As the Subaru Skunkworks Team rolled into Firebird Raceway this past weekend, participants were met with clouds and pouring rain which kept the team’s Unlimited Class Impreza WRX STI staged in a warm trailer. We hoped the rain would break in time, but no luck…

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With absolutely zero time on this track and the rain coming down, the Crawford team opted to send Tarzan Yamada out in his rental car for the 20 minute practice session. (We would like to personally thank the NASA officials for allowing us to run the rental car during this practice session!) The rental car handled the track as if it were on ice, but the crowds enjoyed every moment by erupting into cheers each time Tarzan made a pass by the spectator stands. After the practice session, Tarzan’s first comment was, “ I need more power!”

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Then it was onto the actual Super Lap Battle: one warm-up lap, three hot laps and one cool-down lap. What could the Crawford Performance Super Lap TA car do in the hands of Tarzan Yamada with zero setup as the car had not been around the track yet? The clouds had broke, the rain had ceased, and the team’s car (referred internally as ‘Tony’ as in the tiger’) was being prepped for the first time on the road course. With the tire pressures in the Hankooks set for kill, Tony went off to battle. By the time Tarzan had finished his final lap, it was official; Tarzan had just won the AWD class and taken home the Overall Victory for Round 1 of the Super Lap Battle Qualifiers. After we returned to our pit, we were pleasantly surprised by the promoters of the event letting us know that we had just set a new track record for Firebird’s main course. We were told that our time was the fastest of any car with doors around the main track here at Firebird Raceway.

Long Live the Fraternity of Subaru!

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We would like to thank our fellow Subaru Teams for their skilled and helpful support – Subaru Rally Team USA (Vermont SportsCar) and Subaru Road Racing Team (SRRT Phoenix)

It's not a successful race season without the support of our gracious sponsors – Subaru of America, Brembo, Cusco, Exedy Clutches, Garrett Turbos, JE Pistons, NGK spark plugs, MoTeC, Motul, Rays Engineering, SPT, The Driveshaft Shop and Tein USA. A special thanks to BFG for the drag slicks used in the Modified Mag Tuner shootout.

Huge congrats to you guys!! Sorry our weather wasn't the greatest...it hadn't rained in over 50 days lol!

I can't believe Tarzan pulled out that time with zero previous laps in the car, on this track. For those that keep saying Tarzan isn't a great driver...i laugh. And to break the track record in the process! I've been running this track for years with some serious corvettes, porsches etc. and for a big 4 door to come out and run in the :02's in amazing! And it's a subaru :)

Congrats again.

Long Live the Fraternity of Subaru!


I caught that ;)

congrats on a good turn out guys. I'm still wondering if we'll be seeing you guys in the east for any events this year...?

Sweep?

Does that mean you won all 4 events, what I guess means you won the Tuner shootout?

I'm confused. Was this a Super Lap Battle weekend or Modified Mag Tuner Shootout weekend.

Sweep?

Does that mean you won all 4 events, what I guess means you won the Tuner shootout?

I'm confused. Was this a Super Lap Battle weekend or Modified Mag Tuner Shootout weekend.


It was a Super Lap Battle qualifier and the Modified Tuner Shootout was being held concurrently. For the teams in the Tuner Shootout their lap times in the Time Attack portion counted for qualification in to the Super Lap Battle Finals, so by virtue of their win in the Time Attack, Crawford also qualified for Super Lap Battle. They did not "sweep" the event... not even close ;).

It was a Super Lap Battle qualifier and the Modified Tuner Shootout was being held concurrently. For the teams in the Tuner Shootout their lap times in the Time Attack portion counted for qualification in to the Super Lap Battle Finals, so by virtue of their win in the Time Attack, Crawford also qualified for Super Lap Battle. They did not "sweep" the event... not even close ;).

Hey guys, this press release is for the Super Lap Battle as the title clearly states. http://superlapbattle.com/blog/?p=510

There was an “invitation only” Modified Mag Tuner Shootout that was going on the same weekend at the same track, hold your horses…We will have a press release for that event as well :)

Team Crawford

All i know is that it was a fun day out there. We had 30 somthing guys from azawd out there and it was a good time plus we got to see some damn fast cars out on the track. But somehow it rained when it doesnt rain ever.

Congrats... Need to see some of those events out here in the south east. Good luck this season.

Congrats.

Who was your competition?

Congrats.

Who was your competition?

Any car that has ever been on this track with doors!

Thanks for all the kind words :D

Team Crawford

I caught that ;)

congrats on a good turn out guys. I'm still wondering if we'll be seeing you guys in the east for any events this year...?

Yes, we will go to at least one if not two events out your way!

Team Crawford

Who else was running? Was the boys from Topspeed there?? GST??

As the Subaru Skunkworks TeamWhy do you use the word Skunkworks?

Why do you use the word Skunkworks?

I'm guessing this: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/skunkworks

Perhaps with the emphasis on "loosely organized"? :P

-Mike

I'm guessing this: http://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/skunkworks

Perhaps with the emphasis on "loosely organized"? :P

-Mike
Yeah, I am familiar with the LM stuff and even read Ben Rich's book. Just trying to figure out how it applies here..

Who else was running? Was the boys from Topspeed there?? GST??

Most of the top tuner shops all around, were here. GST looked dominant in the modified tuner shootout. Full race had an 08 sti, the cricket sponsored 700whp nsx, science of speed nsx, ksport etc. i can't think right now, but lots of serious time attack cars were in attendance.

Any car that has ever been on this track with doors!

Thanks for all the kind words :D

Team Crawford

Hey guys, first off, congrats on the strong results for the Super Lap Battle, getting to those kinds of speeds is awesome.

But.. I think the track guys might have been a little premature in their statement about the fastest car with doors.

Arizona region of the SCCA has a track record list for the main course at Firebird, and the ITE (Improved Touring E) class record, held by Mike Stoney in a Dodge Stealth, is listed as a 1:00.136 - faster than the winning time listed for you guys on the Super Lap Battle site of 1:02.100.

Improved Touring cars should have doors if they are following the rules, (the rules require it) and they are also production chassis.

GT1, GT2 and GT3 are also sub 1:02 -and depending on bodywork, they might have doors.

AZ Track Records Page:
http://www.azscca.com/Docs/General%20Regional/Lap%20Records.pdf


Jon K
(who is not trying to be mean, but went looking to see what the track records were when I thought, "dang, that could be GT1 speeds.." I figured I would help out with accuracy some.)

Yeah, I am familiar with the LM stuff and even read Ben Rich's book. Just trying to figure out how it applies here..

The term skunkworks has taken on the meaning of a secret project, so it seems to imply that Crawford's team is essentially a front for Subaru to do car development. That's cool, if it's true.

Hey guys, this press release is for the Super Lap Battle as the title clearly states. http://superlapbattle.com/blog/?p=510

There was an “invitation only” Modified Mag Tuner Shootout that was going on the same weekend at the same track, hold your horses…We will have a press release for that event as well :)

Team Crawford

No disrespect intended guys, Tarzan was obviously flying out there and you were in great shape in the Modified Shootout till the rain came and you passed on the autocross. I was merely answering a question posted by someone else if you won the Tuner Shootout.

Hey guys, first off, congrats on the strong results for the Super Lap Battle, getting to those kinds of speeds is awesome.

But.. I think the track guys might have been a little premature in their statement about the fastest car with doors.

Arizona region of the SCCA has a track record list for the main course at Firebird, and the ITE (Improved Touring E) class record, held by Mike Stoney in a Dodge Stealth, is listed as a 1:00.136 - faster than the winning time listed for you guys on the Super Lap Battle site of 1:02.100.

Improved Touring cars should have doors if they are following the rules, (the rules require it) and they are also production chassis.

GT1, GT2 and GT3 are also sub 1:02 -and depending on bodywork, they might have doors.

AZ Track Records Page:
http://www.azscca.com/Docs/General%20Regional/Lap%20Records.pdf


Jon K
(who is not trying to be mean, but went looking to see what the track records were when I thought, "dang, that could be GT1 speeds.." I figured I would help out with accuracy some.)


Thanks for the info Jon :) Whats up with the Ford Mustang running a 57, do you thing that it's actually a Mustang?

No disrespect intended guys, Tarzan was obviously flying out there and you were in great shape in the Modified Shootout till the rain came and you passed on the autocross. I was merely answering a question posted by someone else if you won the Tuner Shootout.

No disrespect taken :D

You guys did great this weekend as well...
Damn rain :mad:

Team Crawford

Thanks for the info Jon :) Whats up with the Ford Mustang running a 57, do you thing that it's actually a Mustang?

Hmm.. the SP may be "Super Production" here on the east coast they usually divide it up into SPO (Super production "over" - I think it's 3 liters/forced induction) and SPU ("Super Production "under).

That is essentially a catch-all class for anything that doesn't fit other rules, or a production car that goes over the GT/Production class limits.. so it could be a Tube Frame ex trans am car with a turbo (or larger than allowed wings).. you never know. I would bet it's light, probably on full slicks and has a metric ton of HP.


Jon

Hmm.. the SP may be "Super Production" here on the east coast they usually divide it up into SPO (Super production "over" - I think it's 3 liters/forced induction) and SPU ("Super Production "under).

That is essentially a catch-all class for anything that doesn't fit other rules, or a production car that goes over the GT/Production class limits.. so it could be a Tube Frame ex trans am car with a turbo (or larger than allowed wings).. you never know. I would bet it's light, probably on full slicks and has a metric ton of HP.


Jon


After some digging I found this,

TRANS-AM POINT STANDINGS: Gentilozzi tops the BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Drivers' Championship point standings while Ford heads the Manufacturers' Championship standings. Rookie of the Year points begin to accrue at Mosport Park. 1999 BFGoodrich Tires Trans-Am Series Drivers' Championship Point Standings One Race Total Pos., Driver, Hometown, Car, Points 1. Paul Gentilozzi, Lansing, Mich., Ford Mustang Cobra, 32 2. John W. Miller IV, Johnson City, Tenn., Chevrolet Camaro, 28 3. Michael Lewis, San Diego, Calif., Ford Mustang Cobra

Your hunch about the trans-am car was spot on!

Team Crawford

Your hunch about the trans-am car was spot on!

Team Crawford
Yea, I figured it was something like that.. on the East Coast we see all kinds... lots of ex-NASCAR cup cars, baby grands, the occasional tt RX-7, Porsche, etc.

The GT1 Record on the Firbird Main held by the Jaguar is also a Trans Am car.. and that was a 55.? So.. yea.. no doubt that tube frame, slicks, 800hp, 2600 lbs is a way to get around a racetrack in a hurry. - I found a picture of that car (the jag), it does not have doors :-)


Jon K

I'll go on a limb and say that with a few more laps and in the daytime, tarzan could have reached a 1:00 lap. His 1:02 was at night, and lighting is very minimal at best.

Nice, Subies Rule ! ! !

Congrats Quirt, Bill, and James!

Congrads again to the crawford time again!

Thanks guys!!

Team Crawford

Thanks guys!!

Team Crawford

Hey what fuel were you running that weekend?

Hey what fuel were you running that weekend?

Not sure about that weekend, but they were running E85 at the redline season opener. Prob the same there to.

Ohh, hmmm smelled like VP import to me!