VRPerformance Open Track at Grattan
Our 8th annual open track day is set for 2013. We'll be heading to Grattan Raceway May 10th.
Our 8th annual open track day is set for 2013. We'll be heading to Grattan Raceway May 10th.
42 competitive stages and 1375 miles and VRPerformance finished its first Targa Newfoundland as overall winners in category 7, second in modern class and third overall. BMW won the manufacturers prize, with the most points scored by teams driving BMWs. The professional team of Andrew “ACP” Comrie-Picard and Brian O’Kane in a Mitsubishi Evolution IX came in first in modern class (they were in a different category).
After two weeks of 20 hour days and late nights, Bill Caswell and I were sitting at the local watering hole around the corner from VRPerformance wrapping our heads around what we got ourselves into. Despite all the late work, we were not 100% done with the car.
But, before we could even get to Newfoundland for the race, there were two thousand miles of Canadian highway and one very long ferry to tackle. There was still plenty ahead of us before we started the race. So we drank beer until the bar closed.
It's been far too long since we last spoke. Much has been going on at the shop the last few months, so the time to post simply wasn't there. To kick things off for 2013, we thought we'd take a quick step back and bring everyone up to speed on "Target Targa", our 2012 Targa Newfoundland adventure. And because everyone loves a good video, we'll have a few of those in the next several entries...
Racing improves the breed, it's as true for manufacturers as it is for shops like VRPerformance. We've delivered race cars to customers, we've tweaked street cars for the track, and now we're turning to our own in house projects with the formation of VRPerformance Racing. Our goal is not only to compete successfully, but also to take what we learn from our hands on racing efforts and apply it to all of our customer projects. Ultimately we want you to benefit from our experience, our struggles and triumphs at the track.
Aerodynamics on a street car is important for efficiency-- how easily it can punch a hole through the atmosphere. On a race car, aero is even more important for handling. A splitter-- typically a horizontal plane extending out from below the front bumper, helps push the front end of the car down and consequently aids front end grip or traction. Balanced with a wing at the back, a splitter is an integral part in the car's handling.
Because the splitter is usually very low, it is vulnerable to trailer ramps, track burms and digging into wet grass should you have an "off". If it's attached to the front fascia and you have an off and bad things happen, you can kiss the front end of the car good-bye. The solution is to attach the splitter to something more robust, while allowing it to break away should an unfortunate incident occur.
Date: Monday, July 12th, 2010 rain or shine
Time: Driver's meeting at 0830, open track from 0900 to 1700, lunch at noon
Cost: $225 via check, $230 via credit
Deadline to enter, July 3rd
Continue reading "2010 VRPerformance Open Track Day at Grattan Raceway" »
Sign up today for the 4th Annual VRPerformance Enduro at Kart2Kart in Sterling Heights. We'll be using the same format as in the past: 12 teams of 3 to 4 drivers, non-stop 90 minute race with starting positions decided by qualifying (or random draw, behind qualifiers, if you show up late). Every driver on the team needs to race at least one stint. Price is $150 per team (or about $38 to $50 per driver).
Sign up today for the 3rd Annual VRPerformance Enduro at Kart2Kart in Sterling Heights. Yes, Kart2Kart has reopened its doors, and just in time for our chase the winter blahs away race. We'll be using the same format as in the past: 12 teams of 3 to 4 drivers, non-stop 90 minute race with starting positions decided by random draw. Every driver on the team needs to race at least one stint. Price is $150 per team (or about $38 to $50 per driver).
A few weeks back we announced that VRPerformance is going racing in SPEED World Challenge Touring Car. It is a daunting exercise that we are nonetheless excited to start. The first step was picking the car.
Time to go racing! Welcome to the first of many entries documenting our entry into the SCCA SPEED World Challenge Championship. As our busy summer season winds down, we’ve taken on the task of building a race car with the goal of competing in the Touring Car category of the SPEED World Challenge. Call it a stretch goal. We’re under no delusions as to how expensive and challenging this endeavor will be, but we have the car, the enthusiasm, and hopefully the stamina to see it through to a worthwhile conclusion.
Lawyers want to argue in front of the Supreme Court, soap stars want to appear in a summer blockbuster and race car drivers want to win for Ferrari—every discipline has its ne plus ultra that those toiling in the trenches aspire to. For an automotive performance shop it is building race cars. Which makes sense, since a race car is the ultimate expression of the performance automobile and a real test (and testament) for its builder. You’re putting your ideas, engineering and craftsmanship up against others in an open competitive arena. What works and what doesn’t is immediately showcased for all to see. Here’s our first attempt at building a race car for the NASA GTS series.
As you know we at VRPerformance always preach balanced performance. High horsepower or sticky tires by themselves do not make a great car. It's how all the bits work in concert that separates the merely fast cars from the really great performance cars. And when you think about upgrading your car, it's important that you think about balanced performance-- incremental change to the system instead of lopsided focus on one component or another. Do it right, and you can fetch a new Nürburgring record (video after jump).
A participant in last month's [VRPerformance Open Track Day at Grattan Raceway] just sent us some video (after the jump). If you've never been to Grattan before, the videos give you a good, outside of car, perspective. Check it out.
What a great way to spend a day— at the race track in the company of great cars and like minded people. Better still, you’re driving those cars at their limit on the track without a care for police or drivers on cell phones or little children suddenly running out in front of you. And with sunny skies and temperatures in the mid 70s, the day was darn near perfect.
Continue reading "VRPerformance Open Track Day at Grattan Raceway" »
When it comes to wrestling a car around a track, nobody seems to do it more effortlessly and competently than Tiff Needell of the British car show, Fifth Gear. In the video following the jump you'll ride along with him in a new 911 GT3 RS as well as a 911 Cup race car.
The 75th 24 Hours of Le Mans will be running this weekend. Dominated by Audi the past few years, this year's race has a new Peugeot team ready to bring the overall winner title back to France.