"This engine is pretty much stock, except for the tune," - not quite the answer I was looking to hear when I ask Scott Boatwright, Founder and CEO of Performance Spec, about his 2012 Subaru WRX. "It's street legal, and I've done just about everything except for focusing on power. I want to show you can be competitive without having to continuously spend money on power mods. You can become much faster by simply becoming a better driver and taking advantage of a car's handling capabilities." But how can someone drive faster without more power? I had to investigate... While many drivers focus on adding more power, Scott says that the suspension modifications can do more to help you learn about your car's handling, which in turn results in quicker lap times: “To me power is just part of the overall equation in time attack and I want to maximize the efficiency of what I already have. The majority of my track time is spent turning, so I want to do whatever it takes to do that better. From my experience, lower power can be a benefit because as you get deeper into the power game, the mods become very expensive while engine reliability decreases and maintenance issues increase.” So what kind of changes did Scott make to his car and driving style to give the most noticeable improvements in track time? “The most important mods for me so far have been upgraded brake pads, fluids, stiffer way bars and better tires, all of which enable me to keep the car on the road and take advantage of increased traction. As far as driving improvements, making proper line choices and doing late/minimal braking has benefitted my times the most.” Chuckwalla Raceway in Southern California can be challenging for even the most experienced drivers, including Scott. When attacking a course like this, we asked which turns require the most precaution and why: “The double apexes at Chuckwalla present a unique challenge. An unexperienced driver will tend to enter the first apex like a normal turn, but this will throw off your entrance into the second apex which will either greatly slow you down or cause you to spin out/ go off track. T9 is where most people have a tendency to have a problem with. It goes from a tight right at T8 to a tight left on T9 which is off camber and a downhill transition." As time attack and road racing continues to become more popular, we asked what three things Scott would recommend for any beginning drivers who are looking to get into time attack? “The most important things for any newcomers to racing, in my opinion, are: 1) If you have the interest, give it a shot! There's no pressure to go fast from anyone but yourself. You can come out and drive at your own pace and comfort level; 2) Work within your budget. Plan ahead for the season and make sure you have a budget that is attainable and sustainable. Even the best drivers lose races because they didn’t have the funds to make it to a race or races; 3) Last, and most importantly, be smart, patient and observant. Come to the track with an open mind, ready to learn and improve, and be aware of your surroundings while on track.” Great tips from Scott, we're looking forward to seeing his aero additions later in the year!
