Open Lapping Day at High Plains Raceway Byers, Colorado.
High Plains Raceway ( HPR ) located in eastern Byers Colorado, is proving to be an invaluable asset for Colorado track and motorsports enthusiasts of all types. On Friday September 25 3ZERO3 Motorsports along with a handful of staff, photographers and customers, headed to HPR to enjoy a full day of hot lapping.
If you are unfamiliar with the concept, an open lapping day represents the opportunity for people and their vehicles to drive on a race track in a non-competitive event. Although you will always see race cars and dedicated sports cars at these events, you need not have a race car to participate. So long as you have the required safety equipment : a three point harness and a suitable helmet, and your car is in proper working order and able to pass a technical inspection, you are eligible to participate. Race cars, rental cars, taxi cabs, and school buses can all come and test their limits at the track.
Getting the cars prepped before making our first morning runs.
Open lapping days are integral to 3ZERO3 Motorsports and all high performance and tuning facilities because this is where we test and tune not only our vehicles, but drivers as well. Giving ourselves the opportunity to drive hard, and make and measure changes in a safe and controlled environment.
The weather was a little ominous early in the day, but things cleared up nicely my mid-day.
While 3ZERO3 Motorsports does not participate in any competitive racing series, making sure that we get to the race track is important to us for many reasons.
Mike Thul smiling for the camera. Mike had an excellent day at the track. We really enjoyed wathcing Mike challening high horsepower exotics in his Porsche 944 N.A.S.A. Spec race car. His success proving once again, that there is no substitute for driver talent and experience.
Scott Simpson exiting the track in the 3ZERO3 Motorsports track prepped and severely modified Audi B5 S4.
Photographer Adam Mattivi setting up camera equipment prior to an afternoon run. Notice the camera suction mount attached to the bottom of the sun roof glass. This allowed us to get very unique and interesting shots of the 3ZERO3 Motorsports Audi B5 S4 making its way thru the HPR road course.
GODZILLA !
This Nissan Skyline GT-R was an absolute monster on the track. This car was aggressively attacking the road course at every turn.
Adam filming the back straight away in 1080p HD video and audio.
Video clips and MORE coming soon. Stay tuned to the blog for more details.
Sean Thul unloading his Porsche 944 N.A.S.A. Spec racecar from the families enclosed trailer.
Sean and Mike Thul represent a father-son pair that each own and race their Porsche 944’s side by side in N.A.S.A events. On this Friday afternoon the duo were driving side by side by side, and while this was not a race, I would hardly call their spirited driving non-competitive. What a great way for father and son to interact with each other.
Mike Thul entering the track on the backside of turn 2.
The dirt on the tires says everything about how hard Mike was driving his 944 that day.
An Audi R8 lining up before the afternoon session, ahead of a Porsche 996 GT3 and a Audi A3.
The uber cool carbon fiber spoiler on the Porsche GT3.
There are so many interesting perspectives to be had from behind the lens of the camera.
Here is a shot of a helmet sitting atop one of many Corvette ZO6’s at the track on saturday.
The ZO6 is a very popular choice for track junkies, and for good reason. These American sports cars can move !
Scott and Adam getting ready for another hot lapping session, with the camera mounted to the sunroof between them.
Adam shooting the downhill S-turn from the backside of the track.
A Porsche Boxster entering the track.
The artful Audi R8 entering turn two.
The R8 poising to overtake a Volkswagen GTI and a BMW 530 sedan.
The Porsche 996 GT3 with matching calipers and roll cage.
Here is a car that you don’t see very often at the track a Chrysler 300C SRT.
Say what you will about the choice of non-traditional track wheels, this driver was pushing the 6.1L V8 hard at every opportunity. Everyone was surprised and impressed with the big Chryslers cornering speed.
The mid-engined Volkswagen 2.0L Fun Cup car, this car was unique for a number of reasons,
not to mention the fact that it was running on ethanol, not race fuel.
Loading up the 3ZERO3 Motorsports Audi B5 S4 at the end of another great day.
3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be your Denver, Colorado leaders for Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche maintenance, repair, high performance tuning and motorsports applications. Please continue to follow 3ZERO3 Motorsports as we bring you more great coverage of exciting and thrilling enthusiasts events in Denver and around Colorado. If you have any questions or would like to bring your VW, Audi, or Porsche to the track or the shop for maintenance, repair or high performance tuning, please contact us right away !
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3ZERO3 Motorsports Inc.
8065 W. 48th Ave, Wheat Ridge, CO, 80033
Fax: (303) 456-8385 | info@3zero3motorsports.com
GOOD TIMES!
You gotta make it out with us Angus !