Grassroots Motorsports Magazine

06/04/2026

The mission is simple: Bolt a set of Vitour P1 P-01R tires onto a C8 Corvette ZR1 and set the fastest lap time possible around GingerMan Raceway during Gridlife’s upcoming Midwest Festival.

Joining Dallas Reed, Managing Director at Vitour Performance Tires, in achieving that goal? TOMO Racing & Driver Coaching, autocross, road racing and One Lap of America champion.

Is a sub-1:30 lap time possible? Tune in next weekend, June 12-14, on Gridlife’s YouTube channel to find out.

06/03/2026

Is now the best time to import that JDM icon?

Dan Hurwitz, of Mach V Motorsports, shares his top picks he'd pick to import–plus a few more oddball alternatives–at the link in the comments.

What about you? If you had the means, which JDM car(s) would you import?

📷️ Bring a Trailer (Silvia), 5252 Motors (Lancer Evo), Nissan (GT-R), Collecting Cars (Impreza), Honda (Civic)

06/03/2026

Could California’s proposed tire regulations on rolling resistance affect your tire choice in the future? The quick answer: Quite possibly.

The premise behind the “California’s Proposed Replacement Tire Efficiency Program” is that less rolling resistance means better fuel economy and thus less energy usage.

Sounds great on paper, but as Jonathan Benson of Tyre Reviews noted, lower rolling resistance often comes with shallower tread depths, meaning the average consumer will most likely give up mileage (resulting in more tires actually used) and wet performance (a key selling point for many aftermarket tires). The California Energy Commission staff, however, claims “the regulations proposed in this staff report are technically feasible, are cost-effective, and will not compromise safety, reduce tire life, or increase tire waste.”

However, what about our favorite performance tires? Fortunately, Jonathan says, most of those offerings already come with a lower tread depth, and many exceed the Phase 1 of standards proposed for 2028. Furthermore, many of our favorites are produced in quantities less than 15,000 units per SKU, which means they do not have to meet the standards.

Where the regulations might have an effect is with mass market favorites, such as the Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 and the Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S. While those models should pass Phase 1 standards, they won’t meet more stringent Phase 2 standards proposed for 2031, especially in larger sizes.

What does our tire editor, Andy Hollis, think? “Low rolling resistance and wet grip are typically diametrically opposed,” Andy reminds us. “Personally, I’d rather err on the side of safety in inclement conditions even if it costs some fuel efficiency.

“Nobody’s going to trumpet their improved fuel mileage when they are sliding off the road in a downpour,” Andy continues. “You can pry my Conti ECS02s from my cold, dead hands.”

If you think California doesn’t affect those in the 49 other states, think again. California is a huge market, and manufacturers have a one-size-fits-all mentality with their products.

06/02/2026

More than special badging! The best Supra ever? The Toyota Supra Final Edition track test and review is live now.

06/02/2026

Sure, the new GRMN Corolla is the more extreme version of the already-wild GR Corolla, but how much do the two models have in common?

Full details at the link in the comments, but to sum it up, the GRMN gets more torque, more carbon and more aero than the GR, though also loses its rear seats. (Because race car.)

📷️ Toyota

06/02/2026

Which budget UHP tire, Firehawk Indy 500 V2 or Enzo V-02R?

Many of us want the fastest tire. But we also want a tire more suited for our reality. Enter what we call the Budget UHP tires. These tires trade ultimate lap times for comfort and rain traction.

Is the latest Firehawk Indy 500 V2 the ideal sweet spot? Or is the Enzo V-02R the better choice? Read our full tire test at the link in the comments.

📷️ Tim Harper

06/01/2026

What’s next for our BMW 325i project, now that it’s survived the $2000 Challenge? Well, that’s for its next owner to decide–and that next owner could be you, because it’s up for sale now.

Full details can be found at the link in the comments, but it's currently listed with an asking price of $1995.

📷️ Dave Green

06/01/2026

Zinc. A chemical element with the atomic number 30 on the periodic table. Behaves like a slightly brittle metal at room temperature. It also makes for a subtle shade of green, apparently.

Coming soon to the MX-5 lineup, a new color Mazda calls “Zinc Green.”

Developed as a “lifestyle color,” according to Mazda, Zinc Green “reveals a vibrant and rich expression, ranging from highlights to deep shades” in direct sunlight, while, in lower lighting, the color “takes on a more subdued, grayish appearance with a sense of solidity and an almost matte quality.”

More information on availability for the U.S. market is expected later this year, though Mazda does hint that the color may be offered on other models, in addition to the Miata.

📷️ Mazda

05/31/2026

The next generation of data loggers? Look no further than the EVO6 and EVO6L, says AiM Sportline.

Meet the next generation of data loggers: 𝗘𝗩𝗢𝟲 and 𝗘𝗩𝗢𝟲𝗟.

Powered by an innovative processor and an increased analog channel sampling rate, the EVO6 Series delivers faster performance and seamless configuration.

Now even slimmer, they fit a wide range of motorsport applications: from bikes to Formula cars, from prototypes to space-optimized vehicles.✨

Whether you’re running streamlined wiring or high-channel, complex systems, the EVO6 Series is built to adapt to every challenge.🔥
What’s yours?

05/30/2026

Sure, you’ve likely rescued a project or two over the years, but has a project ever rescued you?

For Grant Sampson, this Subaru Impreza WRX STI certainly has:

“This build helped me save myself from a deep depression after leaving an abusive relationship,” he explains, adding that “my father was a huge part of this car and is dedicated to him in his memory.”

In its current form, the Subaru is good for more than 500 horsepower, with a few highlights from the list of upgrades including air jacks, nitrous, Lexan windows, a bespoke turbocharging setup and a custom aero package.

And, speaking of that aero package, Sampson points out that “I am self-taught and did all exterior work, including making much of the carbon over two years.”

On October 22, Sampson will pilot this Impreza against a formidable lineup of ultra-fast, ultra-powerful track cars in order to win our Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge Presented by Grassroots Motorsports.

Our annual search for the fastest track machine on four wheels takes place at Eagles Canyon Raceway, where we’ll be joined by the equally impressive machinery of the Tire Rack SCCA Time Attack Challenge.

Virtually anything is welcome–and encouraged–to compete, so long as both car and driver can pass a safety inspection. If that sounds like something you and your car can handle, register today at the link in the comments.

The Tire Rack Ultimate Track Car Challenge is presented by Grassroots Motorsports in association with Wilwood, Vitour Tire, CRC Industries, Vbox Motorsport, Red Line Oil and Racetech, with trophies from BimmerWorld, Nine Lives Racing and Falken Tire.