JPR AutoSports

EFI Logics Evo X
Poconos Long Course July 14th- 15th, 2012
NASA Northeast TT

The Poconos race-track is something of an enigma. The speedway is newly paved while the infield remains rough. The transitions between the courses are treacherous and what was once a fast sweeper is now a slow bump that demands the car be positioned just right. The long straights benefit the low cars with tall gearing, opposite the Evo X, the tight turns inside are suited to cars with grip. Getting the right balance during car setup is very challenging. We are all looking very forward to Poconos repaving and reconfiguring the infield this winter.

The TT field remains very competitive with a variety of well-prepared cars in the TTS class. On Pocono’s unique track, it was anyone’s race. Saturday was warm and muggy with temps around 85 degrees providing good grip on the newly paved high turns. Like NJMP Lightning differences in lap times through the field was extremely small from lap to lap. Running the course clockwise, the key to a lower lap time was entering the “bowl” much faster than what might seem reasonable. The banking is steep enough that physics takes over and scrubs off all excess speed. An exercise in restraint to not touch the brakes at turn entry was in order. A slight lift brought the car from about 155 to 135 at entry to the turn making for some exciting driving as racers were fighting for every tenth.

The Evo X had some issues early Saturday. The very high speeds and resulting high G forces on the speedway turns caused the front left strut plate to shift as a top hat bolt was damaged from the load. The result was a cloud of smoke as the front tire was thrown against the spring, destroying the tire. This ended the qualifying session and the slower lap times caused the car to be grid late in the group. EFI Logics was on hand to assist and we rebuilt the strut top hat by the third event. A few hot laps into the session and a new boost hose leak resulted in much lower power and another thrown heat. It wasn’t until later in the afternoon, with a replacement hose in place, that the car was finally on the hunt. The final session resulted in some laps in the 1:32s and a 2nd place overall in the TTS class. Not as fast as I’d like but a good finish given some of the challenges of the day.

Sunday looked like rain. Cloudy, humid and a bit cooler, the forecast was ominous and it was clear that the best lap times were going to come early in the day. Today we were running the course clockwise, as such the banking into the bowl was reversed from Saturday and even faster, permitting an entry speed of 140-145 mph. With some wide-open track, the Evo running well and the spectacular Goodyear Eagle RS tires on each corner, this was not a session for the faint of heart. By the third lap the tires were warm and the front straight saw a trap speed of 156 mph. Lifting into the banking and through the bowl the car exited at 138 providing a back-stretch into the tunnel turn of just over 160 mph. This was our strongest run and resulted in a lap time of 130.9. The result was considerably faster than last year’s times and placed us clearly in first place. The rain rolled in and turned the track slick for the next sessions. Even with rain tires there was no way to get close to the lap times of the morning and while the late afternoon run was finally dry, the track remained damp and slick. That morning heat was the fastest of the day resulting in a 1st place finish in our TTS class for Sunday’s event.

The CL8 brake pads from Essex continue to perform and are wearing better than originally forecast and better than the DTC 70. The bite is impressive and the stopping power is amazing with absolutely no fade. We are monitoring rotor wear closely but if the Girodisc rotors last as long as they have with the Hawk DTC 70, than the CL8s are the pad to beat and will lower pad cost considerably over the course of the season. We are experimenting with new brake ducting and directing a bit more airflow on the rotor and caliper, more details soon.

As always, setup is key and we are always looking for ways to manage cost and reduce weight. Even the lug nuts get close attention. The Yonaka nuts have proven themselves again and again. Super light aluminum, we are swapping wheels so frequently that each nut is checked carefully each day to make sure it continues to thread and torque properly. We’ve had great results racing with Yonaka nuts and couldn’t be more pleased with their performance. They are light, priced right and bulletproof.

Despite some early hiccups the weekend was a terrific success. A 2nd on Saturday and 1st place win on Sunday has set us well as the current regional points leader for TTS. Another exciting weekend that would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors, family and friends. A big thank you to EFI Logics, Goodyear Racing, APR Performance, Yonaka, Boosted Racing, Girodisc, Seibon, Enersys, Torque Solutions, Moroso, GSC, and Full-Race. Check out our sponsors’ page for direct links to their sites and products.

This past weekend’s competition at New Jersey Thunderbolt course was exciting, fast and fierce. Two days of 90 degree heat and high humidity took its toll on several cars and while the track had good grip the high temps caused a number of problems for other participants. With many new competitors and some important setup changes the differences in lap times through the field was extremely small. This made for some exciting driving as racers were fighting for every tenth.

The Evo X ran like a top and while the humidity certainly had an affect on power the overall setup was consistent and fast. EFI Logic’s prep and Chris’s tune continues to pay big dividends, as the car is rock solid throughout each and every session. New for this event are the CL8 brake pads from Essex. We’ll do some additional testing but over the weekend the pad maintained tremendous bite and strong torque despite the heat. Wear seems good or equal in comparison to the Hawk DTC 70 but some additional analysis is needed. More soon.

EFI Logics’ Jack Laverty reset the alignment and corner balanced the car nicely using a bit of ballast in the rear right corner. We ran the Thunderbolt track with the chicane, which adds some complexity with a series of short turns with strong weight shifts. Coming in a little early allows for the Evo X to flatten out and power through the next two turns and onto the back straight. The car is extremely predictable, and the Goodyear Eagle RS tires continue to perform exceptionally well. We can’t say enough good things about the tires as the R compound has fantastic grip and wears like iron despite the weight of the car and AWD setup. Turn in and rotation is fast and consistent and when they do break away it is smooth and stable. The tires are unidirectional and so it is easy to swap them around to ensure even wear. If you haven’t tried these tires then, well, you are missing out and will continue to burn through alternatives wondering why you had good grip right up until you slid off the track.

Set up and preparation is key to producing consistent results throughout the TT series. It’s the little things that matter, from EFI Logics’ tech Joe checking pressures, fluids, tires, and zip-ties. EFI’s process of confirming the car’s readiness is exhaustive and makes all the difference. Even the Yonaka lug nuts get Joe’s keen attention. Super light aluminum, we are swapping wheels so frequently that each nut is checked carefully each day to make sure it continues to thread and torque properly. We’ve had great results racing with these Yonaka nuts. Light, priced right and bulletproof, these lug nuts are the right solution.

Overall, it was a great weekend of racing with strong results across the board. With less than a second difference between the top 6 competitors, we took 4th in TTS on Saturday. Sunday’s times improved further with a first place in TTR and a 3rd in TTS. This was an exciting weekend that would not have been possible without the unwavering support of our sponsors, family and friends. A big thank you to EFI Logics, Goodyear Racing, APR Performance, Yonaka, Girodisc, Seibon, Enersys, Torque Solutions, Moroso, GSC, and Full-Race. Check out our sponsors’ page for direct links to their sites and products.

NASA NE’s first event of the season in New Jersey Lightning was action packed. These early events are great as they bring out hundreds of cars, new modifications, and old friends. Things have changed over the winter and the Time Trial classes have grown considerably. Importantly, NASA NE made some significant changes to our grid set up to give us more open track time. A number of new competitors with some very fast cars this year and so the competition was fierce. Fortunately, Saturday was clear and bright and, with EFI Logics’ tuning and the excellent Goodyear Eagle RS, we were able to slowly peal off successively faster laps, ultimately securing the TTS win for the day.

The car was rock solid throughout both days, EFI Logics’ chief Tech, Jack Laverty made some significant changes to the suspension settings including corner balancing the car. The difference was immediately evident, providing more rotation at turn in and planting the rear end at exit. If you haven’t had your car set up for the track by a professional it’s more than worth it. Jack is the master and you need his input. As I posted earlier, part of the changes to the car over the winter were new Torque Solution side motor mounts, rear differential, exhaust, and shifter bushings. These are great products and I am consistently impressed by their impact on the handling of the car. Everything is tighter and makes the car feel more predictable. Check out our sponsors page for their website link, they have developed a number of cost effective solutions for a wide variety of cars and it’s these small changes that can really impact your car’s performance over time. For the Evo X, start with motor mount bushings first, then shifter bushings, then drive shaft and rear differential. Get ready for an amazing impact to your car’s handling and feel.

Sunday’s weather was the opposite of Saturday. Much colder, the rain started at 9 am and only increased throughout the day. lap times were much slower and it was extremely slick for anyone without a full wet rain tire. A second place on Sunday felt especially good given the number of cars spinning or off the track. We loaded up early, vowing to procure a better wet weather set up before the next event. All in all it was a great weekend. EFI Logics had a number of cars at the event and each had wins in their respective class. It’s a strong testament to their support and set up skills. A special shout out to EFI Logics’ newest member Kevin. He and his buddy Brian covered the four EFI Logics cars over the weekend as well as providing some technical support to a few others.. The focus and commitment was great and I never saw two guys run so much in my life.

And we are getting ready. Some good changes to the car, new sponsors and a fresh season in front of us. We are excited and busy getting the car ready for the first event.

Sponsors

Some great news as JPR Autosports and EFI Logics have a new relationship with Torque Solutions These guys make short shifters, bushings, exhaust hangers and other key parts for Subaru and Mitsubishi (and many others). The Evo X will be installing new motor mounts, differential mounts and transmission bushings. The quality of Torque Solutions parts is excellent. We’ll put together a full report later but for now, check out their web site.

Enersys/ Odyssey batteries are the very best in lightweight, high performance batteries as we are extremely pleased to announce they are out latest sponsor. The PC680 battery has all the punch of the oem battery but weighs only 15 lbs and can be mounted upright or on its side. Even the trailer benefits as the PC1750 is a monster of a battery and ready to power the winch, computers, chargers, compressors, you name it. There is no better battery option on the market, find yours here.

March 31st is our first event. A simple track day with NASA it will be an opportunity to sort out the car and driver. More on the is event soon.

Goodyear Racing Tire Division will be supporting JPR AutoSports in 2012 with their fantastic Eagle RS racing tire! After an excellent 2011 season, including the regional championship, it only made sense to stick with what works best and so we are very excited to announce the continued sponsorship and support from Goodyear. The Eagle RS has proven itself a very worthy competitor to Hoosier, Hankook, and the others with great grip and excellent wear characteristics. In fact, we used less tires last year than forecast despite the hot days and fast tracks. Don’t take our word for it, you owe it to yourself to try a set of these tires. Access their website through our sponsorship page.

Spent some time over at EFI Logics the other day. Amazing how busy they are and how many cars are undergoing upgrades while I sit on the offseason sidelines. I spoke with Rob For a bit and watched him finish up a Subaru engine build. I am ever impressed at his attention to detail, and his focus on making everything perfect and keeping things clean is remarkable. A very unassuming and open guy, Rob is a true professional and I look forward to his care and attention to the Evo’s motor someday. (though I sure hope it is a while out). Meet Rob, you’ll want him to build your motor too.

Happy Holidays everyone! Here’s to a great 2012!!

The NASA Northeast results are now posted, the points tallied and it was great to see John Robbins in the EFI Logics Evo X listed as the TTS class Regional Time Trial Champion! 2011 included some strong competition with 12 drivers competing during the season’s events, but podium finishes at all events and winning twice at Poconos, at New Jersey Lightning, and on the final day of the season at New Jersey’s Thunderbolt race track helped secure the title.

A late start due to the car not being complete and then a delay for repairs after an incident with some Armco at Lightning posed an interesting challenge. We needed to be at every remaining event and a mixture of TTS participants meant we never knew who or how many were going to be competing. The car was consistently brilliant though and now is well sorted and no major plans are forecast for the winter, save for typical maintenance activities. There may be a few surprises and so keep watching – there is always plenty to do to get the car ready for next year.

As I’ve written throughout the season, any success in racing is not a singular effort and, in our case, has included significant coordination and support from a variety of sponsors, manufacturers, and of course, family and friends. Notably, and I’ve said it before, EFI Logics in Bethel CT has played a huge role in making sure the car was fast, safe, and ran properly throughout the season. There are so many aspects to their support and expertise that I can’t express it all here, you’ll be best served by a direct visit to their shop. Goodyear Racing and their venerable Eagle RS tires have had a dramatic impact on lap times, regardless of the track. Predictable, fast and long wearing, the Goodyear’s have been great tires; if you haven’t yet, you should try them, really. Additionally, significant support from Moroso’s development group, Girodisc, Route 53, Seibon, APR, Full-Race, GSC, ATI, and others (see the Sponsors tab for direct links) have all made a huge difference and we are both honored and humbled by the opportunity to work with these great companies.

The NASA TT program grew exponentially this season, with many new racers, new cars, bigger contingency awards and unique track configurations and events. The TTS class is larger than ever, reserved for the more heavily modified street and race cars it should grow again next year as more drivers continue to improve and develop their vehicles. The inclusion of Real Time Attack and Global Time Attack competitions throughout the US, including the Northeast, is helping to bring more attention to the NASA TT events, which is sure to bring additional excitement in the upcoming 2012 season. Thanks again for all of your help and support and get ready for 2012, it’s already shaping up to be a great time.