LOCAL RIDE // DAVE CORMIER'S GT2 RSR

Most SCCA races are sort of a lottery as to what kind of cars will show up. There is always the regular group of Miatas and spec racer Fords but it’s the faster GT cars that are an unknown quantity... [read more]

You probably know by now, that I am a huge Porsche fan. I love everything about them; the sound, the engine in the wrong place, the performance, the complete package. Naturally when I first saw this beastly Porsche I was quite excited. It’s not everyday that a car as awesome as this shows up for a club race. Over the past couple years I’ve got to know the owner and driver Dave Cormier pretty well. I always enjoy watching and shooting this car.



The car is a based around a 2004 Porsche cup car body. Over the past few years starting in 2007 it has been converted to full 2004 RSR spec bodywork. The twin turbo engine from the 2004 GT2 was then installed. This ended up causing suspension issues due to the GT2 engine being 130 lbs heavier than the standard cup engine. The car is now running Moton triple shocks and in car adjustable swaybars front and rear. The gearbox was also rebuilt to cup car spec and the gears ratios were shortened up a bit to keep the engine within its power band.


The car was run in this spec until September of last year when some changes were made to the ECU to increase the power from 525 to 650 hp with around 600 ft lbs of torque. Dave has told me that the engine could easily run 700-800 hp range but he plans to keep it around 600 for reliability reasons. The car is running 18” Jongbloed wheels that are 13” wide in the rear and 11” in front. The tires are Michelin slicks 280 in the front and 335 around back.


Dave has driven the car to regional PCA1 and SPM championships in both 2008 and 2009. In 2009 Dave also won the SCCA Festival Trophy race and the NorPac GT2 championship. The car definitely has the performance to match it’s looks.

The car is now being converted at Rothsport Racing to a full race engine over the winter with a complete rebuild and a nod goodbye to all the street parts on the engine that are just not race worthy. Needless to say I am very excited to see what is in store for the 2010 season.

For a look at more photos of Dave Cormier's Porsche GT2 RSR, click here

Photo/Editorial: Camden Thrasher

VIDEO // VICTOR MOORE: 2010 DRIVER PROFILE

The guys at Running Projects have just finished another 2010 driver profile, this time looking at fellow Northwest native, Victor Moore.

Victor, who travelled to Long Beach last season for the Formula DRIFT Pro-Am, has since been granted his pro license for the 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship and has plans to compete in the Evergreen Drift Championship as well as a number of Formula DRIFT events in the coming year // [comment]

LOCAL RIDE // MR.CARRIER'S 'BARNSTORMER' MIATA

This car was pretty much my daily driver, auto-x car and B-road weekend barnstormer from June 2001 to June 2008. Yes, I actually owned and drove this car for 7 years! She went through three full sets of wheels (one of which was stolen), two engines (one of which suffered from the infamous short nose crank failure) and four clutch slave cylinders. She was crashed twice by me thanks to my lack of skills behind the wheel (!), was stolen and recovered (and subsequently never reported so the title was always clean), and was pretty much the most brilliant and telepathic car I've driven when everything was working properly!

Modifications as seen in the photo include; Chaparral 15" wheels, Koni Yellow shocks, Ground Control height adjustable coilovers with Eibach springs, factory hardtop and black windshield frame and a Momo Monte Carlo steering wheel (made in Italy in 1992!)

The picture is from my P&S days and is pretty straightforward, but I think it works :)

- Robert Carrier

LOCAL RIDE // LARRY CHEN'S 1970 240Z

I have owned this car since I was 21 years old. When I bought it, the guy laughed at me because of how old I was and how long he had owned the car, which at the time was 35 years. Z enthusiasts get mad at me for racing such an early model, but I tell them I have never cut into the body and I take great care of it.

Built in late 1969, my 1970 240Z was number 2868 off the assembly line. I built it for the SCCA's Solo 2 Super Street Touring Class. The motor is mostly stock with the exception of headers and a rev limiter, but the the suspension features custom coilovers and I have also installed a Nismo LSD.

Follow the link for a closer look at Larry Chen's 240Z... [read more]








Photo/Editorial: Larry Chen

SPOTTED // HONDA S2000 CR IN VESTAVIA HILLS

ColdTrackDays correspondent Raymond Moore spotted this Rio Yellow Pearl Honda S2000 CR in Vestavia Hills, Alabama earlier this week. The S2000 CR features a lower ratio steering rack, stiffer suspension, wider rear tires and a revised body kit, which is composed of a redesigned front lip, rear bumper, and a large rear spoiler, all of which were wind-tunnel tested and claimed to reduce the overall coefficient of lift by 80%. The power folding soft-top was removed and replaced with additional chassis bracing and a tonneau cover.

The S2000 Club Racer made its debut at the New York International Auto Show on April 4th, 2007, with a base price of $36,300, however with Honda announcing it will cease production of their S2000 sports car, the Club Racer variant had a rather short production run.

Follow the link for a closer look... [read more]







For a look at more of Raymond's photography, click here

Photo: Raymond Moore
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

LOCAL RIDE // DAVE MANN'S GC8 SUBARU IMPREZA

I don't know Dave Mann. Matter of fact, I hadn't heard of him or his GC8 Subaru Impreza until yesterday. It all started when I stumbled across a photo of Dave's Impreza while browsing the internet. Impressed with it's stance and overall aesthetic, I posted the photo to the ColdTrackDays facebook page. A few peopled commented on the photo, seemingly as impressed as I was. Others asked for more info, more photos. I decided to do a bit of research and figure out who owned the Impreza and see if I could drum up some information and maybe a few more photos.

Well, after an exhaustive web search (really, this guy was hard to find!) I came across both Dave's blog and his Flickr photostream. And while I still don't know Dave, judging by the build quality and aesthetic of his Impreza, I am sure we would get along!

Follow the link for a few more shots of Dave Mann's incredible GC8 Impreza... [read more]







For a look at more photos from Dave Mann, be sure and visit his blog and photostream!

Photo: Dave Mann
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

SPOTTED // AUDI RS4 IN THE WINDY CITY

While wandering the streets of his native Chicago, ColdTrackDays correspondent Brendan Lester stumble upon this rather well equipped B7 Audi RS4. Powered by a 32-valve 4.2 liter V8 making something in the neighborhood of 415hp, this particular example features a Milltek Sport cat-back exhaust, carbon fiber hood and barracuda double bike rack. Follow the link for a few more shots... [read more]




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Photo: Brendan Lester
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

LOCAL RIDE // KYLE KEENAN TESTS JOHN HUDAK'S NSX

Kyle Keenan is an 18 year old Northwest native currently competing in the SCCA’s Spec Miata class. Kyle is also the crew chief for John Hudak and his race prepped Honda NSX, which also competes in SCCA races here in the PNW. A few weeks ago, John offered Kyle the chance of a lifetime; a bit of seat time in his NSX at Portland’s International Raceway. Hoping to give Kyle some epxperience in a car with considerably more power than his Spec Miata, John cut him loose for the afternoon, allowing Kyle to lap PIR’s 1.96 mile circuit.

Looking to gain a bit of first hand knowledge, which would then allow him to make better decisions regarding set up when he helps prepare John’s NSX for local SCCA races, Kyle took to the track for a bit of testing. A long time friend of ColdTrackDays contributor, Camden Thrasher, what follows are some photos from Kyle’s test session with the STMPO Race Products and Adrenaline Racing sponsored NSX... [read more]









For more information on Kyle Keenan and his efforts in the SCCA's Spec Miata class, click here

Photo: Camden Thrasher
Editorial: Justin W. Coffey

LOCAL RIDE // BRAD'S CUSTOM AUTO MYSTIC COBRA

Last week, when I visited Pacific Raceways for the first annual Hot Laps presented by Brad's Custom Auto, Baer Brakes, NOS Energy Drinks and StangNation, one of the biggest draws for me, aside from the plethora of American muscle I expected to see on track, was the 1996 Mystic Cobra formerly owned by Brad Seibold of, yes, you guessed it, Brad's Custom Auto. A purpose built car that I had seen only on the cover of magazines and parked in the back of Brad's shop in Lake City, I was excited to finally see this monster doing what it does best... [read more]

Powered by Ford's DOHC 4.6-liter V8, the Mystic Cobra produces some 632rwhp (740hp at the crank) and 509lb/ft of torque courtesy of Vortech T-Trim Supercharger, an MSD DIS4 ignition system, Accell coils and Taylor 10.8mm wires, a tuned and ported intake manifold, and a set of Anderson Stage 3 ported heads, all of which is attached to a Bliss built motor (forged blower pistons and rods, ARP studs, etc..)

As you can tell, the interior of the Mystic Mustang is all business. An OMP steering wheel takes care of the left and rights, while a custom milled billet aluminum shifter moves gears in the T-56 six-speed transmission. A pair of Sparco Evo racing seats with Schroth 6-point harnesses keep the driver secure, while a Cascade Autosport race cage makes sure he is safe if things go wrong.

A set of Baer six-piston calipers stuffed with Hawk HP+ (front) and Hawk Blue (rear) brake pads wrap the 13" slotted rotors, all of which rests behind a set of Fikse competition wheels (18x10 front and 18x11 rear).

For suspension, Brad's installed a complete Griggs GR-40 suspension system, which includes...

Severe Duty Panhard Bar
Severe Duty Torque Arm
Tubular K-Member
Tubular World Challenge A-Arms
Coil Over Shock Kit (Front / Rear)
Koni Yellow D/A Shocks
700lb Front Springs
Caster Camber Plates
Motor Mounts
Tubular Rear Lower Control Arms
Subframe Connectors
Bump Steer Kit
Delrin Bushings

Built to tackle the Silver State Classic outside of Las Vegas, Nevada, the Mystic Cobra has recently been running in the SCCA's TT1 class as well as at local lapping sessions and auto-x events.

For additional images of the Brad's Custom Auto Mystic Cobra, click here

For additional information on the car, click here

Photo/Editorial: Justin Coffey