Celebrating 11 years in business is more than just a milestone—it’s a testament to dedication, passion, and hard work. As we reflect on this journey, it’s impossible not to think about the challenges we’ve faced, the lessons we’ve learned, and the incredible support from our community that’s brought us to this point. It hasn’t always been easy, but every step of the way has shaped who we are today. This anniversary isn’t just about marking time; it’s a chance to celebrate the grit and determination that’s kept us going all these years.
This June 1st, we’re excited to celebrate our 11th anniversary at Trackspec! Before the festivities begin, I want to take a moment to reflect on our journey and honor how far we’ve come.
2014: When it all Began
Jon’s lifelong passion for cars fueled his dream of owning an automotive shop. After years of gaining hands-on experience and sharpening his skills at various independent shops, Jon built a reputation for being meticulous, hard-working, and deeply committed to his craft. It wasn’t long before an investor/enthusiast took notice—recognizing his potential and drive. Jon seized the opportunity by putting together a thoughtful business plan and diving into detailed discussions around logistics and setup. With a shared vision, they partnered up—and together, brought Trackspec Autosports to life.
Finding a location
We explored numerous potential locations for the business, but none of them seemed to be the perfect fit.
Most of the units we toured that were zoned for automotive use looked like this. While this particular space offered a great open layout and was situated in a business park with wide streets, its corrugated steel walls posed a challenge. We knew they would mean enduring scorching summers and freezing winters while working.
Then we came across this unit. While the interior was decent, the location was in an overly crowded business plaza. The area felt too congested, with numerous other automotive shops and related businesses nearby.
And then we found The One
When we came across our current location, our jaws dropped—it was PERFECT. Concrete walls, a spacious open layout, a large office, and tucked away in a quiet, low-key area. We secured the lease and went straight to work!
Installing the lifts
Painting the walls & Epoxy flooring
Knocking down Walls, Adding Windows, Finishing Touches
Doors Officially Open - Sept 29, 2014
We officially opened our doors, and while it wasn’t bustling right away, Jon certainly wasn’t sitting idle. Running a shop is never as simple as just opening up and waiting for customers to roll in—it takes effort and persistence. If he wasn’t working on cars or managing appointments, Jon was out spreading the word—making sure people knew Trackspec was here. He walked through parking lots, leaving business cards on windshields. He engaged with automotive communities on forums and Facebook pages, attended car-related events, organized meets, and joined drives. He also leaned on the support of friends and family to help get the word out there.
Here’s our first social media post as an open business:
Grand Opening - Oct 13, 2014
A few weeks later, we celebrated our Grand Opening with around 60 guests. Our good friends from Konjoe Burger Bar handled the on-site catering, making the event even more special. The space felt massive, but it still felt intimate. Among the attendees were close friends, family, and industry connections we’d made along the way. See more photos here.
Alignment Machine!
Just a few days after our Grand Opening Party, our brand-new alignment machine was delivered.
And we wasted no time putting it to use.
2015
In 2015, we set out to make a name for ourselves in the industry. From countless HPDE events to car shows and group drives, we dove headfirst into the automotive community—building connections and sharing our passion for track cars.
From the start, we’ve believed in working with other businesses in our community, not against them. That same year, we teamed up with another rising company—Speed Dynamics, now known as OnGrid. The partnership sparked something special, helping us grow alongside one another and reinforcing our commitment to the track-focused community.
1st Anniversary Party
On October 24, 2015, we celebrated our very first anniversary in style! The turnout was nothing short of incredible. The Golden Gate Lotus Club set up a thrilling Trike Time Attack, we gave away some fantastic prizes, and, of course, everyone enjoyed some amazing food. It was a day filled with excitement, community, and a shared passion for performance cars.
1YR Anniversary
First Team Trip
It didn’t take long for Jon and I to realize just how essential our team is to Trackspec’s success. We knew that if we wanted the shop to thrive, we needed to prioritize creating a positive work environment and keeping our team happy.
Spending five days a week together, you quickly start to feel like family. But with how busy things get in the shop, it’s not always easy to bond during the workday. That’s when we decided to start doing team trips—something fun outside of work to help us all connect.
2015 marked our very first team trip: SEMA in Las Vegas!
SEMA
Our first team trip!
2016
In 2016, we continued to make our mark, attending even more HPDE events, scenic drives, and unforgettable team trips.
Team Trip to Monterey Grand Prix
SEMA 2016
Winning a Hunter Tire Balancer
In 2016, we made our second trip to SEMA, where we competed in a Hunter contest—and won a brand-new tire balancer!
They didn’t get all the details right, but who cares—we got a brand-new tire balancer!
2nd Anniversary Party
For our second anniversary party, we unknowingly picked the rainiest day of the year—but that didn’t stop an amazing crowd from showing up! Despite the downpour, the event was a huge success. Some of the standout raffle prizes that year included a signed Manny Pacquiao boxing glove and a GoPro!
2YR Anniversary
Crewing for NASA’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill
We wrapped up the year by pit-crewing for Team Lotus Cup USA - PB Racing at NASA’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill. It was an unforgettable experience for so many reasons—one of the most memorable being the language barrier. With half our team speaking only Italian and the other half only English, there were plenty of moments where we found ourselves thinking, “What the hell is going on?” Despite the chaos, we had an absolute blast and proudly finished 4th in class!
25 Hours of Thunderhill
Pitcrew
2017
Karting Enduro
In 2017, we hosted our first-ever 2-hour Karting Enduro at LeMans Karting. With 41 drivers split into 11 teams, the competition was intense, exhausting, and, most importantly, a whole lot of fun!
Trackspec’s 2-HR Karting Enduro
Partnership with Tom Tang
2017 was also the year we met and partnered with Tom Tang—someone who’s become incredibly close to us over the years and truly feels like part of the Trackspec family. In this industry, we’ve met plenty of passionate car enthusiasts, but Tom stands out. He doesn’t just love cars—he sets big goals and sees them through. It’s genuinely inspiring to watch, and we’re proud to be a part of his story.
Round 3 of NASA ST Series
2018
2018 was another jam-packed year. This was when Jon began building his track car Exige. If you check out the blog below, you’ll see his original plan was to keep it street legal… but as we all know, that didn’t last very long!
TS Project Exige: Part 1 of 12
The Very Beginning
Jon also got his racing license this year and we went to COTA, Texas to support Tom for NASA Championships!
Getting My NASA Racing License
2018 NASA Championships @ COTA
4th Anniversary
2018 also was the last time we hosted an anniversary party—our 4th year celebration. It feels like forever ago!
4 YEAR
Speedhunters Article on our 4YR Party
Ownership of Trackspec
Last but not least, 2018 was the year Jon’s business partner let us know he wanted to dissolve the partnership to focus on other ventures. It came as a bit of a shock, but it also made sense—he was getting pulled in different directions, while we were all-in on growing Trackspec. So, we made the decision to pull out a loan and buy his share of the business.
Operating without a partner who brought business experience and financial backing was definitely nerve-wracking, but it was also incredibly empowering. For the first time, we had full ownership of the business—and had complete freedom to shape it exactly how we envisioned.
2019
2019 was packed with racing, but one of the most memorable moments was our trip to COTA to watch Formula 1. What made it even more special—though not many people knew at the time—was that I was pregnant with our first child.
Team Trip to COTA F1
2020-2023
COVID
We’ve finally made it to the COVID era—2020, a strange year to say the least, along with the unpredictable years that followed. I remember having to shut the shop down for two weeks when everything first hit in March. It was a really scary time for all of us, and the years that followed put us to the test. We went through our share of ups and downs—losing some valuable team members but also welcoming incredible new ones. As you might’ve noticed, we didn’t host many events during this time. Not only were we focused on keeping Trackspec afloat, but 2020 was also the year we welcomed our first child—adding an entirely new layer of challenges to running a business.
These years came with a lot of uncertainty and stress, but they also pushed us to grow in ways we hadn’t expected. It wasn’t just about surviving—we had to adapt to the new normal while staying focused on growth and stability. We came out of it with hard-earned lessons and made real, lasting improvements to how we run the business. We refined our operations, improved internal systems, and became more efficient overall. Business gradually picked back up, and we were fortunate to maintain a steady flow of work.
And in the midst of it all, Jon found a way to keep Trackspec relevant and moving forward—by kicking off one of his most ambitious projects yet: building the first-ever street-legal K20-swapped Elise.
First Street Legal K20 Swap
Part 1 of 3
Racing In NASA’s 25 Hours Of Thunderhill
In 2022, we raced in NASA’s 25 Hours of Thunderhill for the first time—and it was an unforgettable experience. We had previously been part of the event back in 2016, but only as crew for another team. This time, it was our own car—built by Trackspec and driven by Jon, Tom, and a few close Trackspec friends. We finished 3rd in class and 9th overall!
25 Hours of Thunderhill
2024
Pikes Peak International Hill Climb
2024 was a standout year for us, as it was the year we completed Tom’s Pikes Peak build. A lot of blood, sweat, and tears went into the build. But once we got to the mountain, it brought a whole new layer of challenges—adjusting to the altitude, learning the course, and making sure the car stayed in one piece. One of our proudest moments was watching Tom take on the mountain and finish in the Top 15!
There’s so much more we could say about this accomplishment—but the video below says it best.
Pikes Peak
We closed out the year on an incredible high note: Jon completed the street-legal K20-swapped Elise and successfully passed the California State Ref inspection. It officially became the first-ever street-legal K20-swapped Lotus Elise.
Street Legal K20 Elise
PASSED!
2025
We kicked off the year with an unforgettable team trip to Konocti Harbor Resort for the West Coast Lotus Meet—and honestly, we had the best time ever! Even though we've been part of the Lotus community for years, this was our first time making it to WCLM, since it finally lined up with a time and location that worked for us.
WCLM 2025
And that brings us to today. Looking back on all these moments, it’s amazing to reflect on just how far we’ve come. I couldn’t be more proud of everything we’ve accomplished together over the past 11 years—and even more excited for what’s ahead.
We hope to see you all at our 11th Anniversary Party on June 1, 2025!
