Turkey, football, and people lining up in the middle of the night to buy cheap electronics.
These are all November traditions for us here in the United States. For us automotive folk, another November tradition is the Super Lap Battle event at Buttonwillow Raceway.
Yesterday, I drove up to meet Linhbergh and Larry Chen for a day of shooting time attack in the exotic Central Valley.
After fighting through traffic on my way out of LA, I arrived at Buttonwillow to find that the turnout seemed a little low compared to previous years.
However, that just meant there was more room for teams trying to record that quick lap.
Sierra Sierra Enterprises brought their Evo out, not just looking to win the event – but to set a new Buttonwillow track record. I'm just going to cut to the chase here – the Evo ran a 1:41.046 yesterday, breaking its previous record by a wide margin.
SSE didn't have it easy though, the FXMD NSX was running right behind all day long – also dropping into the 1:41 range. As you can see by cars like this, the SSE Evo, or Rado's Scion – it's all about aero!
The AMS GTR pulls out of the Off-Ramp corner. Race cars are great, but there's always something cool about street legal machines.
The AQ Motorsports Impreza and the UMS Tuning Evo battle it out through the Esses. It's impressive how fast the AQ car is for not being in the Unlimited Class.
The Honda Tuning CR-Z project car was out running in the new Hybrid Class.
The little CR-Z fit right in among the other cars hanging around the Evasive Motorsports pit area.
Without a doubt, the AE Performance E92 M3 was one of the best sounding cars of the day. You can't beat the note of a V8 that revs forever.
Another BMW running in the event was the Rennspec E46 M3, driven by Mr. Charles Ng.
While not as extreme as the FXMD car, the Driving Ambition NSX had a strong showing in the Unlimited Class.
A time attack event wouldn't be the same without Tarzan Yamada. Here he is behind the wheel of the Tomei Impreza.
It wasn't racing, but we spotted this hot looking G35 Coupe sitting in the paddock. Quite low.
I was digging this EG Civic running in the Limited FF Class. The Hondas are always some of the funnest cars to watch at these events.
Also running in the Limited FF Class was this wide-body looking Eclipse campaigned by FXMD. Kind of cool to see this out there, as the Eclipse has pretty much been left behind by the tuner market.
Evos, Imprezas, and GTR's weren't the only AWD cars out there. 034 Motorsport brought out their Audi A4 to do battle in Limited AWD.
Can't forget about the S2000 either. Always a favorite among the circuit crowd.
Another Unlimited AWD competitor, and veteran of American time attack, the GST Impreza.
We are just getting started here. More Super Lap coverage to come!
-Mike Garrett
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
awesome... Cant wait to see how SSE does at revspeed next month against the big boys in j land...
Awesome... MORE PLEASE !
pics of the CRX and CRZ out on the track if you have them, please!
That may be Tarzan Yamada in an Impreza, but it's not the Tomei Impreza...not by a longshot!
Big congrats to the Rennspec M3 for taking first place in the Limited FR Class.
Fimally some Time Attack goosness!after I'm done having fun with my s13,I want to start on a grip project NB miata
DESKTOPS of the FXMD NSX, GST Impreza and SSE Evo please.
I drive an Eclipse and we haven't been "left behind" in the tuner market. We have been working on vehicles the tuner market isn't ready for. Can we get a feature or more info on the FXMD Eclipse?
man thanksgiving was last month, and the whole waiting in line for cheap stuff isn't until the end of december!
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great shots Mike! some of these cars are so extreme! also i think i prefer the FXMD NSX in all black to the previous livery (that was the same car, right?)
is that eclipse convertible or something? theres something strange were the hatchback is suppose to be, is that a hardtop or something?
How'd you catch that G35 and miss that Sick FD with the Bersaglio's
WOW the fxmd/cricket nsx changed so much since i saw it last year!
that G35 on orange ce28n was my ride to the event lol
is that tarzans cyber evo in the garage with evasive m/sports?
bring on WTAC 2011, SSE will smash it next year with the new turbo setup!
That black NSX looks insane. It looks like a mid-engined cheese grater. But why do all these time attack cars have such tall spoilers?
This event was amazing! I was actually glad to be a part of this. It was a blast seeing all the tuners coming out!
Great pics !!! waiting for the track times, also love that last picture
"..as the Eclipse has pretty much been left behind by the tuner market."
makes me wonder why? never driven one, so that may be it.. but can't be that horrible right?
I've always liked the looks of em
If i had the money i would be rock a viper acr out there. I know im going to get bitched at for saying this , but w.e , If i was building a budget time attack car i would build up an srt4 acr, it has the potential to really tear it up just like the 1st gen neon acr did in the scca.
The FXMD NSX has gone nuts with the aero. :O
GT500 anyone? :p
Time attack is getting very interesting with the hybrid class and all the new aero everyone is using. Good! Also the new cars are good to. Very surprised to see a eclipse (the good body style too) out there.
It's sad that the GST crew dismissed the G-Stig
Please, destop shots of both NSX's and the SSE Evo!
dudePR21 said:
is that eclipse convertible or something? theres something strange were the hatchback is suppose to be, is that a hardtop or something?
That's Andrew Brilliant's car; it started life as an Eclipse GS-T Spyder (FWD softtop), and competed in land-speed events. More recently, it's been doing time-attack, and the aero on the car has been improving dramatically. It's nice to see the finished hard-top on it.
More pirctures:
http://www.supraforums.com/forum/showpost.php?p=7945604&postcount=112
The 034M A4 is incredible. Huge turbo 3.2 VR6 with antilag and launch control. 900-odd HP Eurotuner GP winner.
aero=fast fast is good
You can't run any car w/ a pushrod motor setup in these time attack events. Thats why you dont see Vipers and Vettes. PS. If you click Momo's name it hops you to his site w/ the time slips up.
am i the only one that was intrigued by the wing on that white scooby?!
but that Sierra Sierra Enterprises evo looks freakin mean man! desktop...?
It should be mentioned that the Sierra Sierra EVO now holds the fastest lap record for SLB after beating the long standing (six years) previous record of 1:43.523 held by the HKS CT230R. This is the first time that a North American time attack team holds the overall record.
FXMD also deserves a ton of credit since they too broke the record but were bested by the Sierra Sierra car.
For all the results check out:
http://superlapbattle.com
FXMD ECLIPSE FTMFW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!11
Nobody pays attention to that eclipse because its "Just an eclipse" and nobody cares about those anymore. Never mind that it won and set a record this year. Has a track record at all the west coast tracks, etc.
5 records broken at this event , 2 by one team , FXMD is on another level !
I heard a rumor FXMD went purple on the lap they lost the motor. Which means they were on track to beat Sierra Sierra when the motor gave out. I cant wait to see what happens at World Time Attack!