Gates311.com / AMS Performance / Nitto Tires Evo X – Race Report

Event: Redline Time Attack! Finale, Auto Club Speedway – November 15th, 2009

On November 15th, 2009, Ryan Gates continued his success with Redline Time Attack by winning Modified Class at the Season Finale at Auto Club Speedway. In the process, Ryan also set the new Modified AWD track record with a 1:43.4.

With Super Lap Battle less than three days in the past, not much could be done to repair the splitter that Ryan had destroyed at Buttonwillow. Knowing that, some other issues became the main focus before the Redline Season Finale at ACS. Besides the splitter, the main issue was a fuel delivery problem the car was having which was causing the car to run very lean, in excess of 14:1 Air/Fuel ratios under full throttle. Ryan sourced new fuel pumps but unfortunately they weren’t the correct ones. With time running out, the car was left untouched from SLB and arrived late Friday night to the garages within the ACS facility.

Minor touch ups to the front bumper were needed for reinforcement without the splitter, due to the high speeds that ACS offers. The car was cleaned and ready for practice on the following morning. Ryan headed out in the first AM practice to get the track dialed and get the chassis setup sorted with the newfound lack of front downforce. Unfortunately, the car heavily understeered and there was plenty of work to be done.

Luckily, Bryan from JRZ was once again on hand and doing all he could to get the chassis sorted throughout the day. Eventually, the car was moving in the right direction and Ryan was feeling better about the setup. But there was one other main issue, the car was running extremely lean. Alfred from Tuning Technologies was at the track and tried to help with the car, not much could be done to the ECU tune to help, so Alfred resorted to turning the boost down to well below 20psi, normal is 31psi. Even then, the car was still lean but Ryan pressed on and finished out the day.

Sunday’s plan was to take it easy in the first session, then turn the car all the way back up in hopes it would last thru the extremely lean condition’s for a single lap. Unfortunately, as Ryan was heading out to the first T/A session, a large crack was noticed in the turbine housing. Ryan missed the first T/A session. With help from Ivan @ AMS, a new turbo was swapped into place in time for the second T/A session.

Heading out for the second T/A session, Ryan planned to take a safe first lap to get a time in the books and press much harder on the third lap. To prevent any damage during the safe lap, Ryan drove the car at 3/4 throttle to keep AFR’s in a safe zone and posted an amazing 1:43.4 laptime, fastest of the day in Modified class and a class track record! With the second lap used for cool down of the Nitto tires, Ryan pushed hard onto the front straight to begin the third and final lap. AFR’s were still high, running mid 14’s down the straight. Luckily, or in Ryan’s mind unfortunately, a few bolts fell off the turbine housing while entering the banking causing all boost to be lost and a chance at a very fast lap not possible.

Even with all of the issues, Ryan and the AMS Team, with the help of Bryan from JRZ and Alfred at Tuning Technologies, made it thru the finale weekend with another win to complete a perfect season for Ryan. Winning each race he entered, setting records at each track and pushing through any issue, Ryan made 2009 a very memorable season. With the Modified AWD Championship from Redline and the Limited Class Championship from Super Lap Battle, Ryan couldn’t be happier on how 2009 panned out for him and his sponsors. Without all of the huge support from his sponsors in 2009, Ryan and his perfect season would not have been possible.

Ryan Gates would like to thank each his sponsors for their incredible support in 2009:

• AMS Performance
• Nitto Tires
• K&N Filters
• JRZ Suspension
• etnies
• Carbonetic
• Girodisc
• Seibon Carbon
• Forced Performance
• Double Down Motorsports
• Evasive Motorsports

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