Sep/090
BFG x WORKS Gymkhana/Drift vid
Here's the much anticipated video Will Roegge and BFG shot at WORKS last weekend:
Location: Infineon Raceway
Sep/090
Luke Lonberger’s Turbo LS1 240SX
Luke bought this S14 last fall with a stock LS1 already swapped into it and all the suspension arms already replaced with adjustable aftermarket pieces. Coincidentally, when Luke was visiting Hinson SuperCars in 2007, he took one sales call, and that was the previous owner of this car ordering the LS1 swap kit. Some would say that it was fate that placed this car in Luke's hands.
The Bob's Donuts Annual Day After Thanksgiving Track Day at Buttonwillow was a week away when Luke started to prep the car for track duty. He called me up to come help, and in four days, the car was gutted, seam welded and caged, and the engine was removed, torn down, and put back together with all new valvetrain components and a Lingenfelter camshaft.
Luke took the car to a few track days in that form, before he decided it was time for upgraded looks. Back then the car was all stock on the outside with old white paint, so Lab17 came up with a graphics scheme, D-Max provided the new bodywork, and Crown Body & Paint gave the car an overnight paint job, the day before Hot Import Nights.
Now that the car looked the part, Luke decided it was time to turbocharge it, so he grabbed all the parts he had used on his turbo LS1 FC and modified them to work on the S14. The car definitely has an awesome presence now. The colors, the kit, the wing, the 700hp, the side exit exhaust, oh and we can't forget about the diffuser from a Ferrari F430. Don't ask where he got that 
I met up with Luke this weekend at Thunderhill to take some pics. Here they are:
Location: Thunderhill Raceway
Sep/095
Conrad Grunewald’s 2010 Camaro
Rendering by Lab17
BR Racing by Luke Lonberger in partnership with Conrad Grunewald Racing reveal they are in the process of building a 2010 Camaro SS in preparation for the 2010 Formula DRIFT Championship competition.
“I am very excited to be able to drive such an iconic American muscle car in the Formula DRIFT Championship,” said Conrad Grunewald, driver and owner of Conrad Grunewald Racing. “Our main goal is to have the Camaro ready for the 2009 SEMA show but our preseason testing should start immediately after the show. I have a great amount of confidence that BR Racing and Luke Lonberger can build this Camaro into a highly competitive car and I look forward to getting back out on the track."
The LSA
Hankook Tire Corporation will provide tire sponsorship for the 2010 Formula DRIFT season. Grunewald announced the Camaro will use Hankook Ventus R-S3 tires on custom Forgeline aluminum 3-piece wheels. The car is to be controlled by Eibach’s Multi-Pro-R2 two-way adjustable dampers and coilovers. A GM Performance LSA supercharged 6.2 liter V8 controlled by the AEM Universal EMS and expected to make over 600 RWHP will power the Camaro. All body work will be constructed with carbon fiber from Seibon Carbon.
Dimple died gussets are a must
The car will also be on display the 2009 SEMA Show at Las Vegas Convention Center, Nov. 3 to Nov. 6, 2009. The Camaro build can be followed at conradgrunewald.com.
Entering its sixth season, Formula DRIFT is recognized as the North American professional drifting championship. Established on the streets of Japan, drifting has evolved into a worldwide competitive sport that challenges each driver's driving ability and vehicle control. Formula DRIFT provides a forum for professional drifters to compete in 7 events nationwide for the coveted Formula DRIFT Championship crown. As the first official series in North America, Formula DRIFT has taken competitive motorsports to the extreme attracting fans and car enthusiasts from all walks of life and establishes itself as the global focal point for the Sport. For a race schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.
Sep/091
Bruce Todd’s BMW 135i
The first time I saw a 135i I hated it. The headlights and fascia were cool but I just couldn't get over the weird curviness of the body lines, especially the top of the rocker panel. Bruce Todd's 2008 Alpine White 135i started to grow on me though. It had a proper stance on proper wheels. And he tracks the car, which is always a big plus.
Bruce is one of the owners of BRRacing, a performance shop in Los Gatos that he started with his son Robb (get it? Bruce Robb Racing) in 2007. This father-son team has been racing for 16 years, and the shop started as a place for them to work on their BMW's away from their houses (and complaining neighbors). Eventually enough people wanted work done on their own cars that Bruce and Robb went into business doing what they loved. Now the shop is bigger and provides service on Porsches, Minis, Mercedes-Benzes, and Ferraris, and of course BMW's.
Now back to the 135. This 1-series has a host of goodies under the hood to help it along the track surface, including an upgraded intake, intercooler, charge pipe, midpipe and Meisterschaft exhaust to help it breathe, and a custom tune to make it all work together. The car is now putting down 350hp at the wheels, not a modest increase over the stock 250ish.
The 18" OZ wheels and AST suspension give the car its no-nonsense stance, while the Vorsteiner carbon fiber hood and graphics from Lab17 round out the subtle-yet-effective appearance package. I caught up with Bruce this weekend at Thunderhill to snap some pics. Have a look.
Location: Thunderhill Raceway
