14th Oct2016

2016 TresDuro: Tres Means Three Part 2

by Michael Chandler

German Touring Series 2

Five cars took the grid for GTS2, not a bad number. We had some familiar faces show up back on track, and another 911. Never a bad thing. Unfortunately my favorite Porsche model didn’t take the top spot, BUT my favorite Boxster did. Adam Heller in the 09 Emotive Boxster took home the win in all three races, and walked away with some shiny hardware.

In second place is Tom Rogers, in his E30 3 Series. The old #160 was dead reliable, as far as I could tell, and finished each race on the podium. Quick side note: I don’t know why I want to, but I have this strong desire to spell Tom’s name with an H. Thom instead of Tom. No reason why, but I just really want to do it. Anywell, Tom ran well all day, and all season.

Getting himself the only medal that is man-made (gold and silver are naturally occurring, mankind had to figure out how to make bronze), was Chris Haunold. I’m pretty sure he keeps chatting me up at the events, but I’m not 100% sure. If it is, you’re a pleasant fellow. If it isn’t, then there’s a pleasant fellow roaming the paddock and making small talk. Neither is a bad thing.

Pro Touring E

The sky is blue, the sun rises in the east, and Todd Green (aka Poppa Smurf, aka the unofficially official corrections department of this fair website) won himself another PTE medal. It wasn’t easy, the blue car was willing to go fast, but it made Todd work for it. The hard work paid off, and Todd got himself some more hardware.

Troy Duffin in his Datsun 510 (still packing an L series engine and drum brakes in the rear) was your second place finisher in the class. It’s good to be shooting photos of Troy again, takes me back to when there was NASA sanctioned open wheel racing at our weekends. Good times.

Rounding out the podium was Team Slap Hands in the #158… car? I shot 4600 photos over two days, and I don’t have a #158, which (according to MyLaps) only took part in the first race. I do have some photos of a #58, which was around the cars that the Team Slap Hands car supposedly did. Who is the #58?

PAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUULLLLLLL MITTTCCCCCCHHHHHHHEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL. Speaking of MyLaps, guess who didn’t run the race that produced this photo opportunity? Yeah, so good ole Paul (who had a rotating cast throughout the weekend) either took home third, or fifth. Regardless, Smilin Joe Sims is listed in 4th. UPDATE: Yeah, it was all Paul Mitchell. The 158 and 58 are one and the same. The Timing and Scoring system doesn’t like having the same number with multiple drivers in a class, hence this whole confusion.

Spec Boxster

Spec Boxster is still a thing, and it’s still occupied by one man. One hero: Mark Boschert. He wasn’t all by himself though. His pace on two of the three races kept him close to either the GTS2 cars, or the PTE field. On East he outran the Spec Miatas by a few seconds, but trailed the slowest Spec Z by over four seconds. Boxsters are cheap, people! Come on! Someone else grab one, and get in on some spec racing!

Spec Miata

It was Williamson and Bond vying for the class win. By taking the first two races, and finishing second in the third, Chris Bond earned himself a much deserved martini. It was close though, Matt Williamson kept close in those first two races, just like he did all season. The TresDuro was a microcosm of the entire Spec Miata season, and it was awesome to watch.

Matt Williamson was knocking on the door all season, but he couldn’t get over the hump. I’m telling you, next season he’s going to clear that hump. Spec Miata is an old class, but it always breeds great drivers and good racing. Next season, spend some time watching Matt Williamson fight for the crown.

Craig Shane finished the day in third. He’s a grinder, he was the only Spec Miata driver to start every race this season! That’s sixteen races! Craig is a lot like the Miata he races: dead reliable. Craig deserves some sort of award for his reliability.

Spec Z

You guys remember when Spec Z was just three cars? I do. You know how many cars took to the tarmac for this year’s TresDuro? 16. Man how this ridiculousness has grown.

Topping this ridiculousness was Arthur Golebiowski, one of the OG Spec Z drivers. Doing this for two and a half years gives you some skills and insight, and Arthur has all of those things rolling around his head. His average margin of victory was over six and a half seconds in the TresDuro, which begs another question: what does he think about while he’s all by himself at the front? Is he like Kimi Raikonen, dreaming of his next nap? Kittens? Arthur is a mystery, wrapped in an enigma, strapped into a silver 350Z.

Not an OG, but definitely a long time Spec Z driver, Chad Aalders took home second place! Chad spent most of his day battling another OG, and looking longingly at Arthur’s taillights. Well, I’m not so sure about that last part, but he spent a fair amount of time looking at the back of Arthur’s car.

Rounding out the top three is Tom Kaminski. He spent plenty of time in his retro liveried Z battling Chad, and chasing down Arthur. Tom and Arthur having been battling it out with each other since 2014, and I hope they keep it up for years to come.

Speaking of blasts from the past, we had a Thunder Roadster field! JD Stull came out swinging, and took the win in all three races. Normally I’d stop the Thunder Roadster writing at that, BUT THERE WAS ANOTHER THUNDER ROADSTER!

Yes, there was another! Jihn Han, coming out of nowhere, took home some hardware.

And there it is, the round up of the Lightning group. Looking for the Thunder and/or Time Trial write ups? I’ve got separate posts for them.

*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners.

Category : Coverage

Tags : 325i, 350z, 510, BMW, Boxster, Carpenter Motorsports, Datsun, E30, Emotive, Lyfe Motorsport, Mazda, Miata, NASA, NASA Pro Racing, NASA Utah, Nismo, Nissan, Porsche, Pro Touring, Road Racing, Spec Boxster, Spec Miata, Spec Z, Thunder Roadster, Utah Motorsports Campus, Z33

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25th Jul2016

Another Classic for Y’all to Vibe With

by Michael Chandler

We had a new challenger appear for the J Tin Cup! Joining Nathan Rohner’s RX-7 was Troy Duffin in this Datsun 510. You remember Troy: drove open wheel, got himself some championships, nice fellow. Now he’s back, and in a classic.

I know absolutely nothing about the car, but it’s a Datusn 510 and he won his class in it so it deserves a look.

You can’t say no to this, unless you’re cruel and heartless.

*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners.

Category : Photo Post

Tags : 510, Classic, Classic Japanese, Classic JDM, Datsun, JDM, NASA Utah, Utah Motorsports Campus

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22nd Jul2016

NASA Utah Round 5: The Melty Way

by Michael Chandler

It was hot. Very hot. So hot, in fact, that some competitors ended up being less than competitive because of it. Andy Moench’s and Mike Bratsch’s TT3 cars were feeling the heat, as were some of the Spec Z cars. Greg Warnock’s E92 M3 racecar succumbed to overheating issues, but he just hopped into his Cayman GT4 Clubsport and got some more laps in. I mean, who doesn’t have a back up race car in this day and age? Speaking of Greg’s race…

THUNDER

That’s where we start our coverage. Surprisingly, it was pretty drama free. At least from where I was. We had one GTS3 competitor, and that was Mayor McCheese himself: Blake Troester!

Byron Smith was back! Unfortunately for him, Darrell Troester was still there. He finished a lap up on Byron, and claimed another GTS4 win.

Despite going spin cycle early in the race, Gerry Shear (who gets it) got everything straightened out and took home a GTS5 win.

NASA Utah’s own BFG, Bob Evans, took the Snickers Ford Fusion NASCAR Sprint Cup High Downforce Prototype to the top of the podium in ST1.

J.R. Smith, proving that good things can be made better with the addition of an LSx, claimed another ST2 win.

Benevolent Overlord Matt Guiver hopped in the Minion (or banana mobile) and out drove five of the Ford Performance Racing School Mustangs. Five! That’s a lot of Mustangs to beat out.

In the Super Unlimited class, Pirate Supreme Les Long threw down some blistering laps and took home the class win. Could he take home the overall win?

Well, no. Makes & Modesl had their Huracan Super Trofeo back on track, and Derek was a man on a mission. Despite rising temperatures setting off alarms, he managed to claim the GTSU win AND the overall race group win. Speaking of that white, German/Italian super-weapon…

TIME TRIAL

Brendon Stewart hopped in the driver’s seat for the TT sessions and threw down a best time of 1:35.580 to take the TTU win.

TT1 saw a few Vipers. Definitely not a bad thing, especially given the news that FCA will be killing the big snake after 2017. Topping the podium was one of those snakes, the one driven by David Gilliland. He slithered around the East course of UMC in 1:41.8.44

Shawn Murphy wasn’t there that long on Saturday. He had a wedding to go to. I suggested someone Facetime him in, but that one didn’t fly. My brilliant idea didn’t fly, but Shawn did. And in the crowded combined session to boot. His best time in his “street car” was 1:40.988.

As mentioned earlier, Andy and Mike’s cars were feeling the effects of the heat. The heat didn’t seem to be a problem for James Pasquier, and his reliable as the sunrise 993 911. He set his best time in the last session of the day! Clearly we should all get 911’s, and be immune from heat.

Darin Beaudoin barely escaped the day with a win in TTB. He had Stephen Martin hot on his heels. Stephen posted a best time of 1:47.795, which was so close to Darin’s time. Darin, in his Honda Miata, posted a 1:47.760.

For those keeping score at home, Porsches have claimed five wins on the day so far. After this, they will have claimed six. Max Dufford, in his Boxster, ran a 1:48.977 in TTC.

Todd Green, listed in the #60 which I don’t have a picture of nor even see, took home the win in TTE. He posted a best time of 1:47.335 in the second TT Storm session. I don’t have a photo of that car, but I do have a photo of the mythical beast that is L’oreal! I MEAN PAUL MITCHELL!!! Speaking of things that you could hear about later…

LIGHTNING

Things got a little spooky, then kinda violent. Some Spec Miata drivers got too close coming out of Release, and one spun. Later in the race: a couple of Spec Z drivers got together, sending one into the dirt. Aside from those events, and another Spec Z losing an engine over the course of the race which left the car stranded at pit in, the race was fairly straightforward. Let’s start with Spec Miata, where Chris Bond returned! He took home with win, and managed to stay clear of any sort of shenanigans.

Otto Silva wasn’t the only 944 Spec driver this weekend! He was still the winner, but he wasn’t alone!

We haven’t had any open wheel races this season, which has meant that the usual drivers have been doing other things to occupy their time. Apparently one of those “other things” for Troy Duffin is getting a hold of a Datsun 510 racer. He brought it out this weekend, and took home the win in PTE.

Here we see the GTS2, PTB, and Thunder Roadster winners, all at once! Tom Rogers got himself a win in GTS2, Nathan Rohner in his RX7 (which was originally built as an autocross car) got another PTB win, and JD Stull took the win in Thunder Roadster. This was JD’s first race, and it was great seeing him out in competition.

We had one, lone GTS1 competitor: Steve Burns. He and Chris Bond had a solid battle all race, which was great to watch.

And in Spec Z, we had the #42 DXDT car, driven by David Askew, atop the podium.

PHEW! What a day! On to some miscellaneous stuff:

Todd Green usually dominates PTE, except this race. Why? Because he had a dead battery. He got a push start, but ended up being two laps down. Wouldn’t know it by the way he drove.
The Spec Z that lost an engine was the #46 DXDT car, driven by James Burke. It was smoking on every downshift from what I heard from some of the other drivers
It was Kyle Schick who wound up in the dirt. Can’t quite remember who hit him though, but I do have footage of the contact!
I ran around and slapped some CAM stickers on to some competitors cars. If you’d like one, shoot me an email and have some space on the passenger side of your car clear.
For those of you who want to purchase photos: go to here

And that is that! We’ll be back for Round 6, and the 6 Hour Enduro on August 6.

*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners.

Category : Coverage

Tags : 350z, 510, 911, 944, 993, 996, 997, Air Power Racing, BMW, Boxster, Datsun, Dodge, DXDT Racing, E36, Ford, Ford Performance Racing School, Fusion, GT3 Cup, Honda, Huracan, Huracan Super Trofeo, Lamborghini, Lyfe Motorsport, M3, Makes & Models, Mazda, Miata, Mustang, NA Miata, NASA Pro Racing, NASA Utah, NASCAR, National Auto Sport Association, Nissan, Porsche, RX7, S2000, Spec Miata, Spec Z, Sprint Cup, STi, Subaru, Super Trofeo, Tatum Racing, Thunder Roadster, Utah Motorsports Campus, Viper, Viper T/A, WRX STi

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11th Jan2016

Sightings: the RATWAGN

by Michael Chandler

You see some awesome things while on vacation. I started my 2016 on a vacation in St. George, UT with my girlfriend. We had a simple plan: take some pictures of some places we didn’t make it the last time we were down there. One of those places were the Lava Rocks: a massive field of, you guessed it, lava rock formations. There’s no parking lots, so we just pulled off the road and into the shoulder. I was snapping away when I heard the sound of something old making its way down the winding road. I turned around to see what was making the wondorous racket, and prepared to photograph whatever it was.

I snapped some photos, threw the driver and his passenger a thumbs up (they reciprocated), and they drove off over the hill. And then I started to think I knew that car, and probably its owner. My girlfriend drove, I combed through Facebook, and I found my answer. The driver was Blaize Potts, and his passenger was… Some guy I don’t know, but the car was Blaize’s Datsun 510 wagon. Which has the very appropriate RATWAGN plates. Since we just saw each other in passing, this is all you get right now. Hopefully there will be more of the 510, maybe some of his Team Scoundrel teammates (or cohorts, or whatever they are), and some other stuff I saw down there in the coming months. Until then, enjoy the glory that is an old Datsun on a winding road!

*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners.

Category : Sightings

Tags : 510, Classic, Classic JDM, Datsun, Japanese, JDM, Sightings, Team Scoundrels, wagon

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17th Mar2015

Utah Japanese Classic Car Spring Fling

by Michael Chandler

Words and photos by Michael Chandler

Spring is in the air and we, as gear heads, need to take to the streets and enjoy this. On Sunday the Utah Japanese Classic Car group got together at Sugarhouse Park to ring in the season with what they called the Spring Fling Pot Luck. If you’re in to classic J-tin then this group is for you, and if you were able to make it out to the park you got to see some treats.

There were a pair of classic Celica GTs in attendance. Both coupes were 5 speed models, and were rather bright. You can see some American muscle influence in the noses of these vehicles, very reminiscent of early Camaros and Challengers; however, while the Americans were spry for being as massive as they were the Celicas were just spry.

This beautiful, Datsun wagon made its way out. More impressive than the wagon, and its cloth sunroof? The fact that it made it out of the park. That exit is gnarly!

Who doesn’t need more RX7s in their life? Everyone does, and there were examples of all three generations out, but this FB really caught my eye. It’s not a concourse car, but it isn’t a wreck that that’s rotting away. It’s a simple driver that’s hopefully spreading the good word of Reagan era rotaries to the masses.

FC RX7s have been on the rise for a while, and for good reason. Like all 80’s import FR coupes, they look amazing. A few simple exterior modifications can transform a mundane runabout into a jaw dropper, and there were plenty of turbo models produced. Nary a man alive can resist the Siren’s song that is a turbo 13B.

This was, arguably, the most gorgeous car at the meet and is in the running for most gorgeous car to ever be produced. The FD RX7 didn’t look like its contemporaries when it was new, and nothing has come along since to rival it. This one is a bit different than the ones you see running around. There isn’t a Mazda badge on the exterior, but it does have an “efini” badge on it. This is because Mazda, like Toyota and Nissan, opened up a luxury division. Their’s was called efini, but only operated from 1991-1997. And unlike the Lexus and Infiniti brands, efini existed only in Japan. That fact explains the most obvious feature of the car: it’s a right hand drive model. You’re not going to be finding efini RX7s littering your supermarket parking lot, so seeing one in person is like finding a unicorn.

Second generation MR2s were out in force. These mid-engine runabouts have been turned into Ferrari F355 lookalikes by some ~~idiots~~ overly enthusiastic people, but thankfully the ones at the meet were clean examples that weren’t sporting prancing horse badges.

IT”S A SUZUKI CARRY! WE’VE HIT PEAK JDM!!! This is as good a place as any to end this post. There’s a gallery below, but I won’t blame you for spending your day basking in the glory that is the Suzuki Carry.