Racing
The Camaro is Back
Sunoco Camaro
It has been a long time since we have seen a real race series pitting iconic American muscle cars against each other. The Camaro vs Mustang in American racing is what helped spark the muscle car revaluation in the late 60’s. Seeing the classic dark blue Sunoco Chevy Camaro back to fight agains the Mustang in the Grand-Am KONI challenge brings us back to those iconic times.
We will get a chance to see these cars go head to head during the final round of the 2009 KONI Race at Virginia International Raceway. We don’t expect the Camaro to have a spectacular showing against the seasoned Mustangs but it should still be a blast to watch. If you tune in you will also get the pleasure of watching them battle with the new M3’s, Porsche’s, GTI’s, Miata’s, and a Subaru Legacy. It is a great and exciting racing series.
Update: Hennessey’s LS9 Camaro SS w/Video
Hennessey HPE700
Today we got to see new video of the overly insane project Hennessey has been working on. The first dyno pull to make it to YouTube with speaker busting exhaust notes and all. If you’ll take a second to remember why this project is so… well awesome, here you have a 2010 Camaro with a modified LS9 V8 engine named the Hennessey HPE700. LS9 you say? Yes that would be the same engine found in the ZR-1 Corvette, only finding a new home. With 645 HP at the rear wheels and 653 lb-ft of torque this monster will hang with the best of them. Again this is the first dyno we know about so more tuning may come. No word yet on when the project will be finished and what the planned price for the package will be but trust me, we are all ears.
The Jay Leno Show Electric Focus: w/Video
Leno's Electric Focus
One of the exciting segments coming out of the new Jay Leno Show has been named “Leno’s Green Car Challenge” and will feature a celebrity racing against the clock in an electric Ford Focus, as we reported here. We know that Drew Barrymore will get the first chance behind the wheel and we know that she will be driving the Focus around a make shift track outside of Leno’s studio. What we didn’t know was the specs and the looks of this Electric Focus.
That all changed yesterday as Ford released the information on the car to star on Leno’s show. It’s a Euro Focus ST five door-hatch back converted into a one of a kind electric Focus. Ford knew that this car would go through the ringer so they fitted it with Racaro racing seats, bigger brakes, a full roll cage, and five point-harness. The electric motor will produce 141 hp and 235 lb-ft of torque with a 7,500 rpm redline and a curb weight of 2,421 lbs.
Needless to say they should be able to have plenty of fun in this car, can’t wait to see the airing of the first go around.
Lotus Evora Type 124 Endurance Racecar
Lotus Evora 124 Endurance Racecar
As you may know Lotus is one of our favorite car manufactures, at txGarage, from the Elise and Exige to the Seven and the Carlton. Lotus has been making uncompromising sports cars since its Mk1 in 1948.
The new Evora, launched in July 2008, was to be a 2+2 sports car with a mid mounted 3.5L V6 engine. To some this would not be a true lotus with the added weight and comfort given special attention in this car. The first of these cars had only been delivered to customers a week ago and Lotus is already showing off the newest, inevitable, variant of the Evora. That would be the Type 124 Endurance Racecar already set to debut at the ADAC Nurburgring 24 Hours Race. It’s a stripped down light weight ready built Racecar aimed at the FIA GT racing series. The mid mounted Toyota V6 engines power has been increased and is hooked up to a six speed sequential paddle shift racing gearbox.
We look forward to seeing this amazing new machine from Lotus racing next year.
[Source: Lotus]
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- Lotus Evora 124 Endurance Racecar
Cool Car Spotting
Lotus 340R
Today I stumbled across a car for sale that I have never seen before, this is a rare occurrence for me. This, obviously rare, Lotus is called a 340R. I have seen 2-Eleven cars, Lotus 7 cars, and a bunch of cup race cars by Lotus but this 340R is a first for me.
It shows to crank out 190hp with a weight of 1450 lbs with a 0-62 time of 4.4 seconds and a top speed of 130mph. Like all Lotus cars this thing is a track king! Only 340 total examples were built and everyone was sold before they were ever manufactured, which explains the fact that I’ve never seen one. This car uses a totally custom built body shell with no roof or doors to add unneeded weight, every car came with a silver and black color scheme.
Needless to say I love Lotus cars and this one is right up there with the coolest cars around.
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- Lotus 340R
Road Race Motorsports 2010 SX4
Road Race Motorsports 2010 SX4 SportBack
As you might or might not know a few of us here at txGarage helped design and build an SX4 Turbo for a local dealer, Chacon Suzuki, as a show car. You can check it out here, if you are interested in seeing our work. There are not many companies that make aftermarket parts for Suzuki cars, and when we built this car there was really only one, Road Race Motorsports.
After working with the guys at Road Race I’ve been following a lot of what they do from their work on Evos, to the Genesis Coupe, to the new Kizashi from Suzuki. Now they have come out with the newest SX4 variant, the 2010 Suzuki SX4 SportBack. The stock SportBack gets things like 17” wheels, a six speed gearbox, 150 hp VVT 2.0L engine, and opts out of the AWD for a basic FWD platform so there is less power lost by the drive train. Road Race did a great job working on the SportBack, here is what Rob posted on SX4Club.com
Road Race Motorsports has been working with Suzuki North America for over 4 years now build drivable concept cars to entertain the public and Suzuki Executives. The new 2010 SX4 sport is no different, this car is built to entertain and that is does with RRM tuned intake, exhaust, lowering springs, sway bars and RRM sport stripe kit along with other mods. On with the photos…for more info on this car and other Suzuki products check out or website.
http://www.roadracemotorsports.com/store/
With the variety of cars and manufacturers entering in race events like the Koni Challenge, it wouldn’t surprise me to see some of these showing up on the track.
Checks out their site for more info on Road Race Motorsports also don’t miss their YouTube page.
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- Road Race Motorsports 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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- RRM 2010 SX4 SportBack
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@cbarger Or "make" a circle rather ... :) We've got a year to play w/the route, stops, teammates, etc. It would be a total #TejasCrew blast!2 hours ago
Just watched @marklevinshow speech at Ronald Reagan's Library. Great speech! Check it out on http://marklevinshow.com2 hours ago
I'll have to fine one of those! RT @cathylewusa #SXSW. Folks used to sell shirts that said "Welcome to Austin. Don't move here." HA.10 hours ago
RT @chevrolet Here are our #ChevySXSW lists for all the latest on the road trip teams! http://twitter.com/chevrolet/lists
#SXSW11 hours ago
Agree RT @SpeedSportLife Gorgeous Stang. RT @BDavis516: @SpeedSportLife no cars&coffee houston :( but this is my car : http://bit.ly/deys5P11 hours ago
@SuzukiAuto tomorrow I'm heading to Chacon Suzuki to see about trading the XL7 for a Kizash! I'm excited! http://chaconsuzuki.com13 hours ago