Blog

Spec MX-5 and Winter Series news!

By Steve Ulfelder Nov 12, 2019

Have you heard Mazda’s Spec-MX5 news? With its customary devotion to grassroots competitors, Mazda Motorsports has developed a racing package for third-generation (that is, NC) Miatas produced from 2006 to 2015.

Just as the NB Miatas were successfully introduced to club racing, we expect a smooth transition to the NCs. And thanks to our close relationship with Mazda Motorsports, we’re well on our way to developing cars already. Can we build one for you? Contact us!

In other news, we’re gearing up for our traditional Winter Series, in which we move operations away from frosty New England to support racers at Sebring, Daytona, Road Atlanta, VIR and more. As always, we’ll kick things off with a big presence at Sebring’s Turkey Trot, Nov. 29 – Dec. 1. Give us a call to escape those winter blues for some racing!

Runoffs roundup – videos!

By Steve Ulfelder Oct 19, 2019

The 2019 SCCA Runoffs are in the books, and what a week it was. Flatout Motorsports brought 11 cars for eight drivers, all of whom acquitted themselves honorably. As noted in a previous post, one highlight came when Flatout President Nick Leverone earned his first Runoffs win in the T4 class. But everybody has a race (or two, or three!), a tale to tell, and great memories.

Here are links to the official SCCA videos for each race in which we fielded at least one driver. We congratulate them all!

STU: https://www.scca.com/videos/2037564

SM: https://www.scca.com/videos/2037563

T4: https://www.scca.com/videos/2037557

STL: https://www.scca.com/videos/2037556

T1: https://www.scca.com/videos/2037572

FOR SALE: Runoffs-winning T4 BRZ

By Steve Ulfelder Oct 17, 2019

Hey, if you’re in the market for a race car, why not buy one that’s dead solid reliable … and just won a national championship at the SCCA Runoffs? Contact us for more info, including pix and price.

• 2014 T4 Subaru BRZ
• 2019 championship-winning car
• Flatout-built cage
• Fully painted interior
• JRZ struts
• Race Technology Dash2 Pro
• Race Technology Video4 4-camera
• Full sensors: oil pressure, water temp, TPS, volts, AFR, etc.
• Radio setup
• Racetech head-restraint seat
• Schroth belts
• Cool Shirt setup
• Ready to win again!!!!!

National championship for Leverone!

By Steve Ulfelder Oct 11, 2019

It’s a great week at the SCCA Runoffs, held this year at VIR, and we’ll be updating you on all our drivers. But the big news is that in the very first race, Flatout President Nick Leverone, driving a 2013 Subaru BRZ, brought home the checkers in the T4 class! Nick has been a great driver for over a quarter-century, going back to his autocross days, and this victory is the ultimate confirmation. Congrats to Nick, to all the crew who made it possible … heck, congrats to us! Flatout Motorsports is a national championship-winning team!

Runoffs roll call: 11 (!) Flatout cars

By Steve Ulfelder Sep 5, 2019

The crew at the shop is chugging lots of Monster and Red Bull these days. That’s because next month, we’ll be bringing no fewer than 11 cars to the SCCA Runoffs at Virginia International Raceway. Here’s the roster:

• Amy Mills: SM and STL
• Whitfield Gregg: SM, STL, STU (the Iron Man is doing the Hat Trick again!)
• Eric Thompson: STU, STL, T1 (Iron Man Jr.!)
• Joe Schubert: SM, STL
• Joe Stadelmann: SM, STL
• Hugh McHaffie: STL
• Craig McHaffie: STL
• Nick Leverone: SM, T4

We can’t wait for the Big Dance!

Getting ready for Runoffs!

By Steve Ulfelder Aug 12, 2019

Our busy racing season continues, and as usual, we’re supporting drivers with all sorts of goals. Some are angling for regional points championships, some are getting started by renting whenever they get a chance – and plenty are just having fun.

Naturally, though, many of our clients build their season around the SCCA’s Big Dance: the Runoffs, which will be held at Virginia International Raceway. VIR is one of our favorite tracks. We visit several times each season, so our clients have many, many laps there.

Dates for the Runoffs are October 8 to October 13. Team Flatout will be, as usual, well represented. We’ll be easy to spot in the SM, STU, STL, and T4 classes – and probably a few others besides! At both the track and the shop, we are busy getting prepped. Can’t wait! If you’re in search of some final pre-Runoffs tweaks, coaching, transport, or crew support, contact us and let’s talk.

Champion! Leverone locks up SM crown in big NJMP weekend

By Steve Ulfelder Jul 23, 2019

You can race a long time, and damn well, without ever being crowned a champion. That goes double when you’re running in the brutally competitive Spec Miata class. So we’re extra proud of the boss, Nick Leverone, who just clinched the title of Northeast Conference U.S. Majors Champion for 2019 in SM.

The racing at New Jersey Motorsports Park was hot in more ways than one, with temps touching 100. Eric Thompson, new (and fast!) renter Mark Donato, and Dave Kuchrawy also drove extremely well. Eric won Saturday’s STL race, while Mark took that class on Sunday – with Eric taking the Sunday checkers in STU! Meanwhile, Leverone also won both of the weekend’s T4 races, setting a track record in the process. Just a great, great weekend all around – kudos to all.

Podiums galore at the Glen!

By Steve Ulfelder Jul 8, 2019

Our clients rock! These folks all found the podium at June’s SCCA Majors weekend at Watkins Glen.

Racing as God intended! Kicera podiums at the Glen

By Steve Ulfelder Jul 5, 2019

We just had to share some in-car footage from June 22’s Spec Miata Hoosier Super Tour race at Watkins Glen. Flatout’s Tyler Kicera, one of the nation’s top SM pilots, slugged it out for 28 minutes with fellow star drivers Elivan Goulart and Danny Steyn. Hard, clean, skilled racing from green to checkers. Hate to drop in a spoiler, but in the end it was Elivan in front – with the top 3 separated by 0.063 seconds!

Also: If you can’t watch the full half-hour, start at the 23-minute mark to watch the last couple of pulse-pounding, lead-swapping laps!

Doane dominates; midseason madness!

By Steve Ulfelder Jun 13, 2019

The good weather is here, and so is the meat of the schedule! We’re having a blast at both the track and the shop.

Let’s start with some well-earned congrats for our clients. At a recent NJMP event, Peter Doane won all three of his STL races, while Wendy Cappola enjoyed her best race weekend ever. Great driving all around!

Meanwhile, we’re ready for a big split weekend. Longtime friends, clients, and hotshoes Whit Gregg and Amy Mills are running at Road America, while the rest of the team swarms down to Lime Rock for an SCCA Regional. Next weekend we’re supporting a dozen (!) customers at Watkins Glen. Following a rare weekend off, it’s back to the Glen (with 10 more cars!), another 10 or so clients at Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park, and finally eight clients at NJMP for an SCCA Majors weekend. Our crew and clients are the absolute best!