With all the elements for success, it was only a matter of time before Sierra-Sierra would reach critical mass. Lap times fell and Dennis was on the hunt to become the fastest time-attack competitor in States . . . which is where the controversy comes in. At a time-attack event in March of 2010, the Sierra-Sierra EVO would roll out of the Buttonwillow hot pits and set a 1:43.2 lap time with David "Emp" Empringham-two-time Formula Atlantic champion and one-time Indy Lights champ-behind the wheel. But the organization's RFID-based timing system failed. Epically (talk about poor timing). And the run was during practice. Backing up the illegitimate pass, a 1:43.34 was run, but again, in practice. During competition, wastegate issues inhibiting the turbo from running full boost kept the EVO from repeating its record-breaking run.
Instead of quelling naysayers and waiting for the next Buttonwillow event, Sierra-Sierra had bigger fish to fry. The EVO 8 was due at the docks of Long Beach where it had a date with a cargo container.
The "Emp" at work.
At the recent Super Lap Battle Finals, a small crew descended upon Buttonwillow, looking for the fastest cars the U.S. had to offer. On that day it was Sierra-Sierra with a 1:45.061 taking the overall win for 2009, but standing Third overall behind Tomei/Cusco's Subaru WRX STI in second for its effort the year prior (driven by Tarzan), and the HKS CT230R sitting in First. The reason for the search sounded simple enough: the scouts were rounding up time-attack teams from Japan and the U.S. for what was to be the "World Cup" of Super Lap. Sierra-Sierra and a handful of other teams were invited to compete against the best in the sport, on the same track and on the same day, making for what would be a monumental event. The catch? The World Time Attack Challenge, sponsored by Yokohama Advan, would be in Sydney, Australia.
Competition Day 1: May 21, 2010.
Having traveled for 32 hours from Frankfurt, Germany, to Sydney, Australia, I had broken a personal threshold for flying. I used to think the 11 hours from L.A. to Tokyo was bad, but spanning the Atlantic and Pacific was pure torture. Greeting me at the arrival gates was Peter Tarach of Modified magazine, my roommate for the next week who graciously offered to pick me up in his Aussie-spec Mazdaspeed3-at 7 a.m. With the competition starting in two hours, we headed straight to Eastern Creek International Raceway, 50 kilos northwest of the airport. The last time I had showered? T plus 41 hours.
The sole Australian circuit with FIA certifications [see sidebar], Eastern Creek is a scenic 3.93-kilometer course out in the suburbs of Sydney. Run in a counter-clockwise configuration, its long straightaway and 12 turns are filled with elevation changes, making two minutes a decent lap time for a street car. Porsche GT3 Cup cars have run it at 1:36.41. Quicker still, a Ferrari GT360 holds the Production Sports class record at 1:33.40 and a Lamborghini Gallardo in the GT Sports Cars class, a 1:32.86. By sunset of the following day, all three records would be crushed by the top five of the World Time Attack.
For a Friday, the track was surprisingly busy. And it wasn't just because of the 90-plus competition cars split into three classes (Wynn Pro, Motor Magazine Open, and Yokohama Advan Clubsprint). Whereas time-attack events in the States have been primarily a participatory affair, the pits of Eastern Creek were bustling with spectators. Congregated in thick crowds were the paddocks temporarily housing the international teams. From Japan was the Tomei/Cusco Impreza WRX, Pan Speed Racing RX-7, R-Magic RX-7, and the infamous Cyber EVO that held the U.S. time-attack record for years, now in its latest incarnation with a complete Voltex makeover-including wide body and undercarriage-and new turbo setup pushing more power. Rumor has it the Cyber EVO is now faster than the HKS TRB02. Representing Team America? Sierra-Sierra and their EVO tweaked for the trek Down Under.