Gates311.com / AMS Performance / Nitto Tires Evo X - Race Report

Event: Super Lap Battle Finale, Buttonwillow - November 11th, 2009



On November 11th, 2009, Ryan Gates competed for the first time in Super Lap Battle’s Limited Class with great success. Ryan won Limited class and also set a new class record in the process, the first Limited car to go under the 1:50 barrier with a 1:49.8.

With a long break since the last Redline Time Attack event in Pahrump, Ryan and the Gates311.com / AMS Performance / Nitto Tires Evo X headed back to Chicago and the AMS Performance HQ to run through the car. Nothing was upgraded on the car after the event, but a few maintenance items were changed and the car was refreshed a bit.

One of the first things to be changed were the front brake rotors along with new pads all around. The Girodisc rotors had taken an amazing amount of abuse, lasting over a year on a single set! With general wear on them, they were replaced with a fresh set and new pads. Special thanks to Girodisc for building such an incredible product.

Other minor fluids were changed, but Ryan was confident in the setup so the car was largely untouched, besides some new decals. K&N Filters helped the team out with some awesome new Air and Oil filters before the final events of the season. Their support was a key part to Ryan competing at the Super Lap Finale, and was extremely appreciated!

During Tuesday practice, Ryan drove the car very briefly to make sure the car was up to speed. Immediately the car was turning fast laps and running great. The fresh Girodisc rotors were performing great, as expected. During Tuesday practice, Leh Keen also took the car out to check out an Evo X for the first time. After a few laps, Leh was up to speed and having fun with the car on track. It’s quite a different car from Leh’s Grand Am Championship winning GT3 Cup, but he managed to still have fun. After the session, Leh, Bryan from JRZ and Ryan had a chat and went over the sessions from the day and made some minor changes to the suspension.

Wednesday’s timed practice provide group selection for the day, knowing being part of the fastest group was key Ryan posted a moderate lap of 1:51.1 to get things started for the event. With much left in the car, Ryan was happy with how things were shaping up.

In the first Time Attack session Ryan posted a surprising lap of 1:49.8, the first Limited class car to ever dip into the 1:4X.xx range. With that lap, Ryan was in the lead of the Limited class. Ryan was not happy with his lap, so a much more aggressive second Time Attack session was planned. Early in the second Time Attack session, Ryan was on a cool down lap and made a costly mistake by running over some curbing that destroyed his carbon fiber 3D front splitter. Other minor issues with the car were later found, but without a front splitter Ryan was unable to compete with the car in the current form. Ryan sat out the third and final Time Attack session of the event nervously, knowing there were plenty of capable cars at the event. Luckily, Ryan’s record breaking time stood and the Limited Class Championship was his. Ryan would like to congratulate Evasive Motorsports and Time Kuo on their amazing time, they also broke into the 1:4X.xx range for the first time, creating some awesome competition!

With less than three days until the Redline Time Attack Finale at Autoclub Speedway, Ryan and the AMS Team worked out a a few of the minor issues on the car but getting another front splitter was not in the cards. Ryan was looking forward to the challenge, but knew it was going to be very tough to compete at such a high speed track.


Ryan Gates would like to thank his sponsors for their incredible support in 2009:

• AMS Performance
• Nitto Tires
• K&N Filters
• JRZ Suspension
• etnies
• Carbonetic
• Girodisc
• Seibon Carbon
• Forced Performance
• Double Down Motorsports
• Evasive Motorsports

www.Gates311.com









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Gates311.com / AMS Performance / Nitto Tires Evo X - Race Report

Event: Redline Time Attack! Finale, Auto Club Speedway - November 15th, 2009



On November 15th, 2009, Ryan Gates continued his success with Redline Time Attack by winning Modified Class at the Season Finale at Auto Club Speedway. In the process, Ryan also set the new Modified AWD track record with a 1:43.4.

With Super Lap Battle less than three days in the past, not much could be done to repair the splitter that Ryan had destroyed at Buttonwillow. Knowing that, some other issues became the main focus before the Redline Season Finale at ACS. Besides the splitter, the main issue was a fuel delivery problem the car was having which was causing the car to run very lean, in excess of 14:1 Air/Fuel ratios under full throttle. Ryan sourced new fuel pumps but unfortunately they weren’t the correct ones. With time running out, the car was left untouched from SLB and arrived late Friday night to the garages within the ACS facility.

Minor touch ups to the front bumper were needed for reinforcement without the splitter, due to the high speeds that ACS offers. The car was cleaned and ready for practice on the following morning. Ryan headed out in the first AM practice to get the track dialed and get the chassis setup sorted with the newfound lack of front downforce. Unfortunately, the car heavily understeered and there was plenty of work to be done.

Luckily, Bryan from JRZ was once again on hand and doing all he could to get the chassis sorted throughout the day. Eventually, the car was moving in the right direction and Ryan was feeling better about the setup. But there was one other main issue, the car was running extremely lean. Alfred from Tuning Technologies was at the track and tried to help with the car, not much could be done to the ECU tune to help, so Alfred resorted to turning the boost down to well below 20psi, normal is 31psi. Even then, the car was still lean but Ryan pressed on and finished out the day.

Sunday’s plan was to take it easy in the first session, then turn the car all the way back up in hopes it would last thru the extremely lean condition’s for a single lap. Unfortunately, as Ryan was heading out to the first T/A session, a large crack was noticed in the turbine housing. Ryan missed the first T/A session. With help from Ivan @ AMS, a new turbo was swapped into place in time for the second T/A session.

Heading out for the second T/A session, Ryan planned to take a safe first lap to get a time in the books and press much harder on the third lap. To prevent any damage during the safe lap, Ryan drove the car at 3/4 throttle to keep AFR’s in a safe zone and posted an amazing 1:43.4 laptime, fastest of the day in Modified class and a class track record! With the second lap used for cool down of the Nitto tires, Ryan pushed hard onto the front straight to begin the third and final lap. AFR’s were still high, running mid 14’s down the straight. Luckily, or in Ryan’s mind unfortunately, a few bolts fell off the turbine housing while entering the banking causing all boost to be lost and a chance at a very fast lap not possible.

Even with all of the issues, Ryan and the AMS Team, with the help of Bryan from JRZ and Alfred at Tuning Technologies, made it thru the finale weekend with another win to complete a perfect season for Ryan. Winning each race he entered, setting records at each track and pushing through any issue, Ryan made 2009 a very memorable season. With the Modified AWD Championship from Redline and the Limited Class Championship from Super Lap Battle, Ryan couldn’t be happier on how 2009 panned out for him and his sponsors. Without all of the huge support from his sponsors in 2009, Ryan and his perfect season would not have been possible.

Ryan Gates would like to thank each his sponsors for their incredible support in 2009:

• AMS Performance
• Nitto Tires
• K&N Filters
• JRZ Suspension
• etnies
• Carbonetic
• Girodisc
• Seibon Carbon
• Forced Performance
• Double Down Motorsports
• Evasive Motorsports

www.Gates311.com

 

congrats man, that is awesome!

 

congrats ryan car is amazing, look forward on seeing the car do great things

 

Love that car... Congrats Ryan..

 

Thanks for posting this ERic...and thanks for the good words guys!

 

Congrats Ryan on the perfect season!!!

Awesome car...great driver!

 

I know it says this was really done on a "oem" 4B11 but is that motor really a completely stock motor? I'm just curious because I really want an Evo X and want to know if that motor can take that much of a beating. Can you guys give me a mods list to what's done to the motor and drivetrain? I'm really curious to know what's done to it.
Thanks

 

Just a bone stock motor with Cams.

Eric

 

I'm sure they have an aftermarket clutch as well?

 

Yes, Carbonetic Triple Carbon clutch.

 

Total congrats to your perfect season............. Way to represent for Mitsu and AMS.....

 

What's with the "my little pony" passenger?

 

You jealous?

 

Only if it was driving