd place driver, threw in a 2:04.889 lap time for good measure in some kind of 2000 Honda (probably an S2000).

CLASS S5

Another winner winner chicken dinner all alone on the podium! Patryk Skowronski-Stec took his 1997 Miata around the hot asphalt of Buttonwillow and cruised to a 2:07.995 lap time, unbothered by anyone else!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated on a FLAMING HOT Sunday at Buttonwillow! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 6 will be held at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca on July 2. We look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! It won’t be as hot as Buttonwillow, but be prepared anyways! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them.

Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

MAXXIS TIRES SPEEDSF CHALLENGE (ROUND 4) AT SONOMA RACEWAY - JUNE 13, 2021

INTRODUCTION

HUGE turnout for this SpeedSF Challenge - perhaps nearly a month without a Challenge allowed people more time to get ready… or maybe because everyone just LOVES Sonoma Raceway! Either way, with 31 people on the grid for the Challenge, it was definitely going to be an exciting shootout!

CLASS S1

Steve Melson + Patrick Chio w/ daughter, Kayla!

Two entrants, two podium placers! Steve Melson has definitely been tearing it up with the podiums in his R8, and this time was no different. Although it was a 2nd place finish, his 1:47.908 lap time is definitely nothing to scoff at. However, SpeedSF’s own Patrick Chio tore it up in his Corvette C7, throwing down a 1:46.821 lap time - blazing fast! Can we get more challengers in this class?

CLASS S2

From left to right: Ed Susman, Kevin Schweigert, and Doug Makishima

S2 was STACKED this time around, with 10 drivers throwing their hat in the ring and seeing if they could advance themselves in the championship standings. Aside from Kevin, the usual suspects on the S2 class podium were nowhere to be found, with 3rd place Ed Susman putting in a 1:47.822 lap time while behind the wheel of a 2018 Porsche Cayman GTS while 2nd place (and USTCC favorite) Doug Makishima put in a nice 1:46.948 lap time while piloting an E46 M3. Not to be outclassed, 1st place driver Kevin Schweigert took it home with a 1:45.822, posting the fastest lap time out of everyone in the challenge. That 2021 Supra is just something else!

CLASS S3

From left to right: Seigo Ma, Tony Rodriguez, and Gary Wong

We welcome back Gary Wong’s TayTay S2000 after months of being down (though he was having fun behind the wheel of a certain GR Supra for the time being…) , and boy did he make an appearance - he certainly did not skip a beat here! Even though he took 2nd place with a 1:49.745 lap time, he was VERY close to beating out 1st place driver Tony Rodriguez who, in his 2003 MR2 Spyder, put in a 1:49.594 lap time… it was THAT close. Seigo Ma, for his efforts, took 3rd place in his Honda S2000 thanks to a 1:50.369 lap time, very much clear of 4th place Kenneth Yip (2011 BMW M3, 1:51.175). Sonoma favored the underpowered, yet nimble cars, it seems!

CLASS S4

From left to right: Jason Parraga, Nathan Hackman, Artem Rakhov

Speaking of underpowered cars, 1st place Nathan Hackman also built a good case for the Honda S2000, thanks to a great 1:54.808 lap time, setting him JUST AHEAD of 2nd place Artem Rakhov whose 1:54.838 certainly made a case for the 1998 BMW M3. That lap time was just good enough to set him ahead of 3rd place Jason Parraga whose 1:55.050 was set behind the wheel of a 2008 S2000 CR. It’s another close battle in the S4 class and we’re here for it!

CLASS S5

From left to right: Patryk Skowronski-Stec, Jay Lapid, and Wa Huong

Ah yes, the fun group - S5 is MX-5 time! The first two podium places were taken over by these unassuming Spec Miata drivers who set fast Miata-esque lap times here at Sonoma! 1st place driver Jay Lapid’s 1:58.826 put him paces ahead of 2nd place driver Wa Huong whose lap time was a respectable 1:59.296 lap time. That squeezed him ahead of Patryk Skowronski-Stec’s 1:59.631 lap time, which was enough for a 3rd place podium finish. Great stuff from our Miata drivers!

CLASS X

Edgar Lau!

Well, it certainly has been a while, Edgar! A friendly face whose taken to more wheel-to-wheel racing events, it’s still a welcome surprise to see him at our events. This time, behind the wheel of a GT4-prepped Mustang, he laid down a 1:45.280 lap time for his efforts! Since he was the only one that joined Class X for the day, he was all alone on the podium. Something tells us even with some competition, he would have still been up there on the podium steps for sure!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated on this beautiful Sunday in Wine Country! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 5 will be held at Buttonwillow Raceway on June 27. We look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! It’s going to be a hot day so be ready! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them.

Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

Kevin's A90 Supra: More Playful Than Its Predecessor

After a few years spent sorting out a never-ending list of issues with his BRZ, Kevin Schweigert had had enough. Every additional go-fast goody made his once understated BRZ increasingly single-purpose and exponentially less reliable. “After I put the supercharger on it, I went through more axles and gearboxes than I’d like to mention. I lifted a few heads, too,” Kevin laughed.

“The BRZ had gotten to be too much. I wanted to treat track days like a vacation, not a job.”

And so after stripping the pricier parts from the BRZ and recouping some of the costs, he drove to the Toyota dealership for a new car. He’d heard good things about the platform and how it would likely complement his tail-out driving style. It was also spacious enough to carry a few extra tires to the track day. If it was as reliable as he’d heard, he’d get to enjoy trailer-free weekends at the track in a sturdy, potent car that didn’t snap axles or pop gearboxes on a regular basis.

A short wheelbase and the right suspension geometry gives Kevin, a guy who depends on a strong front end, plenty of confidence in this car.

Reliability was paramount in his decision making, but there wouldn’t be much sense in selling the BRZ and dishing out a lot more money if its replacement wasn’t just as fun—or agile. Few cars in the price range rotate quite like a well-sorted BRZ, so nothing but a very pointy car would do. Perhaps as a surprise to some, Toyota’s new Supra belies its weight and changes direction in a much more playful way than its size would suggest.

The bump steer and toe changes help the short-wheelbased Supra pivot into the corner and settle as the throttle is released and applied again. “When you get the weight off the rear axle at corner entry, it toes out. When you get back on the throttle, it toes in and neutralizes a little. This suits my driving style; I’m most comfortable with a little oversteer.

One week after buying his new car, he was off to Chuckwalla for a shakedown. With pads and fluid being the only modifications he made, he wasn’t expecting it to impress him the way it did. “Honestly, the reputation didn’t prepare me. I was shocked at the way it rotated right out of the box—I guess 1.8° of camber up front helps. The only issue was that it was a little soft, but the damping made it trustworthy over the bumps and berms.”

After a thorough shakedown and an assessment of the car’s factory shortcomings, out came the credit card. The first purchase, a set of SPL front lower control arms, helped him nearly double the factory camber for a confidence inspiring front end. As long as the front axle did what it was was told, he could deal with the rear snaking a bit through the middle of the corner.

Then came a couple engine modifications. The B58 motor is fairly stout, but tracking in Southern California heat is always cause for some concern. “The engine is known to heat soak, so I upgraded the turbo with a Pure P800 turbo. This is basically a hybrid bolt-on, but because it flows a little more air, it doesn’t have to work quite as hard. On track, there’s no noticeable trade off in lag.”

With a Zach Tucker (CSG) tune, a downpipe, and the removal of the catalytic converter yielded a usable 450 horsepower at the rear wheels. Considering that’s achieved with California 91-octane swill, that bump in power is testament to the potential of this intriguing new powerplant.

The next few goodies to adorn the Supra were as follows: a set of JRZ RS Pro 2 coilovers, AFE swaybars, Apex EC7-R wheels measuring 18x10.5”, and nearly the entire SPL suspension catalog. To make the most of the new arms and links, Kevin decided to fit all of them with spherical bushings. In fact, there aren’t any rubber bits in the suspension any longer—save for those in the subframe.

“The SPL kit and the removal of all that slop transformed the Supra into something I could completely trust. It makes it so much more communicative and predictable. In fact, it’s what allows me to drive the car in the way I like to.” Kevin adds.

With nearly a dozen hassle-free events under its belt, the A90 Supra has proven to be a stout platform that needed only a little tweaking to meet Kevin’s exacting standards. Though the focus is now on seat time, which was always was the plan, that doesn’t mean there aren’t a few aerodynamic additions on the horizon. But for now, he’s just planning on enjoying way this playful car complements his tail-out driving style and setting some new personal records.

Sonoma: 01:45.822

Buttonwillow 13CW: 1:53.072

Thunderhill West: 1:20.653

Laguna Seca: 1:36.044

The TRD Series: A Simple Path To Finding Camaraderie

Designed to help bring the Toyota community together across California, Speed SF’s TRD Series has established a simple, straightforward set of rules to put most models from Toyota, Scion, and Lexus—even a few related BMW and Subaru models, too—closely together in time trial competition.

Popular models at the sharp end of the grid include the AE86, MK5 Supra, MR-S and MR2, as well as the ever-popular GT86/BRZ/FR-S, though most cars wearing a Toyota badge can find some form of competition here. With a simple but effective points system designed to ensure mechanical parity, a well chosen set of modifications can give an IS350 or even a Prius a shot at being a front-runner.

Entrants are divided into five groups: Unlimited, Grand Touring, Touring, Street, and Enthusiast. Ranked highest to lowest in terms of performance, these classes are divided by the aforementioned points system and a second factor, tire width and compound.

Support from One Toyota of Oakland has been critical in this series’ development.

Each chassis is assigned a starting points value which, depending on the motor, can vary slightly. The go-fast goodies added to each chassis determine the amount of points to be added to the original value and the overall point count, assuming tire widths are in line with the regulations, determine precisely which class a car will run in.

Sound simple enough? In reality, things are a little more complicated than that. Splitters and other aero pieces will have to fit a certain set of dimensions. Only certain tires are accepted and each are assigned a different value depending on TW rating. Modifications to the engine, suspension, drivetrain, and brakes all incur the addition of more points. Interestingly, safety modifications will reduce the total point count—more reason to get a roll cage and a halo seat and a HANS device.

The points-related specifics and a points calculator are here to help initiates get a sense of where their car would fit. To find out where they could fit an event into their schedule, here’s the complete 2021 calendar.

For those of you that don’t like links, here’s the Northern California schedule for the rest of the year:

August 7th: Thunderhill East

September 4th: Thunderhill 5 Mile

September 5th: Laguna Seca (Norcal vs. Socal)

October 23rd: Buttonwillow (New track)

November 26th: Buttonwillow (CW13)

Raffles, trophies, and talks of contingency prizes are reason enough to give the series a look, but perhaps more appealing to the typical MR2 track rat is the sense of community the organizers are after. “We don’t want this to get too serious; the TRD Series is definitely about building camaraderie with like-minded friends on track,” said Co-Founder Jerel Natvidad. “As long as we’re competing and smiling, we’re content with whatever outcome we get.” .

MAXXIS Tires SpeedSF Challenge (Round 3) at Sonoma Raceway - May 9, 2021

INTRODUCTION

Party time at Sonoma once again! A technical track for those brave enough to take on the beast at speed, it truly separates the adults from the kids. The 25 SpeedSF Challenge drivers were obviously not deterred by the warm weekend, even with highs reaching 84 degrees F. Such brave, brave souls.

CLASS S5

Small cars on a big track yielding positive results are what we like to see! Hats off to Zoe Downing taking 1st place with her NA Miata and a 2:01.938 to boot! 2nd place driver Patryk Skowronski-Stec threw his hat in the ring and went home with a 2:03.099 lap time behind the wheel of his NA for his efforts! 3rd place driver Kristopher Hitchcock barely missed out on 2nd place with his 02:03.541 lap time - still a great time nevertheless while piloting a BMW Z3 coupe!

CLASS S4

Welcome back, Alex Shen! Not a bad way to mark your return - a 1:55.749 in a 2002 Honda S2000 to take 1st place! We are expecting great things from you throughout the season! Narrowly missing out on 1st place was Artem Rakhov, taking 2nd place in his 1998 BMW M3 while putting down a 1:55.781 lap time. Definitely a close battle between the top two. Alexander Malone took 3rd place with a 1:59.668 behind the wheel of his 1998 BMW 328is, a great time as well!

CLASS S3

Tony Rodriguez is taking the kids to school yet again and showing them how it’s done. His blazingly fast 1:49.902 lap time was nothing short of impressive. It takes pure skill and a lot of seat time to wring that kind of time out of a 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder!

Seigo Ma took 2nd place with his 1:50.214 lap time while piloting his S2000 around Sonoma while a very close Ken Yip, driving a 2011 BMW M3, took 3rd place with his 1:50.929 lap time. Another round of close battles for the S3 class!

CLASS S2

Gary Yeung took everyone else to Gapplebees in his Dirty Mango S2000 thanks to a 1:46.957 lap time, earning him the top spot (per usual). Kevin Schweigert in all his 2021 Supra glory (1:49.438) narrowly kept the 2nd place spot away from 3rd place Steven Chiu whose one-off return to the track in his E46 M3 earned him a 1:50.657 lap time!

CLASS S1

Seeing Gary Wong on the top step in S1 is a great sight and might be a common occurrence if he keeps driving that Zupra the way he has been lately! A 1:45.791 was the fastest time of the Challenge. He sure is having fun out there!

Steve Melson took 2nd place in his Audi R8 and kept it just ahead of 3rd place driver Gordon Peng and boy were the times close! Steve’s lap time was a 1:47.076 while Gordon’s lap time was a 1:47.513! Very nice job!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated on this beautiful Sunday in Wine Country! Let’s continue getting this bread! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 4 will be held at Sonoma Raceway on June 13. We look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! There’s still ample opportunity to shake off those cobwebs, so get to it! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them.

Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

MAXXIS Tires SpeedSF Challenge (Round 2, Part 2) at Thunderhill West - April 11, 2021

INTRODUCTION

Day 2 of the SpeedSF Challenge, but going the traditional direction! 21 drivers decided to take on the heat on this Sunday funday. Some of the lap times were definitely close - a joy to watch!

CLASS S5

With Zoe Downing and Patryk Skowronski coming back for another here at West, it was going to be interesting to see how well they would fare going the traditional direction. Looks like they did well considering they were fighting for the top two podium places again! Zoe took home 1st with a 1:29.886 in her Miata w/ Maxxis RC-1 tires while Patryk took 2nd in his Miata thanks to a 1:30.240 lap time! In 3rd place was Cheng Hao Yuan who drive his Miata to a 1:31.486 lap time to round out the podium in 3rd!

CLASS S4

Jason Parraga and Nathan Hackman really kept it close this time around with their lap times! Jason and his 2008 Honda S2000 CR took 1st place on the podium with a quick 1:24.329 lap time while Nathan took 2nd with a 1:24.636 lap time in a 2008 Honda S2000. The CR makes a difference, it seems, since Jason ALSO beat the previous class lap record held by Matt Belter! Matt’s lap time of a 1:24.396 was set on 10/03/2020 in a Subaru BRZ. 3rd place was secured by Richard Rozporka in his 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX, putting in a 1:28.550 lap time for his efforts!

CLASS S3

Tony Rodriguez done did it again in his 2003 Toyota MR2 spider, setting a 1st place fastboi lap time of 1:21.637 lap time, while 2nd place Joe McGuigan set a fastboi lap time of his own, doing a 1:22.950 in his MRS. Ken Yip took 3rd place on the podium thanks to his 1:23.888 lap time, decent for a 2011 BMW M3!

CLASS S2

Boy were these lap times close! While 1st place Kevin Schweigert did not surprise anyone with his 1:21.059 2021 Supra lap time, it’s bewildering to see the Dirty Mango S2000 in 2nd place, even with a 1:21.490 lap time! Does this mean Gary is due for an upgrade?! David Fitz-Randolph and his Miata aren’t far behind either as the 1:21.756 lap time is telling of how much he has improved and how far he’s come. He will be giving Dirty Mango a run for his money as we progress through the season!

CLASS S1

Per usual, it was Steve Melson blowing away the competition in his 2014 Audi R8, although a 1:20.371 is some serious stuff! 2nd place was taken by Gary Wong in a Loaner Supra, putting in.a 1:21.622 for his efforts! It’s so easy to look fast in that car for sure! Gordon Peng rounded out 3rd place on the podium with his 1:21.900 lap time, a testament to the C6 motor thrown into his C5!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated on this hot Sunday! Brush off that rust! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 3 will be held at Sonoma Raceway on May 9 and we look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! There’s still ample opportunity to shake off those cobwebs! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them! 

Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

MAXXIS Tires SpeedSF Challenge (Round 2, Part 1) at Thunderhill West CW - April 10, 2021

INTRODUCTION

Back at it again! After a month off from any Challenge events, we restarted the competition with a double-header weekend at Thunderhill West. The weekend began with a clockwise configuration run; a crazy way to shake off the rust! The S2 class Challenge record was completely obliterated while the S5 class Challenge record was just barely beat in a similar chassis. Great driving from our participants today!

CLASS S5

The Miata class. 1st place driver Scott Smith showed you can still eke out time in a Miata and his 1:28.917 lap time showed it in his S5 Spec Miata. This also beat the previous S5 track record set by Mia Yeung’s Miata lap time of 1:29.050 set back on March 15, 2020. The 2nd place spot was taken by Zoe Downing in her Miata thanks to a 1:29.837 lap time while running the Maxxis RC-1 tires. Patryk Skowronksi put down a 1:30.584 lap time in his own Miata! Good job to our S5 class! Zoe is getting increasingly faster, well done!

CLASS S4

3 entrants and 3 podium placers! Math! We had two S2000s take the first two places while a WRX rounded out the podium. Jason Parraga took home 1st place in his 2008 S2000 CR - a 1:24.133 lap time certainly helps, especially with 2nd place Nathan Hackman putting down a very close 1:24.760 lap time in his own 2008 S2000. In 3rd place we have the 2002 WRX belonging to Richard Rozporka who earned his spot with a 1:28.397 lap time. Richard’s WRX has really come in since last year; it’s good to see you back!

CLASS S3

Whether it is experience, skill, stones, or all three, the pace gaps between the drivers were 1 second or greater. Tony Rodriguez carried over his domination from last year’s season into another 1st place finish, showcasing a 1:21.034 lap time in his 2003 Toyota MR2 Spyder, while the 2nd place spot was taken by Gary Wong and his TayTay S2000’s 1:22.084 lap time. Ken Yip took 3rd place with his 1:23.204 lap time while behind the wheel of his 2011 BMW M3. Great driving as always from the top 3! We look forward to seeing if the gap closes at the longer tracks, especially upcoming at Sonoma!

CLASS S2

Kevin Schweigert woke up and chose violence on this day, putting in a 1:20.653 lap time while piloting a 2021 Toyota Supra. This lap time obliterated the class lap record of 1:23.808 set by Steve Chi in his E92 M3. David Fitz-Randolph took 2nd place in his Miata thanks to a 1:21.179 lap time while 3rd place was taken up by Steve Melson in his 1991 Nissan 300ZX with a 1:22.960 lap time! It is amazing that the ole’ Z car is nimble and reliable enough to be this competitive! This class is going to be an interesting watch as we progress through the season.

CLASS S1

1st place driver Steve Melson officially set the first lap record for the S1 Class: a 1:20.216 in his 2014 Audi R8, a high bar for anyone else looking to enter the S1 fray. Maybe it’s Steve’s seat time or his recent advanced coaching, but he has really turned up the wick on the rest of the field! Gordon Peng returned to action in a pumped up version of his 2002 Chevrolet C5 Corvette Z06 with a motor transplant earning 2nd place with a 1:23.274 lap time. To his credit, it’s been a while since he last drove and his first time driving the CW configuration - not bad for a CW rookie! Let’s see if Gordon can take the battle to Steve throughout the season.

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the opening day for Round 2 on this warm Saturday, especially in this CW configuration. Brush off that rust! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Round 3 will be held at Sonoma Raceway on May 9 and we look forward to more close finishes among the drivers! There’s still ample opportunity to shake off those cobwebs! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them! 

Thank you to our sponsors Maxxis Tires, Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

Maxxis Tires w/ 10% Off discount

Maxxis Tires Partnership 2022

We are excited to introduce our partnership with Maxxis tires this year to provide a great deal on these highly recommended track day tires to our drivers. We have been through many tests of Maxxis tires with great results. The new V2 and R2 compounds have been greatly improved from the previous generation to provide much better traction and durability. Our drivers were able to set SpeedSF Challenge records with them. Scroll down for the order form.

Maxxis RC-1 R2 New

DOT-approved R compound optimized for the weekend warrior.

The RC-1 was designed to deliver outstanding dry traction, heat-cycle performance and smooth breakaway characteristics. The semi-slick design eliminates tread-squirm and delivers great braking and steering response for fast and consistent lap times.

Recommended for dry competition events ONLY.

• DOT-Approved R compound

• Operating Temperature: 140°F - 240°F (R2 Compound)

• Sizes: 15" - 18"

• UTQG: 100 A A

Maxxis Vr1 S2 NEW

Extreme Summer tire designed for drivers who want it all.

• Compound reaches operating temperature quickly and provides excellent dry traction while retaining good heat cycling properties.

• Reinforced casing and sidewall design provides telepathic response for the ultimate driving experience.

• Pattern design maximizes dry performance while minimizing white knuckle moments in wet weather.

• Due to the nature of the tread compound, these tires require special care when storing near freezing temperatures.

• Operating Temperature: 140°F - 240°F (S2 Compound)

• UTQG 200 AA A

Maxxis tires is offering a 10% discount to our SpeedSF Challenge drivers. If you are planning on or are currently participating in our time trial challenge, please use the form below for ordering or email gary@eliteperformance-us.com / call 650-689-5045 to order. Limited quantity, order ASAP.

SPEEDSF CHALLENGE - FEBRUARY 28, 2021 - ROUND 1 @ WEATHERTECH RACEWAY LAGUNA SECA

INTRODUCTION

Welcome back to WeatherTech Laguna Seca! The break between SpeedSF seasons felt like an especially long one - but we wait no longer! 13 brave drivers shook off the cobwebs and decided to try their hand at starting the 2021 SpeedSF Challenge season strong, and they did not disappoint!

Class S1

German engineering superiority reigned supreme here - distant cousins faced off and ended with favorable results! Kenton King drove the Porsche 981 GT4 Clubsport to a 1st place podium finish thanks to a 1:36.621 lap time. This separated Kenton and 2nd place podium placer, Steve Melson, by a mere .146 seconds. Keep in mind Steve’s 2014 Audi R8 is not a purebred racecar which makes deserves a round of applause in it of itself!

Class S2

In a very interesting and close finish, the podium placers were all within tenths of each other! 1st place driver, David Fitz-Randolph, showed the might of the NA Miata with a great 1:37.067 lap time while 2nd place driver Paul Whiting was not far behind in his Porsche 718 GT4 thanks to a 1:37.162 lap time! Meanwhile, it seems as though the Dirty Mango S2000 might have lost some of its juices! A 1:37.660 was all it could muster… perhaps an off-day?

Class S3

Leave it to Gary Wong in the 2004 Honda S2000 however to reclaim the mantle thanks to a 1st place finish, dominating the class with his 1:40.060! This isn’t surprising since he set his new PB the day before at Laguna - a 1:38.9! Round of applause for Gary, who has definitely been on a tear with his great form as of late. David Rahemi’s 1:48.770 allowed him to take 2nd place in the 986 Spec Boxster - a respectable showing as well!

Class S4

Seems like this turned into a Spec S2000 class, which also meant lap times were very close to each other! Jason Parraga took 1st place in his 2008 S2000 CR thanks to convincing 1:42.063 lap time, while Nathan Hackman took 2nd place in his 2008 S2000 with a very close 1:42.493 lap time! In 3rd place was Tianheng Chen, whose 1:44.593 lap time in his 2003 S2000 secured his spot far ahead of the 4th place S2000 belonging to Jason Levine. Great driving by all with similar chassis! It really goes to show driver mod is really the best mod.

Class S5

Easy to podium if you’re the only driver in this class, right? Nevertheless, a 1:49.896 lap time is great for an NA Miata! Hats off to you, Zoe Downing!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by the drivers who took their places on the podium! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the opening SpeedSF Challenge on a pleasant Sunday. Brush off that rust! There will be many opportunities to chase podium finishes. This can be achieved with more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track!

Rounds 2 and 3 will be here soon! Our next SpeedSF Challenges will be a double-header hosted at Thunderhill Raceway on April 10 (clockwise configuration) and April 11 (counter-clockwise configuration). There’s still ample opportunity to shake off those cobwebs! We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them! 

Thank you to our sponsors Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, Maxxis Tires, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

2020 SpeedSF Challenge Season Recap

2020 - good, bad, best, worst, terrible, great - so many words can describe the year it was, but what is undeniable is the need for speed could not be taken away from our dedicated drivers! The number of broken (and re-broken) class lap records across multiple classes and tracks made that very clear.

Thanks to a multitude of SpeedSF events happening throughout 2020, the chances were definitely there to rack up the points and solidify one’s placement in the SpeedSF Challenge standings! Below are the 2020 season podium placers. Those who did not participate in at least 4 events throughout the season did not qualify for the season podium.

Group S1

Steve Melson in an Audi R8 and Gordon Peng in a Corvette C5 Z06. Who would have thought it would be this close? Steve took 1st place with 135 points and 3 Challenge wins while Gordon took 2nd place with 131 points and 2 wins - wild.

Group S2

Gary Yeung and the Dirty Mango S2000 did it again! The duo ran away with 1st place thanks to a 175-point showing for the season along with 7 Challenge wins, while Steve Melson got away with 144 points and 3 wins for a 2nd place overall finish for the season while also being behind the wheel of a Nissan 300ZX.

While on his SpeedSF Challenge farewell tour, Steve Chi took 3rd place overall in this group with 103 points and 2 wins thanks to some proper driving in his BMW E92 M3.

Special mentions:

• Thomas Huber, for two 2nd and two 3rd place finishes

• Melody C, for one 3rd place finish and two 4th place finishes.

Group S3

Another showing of dominance here with Kevin Schweigert taking home 1st place in the first 9 Challenges of the season. BRZ, Supra, whichever, he drove it like he stole it, and the 225 points showed. 2nd place belonged without question to Gary Wong with the TayTay S2000 thanks to achieving 199 points for the season.

David Fitz-Randolph was sitting comfortably in 3rd place with his 164 points driving a no-nonsense boosted NA Miata in anger.

This class was by far the most stacked of the Groups, with mere tenths separating 1st, 2nd, and 3rd places in multiple Challenges.

Special mentions:

• Ken Yip, for getting close to coming in 3rd with consistent performance but missed too many events

• Matt Ales, for beating our regulars with a 1st place finish. Please come to more events!

• Sean Yepez, for beating our regulars at his only event of the year

• John Lee, for a 3rd place finish at his only event of the year

Group S4

Track Dad Matt Belter dominates once again in his Subaru BTZ and reigns supreme! 222 points and 5 wins for the 2020 season is impressive. No longer a rookie, he comfortably beat out 2nd place S2000 driver Sohan Kota’s 3 wins and 130 points by a wide margin.

Luckily, 3rd place S2000 driver Jason Parraga was not a threat to Sohan thanks to his 83 points and 2 wins for the season, though that kept him just 4 points ahead of the S2000/Sexy Natasha duo in 4th place.

Special mentions:

• Jeremy Yeung, for a 2nd and a 4th place finish

• Gabriel Rothman, for a 1st and 2nd place finish at the only two events he joined this season

• Richard Rozporka for a 2nd place finish in his WRX

• Billy Yang for a win his only event.

Group S5

7 wins and 175 points and S5 domination - not bad for a newcomer driving a once-unloved-by-the-masses chassis. Pretty sure along with Joe McGuigan, the MRS/MR2 platform became cool again and shows it reigns supreme over the Miata in the S5 class. Thanks, Tony Rodriguez!

Zoe Downing, not to be shown up by a mid-engined Toyota, put on quite a season-long showing in her NA Miata. With 2 wins and 166 points, she was certainly a threat to Tony’s 2020 maiden Challenge campaign. Consistency was crucial for Zoe’s 2nd place overall performance, so major props to her!

Special mentions:

• Kona for a few good finishes in his Miata

• Mike Jensen, Joseph Nagy, Alex Cao, Daniel Doer, and Matt Winstanley for their 2nd place finishes at their only respective events of the year

Looking forward to the 2021 Challenge season!

• Rd 1 - 02/28 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

• Rd 2 - 04/10 & 4/11 Thunderhill West CW &CCW

• Rd 3 - 05/09 Sonoma Raceway

• Rd 4 - 06/13 Sonoma Raceway

• Rd 5 - 06/27 Buttonwillow Raceway CW13

• Rd 5 - 07/02 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

• Rd 6 - 08/07 Thunderhill East 3 miles

• Rd 7 - 09/04 Thunderhill 5 miles

• Rd 8 - 10/03-10/04 Thunderhill West CW & CCW

• Rd 9 - 11/28 WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca

• Rd 10 - 12/11 Thunderhill East Cyclone

• Rd 11 - 12/12 Thunderhill East Bypass

Thank you to everyone for a great 2020 season! As we’ve said before, driver mods are the best mods. Seat time guarantees faster lap times more than just modifications (though they do help!)

Thank you to our sponsors Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, Necksgen, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

Limited Time Offer: 2021 discount program

www.speedsf.com/2021-discount-program

SpeedSF Presents: The Heads Inside the Helmets with Jovan Fiel

Jovan’s car life has been an interesting one. Back in the day, Jovan found himself on the track with a 1991 Miata doing all kinds of hooning, until one day the NA’s motor blew up no thanks to crank walk. Taking a hiatus, Jovan drove boring cars while his day job consisted of playing with Porsches. In December 2019, Jovan found himself behind yet another Miata, this time a track-ready 2001 NB Miata with fresh Hankook RS4s and just-broken-in brake pads (G-LOC R10 fronts and R8 rears). He went to Thunderhill West and had a blast. This soon became his favorite track because of how fun the track is overall along with Thunderhill West being the NB’s maiden track voyage.

Since March of this year, Jovan has been tracking with SpeedSF and other organizations non-stop. A three-day event at Laguna? Why not, let’s go for it! His personal best was a 1:53; very good for a first timer! While no big upgrades are in the works just yet, his future ambitions for the car include a Hotside MP62 supercharger, all-flat undertray and mild aero along with, of course, focus on the driver mod (aka lots and lots of seat time).

“All of my homies drive with SpeedSF, so I like to come here. The event runs smoothly, people generally know which run groups they belong in results in less traffic. Definitely, egos are at a minimum.”

Hope to see Jovan at our future events! 

SPEEDSF CHALLENGE - NOVEMBER 27 - ROUND 10 @ BUTTONWILLOW RACEWAY

INTRODUCTION

Our famous Black Friday event still lives on even during this dumpster fire year of 2020. Seems like some drivers are afraid of the SpeedSF Challenge at this track as much as they’re scared of taking home some fine Buttonwillow dirt, for only 15 drivers decided to take on the Challenge and prove just how fast they can navigate this motorsport oasis.

CLASS S1

Gordon Peng went solo this round but managed to claim the fastest time out of the entire Challenge group with his 1:52.314 lap time. That C5 Z06 of his has some magic for sure!

CLASS S2

Gary Yeung took 1st and only place in the Fast and Dirty Mango, posting a 1:53.495 lap time JUST BARELY beating the S2 class lap record at BW by .004 of a second when Ken Xu threw the hammer down in his RX-7 FD back in June of 2019. A lucky gust of wind blew Gary Yeung over the line, for sure! Great job on the new class lap record - standard fare, really.

CLASS S3

Finally, more than 1 driver in this class! With a whopping 5 drivers, for S3, we were able to see some diversity (yay!) in lap times and car selection. David Fitz-Randolph took home 1st place while beating the previous class lap record of 1:55.093 previously set by Randy Chen who drove a Honda S2000 back in June 2019. David’s time of a 1:53.962, is a record that may stand for quite a long time!

in 2nd place, Gary Wong in the 2004 Honda STayThousand put down a 1:55.423, putting him firmly ahead of 3rd place driver John Lee and his E36 M3. For John’s efforts, he put in a 1:56.521 lap time which is also a very nice pace!

CLASS S4

No record-breaking times here but still valiant efforts displayed by all three drivers in this 4-challenge lineup. Billy Jang took home 1st place by driving his Honda S2000 to a 2:00.255 lap time, while 2nd place was taken home by Christopher Anderson who put in a 2:01.529 lap time. 3rd place driver channeled his inner Senna by putting in a 2:07.581 while driving a bone-stock 2017 Subaru BRZ. Great driving by all three participants!

CLASS S5

MR2s are definitely the better Miata, as demonstrated by 1st place podium placer Tony Rodriguez who drove the MR2 to a 2:01.05 lap time and beat King Tang’s previous class lap record in an NA Miata, a record that had stood since November 2019. Awesome driving!

2nd place was taken home by a Miata owner-turned-Civic owner, cashing in on a 2:04.932 lap time while sitting behind the wheel of his EG Civic hatch (faster than he ever drove in his Miata around Buttonwillow, might we add), while 3rd place was taken home firmly by Zoe Downing, who was in no way challenged at all by 4th place driver Zeeshan Khan who only shows up to the Black Friday events.

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by our drivers who won their places and set new class lap records! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the SpeedSF Challenge on a pleasant Sunday. For those who are still chasing podium finishes, more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track will certainly get you there!

Rounds 11 and 12 will be here soon! Our next SpeedSF Challenge will be a double-header hosted at Thunderhill Raceway (East) on December 12th and 13th! Round 11 will be on the Cyclone configuration while Round 12 will be on the Bypass configuration. It’s going to be a great weekend to cap off the SpeedSF Challenge season. We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them! 

Thank you to our sponsors Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, Necksgen, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!

SPEEDSF CHALLENGE - NOVEMBER 8 - ROUND 9 @ SONOMA RACEWAY

INTRODUCTION

The SpeedSF Challenge circus continued on back at Sonoma Raceway to host its 9th round in this crowd-favorite track. With 26 wonderful drivers taking to the track hoping for Challenge glory, it was bound to be an exciting session for all!

CLASS S1

Easy to podium with only three drivers in the mix, though a surprising result with Gordon Peng’s 2002 C5 Z06 taking the top of the podium with a 1:46.663 lap time, while Ravi Gattamaraju’s 2016 Subaru BRZ took him to a 2nd place finish thanks to a 1:46.731 lap time. Steve Melson’s 3rd place finish in his 2014 Audi R8 was thanks to a 1:47.463 lap time, though we expect him to be even faster the next time we visit Sonoma!

CLASS S2

With 7 drivers in S2, it was bound to get a bit more competitive. The tried and true Dirty Mango S2000 took its spot on the top podium thanks to the class S2 record-beating 1:46.463 lap time originally set by George Kibilov’s previous 1:48.366 record lap time in his E46 M3. This time, George Kibilov kept it close with a 1:47.161 lap time in his E46 M3 and took 2nd place, also beating his previous record-setting lap time for this class at Sonoma Raceway. Rounding out 3rd on the podium was Jacek DTM in some unknown vehicle putting in a 1:49.793 lap time. Very good driving from this group too!

CLASS S3

Sean Yepez’s 1st place podium finishing lap time of 1:45.774 was the fastest lap time out of everyone in the challenge thanks to his crazy 2007 Lotus Exige S, breaking the previous class S3 lap record of 1:47.597 also set by Sean here at Sonoma Raceway. David Fitz-Randolph took a joyride of his own around the track in his 1995 Mazda Miata and put down a 1:46.428 lap time, keeping him firmly in 2nd place ahead of 3rd place podium placer Gary Wong, whose own adventure around Sonoma earned him a 1:47.914 lap time. Good job for the close lap times here, gentlemen!

CLASS S4

Absolutely destroying the competition here, Gabriel Rothman’s 1st place finish in his 2003 Honda S2000 was due in part to his 1:53.481 lap time, while 2nd place podium placer Richard Rozporka put in a 1:57.353 lap time in his 2002 Subaru Impreza WRX and was in no danger keeping ahead of 3rd place podium placer Casey Cummings whose 1999 Honda Civic SI threw down a 2:01.295 lap time for his efforts.

CLASS S5

Genuinely expected a proliferation of MR2s to encroach upon the Miata’s territory, but there was only 1 that showed up: Tony Rodriguez in a 2003 MR2 Spyder. He not only took home 1st place, but he obliterated King Tang’s class lap record of 1:57.012 by putting in a 1:55.540 lap time. Awesome result for Tony who has had a stellar season thus far. 2nd place was taken home by Joseph Nagy in a 1991 BMW 325is thanks to a 1:57.128 lap time while Joe Kou came in 3rd place in his 1991 Mazda Miata, putting in a 1:57.717 lap time. Round of applause to the S5 hustlers!

CONCLUSION

Excellent work by our drivers who won their places and set new class lap records! THANK YOU to everyone who participated in the SpeedSF Challenge on a pleasant Sunday. For those who are still chasing podium finishes, more seat time, coaching, and watching videos of how to attack the track will certainly get you there!

Round 10 will be here soon! Our next SpeedSF Challenge will be hosted at Buttonwillow Raceway during our annual Black Friday event on November 27th, 2020. Rest up and enjoy your Thanksgiving the night before. We truly appreciate our sponsors and participants and we are forever thankful as all of this would not be possible without them! 

Thank you to our sponsors Wine Country Motorsports, Titan7 Wheels, Necksgen, and Charles Schwab for their continued and valued support. Please visit their respective websites to show your support and let them know SpeedSF sent you!