Lotus Challenge Series 2009 Season Finale

The beautiful track and facilities at Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch is the venue where the Lotus Challenge Series will end it's second season. It's been a season of growth for both the series itself and it's participants. The times are coming down rapidly as drivers continue to dial in their cars and the wheel-to-wheel racing has matured from demo racing into a points-paying championship.

I've been talking with some of the drivers and organizers here at track about the wheel-to-wheel racing and the future of the series which we'll be sharing with you via Sector111 Podcast in the next few weeks.

Nurburgring/Data Acquisition Tech Seminar! Sept. 26

We would like to invite you to a special Tech Seminar @ Sector111 on Saturday, September 26, 2009 @ 11am

This tech seminar will feature OEM ride & handling engineer and proven hot-shoe, Dave Thilenius. Dave has logged over 200 laps of the 14-mile Nurburgring testing performance vehicles for major auto manufactures. He's currently putting his talents to good use as a driver in the Koni Challenge Series as seen on the SPEED Channel.

Dave's Technical Seminar will focus around OEM development on the "Ring" as well as his extensive knowledge of data acquisition. He'll explain how the pros use data acquisition equipment and how those same methods can be used by amateurs to improve their lap times. During a Lotus Challenge Series event at Spring Mt., Dave used some sophisticated data acquisition tools to help Shinoo save significant time off his laps. Dave will share all his data secrets with you!

To RSVP: call 951-296-6762 or e-mail: bill@sector111.com

Tech Seminar Location:

Sector111
41740 Enterprise Circle N. Ste 101
Temecula, CA 92590

Interview with Jim Navarro

We've posted a podcast of our interview with LCS founder and organizer Jim Navarro. Click here to listen to the podcast: Sector111 Podcasts

This is the first of 3 podcasts that we are publishing from the LCS event at Laguna Seca. We will release one each week so stay tuned.....

Shout Out to Kelley!

I have to give a shout out to Kelley Spieldberg! This last session just ended a few minutes ago and Kelley dominated. She passed at least 6 or 7 cars. She flew by and pulled away from a Porsche 911 along with about 5 other LCS cars. I got a chance to talk with her yesterday and she's really been working on improving her times. Its definitely paid off! Great work Kelley!

An Amazing Race!

Everyone had a great first day on the track at Laguna Seca today. Jim has done a fantastic job putting together this event. It really could not have gone better. The demo race was at the end of the day and was incredible! The drivers pushed HARD but were all safe and had a great time. The 12 car field separated into their respected classes pretty quickly as the faster cars pulled away. This created about four mini battles throughout the race. It was so much fun watching these battles play out on the track. This series has come a long way. LCS organizer, Jim Navarro, said if you told him a year ago the Lotus Challenge Series would be running wheel-to-wheel at Laguna Seca, he'd laugh. Great work getting it done Jim!

Contrats to Brent for a great race and win. He fought with Kevin, who put up a fight, the entire race.

Mid-day at Laguna Seca

The lap times are starting to drop. Drivers are starting to get more familiar with the track and pick the pace a up quite a bit. We've only had two spins so far. Nothing serious but one cause a black flag to clear gravel off the track.

I talked to Any Kern who has raced and taken classes here before. This is his first time here with his Lotus Exige S and he said he is really starting to feel comfortable. The one difficult portion of the track is turn 6 which is a fast left hander setting you up for a fairly long up-hill straight. Andy says he's loosing time in that turn because he is lifting a little too much and not carrying enough speed up the hill toward the corkscrew. I'll check in with him after his next session to see if he's able to drop any time in this sector.

In the garage right now, some guys are making some minor tweaks like brake pads, suspension settings and so on. The next run starts in about 10 min. This session is where we'll probably really see some times drop.

1st Session Done

WOW. I really cant believe how amazing this track is. The corkscrew is MUCH steeper in person. The first few laps everyone took it a little too hot and a few guys actually slid down it and went off a little. The laps following everyone started to take the turn a little more cautiously.

Nirvana looked great too. Shinoo was very happy with the way the car felt. Remember, he drove it all the up to the track (400 miles). It looked planted, smooth and fast. Shinoo is still getting acquainted with Laguna Seca so his lap times didn't break any records but sub-2 minutes for his first time out is still very good. He's working with an instructor right now to go over a few racing lines on some of the tougher corners (6,8, 9 &10).

In the garages right now, a few of the guys are changing out exhausts to pass the sound limit. Laguna Seca is a surrounded by homes and is one of the few race tracks in the country with a sound dB level limit. Needless to say, some stock exhausts are going on for the next session.

The picture uploader is not doing well with the broadband card. So, you can view a full gallery on our Facebook page HERE.

The Start of Race Day

The morning fog has burned off, the driver's meeting is finished and the track is hot. The cars are all lined up in the garages as the drivers make last minute changes before the first LCS run group goes out at 10am. Some of the Laguna Seca newbies are nervously pacing back and forth. Its a beautiful track but it's actually quite daunting when it gets to it. Jim Navarro has put together a really great event this week. The seasons will be overlooked by an official race steward and he's provided tech support and instructors for the drivers.

I'll be heading over to the corkscrew as soon as the LCS drivers hit the track to get some pictures of the famed corner! The weather is gorgeous. Track temp is rising. Excitement is building. This is going to be a great day!

Getting Settled in at Laguna Seca

We arrived at Laguna Seca this evening after a long day of driving. We've got incredible garages in the paddock right on pit lane! We're actually in pit garage #16, which, as LCS participant Kelly Spielberg pointed out, is the same garage Valentino Rossi was in for the Moto GP US Grand Prix. Pretty sweet! We detailed the car and did a little fine tuning of the suspension before we left for the hotel. The track looks absolutely amazing. Everyone is extremely excited to be able to race on such a great track! Bright and early tomorrow. We'll be at the track at a little after 7am then, shortly after, all the fun starts!

On the road to Laguna

Took a quick snapshot of Nirvana with my Blackberry....

Project Nirvana Leaves for Laguna Seca!

This past week has been a busy one for us. We got our stock '05 Elise (code named Project Nirvana) in the middle of last week and immediately began to transform her into the perfect N/A Lotus. Our goal was to have the build finished in time to take the car up to beautiful Laguna Seca for a special round of the Lotus Challenge Series.

We worked through almost every day and even late into the night on the some occasions building a car that would personify performance through lightweight. We still have a long way to go, but already, Project Nirvana is naturally aspirated driving bliss! This morning, Shinoo took Project Nirvana to our friend Carl's to be aligned and corner balanced. From there, we'll be heading up to Monterrey to take on the corkscrew!

This is the first time the Lotus Challenge Series has visited this world-famous track. Its a great track with an exhilarating mixture of high and low speed turns as well as some wild elevation changes.

For those of you that are not familiar with Laguna Seca, it's home to one of the most notorious and beautiful turns in all of motorsport. Turn 8a/8b, more commonly referred to as "the corkscrew," is a very tight downhill chicane that requires massive mechanical grip (grip that is not generated by aerodynamics). The elevation change alone is awe inspiring! Pictures WILL be posted!

Stay tuned here an follow us on twitter @ www.twitter.com/sector111 for full coverage of the Lotus Challenge Series at Laguna Seca and our Project Nirvana Elise.

We'll be posting live track-side!

That'll Do It

The first round of the Lotus Challenge Series at the Streets of Willow is over. It was an exciting day of racing! The rain stopped long enough to get over three hours of dry track time. Abel and I had a great time meeting all of the drivers and spending the day here at Willow Springs. We have a lot of great pictures that will be posting a little later. If we did it here, it would take forever because of the connection.

Time Trial

The track is totally dry and the time trial is about to begin!

Its Not Race Day Without Grid Girls

Action at the Track!

The track has been wet all day causing quite a few spin outs. A couple of close calls, however everyone is remaining safe and following the rules.

Everyone had to come off the track after this one while the dirt was cleaned up.

Pro Alloy Charge Cooler Update

Randy has been putting the Pro Alloy Charge Cooler to the test today!!! Everything seems to be working great. He has really been pushing his Exige to the limit.

We had a chance to interview him earlier today and will be posting it up on our podcast episode in the coming week. Stay Tuned!!

Now back to the track for more pictures!

The Track is Drying

There's a nice semi-dry racing line forming on the track right now. The pace has really picked up! The faster pace has lead to about a half dozen spins though . Nothing resulting in anything more than a slow lap time fortunately.

...the grid girls will be here in 30 minutes. :)

Having Some Fun at Lunch Time

Some good came of the rain and slick track surface! During the lunch break, some of the guys thought their time would be better spent having some fun on the rain soaked skid pad.

It was awesome seeing these cars pushed like that on a wet skid pad. Its totally amazing how much grip they still have!

Skid Pad Turn

It's still raining on and off. A little water doesn't scare these racers.

Getting Pretty Wet

Its been raining for about one and a half hours. There's still no standing water on the track but conditions are definitely getting worse.

Lap times are obviously way down then if the track was dry, but everyone is still having a great time! All the cars look and sound amazing. Rain or shine, this is a great event!

The Cars

First Group Out

The first group just started their first session of the day. Everyone is still getting warmed up and the track is still damp. No spins so far!

There are some pretty nasty clouds in the distance that, hopefully, will decide to not interfere.

Getting Started

The sun has thankfully showed its face! Jim Navaro, LCS organizer, took a few laps in his MINI Clubman and said the track looked pretty good. There's only a few spots with standing water just off the track.

The driver's meeting just ended and the first group is set to run in a few minutes. The track looks like its slowing drying but the drivers have been advised to stay off the slippery rumble strips.

The 2009 Lotus Challenge Series is on!!!

At The Track

Well, we just arrived at the gate to Willow Springs. Abel and I are sitting in the car listening to the radio in the pouring rain. Sunrise is in about 30 minutes and we are praying that this rain stops! The weather report says it's suppose to rain on and off most of the morning. We really hope thats wrong. Either way, it should be an exciting day.

The track will definitely be wet. The question will be how wet and for how long.

On Our Way!

Abel and I have the MINI packed up with brake pabs, discs, lines, and other small bits and are on the road up to Willow Springs! The 15 freeway is eerily quiet right now. The Garmin estimates we'll be at the track at about 6:15 a.m. That'll give us enough spare time before the driver's meeting. We'll be back here after we get settle in at the track!

Lotus Challenge Series Race #1

Welcome to Sector 111's Events Blog! Tomorrow morning, Abel and I will be heading up to Willow Springs International Raceway for the first Lotus Challenge Series race of 2009. 

We will be constantly updating this blog live from the track throughout the day with pictures, lap times, track conditions, driver interviews, and our accounts of the event. If you can't make it to the track this Friday, this will be a great way to feel apart of the action!