http://hondaracinghpd.blogspot.com/2011/01/i-race-honda-lara-tallman.html
http://hondaracinghpd.blogspot.com/2011/01/six-honda-teams-ready-for-grandam.html

Race Report From Lara Tallman:

Team Skullcandy Finishes 5th at Grandam Season Opener!

Daytona was another eventful race for the Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge and the CA Sport team. We were join by our crew of: Josh Sandel as crew chief, Mark Keeton as strategist, Jason Smith from Innovative Garage, Ryan Taylor, Tyler Burgoyne and The Pfadt Racing crew: Aaron Pfadt, Josh and Blair.

Practice for us went smoothly, not so much for some of the other teams which caused a black flag in the first session so I ended up getting only one hot lap. Daytona is a short event since the test is earlier in January and due to budget we weren’t there. That means that on Thursday we had two practice sessions, and then qualifying. Since the first session didn’t give me much track time I was hoping to get it together the quickly. The new track felt quite different, much smoother and faster. The car got up to speed sooner on the oval and caused the car to move more from turbulence. The set-up was pretty good from the start, but Vesko and the crew continued to improve the car and before I knew it it was time to qualify.

Qualifying, what can I say, not pretty. I was trying to find a gap to get a run, but it seemed like the race was on. After a couple of laps I found a hole and put down a better lap, but it was less than stellar so we started the race in 32nd

I was in the car first as usual and my job was to stay out of trouble and to be very easy on the brakes. We still can hardly finish a race with any brakes left and staying out of trouble in the start of a Continental race is challenging. There were 45 cars in the ST field, 80 plus cars total, so it was a busy start. There were two full-course yellows in the first 30 minutes. Mark and Vesko decided to do our pit stop then as I radioed in that there were 5 cars involved and clean-up would be lengthy. I narrowly missed that pile-up, can’t wait to see the video. That happened half a lap after one of the Freedom cars got loose in the horseshoe and almost collected me. I think there were 5 full-course yellows during the race and many cars down—but not the Skullcandy Honda Civic si!

Sitting in the pit waiting for the outcome is torture, but watching Vesko show his usual style was excellent. He made it to 3rd place but couldn’t get by the KIA’s who were working together then he was hit repeatedly by one of the orange civics which happened to be a lap down and not competing in the top ten, but his teammate behind him was trying to catch Vesko. He turned Vesko twice and ripped off the back bumper, but Vesko held on for a 5th place finish.

After the race Grand-am pulled several cars for tech and a dyno test. I doubt well here anything from the results, but I’d love to. It took several hours so we were really late getting packed up and out.

On to Miami. . .

Innovative Garage
572 S 1325 W
Orem, UT 84058
801.918.6130

More Pictures at bottom!

The morning of April 18th brought no work, chilled weather and the Miller Park Racing Association Race #2. Innovative Garage, Mad Dog Cycles and Munoa Performance all field cars. A 1995 Honda Civic, 2001 Acura Integra Type R and a 2005 Acura RSX Type S. The Innovative Garage Civic and Munoa Performance Type R arrived at the track promptly at 7am ready for annual tech inspection and license renewal. The Mad Dog Cycles RSX starting the day off with an alarm clock malfunction, arrived slightly AFTER the morning drivers meeting.

A typical Race day with MPRA consist of two practice sessions, qualifying and the race. As far as the Type R is concerned it ran flawless MOST of the day. Both practice sessions it ran well. Adam (the Type R driver), was turning very fast laps. He was reporting the car was turning, braking and was accelerating better then it had in the past year! New alignment specs and a fresh tune seemed to all be working well. With consistent lap times in the 1:43 range there was no doubting it. A 1:43.3 was the small bore class fastest time of the day set down by Adam and the Type R, putting him on pole. The last few laps during qualifying, Adam reported the car started to sputter in high G-force corners. Finally the engine shut down in turn 9 and he coasted in the hot pits. Scrambling to figure out the problem before the race Jordan Munoa (much needed and appreciated crew member, thanks Jordan) and Adam went to work trying to fix the problem. Checking electrical grounds and connections. The engine would start, run and rev normally while sitting in the pit stall. But as soon as the car was put into any sort of lateral G-force, it would sputter or stall. As I strapped into the Civic and headed to grid for the race they were still working on the problem. With two minutes till grid closes, Adam comes blazing into the hot pits to lead us out on to the parade lap.

With the Mad Dog Cycles RSX missing the first practice session Randy Gibb (car driver), had more work to do then the rest of us. Luckily the RSX was doing what it had done all of the 2008 season……….running flawlessly. The car was setting consistent lap times in the 1:44-1:45 range. Thin pads made qualifying a little difficult, Randy put down a 1:46.7 time. Setting him 7th in small bore class. Definitely, not his best lap time but considering VERY squishy brake pedal, not to shabby. A quick pad installed and the RSX was race ready.

The Innovative Garage Civic was a whole different story. I tested the car on the 21st of March. All day it ran like a super champ. No issues. Turned well, accelerated slow but normal for a stock B18a. Braking was exceptional. The Integra Type R brakes are money on this lightweight car. Saturday for some reason the car was plagued with issues. The transmisson was popping out of third gear. Most 3rd gear corners I had to hold the shift lever in place to keep the car in gear, leaving me to drive with one hand. Not ideal! This problem was small compared to some sort of electrical problem the car was now having. It would literally shut down in the middle of high G-force corners. Not sputter or lose power, SHUT DOWN! The first time it did this was turn 9, just after I apexed. I lost traction in the rear end of the car and spun into the dirt. It did this all day, without knowing when and where the car would shut down was nerve wracking. Always expecting to spin off track if the car lost power. We tried all sort of things, check all electrical grounds and connections. Swap ECU’s, distributors, nothing worked. In qualifying I figured out I could flick my kill switch off then on and this would allow the car to keep power. Never figured it out. Went through the rest of qualifying and the race like this.

The race was intense! Grid went like this:
1. Adam Munoa, Integra Type R
2. Kris Mckoy, 2005 Acura RSX Type S (Snow Camo)
3. Tom Felt, 2006 Honda S2000
4. Jason D. Smith, INNOVATIVE GARAGE 1995 Honda Civic HB
5. Ed Mineau, Porche
6. Randy Gibb, 2005 Acura RSX Type S
7. Mike Watson, Porche
8. John Watson, Porche
9. Aaron Ptaft, Miata
10. Tyler Dahl, Miata
11. Allan Anderson, Miata
12. Jon Lee, Miata
13. Clark Dodson, Miata
14. William Pendleton, Miata
15. Dan Dilsaver, Miata
16. Dave Kizerian, Miata
17. Frank Hatton-Ward, Miata
18. Joe Sim, 1999 Honda Odessey (Yes, a minivan)
19. Dan Dilsaver Jr,
20. Randy Cummings
21. Todd Imwold, Miata

I will edit the race footage soon so you can see for yourself! The top six were involved in a battle for about 6 laps. On the first lap, pole sitter Adam Munoa had a stroke of bad luck. Spun off of turn 6, jumped a curb and broke a driver rear upper control arm. Putting him out of the race. Unfortunate considering this was the car to beat all day. Very Fast. I was only able to keep Randy’s RSX and the two Porche’s behind me by some extremely late braking. All 3 cars would creep up on my bumper just about any strait length track. About 4 laps into it third gear was no more. DONE! The gear shift would go into the right spot but the car would go no where. Randy and the Porsches soon made quick work of me, considering I was now limited to 4th gear only. 2nd gear is pretty much worthless on the west track, way to low. Even with a longer LS transmission. I was able to stay in front of Tyler Dahl and his miata ONLY by pulling some dirty blocking moves and keeping him to the outside of all turns.

The Small Bore Race 3 finish:
1. Tom Felt, S200
2. Michael Watson, Porsche
3. Randy Gibb, RSX
4. Ed Mineau, Porsche
5. Jason Smith, INNOVATIVE GARAGE Honda Civic
6. Tyler Dahl, Miata
7. Jon Lee, Miata
8. Kris Mckoy, RSX Camo
9. Aaron Pfadt
10. Bill Noblitt, Porche
11. William Pendleton, Miata
12. John Watson, Porche
13. Clark Dodson, Miata
14. Dan Dilsaver, Miata
15. Todd Imwold, Miata
16. Dave Kizerian, Miata
17. Joe Sim, Honda Odessey
18. Dan Dilsaver JR
19. Frank Hatton-Ward
20. Randy Cummings
21. Allan Anderson, Miata DNF
22. Adam Munoa, Acura Integra Type R DNF

Enjoy the Pics:

Stay posted for the race footage from the Innovative Garage Honda Civic…………

Innovative Garage has taken delivery of MOMO Racing products.  Seats, steering wheels, quick releases.  Driving gloves, shoes and suits all FIA, NASA and SCCA approved for wheel to wheel racing.  Innovative Garage and customers now have access to thousands of MOMO racing products.  Lets us know what you need and we’ll get it for you.  I took some pictures of some of the parts I thought were of most interest.  The picture above is the MOMO Mod 08 with 90 mm’s of dish.  This same steering wheel is going in my race car.  I’ll take pictures as soon as I get it installed.

This is a MOMO Racing Safari seat.  FIA, NASA and SCCA approved for wheel to wheel racing.  I love this seat!  The helmet braces are sick!  I’m a good 6′2″ and 230lbs, the seat is a tight fit for me but still might make it’s way into my race car.

I really like this quick release.  It bolts straight to any 6 bolt hub.  The bad part of other quick releases is most of them have a small amount of movement when everything is bolted up.  Not this one!  Super tight.

Well Ladies, I did it! I raced out on the race track on March 7th 2009. It was a blast! My first time around the track I was so nervous, mostly because I didn’t know what was around the next turn and how tight of a turn it would be, but after about the 3rd lap around the track I could tell I was starting to recognize the turns and I was able to push the car a little bit harder and harder with each time around. By my seventh and final lap around the track (for the day), I actually spun out! I was laughing and screaming at the same time, what a freak’n RUSH! It was awesome!

All in all, I had a great day. Everybody out there was so supportive and encouraging. Jason and I got to hang out the entire day without worrying about the kids. And I now have a greater appreciation for the sport and understand the guys obsession a little better. One incredible day of many more to come.

Located In Saratoga Springs Utah, only 45 minutes away from the world renown Miller Motorsports Park. 
Innovative Garage is dedicated to bringing you high quality, race proven parts at the best price possible.

Our site is under development, so please check back soon. Our store will soon carry…

MOMO USA

Megan Racing

IG Towhooks

IG Delrin Shift Knobs

IG Shift Lever Extenders