Monday, February 28, 2011

Rally New York USA | March 25-26

By: Jake

Rally New York USA is always full of gifted hot-shoes not afraid of a little cliff-side drifting. These guys were born in the dirt with a steering wheel in hand. If you're a fan of loose surface antics, Rally New York is as good as it gets, barring WRC stages! For the price of a tank of gas, you can experience thrills rivaled by WRC Vodafone Rally de Portugal, taking place simultaneously halfway around the world - estimated airfare $2,000.

Friday, February 25, 2011

New Circuit Only 2.5 hours from NYC Begins Construction 2011

By: Jake

Last year developer Louis J. Mascaro received final land use approval to build a "multi-functional, state of the art motorsports complex situated on 668 scenic acres... in Berks County, Pennsylvania" called Liberty Bell Motorsports Park. The site is a brief 2.5 hour drive from NYC. "The park will consist of 4 different racing circuits - two 26 foot wide tracks that are approximately 0.5 mile in length can be operated independently of each other or operate as a 0.84 mile road course. Both are served by their own pit/paddock areas and are designed for Karting, SuperMoto, MiniMoto and MiniGP... The two 40 foot wide, 1.5 mile courses can be operated independently of each other or combined to form a world class road course totaling 3.11 miles in length. All courses were designed with minimal concrete barriers... [and] incorporate massive run-off areas, many larger than football fields. The absence of tunnels or bridges minimizes the damages encountered by these structures. This modern technology ensures being able to safely compete in events while greatly minimizing the chances for driver injury or damage to equipment." The park will also include extensive campground facilities and a car museum. Construction is poised to begin this year.

Liberty Bell Motorsports Park website

Thursday, February 24, 2011

New Supporting Vendor Section Thanks Mazda Motorsports





By: Jake

We have added a supporting vendors list to the website. In recognition for all of Mazda's support to the Hamfist Racing fleet over the years, www.MazdaMotorsports.com is now our first official supporting vendor! We hope to be racing Mazdas for many years to come with continuation of the Mazdaspeed Motorsports Development program. Readers can keep an eye out for new supporting vendor updates. Please remember to support vendors that support racing.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

New 2011 SCCA Solo Racing Contingency Program

The SCCA released the 2011 contingency sponsorship programs for Solo & ProSolo racing last week. The roster includes the usual suspects, including some of our personal favorites including Mazdaspeed, Hawk Performance, AST Suspension & Hoosier Tire. Hamfist Racing would like to thank each and every sponsor. You are all in good form and understand what it takes to successfully market and promote your products!







SCCA Official Release Statement Feb. 18th 2011:


"With the season-opening event for the 2011 Tire Rack SCCA National Solo season just a few weeks away, participants should register now to be eligible for the thousands of dollars in contingency payouts.






Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo National Series

As part of its across-the-board Platinum SCCA contingency program, Volkswagen offers both event and year-end prizes for drivers finishing in the top three in either class or Gumout Super Challenge competition. Drivers taking a class win in one of 16 eligible classes earn $400. Should they take the Gumout Super Challenge, they win $800. Year-end class winners can also garner another $1,000 for doing it in a Volkswagen, with the year-end Challenge winner grabbing a $5,000 prize.

Honda, also a Platinum contingency sponsor, will pay $500 for a Super or Ladies Challenge win in each event, and $150 for a class win. Year-end class and challenge champions could take home $500 from Honda.

Longtime SCCA supporter Hawk Performance offers up $100 in product credit to any class or Gumout Super Challenge winner displaying Hawk Performance decals.

Bridgestone will post $500 for a Challenge win, as well as cash for a top three finish in any Street Touring class. Win a season-long class or Challenge title, and take home another $1,000.

Toyo Tires matches Bridgestone’s posting for Tire Rack ProSolo Street Touring® participants with its Silver level Contingency program.

Hoosier, Kumho, Mazdaspeed and TRD each post Bronze level programs, meaning registration and redemption are handled through those companies directly.

Kumho offers product credit for class and Challenge wins at events, including a $600 credit for a win in the Street Touring category. Hoosier offers two tires for a class win and one for a second-place finish. Event Gumout Super Challenge, year-end point Champions and Finale class winners each take four tires with a win.

Mazdaspeed will again pay out class, Challenge and year-end awards ranging from $200 for a class event win to $800 for a point championship. Likewise, TRD will pay class and year-end awards ranging from $200 to $1,000 for competitors in Toyota vehicles.








Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour

In Tire Rack Solo National Tour competition, Volkswagen will pay up to $500 for a class win and $300 for second place for VW drivers in any of 34 eligible classes.

Bridgestone, Toyo and Yokohama will each pay out top three finishes in the Street Touring Category, with $300 going to the winner.

AST Suspension continues as a contingency sponsor, offering the top-three finishers in eligible classes product certificates, with a $500 award going to class winners.

Like AST, Hoosier and Mazdaspeed also offer Bronze packages. Winners on Hoosier tires win a pair of tires, with a single tire going to second-place finishers. Mazda will pay a National Tour class winner $200 for a win and $100 for a second place finish.

Kumho Tires offers product credits to top-three in class finishers, rewarding the Street Touring Category with $600 in credit to champions, and $400 and $300 for second and third. All other classes receive $300, $200, and $150 in credit for a top three finish.

In addition to the National program contingencies, Bridgestone and Toyo Tires have also posted programs for the Tire Rack SCCA Divisional Solo Championships that matches their National Tour payouts.

For complete details on all of these contingency programs, visit www.scca.com/solo and click the “contingencies” link. A link for online registration is available there as well.

The 2011 Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Tour begins March 12, with the Dixie National Tour in Adel, Ga. The Tire Rack SCCA ProSolo National Series begins with the Mineral Wells Pro Solo, March 26, in Mineral Wells, Texas."

2011 SCCA Solo contingency registration forms and additional info available HERE

Friday, February 18, 2011

"Senna" (Ayrton Senna Documentary) - Limited Screening NYC

Senna, a documentary about Brazilian Formula One racing driver Ayrton Senna, who won the Formula 1 world championship three times before his tragic death at age 34, will be showing at East Village Cinema only until February 24th. Show times are limited to just 12:15PM and 2:30PM daily.

Thursday, February 17, 2011

If The Stig Could Talk

Having Randy Pobst test drive AND comment was brilliant! It's as if The Stig could talk. Enjoy this superb road test from Motor Trend of the GTR, Z06, and Shelby GT500. If you want a spoiler hint on who wins, just look at the 0-60 times.

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

SCCA Autocross on TV News

Maybe this video is a little stale for some, but it does a great job describing what autocross is all about to the public. Perhaps pitching autocross to our Hamfist followers is moot. You all drank the Kool-aid a long time ago.

Monday, February 14, 2011

They've Been Calling it a Toyobaru

By: Jake

They can call it Shirley for all I care, as long as they build it and we can drive it. All automotive biz rumors suggest it will be built, in both Subaru trim and Toyota (or Scion)! Here are the latest images in the rumor pool. One magazine seems to know some technical details, but take them with a grain of salt. The car will have three things going for it: 1) It'll have a Subaru boxer motor, 2) It appears to be sexy, 3) It's rear wheel drive. Everyone keep your fingers crossed and if we're lucky Santa will put them in dealer showrooms by next Christmas.





Sunday, February 13, 2011

120 Seconds of Fury - The Tire Rack SCCA Solo Nationals

Road & Track talks about what makes the Tire Rack SCCA Solo National Championships such an intense event.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Hamfist WRC Threat

By: Jake

Dave Corsaro, hamfist or precision rally driver extraordinaire? At his first rallycross ever, held at Stafford Speedway CT, he reeled in a podium finish piloting his 90-something horsepower '91 Civic DX across icy surfaces, 2 foot tall snow banks, and slushy mud ruts. Backing it all up on day two, Dave posted fastest time of day in class on his first run out. After which, he decided to pack it up and head home for the long drive back to NJ. Could Corsaro have been bothered to finished all his runs on day two, he likely would have snagged the top spot and brought home some gold. Sebastian Loeb, watch out! We got the next WRC hot shoe in our stable of hamfists.

Check out day one results here
Check out day two results here

Sunday, February 6, 2011

AxisofOversteer.com - A Hamfist Racing Top Pick!











AxisofOversteer.com has been added to the preferred favorite websites for Hamfist Racing readers and drivers.