Apollo Performance at S3: Subaru Summer Solstice!

We just got back from San Diego where the 2nd Annual S3: Subaru Summer Solstice was held and boy did we have a great time! Before we arrived in San Diego we met up with our friend Mike from UsVersusThem for a bit of a shopping spree (more on that later) and we displayed our cars at the Active Board Shop where he was featured.

This is S3’s second year and our very own Yukio was one of the organizers of the event along with shop friend, Sashin. It was great to see the amounts of people and vendors that came out. Even competing, local shops even displayed next to each other with out any drama. That’s how it should be!

Gino’s WRX received a lot of attention and great positive feedback at our display at S3!

Scott from Koyo Radiators came by and snapped pictures of Gino’s WRX. Thanks for the love, Scott!

Gino had a bit of a pep talk with the Garrett GT4088 Turbo… “Let’s make more power!”

Gino was happy about the set up and this was its only 2 major display we have had with the WRX!

Yukio’s WRX also shared the booth spot with Gino featuring his newly installed side skirts and front APR Performance Splitter.

Again, Scott from Koyo showed up and showed some love!

Danny also entered his STi into the show! It made a lot of buzz.

In fact, so much buzz that Danny won “The Essence of S3 Award!”

Danny’s STi got some love from Scott at Koyo Radiators too!

Shop friend, Ruben took a picture with the World Famous Jeri Lee… so did Tommy but he was too busy pwning people on his game.

Here’s Cliff’s car. We worked on his car as well!

In our booth we featured the NX Energy Drink brand, Turbo Smart, UsVersusThem, and Bridgestone Tires who have been very supportive in our efforts along with all of our other sponsors. Overall, we had a great time! We can’t wait till next year!

Recap: Apollo Performance at Redline Time Attack Round 4 (Debut of the Red Beast!)

Taken from the Apollo Performance Sponsor report:

During the week leading to the Redline Time Attack Round 4 at Autclub Speedway in Fontana, CA, the Apollo Performance Time Attack Team feverishly worked on getting both cars ready to perform at their peak levels. The 2004 Red Subaru WRX was with the highly regarded tuning shop, Goodspeed in Scottsdale, AZ receiving a dyno tuning session from legendary tuner, Clark Turner. Meanwhile, the 2002 White WRX Wagon was at Yimisport Tuning in Santa Clarita, CA being tuned as well on their dyno to achieve maximum power. Both cars made it to their respective tuners on schedule.

However, fate is without some sense of humor as the planets did not align as expected. With some fuel delivery issues, the Red WRX was only capable of making 400 wheel horse power at 13psi of boost and had a rev limit of 5,000k for safety. The team made an executive decision to take the car to Redline Time Attack to display and run a session to feel the car’s overall performance. Gino Reyna, owner of Apollo Performance and Driver of the Red WRX commented “It’s a tad disappointing that we didn’t get the power we wanted out of the ‘Red Beast’ however we were happy that we were able to take the car out on the track to stretch its legs out. The Garrett Turbo spooled nicely even though it had some limitations, the Clutch Masters clutch helped me shift effortlessly, the Bridgestone Potenza RE-11 were beautifully gripping and it showed, and the Buddy Club Racing Spec Exhaust roared to life at the track. Overall, our attempt to get the car out to the track was a stressful one but something we are not regretting.

At the same time, Yukio Taira the driver for the White WRX Wagon had a sudden and serious eye infection rendering him unable to drive the White WRX at the Redline Time Attack however did display his Apollo Performance WRX Wagon at the pits. “It’s funny and frustrating at the same time. We (Gino and I) both worked our behinds off this whole week in preparation to get the cars at their performing levels but other outside forces must have had a different plan for us.”

The weekend was capped off with an outpouring of support from friends and customers of Apollo Performance showing up to the venue in support. Lead by several customers, a large caravan of Subarus left Apollo Performance early in the morning and headed to the venue for a special gathering and treated all the supporters and visitors with NX Energy Drink. Yukio Taira commented on the outpouring of support “Even though our team was a man and car down, they still came out to see the Debut of the Red WRX and Gino’s maiden voyage on the track with it. Although it was a very subtle debut, I can promise that the next round at Willowsprings International Raceway will be a night and day difference!”

Gino Reyna was able to put down a session of hotlaps during the “Record Assault” with a 2:40.342 Lap time. “The car was begging me to open her up but with the fuel issue we’d rather not destroy this very expensive motor (laughing)! Since then we have been able to resolve this fuel delivery and we are looking forward to the rest of the season as a successful learning experience!” Yukio Taira also commented, “This event taught us both a good lesson on not giving up and always trying your best to represent those who believe in you like our generous sponsors, faithful fans, and customers that have put a lot in us to be successful.”

The Apollo Performance Time Attack team would like to thank our sponsors for their generous support: Bridgestone Tires, Turbo By Garrett, Buddy Club, Motul, Jason Noren Fabrications, ARK Performance, Clutch Masters, Turbo Smart, Sparco, Cosworth, Us Versus Them Clothing, Outfront Motorsports, Goodspeed, APR Performance, M2 Motoring, NX Energy Drink, Instyle Graphics, YimiSport Tuning, Samco Sport, Spec Clutch, DriftMotion.com, FSR Motorsport Creations, Apex’i USA, K&W Autobody, and Rotora

The 2.5 closed deck STi hybrid motor gets put together in the red wrx!

We’ll do a bit of a flash back about 3 weeks ago when we were assembling the Outfront Motorsports 2.5 closed deck STi hybrid motor.

Here’s Danny (Donnie? Look at his name tag) and Tyler getting the block ready to mate with the 2.0 heads. 2.0 heads? Yes, both the Apollo Performance cars have the similar set up. Yukio’s wagon also has a similar set up but not as built as Gino’s sedan. The ARP head studs will aid in preventing the head from lifting with extreme boost and power.

Putting these studs in is a very time consuming and meticulous method. They are very sensitive so Danny (Donnie) took his time and put these studs in at the right torque spec and at the precise pattern.

We put the RC 1000cc Injectors and Agency Power Fuel Rails.

Here are the ported heads with the 280 BC Cams. Danny (Donnie) puts these heads on very carefully with the aid of his “lil buddy” Tyler. The heads were also milled out to support BC Valve springs and 1mm Valves.

Appolo Performance, Son! Wait… Appolo? Hrmmm hahaha

Ported heads? Yes Please.  Here’s the intake side of the heads.

Valve cover is put in place! Powder coaty sweetness.

TGV deletes and spacers are added! You can see the ported heads!  Wow, it’s starting to look like a motor!

Intake manifold reverse! Nice!

The Full Race Manifold stands by next to the Garrett GT4088R Twin Scroll turbo and our brand new Turbo Smart External wastegates. Excessive? Nope, just making awesome power!

Gates Timing belt with a Tomei Timing Built Guide!

Underside where you can see the exhaust side of the heads have been ported out! More updates to come!!!!!

The race heads for the Red WRX Arrive!

The Garrett Turbo is quite large… infact, very large. To support the GT40R turbo that Garrett Turbo has provided us, we need to get as much flow as possible. So we had the heads ported and valves opened up 1mm over to improve and maximize the flow thanks to Brian Crower (BC)

You can see that there are larger BC valves.

The BC 280 cams were installed. These cams are max that an EJ head can take. So, it’s going to be insane!