Category: Car Banter
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Bucket List Driving at Circuit of the Americas
If you’re a car enthusiast and you live in Texas, then seeing the Circuit of the Americas is probably on your bucket list. The 3.4-mile track near Austin is known for hosting the United States Grand Prix among other major racing events. But for many enthusiasts like myself, getting behind the wheel and tackling a
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My First Track Day at Harris Hill Raceway
I’ve have always dreamed of taking my car on a track to see what it can do. So when I got an opportunity to book a spot just up the road from me, I knew I had to sign up. Had no idea what to expect, but I wasn’t going to let a bit of
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Behind Enemy Lines: I Attended the Dutch Grand Prix
As a Formula One fan, attending a Grand Prix abroad race has always been a dream of mine. Despite being a huge Lewis Hamilton supporter, when the Dutch Grand Prix returned to Zandvoort in 2020, I knew I had to go at some point. I’ve always wanted to see Amsterdam and what better way than
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Austin Cars and Coffee
I have been to plenty of cars and coffee events before. You get a coffee and head down to the local meet-up spot and ogle over cars for an hour or two, then head home and get on with your day. However, the saying “Everything’s bigger in Texas” isn’t just about the capitol building. Austin’s
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Spokes Autocross: Second Time is the Charm
After months of previously scheduled commitments and numerous delays in getting my new suspension figured out, I finally made it out to my second autocross event. This time I was heading south to the River City Community Church parking lot in Selma, TX. Compared to my last autocross event, the drive was a bit of
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GTI Series Part 5: Aero Modifications
As an avid car enthusiast, I’m always looking for new ways to modify my cars. Over the last few years, I have focused mostly on performance-specific upgrades. After waiting a very long time for the release of some new parts, I’m finally ready to share my thoughts on the new lineup from Aerofabb. Aerofabb is
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GTI Series Part 4: New Parts, New House
It’s been a long time, but I’m back! It’s been a crazy few months, but I finally was able to purchase my first home and have an actual garage to work in again—no more shitty apartment living for me. And, I return to The Late Brake with not just a home but with the holiest
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Could F1 Finally Be Getting More Teams?
With the upcoming new engine regulations for 2026, come new opportunities. It’s the perfect time to jump into the sport, and heavy regulation changes usually coincide with a leveling of the playing field. Just look at when Formula 1 moved into the hybrid era, and Mercedes dominated from a backmarker team just years prior. As
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Porsche Unseen at SXSW 2022
South by Southwest (SXSW) is one of the oddest happenings I have ever attended. There are events all over Austin, constantly. Concerts, film festivals, corporate trade shows, and even drone shows promoting the new Halo TV series. Pretty much anything you can think of is happening over the course of 2 insane weeks in Austin.
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30th Anniversary Ferrari Challenge at COTA
Over the weekend, I attended the 30th anniversary of the Ferrari Challenge at Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, TX. Loads of high-performance Italian V8s tearing around the track with views from the Main Grandstands and the craziest part, it was all free! Once I found out about it, I couldn’t miss it. My
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Every Car Enthusiast Should Autocross Their Car
It was 7am. I was heading to my first autocross event. I buckled up in my GTI, cleaned out the trunk, and grabbed a coffee before heading towards the Circuit of the Americas parking lot. With zero experience and no inhibitions about looking like an idiot for a day, I was ready to start dodging
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Modern Super Cars Destined to Become Classics
As the COVID-19 pandemic starts to fade, people are ready to start spending money. Being couped up in lockdown for the last two years has people wanting to splurge to replace the lost time. Whether it’s on a vacation abroad or a new home, one thing is clear: Money is exchanging hands like crazy. Arguably
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Should you Ceramic Coat your Wheels?
Recently, I purchased a brand-new set of wheels for my GTI. With my crazed addiction to cars, I decided that it was high time I got myself a set of wheels that would generally be out of my price range. I opted for Neuspeed’s RSe10 wheel in satin bronze. Perfect offset and color for the
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Need Some Project Car Inspiration? Here Are the Best Project Cars to Follow
Need Some Project Car Inspiration? Here Are the Best Project Cars to Follow The best way to get the extra kick to get your own project done, is to watch someone else completing theirs. It gives you a sense that it is possible to put together the heap of parts in your garage. I compiled
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Attending the US Grand Prix: What You Should Know?
Walking into the Circuit of the Americas on race weekend and you can immediately feel the energy. The initial impression you get is unlike any event I’ve ever been to outside of Formula 1. It is a combination of theater and huge financial investment. You realize that this is a big deal to a lot
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GTI Series Part 3: Lions, Tigers, and Handling Upgrade, Oh My!
Now that you’ve upgraded the power of your GTI, you have come to the right place. Handling modifications are often the most overlooked upgrades, but they are the most effective. These mods are genuinely where you get the most performance from your car. If you don’t believe me, watch this race between a classic Mini
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Joining a Car Club Was the Best Decision I’ve Made
3 years ago, I decided to join the BMWCCA on a whim. I thought it would be fun to go on some drives or attend some specialized car shows. Little did I know that it would become a big part of my life. I attended a board meeting not really knowing what that even meant.
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Why You Need a Project Car?
They are expensive. They are painful. They are annoying. But nothing worth doing is rarely easy. The Project Car is a rite of passage for any self-proclaimed car enthusiast. Most dive into this world for the actual car part, but there are hidden benefits to project cars that many overlook. The most important part of
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How to Make the Monaco Grand Prix Not Suck
The Monaco Grand Prix is arguably the most historic race in Formula 1. It has been run every year since 1929 aside from in 2020. It’s the track most people think of when you talk about race cars in general. I can’t imagine Formula 1 without the Monaco Grand Prix. The problem is that I
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Formula 1 Needs More Teams
Formula 1 has never been without its issues, but this season has an issue glaring more than ever. Teams. Formula 1 has built a barrier to entry that is larger than it has ever been. As the years pass, teams at the back of the grid barely scrape by and eventually drop out of the
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GTI Series Part 2: Easy Power
One of the first things I did with my GTI added more power. The MK7 platform, specifically the 2.0T EA888 Gen 3 engine, is one of the more upgradable engines. It won’t make 2JZ power in stock form, but you can crank out some killer numbers with some simple modifications. I added a few items
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