COBB Tuning Blog

Check out the latest video from Redline Time Attack and see exclusive interviews with COBB Tuning Motorsports drivers Brian Lock and Cameron Benner as well as new footage of the cars on track!

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This weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was an absolute roller-coaster ride for the COBB motorsports team. I arrived in Las Vegas Thursday night with plans to test and tune over the course of Friday and Saturday, and by 8:00a.m Friday morning I was in the car learning the track. We began our weekend on par with our previous performances; I picked up the track relatively quickly, running consistent 1.51’s and 1.50’s by the end of the day on Friday. As I became more confident with the track, I gradually moved braking zones closer and pushed the car harder.

The wastegate issues that plagued us at New Jersey had been resolved at the COBB facility in Salt Lake City, and it finally looked like we could get some solid setup time on a consistent platform. We used much of Friday and Saturday testing to further dial in the 5200 Series AST’s and we were getting very good results. The high speed sweepers that were always an issue for the Ohlins singles, were easily negotiated by the new doubles. The track we were running wasn’t the larger Speedway, but a smaller auxiliary track just outside the NASCAR facilities. Despite being remarkably flat, the track certainly held its challenges. An intricate section of esses in the back portion of the track proved to be incredibly fun- and fast! The level of speed we could carry through this particular section surprised both Brian Lock and myself; by late Friday we were both pushing our cars hard through here with the AWD gobbling up the curbing. A few changes in rebound to the rear of the STI made this section even faster, and by midday Saturday I was going through the section full throttle in 5th gear.

Friday went by uneventfully for the STI. We were running consistently faster lap times every session out, our equipment was holding up well, and I was overall really enjoying the event. Things quickly changed following a routine oil change on the GT-R. GT-R Car Chief Dustin Harris identified bearing material in the GT-R’s oil pan, and soon we were in crisis aversion mode. After making calls around to regional contacts, friends and strangers it was concluded that sourcing another GT-R or GT-R motor for Brian to run wasn’t going to be a reality. Things fell on the shoulders of Tim Bailey, my car chief Brian Marsteller and GT-R driver, Brian Lock, to determine whether or not we should run the STI in Modified AWD. It looked like the STI would be pulling double duty at Redline Vegas, running both Street and Modified AWD. Would the already tired Cosworth long block hold up to the additional thrashing in the 85-degree Vegas heat? We really hoped so.

With the heat ripples already radiating off the ground at 9:00 in the morning, we knew it was going to be incredibly hot. As we ran the first morning session I shared track with our familiar competition from Buttonwillow; Steve Ruiz in the Stoptech Evo X was out in force as was Jon Drenas in the HB speed Evo X. Several locals were also running including Thomas Smith running the Zenkai Motorsports STI. We clicked off a 1.49.1 early Saturday, a time that would remain as the fastest of the day until Ruiz chimed in with a blistering 1.47.5 following a successful repair to his wastegate. Given the heat, wastegate issues seemed to be the talk of the paddock as both the Stoptech guys and the FXMD NSX were having issues with their wastegates. As ambient temperatures rose, and our measurements for track temp exceeded 120 degrees, we expected equipment to begin to degrade. Even with the rising temperatures, I was able to match our best times from the morning sessions in the afternoon session, running low to mid 1.49’s. With Ruiz clicking off that 1.47.5 before conceding once again to wastegate issues, we knew we were going to have to find time. We changed up wing angle to keep the car from plowing in some of the high-speed sections and picked up a few more tenths. By Saturday evening the heat and exhaustion had begun to set in; the car was feeling tired and I was doing just as poorly. The 12% humidity and 85+ degree temperatures were proving to be difficult for both the car and me.

Sunday practice brought more of the same. Morning temperatures hovered around that of Saturday, an unsettling omen of what the afternoon temperatures would be. I proceeded to the grid for the fist time attack session, calm and cool in the head despite the 110 degree in-car temps. My plan of attack was to find that extra time in the car by using the equipment, by bouncing off the curbs and just driving the car HARDER. After my first hot lap my crew chief exclaimed “1.48.6!” over the radio. This was a respectable time, but for one reason or another Redline Timing Officials didn’t pick up the lap, leaving me to repeat my performance in the second time attack. I was frustrated that they had missed timing on that lap, and this was compounded by the fact that our coolant temps had spiked and it looked as though the head gasket had started to deteriorate. I kept it out of my head and set out to set a time in the 1.47’s. During the second timed session I drove the wheels of the car. I maintained the smoothness I had in practice, but was much more aggressive. In the end I clocked in at a 1.48.0, good enough for 2nd overall in the AWD Street Class behind Ruiz, who set a time of 1.47.4, and ahead of Smith who took 3rd with a 1.49.1.

Redline Vegas was by far the most emotionally charged event for the team. Though incredibly taxing, the weekend was by far the most rewarding I’ve had yet with Redline, and the COBB team. Coming back from the frustration incited by the timing debacle to set my fastest time of the weekend by over half a second was awesome. I was very impressed with our ability to bounce back and continue to better our showing. We’ve now got a month to let ourselves re-cooperate and nurse our cars back to health.

The motor of the STI is now back at Cosworth for a proper refresh, a Cosworth intake manifold and new headers will be fitted to increase horsepower potential, and the cage is being rebuilt for safety and better rigidity. We hope to have fender flares on the car by the Auto Club Event, to utilize our new Jongbloed Racing wheels that will be on the car. To round out our refreshes, the STi will be fitted with OS Giken front and rear differentials, and the OEM 6-speed will be re-built. We look forward to bringing an even more competitive car to the Auto Club Event, where I fully expect to land a 1st Place finish.

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Following an impressive finish at the Redline Time Attack season opener, Takata Time Attack was anxious to carry the momentum to another strong finish in Las Vegas for Redline’s second west coast event. The LIC Motorsports crew made small adjustments to the Takata Impreza prior to the event including a new set of Black and Green Rota wheels from Wheeldude to match the new livery, as well as a new Aeromotions widebody wing.

“Our car was very reliable for the first event”, said Noah Levy of LIC Motorsports. “Many cars at the first event had failures and we were able to capitalize because our car was reliable and consistent, despite the fact that James had never driven the car. The only significant issue we had was problems with the brakes overheating and locking up under heavy braking.”

For the second event, the bulk of Saturday’s practice session was spent experimenting to improve the braking system. After collaborating with Brembo Brakes via phone, the swap to a different brake pad compound yielded dramatic results. With confidence restored in braking, James immediately dropped over 3 seconds a lap, putting him in the hunt for a podium finish.

“I can easily say that driving the LIC Motorsports powered Takata Impreza is the best driving I have ever experienced. Even with 550 wheel horsepower on tap, the powerband is so smooth and responsive that it is fun and confidence inspiring to drive. Many heavily boosted cars buck and jerk at anything less than full throttle, but such is not the case with the LIC built engine and tuning provided by COBB Tuning Surgeline. With our braking problems out of the way, I see incredible potential for this car.”

Things were looking up for Takata Time Attack until a blow off valve line burst shortly into the first Time Attack session, giving James a significant power handicap. The line was easily repaired in time for Session 2, but with track conditions much deteriorated it was not possible for James to match the times posted earlier in the day when the conditions were ideal. Despite the 4th place result, James and the LIC crew are excited about the progress made in car development and look forward a better finish at the next event.

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Round 3 of the Redline Time Attack at Las Vegas Motor Speedway was an event full of victory and defeat. Emotions ran the gamut of highs and lows as the COBB Tuning Motorsports team continued to have issues with their R35 GT-R, while Cameron Benner and Trey Cobb in the COBB Tuning Motorsports STI and 370Z respectively, were able to grab podium finishes.

The weekend got off to a rough start when large chunks of bearing material were discovered in the oil of the COBB Tuning Motorsports GT-R following Friday morning practice. This engine had come from a badly wrecked GT-R and the team surmised that the bearings might have already been compromised prior to the New Jersey event. While the car was still running and showing good oil pressure, it was decided to park the GT-R instead of risking another catastrophic failure which could compromise not only safety for driver Brian Lock, but possibly the safety of the other competitors as well.

This put the spotlight squarely on Trey Cobb and his 370Z and Cameron Benner in his 2006 STI. Cameron has reached the podium in each race he has contested while Trey has slowly been climbing the ranks while he sorts not only his car, but learns and has become more competent and aggressive as a driver.

Cameron’s weekend started more or less uneventfully, with the car continuing to be the unbreakable war horse of the COBB Tuning Motorsports stable. Cameron continued to push as his competitors posted ever lower lap times. In the end, Steve Ruiz, in the Stoptech/AEM EVOX was able to edge Cameron out by just over half a second to take first with a 1:47.491 to Cameron’s 1:48.0.

In the Enthusiast RWD Class, Trey Cobb continued to show his mettle as he became more comfortable with his 370Z. With a few more refinements to his AST coilovers and a little more daring racing lines, Trey was able to snatch his first podium, a 3rd place in only his 3rd ever race! With the car very close to be optimized, the only adjustments are being made to the nut behind the wheel proving that despite not having huge amounts of horsepower, the 370Z is a capable car and is well suited to the enthusiast class.

Down but not out, Brian Lock ventured back out on track in the AWD Modified class, this time at the helm of Cameron Benner’s Street Tire class STI, in an effort to keep his championship hopes alive. While a DNF would have put Brian completely out of the points chase, he was able to capture 7th in a car that was not only down on power compared to his rivals, but running street tires while the rest of the field ran on R-compound rubber.

Despite the setbacks with the GT-R, the weekend was an overall success for the COBB Tuning Motorsports Team. With two podium finishes from Trey Cobb and Cameron Benner, the team has its sights on more victories in Fontana, CA at Auto Club Speedway, just 32 days away.

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With victory and champagne fresh in the minds of the COBB Tuning Motorsports team, Friday afternoon practice signaled the begining of a tough weekend for the team for Round 3 of the Redline Time Attack at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The GT-R of Brian Lock continued to have engine issues in Las Vegas, despite it’s miraculous 11th-hour victory in New Jersey.

An oil change following the Friday practice session revealed large quantities of bearing material, most likely caused by an oil starvation issue discovered during a track testing session earlier in the week. Knowing that complete engine failure was eminent should the car continue to compete, the team decided that caution was the better part of valor and parked the GT-R for the weekend.

Down but not out, Brian Lock and STI diver, Cameron Benner, will share Benner’s car for the remainder of the weekend with Cameron continuing to campaign in Street Class, and Brian looking to secure some points in the Modified Class.

COBB Tuning founder, Trey Cobb, continues to mature as a driver and has showed good speed at this tight and technical 2.2-mile Las Vegas track. Look for Trey near the top of the podium on Sunday!

For more photos from the weekend click HERE for the COBB Tuning Flickr page.

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The COBB Knob is the hottest shift knob available for your Mazda or Mitsubishi. The COBB Knob is a fusion of the highest quality materials that, when properly mated, produce a knob that feels as good as it looks. Shifting has never been this exciting!

The COBB Knob is designed to keep those extended shifting sessions exhilarating. The billet aluminum base is anodized in your choice of red or blue to help set the mood and is internally threaded to provide a tight fit onto the shifter shaft that won’t come loose in the most frenzied of gear changes.

The satin black delrin knob feels incredible and has a perfectly round contour to fit right in the palm of your hand. The package is complete with a COBB logo boldly engraved into the base to let everyone know whose knob you hold. The knob weighs 115g, encouraging smooth thrusts into every gear.

The COBB Knob qualifies for free ground shipping in the US! Spin on a COBB Knob and go for a ride!

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The COBB Tuning AccessPORT is world-renowned for its ease of use and its ability to extract massive amounts of Horsepower! In Japan, the AccessPORT is sold under the Prova banner and is being used in the JDM Tuning motherland much the way it is used by USDM tuners, to drastically increase the performance of enthusiast vehicles both on the street and on the track!

The 2010 Hyper Meeting at Tsukuba Circuit in Japan is one of the largest meets in Japan for racing and tuning enthusiasts. Held over one weekend, tuners, race teams and enthusiasts alike converge in a giant display of horsepower and the very best of motorsports technology.

The Prova team was on hand with their GH8 WRX competing in the Street Tuner class. The team was able to post a best lap time of 1:04.117 and a best top speed of 182.348 km/h, good enough for 5^th in class! This car is tuned on the stock ECU with a COBB/Prova AccessPORT and AccessTUNER Software.

Be it on the track in the Redline Time Attack here in the United States, or battling the top Japanese tuners around Tsukuba Circuit, the COBB Tuning AccessPORT is at the forefront of Motorsport competition!

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COBB Tuning Surgeline is the location of choice for the Portland Area Monthly Nasioc meet, held usually, the first Saturday every month. The meet is a chance for new and old friends and car lovers alike, to get together, compare stories, kick tires and do not a little bench racing. While the predominant car is the Subaru WRX and STI, the gang welcomes all comers including EVOs, Porsches and even the odd Honda or GT-R! The most admired car on hand this last weekend was the purple widebody EVOIX sporting a Voltex bodykit.

For more information on the next meet look in the NWIC section of Nasioc.com or call COBB Tuning Surgeline at 503-670-9500.

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