The sweet aroma of burnt rubber and the sound of squealing tires filled the air on December 20th-21st, 2008 at the Formula & Automobile Racing Association (FARA) event at the Homestead Motor Speedway in Miami, FL. FARA was established in South Florida and is an organization made up of mainly amateur and beginner level drivers and enthusiasts dedicated to the world of auto racing. FARA provides its members with the ability to practice their driving skills and fine-tune their techniques in an economical, safe, and equal fashion as they divide their members into classes based on driver skill and their race vehicles. Lead by Reinaldo “Tico” Almeida (President), Bob Van Epps (Race Director), Reinaldo Santos, and Elier J. Rodriguez; FARA is one of the most highly organized and widely acclaimed racing associations in the South-Eastern United States. FARA uses multiple classes to group its members and provide an equal playing field for them including; two classes of Formula Cars, two classes of Sport Racers, and four classes of Production Cars.
FARAs most recent event at the Homestead Motor Speedway was an excitement filled weekend that was attended by more than eighty drivers and even more spectators, including the crew from Rezmoto. The full-road course at the Homestead Motor Speedway is 2.21 miles long and each driver got 10 runs around the track, many of whom were pushing the limits of their cars capabilities reaching speeds of well over 100 miles per hour. The auto’s that drew the most attention on the track were a white Ford GT with blue racing stripes, a Porsche 997 with screaming twin-turbos, a Porsche 997 GT3, a Ferrari F430’s, two Ferrari Modena 360’s, a silver Nissan GT-R, Nissan turbocharged 350Z, and many others including Lamborghini’s, Audi’s, and BMW’s ranging from lightly-modified to fully track-modified euro’s. Congratulations to Eduardo Rodriguez in his Porsche GT3 and Sean Burstyn in his Formula Mazda for posting the best lap times in their respective classes on Saturday, and to Woodson Duncan and Sean Burstyn for posting the best lap times in their respective classes on Sunday.
This Decembers Formula & Automobile Racing Association (FARA) event at the Homestead Motor Speedway has got our automotive juices flowing here at Rezmoto, and we cant wait to sign up for the next FARA event.
Another edition of EuroSunday and another great weekend for great cars, great photography and great company. This EuroSunday we take it back to the Hallandale FL location were we meet up with a hot red Ferrari 250GTO? what the ff.. heck? Come to find out, it’s one of 7 replicas converted from a datsun 280zx. Wow, truly stunning rendition, right down to the wire wheels. At fifth glance you start to see traces of the datsun’s windshield; however, rolling down the road, all necks were snapping for a second look.
Other showings were a BT (that’s Big Turbo) Audi TT, Dinan edition Mini Cooper S, a super clean beemer, an M3 with all the carbon fiber goodies, a red hot hatch Vdub GTI with every bolt-on you can think of, a new C-class 350, my black A4 S-line, oh and our friendly neighborhood police officer’s Crown Vic.
After a few cups of coffee (thank you Starbucks) we headed out to find a sweet photo shoot location. The heat beat down on us like a new born phoenix… but we settled down under the shade of a local bridge overlooking the Miami skyline. There were a few trolls down under, but they had nothing but admiration as our small caravan positioned ourselves for some great photography.
Enjoy!
The third installment of EuroSunday was yet again another success. Arriving at 5 minutes to 10 at the nearby gas station to full up, I have an encounter with my first Bimmer. Noticing the carbon fiber trunk, I immediately assume it is here for EuroSunday. After a short conversation with the owner, however, the encounter is purely coincidental–I asked if he, the owner, is here for EuroSunday. Instead of an enthusiastic YES!, I get a questioning look. “What’s EuroSunday?” With a big grin on my face, I fill him in on the event he happened to stumble upon. Excited, he lets me know he’d be back to check it out. Little did I know 3 quarters of the cars that would show up were bimmers! And mostly all M’s at that!
A modified E60 BMW M5, an E39 M5, a plethora of M3’s [no less than 9 of them all modified in one way or another], a white Z4 M Roadster and an M3 CSL conversion were just a few of the bimmers that showed up. It was almost as if this were a bimmer meet-up. Luckily, a pair of classic 70’s mint condition Triumphs, a few late model Audi’s, a Jaguar S-type R, a silver W210 Mercedes-Benz AMG E55, a white Porsche GT3, a Porsche Carrera convertible, and a yellow Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera sprinkled the field of Euro’s. What a sweet turnout! I immediately greeted the drivers and took out my camera to capture the moment. After a few hours of conversation and photography, low and behold the modified bimmer with the carbon fiber trunk showed up. The owner was pleasantly surprised that he stopped for gas that morning and pledged he’d be a regular at future EuroSunday’s.
The plan was to drive south to Speed Demons while along the way we would stop and meet-up with some Mini’s. Being that only a few had planned to go carting, the opportunity to hit the pit lanes at Homestead Miami Speedway seemed like a bit more fun. There was a Porsche/Mini event being held at the track which provided for some awesome photography. Look for some planned track events for EuroSunday in the near future. I, personally, can’t wait…
With the plethora of other events this past weekend, there were doubts about how many aficionados would show for EuroSunday’s second get together. Winter Music Conference on South Beach, the IRL race down in Homestead, the Ericcson Open on Key Biscayne, and a Mini rally (although sources say Mini’s get together every other day), were just a few of the events going on over the weekend. So should I have been surprised by the lack of any exotics? Probably not. But as the day progressed, I began to realize there were exotics here. I just had to open my eyes a little wider.
Yes, the Ferraris of the last meet were noticeably absent. The LP640 was probably cruising the beach, while the GT was looking for parking on Key Biscayne. What did show up took a bit of a detailed eye to notice there were exotics in the lot, but what exactly is an exotic? Does it have to be the latest version Porsche GT3? Does it have to be a Lamborghini? Or a Ferrari Enzo whose owner was invited to send his car back for Pininfarina to design a one-off body kit for? (ok well maybe that’s a bad example). The definition is purely based on perception, and I was enlightened to realize right in front of me was a car I would probably never see another like. A BMW Alpina B7Turbo. For a car that was over 20 years old, and a rarity back in its day, taking an in-depth look and seeing it drive down the highway was a pleasure.
Another exotic that showed was a DinanS Mini. This is a new one for me. Not Dinan as a company, but Dinan as applied to a Mini. I haven’t been a big fan of the Mini, but I am now. Other exotics that showed up: Mercedes Benz AMG CLK55 with Nitrous Injection!, A Black BMW M3 with painted black time attack Volk’s, an old skool original Alfa Romeo, and a white BMW M Roadster, Nice!
So in the face of a highly competitive weekend, and only the second get together for EuroSunday, it was an overall success. I took some great pictures, and had even better conversations with some die hard enthusiast for the Euro-exotics. Good times.
There is nothing more menacing or intimidating looking than a blacked out Euro cruiser flashing their high beams at you in the left lane. You could be driving the hottest exotic on the road and still find the urge to cordially hit the right blinker to let the speed demon by. That or dip into the throttle for a little highway play. Wink! Wink! [Disclaimer next: “Please keep to the speed limits out there folks”]
With its deep front chin Brabus spoiler, blacked out grill and slammed suspension, this late model Mercedes Benz CLK found on MBWorld.org still commands the left lane. A true enthusiast would simply pull to the right just to take a good look at this sweet ride. A keen detailed eye would instantly recognize the aerodynamic damn in front helping to guide the airstream out and away from underneath the chassis. Brabus did a great job with this kit. Accentuating the lines created by the front spoiler are the deep side sills ending in an aesthetically pleasing rear bumper cover finished off with a low profile rear spoiler.
- Brabus Full Body Kit
- Brabus Exhaust
- Brabus 3.2 B9 Tuning
- Iforged Seneka [not pictured]
Black-outed side markers and a reworking of badges in a very tasteful application signals “CLK FAN” pays close attention to detail. Cross-drilled rotors, and red painted callipers accentuate the BBS center caps and carry the theme well. So the next time someone a black steed high-beams you in the left lane, you may just want to pull aside, if not just to admire a well executed styled ride.
