DISCLAIMER : before reading the rest of this article please ensure that on on of the following dates  you will be able join us.

• Friday July 9th
• Friday August 13th
• Friday September 17th
• Friday October 17th

For more info on lapping dates, click HERE.

We arrived early but not early enough. The racetrack opens promptly at 7:00am, and despite being an hour from downtown Denver, its important to get there as early as caffine will allow you to. The sun and heat can become very  intense in the afternoon lapping sessions, and without question, your best driving will happen before noon.

John Conner, a track rat and collector of B5 S4’s ( 2 ) swaps out his wheels and tires for his track set up; BBS CH’s with Dunlop R Compound rubber.

At the track power is important, but ultimately tires, brakes and suspension are everyone’s limiting factor. John brings his track wheels in his S4 sedan, and swaps them out trackside , along with a high temperature racing brake pad set for his Stop Tech 332mm big brake kit.

Aaron Marshall sets up the HD video on an Autospeed camera mount in his S4. Thanks Matt !

Drivers meetings are an important component in any successful lapping day. Here Glenn is announcing that for this particular day there would be two lapping groups : fast, and really really fast. Each group  taking 30 minute sessions. This structure is essential in ensuring that people get the most out of their time on the track.

A stage 1 B8 A4, stage 2 supercharged B7 S4, and stage 3 B5 S4 patiently wait for  their first laps.

In between run groups we retreat to the retaining wall and watch  the action.

KEEP RIGHT ! Despite wearing street tires, Charlie Collings made his HPR debut in his supercharged S4. The induction noise from the PES supercharger could be heard from nearly anywhere on the track.

No speeding tickets out here !

Back in the pits Aaron Marshall checks tire temperature  across the tread on Geoffery’s 2007 RS4. During the course of the day, we help our customers understand how and why to monitor tire pressure and temperature. A few psi make a big difference when driving at the limit.

As John Conner  accelerates into turn one he ponders how many more track days he will attend on stock suspension. ( Correct answer = NONE!)

Geoffrey Thomas (G) smirks behind the wheel in his RS4. No stranger to performance driving G has grown up road racing motorcycles. This was his first day on the track with his car and according to his permagrin he more than enjoyed himself.

While on  street tires ( 255mm Michelin Pilot Sport PS2’s)  we noted that the RS4 became faster as the tires heated up. We measured lap times on the RS4’s instrument cluster ( COOL !)  and found that as the car became increasing loose ( loose definition see ‘Days of Thunder’) lap times actually improved allowing G to drive the car more and slide it car predictably around corners.

Aaron Marshall muscles his way around turns 5 and 6.  Like a bull in a china shop, Aaron gets his S4 to where its going like no other driver on the track. Riding with Aaron is a special treat. So special in fact that I will never, ever, ever, do it again. ( Just kidding, kind of..)

In all seriousness, Aaron is a very talented driver. His driving skill proves to be a useful teaching tool. As he  can easily demonstrate to customers the limits of their car, and how to take their performance to the next level.

Everyone in the grandstands enjoyed watching Aaron playing his new favorite game :  ’Pass-the-yellow-Z06-Corvettes-as-if-they-were-standing still’.

20PSI at 110MPH, uphill !

The racetrack affords us the opportunity to get out and exercise these cars to the fullest extent. Many first time drivers are shocked at what it really feels like to drive their performance machines flat out.

Many drivers experience a sense of meditative peace while driving in this way. When pushing the car to the limit, all you think about is this instance, this corner, this braking zone. Email, work, the BP oil spill, simply do not exist in these moments.

Sean Thul refuses to listen. We keep telling him that his race prepped  944 only makes 115HP, yet he still manages to carry as much speed as anyone else thru the twisting corners at HPR. Looks like his days of duking it out in the NASA Spec racing series are really paying off.

A question frequently asked at every track event is : ‘… if you could own any of the cars out here, what would it be ?’.

On this particular day, I replied confidently ‘GT3RS, no question,’.

This is why I buy lottery tickets.

With a Porsche club event happening the following day at HPR, the Porsche’s were everywhere.

These enthusiasts travel well.

Just can’t get enough of the GT3RS.

“Hey look, a GT3Rs !”.

OHMYGOSHJEFFGORDONISHERE!!!!

Part of the fun of these  lapping days is that you never know who you are going to run into out here. While Jeff Gordon was no where in sight, this twenty-four car is rumored to be a Hendrick Motorsports-built spare car for the Gordon racing team.  Pretty incredible watching this thing make turns next to anything else out there.

Track prepped Lotus = COOL!

Nomex firesuit on a 90 degree day = NOT COOL!

While we respect this approach to safety, and  love the racing gear, you will find us wearing shorts and t shirts.

Relaxing in the shade at the end of the day. Enjoying a cold drink, and good company. Not a bad way to spend your friday.

Got a question about the track ? Wanna come with ? Just drop us a line ! Info@3ZERO3Motorsports.com

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be the most progressive and exciting VW, Audi, and Porsche maintenance, repair, and high performance tuning shop in Denver and all of Colorado. If you have any questions, comments, or concerns about maintenance, repair, high performance tuning or track preparation for your Porsche, Volkswagen or Audi, feel free to contact us day or night.

In 27 days, a 2008 Volkswagen GTI was : purchased, stripped, completely rebuilt, track tested, vinyl wrapped and transported to Mosport International Raceway in Ontario Canada, where Robb Holland drove his way into two top five finishes, including one podium finish, in the debut weekend of the 3ZERO3 Motorsports VW GTI SCCA  Pro Racing World Challenge Touring Car Championship.

27 days = 648 hours, and we used them all.

What is the SCCA World Challenge ?

The  SCCA Pro Racing World Challenge Championship was created to provide teams, manufacturers and aftermarket suppliers a competitive production-based race series in which to prove their products. Basically cars built with similar chassis lay outs, power and weight specifications are track prepped, and built to do battle  in wheel-to-wheel combat over the course of a designated road racing schedule. Pretty cool stuff.

When longtime friend and professional race car driver Robb Holland approached us to be the title sponsor for his 2008 VW GTI World Challenge Touring Car, we jumped at the chance. When Robb told us when the car needed to be built. We laughed. Then we cried. Then we picked up the phone and got to work.

Using every last second of the 27 days afforded, this race car was built, tested, and run through the gauntlet last weekend in its inaugural debut. Not only was this car competitive, Robb set the track record at Mosport International Speedway on Sunday’s race, turning the fastest lap ever recorded in class history at this track.

Damn.

Tear down begins.

Before we even had the keys to Robb’s freshly purchased 2008 VW GTI the car was transported              ( thank you Pearl + Matt !)  to 3ZERO3 Motorsports where a team of technicians literally disassembled a brand new vehicle. Leaving no bolt undisturbed, this car went from street legal, to ‘what happened’ in an afternoon.

Done & Done.

The 3R build.

After the vehicle was torn down, it was then transported to 3R. Whereby  3ZERO3 technicians Andrews and Tucker assisted the  trusty team of trained  technicians and  began building the GTI from the ground up. 3R is a company dedicated to building race cars such as these.  From NASA racing to SCCA, and everything in between, 3R has spent years perfecting their craft, and it shows ! The guys at 3R truly  are what brought all of the pieces together. Also they have some of the coolest fabrication and testing equipment we have every laid eyes on ( shock dyno anyone ?).

Hurry up and test !

With no time to spare the GTI was transported  ( thank you Sean !) to High Plains Raceway for track testing.

Most race teams will spend weeks at the track. Sorting out suspension and alignment settings, weight distribution, and the like. We had a matter of hours, not weeks.

Rappin on the Wrap.

Our GTI was not painted, the graphics that you see here on the car is a vinyl wrap. An amazing alternative to paint, vinyl wrap is essentially a large format vinyl sticker that can be custom designed and then applied to any vehicle.

So cool !

Our car would not have looked as sexy as it currently does without the help of Mike Hornbeck and his Soapoint Graphics team. Not only did Mike work with us to design the best looking car in our class, he personally worked thru the night the day before the GTI was put on the trailer and taken to Mosport.  If you have any vinyl wrap needs, or are curious to learn more about this custom and cost effective solution, contact Mike. An unbelievable artist, and fully committed to supporting his projects to the bitter end !

Before we knew it the car was on a trailer, ( thank you Alex !) and driven thru the night to Ontario, Canada, and testing had begun.

Weather threatened to downpour all weekend, but the clouds yielded little precipitation. Testing went well on Friday, and for Saturdays first race we qualified 6th and finished 5th.

To many outside the build, a 5th place finish doesn’t seem that impressive. We, on the contrary were thrilled. In a fraction of the time our competition had to build, test, and tune, we were able to build a car capable of running at the front of the pack.  Success indeed.

Bring on the glory ! Robb conveying feats of strength and heroism to Canadian TV reporters.

Sundays race was spectacular. Our GTI was battling the Irish Mike’s VW Jetta literally all day long. By the end of the race the crowd in turn 5 were on their feet, offering a standing ovation to the closest battle of the day.

Like all of the Volkswagens competing in this series, our GTI was under-braked, under-powered, and over weight, nevertheless Robb managed to set the track record and fastest lap of the day for the Touring Car class. Stunning!

Everyone loved the 3ZERO3 Car ! See you at the next race Celie !

—————————————————–MANY THANKS——————————————————-

This build could not have been possible without tireless effort, and selfless support. There were many people who donated time, money, and resources to this project. For without their generosity, this car would not have been built. If you are an enthusiast, THESE are the people truly supporting your brand. THESE are the people working hard everyday, to earn your business!

• Emich VW of Denver
• BSH Speed Shop
• Autotech Sport Tuning
• BBS Wheels
• Stoptech Brakes
• 3R Auto
• Soapoint Graphics
• APR
• Rocky Mountain Corvette
• Dyno Pro
• M+M Auto Reconditioning
• Sean Thul Race Car Transport Limited

No matter where you looked, all of the flag girls were wearing 3ZERO3 apparel.

These  ladies have fabulous taste.

The MONEY shot !

Because 3rd place has NEVER felt so good.

While we typically try and resist singing our own praises, in this instance, we cannot refrain. Putting this car together in 27 days, and setting a track record at Mosport is something that both Robb Holland and 3ZERO3 Motorsports will remember forever. A truly remarkable accomplishment. We couldn’t have done it with out Robb’s persistent dedication and effort, along with those of our technicians Andrews and Tucker, not to mention the world class build led at 3R.

The build would not have been possible without the generosity of Emich, VW,  BSH Speedshop, Autotech, BBS, Stoptech, and APR.

The car would not have looked as sexy as it does, without the efforts of Mike Hornbeck and the Soapoint Graphics team who worked thru the night ( literally ) to get the vinyl wrap completed the night before the car was trailered to Canada.

And last but not least, without the support and assistance of Alex Nelson, both as pit crew chief, and truck driver, as well as Sean Thul, and M+M Auto, the GTI could not have been moved an inch.

STAY TUNED !

The summer has only just begun. With many more races and events to come, there is much to see and do. Make sure you keep with us on the 3ZERO3 BLOG and FACEBOOK PAGE.

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to prove why for Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche maintenance, repair, high performance tuning, and motorsports applications, there is simply no better choice in the Denver area. With progressive projects, factory trained technicians, and a resolute dedication to perfection, safety, and quality each day, you will find no better home for your Colorado Porsche, Audi, or VW. Contact us day or night to learn more about us !

From novice, to enthusiast, to dedicated track rat, we are inviting anyone with an inkling of interest to join us at Colorado’s own High Plains Raceway.  Excited ? Scared ? Done with the sales pitch and ready to sign up ? Keep reading !

—————————————-SUPPORT, PROGRESS, AND REVELERY—————————————–

SUPPORT:

At each track day, 3ZERO3 Motorsports will have technicians, tools, and drivers on hand to offer support for your technical, mechanical, and emotional needs. We know that getting to the track for the first time, can be daunting. Regardless of your track experience, we will be there to lend a helping hand at every turn.

PROGRESS:

This is not open wheel racing. But this a RACETRACK ! In providing 5 different lapping days we are focusing on the concept of progression. Our hopes are that for ourselves and others there will be a distinct improvement in both driver and vehicle ability. With 5 days to choose from, there is plenty of time and opportunity to work on driving technique, and supporting vehicle modifications to keep up with your increased talent !

REVELRY:

From  casually observing, to sweating  out  lap times in your Nomex fire suit, you will be amongst friends. If you have never driven your vehicle on the track, you can’t imagine how involving, and potentially meditative this experience can be. Like finding fresh powder in a back bowl you are focused on one objective….. your next turn.  In this instant the rest of the world simply does not exist. I don’t think the Dalai Lama has spent much time on the track, but I think even his holiness would agree, that driving at the limit on the track, exemplifies living in the moment.

———————————DON’T DELAY ! GET SIGNED UP TODAY !——————————-

DATES :

• JUNE 18
• JULY 9
• AUGUST 13
• SEPTEMBER 17
• OCTOBER 15

RESERVATIONS : Reserve your track time HERE .

COST : Full day 8:00am-5:00pm $150.00. Half day 8:00am-12:00pm $90.00

HIGH PLAINS RACEWAY :  click the name for more information.

RSVP : please contact : Max@3ZERO3Motorsports.com, if you are planning on joining us.

Robb Holland hops from the GTI to the Apollo Gumpert.

—————————————–TRACK DAYS ARE IMPORTANT :————————————————-

3ZERO3 Motorsports believes that getting to the race track as often as possible is important for many reasons. :

• Just like the VW, Audi and Porsche band manufacturers,  We at 3ZERO3 Motorsport believe that track experience improves and informs our sense of safety each and everyday.
• This is our proving ground as well. As we continue to support, sponsor, and build more race cars each year, track time proves to be an invaluable resource.
• HPR is a new track and quite frankly they need our financial support. We are encouraging enthusiasts of all types to get out and form a relationship with their hometown race track.

Hopefully  this summer Adam Mattivi will get out from behind the camera and onto the track with his Titanium Edition B7 2.0TFSI Avant.

—————————————————–QUESTIONS ?———————————————————

• What kind of cars can come to the track ?
• Can I bring my vehicle even if it is unmodified ?
• What type of equipment do I need ?
• Does my vehicle need a safety inspection ?
• Do I need a helmet ? Where can I buy one ?

Click HERE for High Plains Raceway lapping policies.

If you have more questions, post them at the bottom of the page or contact us day or night !

A  real HPR ( High Plains Regular) Mike Thul’s SPEC 944 knows these corners well.

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be the Denver and Colorado leader for your Volkswagen, Porsche and Audi needs. From racing, to oil changes, we are here to support our local community. That means providing owners with easy opportunities to get out and enjoy their vehicles in fun and safe environments. For the last 5 years 3ZERO3 Motorsports has provided excellent service for Denver, Colorado Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen owners looking to not only find a service and repair shop, but a home for their stock, modified, and purpose built race cars. If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Colorado is home to some of the greatest cars, and roads in the country.

That’s why YOU chose to live HERE right ?

We believe that the car culture in Colorado is very strong. However,  there are few opportunities to celebrate  and support our passionate pursuit of automotive excellence. Here is the excuse you have been looking for. A weekend long  celebration handcrafted by 3ZERO3 Motorsports, and the Lamborghini Club of America, designed to get us all together, and do what we do best.

• STEP ONE : Mark your calendar ; July 23-25 2010.
• STEP TWO : keep reading…….

THE DETAILS :

• WHO : you, your significant other, and everyone else you know that loves cars.
• WHAT: a road rally to and from Snowmass CO. Great dinners and a party with friends. A full day of motorsports activities including a saturday morning seminar, and exotic track access.
• WHEN : Friday July 23, Saturday July 24th, Sunday July 25th.
• WHERE : We will be leaving Denver en masse Friday morning, staying Friday and Saturday nights in Snowmass, CO, and driving home Sunday.
• COST : $125.00 for  your Motorsports Weekend Ticket. Discounted lodging &  discounted dining are both provided with each Motorsports Weekend Ticket purchase.  Prices guaranteed until 6.15.2010. This event will sell out ! PLEASE NOTE : lodging and food are not in your $125.00 ticket cost.

TELL ME MORE :

3ZERO3 Motorsports has partnered with Lamborghini Club of America, and Snowmass Village to create a lifestyle event that bring us all together for a weekend of epic mountain driving, sexy cars, savory food,  and the kind of experience that will make your summer unforgettable.

Great effort has been taken to ensure that this weekend provides real FUN, and won’t break the bank. The featured exotic cars are more than worthy of our attention.Close your eyes, and imagine ( if you will )  six figure super cars, lapping full throttle with the mountains behind them. This is Gran Turismo in living color!

We have ensured that the cost of the weekend  is something that we feel provides real value. And thru it all, the weekend won’t leave you feeling like you need to take another day off to recover.

—————————————————THE SCHEDULE ————————————————————

• FRIDAY : Meet us friday morning at 3ZERO3, as we all meet up and get prepared for the drive down Highway 285, with a scheduled stop in Buena Vista for lunch. Then over Independence pass and into Snowmass where you will get checked into your hotel, and have time to relax before our dinner at Buchi Sushi.
• SATURDAY : This isn’t a working weekend, yes you will be able to sleep in, and then meet everyone at 10:00am for a multimedia motorsports seminar in the Silvertree Hotel. Class will be in session until lunch time. We will grab a quick bite and head to Woody Creek Raceway where we will hang out at track while a few dozen Lamborghini’s and other exclusive exotics hot lap for the afternoon session. People will be given the opportunity to sign up, and ride shotgun in a Lamborghini with pro-driver Robb Holland….. details to follow. After the track, we will head back to the hotel where you will be able to put your feet up for a few, then get shined up and ready for the evening festivities. Dinner at Sneaky’s Tavern, and  no cost entry to the party at Basecamp Bar & Grille in the Base Village.
• SUNDAY : Wake up  at a reasonable hour, we will have a brief weekend wrap up, then a drive back home. For those of you looking to maximize the scenery we will take the back roads to Denver. However feel free to shoot onto I-70 for a quicker ride home.

————————————————————————————————————————————–

BOOK YOUR TICKETS  NOW:    $125.00/person for the entire weekend.

Email us ASAP with questions or to purchase tickets :  Snowmasstix@3zero3motorsports.com.

HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS :  We will be  staying at the Silvertree Hotel  in Snowmass Village. Rooms have been discounted to $119.00/night + tax, for a superb double occupancy room. This is a great ski-in ski-out hotel. This is a hotel we have personally stayed in before, and loved it ! Once your reservation is confirmed we will provide you with all the necessary  booking information needed to get your discounted room locked in !

GOT QUESTIONS ? WE DID!

• Do I get to drive my car on the track ? Track access is by invitation only. The track at Woody Creek  is a 1.1 mile road course that simply cannot handle a large group. You will however, be able to hang at the track with six figure exotics, and see, hear and smell these cars lap. There will be other track events this summer, this weekend is all about the lifestyle… ( and not blowing your budget !)
• So what does my $125.00 get me ? Great question. We have gone to great lengths to ensure that there is a real value for the price of each ticket. Your $125.00 will provide the following : A fabulous goody  bag stuffed with merchandise and discounts from event sponsors.  Discounted lodging and discounted dining are also provided with your ticket purchase. Serious dinner and drink discounts are for event participants only ! Access to the saturday motorsports clinic, and access to private racetrack on saturday. Sponsors will also be giving away products all weekend long !
• Can I bring my spouse/children ? Absolutely. While you are at the track there are plenty of activities for the family or your significant other. 5 star spa access, hiking, biking, and shopping abound. Click here for more info on all the great  activities available in Snowmass Village.

Don’t delay, we anticipate that this weekend will sell out, and quickly ! This is being advertised everywhere from Denver, to Vail, and the Aspen Valley ! Get in touch asap and join us for what promises to be the highlight of the summer !

That response is simply : DRIVE IT!

On an overcast morning 3ZERO3 Motorsports yours truly along with our well connected photographer/videographer Adam Mattivi,  made the trip up highway 36 to visit the new Tesla Gallery in Boulder and drive the Tesla Roadster.

Click along to get our impressions and experiences with a six figure electric sports car.

( Spoiler alert : we loved it !)

THE TESLA GALLERY

Located at 915 Pearl St, the Tesla Gallery is right at home in the north end of Boulder’s salient Pearl Street pedestrian mall.  A showroom this is not.  This place even smells like art ( that’s a good thing ). Stainless steel bar stools, complimentary espresso, and shiny Mac computers with wireless keyboards adorn the open concept layout. High end product images and Scandinavian furniture provide ample opportunity for comfortable and stylish relaxation while you wait for your Tesla vehicle to charge ( there is a charging station in the back of the building for customers).

What used to be here ? Some kind of furniture something or other, ahhhh who cares.

Great space to wait and recharge your batteries. ( punny)

A glass front for all to see.

The goods.

Tesla Sedan, coming to a gallery near you.

ITS ELECTRIC

The power and performance of these all electric vehicles is sinister. When you first lay into the throttle ( nay : gas pedal ) 100% of torque is available from a dead stop. I was convinced this motor made at least 1,000 ft-lbs of torque . I was shocked to find out that it didn’t.

• POWER:  288HP & 273 FT-LBS TQ ( Sport Model 295 FT-LBS).
• WEIGHT : 2723 LBS
• TRANSMISSION : single speed fixed gear.
• WHEELBASE : 92.6 inches
• HEIGHT 44.35 inches

0-60MPH in 3.9 seconds, less 2 tenths  for the Sport edition. We can confirm his  figure is REAL. The Tesla Roadster accelerates with ferocious intention.With 100% of torque on tap at 1 RPM, there are few cars on the planet that will beat the Tesla Roadster from 0-30MPH. Aggressive acceleration left both driver and passenger giddy, and giggling.

Driving the future.

Taking the charge.

The Tesla battery life is good for a claimed 236 miles per single charge. The roadster we test drove featured two driving modes; max battery life and performance. After an hour of spirited driving, we were left feeling that with a conservative driver in the appropriate battery mode, 250 miles could be achieved.

How long does it take to achieve a full charge  ? 15 seconds !

Okay, so that’s not entirely true. Tesla claims on their website that charging at 250V and 70A, a full charge can be achieved in 3.5 hours. But when we first asked store coordinator Erin Callan how long it takes to charge a Tesla Roadster, she replied smartly:

“15 seconds”.

WHAT ?!

“How long does it take to charge your iPhone ? Just plug it in when you get home, and it’ll be ready when you need it,”, Erin quipped.

Her answer proved insightful. The Tesla approach is full of fresh thinking, and is clearly reflected in that of the  staff .

ROAD TEST

To drive is to believe. I have to admit that like many of you, I had my doubts about the true value of these cars. But believe me, its there. I will also say that I hated the Cayenne Turbo when Porsche first announced the vehicle late in 2003. Then I drove one, then I bought one.

The Tesla Roadster isn’t for everyone, clearly. Its a purpose built car, despite its green accolades its designed for out and out performance, and  not for driving cross country. The latter a nagging criticism for all electric cars.

Though when comparing other cars in this segment, you rarely see Porsche 911 Turbo’s filling up at gas stations in Iowa as drivers make cross country trips. You  don’t spend this kind of money for road trip vehicles, it just doesn’t happen. You don’t buy $100,000 cars to drive them cross country. You buy them because they are exciting, you buy them to piss off your neighbors, you buy them because you can. The Tesla Roadster does all three.

Ok maybe it won’t  (necessarily ) anger off your neighbor, but it could, the electric motor’s instantaneous torque delivery could make for some epic burnouts and lawn jobs. Come to think of it, your neighbor would never even hear you while you did figure 8’s in his freshly laden sod !  I smell a viral video! Yet, I digress…..

The touch screen.

On a 53F degree day, at 10:54am on Friday April 16, at an elevation of 5,300ft, Adam and I set out on a test drive. Both graduates of the University of Colorado, we knew exactly where to head. We left the Tesla Gallery,  hopped onto Canyon Blvd, and quickly headed up the Boulder Canyon.

Sweep, curve, and contour.

The backroads to Nederland are some of the best in the state. The slow speed corners, and climbing elevation proved ideal for the responsive chassis and instant power.

LOW.

Why reinvent the wheel ?The Lotus Elise sourced chassis is an ideal fit for this vehicle. The monocoque design, and 4 wheel independent suspension provided precise handling.Owners can request custom spring and dampener rates when ordering.  While driving we felt as though our bottoms were no more than 3 inches off the ground.

Driver swap.

With the top in place, climbing into the roadster can be a bit of a challenge. We were reminded of the street performer on Pearl St that regularly bends himself inside of plastic tubing for spare change.  I chose to slide over the center console and steal the drivers seat from Adam when he hopped out to make a stop earlier in the drive. Here Adam chose a more conventional approach to ingress.

The road ahead.

With no power assist from the rack and pinion steering, hair pin corners like the one ahead were a bit hairy-er. ( more punny)

Flip it.

The flip  video camera comes everywhere. What does it mean when your suction 360 mount costs more than the camera it positions ? It means Adam geeks out on camera equipment.But  we don’t mind! Video coming soon…..

The wheel deal.

With no power assist, and twisty roads ahead of us, the steering wheel remained a focus for the driver. This beefy, aerated leather Momo unit proved exceptional.

Student crossing !

Driving in downtown boulder while school is in session is  harrowing. With students, bikers, skaters, and all manner of pedestrian popping out of nowhere. Driving the utterly silent Tesla made us ever more aware of these potential hazards. Though to be honest the Tesla commands a tremendous curb appeal. We smiled as knowing collegiates gawked at our electric supercar.

Million dollar details.

I love details like this. Cars commanding $100,000 or more should be full of million dollar details ( don’t tell Corvette Z06 owners)  The 90 degree door hinge on the roadster was one of my favorites.

Mac inspired ?

The transmission selector switches felt great, and looked the part. Seemingly lifted from a Mac Book Pro,  we were told that we need not come to a complete stop before transitioning between drive and reverse on the selector ( up to 5MPH anyways). But I just can’t bring myself to select reverse while the car is still rolling at any speed.

Details, details….

Air inlet with exposed carbon fiber, feeds cooling air to the rear mounted electric motors over the rear quarter panels. You can see the red electric cable hiding behind the carbon trim. I relish the ( often ) refined use of carbon fiber on the Tesla Roadster.

Performance + scale.

The tiny roadster next to the not so tiny Adam Mattivi.

RESULTS :

We loved it, shocking we know.I tend to love all $100,000.00 + sports cars. But the Tesla Roadster will surprise you. Having owned a twin turbo Audi S4, and Cayenne Turbo, I am aptly described as a petrol head. But the Tesla Roadster made me think; this would be an amazing toy. Assuming I had something to get up to the mountains and back for snowboarding season, the Tesla Roadster would make a pretty fantastic second  or third car.

The stats are only one part of this equation. Those of you quickly comparing this car to similarly priced sports cars ( new and used ) will undoubtably question the battery range, and top speed performance along with the exclusive price. But that is essentially missing the point.

There is a cool factor built into these cars, that is different from and largely absent from most other exclusive car marques. This is a techy car, built for a techy consumer. Despite essentially dropping in a electric driveline in a Lotus chassis, the Tesla is greater than the sum of its parts.

The car is a technological champion, and it reminds you of that constantly. You are not driving an electric Lotus, you are in a Tesla. The driving experience becomes instantly addictive.  The sound of the electric motor swooshing and whirring behind your shoulders, the lack of any exhaust noise, I thought would leave me in want. But truly did not.

The Tesla roadster makes a compelling argument for the well funded enthusiast, looking for a new toy.

Don’t believe me ? DRIVE IT !

Tesla sales specialist Ben Kanner shared with us that Tesla owners help constantly to improve, and reinvent this brand. And we felt that. You become very involved in the driving process, and instantly sucked into the brand.  The Tesla driving experience changes your perception on performance. Like all technological innovation, there are always necessary permutations before the optimal product is achieved, but Tesla ought to be commended for one helluva of a first try.

Many thanks to the good people at Tesla, Boulder for giving us the opportunity.

If you have any questions, or are in need of your own test drive, please contact :

• Ben Kanner 650.701.2862
• bkanner@teslamotors.com

In an effort to bring you best in performance for Audi, Volkswagen and Porsche, as well as green performance, 3ZERO3 Motorsports proudly searches high and low to bring interesting content to our readers. If you have any questions about how to improve fuel economy or performance in your Porsche, Audi or Volkswagen please give us a shout : info@3zero3motorsports.com. For the last 5 years 3ZERO3 Motorsports has employed factory trained technicians, advisors and parts managers in an effort to provide the highest level of maintenance, repair, and high performance tuning products for our Denver and Colorado customers.

]]> http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/04/20/the-tesla-report/feed/ 3 http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/31/revo-technik-spring-sale-2010/ http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/31/revo-technik-spring-sale-2010/#comments Wed, 31 Mar 2010 18:16:20 +0000 Max http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/?p=1526 In a continued effort to provide the best in performance, tuning, and VALUE for the Volkswagen, Audi, and Porsche brands 3ZERO3 Motorsports is pleased to announce the REVO Technik Spring Sale 2010.

Read more to find out how you can go fast and pocket $100 !

TERMS AND CONDITIONS:

• $100 off any full REVO Technik engine performance program.
• Sale is good from March 27th to April 11th 2010
• Applies to engine software only.
• Exclude stage upgrades, and software updates.

How much power can you expect to gain  ? Click here to get details !

Please contact us here to schedule your appointment or get more information on this fabulous product.

REVO Software engineer loading a performance program into a right hand drive Porsche 996 GT3.

WHAT IS REVO ?

Revo Technik provides performance software that is downloaded into the brain of your vehicles engine AKA Engine Control Unit ( ECU). This is accessed thru a data port in the interior of your vehicle, all of this performance is installed without even lifting the hood. Revo aftermarket products incorporate the ability to run a variety of engine performance modes, disable the vehicle completely where necessary ( for added security), and in some cases make minute changes specific to your vehicle. All of this is done by working with, instead of against, the original vehicle systems. The vehicle can be completely returned to its original state at any time. Revo engineers rewrite much of the factory source code and spend countless days of data logging and tuning their product ensuring the maximum level of performance with the greatest level of driveability

These MkIV GTI’s proudly displaying their REVO brand loyalty.

IS IT SAFE ?

The answer is an unequivocal YES ! All Revo software is tuned to maximize the performance of your car safely, within the tolerances of the vehicles engine and related hardware. Increased development is done on all areas of the program to ensure Revo software gives you the best performance and more importantly the most enjoyable drive from your car.  Should you have any concerns regarding the safety of this software, or concerns in regards to vehicle manufacturer warranty complications, the stock engine software is always retained in your ECU and can be restored anytime you wish.

The software upgrade is totally non-invasive, and can be uploaded while you wait.

WHAT CAN I EXPECT ?

The performance envelope varies by specific engine and vehicle application. Turbocharged vehicles by nature see the greatest performance gains, but in every application you can expect better than factory power, fuel economy, and driveability.  For example the 2.0TFSI engine for the VW and Audi family sees an increase in horsepower from 200hp to 255hp and an increase in torque from 207 ft-lbs to 290 ft-lbs. That is a 27.5% increase in horsepower and a 40% increase in torque ! Dollars to doughnuts there is simply no better value on the market.

Keep your turbo and your boost gauge properly exercised this spring.

This could be your $100.00 !

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be the Denver leader in Porsche, VW, and Audi maintenance, repair, and high performance tuning. With factory trained technicians who leave, breathe, and race the cars that we service everyday there is no one better suited to handle every aspect of your vehicles maintenance,  repair, and performance needs than the talented group of professionals at 3ZERO3 Motorsports.

]]> http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/31/revo-technik-spring-sale-2010/feed/ 0 http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/26/2010-1st-quarter-in-review/ http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/26/2010-1st-quarter-in-review/#comments Fri, 26 Mar 2010 17:08:11 +0000 Max http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/?p=1487 3ZERO3 Motorsports has been charging thru the first quarter of 2010.  If you haven’t been keeping tabs on us, you may have missed some of the exciting projects in and around the shop:

• Completion of Val’s custom equipped V8 A4 racer.
• 4 PES G4 supercharged Audi V8’s.
• Matt Collins AMAZING supercharged, methanol fed RS4 with custom Stasis Motorsports suspension, with more modifications to come !
• Ice racing at Georgetown Lake.
• Off season Porsche 944 spec racer  prep, and project 1982 911 SC  restoration.
• The return of our Kiwi.
• New 3ZERO3 Motorsports merchandise.
• And lots more!

Spend a few minutes to get caught up with your favorite VW, Audi, and Porsche maintenance, repair and high performance tuning shop. Proving yet again that no one has as much fun at work as we do !

STARTING THE YEAR OFF RIGHT

To work at 3ZERO3 Motorsports is not to be employed, but rather to be part of a family. We were all thankful to be the guests of Technician Tucker and his wonderful wife Megan. They took all of us in for a night filled with delectable cuisine, and hand crafted libations ( nay : food and beverage !). It is very hard to get all of the 3ZERO3 family in the same place at the same time, but when we do, it always makes for a memorable evening.

Paparazzi capture Scott and his fiance Tess enjoying a moment during the meal. How Scott landed Tess, we will never know !

A savory roast, and Mirror Pond pale ale ? Yes please !

STAYING BUSY

Despite the dawdling US economy, our parking is constantly brimming with Audi’s, Porsches and Volkswagens. We are happy and grateful to be so busy. Thankfully Technician ‘Kiwi’ Andrews has made a full recovery from his shoulder surgery and is back swinging wrenches just in the nick of time.

Cars as far as the eye can see. Ferdinand Porsche would be proud.

Aaron digs deep on a 1982 Porsche 911, while Jason tracks down an electrical gremlin on a late model VW Eurovan.

We missed this guy ! Technician Keith ‘Kiwi’ Andrews returns after some scheduled maintenance. The shop just wasn’t the same without our resident New Zealander !

And the lovely Red Bull girls always know when to stop by and give us a boost.

SUPERCHARGED GLORY

February was officially supercharger month at 3ZERO3 Motorsports. In the span of a few weeks we added  4 PES G4 supercharger units to an Audi RS4, an Audi S6 Avant, and 2 Audi S4’s. The addition of forced induction on each of these platforms has vaulted all of these fantastic 8 cylinder, all wheel drive sports cars into the realm of true super cars. Dropping the clutch of these heavy hitting Audi V8’s  while hearing the supercharger whine  AND boiling all 4 tires from a dead stop is truly addictive.

3ZERO3 Motorsports has made a name for itself as the premier supercharged tuner for  not only Colorado, but in all of North America. Have questions about how to make your naturally aspirated Audi S4, S6, A6, A8, Q7, Touareg, or RS4 go faster ? We have the answers !

Matt Collins supercharged, and methanol fed RS4 engine. Note how closely this resembles a living human heart…. Art imitating life ? You decide.

With 4 supercharger installs under his belt in a single month, Marshall-Law is writing the book on PES supercharger installation, literally.

DYNO TIME

With at least 8 different dyno session scheduled for all of the supercharged Audi V8 cars alone , we spent alot of time on the dyno. Not to mention the great success we had with Tom Seabrook’s STG 3 Audi S4. Dyno testing revealed that his car was missing a significant amount of power. Replacing his injectors, and updating his ECM with a new custom tune yielded BIG power increases.

Dave Elkan’s supercharged B6 S4 Avant laying down nearly 100whp improvement over stock. When you consider the fact that naturally aspirated engines lose 3% of power per 1,000ft of elevation gain, you can really appreciate how much faster Dave’s S4 is in his hometown of Snowmass CO.

Tom Seabrooks’ B5 S4 dyno chart. Tom saw big improvements with a custom tune and new injectors.

We are avoiding any gratuitous ‘go-fast-dyno’ references. Oh wait…..

NEW FRIENDS

With the onset of the new year, we have found ourselves awash with new contacts, new customers, and new friends. People like Euro Berge Magazine and Photographer Ronnie Renaldi have been hanging around the shop lately presenting new and exciting opportunities for 3ZERO3 Motorsports customers and enthusiasts across Colorado !

Looking forward to future collaborations with Richard Melick and the Euro Berge team.

Marty Lowandowski’s has dropped his A6 2.7T to street sweeper status. Marty is a hard working active local enthusiast, we are lucky to help maintain his gorgeous Audi.

Ever since we built Matt Collins’ RS4, we have been inundated with other local RS4 owners. Here RS4 owner Ben Timmons with friend Adam Mattivi discuss global politics while Aaron services the RS4.

NEW CARS

Modified B8 Audi A4’s are becoming more and more frequent visitors to 3ZERO3 Motorsports. James Huzella’s murdered out 2.0TFSI is a prime example.

Tradeshow Emporium owner Willis Wood recently picked up this modified B6 A4 1.8T Avant for pennies on the dollar.  His car representing a great example of the value in the used car market.

NEW PRESS

The Moxie Media Group was here in February shooting the latest promo video for Universal Technical  Institute, featuring 3ZERO3 Motorsports as a  success story for their technical training program. Stay tuned to see the web version of this video as it is released.

Local celebrity photographer and automotive enthusiast Ronnie Renaldi has been frequenting much of our supercharged activity. And we could not be happier !

NEW 3ZERO3 MERCHANDISE

3ZERO3 Motorsports flexfit trucker hats are now available.

RS4 sold separately.

3ZERO3 Motorsports gift cards available at a retailer near you. Click here to find out where.

GREAT COMPLETED PROJECTS

Accomplished racer and local tough guy Valentin Ivanitski poses proudly in front of his V8 B5 A4. We LOVE seeing this car out on the track !

NEW PROJECTS

Now this is a project we love . Brian & Allison Thenhaus’ 1982 Porsche 911 SC is getting brought back to life courtesy of 3ZERO3 Motorsports air cooled Porsche specialist Randy Muller. Focusing first on the mechanical items, followed by body work and interior, stay tuned for progress updates on this modern classic.

GETTING THOSE PORSCHES READY FOR SUMMER

We have been busy lately getting our Porsche customers’ vehicles ready for summer. Track prep, and motor rebuilds have been the name of the game for father and son racing team Mike and Sean Thul. But not all Porsches take the winter off. Vail resident Rys Olsen ROCKS his 997 Carrera 4S all year long.

997 C4S with customer powder coated OEM wheels, hanging tough.

The Porsche 951 cars are becoming more and more popular amongst track junkies in Colorado. With a rear mounted transaxle, 50/50 weight distribution, Porsche genes, and low entry cost, you’d be crazy not to love these cars.

944 spec racer motor, ready to be dropped back in the race car and see some wheel-to-wheel action.

Done and done.

EVENTS

The winter season doesn’t present too many opportunities to get out there and put our cars to the test. Except for ice racing of course. We had a blast tearing up the frozen surfaces of Georgetown Lake this winter. With the help of talented local photographer Adam Mattivi, we were able to get some great shots of doing what we love; playing with our cars! If you haven’t seen Adam’s work ,click here.

Getting footage of Val’s V8 A4 on the ice. 

Marshall Law’s boosted S4.

You can’t fake smiles like this.

Garry learned quickly to roll on the throttle ever so gently while putting his supercharged S6 thru its paces on the frozen surface of Georgetown Lake.

NEW EVENTS

The summer event schedule is starting to fill up. We will be announcing summer events as soon as they are confirmed. There will of course be the de rigueur track days, and car shows. But this year we have our sights set on some bigger, brighter, and more lifestyle oriented events.

Lots of seats to fill here……

Cool event space indoor……

……and out !

Stay tuned to 3ZERO3 Motorsports for more details.

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be your Denver and Colorado home for Audi, Porsche and Volkswagen maintenance, repair, and high performance tuning. With customers in Denver, the front range, and west of the continental divide our unique approach to high quality customer service, and well priced technical service continue to keep our shop busy and our phones ringing. If you have any questions regarding service, repair, tuning, or just stopping by to see us in action, please don’t hesitate to contact us day or night. We love our customers, our cars, and our work !

]]> http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/26/2010-1st-quarter-in-review/feed/ 8 http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/09/staying-tuned-with-3zero3/ http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/2010/03/09/staying-tuned-with-3zero3/#comments Tue, 09 Mar 2010 17:51:46 +0000 Max http://www.3zero3motorsports.com/blog/?p=1424 Tuning & Performance;  they go together like:

• Milk and cookies,
• Peanut butter and jelly.
• Chauncey and ‘Mello.

Yet  there are so many enthusiasts out there that simply have not tuned their performance vehicle. Many owners feel they have alot to be afraid of. Afraid of big costs for custom tunes, afraid of incompetent dyno operators, or worst of all, afraid of low numbers!  Fear not fans, 3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to find the horsepower that others leave on the table ! Intrigued ? Skeptical ? READ ON  !

Strapping down the stage 3 Audi S4.

CASE STUDY : Tom Seabrook’s Audi S4 2.7T

Audi enthusiast and Silver Plume, CO resident Tom Seabrook called us this winter. Tom had recently purchased a used Audi S4 2.7T. This Imola Yellow sport sedan had one previous owner, who had receipts for a full stage 3 conversion, but Tom had his doubts. ” It should be faster,” Tom quipped. After one test drive, we were similarly convinced. It should be faster.

We scheduled some time for Tom to leave his S4 with us, and we investigated further…….

The dyno sheet for the baseline run. Power numbers are low, and A/F is not where it needed to be. HP numbers are in BLUE, torque in RED, and Air/Fuel in GREEN.

294.8WHP and 347.8 WTQ aren’t bad, but could be so much better !

We received Tom’s car. And performed a full inspection :

• Ensured there were no boost/vacuum leaks.
• Confirmed that engine, brakes, and driveline all had sufficient fluids.
• Made sure all electrical systems were functioning properly.

After we ensured the car was safe, and ready for the dyno, we took the car off to our friends at Carz Performance to lay down some baseline numbers. And what we found was that our concerns were validated. Tom’s made good numbers, but not good enough.

Lucas and the guys at Carz Performance are not Audi, VW, or Porsche specialists per se. While they do spend quite a bit of time tuning Mitsubishi Evo’s, we feel they are dyno specialists. We have the upmost respect, and confidence in their ability, and  their equipment. Our relationship with them is built upon years of positive experiences. Any owner should share this confidence in whomever is testing their vehicle.

Looking more closely at Tom’s baseline dyno graph we found that Tom’s fuel injectors were maxed out after 4,800 RPM. His software program was limiting boost and timing, and ultimately performance. Time for some changes.

The Imola Yellow beast, laying it down.

We quickly uprooted out the 440cc fuel injectors, installed some 630cc units,and  dropped mainline fuel pressure by installing a 3 bar fuel pressure regulator. A phone call and some digital magic procured a new file for Tom’s car to maximize the additional fuel provided by the new injectors.  Thats it, 6 fuel injectors, 1 new fuel pressure regulator, and a new file.

At 3ZERO3 Motorsports, we have access to tuning options from many vendors, such as :

• REVO Technik
• Autospeed Performance
• PES
• VAST Performance

Depending on your specific needs and goals, we will work with the best vendor to suit your needs. For Tom’s car, we added a VAST Performance file.

Now time for logging. After the new hardware was installed, we drove the car while monitoring and recording vital engine electronic sensor information. This information is organized in data logs, and then emailed to our software specialists who will tune these files. Making changes to boost pressure onset, fuel management, ignition timing etc, to ensure that the car is operating properly, and at full potential.

These revised files are downloaded onto our computers, and then uploaded to the engine control module.

Now we’re talkin’ turkey !

That’s more like it !

In this instance the results were astounding.Tom’s car picked up 46.7 WHP and 55,6 WTQ, with only updated fueling items and a much improved tune.  Much of Tom’s increased performance is attributed to having larger and properly functioning fuel injectors, as well as an updated software file. Will your car see these same benefits ? Maybe, maybe not, you don’t know til you know…..

The real moral of the story is this :

• Is your car performing the way it was designed to ? The only way to know is by putting your car on the dyno and finding out !
• How ridiculously expensive is this ? There is no menu pricing for custom tuning. Every car is different and has unique needs, But to get going, a full inspection and baseline dyno session will always cost less than $200.0. After that pricing is largely dependent on the specific hardware, and software updates your car will require.
• Why not tune on the dyno ? We aren’t necessarily opposed. But our customers drive their vehicles on the open road, that is where we perform our logs, and make revisions to ensure it is this environment where the car will perform. We don’t build dyno queens, we make real cars, real fast, for the real world.

Want to tune your car ? Do you have no idea what we are talking about ? Drop us a line and we’ll sort you out. At 3ZERO3 Motorsports we are performance enthusiasts first, and foremost. . We constantly strive to find value, and performance in areas that other local tuners may not.

3ZERO3 Motorsports continues to be your Denver and Colorado leader in maintenance, repair and high performance tuning. If you have a VW, Audi, or Porsche you can trust that our dedicated staff of factory trained technicians, parts specialists, and service advisors will be able to service any and all of your needs. Please contact us day or night !