[MUSIC PLAYING]
LEO PARENTE: There's that yellow Lotus.
It's important because it's part of the story.
It's the start of the Labor Day weekend here, 2013, and
I'm here at Lime Rock Park.
I have to head to Baltimore for the Indy car and ALMS
race, going to watch them.
But here at Lime Rock Park, that Lotus you just saw, we're
going to drive it.
And it's all thanks to Alex Krugman
and his team Krugspeed.
That's an SCCA amateur racing car.
They race regional, national competition.
They're headed toward the national runoffs.
This is a shakedown for them-- ha!
Funny, the name of the show-- but it's an opportunity for us
to show you what our team in amateur racing is all about.
It's not entry level.
It's not the pros.
But it's an important step.
And guess what?
Just like all racing, it's real racing.
I'm going to show you how the team operates, and it kind of
all starts with focus.
That's going to be part of the story, too, so take a look.
[CAR ENGINE]
[MUSIC PLAYING]
NICK JACOB: Turn right, and you hit the brakes twice.
Welcome to Lime Rock.
[CAR ENGINE ROARING]
LEO PARENTE: Catch me up.
Where does SCCA and what you're doing right now fit in
terms of this progression?
ALEX KRUGMAN: These cars fit, I would say, at the highest
level of amateur racing.
All the drivers have started their driving at Skip Barber
schools, Track Days, NASA-type events.
After that, they proceed to SCCA club races on the
regional level.
Once they've obtained their regional licenses, they move
on to the national circuit.
LEO PARENTE: So these are not beginners--
ALEX KRUGMAN: They are not.
LEO PARENTE: --they're not pros, but they're accomplished
drivers, and they've joined--
well, they're joining a racing team.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Actually, our two current drivers are pro
licensed drivers.
They have and do compete in pro series as well.
LEO PARENTE: Welcome to the rules of racing where you can
be an amateur and a pro.
ALEX KRUGMAN: That's right.
That's right.
It's not the Olympics.
It's motorsports.
LEO PARENTE: That's right.
What does this car do best?
ALEX KRUGMAN: We feel they do everything as good if not
better than our competition.
We've proven that with our track record this season with
12 straight victories, 12 straight pole positions, and
five track records.
LEO PARENTE: Should I just start genuflecting to the car
now and you?
Really?
OK, cool.
NICK JACOB: We seem to call the yellow car the warhorse.
It's five years old or four years old now, and it's been
through the ringer.
LEO PARENTE: Do these cars maintain their rigidity?
NICK JACOB: Yes, they do.
They're a big aluminum tub that's then caged, so they are
alarmingly rigid.
It's not the Lotus you remember, the flexi-flyer kind
of thing that would kind of twist and set.
LEO PARENTE: Little bit.
NICK JACOB: No.
No, that's rock hard.
LEO PARENTE: Give me the specs here, because they're a small
engine but supercharged.
ALEX KRUGMAN: It's a small, high-revving,
twin-cam Toyota 2ZZ.
LEO PARENTE: Oh god.
ALEX KRUGMAN: With an Eaton M62 blower strapped to them.
LEO PARENTE: So how many horsepower, how much torque we
talking, kind of?
ALEX KRUGMAN: We're looking--
LEO PARENTE: Oh, we're not telling.
ALEX KRUGMAN: We're looking for sufficient power.
LEO PARENTE: How light or heavy are the cars?
ALEX KRUGMAN: The cars are now specced at 2,400 pounds, which
is substantially higher than their natural running weight.
LEO PARENTE: OK, so they're heavier than a production car?
ALEX KRUGMAN: We're now under the regulations of SCCA after
our performance last year.
LEO PARENTE: Oh, oh, oh, oh.
So it's balance and performance even in the
amateur stuff.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Correct.
LEO PARENTE: Of course.
So it's the same BS at this level as every level.
You go to Le Mans, you have this bullsh--
down here, same thing.
ALEX KRUGMAN: It's the same thing.
LEO PARENTE: Should I go look in the truck for the sandbag?
ALEX KRUGMAN: You probably should--
or not.
LEO PARENTE: There is no sandbag.
ALEX KRUGMAN: There is no sanding.
We let it all hang out every time we hit the track.
LEO PARENTE: Cool.
What will impress me most?
Brakes?
Cornering?
NICK JACOB: Cornering.
Cornering.
LEO PARENTE: Should I try to settle the car, carry speed
in, or can I--
NICK JACOB: It's a momentum car.
It's a momentum car.
LEO PARENTE: Bingo.
OK.
NICK JACOB: Yeah.
They're very definitely momentum cars.
That's not to say they don't have any power.
There's power.
But they're momentum cars.
[TIRES SQUEALING]
ALEX KRUGMAN: If you start with a car with tons of
horsepower, you're really selling yourself short.
You're giving up the opportunity to really hone
your skills and your driver development, because
horsepower can cover up a multitude of sins.
LEO PARENTE: It's understanding the balance
between power, handling, just keeping the platform.
ALEX KRUGMAN: It's the whole package.
LEO PARENTE: OK.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Power, chassis dynamics, braking.
LEO PARENTE: Driving against better
talent makes you better.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Absolutely.
LEO PARENTE: But what do you tell your drivers on how to
manage that situation?
Because they can go chasing--
ALEX KRUGMAN: Watch and learn.
LEO PARENTE: Watch and learn.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Racing, it's a mental game.
Your physical, you can work on and make stronger.
But it's about keeping cool under pressure.
It's about staying focused.
It's about being smart.
The greatest race drivers in the world are very, very, very
smart people.
LEO PARENTE: There's a ton of talent.
A bunch of people can build cars.
There are advantages in the cars, but you need to know
maybe how to use it all.
ALEX KRUGMAN: You have to know how to use it all.
LEO PARENTE: What circuit are we using?
Are we using the chicane in the back?
NICK JACOB: No.
LEO PARENTE: Or are we going straight up the hill?
NICK JACOB: Straight up the hill.
LEO PARENTE: Old days.
I've done that.
NICK JACOB: Yeah, it's old school.
LEO PARENTE: I love it.
I brought all my old notes.
[LAUGHTER]
ELIVAN GOULART: Oh, no.
What's that?
LEO PARENTE: We're not going to get into it.
DAVID BRAND: Same track map.
ELIVAN GOULART: They used to run it
counterclockwise back then.
I'm just kidding.
LEO PARENTE: No wonder I was--
DAVID BRAND: You'll go and do it.
LEO PARENTE: I want to respect the car and
the opportunity here.
But what are you as a team trying to accomplish here?
Is this a test weekend for you?
ALEX KRUGMAN: This is a test weekend that we're using prior
to leaving for Wisconsin for the national championships.
LEO PARENTE: Are you going to be working on any setup that
translates?
Or is just making sure the car's operating right?
ALEX KRUGMAN: The basic setup we'll translate.
We're getting all the baselines done here, so when
the drivers arrive at Road America, we can
hit the ground running.
LEO PARENTE: Now, Nick dropped a hint here.
This place is a little Cuisinart
blender from what I remember.
And we're not using the chicane.
ALEX KRUGMAN: No.
LEO PARENTE: So you have these hidden straightaways and long
straightaways--
ALEX KRUGMAN: Correct.
LEO PARENTE: --which kind of translate to Road America.
I'm building up to something.
He dropped a hint.
He said you only brake twice in these cars if
you're doing it right?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Correct.
LEO PARENTE: Turn one, turn five, is it?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Turn two into the left-hander.
Two and a half times.
LEO PARENTE: OK, a little brush on the brake back here?
ALEX KRUGMAN: I would say a driver doing it right--
LEO PARENTE: You can say anything to me, and I'd better
be using the brake first time through.
ALEX KRUGMAN: Oh, yeah.
I would say you're using the brakes heavily twice.
The straight-line speed of these cars is formidable.
LEO PARENTE: Is it really?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Yeah.
LEO PARENTE: It'll catch you?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Yeah.
LEO PARENTE: Good brakes, though?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Great brakes.
LEO PARENTE: Fine, fine.
Are there any adjustments in the car that I get to tweak on
like brake bias?
ALEX KRUGMAN: There are not.
LEO PARENTE: There are nothing?
ALEX KRUGMAN: We handle all the adjustments right here.
LEO PARENTE: OK.
What am I not smart enough to ask you that we should be
talking about right now before we get ready go?
ALEX KRUGMAN: Well, you know what?
You do what you do, and this is what we do.
So I think we're going to be just fine.
I don't think there should be any holes
in the morning program.
We're going to get the car warmed up for you.
We'll get you fitted, get you comfortable.
LEO PARENTE: Yep.
ALEX KRUGMAN: And send you on your way.
LEO PARENTE: Cool, cool.
I'm looking forward to this.
This is awesome.
Thanks.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
[CAR ENGINES]
[MUSIC PLAYING]