Victoria Vo 5/15/25 Victoria Vo 5/15/25

Preparing for Pikes Peak 2025 - First Test Day!

We're gearing up for the 103rd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb, June 22, 2025! Team Trackspec is back and ready to race to the clouds, with Tom Tang behind the wheel once again.

Check out some footage from our first test day of the season:

Victoria Vo 4/16/25 Victoria Vo 4/16/25

Looking Back on 11 Years

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.

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

What a difference fresh paint and flooring can make.

We sourced some used but high quality shelves from liquidators.

Organizing on a clean slate! What a dream.

Knocked down some walls in the office, added a window, and some flooring.

Jon & I (and our two dogs) spent many late nights, after work, building furniture and organizing

Our dog, Cusco, showing us who’s the real boss

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.

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!

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

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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!

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

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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!

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.

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

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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

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2018 NASA Championships @ COTA

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4th Anniversary

2018 also was the last time we hosted an anniversary party—our 4th year celebration. It feels like forever ago!

Speedhunters Article on our 4YR Party

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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.

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

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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!

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.

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!

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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.

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!

RSVP on FB

Victoria Vo 4/14/25 Victoria Vo 4/14/25

Golden Gate Lotus Club x Trackspec Emira Cars & Coffee

On April 6, the Golden Gate Lotus Club held their Cars & Coffee event at Trackspec, welcoming both new Emira owners and longtime members. It was another incredible turnout—over 50 Lotus cars came out to join the fun!

Check out this short video made by Tom Tang:

Victoria Vo 1/21/25 Victoria Vo 1/21/25

West Coast Lotus Meet 2024

We were thrilled to finally attend the West Coast Lotus Meet, hosted by the Golden Gate Lotus Club, and it truly exceeded our expectations! Jon and I have long wanted to join this event, but in the past, scheduling conflicts, distance, and not owning a street-legal Lotus kept us away. To be clear, you don’t need to own a Lotus to participate. The Golden Gate Lotus Club is incredibly inclusive, welcoming all makes and models. However, there’s something extra special about fully immersing yourself in the activities when you have a Lotus to share the experience with. What made this event even more special was our decision to close the shop and bring our entire team along to join the experience. We had an incredible time!

We were thrilled to finally attend the West Coast Lotus Meet, hosted by Golden Gate Lotus Club, and it truly exceeded our expectations! Jon and I have long wanted to join this event, but in the past, scheduling conflicts, distance, and not owning a street-legal Lotus kept us away. To be clear, you don’t need to own a Lotus to participate. The Golden Gate Lotus Club is incredibly inclusive, welcoming all makes and models. However, there’s something extra special about fully immersing yourself in the activities when you have a Lotus to share the experience with.

What made this event even more special was our decision to close the shop and bring our entire team along to join the experience. We had an incredible time!

Before we get into the details, here are some quick facts about this year’s event:

Held on Oct 17-20, 2024 at Konocti Harbor Resort & Spa
109 registrants & 52 Lotus cars (according to Kiyoshi Hamai, GGLC)

Day 1: Registration & Welcome Dinner

Our team, along with a few friends, gathered at the shop and embarked on a group drive to the resort. Along the way, we decided to stop for lunch at the Oxbow Market in Napa. However, there was one small detail we hadn't considered: how to keep an eye on our track Lotus, which doesn’t have windows!

Arriving at the resort

After a couple of hours on the road, we finally arrived at the resort. The drive down to the lobby was breathtaking, offering stunning views of the lake along the way. We reserved suites in the Moon building, featuring a cozy bedroom, a spacious living room, a dining area, and a fully equipped kitchen. Best of all, each suite had a large balcony offering gorgeous views of the lake.

registration & welcome dinner

We made our way to the registration area, where we received our badges, a bundle of goodies, and, most importantly, plenty of drinks and snacks to enjoy.

The welcome dinner took place by the pool, offering us the added treat of expansive views of the lake.

Day 2: Scenic Drive, Funkhana, & Drive-In Movie

Scenic drive & lunch

The WCLM kicked off with an unforgettable drive. The day began with us picking up our delicious boxed lunches before lining up alongside the other Lotus cars ready to hit the road.

GGLC events are always well-organized and enjoyable. For this scenic drive, we were provided with detailed directions and even some fun trivia questions to keep things entertaining along the way.

Numerous drivers paused along the highway to take in the breathtaking views.

Everyone gathered at Navarro River Redwoods State Park for lunch, where we enjoyed the fresh air, the beach, and the soft sand.

funkhana

After an incredibly fun and lengthy drive, we returned to the resort to get some rest. Then, we headed to the Funkhana event, which was conveniently hosted right on the resort grounds. It was our first time participating in this type of event, and we had a blast!

The WCLM Funkhana event featured three exciting challenges:

Gravity Race – Participants started their cars from a dead stop and coasted downhill in neutral, competing for the fastest time.
Blindfolded Parking Challenge – Drivers were blindfolded and relied entirely on instructions from their passengers to park.
Frisbee Toss – Participants tossed frisbees from their cars, aiming to land them in designated targets.

Each event was as unique as it was entertaining!

West Coast Lotus meet Trackspec — PC: Emma Lai

Drive-in movie & Dinner

We wrapped up a long and eventful day with a delightful dinner by the lake at the resort, followed by a cozy drive-in movie. It was the perfect way to unwind and relax.

For the opening short film, we volunteered to showcase our documentary about Tom Tang’s first experience tackling Pike’s Peak.

Day 3: Concours, Drive & Banquet

Concours

We were thrilled to participate in the Concours, bringing along both our track Exige and the Evora 400. Of course, we had to make sure the cars were spotless first! A big thank you to GGLC for setting up a convenient washing station.

Held at the scenic Library Park in Lakeport, the event featured a stunning lineup of Lotus cars against the backdrop of expansive lake views. What could be better?!

Before the event wrapped up, a delicious catered lunch was served in the park. We just couldn’t get enough of the stunning lake views as we dined.

Scenic Drive

After the Concours, participants gathered for a scenic drive to Lake Berryessa. Feeling a bit tired from the previous day’s drive, our team decided to skip this one and take some time to rest before the evening banquet. We loaded up the track Exige and headed back to the resort to recharge.

Banquet at Boatique Winery

Feeling refreshed, we drove to Boatique Winery for the banquet dinner. The venue was beautiful!

Once again, the GGLC team outdid themselves, organizing such a wonderful event. The food was absolutely fantastic. Between the food & wine, the breathtaking views, and the awards ceremony, it was truly an unforgettable evening.

Day 4: Autocross & Farewell Lunch

On the final day of WCLM, GGLC hosted an autocross event right at the resort. It was well-organized, and everyone had an absolute blast. The event concluded with lunch, accompanied by awards and closing remarks.

Final Thoughts

The GGLC WCLM crew truly knows how to put on an incredible event. Each day was thoughtfully organized, offering something unique and exciting. Four days filled with exhilarating drives, stunning scenic venues, delicious food and drinks, quality time with our team, and connecting with other wonderful Lotus enthusiasts—it was, without a doubt, our favorite team trip to date.

We’re already hoping to make this an annual tradition! A huge thank you to the GGLC team for all their hard work in creating such an unforgettable experience.

Victoria Vo 1/16/25 Victoria Vo 1/16/25

JRZ's 30th Anniversary // PROMO $500 OFF

JRZ Suspension Engineering proudly celebrates 30 years of groundbreaking innovation and excellence in the automotive and motorsport industries. To mark this milestone, JRZ is offering an exclusive $500 discount on the retail price of select suspension systems. Don’t miss out—contact us today to take advantage of this limited-time promotion!

JRZ Suspension Engineering proudly celebrates 30 years of groundbreaking innovation and excellence in the automotive and motorsport industries. Founded in 1995 by Jan Zuijdijk, JRZ built its foundation on years of expertise in elite motorsport disciplines such as Formula 1, IndyCar, and DTM.

From the start, JRZ focused on developing high-performance, precision-engineered suspension systems. The company's advanced technologies, including low-friction dampers and adjustable shock absorbers, revolutionized suspension design by setting new standards for control, comfort, and durability, with a strong emphasis on managing un-sprung mass.

Over the years, JRZ's suspension systems have become the choice of top-tier motorsport teams across endurance racing, touring car series, and beyond. Beyond motorsport success, JRZ expanded to cater to street and track-day enthusiasts, earning a stellar reputation for delivering superior ride quality and unparalleled performance.

To celebrate, JRZ is offering an exclusive $500 discount on the retail price of select suspension systems. For a limited time, you can elevate your driving experience with these premium models:

JRZ RS PRO
JRZ PRO 3
JRZ 11 Series
JRZ 12 Series

Experience the precision, performance, and reliability that have established JRZ as a trusted leader in motorsports and high-performance driving for over three decades.

Act Now!

This special offer is only available until March 31, 2025. Contact us today to learn more and take advantage of this limited-time promotion.

Jon Vo 11/5/24 Jon Vo 11/5/24

Last 111, First Street Legal K20 Swap? (Part 3)

It’s been a while since we had an update on this car and a lot of people were starting to wonder what happened to it. Between the many obstacles to overcome, developing some custom parts, going back and forth on decisions, the owner of the car (and myself) having two having kids, this became a sideline project in the shop. Our usual chats shifted from the K20 swap to sharing our experiences raising two young children. Although progress was made slowly throughout, I wanted Part 3 to be the final part of the blog.

It’s been a while since we had an update on this car and a lot of people were starting to wonder what happened to it. Between the many obstacles to overcome, developing some custom parts, going back and forth on decisions, and the both of us having two young kids, this became a sideline project in the shop. Our usual chats shifted from the K20 swap to sharing our experiences raising two young children. Although progress was made slowly throughout, I wanted Part 3 to be the final part of the blog.

As a refresher, in Part 2 we had removed the K20 from the donor car, did some preventative maintenance on it, and put the drivetrain into the Elise. It was a huge milestone, but there was a lot more to do from there. For a project like this, it’s easy for a builder to get overwhelmed and lose motivation. I’ve found that the best thing to do is to divide everything into manageable parts and tackle one thing at a time.

Fuel

We started off with plumbing the fuel system. Instead of trying to reuse the original fuel line, we decided to make a new one using the original fitting from the Lotus at the fuel pump side, and the original fitting from the Honda on the fuel rail side. Both fittings were barbed and made to accept nylon tubing, so it was just a matter of getting the correct length and shape to join the two ends. Forming the fuel line took some trial and error, but we finally figured it out. The method that worked best was to form a hose out of steel tubing, Zip Tie the nylon tubing to it, and heat it up for a few hours. Using the inside of a car on a hot day worked perfectly as an oven to “bake” the fuel line. Once the hose was formed, we shrunk two layers of Raychem DR-25 over it for some additional protection and pressed the hose onto the fittings.

Shifter

Attaching the shift linkages was simple. We designed a bracket that works with the Lotus shift cables and a K20Z3 transmission. The owner of the car decided to upgrade to the Dolomiti shifter. This shifter feels solid, has adjustable throw, and a mechanical reverse lockout can be configured for a Honda gearbox. We learned that the new tub has a different seat bolt pattern, so the rear section of the shifter that normally gets sandwiched under the seat rail no longer has threaded M8 holes. Apparently, this tub was from the 2017-2022 models, but we were able to fabricate a nut plate to solve this issue.

Shifter Update

We brought up the fitment issue with Dolomiti and they gladly revised the handbrake section for the newer models and sent one to us.

Cooling

The coolant in the Honda is normally filled through the radiator. Since the radiator in the Lotus doesn’t have a fill cap, we had to find another way to fill the cooling system. Typically, we would install a swirl pot or a coolant reservoir, but due to the space constraints of this project, we decided to modify the coolant outlet housing and weld in a filler neck. There are aftermarket options available to solve this issue, but we wanted to keep the original housing because it’s also the mount for the airbox, heater pipe, and factory engine harness. An expansion tank was mounted on the firewall where the ECU used to go. Once all of the coolant hoses were connected, we did a pressure test to verify that there were no leaks in the system.

Plumbing the oil cooler was fairly straight forward. We installed a thermostatic oil filter sandwich plate which provides an inlet and outlet port for an external oil cooler. We reused the BOE side mount oil cooler that was already on the car and made hoses out of Aeroquip hose and push-lock fittings. Originally, the BOE oil cooler fan is wired to the fuel pump, so it was constantly on. Since it is now controlled by the Motec PDM, we set an on/off logic based on oil temp.

Exhaust

In order for this swap to pass the inspection, the exhaust manifold and catalytic convertor must be present from the donor vehicle. The piping can be modified, but they must be within 6 inches and no closer than it’s original configuration, measured from the exhaust manifold outlet.

The original exhaust manifold fit without any modifications needed. The catalytic convertor on the other hand needed to be cut and modified. Before anything, we took a measurement from the the exhaust manifold flange to the o2 sensor using a piece of wire. We used this as a reference to make sure our modifications were within the allowable tolerance.

EVAP

Another requirement to make this a legal engine swap was to retain the EVAP system from the donor vehicle. Although the Honda’s charcoal canister is larger than the Lotus one, we were able to get it to fit in the stock location (barely).

ECU/Wiring

Studying the wiring schematics on both cars so that both harnesses could be joined together has been the most difficult and time consuming part of this entire project. In Part 2, we opened up the Lotus and Honda chassis harnesses and removed all of the wiring that was no longer used. Now it was time to join everything together.

ECU

The ECU was mounted on the roll bar using bar clamps and the original ECU bracket. The reason we didn’t mount the ECU in the original Lotus ECU location is because the engine harness connectors that go to the ECU wouldn’t reach that far. Extending the ECU connectors could introduce reliability issues and complication, so we decided that this was the best solution.

Immobilizer

All of the immobilizer components and Honda instrument cluster needed to stay plugged in, so we consolidated them into the corner behind the rear speaker panel. Without these modules, the ECU would throw a check engine light. Using Hondata Flashpro (CARB version), we were able to disable the Vehicle Stability Assist, Electronic Load Detection and Electronic Power Steering systems.

AiM Dash

Wiring the AiM MXP dash was straight forward using the existing wiring that went to the original cluster. CAN communication between the ECU and MXP would give us basic information like Engine RPM and coolant temp. We also added oil temp and oil pressure sensors for additional engine health monitoring.

For the dash icons, we wired inputs from the high beams, turn signals, parking brake, check engine light, SRS and immobilizer status.

The AiM dash didn’t quite fit under the original binnacle, so our solution was to install a passenger side air bag cover and mount the dash with a custom bracket that we made.

Merging

As mentioned earlier, a lot of time was spent looking through wiring diagrams and taking notes, so when we got to the point of merging the harnesses together, it was just a matter of connecting the dots. We used crimps and epoxy lined heat shrink to seal the splices. We felt this was the most appropriate route to maintain the wire colors to match the factory wiring diagrams, and because sourcing new connectors for all of the modules would have been difficult, if not impossible.

Air Conditioning

Since this was going to be a street driven car, it was essential that we kept the air conditioning. The Honda’s A/C compressor was too large to fit with the space that we had, so we came up with a custom bracket to attach the Lotus compressor to the Honda motor. We 3D scanned the area, designed a bracket and 3D printed the bracket to confirm fitment. Once we knew that it would work, we had the parts made out of steel. We then had to make custom lines to plumb the compressor to the car. The original Lotus lines no longer fit as they would interfere with the rear bulkhead.

Final Assembly

On top of doing this engine swap, we also did a full suspension refresh with JRZ RS PRO3 coilovers, installed Baja lights for better night visibility, and added aero for more downforce at the track. To set up the suspension, we corner balanced and aligned the car. The final weight ended up being about 40lbs lighter than before it came in, even with the additional aero and lighting.

State Referee

Before I could make an appointment with the State Ref, I had to go through a phone interview where they asked questions about the engine change. Once we were cleared, we were able to bring the car over the next day.

It was finally time to see if all of our hard work was going to be approved for highway use in California. Unfortunately, I was not allowed to take photos during the inspection process, but it took about two hours and consisted of a thorough visual inspection, a dyno test with a gas analyzer, and checking for DTCs, readiness, and the ECU calibration ID through the diagnostic port.

The wait was long and I was anxious, but the Ref eventually came back with good news and told me the car had passed! We finally earned the BAR label that we’ve been working hard towards all of these years and this project was finally coming to an end.

Ready for a shake down at the track with a fresh set of RE71RS on 17×9 and 15×8 wheels.

Final Thoughts

This project has taken a lot longer than I would have liked it to, but the outcome has made it all worth it. We are fortunate to have work like this to keep our job interesting. It became a bit of a passion project where we got to try new things, learn a lot along the way, and end up with a car that we are really proud to deliver. Are there easier and less expensive ways to make a K20 swapped Lotus street legal in California? Probably.. But challenges are opportunities to grow and this car is truly one of a kind.

looking for part 1? go here.

looking for part 2? go here.

Jon Vo 9/4/24 Jon Vo 9/4/24

Restoring an Evora 400

On a Saturday evening earlier this year, I stopped by the shop and unexpectedly saw an Evora in our parking lot that looked like it had been in an accident. I later received an email confirming this, and it had been towed in for an evaluation.

Inspection

On Monday morning, I brought the car into the shop to assess the damage and create a repair estimate. Besides a broken toe link and wheel, the rest of the rear end damage was cosmetic. The front end is where the main point of impact was and upon further inspection, I was able to see that the car made contact to the right side of the bumper beam, bending the front subframe to the left about 1/2 an inch. Luckily, the subframe is replaceable, but I knew that anytime one needs to be replaced along with front and rear clam damage, the cost in parts and labor would add up quickly.

As a shop that specializes in Lotus cars, we do accident repairs on them frequently. We work together with body shops and have them focus on the body repair and painting while we do all of the sourcing of parts, disassembly, reassembly, and mechanical repairs.

After meeting the owner in person and going through the car together, we discussed an estimated repair cost based on what I could see without taking the car too far apart. He sadly came to the conclusion that the total repair cost was more than it made sense to him, so he decided to sell the car as-is.

buying the car

A few days later, I got a message from the owner asking if I could park the car outside because he was going to have it towed to a company that purchases “junk” cars. With only 5k miles on the odometer, this car was one of the nicer examples that I’ve seen. We’ve serviced this particular car in the past and I really didn’t want to see it go to a junk yard, so I asked the owner if he would be willing to sell the car to me. His answer was, “I would absolutely prefer to sell it to you.” After discussing it with my wife, we decided that it was finally time to own a “street legal” Lotus, and a final agreement with the owner was made!

The Rebuild

The first step of the rebuild was to tear the car down and make a list of what needs to be replaced and what can be repaired. One challenge about working on low production vehicles is that the parts may not be available from the dealer and the used market can be scarce. Before parking the car in the shop where it would live for a while, I wanted to give the car a good pressure wash.

After taking the car apart I was able to make a shopping list.

Rear end

Rear bumper
Rear diffuser finisher
R/H side marker
R/H toe link
Rear wheel
Evora 400 decal (I promised to give this back to the seller)
R/H tail light
Rear clam (repairable)

Front end

Front bumper
Front subframe
Front frame rail crossmember
Front bumper beam
Undertray brackets
R/H duct assembly
Radiator duct assembly
Front clam (repairable)

Once I had my shopping list, I reached out to a few of our parts vendors to order everything that I needed. A few parts were on backorder and took several months to receive. The front bumper never became available even after months of waiting and searching for a used one, so I ended up upgrading to a Hethel Sport GTE front bumper (Thank you Sherman).

As parts started to roll in, I would slowly put the car back together over the next few months. After taking care of all of the mechanical repairs, I wanted to install the new bumpers and make sure everything fit well before sending it off to the body shop. Even OEM fiberglass parts from Lotus require some work to fit nicely.

Body Repairs

Since this was going to take a good amount of fiberglass work and attention-to-detail, I decided to have Luis at GL Dysigns take on the job. His shop is relatively new, but they specialize in restorations rather than general repair work. I was given updates often as he documented the repair process. I was happy to see that everything was all done properly and it gave me the confidence that the repairs would last the life of the car. The repairs turned out great and I could hardly tell there was damage to begin with. The beauty of fiberglass is that in the right hands, a repair can still be reliable, strong, and look original.

When it was time to pick up the body panels, I towed the entire car to the body shop. Bolting the panels to the car is my preferred method to transport newly painted parts.

Final Assembly

With all of the body panels back at my shop, it was time for the final reassembly. When working with fiberglass body parts, a lot of time is spent getting things lined up and shimmed so that it all looks decent when it’s together.

Additional Work

Beyond repairing the damage, I did some additional work before getting it on the road again. I flushed all of the fluids, replaced the drive belt, upgraded clutch master cylinder, and aligned the car. I also sent an oil sample out to Blackstone Labs for an oil analysis, just to get a baseline on the engine’s health.

Final Details

Before reapplying the PPF to the car, I had Juan at Ultra Detailz come by with his detailing light to identify and correct any fine swirls in the paint that most people wouldn’t ever notice.

After the PPF was installed by our friends at Motoskin, Juan ceramic coated the entire car for some added protection to both the film and paint.

This has been a long journey, but I’m happy that I made the decision to save this rare car. The result was better than I expected and I can confidently say that the car is restored back to its original condition.

What’s next?

The first Lotus that I bought in 2018 quickly transformed into a track car, so despite working on them for over a decade, I haven’t spent much time in one on public roads. My intentions for this car is to keep it relatively stock and road legal. I’m excided to finally have one to enjoy on some of our canyon roads. The first stop will be the 2024 West Coast Lotus Meet!

UPDATE: Our 2024 West Coast Lotus Meet experience.

Victoria Vo 8/28/24 Victoria Vo 8/28/24

2024 Pikes Peak Documentary Short-Film

“Have fun. Don’t die. Finish. And then run a respectable time." -@tomchutang

These were the straightforward, and yet powerful goals Tom set for himself as he faced the 2024 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb for the very first time. Join us for an exclusive, behind-the-scenes journey with Tom and his dedicated team as they tackle one of the most challenging and legendary races in the world with their Eibach powered, AiM Sports Data and JRZ Suspension equipped E46 BMW M3 on Toyo Tires, built by Trackspec Autosports.

“Have fun. Don’t die. Finish. And then run a respectable time." -@tomchutang

Against the odds, Tom secured a spot in the elite “Fast 15” (the 15 fastest qualifiers each year regardless of class) – qualifying 13th Overall out of 70 competitors. And when race day arrived, he didn’t just finish – he clocked a blistering 10:31.372 – a time that earned him 7th in Unlimited class and 17th Overall during the 102nd running of the Race to the Clouds. Tom has now become the 4th fastest BMW driver in Pikes Peak history. This was an incredible accomplishment for a rookie at the mountain driving a production-based unibody car that makes 535whp and 375 ft-lb at sea-level, weighing 3,050 lbs (with driver and fuel), on a DOT tire (the new Toyo Proxes R). Tom's story is one of determination, skill, and a whole lot of heart.

🔗 Follow Tom's journey:

YouTube: @tomchutang
IG: @tomchutang

🔗 Follow the Filmmakers:

www.NickCahill.com
IG: @NicholasCahill
www.RAPTvisuals.com
IG: @VisuallyRAPT

Tom Tang 6/26/24 Tom Tang 6/26/24

10:31.372 at the 102nd Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb

The team arrived back in Colorado Springs on Saturday, June 15th and we were greeted at COS airport by some really cool window artwork promoting this year’s race. After leaving the airport, we immediately headed over to our home-away-from-home: Winslow BMW of Colorado Springs and we were met with another fun surprise; this year’s “Signature” car, a BMW Z3M coupe and “Parade of Champions” car, a new BMW i5 M60 electric performance sedan. The liveries for both cars were unique for the 102nd Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Legendary PPIHC Hall Of Fame Inductee, Clint Vahsholtz, was this year’s driver of the “Parade of Champions” car; which meant that after the race on Sunday he would lead all of the competitors down from the summit of the mountain back to the start-line. It’s an incredible honor, and I can think of no one better for the job considering Clint has raced Pikes Peak 30 times. And out of those 30 times, he’s won his class 24 times and he was King of the Mountain in 2020. Wow!

For race week, our wonderful friends at Winslow BMW hooked us up with an X5 and an X4 while we were in town. These cars are so much better than anything that we would find at a rental-car lot. We were so very appreciative of this, and very proud to represent BMW by having these as our support vehicles. Thank you, Gregg, Phil, Ann, Bryan, Derek, Josh, and team!

If you read my last blog, then you’ll know that we left our truck, trailer, and my race car behind at Winslow BMW after the first test weekend. So, once we got back to town the first thing that we did on Sunday morning was to get the E46 back on the alignment rack for a thorough once-over. We did a full nut and bolt in preparation for the next day: team registration, tech inspection, and driver-health screening.

On Monday, June 17th we headed over to the Broadmoor World Arena at our assigned time (by-class) in order to check-in for race week. The car was thoroughly scrutineered for safety and to ensure that everything was correct for the class that we would be competing in (Unlimited).

I also did a quick health-screening with PPIHC's Medical Director, Dr. Matthew Angelidis. He was happy about what he saw in terms of my medical history and general state of health, so I was quickly cleared to race! The process culminated in my helmet receiving an all-important sticker, our rain tires being stamped after they were inspected, and the car receiving both class stickers and tech stickers for 2024. Woo!

We went back to the mountain on Tuesday morning, June 18th for day one of practice. This time, the mountain was broken up into three sections: Lower, Middle, Top. Since there are 6 classes, they assigned 2 per section. Unlimited was paired up with the GT4 Trophy class, while Exhibition was with Pikes Peak Open, and Time Attack 1 was with Open Wheel.

We ran at the Top (from Devil’s Playground to the Summit) and of course I had to get my obligatory post-sunrise selfie once I got out of the car.

This week, we were joined in-person by Erik Ras, CTO and David Osterman, Senior Engineer. from JRZ Suspension Engineering Together, they worked closely with me to dial-in the PROactive dampers to better handle the extreme bumps in this section of the mountain. I continue to be blown away at how well these dampers work to control the Eibach springs which result in keeping the Toyo tires more planted on the ground. Through setup changes and damper tuning alone, we found 18 seconds by allowing me to keep my foot firmly planted in the areas where it mattered. So cool!

I recorded a 2:51.153 which would be the 4th fastest overall time run in this section that day, and 3rd in Unlimited class.

The next day, Wednesday June 19th was an important one because the GT4 and Unlimited classes were assigned to qualify this day, meaning we would be running the Lower section of the mountain (from Start Line to just before Glen Cove). I managed a 4:14.756 in slightly damp conditions which put me P6 in Unlimited class (0.0250 shy of P5). The cars in Unlimited that were P1-P3 were all prototypes: 2 Wolfs, 1 LMP3, and a Wraith.

After qualifying, we headed back over to Winslow BMW to get the car cleaned up. We also conducted a thorough once-over and then rolled it into the Service Center alongside Laura Hayes in her Toyota Supra GT4 (basically a BMW right?), and Clint’s “Parade of Champions” car. Together, we participated in a brief Tech Talk with folks from BMW North America. It was really cool to be able to share some of my own personal story, to talk about the car, and to hear the same from Laura and Clint!

On Thursday morning, June 20th we were originally assigned to run the Middle sector of the mountain (from Glen Cove to 16 Mile, just before Devil’s Playground). Unfortunately, when we woke up at 230am we saw a notification from PPIHC officials saying that practice in the Middle and Upper were canceled due to dangerous weather conditions. My buddy, Derek would later let me know that they saw over 1.5 inches of ice on the road up. Doh! As such, we decided to take advantage of a rare “day off” to sleep in and then go to the mountain together as a team. We got to walk around the start-line and see everything start to be set up ahead of race day.

On Friday, June 21st we were able to make up the Middle sector that we missed the day before. However, the mountain once again had other ideas in terms of weather. When we went through the gates, the skies were clear. By the time we got up to Glen Cove, it started raining heavily. So at 5am, Dan Skokan (Director of Competition for PPIHC) told all of us during the driver meeting that we would be required to run rain tires for the day. As such, we threw on a special set of Toyo wets which featured a really soft gummy compound with big tread blocks for evacuating water. They worked great! I was able to do two runs and satisfy my requirement as a rookie for “practicing on every section of the mountain ahead of race day.” Afterwards, we decided to load up since it wasn’t worth pushing any harder; only to risk damaging the car.

After we got down from the mountain, we once again gave the car another thorough once-over and a bath. Then we headed over to downtown Colorado Springs to load-in and setup for Fan Fest. It was so much fun hanging out with over 40,000 fans who came out to see all of the 2024 Pikes Peak competitor vehicles on display.

The event also featured a motocross demo, car show, beer-garden, and the Optima Batteries “Fast 15” which recognizes the fastest 15 overall qualifiers for the race each year; regardless of class. And guess what? I found out earlier in the day that I had made the list! My qualifying time put me 13th overall out of the 70 car field this year. As a rookie, this was certainly unexpected but also a very pleasant surprise.

Needless to say, Fan Fest was an absolute blast. I loved meeting so many people and finding out that they had been following my progress all week long. So many folks stopped by to say hello, wish me luck, and to grab a signed hero card along with a die-cut sticker of my Pikes Peak BMW M3. My car was parked in the Toyo Tires booth, along with all of the other Team Toyo drivers this year. The event started at 5pm local time, and at 6pm I was escorted to the Optima Batteries main stage for a special one-hour autograph session alongside the other members of this year’s “Fast 15.” Optima created a special poster with all of our cars on it and every fan that waited in line was able to get a poster that had all 15 drivers’ autographs. So cool!

On Saturday, June 22nd we began the day with a very special Pre-Race Event at Winslow BMW. Over 250 BMW enthusiasts showed up for a car show, food trucks, and to see my E46 M3 on display. It was such a fun send-off ahead of the big race. Our team had the opportunity to grab another group photo, this time with our framed “Fast 15” award in-hand and the car that represents a tremendous international team-effort behind us.

The event ended at 1pm, which gave us just enough time to get over to the mountain by 2pm for final race day setup. We were pitted along race row with fellow Team Toyo competitors, just in front of the start-line and the Optima Battery Pits. We finished just before 5pm and went back to the Airbnb to sleep early, because we would be headed back at 2am on Sunday, June 23rd for the 102nd Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. Spoiler alert: I made it to the summit! It was so awesome to be greeted by my buddy Derek, who has the very important job of waving the checkered flag for all competitors crossing the finish line. I also did an interview for the Mobil1 YouTube livestream, and another one with the local ABC7 news affiliate.

Afterwards, I spent the next 9 hours hanging out with all of the other competitors. PPIHC provided all of the drivers with lunch, and I finally got to eat some donuts! If you didn’t already know, eating a donut from the Summit House at the top of Pikes Peak is a time-honored tradition once drivers reach the top of the mountain.

Oh, and did I mention that I also attended an impromptu wedding towards the end of the day? A huge congratulations to both Kendall and Mary for making it up to the top in each of your cars, for getting married, and for having all of us in your surprise wedding! That was definitely the cherry on top of an already unforgettable day.

Alright, let’s get to the moment that you’ve all been waiting for. The full run in-car video and my finishing time. Before you scroll down further, I want to acknowledge something first. They say you’re only a rookie once. And while that may be true, I know for a fact that the mountain still has so much to teach me and I have a lot to learn. So I am proudly sharing my very imperfect footage (recorded on the new AIM Sports SmartyCam3 Dual) because watching similar videos from PPIHC veterans was an integral part of my own preparation, and now it’s my turn to try and pay it forward.

After the first official test weekend, we realized that a sub-11 minute run was actually possible. But I also recognized it was an ambitious stretch goal; since many drivers and teams take many years and multiple attempts at Pikes Peak to join said club. It took me 10:31.372 to reach the 14,115 ft summit in my first-ever Race To The Clouds; which is impressive for a few reasons. First, the car only makes 535 whp and 375 ft-lbs at sea level while weighing 3,050 lbs with me in it and fuel. And second, I did this time on a DOT tire; the new Toyo Proxes R (the same tire that I’ve been helping to test and develop with Toyo since last Spring).

My time was good enough for P17 Overall (out of 60 cars in the entire field that took the green flag) and P7 in Unlimited (out of 17 in class) this year. In talking with Lisa Haight (PPIHC’s Historian), I learned that I am now the 4th fastest driver of all time in a BMW up the mountain behind James Clay (9:20.433 in 2023), Tim Hardy (9:59.709 in 2019), and Rhys Millen (10:12.024 in 2023), in that order. Wow.

Looking at data after the race, I see a 10:1X is possible; had I not made a few mistakes and when we eventually resolve a power-steering issue that pushed me wide (I dropped a tire at Hansen’s Corner, which could have resulted in a very nasty crash) early in the run; this same issue also forced me to reduce my steering angle input in all of the tight hairpins from Brown Bush to Devil’s Playground, which compromised my corner-exit speeds.

Anyways, enough excuses. Sit back, and enjoy the ride. I know I did. And yes, I am already thinking about next year!

Lastly, because I always save the best for last, I want to give huge thanks to these amazing people for their support in making this effort and result possible:

Mike, Jon, Matteo, Nate, Lamson, and Vic at Trackspec Autosports
Karl, Cameron, Dionne, Stan, and Steve at Toyo Tires
Mike, Robbie, Roger, and Bryc at AIM Sports Data
Mark, Vittorio, and Ian at Eibach
Erik, David, Bertram, and Tom at JRZ Suspension Engineering
Jei at Blacktrax Performance
Ben and Nick at EMtron
Eddie and Jimmy at Titan-7 Wheels
Bart and Ruud at Drenth Gearboxes
Tony at VAC Motorsport
Martin and Willy at Supertech Performance
Nate at Steeldust Machine
Karl and Craig at Active Autowerke
Casper at Rotrex Superchargers
Aaron at Radium Engineering
Mikko at MRT Engineering
Ryan at Motorsport Hardware
Dominik at Flossman Motorsport
KC at APR Performance
Alli, Shareef, and Sean at SS Customs
Fabryce and Max at Alpinestars
HaoMing at WSGlobal
Nick at Cahill Films
Austin at VisuallyRapt
Jem Quesada for safely bringing the car and everything we needed to/from the mountain
Marc David for your willingness to jump in and help with anything needed
Edgar Molina for your epic still-captures
Brian Walker for your awesome BTS photo and video work with the guys
Thelma and Al Capinpin for taking such great care of us at the Airbnb
Robb Holland for your mentorship and guidance
Clint Vahsholtz for your sound-advice and mentorship
Alex, Lisa, Dan, Randy, Josh, Matt, Melissa, and the entire team of volunteers, stewards, officials, medical, and safety crews at PPIHC — you guys are such a world class organization
Gregg, Phil, Ann, Bryan, Derek, Josh, and the entire team at Winslow BMW of Colorado Springs for making us feel so at home and a part of the family when we were thousands of miles away

Tom Tang 6/4/24 Tom Tang 6/4/24

Pikes Peak: First Test Weekend At The Mountain

Following several successful planned test days at our home track of Sonoma Raceway in April and May, we finally arrived at the first Official Test Weekend ahead of the 102nd Running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC). This weekend took place on Saturday and Sunday June 1st-2nd, and as a rookie I was informed by the event-organizers that my performance across both days would be evaluated in order to make a final determination of my eligibility to race on June 23rd. No pressure or anything, but game on.

Jon, Mike, Lamson, Nate, and I spent almost an entire afternoon (there might have been beers involved) at the shop organizing all of the things that we would be bringing with us from California to Colorado. The plan was that if the car ran perfectly across two days and needed absolutely nothing at the end of the test weekend, then we would leave it behind in the safe and very capable hands of our friends at Winslow BMW of Colorado Springs.

As such, our 30-foot enclosed trailer was absolutely stuffed with spare parts (2x Flossman Motorsport carbon fiber splitters, just for example), Titan-7 T-P10 forged wheels (including some very special-sauce ones made in all white, thanks Eddie & Jimmy) wrapped around Toyo’s brand new DOT R-compound Competition tire: the Proxes R, and every tool/fluid/thing-a-ma-bob we could think of needing at the mountain. Of course, we also fitted our tow-vehicle with fresh Toyo Open Country tires for the nearly 3,000 mile roundtrip journey. A special thank you to Cameron, Karl, Dionne, Stan, and Steve from Toyo Tires for your partnership and support.

On Friday May 31st, the truck arrived safely with Jem at the helm in Colorado Springs. When we got to the dealership, we opened the trailer to discover an unfortunate surprise. One of the spare axles that had been previously secured had somehow broken free and fallen on the carbon passenger side-skirt. Doh! While this was definitely a major bummer, we lucked out in that the damage was mostly cosmetic and not structural; which meant no major impact to the performance of the part itself. Phew. Onward and upward…

The team immediately got to work on preparing for an early start the next day and there was a lot to do, including filling our Radium Engineering dry-break jugs with VP race fuel, and mounting the new specially made rain tires from Toyo that had just arrived at the dealership before we did. Speaking of which, I want to pause here to share tremendous heartfelt gratitude to Gregg, Bryan, and Derek at Winslow BMW of Colorado Springs for their generous support of our Pikes Peak effort this year. They are some of the nicest people I have ever met, and they have made us feel so welcomed at the dealership. Thank you so very much for allowing us to essentially “move-in” for the entire month of June and for letting use use your equipment, tools, and shop space. We really feel at-home there and I am so incredibly grateful for their hospitality.

Meanwhile, we also rigged up our brand new AIM SmartyCam 3 Dual which has prototype live-streaming capabilities that we intend to use during race week. I’m also still running my trusty SmartyCam 2 and SmartyCam 3 Sport too.

The next morning, we arrived at the mountain just before 4am and it was still very dark out. The schedule was tight, we would need to be setup by 5am, and following a quick driver-meeting we would go green until 830am; at which point we would need to be fully loaded up and off the mountain again before 9am, when the road became open to the public again.

On this particular weekend, Pikes Peak highway was broken up into two halves for practice/testing: Start Line to Glen Cove (Bottom Half) and Glen Cove to The Summit (Upper Half). Whereas during race week, it is broken up into thirds: Start Line to Glen Cove (Lower), Glen Cove to 16 Mile (Middle), and Devils Playground to The Summit (Upper). On June 1st, I was assigned to run the Upper Half and just before the sun rose fully into the sky I completed my first ever run up to The Summit of Pikes Peak. It was magical, and breathtakingly beautiful.

I would get two more runs on this day and it was a great learning experience for the entire team. We found out that our single 3000HD generator was not powerful enough to get the tire warmers above 150F degrees. As such, for race week we intend to get a second generator and power 2 tire warmers per side. Hopefully then, we can see 200F or more. Being forced to setup and breakdown quickly also meant that the team got really good at efficiently packing and unpacking, which will continue to come in handy through race week.

Ride-along with me for my fastest run of Day #1: a 6 minute and 30 second dash from Glen Cove to The Summit of Pikes Peak. I was really surprised by how bumpy it was up there! A lot of veterans told me that this might be the worst it’s ever been. Yikes. I look forward to fine-tuning the setup of my JRZ PROactive dampers with Eibach springs over the next few weeks before race day. I was however really happy about one thing in particular: my 12+ months of driving the mountain on the sim at home with AIM data analysis really helped. I was able to get my bearings fairly quickly, and just knowing which way to go on the mountain is more than half the battle. However, the sim also isn’t perfect. In my opinion, it's about 85% of the way there. But I did notice that some sections in real life felt shorter distance-wise than on the sim, like Upper Gravel Pit to Boulder Park, and 8 Mile to Engineers Corner. Conversely, I found Heitman’s HIll through Grouse Hill to Gilly’s Corner “easier” to navigate in real life, compared to on the sim. I’m definitely still digesting it all and taking it all in…

On Saturday afternoon, we brought the car back to Winslow BMW for a quick once-over before the next day. This gave us an opportunity to check the alignment, load a revised tune after Jei analyzed the data collected, and to change a few other settings. I also made the decision to swap over to our higher downforce front splitter because we hadn’t tried it yet. The other splitter was already making too much at sea-level during previous tests. Shout-out to Dominik Flossman for making us a custom one-of-one version with an additional wing on top. It looks absolutely wicked.

Once we finished up, we decided to head over to the Penrose Heritage Museum to learn more about the history of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb. We also spent some time with Melissa, the CEO of PPIHC and Lisa, the Historian of PPIHC. Thank you both for your perspectives on the race, and for all of your help! I also want to thank Alex, the Events Manager and Dan, the Race Director— the two of them, along with everyone at PPIHC have been wonderful about guiding a rookie such as myself through his first ever race to the clouds.

The next morning, we were back at the mountain for Day #2 and this time we were set up and starting from Glen Cove in order to run the Lower Half of the mountain. Practice for this sector is incredibly important because it is the one that counts later during race week for my qualifying/starting position. It’s also the fastest and most technical part of the mountain.

A rare selfie for me on Sunday after my first run…something that isn’t obvious from this photo is that ever since Friday, I had been wrestling with a very irritated left eye. It had been red and very painful for several days. Outside of the car, I could barely look at my phone without tearing up, but fortunately adrenaline + Tylenol meant I was able to rally enough to drive all of the runs on both days. Oof. Fortunately, as I am writing this blog post you’ll be glad to know that I went to the doctor and confirmed it was simply due to a burst blood vessel that had become inflamed and irritated. I’m already a lot better now after getting home. Phew. And what you will notice from this photo is that I decided to run my o2 bottle on Sunday to see if it would help at all with my performance. As some folks know, for the past year I have also been preparing for Pikes Peak by getting healthier and becoming more fit. I lost 70lbs of fat and gained a good amount of muscle mass. This definitely came in handy at the top of Pikes Peak. I actually didn’t feel the need to use o2 at all on Saturday, despite climbing from 10K feet to over 14K feet. Pretty stoked about that. As for on Sunday and whether or not using o2 made a difference in terms of my driving performance, the jury is still out. Ha.

Ride-along with me for my fastest run of Day #2: a 4 minute and 21 second blast from the Start Line to Glen Cove. I would later find out that this was the 3rd fastest time recorded out of all cars and classes on Day #2. Sweet! Fun fact: the altitude is causing us to lose even more power than we anticipated. Looking at the data with Jei, I’m only starting at the line with 6psi of boost. By the time I reach Glen Cove, 2psi and by the time I get to Devils Playground, 0psi (less than 300whp). Pretty significant, considering the car makes 15psi (535whp) at sea-level back home. We will be working closely with Ben and Nick at EMtron over the next week or so to figure out how we can get things to run even more efficiently in order to squeeze out as much performance as possible. I’ll happily take every horsepower we can find at this point!

We are now only 12 days away from returning to Pikes Peak for race week. I can’t wait to be reunited with my team, our car, and for so many exciting events taking place that week:

Car Tech Inspection + Driver Health Inspection: Monday June 17th AM
Upper Section Practice: Tuesday June 18th AM
Lower Section (Qualifying): Wednesday June 19th AM
PPIHC Tech Talk at Winslow BMW with yours truly and fellow competitor Laura Hayes: Wednesday June 19th PM
Middle Section Practice: Thursday June 20th AM
Upper Section Practice (again): Friday June 21st AM
Fan Fest with Toyo Tires in downtown Colorado Springs: Friday June 21st PM (come see my car at the Toyo booth — I’ll be giving out stickers!)
Pre-Race Day Event at Winslow BMW with food trucks and drinks: Saturday June 22nd AM
Race Day: Sunday June 23rd all day

See you there! And/or if you want to follow along from home, please visit: https://ppihc.org/2024-ppihc-race-day-live-coverage/ppihc-how-to-watch-and-follow and be sure to catch my posts on IG: @tomchutang

Tom Tang 3/12/24 Tom Tang 3/12/24

Pikes peak build: part 4

Over the 2023 winter holiday break is when things got really serious for our Pikes Peak car. We used the downtime to get a lot done, including a full rebuild of our Drexler rear diff.

Differential Refresh

Over the 2023 winter holiday break is when things got really serious for our Pikes Peak car. We used the downtime to get a lot done, including a full rebuild of our Drexler rear diff.

We got a brand new 3.85 ring & pinion set from BMW Motorsport and then decided to WPC treat them.

Carbon Widebody

We also began installing our gorgeous Flossman GTR CSL carbon widebody kit. Thank you for making these beautiful pieces for us, Dominik and team!

Overnight parts from Germany? Just kidding. The crate for this kit was huge!

New Rear Firewall

Mike did a great job of finishing up the new rear firewall section to keep the fuel cell isolated away from where I’ll be sitting in the car.

Shout-out to Isaac for doing all of the bodywork alongside Will from Cubanobuilt who helped cut and roll the rear-quarters.

Built & Beefy S54

Nate from Steeldust Machine finished building our new S54 with Supertech Performance, VAC Motorsport, and MAHLE goodies during this time and sent it back to us.

Chassis-mounted GT Wing stands

Jon mocked up a new chassis mounted rear-wing design which will work better with the new lightweight carbon trunk.

Updated sequential gearing

Our friends at Drenth sent over new drop-gears for our DG500 6-speed sequential gearbox. They also sent us a new standalone gear indicator.

So. Much. Carbon.

New Shoes

The old 18x10 T-S5 wheels look pretty small in the back now that the car is so wide. Fortunately, new wheels also arrived from our partners at Titan-7. The T-P10 design is so damn good looking! And they are ridiculously light and strong for their size! These are our new fronts, 18x11 +20ET. We will be running 18x12 in the rear later once those arrive.

Built engine and supercharger setup back in the car.

I absolutely love how savage these carbon fenders look.

We did a quick mock up of the wheels with the front splitter. We also got our new APR GT1000 dual element wing (thanks KC) on the car.

special new livery for the 102nd running of the pikes peak international hill climb

Afterwards, it was off to SS Customs in Redwood City for a new livery and vinyl wrap treatment with the best in the business. Shout-out to Alli, Shareef, Sean, and team!

Once the car came back, we began to finalize the fitment of the wheels using hub centric spacers from our partners at Eibach.

Dyno tuning

Then it was time to prepare for our first shakedown of 2024. We brought the car over to Jei at Blacktrax for break-in and tuning of the new built motor. The Flossman kit is so wide, the car just barely fits on the Dynapack. Phew!

Mike did an awesome job of heat shielding the headers with inconel. Look at that red glow!

finalizing the new high-downforce aero package

We added titanium pucks and strikers to the front splitter because it’s going to be bumpy at Pikes Peak and we want to protect the splitter from getting damaged.

Mike finishing up the final piece of the puzzle, the carbon rear diffuser.

New muffler setup. We tried just a straight pipe for about 5 minutes, but everyone went deaf. Haha.

first shakedown of 2024

We decided to sign up for Sunday, March 10th at Sonoma Raceway with our friends at SpeedSF as our first shakedown of 2024. It was an early day, especially because of Daylight Savings.

Spaceship mode: engaged. We showed up to the event with 295/30/18 square Toyo RR tires. The new Proxes R in 295 and eventually 315 are showing up later.

Nick from Cahill Films (alongside Austin at Rapt Visuals) capturing footage for our upcoming documentary short-film about our 2024 Pikes Peak effort.

Throughout the day we gathered tire temperature and pressure data, as well as engine health data. Jei spent a lot of time working with my feedback to improve the tuning parameters, with particular focus made on the shift-cut timing and traction control. The Drenth box and boosted S54 combo rips! We also gathered valuable tire temperature and pressure data, which will help us fine-tune the alignment setup in preparation for the new Proxes R tire.

We ran all 6 sessions on Sunday and I drove 40+ laps. The car ran seamlessly from a mechanical standpoint. We just kept adding fuel and going back out. While the main purpose of the day was shakedown & testing, we did enter my car in the Time Attack Challenge and ended up taking 1st Place in the Unlimited (X) Class. It was definitely the cherry on top to an already great day.

I think the entire team was really proud to see months of hard work come together, with some really incredible results. We also captured a ton of great photos & video footage; shout-out to Edgar and Nick for driving all the way down (from Lake Tahoe and Oakley nonetheless) to work your magic. And special thanks to Marc for also making the trek to come and help out for the day.

coming up next

Hard to believe, but as I write this we are just 14 weeks away from Pikes Peak. We plan to do 3 or 4 more test days before we have to get on the road for the official rookie test weekend at the mountain in early June. We have a lot to do still, but I remain really excited and confident in our team’s ability to be ready. Check back soon for more updates, and thanks for following along!

Tom Tang 2/26/24 Tom Tang 2/26/24

New Toyo Proxes R Competition Tire: 2024 Debut With Trackspec Autosports E46 BMW M3

Last Spring, I announced that I was once again teaming up with Toyo Tires for the 2023 and 2024 seasons. Together, we have been working together to prepare for the upcoming 102nd running of the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb which will take place on June 23rd.

What I haven’t shared yet (although some may have guessed) is that I have been quietly helping to develop & test a brand new DOT Competition race tire with Toyo for the past 11 months, and I am stoked to finally be able to talk about it!

The all new Toyo “Proxes R” is a completely redesigned tire that replaces the long-standing “RR” and it is finally public now. It will be available for purchase starting in April of 2024.

I will also have the honor of racing to the clouds on the “Proxes R” and I am beyond humbled by the opportunity and the support from Karl, Cameron, Dionne, Stan, DK, Steve, and many others from Toyo. Together, we’ll be running a 295/30/18 tire up front and a 315/30/18 tire in the rear of my Trackspec Autosports built Pikes Peak carbon widebody E46 BMW M3.

In the meantime, please visit the Toyo website to learn more about the “Proxes R” and check out this awesome video below which was filmed in December of 2023 at Willow Springs International Raceway. It features yours truly, along with the homies Tazio Otis and Marcus Fry.

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