The SEMA show is less than 2 weeks away. It is an exciting time for car enthusiasts as many project cars are unveiled revealed and new parts are revealed. TEIN is back as an exhibitor after a one year hiatus. We decided not to build any cars this year but are sponsoring a few high profile vehicles. The Lexus, Scion and Honda booths all have brand new builds sitting on TEIN coilovers.
0-60 Magazine Lexus Project. Check out the finished car in the Lexus booth.NOT a traditional Lexus build.
We will also be leaking a new TEIN coilover in our booth before the Tokyo Auto Salon debut as well as displaying some new products from SuperPro polyurethane bushings. If you have access to the show please come by and visit our booth, 24513.
For any of our dealers or new potential dealers who read this blog, we will be having SEMA Specials during the show so be sure to make an appointment with us or drop by.
DirtFish is the name of a new Rally School which will be opening later this month. I was fortunate enough to take a trip to the school and participate in a 1-day course. The school is located in Snoqualmie Falls, WA. The school sits on over 300 acres on what used to be the largest wood mill in the world.
The newly renovated main office which includes classrooms, showroom, conference room and offices.
One of two gigantic wooden structures on the property. Perfect for hooning
I tagged along with the 0-60 Rally Team as they brought the Scion xD to do battle. The premise – can an editor with 1-day training and a Group N STi beat Chris Duplessis in a xD. Check out the next issue of 0-60 magazine to find out the results.
In the background you can see the 0-60 Rally Scion Preparing to Run
The Cars of DirtFish
DirtFish has made a tremendous investment to provide students with top notch vehicles to use during their 1-day and multi-day courses. Courses start by driving a new Subaru STi which have been equipped with TEIN Gr.N suspension ($12,000+ each coilover kit), Gr.N brakes, Gravel wheels/ tires and all the needed safety equipment.
DirtFish garage filled with cars, spares and everything needed to keep the cars in top condition
Brand new Gr.N coilovers waiting to be installed
When we got there the “beginner” cars were still in their final stage of construction so we had to settle for their advanced (multi-day course) cars. Authentic race ready Group N STi. The same cars that Tanner Foust, Ken Block, etc… drove in past Rally America events. These are the real deal anti-lag, launch control, dog box transmission competition cars.
Two of the Gr.N cars which could be driven straight to a rally and be used to compete
Instruction Begins
The day starts with about 1-hour in the classroom and the rest of the day is hands on in the dirt learning car control techniques. Our group of 6 students cycled through 3 cars and 5 instructors. Once in the car instruction is one-on-one with in-car communications systems. All the instructors are great – easy to understand, patient, encouraging and of course skillful behind the wheel.
Van tour of the various training courses we would encounter during the day
One of the students, Eddie of Mackin Industries, strapped in and ready to GO!
By the end of the day everyone in my group was able to navigate a gravel course using all the skills learned in the previous 7 hours. Car control via steering input, weight transfer, throttle, left foot braking and e-brake.
I highly suggest DirtFish to any car enthusiast. It is one of the most fun times I have ever had in a car. I normally drive on tarmac (NASA, Speed Ventures, SpeedTrial, etc…) but sliding on the dirt was just simply A LOT OF FUN. Plus the car control techniques will definitely help drop my times at the circuit. The amenities, instructors and equipment are all AWESOME. Special thanks to all the staff at DirtFish: Greg Lund, Ian, Forest, Don, Adam, Nate and all the support staff.
0-60 magazine just posted their video from the 2010 New England Forest Rally featuring their project Rally xD. Check out the soft landing at the 55 second mark. The HG dampers worked well under the especially harsh conditions of this rally and took the abuse of multiple jumps. Note: this car weighs in at over 3000 lbs. so it is in no way a light weight vehicle.
If you love rally racing, cars flying through the car and crashes check out this weekends X Games 16. TEIN sponsored driver Stephan Verdier will be competing in his STi which is using TEIN Gr.N dampers.
Video courtesy of 0-60 Magazine and photo courtesy of Gordon Ting (0-60 Magazine).
Recently arrived back from the New England Forest Rally (NEFR) in Maine. This was the final event for the 2010 Rally America series. Our sponsored 0-60 magazine Scion xD placed second in the FWD class losing to a high power Dodge SRT-4. Scion xD co-driver Catherine Woods clinched her first championship when the Scion crossed the finish line (driver, Chris Duplessis clinched his National title at the previous round).
The 0-60 rally xD has been a successful project finishing 2nd in two national events in two starts. An amazing accomplishment as the car is almost stock. Since the Oregon Trail Rally in May the car received a new Quaife differential, rear wing and slight weight reduction. The motor remains completely stock.
Car getting final prep work done before the rally inside driver, Chris Duplessis’s barn at his family’s farm, Pooh Corner Farm in Bethel, Maine.
NEFR is considered the harshest rally of the series. Of the 64 entries at Stage 1 only 41 started the final stage (Stage 12). The stages are littered with large rocks/ small boulders and even a few man made jumps.
Chris and Catherine blast through Stage 2.
One of five services throughout the two day event. Most service times are 30-minutes which gives the crew enough time to inspect the entire car, change wheels, clean brakes, adjust the suspension, make any needed repairs and of course keep the car shiny.
At the finish line. 2nd place in 2WD.
Video by Rally America recapping NEFR 2010 and the 2010 season.
Special thanks to Forest Duplessis and the entire Duplessis family.
Photos courtesy of 0-60 magazine, Gordon Ting, Benson Ting and Gary Castillo of Design Craft Fabrication.
Video from 0-60 Magazine. All footage was taken at the Oregon Trail Rally held on May 14-16.
Rally Scion xD is using TEIN HG coilovers made using our Specialized Damper program. You can see in the video that it easily absorbs the rough conditions and even a jump. Throughout the three day event the suspension worked perfectly and after a little cleaning it will be ready for the next event.
This past weekend I attended the Oregon Trail Rally as a crew member/ mechanic for the 0-60 Rally xD. This was my first rally ever and it was a eye opening experience.
Arrived in Portland on Thursday night for our first ever team meeting. This was the first time that the entire team was able to meet at one time. Going into this event everything was new: new unproven car, new transporter, new crew, new co-driver, etc…
On Friday we were at Portland International Raceway for the entire day. For the first half we were setting up the car and making changes so that we could pass tech inspection. My job was to fabricate rear rubber guards to protect the suspension, brakes, and shocks (little did I know that I would end up making about 5 sets of these throughout the weekend). Rally competition started around 7PM which were Special Stages designed for spectators.
Saturday had us in Dalles which is about 1.5hrs from Portland and then in Dufur for the second half of the day. We would stay in Dufur for the remainder of the Rally which ended Sunday afternoon.
There were basically four mechanics for the car which included Lenny and Ben from Design Craft, and Mr. Nakai and myself from TEIN. Gordon and the 0-60 crew were cleanup and kept the car clean for the entire Rally. Other crew members included photographers, videographers, and volunteers willing to help anywhere needed.
(picture is missing three crew members who were hiking back from the best photo spot – pickup 0-60 magazine to see the amazing photos)
During each day we had 1-2 services between the stages. This is when the cars come back into the service park for crew members to repair, clean, refuel, adjust the car. Most services are about 40mins which was enough time to:
Remove and inspect all 4 wheels, Rotate wheels, check all fluids, repair any damage, inspect and torque check all suspension components, inspect and clean brakes, clean the entire car inside and out, refuel and get the car back out.
Each service is organized chaos. It must look like a swarm of bees attacking from a spectator point of view. Any delays in service and the car is hit with time penalties. At the end of every service I was covered in dust/ dirt but I was glad the rain held off until the rally ended – mud would have REALLY made it messy.
At the end of every night we performed a longer more thorough service which added changing fluids, bleeding brakes and more extensive repairs. A Rally car has many components which preventative like the mud flaps, inner fender liners, underbody body guards, etc… During service these parts all need to be inspected, repaired or replaced to ensure nothing is damaged in the following stages.
Crewing for a rally car definitely has its stresses. While the car is out running you have no contact so you never know what is going on. Then when the car arrives it is a rush to get all service completed. Once the car leaves it is time to cleanup and prepared for the next service or grab a bite to eat. At the end of the day there is service and then teardown of the pit for the night. The next day it all starts over again.
The underpowered 1WD (due to open differential) almost all stock xD SHOCKED many teams and spectators alike with its quick times which were mainly due to driver Chris Duplessis (2007 & 2008 2WD Champion) and co-driver Ron Zaras (0-60 editor, 2nd Rally ever).
Driver, Chris with the helmet hair. Co-driver, Ron with the Sparco suit, and 0-60 girls.
The attrition rate of the rally was high with about half the field out or slowed due to damage. The durable and reliable Scion completed the entire Rally with no incident. Stock engine, stock transmission, stock brakes = no problems. Yes, more power, clutch type differential, upgraded brakes, shorter gears, etc… would all make the car faster but the goal for this first event was to finish. With the hard charging Duplessis behind the wheel the car was able to finish 2nd in 2WD, losing to a veteran turbo charged Ford Focus.
Visit 0-60 Magazine’s website for videos and a complete story of the event.
Just got back from Portland Oregon. Myself and Mr. Nakai went out to support 0-60 magazine rally entry for Rally America – Rd. 4 Rally Oregon. The three day event started Friday and ended Sunday afternoon.
Gordon T. of 0-60 had a Scion xD modified for Rally competition. It features custom TEIN HG dampers which are designed for rally usage.
The kit features external reservoirs, two-way adjustment, extra large piston shafts, and other internal parts made to handle the harsh conditions.
The team was quite large with many support personnel who are here to ensure this experiment is a success. This is the first time the car has been run. It was completed by Design Craft only a few days before the event and put on the trailer immediately after. The support team is comprised of Rally virgins besides Mr. Nakai who has supported rally worldwide for the past 3 years.
The car has a stock motor, stock transmission and no testing. Major modifications are the roll cage, HG dampers, Volks, and plethora of Sparco parts. The car was kept simple for a reason – so that it would finish.
I will post a more detailed account of the weekend in the days to come.
Here is a short video clip found on YouTube. Not bad considering the car is one wheel drive (open differential).
