NASA AZ / Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout 2013

     It was that time of year again! Time for the Modified Magazine Tuner Shootout presented by Continental Tire! Having competed in many Continental shootouts including the Modified Magazine Shootout the past two years, we were excited to be invited back once again to compete with Markos’ 2006 Subaru WRX. The week before the event was very hectic managing customer projects while preparing each of our three team vehicles for the coming weekend. Luckily, reliability has been a key factor for us over the last year leaving only minor prep work. Changing oil, tires, and a few installs including converting Markos’ car to Cobb speed density were on the agenda. We spent every night at the shop after hours getting everything together including a new STI front end for our 2009 WRX and the fitting of Camber Tires on Travis’ 2003 WRX. The only night we left on time was to make it to the barber shop. You just can’t show up to a track event without a fresh taper and edge up.

---

     Anyway, Friday morning we made a quick stop at the shop and then headed to UMS Tuning, the annual host for the dyno portion of the shootout. For the second year, the shootout focused on the street car scene, but that didn’t stop a few cars from showing up with numbers well over 700hp. While exact results are not available until the magazine drops, we were satisfied with our results. Following our dyno run, we hustled off to Firebird International Raceway to setup the FAT Snail Compound. While we only field three cars, we generally close half of the paddock for our cars and 10 of our closest friends, plus their friends, and some other people we don’t know. Suffice it to say, we take up a lot of space.

---

    The next day started with shenanigans. Markos couldn’t keep the intercooler pipes on his car, Travis couldn’t keep boost in his, and I couldn’t keep the bumper on the back of mine. A quick run to the shop and everything was good to go for the remainder of the day, though the results had taken their toll for Markos in the Autocross event of the shootout. With only Time Attack and Drag Racing left we knew we needed solid results to finish well in the shootout. In Time Trials Travis was testing out the legendary Camber Tire’s brand tires with a built in 4 degrees of camber. I was getting used to Hoosier R6’s for the first time and realized by the third session that coming off track with 45lbs in them wasn’t ideal. (No I didn’t check pressures the other sessions, leave me alone). A drop in pressure was good for over a second and allowed me to snag 1st place TT2 in the last session of the day while chasing my nemesis in his GTR. Travis ran an awesome time but was outdone by Team Boost Medical in their Subaru powered Radical leaving him with a 2nd place finish TTU. Not all was bad however as the Radical also broke leaving Sunday wide open for Travis.

---

Markos stepped up huge in the Time Attack portion of the Shootout stomping a killer time which you will have to wait to see. The last event was the drag race for which the keys were turned over to Travis, who looks best in drag. Launching Markos’ car harder than it ever had been before, we had a solid finish for the last event of the shootout. Travis couldn’t get enough of the strip and brought out his own Time Attack car. In full TA trim, he ran an 11.08 with the crowd losing their minds. We ended the night with the usual shenanigans at the compound around our trailer. Everywhere you looked were Snail shirts rocking all of our sponsors. It was an awesome sight seeing them and we are always stoked on the support our friends and the race community show us.

---

Sunday it was normal business as usual. Travis in his 3rd session managed to edge out both Team Arizona Pain in their radical and his long time competitor Tony from UMS. Travis also took home 1st place in the UMS Tuning Time Attack later in the day. In the first timed session I put down my best time of the day taking another TT2 win.  Markos was off having his hand at FWD taking a few laps in a HC2 car. I heard he now has plans to remove the driveshaft from his car. In the end it was another Snail track weekend success taking home a total of 5 podium spots and a full magazine spread.

---

In car from Markos and Taylor

Written by: Taylor “Dr. Koby D.” Wilson Photo's by Kyle "Bro Photo" Lewis

Big Thanks all of our 2013 Sponsors:

Turbosmart USA, Whiteline US, Turbo by Garrett, LIC Motorsports, Wheeldude.com, Turbos Direct, Continental Tire, and Mothers

Facebook.com/SnailPerformance

Follow us on Twitter – @Tayloratsnail, @SnailPer4mance, @Markos_mylonas

Instagram – @Snailperformancetaylor, @PoweredbySnail, @Markos_mylonas