Monthly Archives: May 2016

Mark’s Car Before he hit the Vape

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Driver: Mark Jager

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Driver Bio:
I was always interested in cars and working on them and once I got my license and was giving my first car (91 honda civic 4 door) I began modifying it. I spent a summer with my Dad in Michigan where we fixed up a car that he bought, it needed everything from a tune up to a paint job, but we were able to bring it back to life and then at the end sold it.
I grew up in Rosamond CA, which is where willow springs is located although I initially was not interested in road racing. Once I started modifying my car I began to take it to LACR. A few buddies and I would go every Wednesday and Friday to the test and tunes and race our cars and when you race you tend to want to go faster so motor swaps and turbos then followed. Once LACR closed down I needed to find a place where I could get my motorsports fun and with a new purchase of an STI it seemed fitting to try Willow Springs although I will admit it took my wife to buy my first track day before it happened. Then I was hooked signing up every so often and having a great time. Then I made the decision that I wanted to make this something that was more a part of my life so I pushed myself and Extreme Speed to allow me to help with their events and when I say that I mean do whatever they needed from setting up cones to directing traffic. After some time I was fully integrated into their team and began doing what I really wanted instructing and helping other drivers get what they wanted out of their track days. During my time with Extreme Speed I was able to learn from some of their amazing instructors and owners including Doug, Chris, Joel, Amir and many more all willing and able to teach me anything I wanted to know. This enabled me to accelerate my learning curve substantially. I would say if I can give any advice to a driver who wants to get better at the craft it would be to get out to the track and get a good instructor sitting next to you and remember going fast is a byproduct of your discipline and learning good technique. I was lucky to find some amazing friends along the way which encouraged and helped push my skills to new levels as well, the track is full of great people you just have to get out there and meet them. The guys I surround myself with now Ken Kasitz, Paul Leung, Rob Campbell, Gil Martin and many more are all guys that come to the track and help myself and my car go faster at each event.

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Sponsors: Yimi Sport Tuning, Full-Race Motorsports, Borg Warner, Scat Crankshafts, JE Pistons, Supertech, Killer B Motorsports, South Bend Clutches, Wasp Composites, Swift Springs, ACL Race Bearings, Mil Spec, APR Performance, Rays, Project Mu, AP Racing, GTSPEC, Whiteline, Fuel Injector Clinic, Outfront Motorsports, SoCal Porting, Aeromotive, GSC Power Division, Koherent Chassis Workz, Cobb

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Records/ Personal Bests:
Streets CW: 1:21.766 TA Overall Street Class Record
Big Willow: 1:26.566 TA Overall Street Class Record
Buttonwillow: 1:53.207
ACS: 1:45.394 TA Overall Street Class Record
ACS Infield: 1:10.105 TA Overall Street Class Record
Chuckwalla CW: 1:55.316 TA Overall Street Class Record
Road Atlanta: 1:33.407

CAR SPECS
Nickname: Honey Badger
Class: Street AWD
Year: 2006
Make: Subaru
Model: Impreza WRX STI
Chassis Code: GD
Engine: Subaru EJ257
Displacement: 2457cc (2.5L)
Boost Pressure: 24-27psi
Fuel: E85
Power Output: 500WHP
Weight: 3280 with Driver

ENGINE MODS
Block: Subaru EJ257
Crankshaft: SCAT Crankshaft
Connecting Rods: SCAT
Camshafts: GSC
Pistons: JE Pistons
Valves / Valvesprings / Spring Retainers: Supertech
Head Studs: MAPerformance
Intake Manifold: OEM kind of
Turbo Manifold: Full-Race Motorsports
Wastegate: Borg Warner
Bypass Valve: Borg Warner
Exhaust: Custom Yimi Sport
Fuel Pressure Regulator: Aeromotive
Fuel Delivery: Aeromotive A1000
Fuel Injectors: Fuel Injector Clinic 2150cc
Radiator: Howe Custom
Intercooler: Garrett
Oil System: ACL Oil Pump, Killer B Motorsport Pickup, windage tray and Pan, Accusump
Additional Engine Work: Outfront Closed Deck Block, ACL Bearings

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Engine Management: Cobb Tuning AP V3 Speed Density tuned by Yimi Sport Tuning

DRIVELINE MODIFICATIONS
Driveshaft: Driveshaft shop Carbon shaft
Transmission Gearing: Stock
Clutch / Flywheel: South Bend Clutch 4 puck disc, prolite flywheel
Differential: Stock
Axles: Stock

SUSPENSION AND BRAKES
Shocks: RaceComp Engineering Tarmac II
Springs: Swift Springs
Sway Bars: Whiteline Front & Rear

Additional Suspension Work:
Whiteline Steering Rack Bushings, Roll Center Kit, Anti-lift Race, Adj Lateral Links, Front & Rear Endlinks GTSpec Front Strut Bar, Subframe, rear diff brace and trunk cage

Brakes:
Front: AP Racing 355×32 BBK
Rear: STi Rear Brembos
Pads: Project Mu 999 Front and Rear
Brake Lines: Steel Braided Brake Lines

WHEELS AND TIRES
Wheels: Rays Gramlights 57Xtreme 18×9.5 40offset
Tires: Hankook RS-3 255/35/18

EXTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
Front Bumper: Wasp Composite front Splitter and Canards
Hood: Kaminari
Trunk Lid: Siebon
Spoiler/Wing: APR Performance GTC300
Doors: OEM
Livery Design/Graphics: Badgertastic

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INTERIOR MODIFICATIONS
Cage: Pierce Motorsports Roll Cage
Seat: Sparco Pro2000 Plus
Harness: Sparco 6 Point Belt
Steering Wheel: NRG
Gauges: Autometer Gauges: Boost, Oil Pressure, and Oil Temperature

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– See more at:
www.jagerracing.net
– contact me at: jagerracing@gmail.com

Thank you to all my sponsors and supporters!
Yimi Sport Tuning
Full-Race Motorsports
Borg Warner
Scat Crankshafts
JE Pistons
Supertech Performance
Killer B Motorsport
South Bend Clutches
Wasp Composites
Swift Springs
ACL Race Bearings
Mil Spec
APR Performance
Rays
Project Mu
AP Racing
GTSPEC
Whiteline
Fuel Injector Clinic
Outfront Motorsports
SoCal Porting
Aeromotive
GSC Power Division
Koherent Chassis Workz
Mother Polish

New Project – Feal 442 Coilovers

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It’s no secret I’m a big fan of Yimi Sport Tuning.  It’s also no secret I’m a fan of Feal Suspension.  Two shops I love visiting, because they are motor sport guys and they “get it.”  Every time I talk to them, the enthusiasm to build and innovate is infectious.  When you put these two together, I just get all hot and bothered I guess.

Recently, I had the chance to introduce Ken Kasitz, to Odi Bakchis over at Feal Suspension.  Ken does corner balancing and alignments over at Yimi Sport as well as suspension tuning the Jager Racing Time Attack STi.  What you may not know about Ken is he is also one of the the most understated and fastest drivers out at the track in Southern California.  When I was on grid last year at Superlap Battle, I got a kick out Ken’s skinny street-tired, stock-looking 02 WRX gridded ahead of GTR’s on massive race slicks with aero to boot.

Feal Suspension is well-known for their suspension rebuilds and manufacturing in several enthusiast markets.  The owner of Feal Suspension, Odi Backhis, is also a pro driver in Formula Drift, and he has been testing two-way and three-way coilovers that are application-specific for years.  One thing Feal has is well known for is providing coilovers that offer adjustability in a useful range: from custom valving that matches spring rates to ride height and camber adjustment that actually works for a given vehicle.  This is done in lieu of a one-size fits-all setup, and it requires a lot of testing.  I mention all this because the new product Ken will be testing out for Feal continues this model of offering useful adjustability without overspending to provide an application tailored to the vehicle.

I stole some photos.

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Two-way adjustable coilovers will retail at $2,500 for linear setup and $2,700 for helper spring setup. For now, Ken will test valving and strut lengths out at the local road courses before general public release.  Notice Feal Suspension offers both front and rear camber plates as well as notched rear strut housings for further camber adjustment.  As I learned the hard way, nothing else will come close to these features in the same price ballpark.

I took the time to write all this up because I’m excited to witness real motorsport testing for a product and price point that will bring “good stuff” to the masses.

More to follow.

Zhong’s Car Before All The Fire

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2006 Mitsubishi Evo IX GSR

Power

  • SpeedElement Built 2.0L
  • CBRD BBK Full Turbo Ported
  • ARP Mainstuds and Headstuds
  • Supertech Valvetrain
  • Kelford 272s
  • Nisei UICP/LICP/FMIC
  • Perrin Intake
  • Megan Racing Full 3″ Exhaust
  • Titek V2 02 Housing
  • Buschur Racing Ported Coated Exhaust Manifold
  • Deka ETX14 Mini Battery
  • S.S Clutch Lines
  • RC Engineering 1200cc Injectors
  • Walbro 255 Fuel Pump
  • Weir 12-plate Rear Differential
  • Perrin Shortshifter
  • AMS Shifter Bushings
  • AMSOIL 15w50 Dominator RD50
    Dyno tune by FFTEC Motorsports using Tephra Mod V7
  • 500whp/429wtq (RRE Dynapak) @28.5psi E85
  • 427whp/379wtq (RRE Dynapak) @25psi 91oct

Handling

  • Robispec KW Clubsports
  • Whiteline Bushings and Roll Center Kit
  • Perrin 25mm Rear Adjustable Sway Bar
  •  Toyo R888 255/40/17 Tires
  • Buddy Club P1 Racing QF 17×9 +28
  • Raybestos ST43 Front and Rear Pads
  • Performance Friction 2pc Rotors
  • Stoptech S.S. Brakelines
  • Girodisc TI shims
  • AMS Brake Ducting
  • Motul RBF600 Brake Fluid

Driver

  • TC Design 4-Pt Rollbar
  • Schroth 4pt ASM Harness
  • HANS Device
  • Alpinestars SFI 3 layer Driving suit
  • Alpinestars SFI Driving Gloves
  • Alpinestars SFI Nomex Balaclava
  • Alpinestars SFI Nomex Driving Socks
  • Kognition Design 68″ Rear Trunk Mounted Wing
  • DIY 3.5″ Alumilite Chassis Mounted Splitter

How did you get started tracking your car?

I started back in mid-2007.  I watched a lot of car & track videos from people I knew who were tracking.  Later a friend told me about this event at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows, CA and said I should come try it out.  5 years later, here I am.  My car had 294 whp back then on stock tires, stock brakes and stock suspension with very minor bolt ons.  That was an eye opening and addicting experience.  I got hooked bad.

So how many track days do you have under your belt?

32, but who’s counting.

And what series have you run in?

I was the 2011 eXtremeSpeed Evo Competition Cup Series Champion for Modified class.  For 2012, I’m running in eXtremeSpeed’s AWD Competition and Extreme Time Attack in the Modified and Tuner classes respectively..

What was your scariest moment at the track?

One time at Buttonwillow, my ducting caught on the front right axle, which then severed both my ABS and stainless steel brake line going into Lost hills at 120.  I lost all brakes, front tires locked up, and went straight off the track over a blind crest.  I felt so helpless and out of my control.  I was just along for the ride, and that is such a scary feeling.  Thankfully, there was only minor damage and no one got hurt.  It was my lucky day that day.   

What is your biggest pet peeve when you go to the track?

That would have to be preparing the car, unloading the car, swapping  tires and at the end of the day, putting back on street tires, loading the car, swapping brakes when you are all tired and doing everything by yourself.  Do that for 30+ track days and you just get tired of it.

If you could recommend any one part what would it be?

If I had to pick 1 part you could put on the car, it would have to be a data acquisition/logging product.  It is so important, versatile, and crucial to your development in going faster and driving better.  It is like having a professional coach sitting with you telling you all you need to know.  If you can’t afford that, the next best thing would have to be a well positioned in-car camera.  It is such a great learning tool.

Any parting words for the track heads out there?

Make sure you save up enough money to track the car as it sure likes to eat up funds quick.  Quality seat time, quality seat time, quality seat time, repetition, consistency is the name of the game.  Invest in quality coaches and organizations that will teach you the fundamentals and steer you on the right track.  That is the most valuable thing you can do if you want to learn how to drive on  the track.  Practice does not make perfect, but perfect practice makes perfect.  A friend once told me, “You start off with an empty bag of skill and an full bag of luck, and you hope to fill the first before you run out of the second…” — so true.  Pick up some driving and racing books like Going Faster and Speed Secrets and read them before heading out to a track event.  Watch quality track videos of the track you will be attending, and just ask questions at the track from the experienced people.  You will gain a lot of knowledge.  Most importantly, go have fun.