Redline Kicks Off The 2010 Time Attack Season

By John Naderi

StreetFire.net

After Japan’s famed Tsukuba circuit no track is more widely recognized for time attacks than Buttonwillow Raceway Park, located in bucolic Buttonwillow, a mere hop, skip and a two-hour drive north of LA. Buttonwillow’s 2.6-mile CW #13 configuration seemed the perfect venue for the Redline Time Attack to launch its 2010 series. While Redline does not normally attract some of the big time J-pop rockin’ JDM machines as the rival Super Lap Battle this year’s season opener saw plenty of records fall. Hit the jump to see more images as well as some of the record-breaking times.

Let’s get right to business. The Sierra Sierra Cosworth Evolution driven by open wheel ace, David Empringham, laid down a blistering 1:43.436 a mere nine one hundredths of a second faster than the long-standing 1:43.523 held by the HKS CT230R Evo. Aaaaand we now have a new record. Or do we? The problem is that Redline allows its unlimited cars (or Super Modified in their nomenclature) to run slicks, which are a few ticks faster than the DOT-approved rubber that the Super Lap Battle allows. And Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi set the record in the HKS Evo on Yokohama A048R DOT rubbers at the Super Lap Battle. So this means no record, right? Not so fast there, Tex Mex. While Sierra Sierra could have easily run slicks team principle – and notoriously shy guy – Dennis Kottke opted to run DOT tires – more specifically, the Hankook Ventus Z214 DOT R-compounds. So we do have a record? Not according to the Super Lappers. Okay, all of this controversy is making our heads hurt. We don’t care if its champagne or not, we just need a drink.

At the end of the day at Buttonwillow Sierra Sierra ran the 1:43.436 in practice but in the actual time attack Emp clocked a 1:44.344, which was still good enough to win the Super Modified AWD class as well as the overall event title.

Two other big name cars were notorious in their absence at Buttonwillow one being the AMS Evo X. Apparently Martin Musial and crew were “squeezed” out of their sponsorship deal. That really is a shame since that car coulda been a contender. Another MIA was the FXMD NSX driven by Billy Johnson. This car has always been a threat for an overall win except at this year’s season opener. The ugly rumor was that the team just couldn’t get the car completed on time. Before you can beat the clock it pays to read the calendar, fellahs. Let’s hope they can finish the car before the next round. With two other top all and rear wheel drive cars no showing this left the door open for none other than Mr. Muttonchops, Christian “Too Much Power is Just Enough” Rado and his equally flamboyant 1,000hp FWD Scion tC. Yes, we said 1,000hp. Through the front wheels. Yes, the mutha fluckin’ front wheels! Rado crushed the long-standing SLB FF record on DOTs last November with a 1:49.703 and at Redline on slickety slicks he went even faster still with a 1:46.736. The wildest part is that Christian tells us the car has a lot more in it. Wilder still is his AWD tC that is a work in progress. Look out, Radioactive Man!

Back in the day Brian Lock drove the hubba hubba heartbreaker GST Impreza but at the 2009 Redline Finals he unveiled his own R35 GT-R. This year the GT-R got fat, er phat with an AIT widebody and a COBB sponsorship. And Brian didn’t let his new partners down with a 1:48.897, which was good enough for a Modified AWD victory.

Years ago we rode along with Jeremy Renshaw in his built Integra GSR at PIR. He scared us. Now he’s going even faster in his AFI Turbo Honda S2000. 1:54.851 and the Redline Modified RWD first place trophy can ride along with him now.

Conrad Grunewald took the win in the Drift Class with a 1:57.896 in his Hankook Tire 2010 Camaro. We thought Conrad was a brave man taking his new Formula Drift car out to the Redline event until we realized that Buttonwillow’s tumbleweeds are far less imposing than the walls of Long Beach.

The next round of the Redline Time Attack is at The New Jersey Motor Sport Park on April 10-11. And if you want to see more images from Buttonwillow click here