I'm very happy to see that we have an electric vehicle entered in the green track car category at the Ultimate Track Car Challenge. Yep, it's a Scion, converted to electric by AC Propulsion. And this box is no slouch: it currently holds the 1/8th mile record in the National Electric Drag Racing Association for a street conversion. Can't wait to see this thing go up against the gas-powered cars at Buttonwillow!
Want to learn more about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? Check out cardomain.com/grm.
After procrastinating for way too long, I have finally moved my CRX to the front burner. It's going to be my new track car, and the first order of business was to replace the world's worst aftermarket steering wheel with a Momo that I scored online. It was tonight's afterwork project.
Obviously I wasn't the only one who detested this wheel, as the hub bore evidence that an earlier removal had been attempted. The scars told the story of a battle lost. Fortunately I had an ally: the correct tool for the job. I am still amazed how people will bent, pry and slam when, in my case, a simple steering wheel puller did the job in no time flat. While I don't own one, I was able to borrow it from our local AutoZone. Today's lesson: The correct tool can often be the difference between an evening filled with frustration and a job well done.
Chili Pepper Racing's MK5 Jetta TDI was the world's first professional bio-diesel touring car. Their mission? To raise money to fund research into the diagnosis, treatment and development of a cure for pediatric cancer. And they will be competing in the green track car category at the Ultimate Track Car Challenge at Buttonwillow in June!
If you want to be involved with the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge, time is running out. Check out cardomain.com/grm. And yes, we're looking for more green track cars!
I have been regularly autocrossing since 1992, and my wife has joined me a few times but always as a spectator. When I mentioned that I was going to one this past weekend, she said that she'd like to come--but not as a spectator. She seemed to have a great time and even came in first in her class. (Okay, so she was the only one in the Novice Race tire class.)
On the way home we enjoyed the sweet taste of success--or, more accurately, the sweet taste of coolant. The car made it home just fine, but we spent that evening shopping for a radiator. On the plus side, I think I now have a new autocrossing partner.
Vince's background is in mechanical engineering, and his day job involves designing patentable algorithms for predicting online users' behavior. His 2001 BMW 3-series track car is his hobby and obsession, and he admits to geeking out a bit on it:
Why a geeky car? In my opinion, the joys of modifying my car is not to constantly look for horsepower performance. The subtleties of modifying for the better involves looking at implicit parameters, such as optimizing flow under the car, through the oil cooler, the angle of the splitter, the flow in the forced induced plumping right down to the driver's accessibility in the cabin and comfort.
What makes this track car unique? Most of the projects and parts put together are NOT off the shelves. Most of them are fabricated from materials from local hardware stores and companies that carry specialty equipments (eg Pitot tubes and sensors).
Man, I really hope I get to check out this car out at Buttonwillow in June. Be sure to click through to his ride page to see everything he has done to it. His steering wheel (stock Sparco with BMW paddle shifters attached) is impressive enough, but you're sure to be impressed by some of the other tweaks and gadgets.
Want to learn more about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? Check out cardomain.com/grm! And yes, we're still looking for green track cars!
By David
GRM Editorial Director
Ever volunteer for something and only have it sink it later? Yeah, that's me. This weekend I volunteered to instruct at a local Tire Rack Street Survival school. I have written about this program before and honestly think it's a good thing. I wish my drivers ed consisted of more than parallel parking and three-point turns. This school goes a few steps further and teach the basics regarding accident avoidance and proper driving etiquette.
However, it just hit me like two minutes ago: I am going to teach teenagers how to drive. The closest regular contact I have with any teenagers these days comes when I pay for my groceries. I might have to brush up a bit. Either way, I'm sure I'll have some cool stories next week.
The Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge is fast approaching. In addition to the varsity and JV classes, this year we thought it would be fun to add a "green track car" class. Yeah, I know, kind of a crazy idea. Anyway, we had a lot of interest at first, but when push comes to shove, it's been hard to get anyone to commit, let alone find any fast green cars. Tesla was very interested at first, but now they seem to be nervous about the ability of their car to make it around Buttonwillow without blowing up. I talked to Johnathan Goodwin about it, and he was looking into building an electric Ford GT for the event, but then got distracted by some other high-profile projects he had to finish up (more on those soon). The Greasecar guys were also interested, but most of their stuff is on the East Coast, and they didn't think they could make it out West. Same goes for ProEV.
There is also the question of what the hell is a green track car? Is there even such a thing? Many people seem to think that E85 isn't all that green. But we will probably have an E85 car or two (I hope). We should also have some diesel VWs like the Chili Pepper Racing Jetta below. And John Fabijanic from Cal Poly will be there to help us determine just how green the cars are (and he'll be bringing his insane 1000 hp Ford Explorer).
But we need more green cars, so we're asking you to help us out. If you know of any fast green track cars, tell them about this event! How about a quick hyrbid or an speedy electric car? There have to be some cars like this out there. We already have a ton of varsity and JV level cars in our GRM UTCC rating category. But the race is on June 8, so time is running out. Read all about it!
Here's a recent addition to the GRM UTCC rating category: Pablo's race-ready Porsche 968.
No turbos, superchargers, or turbonators! Instead, simple 90s engineering throughout. Four cylinders, great platform, and lots of blood, sweat, and... nah... no tears here. The last of Porsche's four cylinder, water cooled, front engined machines.
It would be a long drive out to Buttonwillow from Philly, but it would be cool if Pablo got invited and could make it! Want to learn more about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? Check out cardomain.com/grm!
By David
GRM Editorial Director
A lot of cars pass through our hands on a weekly basis thanks to the various press pools. Call it one of the perks of the job. Recently, however, the arrival of one car caused work to nearly come to a standstill as everyone headed to the parking lot to check it out. The machine: the new BMW 128i convertible. Based on the impact it had with our sometimes jaded crew, BMW might very well have a hit with this one. Can't wait until the 135i shows up next week.
e30 Bimmers are all the rage with the GRM crowd these days, and I'm beginning to see why. I got a ride in a spec e30 car at VIR last year, and they can definitely be made into fun little track cars without a huge investment. It looks like Robert has built himself a pretty cool one--with turbo power:
We believe this is the only 4 cylinder turbo being raced in BMW CCA Club Racing, and it was built by two complete amateurs, in my garage. All the rage in the BMW community has been to add Euro parts, and if engine swaps were done it was to add cylinders not remove them. Regardless of that fact, we pulled our 6 cylinder and built a turbo DOHC 4 cylinder.
I really liked this shot of Robert's garage, and yep, those are operating room lights. Be sure to click through to his ride page, which has lots of great photos and more details on the build. Robert is really hoping to be invited to the Ultimate Track Car Challenge at Buttonwillow in June, and I'm hoping to see him and his car out there.
By David
GRM Editorial Director
I have been regularly autocrossing since 1992 (yeah, I'm that old) but had never received any formal training. My entire technique was developed by trial and error. This past weekend, however, I was a student at the Evolution Driving School. This school crisscrosses the country, and the staff is made up of former and reigning national champions. I was impressed to hear that many current national champs regularly go back for mid-season tune-ups.
While autocross seems pretty basic at first (go fast and avoid the cones) there are nuances that separate a first-class run from a mid-pack finish. I guess that's true for any sport. We did a few lessons that drove home a major point: look ahead. The sooner you see a gate, apex or pointer cone, the faster you'll get through there.
By the way, for those who haven't been thrilled with the shape of the latest WRX, gotta say that the car performed very well. A severe lack of negative camber caused me to tear up one Nitto race tire, but I can't wait for our next event.
Garrett's '98 Civic weighs in at 2,200 pounds with the driver, and its supercharged D16Y8 is pushing 230 hp at the wheels. The car appears to be very well sorted out, and I'm really hoping to see it at the Ultimate Track Car Challenge in June.
Want to learn more about the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge? Check out cardomain.com/grm!
By David
GRM Editorial Director
When I first built up my Miata about seven years ago, the goal was to just make a neat street car—a little more power thanks to the usual bolt-ons plus a Flyin' Miata/Link ECU, Koni suspension, Kaaz limited-slip and the like. The car didn't fit into any real autocross class, but that wasn't the point. Well, between recent rule changes at the SCCA and some equipment changes on my behalf, the car is now legal for their C Street Prepared autocross class. That means the car now has a real autocross home, and it got a little exercise this weekend.
So how'd it go? It didn't win (second out of three), but let's just say that I may have a new autocross partner—and I have already started talking to Emilio at 949Racing about some optimum wheels. It's a slippery slope, isn't it?
Here's another contender in the Grassroots Motorsports Ultimate Track Car Challenge rating category: a time attack 350Z built by Relentless Autosports and Jim Wolf Technology. The car puts out over 700whp from its twin turbo VQ35DE power plant, has suspension by Stance, SPL Parts and GTSpec, and aerodynamics design by Kognition Designs. I have a feeling this car could rip up the track at Buttonwillow in June. Be sure to check out
