theCARhack

VRPerformance Open Track Day at GingerMan

Thu, 09 Jun 2011 09:37:54 -0500

It's official: Friday, July 29th, 2011 is the date for another VRPerformance Open Track day-- this time at the newly configured GingerMan Raceway in beautiful South Haven, Michigan.

If you've been to one of our events in the past, you know the drill. We try to gather experienced track drivers (those with some club or professional performance driving instruction under their seatbelts) for 8 or so hours of open track fun. We rely heavily on personal responsibility to make the event safe for everyone.

Fabspeed Exhaust Installation on a Porsche

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 14:20:52 -0500

One of the most balanced, best handling cars on the market today is the mid-engined Porsche Cayman. But, like every car coming out of a factory, it can be improved. Thanks to worldwide noise regulations, the stock exhaust stifles the glorious flat six cylinder engine note just a bit too much. Enter Fabspeed.

E46 M3 GT Part 4

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 10:27:54 -0500

I think I may have fallen off the GT wagon with the latest modification to my E46 M3. The last time we spoke, I installed a TC Kline Racing suspension. Next up, the exhaust.

Brake Rotor Friction Ring Replacement

Wed, 08 Jun 2011 09:11:43 -0500

To say that brakes are an important part of a car's performance is to state the obvious. Pads and rotors need to be checked often and replaced when worn or damaged. Most cars come with single piece rotors-- the friction surface that contacts the pads and the inner "hat" that bolts to the hub are formed from a single casting. Higher end brake systems, and many after market big brake kits, use two piece rotors.

Splitter Install (again)

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:59:55 -0500

Aerodynamics on a street car is important for efficiency-- how easily it can punch a hole through the atmosphere. On a race car, aero is even more important for handling. A splitter-- typically a horizontal plane extending out from below the front bumper, helps push the front end of the car down and consequently aids front end grip or traction. Balanced with a wing at the back, a splitter is an integral part in the car's handling.

Because the splitter is usually very low, it is vulnerable to trailer ramps, track burms and digging into wet grass should you have an "off". If it's attached to the front fascia and you have an off and bad things happen, you can kiss the front end of the car good-bye. The solution is to attach the splitter to something more robust, while allowing it to break away should an unfortunate incident occur.

The Little Things

Tue, 07 Jun 2011 13:34:22 -0500

Having worked on hundreds of cars over the past 5 years or so a few things have become abundantly clear: no two jobs are ever the same, even if the parts being installed are, instructions from the component manufacturer-- if they exist at all-- are almost never complete, and finally, exhausts never ever fit without a good amount of "tweaking". A quick example of tweaking is presented after the jump...

Open Track Day April 2011

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:03:38 -0500

The VRPerformance Open Track Day at Grattan Raceway Invitational has become an annual must attend event for many friends of the shop. With its minimum number of rules and absolute maximum amount of track time its a great way to spend a day learning about all the upgrades we performed to the cars (or need to). Check out the gallery after the jump.

Thrust Sheets to the Wind

Sat, 07 May 2011 14:59:57 -0500

One of our good customers complained of "pinging" noises coming from his front suspension-- a TC Kline Racing double adjustable coil-over set-up we installed last fall. The pinging noise is due to the springs binding as they compress. Our first, quick, remedy was to grease up the coil perches so that the springs could freely twist during compression.

NASA Tech Inspections

Wed, 30 Mar 2011 12:43:48 -0500

Many of our customers have progressed to the point that simple car club track days will no longer scratch the driving itch. For them competetive amatuer racing is the next logical step, and one of the best-- and easiest to get involved with-- sanctioning bodies is the National Auto Sport Association (NASA). Following our customer's lead we are proud to announce that VRPerformance is now an authorized "HPDE and Time Trial inspections and Competition annual inspections/log book issuance" provider. Follow the jump to see the official press release from NASA.

50 Years Sideways

Thu, 17 Feb 2011 16:04:31 -0500

Do you remember Speedvision? The SPEED Channel before its NASCAR-ification. Speedvision would run these wonderful old, usually British, films of racing in days gone by. Well, thanks to Youtube, I came across 90 minutes of rally racing awesomeness...

5th Annual VRPerformance Kart Enduro

Fri, 21 Jan 2011 10:04:44 -0500

Sign up today for the 5th Annual VRPerformance Coffee Beanery Enduro at Kart2Kart in Sterling Heights. We'll be using the same format as in the past: 12 teams of 3 to 4 drivers, non-stop 90 minute race with starting positions decided by qualifying (or random draw, behind qualifiers, if you show up late). Every driver on the team needs to race at least one stint. Price is $150 per team (or about $38 to $50 per driver).

An EVO Introduction... and Sale

Tue, 23 Nov 2010 15:48:26 -0500

We've got a new project at the shop; a 2006 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution IX, or EVO for short. While we're well known as a premier performance shop for European sports cars, in actuality we work on all cars that have a sporting pedigree. And the EVO certainly has that in spades...

E92 M3 Project Part 6, Pads and Lines

Mon, 01 Nov 2010 09:48:47 -0500

To wrap up the E92 M3 project-- for now-- we have a few smaller items to report on, specifically brake lines and pads.

E92 M3 Project Part 5, Suspension

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 13:32:08 -0500

Regular readers of this blog know we're all about balance at VRPerformance; and if you've been following the E92 M3 project build you might have asked why all the power upgrades alone? Well, you are premature with that jaundiced eye, since suspension upgrades were part of the plan since day one.

E92 M3 Project Part 4, Engine Tuning

Fri, 29 Oct 2010 10:00:02 -0500

Advances in electrical engineering have allowed the venerable internal combustion engine to stay relevant in an increasingly hostile environment. A myriad of computer controls actuate precision crafted mechanical components in order to increase the efficiency and cleanliness of modern engines and the S65 is no exception. Since we’ve replaced some major engine components on our customer's E92 M3 in search of power, we needed to let the brain that controls it all "in" on our secret...