It's not really our interpretation that street is an entry level class.. none of time attack with us is really a place that isn't serious. The turbo rule on airflow hasn't changed, we've just shifted the burden of proof to competitors on if a turbo meets the rule. 2 way vs 1 way= people having custom , expensive, 1 way coilovers built in order to win = what's the point of the 1 way only rule? Racers being racers = rules are hard to make. Sorry we've made a change you dislike on suspension but it is what it is
@adam jabaay look at stock class auto x, the top level people will spend on their shocks. However double adjustable are more intimidating. More time and money can be spent to tune those after the initial valving.
I agree with your sentiments. Most other racers on the top of their class wouldn't care less about maintaining the competitive nature within their class as long as their on top. Kudos to Ben for that. 🍻
This is not what the sport is about.... it's about building the fastest car within the regulations. It's not up to competitors to reduce their cars performance because they feel bad, it's up to the event organisers to adjust accordingly.
Honestly what Ben did with street class was a necessary evil. Someone was bound to come along and do exactly what he did, and the person that did it just so happened to have lots of social media attention which brought focus to the leniant rules street class had. In a way, Ben made the class *more* fair, by being unfair for a short time.
Yes. This wouldn't have gotten nearly as much attention without someone with a social media platform like Ben. There still would be changes, but they wouldn't come as quickly. It's frankly a bit absurd what you could get away with in that class. Top competing cars were just a single step away from purpose built race cars and not actual street cars.
Giving up on hp it’s not always a bad thing. Knowing how much you can do with the hp you have is more valuable. I feel the MR2 has taught you something
True in part, but as horsepower goes up it can be difficult to appreciate the wear and tear on all of the parts simultaneously. The trade off between power, speed, manageability and overall reliability.
Same but now that he explained it. It makes sense. They're street cars, although I never saw it that way because of cars like the Evo lol. There definitely needs more rules to be in place to make them more like a street car.
This is kinda funny Im a beginner hpde dude and always wondered what is like TT then figured there was a “street class”. I thought street class was more likely beginner friendly non-race car competition. No 2 ways, or crazy turbo swaps etc.. i dont know the rule and didnt even thinking about registering the grid life after i saw cars running in street class.
Ben I think humility is a good virtue. This video shows you as a person have matured. You hit some key points as far as being a competitor and sportsmanship. You also will gain respect amongst your competitors. Good good my friend!
G&G is starting the new year strong! This is the most I've enjoyed a "no-action video" in a LONG time. (As in not a road trip, track day, or build montage)
It doesn’t matter what series you are in, grassroots to imsa,At the end it all becomes and arms race. Then the rule books gets larger harder to understand to keep people from going too far. That said it’s nice that you’ve noticed it and taking a step back.
Speak for yourself, us tops get boi wives that support cars and ģųns in place of having brats, best quote I ever heard from mine "if you have a baby then you can't really stay the babe"
This phenomenon is known as 'speed creep'. It happens in every series maybe with the exception of pure spec racing, but even then, things get faster. Something to remember, if you didn't do it... someone else would have. Constant adjustments to the rules will always be required. Someone will always feel singled out with rule changes, and others will be swept up unintentionally as well. It's racing, never going to change. The biggest thing to ruin a series is making a rule that can't be enforced. If it's power to weight, and you don't have a dyno and scales always present....then it's not actually power to weight.
I am in a similar boat with my evo 9. I'm just getting into time attack as an enthusiast. It makes about 400hp and the car is way to much for me to handle on a track like gingermen. Looking into adding a fa5 back into the fleet to get more driver experience before I run that car again. 🚗 love the series can't wait for more!
Dying to see more MR-S Content. I'm buying a 2ZZ this weekend to start building in prep of finding a "blown up" Spyder to drop it in. This will be my dedicated Track Car for sure.
The vulnerability and sportsmanship of Ben is pretty wholesome, I’m glad you’re willing to bring the car near the others to have to drive your heart out to win instead of walking the comp
The SCCA has TT classes that are super entry level if that's what you're looking for. Gridlife and GTA are pro big flashy builds to attract spectators and money. It is what it is.
"...and this is all much closer to being a relatable, realistic, true streetcar." Exactly what the Gears and Gasoline channel is all about. Being relatable, realistic, and true.
Its honestly kinda insane how you can make me feel certain emotions just by the way you present what happening with your cars, i’m gonna have to take notes for the next time I’m working on a documentary
I love this new direction of video, and this new direction of Ben. The couple of videos about how your evo isn't "better" or that you shouldn't modify your car is something I wish more media made. These shots of you removing your intercooler, without a word, and cleaning it, is cinematic high for car videos. I've only seen that kind of production in movies. It is easy to do build series, throwing money at cars people online will ideologize their entire life, but it is challenging to forgo the internet points for a message that actually matters. Keep doing what you're doing Ben. G&G is the only car channel I follow, and it's for videos like these.
I love all of your content, but I especially love the honesty, introspection, and message this video (and yourself Ben) takes on. I've entered a few Gridlife Time Attack events in my 2.0t Camaro. It's a true street car; I drive it all summer, same tires and wheels that go to the track, just a quick pad swap and fluid check the day before and it's good to go. My last event was in 2020 at Gingerman, and I was surprised when other competitors were shocked that I drove the car to and from the event. As far as I could tell I was the only Street class competitor that drove his car there. Now, having a trailer is never a bad thing, but I felt like the spirit of street class had dissolved, and it's been even more evident the last few years as competition has increased. Being a full street car that sees occasional track time, I know I wouldn't be competitive, just saddened that all the other "street cars" were barely able to be street-able. Rules are meant to be bent and grey areas found, there's no other way to be at the top, especially in an extremely competitive series like Gridlife. I'm getting back to Time Attack this year, but now with my Cobalt. I had plans of taking all the steps to be competitive, but instead I'm going to build the car how I want and if it ends in a different class, that's okay. I don't have the funds to be a true competitor, so instead I'm just going to have the most fun possible while hanging with probably the greatest group of track enthusiasts I've ever been around.
Great video, Ben. Well put and I agree that street class is likely designed to be more accessible than it is. It shouldn't cost 60k+ to build a competitive street class car, but as competitors we look for every advantage in the rulebook and with that comes spending the money your competitors won't, or doing all of the mods that are "technically" legal. Wishing you the best of luck this year, you got some speed!
Race, regret, repair 🍻 great attitude and content. I am currently outfitting my EcoBoost Mustang for SCCA TT Sport 3. Considering doing a little Gridlife Street Class just for fun. Gone as crew/spectator before and love the vibe of those events. Good luck, look forward to seeing you back out there.
It's all good man, as en Evolution enthusiast, I turned down the hp in my Evo 9, originally built to 883 hp and some change, wayyyy too much to daily, now I daily 689 hp and some change. Makes a HUGE difference! I can actually enjoy my Evo without the feeling of, "When I am going to die yet?" Lol.
I love my Honda Fit and the Sundae cup because it's not about what you've done to the car, and more about how hard you can push that car and wring out all of it's potential. Your sportsmanship is VERY Admirable, and everyone likes these choices you're making.
I've been dying to see more of the MRS. I'm looking to get back into racing. Sadly, I stopped in 06 when I joined the military. I did have a 240sx with a SR20DET I was working on from 09 - 11 but ended up selling it. I didn't have much time for it with all the trips across the pond. Fast forward to 15, the family grew to 4 so time and money went elsewhere. I'm thinking about getting a MRS this year. I don't know what it is, but they have grown on me. I've already started looking into autocross in North Carolina. Fingers crossed by May, I will have a car to work on and race. I'm still in the military, 4 years left, but things are at a point where I have time to peruse my passions. Keep up the fire content!!
You just did what majority of Evo guys do (fbo, cams, e85) and a little extra to make a 400+ awhp car. It's a platform that is simple to make good power on and that is why soo many people like them. The evos have always dominated this way but the new cars today are all very powerful as well and I'm sure in time there will be more guys pushing to the extreme limits of a "street car" as well. I understand where you're coming from though and hope you have a good season.
my ritual is every Saturday afternoon pacific time I go online and watch a newly well made uploaded video from G&G, thank you and please keep up the awesome work that you all do at G&G!
Everything about this video is chef's kiss. The story, the cinematography, the music!! I love how it's not hyper-edited like some other car channels where it's literally cinematic booms every 5 seconds and obnoxiously loud royalty free music! Underrated car channel!!
I died over new years from an ongoing stomach disease, re-binged all of your road trips and projects while in the hospital. Gears and Gasoline is the top UA-cam channel 💪
"Tommi Makinen reborn in the body of an asian man". This was gold! I hit the like button and subscribed. Nice to see you being serious and being able to not take everything too seriously. I am excited now to see how next season will go
going to stick with my trackdays because after club racing an R6 for a few years its really a money game in that area too. the guys winning are buying $2-3k worth of tires in a weekend and I would go out, buy 1 set of tires per weekend for 3 or 4 races and consistently finish in 4-6th place also having to start at the back of a 14-20 bike grid. I just didnt want to spend the money and after some time got burnt out and sold all my stuff so now I'm doing car trackdays and its a blast.
I think going more stock is a natural progression with age. When I rebuilt my STI went all stock with just reliability mods, 305HP is more than enough for the racing I use use it for.
I love the discussion Ben. The honesty and self reflection is refreshing. To the point of the 2-way adjustable dampers, the counterpoint I've seen argued is that non-adjustable or 1-way dampers have to be really well dialed and designed for the specific chassis via re-valve at a shock tuner. This costs pretty hefty money and is typically only done by nationally competitive, "serious" competitors. By comparison, a 2-way damper only requires that the high speed valving be reasonably correct for curbs and the low speed valving can be dialed in by the user to get the body control the driver desires. The hope in allowing more adjustment on the dampers - somewhat counter intuitively - is actually a less expensive damper. That said, in the world where most casual enthusiasts will never send their dampers to a specialist for a re-tune, that savings of allowing 2-way dampers vs a custom non-adjustable or 1-way adjustable setup is never realized. The end result is that for most users, a 2-way adjustable damper ends up being more expensive. It is a matter of how seriously someone builds to the limit of the rules, as you've discovered. So to your point about not liking the addition of 2-way dampers; yes and no. From a practical standpoint, allowing 2-way dampers will likely make an arms race of the "affordable" dampers. From a maximum-limit-of-the-ruleset standpoint, 2-way dampers may actually be cheaper. Thank you for posting this video and airing thoughts so candidly. I love watching the action of GridLife, but the class arms race is why I stick to SCCA for autocross and time trials and leave GridLife to those with cars that class well in the GridLife structure. Say what you will about 1,000,745 classes of the SCCA, but it means that my car has a place where competing can be about the driver, not their wallet.
I'm building my 370 daily driver to be what I want with the intention of running it in whatever class that puts me in. Full custom hand built body kit an aero are half done, I just finished my custom side exit exhaust and I built my own short throw shifter. I am team of 1 dude with a passion for motorsports that I squeeze in around my military career as well as being a father and husband. To some my car might not be "street comfortable" but every time I get in the car it brings a smile to my face.
wow 28K views in 3hrs not bad, I am just glad you young people are out there doing something and having fun. I left street cars like 20 years ago and have 2 trailer queens --street cars where the most fun but everyone hated my street car it road like a buck board lol --good luck and keep up the good work
good on you for down tuning your EVO. I've been following Gridlife ever since I found your channel some years ago. I've always wanted to compete in gridlife time attack but watching your videos and many other gridlife competitors, the amount money thrown into these cars are INSANE. From watching street class be about actual lightly modded street cars back in 2017, they have become sometimes even faster than street mod class cars and street mod class cars are on par with the fastest cars at the event.. it's really getting out of hand.
I absolutely love this episode and I love the direction you're going with this car. High horse power builds are awesome. But if I'm being honest, I don't watch this channel for the high horse power build cars. I watch them for the track experience that you all go through, along with the car builds as an added bonus. I like that you recognized that you're on the ragged edge of your class and you're willing to step back on HP to be more inline with the rule set for your class you're competing in. It's really humble and sportsman like. I look forward to the S10K completion. I'm looking forward more so to the growth of not just that car, but the growth of you as a driver in that car. I'm hoping it's just as inspiring as you are in the MR2 build and Laynaa build. I wish you and Ben nothing but the best of luck. I just want you and Ben to know that you two really inspired me to build a time attach car of my own a couples year ago and to start my own track adventure. So keep this type of content rolling!
Run the mr-s in the same class! It would be amazing to see if you can develop it with lap times (for street class) competitive enough to podium or your evo level!
As a competitor in a time attack series in Ontario Canada, I know what it's like to be in a lesser car trying to compete with those who built theirs to the very top limit of the class.. you are a champ for doing this Ben! Good on ya man!
A 400 WHP EVO is no joke. There are faster cars but not many in all circumstances. Sure there are people with 800WHP [name that chassis] but while they are driving around worried something is going to break all the time the EVO will just run and run at that power level with no issues and no worries. Then when it rains it's not even a contest. Ben you inspired me to buy my second EVO after regret set it following the sale of the first. Thanks for sticking with the chassis and showing the EVO some UA-cam love. Hope to see you at mid-o this year!
ChampCar Endurance Series amateur W2W racing has similar challenges with rich teams pushing the rule limits and budget teams decrying them. All to win a scrap-metal trophy and bragging rights. Racers gonna race! But if once you get past the noise it's the best fun
Good on you man you have a lot more gut than a lot of racers I've seen if you know your finding loopholes in the rules and then deciding to not do it. I commend you
I respect your decision. Awesome sportsmanship. I Have a built 12 mustang 3.7 ( 320rwhp) with 6r80 and a circle d stall. I had a similar experience in a local drag events it was N/A v6 class. About 24 people showed up over half was 350/370z , handle full of Camaro v6, Challengers, Accord. I ran a consistent 12.5 @ 108mph. With my Circle d convertor , and drag radials I killed everyone to the point it wasn't fun. There were 2 370z that ran close to me (12.7-12.9).
Main reason I don't sign up for Gridlife & GTA is I know the other cars will always trump my track dedicated S2000, in terms of setup in almost all departments because of tight budget, I'd rather enjoy myself on different tracks with various organizations, competing against the clock & old personal best's. Good luck to you and Ben in 2023. :)
I strongly agree with running stock turbo. So many people go nuts with evo's and big power. The moment the oem turbo exits the car, thats when problems begin. Just leave it stock, work on maintenance. Rebuild the transmission, rebuild the coilovers. slap em on, go HAVE FUN. I love these cars.
For me i think that the anime midnight wangan said there are two kind of people petrol type and motor oil type person, if u arent the kind of the other type of car then maybe try to be real not faking to become another , maybe this lesson is trying to tell u that maybe u and ur evo had enough to this kind of winning maybe u should step back and completely revert back to a reasonable street car with full interior, livery delete and keep some tasty mod like the suspension for the street. Evo arent just the car to be good at track , they can be good daily fun cruiser if u dont care about the gas mileage just the miata owner do with their miata. It is not about the price nor the speed or even the win , it is the about the happiness and joy that the car gave u when u driving it and enjoying it. Btw thanks for being honest to the audiences about the situation. Great job👍 keep it up
A well built set of single adjustable shocks can be just as effective as a set of double adjustables, plus unless someone really knows how to dial in two knobs they can easily make the car worse. I think double adjustables is a welcome addition to ST, and there are definitely street cars out there on them.
This is why we love cars. Honda Civic Type R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX STi, Toyota GR Corolla, Hyundai Elantra N, Ford Focus RS, Volkswagon Golf R, Honda S2000, Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86, Mazda Miata MX5, Nissan 370Z, Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Comparing affordable car platforms. Working air conditioning, One Way Suspension only. Ban drop knuckles. All seats intact. Only 100 hp allowed more than oem base.
It sounds like Gridlife should adopt SCCA Street Class rules. The only issue there is street class would have 10 different sub catagories I.E. turbo cars, Fwd, Rwd Etc...
@@stagedracing8150 yea that’s accurate but it seems like Ben stepped down a turbo size because they changed the rules. Not to level the playing field lol
I learned in spec racing years ago, even if forced to use stock engines etc, it’s always pay to win. The fastest teams would always dyno and use the fastest stock parts they could get their hands on, rather than just using what the car came with. Just the nature of racing I guess.
Do you feel there should be a class between Street and TR? What would that look like? There's no "Stock" class, just Sundae. Do you think more classes would make it more approachable?
Not only time attack but all of racing is about building the fastest car within the given regulations. You've done exactly that and on top, you're a great driver. Even at the top level, racing isn't fair s don't hold yourself back because you feel bad, I'm sure not many others would do the same for you...
🇦🇺 '08 STi owner here 🙋🏿♂️ In our local Hill climb comps some 'Street Class' rules include factory turbo/intercoolers, 98 pump fuel , street tyres . Perhaps this comps vague rule books could be the issue here 🤷🏿♂️
So much respect to ben for making this video. I cant wait to see more mr2 on track though! Thats my favorite build right now!(sorry small ben, if it makes you feel any better i still hold civics very near and dear)
SCCA Street Mod (SM) was and probably is still that way. In 2004 I was in grid in a STi in STU next to an Audi S4. A $50,000 + car to begin with. Then just on the outside had brakes that were $5,000+ and who knows how much in the suspension. Stock class was similar. If you were not running custom valved Koni's with a large front bar, Hoosier tires and the lightest wheels you could buy you had no chance.
Very admirable that you are basically going backwards to still compete in Street class👍👍 let's hope you can win this coming season with a car that is allowed in the new rules 👍👍
![[UA] NAVI проти G2 Esports | Blast Premier Fall Final](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/QWlIm4FGESQ/mqdefault.jpg)
It's not really our interpretation that street is an entry level class.. none of time attack with us is really a place that isn't serious. The turbo rule on airflow hasn't changed, we've just shifted the burden of proof to competitors on if a turbo meets the rule. 2 way vs 1 way= people having custom , expensive, 1 way coilovers built in order to win = what's the point of the 1 way only rule?
Racers being racers = rules are hard to make. Sorry we've made a change you dislike on suspension but it is what it is
Is this the beginning of Gridlife/G&G beef??
@@GearsandGasoline I hope so. Hug fights only tho
@@AjJabaay I say Ben is locked to having his brake lights linked to his horn when competing in events.
@adam jabaay look at stock class auto x, the top level people will spend on their shocks. However double adjustable are more intimidating. More time and money can be spent to tune those after the initial valving.
So wait, the rules were changed to counter G&G Ben’s Evo?
In that case, I would run my car to the very edge of that rule book….
As a street class competitor with an actual street car, I really applaud this level of sportsmanship. It is what the sport is all about.
Elantra N the world?
He just doesn't want to move up. Wants to stay on top in entry lvl lmao
I agree with your sentiments. Most other racers on the top of their class wouldn't care less about maintaining the competitive nature within their class as long as their on top. Kudos to Ben for that. 🍻
@@PhilJue :) I just need to tune the driver more so I can keep up with you guys in T3 hehe
This is not what the sport is about.... it's about building the fastest car within the regulations. It's not up to competitors to reduce their cars performance because they feel bad, it's up to the event organisers to adjust accordingly.
Honestly what Ben did with street class was a necessary evil. Someone was bound to come along and do exactly what he did, and the person that did it just so happened to have lots of social media attention which brought focus to the leniant rules street class had.
In a way, Ben made the class *more* fair, by being unfair for a short time.
For sure. Hopefully the social media presence doesn’t lead to angry fans going after anyone
Yesssss
Yes. This wouldn't have gotten nearly as much attention without someone with a social media platform like Ben. There still would be changes, but they wouldn't come as quickly.
It's frankly a bit absurd what you could get away with in that class. Top competing cars were just a single step away from purpose built race cars and not actual street cars.
Giving up on hp it’s not always a bad thing. Knowing how much you can do with the hp you have is more valuable. I feel the MR2 has taught you something
True in part, but as horsepower goes up it can be difficult to appreciate the wear and tear on all of the parts simultaneously. The trade off between power, speed, manageability and overall reliability.
@user-lz5wl2ep7mshut up
Fast cars don't always need big hp. The Porsche 911 991.2 GT3 RS did the Nurburgring in under 7 mins with just a naturally aspirated flat 6.
@@johnmitchell2269 thought 911's have flat 6's?
@@che3601 They do yeah. Edited it.
Major respect here. I never saw street class as entry level and never bothered to look into it because of how insane some of the cars already are.
Same but now that he explained it. It makes sense. They're street cars, although I never saw it that way because of cars like the Evo lol. There definitely needs more rules to be in place to make them more like a street car.
This is kinda funny
Im a beginner hpde dude and always wondered what is like TT then figured there was a “street class”. I thought street class was more likely beginner friendly non-race car competition.
No 2 ways, or crazy turbo swaps etc.. i dont know the rule and didnt even thinking about registering the grid life after i saw cars running in street class.
Respect for knowing the car was giving the advantage and being honest with everyone! Major props! Keep up the good work!
Ben I think humility is a good virtue. This video shows you as a person have matured. You hit some key points as far as being a competitor and sportsmanship. You also will gain respect amongst your competitors. Good good my friend!
Yea.. time to compete at the local stance meet
G&G is starting the new year strong! This is the most I've enjoyed a "no-action video" in a LONG time.
(As in not a road trip, track day, or build montage)
It doesn’t matter what series you are in, grassroots to imsa,At the end it all becomes and arms race. Then the rule books gets larger harder to understand to keep people from going too far. That said it’s nice that you’ve noticed it and taking a step back.
Nailed it 👍
This is the kind of A-class filmography I subscribed to the channel for!
Indeed
The bit with the tea mug was 👌
@Prince Charming that's around the time I paused to comment lol. The rest of the video was just as good though
@@svgPhoenix yup! it sold it for me too. Felt like something you'd learn in filmography school or something (idk never been). Love this channel.
It’s okay Ben, we all give up a little HP for women sooner or later.
Lol
Speak for yourself, us tops get boi wives that support cars and ģųns in place of having brats, best quote I ever heard from mine "if you have a baby then you can't really stay the babe"
Nah, get yourself a girl who likes going fast as well
Not if youre Riccardo Patrese
if you trade your passion for a woman you deserve neither
This phenomenon is known as 'speed creep'. It happens in every series maybe with the exception of pure spec racing, but even then, things get faster.
Something to remember, if you didn't do it... someone else would have. Constant adjustments to the rules will always be required. Someone will always feel singled out with rule changes, and others will be swept up unintentionally as well. It's racing, never going to change.
The biggest thing to ruin a series is making a rule that can't be enforced. If it's power to weight, and you don't have a dyno and scales always present....then it's not actually power to weight.
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR 💌🎉🎁🎁
I am in a similar boat with my evo 9. I'm just getting into time attack as an enthusiast. It makes about 400hp and the car is way to much for me to handle on a track like gingermen. Looking into adding a fa5 back into the fleet to get more driver experience before I run that car again. 🚗 love the series can't wait for more!
Dying to see more MR-S Content. I'm buying a 2ZZ this weekend to start building in prep of finding a "blown up" Spyder to drop it in. This will be my dedicated Track Car for sure.
The vulnerability and sportsmanship of Ben is pretty wholesome, I’m glad you’re willing to bring the car near the others to have to drive your heart out to win instead of walking the comp
The SCCA has TT classes that are super entry level if that's what you're looking for. Gridlife and GTA are pro big flashy builds to attract spectators and money. It is what it is.
"...and this is all much closer to being a relatable, realistic, true streetcar."
Exactly what the Gears and Gasoline channel is all about. Being relatable, realistic, and true.
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR 💌🎉🎁🎁
Its honestly kinda insane how you can make me feel certain emotions just by the way you present what happening with your cars, i’m gonna have to take notes for the next time I’m working on a documentary
I love this new direction of video, and this new direction of Ben. The couple of videos about how your evo isn't "better" or that you shouldn't modify your car is something I wish more media made. These shots of you removing your intercooler, without a word, and cleaning it, is cinematic high for car videos. I've only seen that kind of production in movies. It is easy to do build series, throwing money at cars people online will ideologize their entire life, but it is challenging to forgo the internet points for a message that actually matters. Keep doing what you're doing Ben. G&G is the only car channel I follow, and it's for videos like these.
Good on you for realizing you’ve gone too far on your build and dialing it back for better competition 👍🏼 G&G always being stand up guys
A well reasoned step back and a Sundae Cup shout out? Ya love to see it.
I love all of your content, but I especially love the honesty, introspection, and message this video (and yourself Ben) takes on. I've entered a few Gridlife Time Attack events in my 2.0t Camaro. It's a true street car; I drive it all summer, same tires and wheels that go to the track, just a quick pad swap and fluid check the day before and it's good to go. My last event was in 2020 at Gingerman, and I was surprised when other competitors were shocked that I drove the car to and from the event. As far as I could tell I was the only Street class competitor that drove his car there. Now, having a trailer is never a bad thing, but I felt like the spirit of street class had dissolved, and it's been even more evident the last few years as competition has increased. Being a full street car that sees occasional track time, I know I wouldn't be competitive, just saddened that all the other "street cars" were barely able to be street-able.
Rules are meant to be bent and grey areas found, there's no other way to be at the top, especially in an extremely competitive series like Gridlife. I'm getting back to Time Attack this year, but now with my Cobalt. I had plans of taking all the steps to be competitive, but instead I'm going to build the car how I want and if it ends in a different class, that's okay. I don't have the funds to be a true competitor, so instead I'm just going to have the most fun possible while hanging with probably the greatest group of track enthusiasts I've ever been around.
Great video, Ben. Well put and I agree that street class is likely designed to be more accessible than it is. It shouldn't cost 60k+ to build a competitive street class car, but as competitors we look for every advantage in the rulebook and with that comes spending the money your competitors won't, or doing all of the mods that are "technically" legal.
Wishing you the best of luck this year, you got some speed!
Lmao 'Lin is just funny to watch naturally. Good content as always guys! You're gonna kill it this year! I'm coming for ya in '24
Race, regret, repair 🍻 great attitude and content. I am currently outfitting my EcoBoost Mustang for SCCA TT Sport 3. Considering doing a little Gridlife Street Class just for fun. Gone as crew/spectator before and love the vibe of those events. Good luck, look forward to seeing you back out there.
A very refreshing mea culpa. It always bothered me that you were running a corporate-sponsored car in a grassroots class.
It's all good man, as en Evolution enthusiast, I turned down the hp in my Evo 9, originally built to 883 hp and some change, wayyyy too much to daily, now I daily 689 hp and some change. Makes a HUGE difference! I can actually enjoy my Evo without the feeling of, "When I am going to die yet?" Lol.
100 hp ? rly? I am not sure what kind of difference this has. Sounds like a tad smaller turbo but thats it?
I love my Honda Fit and the Sundae cup because it's not about what you've done to the car, and more about how hard you can push that car and wring out all of it's potential. Your sportsmanship is VERY Admirable, and everyone likes these choices you're making.
I love to see that Ed talks the same talk in real life than he does on the podcast.
A born hater
@@GearsandGasoline all these holes in his hood and still cant take the heat (I too am the owner of an overheating honda)
I've been dying to see more of the MRS. I'm looking to get back into racing. Sadly, I stopped in 06 when I joined the military. I did have a 240sx with a SR20DET I was working on from 09 - 11 but ended up selling it. I didn't have much time for it with all the trips across the pond. Fast forward to 15, the family grew to 4 so time and money went elsewhere. I'm thinking about getting a MRS this year. I don't know what it is, but they have grown on me. I've already started looking into autocross in North Carolina. Fingers crossed by May, I will have a car to work on and race. I'm still in the military, 4 years left, but things are at a point where I have time to peruse my passions. Keep up the fire content!!
I love the cinematic intro. No talking, no drama n screen text. Just beautiful visuals and clear sound
You just did what majority of Evo guys do (fbo, cams, e85) and a little extra to make a 400+ awhp car. It's a platform that is simple to make good power on and that is why soo many people like them. The evos have always dominated this way but the new cars today are all very powerful as well and I'm sure in time there will be more guys pushing to the extreme limits of a "street car" as well. I understand where you're coming from though and hope you have a good season.
that pushing to the limit of the rule book is just natural progression for majority of the racers. specially if they are in the top 3 contenders.
my ritual is every Saturday afternoon pacific time I go online and watch a newly well made uploaded video from G&G, thank you and please keep up the awesome work that you all do at G&G!
Everything about this video is chef's kiss. The story, the cinematography, the music!!
I love how it's not hyper-edited like some other car channels where it's literally cinematic booms every 5 seconds and obnoxiously loud royalty free music!
Underrated car channel!!
I died over new years from an ongoing stomach disease, re-binged all of your road trips and projects while in the hospital. Gears and Gasoline is the top UA-cam channel 💪
FANTASTIC visual storytelling for the intro, very well done.
Much respect to ben you make the streetcars race more enjoyable and im excited to watch the next race with more fair competition, keep the hard work🙌🏼
I absolutely love hearing you work on your car with no background music!!!
"Tommi Makinen reborn in the body of an asian man". This was gold! I hit the like button and subscribed. Nice to see you being serious and being able to not take everything too seriously. I am excited now to see how next season will go
going to stick with my trackdays because after club racing an R6 for a few years its really a money game in that area too. the guys winning are buying $2-3k worth of tires in a weekend and I would go out, buy 1 set of tires per weekend for 3 or 4 races and consistently finish in 4-6th place also having to start at the back of a 14-20 bike grid. I just didnt want to spend the money and after some time got burnt out and sold all my stuff so now I'm doing car trackdays and its a blast.
I’ve done track days with cars and now bikes, I’m in advanced group but refuse to run a timer. I just do it for fun with friends.
@@dancarlos1216 I will say once I stepped up into racing my lap times plummeted but also costs went up.
@@_Suzuka_Joe Yeah that’s what everyone says, but I don’t want it to stop being fun. I usually go once a month.
I think going more stock is a natural progression with age. When I rebuilt my STI went all stock with just reliability mods, 305HP is more than enough for the racing I use use it for.
I love the discussion Ben. The honesty and self reflection is refreshing.
To the point of the 2-way adjustable dampers, the counterpoint I've seen argued is that non-adjustable or 1-way dampers have to be really well dialed and designed for the specific chassis via re-valve at a shock tuner. This costs pretty hefty money and is typically only done by nationally competitive, "serious" competitors. By comparison, a 2-way damper only requires that the high speed valving be reasonably correct for curbs and the low speed valving can be dialed in by the user to get the body control the driver desires. The hope in allowing more adjustment on the dampers - somewhat counter intuitively - is actually a less expensive damper. That said, in the world where most casual enthusiasts will never send their dampers to a specialist for a re-tune, that savings of allowing 2-way dampers vs a custom non-adjustable or 1-way adjustable setup is never realized. The end result is that for most users, a 2-way adjustable damper ends up being more expensive. It is a matter of how seriously someone builds to the limit of the rules, as you've discovered.
So to your point about not liking the addition of 2-way dampers; yes and no. From a practical standpoint, allowing 2-way dampers will likely make an arms race of the "affordable" dampers. From a maximum-limit-of-the-ruleset standpoint, 2-way dampers may actually be cheaper.
Thank you for posting this video and airing thoughts so candidly. I love watching the action of GridLife, but the class arms race is why I stick to SCCA for autocross and time trials and leave GridLife to those with cars that class well in the GridLife structure. Say what you will about 1,000,745 classes of the SCCA, but it means that my car has a place where competing can be about the driver, not their wallet.
Kinda wanted to see the evo turning into a unlimited class car or something, but with the amount of cars your building this is a cool aswell.
It's like the villain redemption arc in a book or movie. He realized the evil he did, and is now working to correct the damage. GG.
I'm building my 370 daily driver to be what I want with the intention of running it in whatever class that puts me in. Full custom hand built body kit an aero are half done, I just finished my custom side exit exhaust and I built my own short throw shifter. I am team of 1 dude with a passion for motorsports that I squeeze in around my military career as well as being a father and husband. To some my car might not be "street comfortable" but every time I get in the car it brings a smile to my face.
wow 28K views in 3hrs not bad, I am just glad you young people are out there doing something and having fun. I left street cars like 20 years ago and have 2 trailer queens --street cars where the most fun but everyone hated my street car it road like a buck board lol --good luck and keep up the good work
Seeing that turbo make sure to check the airfilter piping for the missing nut for the turbo shaft on the compressor side
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR💌🎉🎁🎁
What a chill video. Nice explaining, great storytelling. Very very nicely done.
Props to Ben for not wanting to ruin everyone else's day. We love spirit of the class, not technicalities of the class.
So happy to see the MR coming together!
Sportsmanship is a real thing and I appreciate you making a video like this. I look forward to seeing you race lin!
good on you for down tuning your EVO. I've been following Gridlife ever since I found your channel some years ago.
I've always wanted to compete in gridlife time attack but watching your videos and many other gridlife competitors, the amount money thrown into these cars are INSANE.
From watching street class be about actual lightly modded street cars back in 2017, they have become sometimes even faster than street mod class cars and street mod class cars are on par with the fastest cars at the event.. it's really getting out of hand.
This level of modesty, sportsmanship and forward planning is something to look up to! Well done Ben! Keep up the good work!!!
I absolutely love this episode and I love the direction you're going with this car. High horse power builds are awesome. But if I'm being honest, I don't watch this channel for the high horse power build cars. I watch them for the track experience that you all go through, along with the car builds as an added bonus.
I like that you recognized that you're on the ragged edge of your class and you're willing to step back on HP to be more inline with the rule set for your class you're competing in. It's really humble and sportsman like.
I look forward to the S10K completion. I'm looking forward more so to the growth of not just that car, but the growth of you as a driver in that car. I'm hoping it's just as inspiring as you are in the MR2 build and Laynaa build. I wish you and Ben nothing but the best of luck. I just want you and Ben to know that you two really inspired me to build a time attach car of my own a couples year ago and to start my own track adventure. So keep this type of content rolling!
The production value on this video was fantastic!!! You guys are killing it.
Run the mr-s in the same class!
It would be amazing to see if you can develop it with lap times (for street class) competitive enough to podium or your evo level!
Love the editing, feels like a Tarantino film
That intro was so enjoyable, great job!
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR 💌🎉🎁🎁
As a competitor in a time attack series in Ontario Canada, I know what it's like to be in a lesser car trying to compete with those who built theirs to the very top limit of the class.. you are a champ for doing this Ben! Good on ya man!
The first few seconds as soon as u grabbed your intercooler ... I thought NO way?` turbo blew? just like on my evo
I love the honesty in your video.
This Video gives such a nice Cozy Asmr like vibe. A+ Cinematography
I like that you're humble enough to admit that you're not a driving god.
Awesome video. Nice editing. Great presenter! I enjoyed it, thank you.
First 2:30 is top knotch cinematography. Felt like a scene of a csi movie doing some investigating on whats inside the intercooler
A 400 WHP EVO is no joke. There are faster cars but not many in all circumstances. Sure there are people with 800WHP [name that chassis] but while they are driving around worried something is going to break all the time the EVO will just run and run at that power level with no issues and no worries. Then when it rains it's not even a contest. Ben you inspired me to buy my second EVO after regret set it following the sale of the first. Thanks for sticking with the chassis and showing the EVO some UA-cam love. Hope to see you at mid-o this year!
Great idea. You’ll have more fun chasing people and increasing driver mod than “out-modding” them.
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR💌🎉🎁🎁
This is the best video from you guys in a while IMO. Very well articulated. Makes me miss the 1 video per week too.
Well said, I hope to see you next year at New Jersey for my first gridlife event.
ChampCar Endurance Series amateur W2W racing has similar challenges with rich teams pushing the rule limits and budget teams decrying them. All to win a scrap-metal trophy and bragging rights. Racers gonna race! But if once you get past the noise it's the best fun
listening to you guys talk is like listening to a long story and it never gets boring .
2:58 🙌 G'day from the fastest continent.
Good on you man you have a lot more gut than a lot of racers I've seen if you know your finding loopholes in the rules and then deciding to not do it. I commend you
I respect your decision. Awesome sportsmanship. I Have a built 12 mustang 3.7 ( 320rwhp) with 6r80 and a circle d stall. I had a similar experience in a local drag events it was N/A v6 class. About 24 people showed up over half was 350/370z , handle full of Camaro v6, Challengers, Accord. I ran a consistent 12.5 @ 108mph. With my Circle d convertor , and drag radials I killed everyone to the point it wasn't fun. There were 2 370z that ran close to me (12.7-12.9).
HIT ME UP ON TELEGRAM I GOT SOMETHING FOR💌🎉🎁🎁
At first I thought Ben was gonna light that intercooler on fire lol
Main reason I don't sign up for Gridlife & GTA is I know the other cars will always trump my track dedicated S2000, in terms of setup in almost all departments because of tight budget, I'd rather enjoy myself on different tracks with various organizations, competing against the clock & old personal best's. Good luck to you and Ben in 2023. :)
ben is just suffering from success
It's lonely at the top
Preach!! Love this takeaway, regardless of the outcome we are still going to have fun at every GridLife event!
I strongly agree with running stock turbo. So many people go nuts with evo's and big power. The moment the oem turbo exits the car, thats when problems begin. Just leave it stock, work on maintenance. Rebuild the transmission, rebuild the coilovers. slap em on, go HAVE FUN. I love these cars.
that turbo had more analog drift than an xbox 360 controller joystick 😂
For me i think that the anime midnight wangan said there are two kind of people petrol type and motor oil type person, if u arent the kind of the other type of car then maybe try to be real not faking to become another , maybe this lesson is trying to tell u that maybe u and ur evo had enough to this kind of winning maybe u should step back and completely revert back to a reasonable street car with full interior, livery delete and keep some tasty mod like the suspension for the street. Evo arent just the car to be good at track , they can be good daily fun cruiser if u dont care about the gas mileage just the miata owner do with their miata. It is not about the price nor the speed or even the win , it is the about the happiness and joy that the car gave u when u driving it and enjoying it. Btw thanks for being honest to the audiences about the situation. Great job👍 keep it up
i would love to see that evo to have ac for a daily basis...
it's very relaxing watching you work in silence. I request a 1 hour long version
A well built set of single adjustable shocks can be just as effective as a set of double adjustables, plus unless someone really knows how to dial in two knobs they can easily make the car worse. I think double adjustables is a welcome addition to ST, and there are definitely street cars out there on them.
This is why we love cars. Honda Civic Type R, Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, Subaru WRX STi, Toyota GR Corolla, Hyundai Elantra N, Ford Focus RS, Volkswagon Golf R, Honda S2000, Subaru BRZ/Toyota GR86, Mazda Miata MX5, Nissan 370Z, Hyundai Genesis Coupe. Comparing affordable car platforms.
Working air conditioning, One Way Suspension only. Ban drop knuckles. All seats intact. Only 100 hp allowed more than oem base.
It sounds like Gridlife should adopt SCCA Street Class rules. The only issue there is street class would have 10 different sub catagories I.E. turbo cars, Fwd, Rwd Etc...
Agreed. Gridlife is very much a grey area with street class and swaps. GTA and Gridlife are pretty much money will eventually get wins and records.
@@stagedracing8150 yea that’s accurate but it seems like Ben stepped down a turbo size because they changed the rules. Not to level the playing field lol
I learned in spec racing years ago, even if forced to use stock engines etc, it’s always pay to win. The fastest teams would always dyno and use the fastest stock parts they could get their hands on, rather than just using what the car came with. Just the nature of racing I guess.
We need the Mr-S for this upcoming season!
Still love Lana thou!
Do you feel there should be a class between Street and TR? What would that look like? There's no "Stock" class, just Sundae. Do you think more classes would make it more approachable?
Okay the chapter tags have more comedy than most. UA-cam needs a feature to show that off better.
Not only time attack but all of racing is about building the fastest car within the given regulations. You've done exactly that and on top, you're a great driver. Even at the top level, racing isn't fair s don't hold yourself back because you feel bad, I'm sure not many others would do the same for you...
🇦🇺 '08 STi owner here 🙋🏿♂️
In our local Hill climb comps some 'Street Class' rules include factory turbo/intercoolers, 98 pump fuel , street tyres . Perhaps this comps vague rule books could be the issue here 🤷🏿♂️
This was very documentary-esque and I loved it
The storytelling. The storytelling. The storytelling. I came for the car content, but I stay for the storytelling. 👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽👏🏽
Best intro to a YT car video ever 😂 really encompassed the mundane, unseen, and annoying part to owning anything modified for performance.
The intro was very calm and soothing at first, but then it quickly turned into a murder mystery.
So much respect to ben for making this video. I cant wait to see more mr2 on track though! Thats my favorite build right now!(sorry small ben, if it makes you feel any better i still hold civics very near and dear)
SCCA Street Mod (SM) was and probably is still that way. In 2004 I was in grid in a STi in STU next to an Audi S4. A $50,000 + car to begin with. Then just on the outside had brakes that were $5,000+ and who knows how much in the suspension. Stock class was similar. If you were not running custom valved Koni's with a large front bar, Hoosier tires and the lightest wheels you could buy you had no chance.
Very admirable that you are basically going backwards to still compete in Street class👍👍 let's hope you can win this coming season with a car that is allowed in the new rules 👍👍
Interesting edits at 2:48
Preach!!! Love it and wholeheartedly agree!