911 GT3 Hybrid at Nurburgring

Am I Covered While Driving On-Track?
Each year Auto Clubs organize many high-performance driver’s education events. These events target what members are most passionate about – appreciating the fine automobiles they own in a way that just can’t be recognized in daily street driving.
For many years driving enthusiasts had a sense of comfort knowing that their standard auto policies covered them while participating in Driver’s Education events. Most policies had language that only excluded coverage while participating in “timed or competition events.”

Around the 2003-2004 timeframe, it seems that many insurance underwriters recognized the additional exposure presented by individuals involved in DEs and modified their exclusions section accordingly. At the beginning, a few companies implemented new language to exclude coverage “on a surface used for racing”, “in a performance driving event”, or even worse “at a racetrack facility.” Since the initial rollout of the exclusions, it seems that the majority of auto insurers have followed suit with these restrictive exclusions for individuals involved in DEs.
Many DE enthusiast members have researched this topic in the past, prior to 2003, and believe that they are still covered while driving in events. Enthusiasts must understand that insurers do have the ability to change policy terms at each policy renewal. The typical policy holder receives their renewal, looks at the bill, and sends a check to renew their policy. In the pages following that bill, insurers include a coverage update that details any policy changes. Unfortunately these changes often go unnoticed by insurance consumers.
For individuals involved in DEs, it is very important to review your policy before you go to your next track event. Many insurance consumers don’t file their current policies, but insurance agents will always send a copy of the current policy upon request. A quick review of the exclusions section of the policy typically reveals any language targeted at eliminating coverage while participating in events held at racetracks. Enthusiasts’ vehicles are often the most treasured property they own, so it is important that they do their research and understand whether coverage is included under their standard policy while participating in DE events.
DE Participants that do not have coverage under their standard auto policy and aren’t willing to take the financial risk of driving on track without coverage do have options available. Many clubs have partnered with Lockton Affinity, the administrator of the HPDE Insurance Program. The HPDE Insurance Program offers single-event physical damage insurance at a very affordable rate. The premiums are based on value, and the average premium for members is $205 per event.

Do not assume that you still have coverage while participating in DEs based off of research or questions asked to your agent years ago. Before your next event, check your policy and go to that event knowing whether you will or will not be covered in the case of an unfortunate incident that causes damage to one of your most prized possessions. If your research shows that you do not have
coverage, consider getting supplemental through the HPDE Insurance Program:
http://pcahpdeins.locktonaffinity.com

Since its establishment in 1986 in the city of Osaka, Chargespeed has been Japan’s top quality manufacturer of  body kits and other car performance accessories, parts, and decorative items. Their staff members have almost 20 years of experience in the production of these specialty parts.

Chargespeed Carbon Front Grill Subaru WRX STI GRB 08+

Enhance your vehicles appearance with Chargespeed Aero parts and kits. Aftermarket exterior parts help improve your vehicles aerodynamics by increasing downforce.

Chargespeed is well known worldwide as a high quality aero and performance manufacturer. All parts come pre-drilled for ease of fitment and installation. Made from Carbon Fiber.

The 2010 Camaro is great looking but is a little on the heavy side.  I see Camaros at the drag strip struggling to keep up with other cars in their class.  Widow Racing started marketing and selling NX’s kit to Camaro owners that we saw at the strip.  Over the next few weeks we started seeing the kit perform with amazing results.  The driver’s only complaint is that they are going through tires a lot quicker!  Check it out.

Nitrous Express has combined performance, quality and easy installation in this new nitrous system engineered specifically for the 2010 Camaro. This system includes an Autolearn TPS switch which allows the nitrous to activate only at wide open throttle. A direct-plug-in Fuel Line Adapter is provided to simplify installation (no need to cut your factory fuel lines). The system also includes Lightning series fuel and nitrous solenoids, the patented Shark nozzle, a nozzle adapter, a 10lb nitrous bottle with the new lightning 45 bottle valve, extra long stainless braided N2O line, stainless bottle brackets, master arming switch, relay, relay harness and all necessary hardware to complete the installation. Includes jetting for 35, 50, 75, 100, 125 and 150HP. The system can be easily upgraded to power levels up to 250 wheel horsepower! Fits all 2010 V8 and V6 Camaros.

As you step up the power level on your 2008+ Subaru STI , having proper cooling efficiency is mandatory to maximize your vehicles performance. Street and track cars will heavily benefit from the use of Agency Power’s upgraded intercoolers. Agency Power has developed a 2.5″ complete intercooler replacement kit for your Subaru STI and WRX with little modification needed to the front bumper to fit the new front mount design.

The bar and plate intercooler core is designed to provide maximum cooling efficiency. The end tanks are aluminum and precision welded to the thick racing upgraded cores. The front mount intercooler kit allows you to retain all stock equipment including the O.E.M Fog-lights and blow of valve. Agency Power recommends upgrading to an Agency Power Adjustable Blow off Valve.

The ends of the intercoolers are designed to work with the Agency Power Intercooler piping which consists of a (5) piece piping set that includes all couplers and clamps needed for install. The intercooler Dimensions are:
Length: 31″
Height: 8″
Thickness: 4″
Inlet/outlet: 3″

The intercooler pipes are available in black or red powder coat finish, with your choice of black or red couplers.

It’s become clear Porsche is all-in with hybrids. The company rolled into the Geneva Motor Show with the 918 plug-in hybrid supercar concept, which followed right on the bumper of the 911 GT3 R Hybrid slated to compete in the 24-hour race at the Nürburgring. For the faithful fearing the dilution of a company built on a reputation for racing, fear not. Porsche is experimenting with hybrids, but it isn’t looking to chase Prius market share.

If the performance figures Porsche’s claiming don’t convince you of that, perhaps a look under the body will. The designers from Zuffenhausen, Germany, have released several cutaway drawings, more details and a video showing the 918.

First, we need to note that all of specs and performance figures are claimed specs and performance figures provided by Porsche — no one’s actually driven the cars. That said, the company is famously conservative with its claims, and the 911 GT3 R Hybrid is headed for the track, so we’ll know soon enough if that car measures up to the hype.

The gorgeous 918 Spyder could be called a plug-in version of the amazing Carrera GT with a few differences. It pairs an electric drivetrain with a mid-mounted V8 engine derived from the 3.4 liter V8 used in the RS Spyder race car. Porsche claims the engine in the 918 produces more than 500 horsepower at 9,200 rpm.

The electric drive uses a liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery pack located behind the seats. Of course, there’s regenerative braking to send energy back to the pack. The electric motors and V8 send power to the rear wheels through a seven-speed Porsche-Doppelkupplungs-getriebe (PDK) gearbox. Up front, the power hits the wheels through a fix transmission ratio.

The 918 has four driving modes: E-Drive is purely electric and provides a range of about 16 miles. Hybrid Mode relies upon the motors and engine in parallel like other hybrids as circumstances dictate, and it has to be the mode for which Porsche claims the car gets 78 mpg. Sport Hybrid mode ups the performance by relying more heavily on internal combustion. And Race Hybrid is for flat-out fun, Porsche’s attempt to prove hybrids can improve performance and fuel efficiency.

Flip the switch to Race Hybrid when you’ve got a full battery and you can use a “push-to-pass” button on the steering wheel to get more than 40 percent extra oomph. You’ll get 500 horsepower from the V8 and an additional 215 horsepower from the electric motors. Master the use of the right pedal and boost button and Porsche claims you can go around the ‘Ring in less than 7:30.

Porsche is also staying true to its racing roots by building the 911 GT3 R Hybrid. It uses an electrical flywheel power delivery system sitting next to the driver to power the two electric motors on the front axle.

Under braking, the electric motors up front will power the flywheel, spinning it up to 40,000 rpm. The kinetic energy of the flywheel can then be used with the push of a button by the driver. If the driver needs a little boost coming out of a corner or for a pass, there will be an additional 162 horsepower available for six to eight seconds. While the flywheel power system does provide a power boost, it can also be used to conserve fuel, something that often is the difference between winning and losing in endurance racing.

Porsche begins testing the 911 GT3 R Hybrid soon to prepare for its racing debut at the 24 Hours on the Nordschleife on May 15 and 16. Porsche is hedging its bets by saying the focus will not be on winning the race but testing and developing the technology. But Porsche likes winning, so we don’t suspect it will tip-toe around the 15.8-mile course.

By Jason Paur

http://www.widowracing.com

Read More http://www.wired.com/autopia/2010/03/porsche-racing-hybrids/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wired%2Findex+%28Wired%3A+Index+3+%28Top+Stories+2%29%29#ixzz0hoJgCZf1

Carbon Fiber wheels???  WOW!  I am proud to announce that Widow Racing is one of the few authorized distributors of 360 Forged.

360 Forged wheels are hand built pieces of art and because of their low volume they are in very high demand for those distinguished drivers that won’t settle when it comes to wheels.

Because 360 Forged hand makes their wheels, customers have almost an unlimited amount of custom finishes.  You can choose to Color match the lips or Center disc to your vehicle or possibly brush or polish the lips.

Check out these CF 5ive’s a museum piece for your car.

At 360 Forged, they base their entire business on the craftsmanship of their products. 360 Forged design and manufacture limited production, hand built wheels that consist of the highest quality engineering and materials available. 360 Forged wheels are machined in their US based production facility using the most technologically advanced CNC machinery in the industry. Once machined, they hand assemble each wheel to ensure proper torque settings and balancing. Each wheel is individually inspected of any visual or structural issues using a 20 point inspection process. This ensures that no wheel leaves the facility with any problems.

Once ordered 360 Forged precision machines the wheel sive to fit you vehicles specifications. Aspects such as bolt pattern, center bore, and back spacing are all machined individually to order.

The CF-Forged wheels combine forged aluminum and carbon fiber. The center discs are specifically machined to accept a layer of high strength carbon fiber composite. The carbon fiber allows us to machine a competitively lightweight wheel which still maintains high load ratings and stress testing. 360 is able to use less aluminum by adding the layer of carbon fiber, which adds an incredible amount of strenght to the wheel without adding more weight.

CF 5ive Features:

Standard Finishe:
Chrome Lip with Carbon Fiber Composite Disc

Custom Finishes:
Color Matched Lips:
Color Matched Center Discs:
Tinted Brushed Centers:
Brushed Lips:
Polished Lips:

Size: Available in Custom widths ranging from 7.0″ to 14.0″

Feb. 21 (Bloomberg) – Porsche SE, the maker of the Boxster sports car, may struggle to fulfill U.S. gasoline-consumption rules, potentially denting sales,Financial Times Deutschland reported, citing a company spokesman.

Porsche gained a waiver to meet the requirements in 2012 through 2015 yet doubts its automobiles will satisfy the legal minimum consumption rate from 2016, the company’s U.S.-based lobbyist Stephan Schlaefli is cited by the newspaper as saying.

The U.S. legislation, which will become law in May, requires cars to have an average gasoline consumption rate of 41.4 miles to the gallon, the FTD cites Schlaefli as saying. That will entail lowering the consumption of Porsche cars by about 10 percent a year from 2010, which Schlaefli said was not feasible, the newspaper said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Brian Parkin in Berlin atbparkin@bloomberg.net

What makes Superchips the world’s best-selling brand in the segment? Just two things: its products and its people.

With 25 years of expertise, Superchips delivers quality solutions for people looking for more power, more fuel economy and a variety of customizable features.

Full-line with Niche Expertise

One size does not fit all, and we create “tunes” – tailored calibrations – for each niche as if all we did was work on that one type of vehicle. But since we work on more types, we’re able to apply benefits that we find from our experience on other vehicles, too. For example, we have a team working to pump up the power on Dodge Cummins trucks and a different team crafting the latest “tune” for Ford Mustangs. They share ideas and passion for great products, but they know the vehicles they work on and the customers who own them better than anyone.

More Power Every Day

We believe in giving you more power throughout the driving range. Some companies only pump up the power at full-throttle because that’s much quicker and easier for them than working on all of the points through the throttle position and engine rpm range. But this is a key Superchips difference you’ll feel when using one of our “tunes” – more power everywhere that you can use every minute of every day.

Superchips #848-2885

Flashpaq Tuner

2010 Camaro SS 6.2L

Superchips celebrates the return of the legendary pony car to GM showrooms with the release of the limited edition vintage Orange Camaro for the 2010 Camaro SS.

The vintage Orange Camaro Flashpaq will be manufactured in limited quantities with only 350 individually numbered units scheduled for production. Buy now and get a free Superchips racing hat while supplies last.

The Camaro Flashpaq contains tuning for the all-new 2010 Camaro 6.2L V8 and the 1999 – 2002 Camaro SS & Z28 5.7L LS-1. Owners of the automatic transmission 2010 model will enjoy enhanced engine and transmission performance. Manual transmission owners will immediately feel the upgrade in power. The Camaro Flashpaq includes 93-Octane and 91-Octane Performance tunes delivering up to 21.0 horsepower and 21.0 lbs-ft of torque for the automatic model and 19.9 horsepower and 18.3 lbs-ft of torque for the manual transmission.

Other key features in the Camaro Flashpaq include enhanced ‘power on demand’ throttle response, superior drivability, Active Fuel Management on/off, wide open throttle shift point adjustments, speed limiter adjustment, RPM limiter adjustment, diagnostic scan tool, real-time in-cabin vehicle sensor display, and professional data acquisition software for measuring vehicle performance including 0-60 MPH and ¼-mile times.

Click on one of the links below to see the dyno chart and product data sheet so you can see for yourself why the Camaro Flashpaq could only come from Superchips; the best-selling brand in the business.

2010 camaro ss auto PDS

2010 camaro ss auto perf AB