Build Race Party

Hoonigans Wanted (Found)

July 14, 2017 ♦

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Hoonigan Wanted Found If you’ve been sleeping, or just not subscribed to The Hoonigans on youtube you probably didn’t know they’ve been doing a driver’s challenge to find a Female Hoonigan Driver to pilot their all new Fiat 124 Rally Car. Click HERE , or scroll to watch episode one to…

BMW Builds Their Engines in China?!?!

July 13, 2017 ♦

Manufacturer News

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0 Comments

BMW builds their engines in China! WHAT? I have a really hard time watching this video. Not because it’s China specifically, but because the name BMW means Bavarian Motor Works and I’ve always thought German engineering and manufacturing are some of the best in the world. Maybe BMW should start a…

For Sale: “Do you even drift Brah?”

July 12, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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0 Comments

Do you even drift Brah? Want a car that makes you feel like a man (using that term loosely)? I’ve got the beast for you! This car was built for a big burley logger type to drive, talking logging boots, full beard, and your favorite set of flannels. The purple…

Car #44: The Best Mercedes is a Cheap Diesel Mercedes.

June 28, 2017 ♦

Build, Featured

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There is a saying that the most expensive Mercedes is a cheap Mercedes. Honestly, why shouldn’t I believe that? If Volkswagen, the least expensive car of the German bunch, can have parts that make my wallet cringe, then logically the luxury brand Mercedes must bring outright fear. But so far its been…

Corvette Z06 for sale…”if you give a shit”

May 19, 2017 ♦

Featured, Race

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This ad on Craigslist for a 2003 Corvette Z06 is great (go here if the ad disappears). It’s about as honest I think as an ad can get. Some of the highlights in the words of the seller… It starts off brilliantly… “Are you a dumbass? Does the prospect of…

Rally Pacenotes Explained

May 17, 2017 ♦

Race, Rally Racing

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Ever tried to understand rally pace notes? That weird language a codriver reads to a driver during a rally race? This video from Team Oneil Rally school is your chance. Not only do they go through the basics of pace notes, but they also get into modifying your notes and more…

BMW’s bursting into flames

May 11, 2017 ♦

Build

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Reporting news isn’t our thing here, but this hit my inbox and wanted to share. ABC News Investigates: BMW mystery fires ABC News Chief Investigative Correspondent Brian Ross conducted an in-depth investigation into BMW safety concerns and discovered dozens of incidents in which the luxury cars caught fire even though…

This Corolla has a Mullet!

May 5, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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The little Corolla looks normal from the front. Sure there’s a front lip and side skirts, but its pretty clean. Then you walk around to the back and mother of god, there’s party going on! Louvers, a wing, and a bumper so large you could sit on it! I’m surprised…

Endurance racing: more fun, harder than expected

May 2, 2017 ♦

Endurance, Featured, Race

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My friends and I recently competed in our first endurance race with AER (American Endurance Racing) at Watkins Glen International. It was incredible. And, a lot harder on equipment than I imagined. We started with my well-maintained 1989 BMW 325is that I previously used for racing in NASA’s Spec E30 series.…

Oregon Trail Rally 2017

April 21, 2017 ♦

Featured

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Welcome to Build Race Party’s Coverage of Oregon Trail. We are not there, so maybe this is “fake” news but we wanted an easier way to track all the updates from the rally. So throughout the weekend we’ll update the post with things we’ve learned but the cool part is…

For Sale: Redneck RV

April 19, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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It’s like those kids from the Beverly Hilbilly’s decided to build a modern car. I keep staring at the RV section wondering how its attached. The ad says that “Its solidly mounted.” Like as solid as the craftsmanship the built it? Once you get past the part where he grafted…

RJ Anderson’s XP1K4: WTF!

April 19, 2017 ♦

Party, Video

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XP1K4 may be the 4th in the series, but it’s outstanding. I watched it three times before typing this up. Its that good. Normally I grow tired of these types of videos. They get repetitive. All I really want to see is an amazing driver do some cool stuff. Zp1K4…

Let’s go Endurance racing! American Endurance Racing!

April 18, 2017 ♦

Build, Endurance, Featured, Race

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I’ll admit: with work and family, the past several years have been a glut of racing for me. I’ve gotten on the track a few times (once only to be told my car is too loud). But, that is all about to change. This week Build Race Party will be proudly flown…

REJOICE! Audi brought cars that we actually want to see to the NYIAS

April 12, 2017 ♦

Build, Featured, Manufacturer News

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I love Audi, but they normally bring crap cars to the NY Auto Show. Sure, they look pretty, and we get to see some cool paint colors… but this year we have: The RS3 The new TTRS The just-unveiled R8 LMS GT4

For Sale: V8 E30 Station Wagon

April 10, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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This is your shag’n wagon. Classy on the outside, clean on the inside, and dirty under the hood. They’re asking $22k, but it’s got an LS3 under the hood. Fitting the motor and exhaust isn’t easy in an e30. At least the longer wheelbase might make it somewhat drivable. The…

For Sale: Overlander From Hell!

April 10, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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Calling this truck an overlander is a bit of stretch. It’s more of a storage unit on wheels. So naturally you would think a moving truck would be a good start. Nope. Too easy! This is a Ford F350. Can you pull a car and 30ft sailboat with your moving…

For Sale: V8 Mini Cooper!

April 8, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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I have a personal thing for this little shitbox. I’ve been talking about throwing a V8 in a Mini for years. I even measured one a ways back and confirmed it would fit perfectly. Sure enough, here’s one for sale exactly like Ive been talking about for years. I would…

Hilux Expedition V1: The Ultimate Camper Truck

April 7, 2017 ♦

Build, Featured

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I love expedition vehicles. I don’t really care about a house. I love cars. Unless the house is strapped to the back of a truck! So when I’m bored I spend my time digging through the Expedition Portal or searching for 4×4 Fuso’s like Earthcruiser uses for their vehicles. Then…

Beating Harry Potter, The Smurfs, and the Seven Dwarfs

April 6, 2017 ♦

Featured, Party

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You might have noticed that Build Race Party has been offline for a bit. We got hit with a bunch of malware that really wasn’t that big of a deal. But because we are DIY car guys, we naturally wanted to fix it ourselves. I’m a big believer in DIY.…

Lamborghini Sesto Elemento… on Craigslist.

January 27, 2017 ♦

Featured, Party

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And, why the hell not? Link here.

The greatest tow vehicle, ever?

January 23, 2017 ♦

Featured, Race

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I currently tow my race car with a 2011 Ford F150 crew cab. It’s great. I rarely find an issue with it when towing to races. But, it’s not perfect. There are occasions where having a topper for the bed would be beneficial, but I can’t justify the cost and lost…

Lancia 037 Replica For Sale

January 22, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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If you look in just the right light, and squint just a little bit, you’ll see a Lancia 037! Unfortunately its not a real one and is a Lancia 037 replica. Underneath is a Toyota MR2 which seams like a really good choice for a Lancia 037 creation but like…

Mid Engine VW Rabbit Cabriolet

January 22, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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Someone buy this so I can drive it! I know its just a Fiero with V6 swap rebodied as a VW but I kind of like it. Maybe not that huge wing but the whole thing is proper Lemons style and I bet really fun to drive. So go buy…

What It Takes To Finish King Of The Hammers

January 22, 2017 ♦

Off-Road, Race

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King of the Hammers is one of the coolest races in North America if you haven’t heard of it. It’s part rock crawling, part desert racing. Your rig needs to be able to crawl up the most hard core 4×4 features and still do 100mph+ through the desert with ease.…

For Sale: Yellowstone Snow Cat Van

January 11, 2017 ♦

Build, For Sale

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I’ve always wanted a snow cat van. Now I just hope someone buys this and takes me skiing! I’m not entirely clear on how it works. There is a traditional steering wheel and it looks like it turns the front skis. I always assumed my snow cat van would have…

Nurburgring On Two Wheels!

December 24, 2016 ♦

Nurburgring, Party

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You read that correctly. Someone actually drove the Nurburgring on two wheels. Chinese stunt driver Han Yue set the slowest world record ever recorded at the ring. It seems pretty stupid in a lot of ways. Until you see the Mini come around the corner in two wheels. Its not right. Its…

1997 WRC Season Review

December 20, 2016 ♦

Featured, Race, Rally Racing

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1997 saw a lot of changes for the World Rally Championship. A new top specification called World Rally Cars were introduced and manufacturers could choose between the existing Group A rules or the new World Rally Car rules which no longer required road going versions of the race car. Only…

Steve McQueen in Le Mans: new graphic novel

December 12, 2016 ♦

Featured, New Product

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Are you or someone you know a fan of Steve McQueen? Still needing that last-minute gift for your favorite car person for the Holidays? A group out of Switzerland, Garbo Studios, has announced a new graphic novel, Steve McQueen in Le Mans, celebrating McQueen and the cult classic movie, Le Mans.…

Dajiban: Racing Dodge Vans!

December 8, 2016 ♦

Race

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Racers will always be racers and will race anything they can get their hands on. Even if it means they are racing Dodge vans! Which is exactly what happened when a bunch of motorcycle racers in Japan started arguing about who’s tow van was the fastest. Naturally they decided to race…

Drift vs. Track Mode on the Focus RS

December 8, 2016 ♦

Build, Product Reviews

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I’ve been waiting for this video since I first tried out the Ford Focus RS for Road & Track last winter. We spent an afternoon at a moto GP circuit in Valencia and the drift mode felt good but not all that different at high speed on a racetrack. But…

Five Coolest Things about Rally of the Tall Pines

December 6, 2016 ♦

Featured, Race Review, Rally Racing

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Every November, Bancroft, Ontario plays host to the Rally of the Tall Pines. One of the most significant events in the Canadian Rally Championship calendar. This year featured particularly rough conditions for the November 26th race. Melting snow and repeated freeze-thaw cycles turned the roads into a slushy, muddy disaster.…

Helmet skirt and intercom kit DIY installation

December 6, 2016 ♦

Safety

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Due to the low availability of my new helmet, I was not able to wait to get it wired professionally before heading out to California ahead of the Baja 1000. At the same time, I needed to install a helmet skirt to keep the elements out. This article covers the…

Forced air helmets: Impact Draft vs. Air Draft

December 5, 2016 ♦

Featured, Product Reviews

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While getting ready for the 2016 Baja 1000 I realized I needed a new helmet. Given the amount of dust and dirt and silt and sand that we face while racing in the desert most will tell you to get a forced air helmet. Choosing a helmet Before I started…

For Sale: Mid Engined, Supercharged, VW Golf!

November 30, 2016 ♦

Build, For Sale

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This project is awesome. Sure the paint is a bit off and the rear fender flares are bit large for the tires they chose but the engine is mounted in the rear and a gas tank is now where the engine used to be. Its like a modern Group B…

Lotus Exige Sport 380

November 24, 2016 ♦

Build, For Sale

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The Lotus Exige is one of the coolest, most unique sports cars on the market. Things have changed since it was first introduced in 2000, and companies like Alfa Romeo launched direct competitors, but the Lotus Exige continues to evolve. The latest is the Sport 380 which runs from 0-60mph in…

Volkswagen WRC. Where to now?

November 22, 2016 ♦

Featured, Race, Rally Racing

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Earlier on in the year Volkswagen shocked the motorsport world by pulling the plug on two very big projects. And whereas Audi’s departure, while premature, was very expected, the decision to end the VW WRC team was a shock to everyone. Seemingly overnight three of the most prominent drivers expected…

Motorsport Manager Review

November 10, 2016 ♦

Video Games

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I think it’s fair to say that most people understand that racing is a far more complex than just having a fast driver in a fast car. After all, racing is a team sport, and every element in the team has to work perfectly in order to stay competitive, yet…

2017 Ford Raptor: Baja 1000 Stock Full Class

November 1, 2016 ♦

Featured

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Ford announced their return to the 2016 Baja 1000 with the newest and baddest-ass F150: the 2017 Raptor. The best part about this announcement? They are running in the Stock Full class, which is intended to limit what can be done to the truck. And, because rules are rules, they did…

BMW at SEMA: “racing-inspired” driving dynamics

October 31, 2016 ♦

Featured

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BMW has done it again. By combining fast cars with aerodynamic add-ons and new exhaust sounds, they have brought the race track to the street at SEMA. To quote the press release (my emphasis in bold): “The [spoiler] is made completely from carbon fibre (wing, side sections, bases) and brings…

This Offroad 2002 is the original BMW X2!

October 11, 2016 ♦

Build, DIY

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This video could be a lot better but its all we have. It’s really just a slide show of Sin City’s offroad 2002 during the build process, but it’s pretty cool. For example did you know this 2002 is actually a BMW 325ix? Check out the video. They cut the roof…

New Seat From Racetech – RT4119W

October 10, 2016 ♦

Build, Product Reviews

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I love when good companies release new products. Racetech makes incredible seats with a bunch of cool features. Seat that bolt to the cage, airflow channels through the back that you can pump cold air into, and ergonomically shaped memory foam seat cushions. There next innovation actually removes a feature…

Try to Follow Rally Pace Notes!

September 26, 2016 ♦

Featured, Race, Rally Racing

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Want to see if you can follow pace notes? Here’s you chance(video below). You can clearly see the road and the notes are easy to hear. The number after the Left or Right is the degree of the corner. It sounds like they’re using a 1-10 scale (normal Jemba notes…

For Sale: Two Forwards, No Reverse

September 26, 2016 ♦

Build, For Sale

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Two forwards no reverse! You simply get out and jump in the other seat. Which of course is facing its own way with its own separate set of steering and pedals connected to a separate engine! The guy took two Yugo’s and welded them together. Well technically the guy bought…

For Sale: Nissan March Super Turbo Hotness!

September 25, 2016 ♦

Build, For Sale

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Someone buy this! It’s so awesome. It has a tiny little engine but its both super charged and turbo charged. It only makes 110hp but also weighs less than 2000 lbs and he wants $8,500 for it! What is it? It’s a NISSAN MARCH SUPER TURBO! Rather than try to explain…

Lone Star Drift, Round 1, 2016

September 21, 2016 ♦

Drift, Race

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I’ve never run a drift event but this makes me want to sign up. The video covers the first round of the Lone Star Drift series down in Texas and it looks like a great time. Cool cars, good people, a fast course and you get to drift by a…

CNG powered Astra Prototype Spotted in Canada (With Video)

September 20, 2016 ♦

Build, Featured, Manufacturer News, Random, Video

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When walking through Toronto, a person generally does not expect to see a CNG-powered, Opel Astra prototype. Yet, the car captured in these photos and videos seems to be exactly that. The CNG sticker on the rear bumper is a dead giveaway for the fuel, and the fact that it…

Ojibwe: Blink

September 4, 2016 ♦

Race, Rally Racing

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Ojibwe happened really fast. Normally, I remember a lot about each rally, but that is not the case. A quick test on Wednesday, 2 pass recce on Thursday, rally Friday and Saturday. The test was fine. The road wasn’t super indicative of the stages that we would be racing on, even…

Yay or Nay: Omni-Freeze ZERO

September 4, 2016 ♦

Race

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I was really excited after Oregon Trail Rally. At the airport, we were having a chat with the guys at Columbia Sportswear and one associate ran off to get something. Upon returning, he had a sleeve…. And it was magic. The fabric sample was for their patent-pending Omni-Freeze ZERO. Its…

Porsche Quits IMSA For Remainder of 2016

August 30, 2016 ♦

Endurance, Featured, Race

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I first heard about this situation from a post on Cooper McNeil’s Facebook Page and assumed it was one team that was tired of losing and decided to quit. Which is sort of what it is. The team made the following statement about their withdrawal. “The decision to stop racing…

Toyota Engineers Enter Ojibwe Rally!

August 30, 2016 ♦

Race, Rally Racing

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The relatively stock car held together at Ojibwe and they finished 3rd in class, 13th overall in the one regional and 6th in class, 18th in the other. (Regional events are simply the National two day rally broken into a separate event for each day.) The team is made up entire…