Scion Racing's Team DG Spec to run Dezod S1 in competition.

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LONG BEACH, Calif. — This Saturday, at Buttonwillow Raceway, the number 18 DG-Spec endurance racecar will debut a Dezod Motorsports turbo kit. At the center of the system is a Garrett GTX series ball-bearing turbocharger exhausting into a complete Burns Stainless custom-built exhaust system. The switch is necessitated by a discontinuation of the supercharger kit, as well as the team’s push toward greater efficiency.

“Anyone who knows us knows we like a good challenge,” said team owner and driver Dan Gardner. “Our supercharger setup was bulletproof, but it’s time to look to other avenues to propel our Scion tC down the racetrack. We won’t be making any additional power, but we’re looking to improve efficiency along the way. If you heard just the engine and exhaust, you’d think it was a completely new car. It’s really exciting.”

Dezod Motorsports is the company behind the turbo kit, and is an established expert, having turbocharged almost 1,000 Scions in a just a few years. The team began their relationship with Dezod nearly five years ago when they co-developed the Dezod/AEM EMS standalone engine management package.

“Dezod has really enjoyed our relationship with Dan and this spectacular team. It’s hard to imagine working with a group that could possibly accomplish more for a sponsor,” said Paul Oleandi, sales manager. “We are performance specialists, but we’ve become very well known for our expertise with turbo kits. When Dan told me he wanted to go in this direction, I was thrilled. Dezod and the team have taken steps to ensure that this setup is ready for the brutal endurance racing abuse it will see. We’re proud to expand our relationship with DG-Spec and can’t wait to see our kit in action.”

Garrett is a leader in turbochargers, and it only made sense that Dezod and the team went that direction. There wasn’t another company considered for the project, as Garrett’s reputation speaks for itself. Further, their local offices provided the ability for close collaboration.

“Garrett works with top teams around the globe. When it comes to touring car racing in North America, DG-Spec is at the top of the game,” said Kyle Snyder, marketing manager for Garrett by Honeywell. “Our turbochargers perform at peak efficiency, and we have a storied history in motorsports. Endurance racing is a great validation proving ground for our products, and we’re pleased to see this Scion team putting our turbocharger through its paces.”

Burns Stainless supplied the exhaust and intake components to complement the new system, while AEM provided necessary electronics. Plumbing for all water, oil, and boost was accomplished with Goodridge lines and fittings. Church Automotive Testing did a complete retune of the car, capping off the coordinated sponsor effort to make the project a reality.

The car and its newfound turbo power will debut at the fourth round of the WERC endurance series at Buttonwillow on June 25. The race is planned to be a three-hour affair, beginning at 6:15 p.m. Qualifying will take place at 11:25 a.m.

Photos, videos, and updates can be found on DG-Spec’s Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/DG-Spec/202937143062874.

The DG-Spec team uses and is supported by:

• Scion-supplied OE parts
• TRD front big brake kit
• Transcend Creative Group marketing and communications services
• Garrett by Honeywell GTX-series turbocharger
• Burns Stainless exhaust and aluminum intake
• OS Giken Super Lock Limited Slip Differential (LSD)
• Dezod-supplied turbo kit, AEM standalone engine management, plug-and-play harness, fuel rail, and injectors
• Church Automotive Testing dyno tuning
• Pilot Automotive HID driving lamps
• Enkei RPF-1 17x8 wheels
• Moton Suspension remote reservoir coilover shocks
• Vogtland springs
• DG-Spec Progress Technology rear swaybar and camber kits
• Motul brake fluid, engine oil, transmission fluid, and super coolant
• Tri-Mountain Racewear team gear
• Racepak IQ3 logger dash and VNET sensors
• AEM sensors, fuel pressure regulator, boost solenoid, EMS, and dry flow air filter
• Kaminari carbon-fiber roof and composite headlights
• America’s Tire Co. tire mounting and balancing
• Racetech Viper head-restraint race seat and 6-point harnesses
• Centerforce clutch and low-inertia steel flywheel
• AIT carbon-fiber hood and hatch
• Goodridge complete suite of fittings and lines
• Carbotech Performance Brakes
• G-Force racing suit, gloves, helmet, window nets, and other safety and crew gear
• Energy Suspension bushings and motor mounts
• HoseTechniques silicone hoses
• NST supercharger pulley, Braille batteries, and shifter bushings
• SquareSkull designs

Transcend Creative Group (TCG) is a top-tier creative, event, marketing and training organization that focuses on the automotive industry. As an automotive supplier, TCG has earned its reputation as a premium brand for companies looking to create/maintain a premium image.

TCG brings an excellence-focused corporate culture and process to its programs and event executions TCG concentrates on world-class creative and service while providing all the elements as a full service event organization. TCG maintains offices in Torrance, Calif., New York, Washington DC, Detroit, Phoenix, AZ and Nashville, Tenn. TCG is the sister company of mainstay, Precision Dynamics International.

DG-Spec is a line of parts designed and endorsed by National Champion Scion road racer Dan Gardner. Gardner draws up the specifications for the parts himself. The parts are then tested and proven on the track. The goal of DG-Spec is to provide enthusiasts with parts that have been developed on the track and that have significant performance advantages at an honest price. Parts are offered either in hardcore track trim, identical to what Gardner and his team race with, or in Gardner-specified standards more appropriate for enthusiast use on the street. www.DanGardnerSpec.com.

End result of 3 hour enduro…

“The DG-Spec Scion team takes WERC victory number two at Buttonwillow Raceway. The margin of victory was two laps after three hours of racing, and the team nearly cracked the top five overall.”

Photos:
http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.227095773980344.58874.202937143062874

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DG-Spec Turbo Debut Results in Victory at 3-Hour Enduro
Scion tC Remains Bulletproof over 78 Laps as Team Grabs E1 Win

LONG BEACH, Calif. — Typically when you debut an untested turbo setup in 100-degree weather, and then attempt to race continuously for 240 miles, you anticipate that “issues” will crop up. This past weekend, at the fourth round of the WERC endurance series, the DG-Spec team proved that solid engineering and the right partners can produce winning results, even the first time out.

After three hours and 78 laps, and with no problems, the team captured the win in the competitive E1 class. Drivers Scott Webb and Dan Gardner kept the car (mostly) out of trouble, as they brought it home not much worse for the wear. Finishing a whopping two laps behind was a Porsche Boxster, followed by a winged BMW.

Just two E0 and three ES cars finished ahead of the Scion, as DG-Spec claimed a heady sixth place in the overall standings. In fact, second place overall was just a lap ahead of the turbo tC. The win gives the team 380 total points in the WERC series, a good 55 points ahead of second-place, with four races left to go.

“On Friday during testing we saw ambient temps get as high as 103 degrees, and we knew it was going to be brutal on our new turbo setup,” said team owner and driver Dan Gardner. “The water and oil got hot, as did everything in the engine bay, but this Scion just kept going and going. I can’t say enough about our partners at Dezod, Garrett, Burns, Goodridge, and AEM. They all provided great pieces and tech support to give us the best chance of an issue-free setup right out of the gates. As it turns out, it wasn’t just issue-free, it also carried us to the winner’s circle.”

As Saturday morning approached, the team readied for Qualifying. It was to be a combined warm-up and qualifying session, and at just 20 minutes there was precious little track time prior to the start of the race. Gardner would qualify the car, and the team elected to start at the very back, allowing a gap to build in front of them.

Qualifying would prove to be extremely busy, and when Gardner finally pulled the pin out of the grenade, his flier was deterred by slower traffic that he still caught despite the gap ahead. With the team’s help on the radio, he tried to make space and go at it again, but each time the effort was thwarted by traffic. Finally, with plenty of clean air ahead, Gardner went for it again, but as he pulled onto the front straight, the checkered would fly. It was frustrating, but the Scion’s 2:10.xx lap time amazingly still put the team on the pole.

Webb got the nod to start the race, as the team decided to invert the driving order to practice a reverse driver change. It would also give Webb a chance to start the car, and Gardner a chance to drive in darkness.

“The easy path would have been to just stick to what we’re used to,” said Webb. “I know Dan’s been like a broken record about keeping the big picture in mind. To that end, we decided to mix it up. The 25-Hour is the main focus this year, with these races as our test-bed to learn as much as we can. It was important for us to try a reverse driver rotation for both the drivers as well as the crew. The results speak for themselves…this DG-Spec team still got the job done, and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

The race started promptly at 6:15 p.m. As the green flew, Webb got into a good clear pocket, as others jockeyed for position. He passed a couple cars before turn one, and glued the front of the Scion to the back bumper of faster-class E0 BMW. In back was another E0 BMW, and Webb would battle for a first half of the race, as he kept the Scion out in front.

Early on, Webb managed to rip off fast lap of the weekend with a 2:09.xx, which helped the Scion build up a gap over the E1 Acura, which had started one position behind the tC.

Just a few laps into the race, the radio kit in Webb’s helmet would fail. He could hear the crew on the radio, but couldn’t respond back. The team put their contingency communications plan into place, which involved flashing the lights to signal affirmative responses.

The biggest issue involved trying to calculate when it was time for a fuel stop. When the car first bobbled Webb flashed his lights and zig-zagged down the front straight to indicate that he had switched the other two pumps on. The team now had a general idea about when the car would need to come in for fuel. Without two-way radio communications, however, the pit crew needed to be ready on a moment’s notice if Webb pulled into the pits without warning.

The crew consisted of David Fredrickson, Aidan Spraic, Shawn Meze, John McNulty, and Alec Johnston, so Webb, Gardner and the turbo Scion were in good hands. Crew Chief and team anchor Sean Morris couldn’t make the event as he was saying “I do” to his now wife, automotive engineer, swimmer, and all-around great gal, Merritt Johnson.

“Sean’s how I met Dan and this team, and his role as the main fueler during stops is critical,” said crewman Spraic. “I had some big shoes to fill, taking his spot in the pits, but he prepared me well before he left. I think Dave and I got into a rhythm during fueling practice, and the stops went pretty flawless I’m proud to say.”

Just before the race’s halfway mark, Webb came in for fuel and a driver change. The crew sprung into action, as Gardner jumped into the car. The first few laps were rough as he tried to find his groove, but things improved as the race wore on.

Early on, Webb came on the radio to let Gardner know he had been hit twice on the left side by an out-of-class BMW. The hits came on the last lap before Webb pitted, so no one really knew the extent of the damage.

Fortunately the team would regain two-way radio communications, and driver and crew would have a running dialogue throughout the remainder of the race. During the first part of Gardner’s shift, the low, fiery sun would be blinding in a couple of turns, with cars driving off the track regularly. Gardner too found himself in the dirt in off-ramp, but drove on without incident.

As darkness approached the team radioed that the main HID driving lights were not on. Gardner hit the switch repeatedly, but the lights would not turn back on. During testing and qualifying the team had kept the lights on to test this very issue, and the lights performed flawlessly.

With the two supplemental HIDs still functioning, Gardner started to feel out how to drive with limited vision. Fortunately, reflectors on the track really helped the driver when it became pitch black.

Fuel would become an issue as the team hadn’t made it quite halfway through on the first tank. Rather than wait until later in the race, the team decided to have Gardner come in early to take on a splash, as the Scion was two laps ahead of second place. The idea was to run a conservative race from this point on, as it was pointless to take unnecessary chances with a two-lap lead.

The crew banged off another great stop, and Gardner would take off again, carefully watching his dash, as radar guns were constantly monitoring pit lane speed. As the Scion took to the track again, the team checked Timing and Scoring and still saw they were up a lap. Gardner extended the lead, as he managed the darkness by relying on the reflectors, which were well-placed by series officials.

One benefit of the night was that water and oil temps came back down, and the bright green temp warning light would extinguish, giving the driver more confidence that risk of a failure was low.

With just a few laps to go, Gardner kept the car pointed ahead though he took evasive action once at the bus stop, when a car slowed considerably and the closing rate was too fast to bleed with brakes. As the checkered flew, the Scion took home the win, and barely missed a top five finish overall, impressive for a limited-class E1 car.

The fifth and sixth rounds of the WERC endurance series will take place at Thunderhill Raceway on August 13-14.

http://www.dezod.com/misc_images/DG-Spec-HaulinNEW.jpg

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Wow, congrats man!!

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240 miles in 3 hours, that must have been a really tight course.

How was your tire wear? What Carbotechs are you running?

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Some race vids…

http://youtu.be/N0mUs9QMEpU?hd=1

‪DG-Spec Scion tC - Buttonwilow Start - June, 2011 - Scott Webb‬‏ - YouTube

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wait, the track temp was only 123*…

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Yes. According to the data aq.