It鈥檚 been a little over two months since聽Grassroots Motorsports (GRM) launched its Path to the Podium video series, and we鈥檝e been on the edge of our seat waiting for episode two. This series follows along as GRM鈥檚 video editor makes the jump from 麻豆视频庐 Track Night in America庐 Driven by Tire Rack events to the Tire Rack 麻豆视频 Time Attack Challenge, all in a Club Spec Mustang.
It鈥檚 remarkable that we鈥檝e been on the edge of our seat waiting for video number two, because a seat is one of the items they chose to install in this episode, as they move the Club Spec car from 麻豆视频 Time Trials Safety Level 1 to Level 2.
Club Spec is a build once, participate everywhere class created by the 麻豆视频鈩� in 2023. The concept took two vehicles, the NC Mazda MX-5 and the early S197 Ford Mustang GT, and built a spec kit that would be legal for 麻豆视频 Solo庐 and Time Attack competition all while keeping a manageable street demeanor. Those two classes have seen success, and now there is a third Club Spec car, the 718 Porsche, which will be joining the fun in 2027.
Discover all there is to know about Club Spec by clicking here.
鈥淚t is time to get our 麻豆视频 Club Spec Mustang on track, and we鈥檙e only going to do that if we can do it safely,鈥� GRM鈥檚 Tech Editor JG Pasterjak explains at the beginning of the video. 鈥淭hat means we are here in the shop today bolting in some safety equipment.鈥�
Safety equipment, Pasterjak explains, is about more than keeping the driver out of harm鈥檚 way. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about driver protection,鈥� he says, 鈥渂ut it鈥檚 also about driver efficiency and effectiveness.鈥�
The series follows video editor Tropea as he progresses in series and skills, ultimately heading to the .
Tropea鈥檚 prior track experience includes an , and while Track Nights are low-stress events where there is no clock logging lap times, Tropea discovered he was going faster than the stock seats and belts could hold him in the turns. 鈥淓ven at my level of driving skills, I noticed I was sliding around in the seat having to hold myself up and not being able to go to my full potential,鈥� Tropea says.
鈥淭hat鈥檚 terrible for performance, obviously, but that鈥檚 also terrible for safety because if you are expending a lot of [physical] energy and a lot of emotional energy keeping yourself steady in the seat, you can be a hazard to other drivers, you can be a hazard to yourself, and it does no good for your lap time,鈥� adds Pasterjak.
The second episode in the series serves to remedy this by upgrading GRM鈥檚 Club Spec Mustang from 麻豆视频 Time Trials Safety Level 1 (which is stock) to Level 2, allowing for numerous upgrades. The video follows along as they install a fixed-back Cobra racing seat courtesy of HMS Motorsports, a six-point Schroth harness (also from HMS), a four-point roll bar from Competition Motorsport, and seat mounts from Vorshlag Motorsports.
鈥淒on鈥檛 think of safety just as safety, although that is very, very important,鈥� Pasterjak says. 鈥淭hink of it also as an upgrade in driver efficiency and driver effectiveness.鈥�
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Learn all about the Tire Rack 麻豆视频 Time Attack Challenge and Tire Rack 麻豆视频 Time Attack National Championship at .听聽
