Tropic Thunder

A deluge of brightly colored classic and modern 911 variants buzzing around Thailand’s Kaeng Krachan Speedway? Of course I’d love to see that. Filmed beautifully with muted colors and set against the lush foliage surrounding the track, this video stirs me in the way that few things can. There’s just something different about old 911s, and it’s a rare thing to see this many vintage examples running around together across such a lovely backdrop. Enjoy!

Global Tuner Grand Prix: The Pits

Last time I took you through the track at Laguna Seca. This time I’ll give you a look at the pits and parking area in the middle, which had some very exciting equipment on display. Unfortunately some of these cars were supposed to run but couldn’t make it out in the end.

This Golf was quite the potent looking machine. Besides the flared fenders, there was little to indicate what sort of performance monster it was… until the hatch opened up…

…and reveals a turbocharged V8 and full roll cage. The thing that blew me away was that aside from the backseat delete, it was rocking a near complete interior, even down to carpeting and door panels in the rear engine bay! That is something I’ve not seen done for some time. I’m sure some consideration was taken considering flammability and melting.

A look at the opposite side of the car revealed a fuel cell integrated very nicely. This car is clean all over, considering the epic nature of drivetrain conversion it has gone under. Talk about a sleeper.

Porsche was well represented on and off the track, with this flamboyant GT3RS parked next to the main straight.

The RS sported one of the most interesting custom plates I’ve seen in a long time. I have to wonder what other kinds of cars exist in this family. I’m sure her children were never late to school.

This 928 made some hot laps before coming back in for a break. It may not have had the endurance that the RSs did but it was good to see Porsches from an earlier generation coming out to run. Scarface would have been proud.

The garages might as well have been renamed GT3 City. The champion car of the day was everywhere, it was completely unavoidable. Still, you won’t find me complaining, it’s not a car you can see in large quantity very often.

I suppose it would be a crime to post so many photos from Laguna Seca without including a Mazda, being that they own the track. This was one of their display cars. Another RX-8 was out on the track acting as a safety car. This 8 however was a very simple setup but effective, it had lots of curb appeal with only minor modification.

We will take a further look later on at the Audis of the Global Tuner Grand Prix.

Recap: Global Tuner Grand Prix

In 2010 I had the chance to attend something quite rare: race day at Laguna Seca without spectators or an abundance of press. What press people were there though included myself, and for us few, it was a great opportunity to squeeze off shots of the cars coming through the corners without the interruption of other railgun-sized lenses getting in the way or knees bumping you in the back.

I started out at the closest spot for photography: the Andretti Hairpin. This is a good place to catch the cars early on as they thunder on out of their grids and warm their tires up in the first corner.

Later on as more and more drivers began to step up their game, I meandered on to the Rahal Straight that leads into that ever infamous corner known as The Corkscrew. The straight is an uphill climb providing nearly zero perspective of the brass-balls-breaker of a curve downward that is on the other side of the pavement horizon. Even the daring GT3s were standing hard on their brakes at the top of the straight, preparing for the dive that awaited them.

This being my first trip out to Laguna Seca, I was excited to see The Corkscrew in person. It’s far more vertical and dynamic than watching it on TV or virtual renderings would lead you to believe. In person, you can feel the G forces the cars are carrying into the turn even without riding along.

I had to be on my toes shooting the cars as they barreled down this steep series of corners, as a few had slid just off the track and into the gravel. Luckily none plummeted off at the bottom of the turn, where I was snapping away. Several cars did however become slightly airborne.

After coming out of The Corkscrew, the drivers accelerate hard throught the Rainey Curve, before the near 90-degree Turn 10.

Later on as the weather began to move in, I wandered across to Turn 11, the final corner before the main stretch and finish line. By now, it was a single make battle, with all Porches and a lone Volvo sticking it out into the wind and rain. Witnessing a torrent of GT3s powering through that final corner is  a terrific sight, and an even better sound.

I’ll be back later to take you through the pits of the Global Tuner Grand Prix.

article & photography: colbydc5

Aporschelypse Now: The 918 RSR has Landed

Though I cannot be in attendance of the Detroit Auto Show, thanks to the wonders of the world wide web I bring you  the Detroit reveal of the Porsche 918 RSR (via the Porsche Channel).

While we were treated to the incredible looking 918 Hybrid concept in Paris, this RSR is the one that will put to the test on the racetrack. Now that we’ve seen it in Detroit, when can we expect to see it on the ‘ring, Porsche? Combining the kinetic energy regenerative braking technology of the GT3 Hybrid race car with a mid-engine V8 and a paint scheme that subtly resembles Gulf livery 917s, this is one Hybrid that I can safely say I am ravenously Hungry4. Below is one more video of the RSR from Porsche, albeit a rendered version. Porsche has proven thus that you no longer have to be a hippie in order to crave a hybrid.

article: colbydc5

video credit: Porsche Channel