- Pit+Paddock hosts the second Drivers Project road trip experience in the Northeast presented by Hawk Performance.
- Invited cars included a twin-turbo Lamborghini Huracan, Porsche 911 GT3, two BMW M2s, and two Honda Civic Type Rs.
- The itinerary and road map provides a once in a lifetime driving experience that brings together industry leaders and influential enthusiasts.
FROM FAMILY REUNIONS AND ROAD RALLIES
I’ve been fortunate to be a part of many road trip experiences in my lifetime. From early family reunion drives into Oregon to cross-country road rallies like the Gumball 3000, each journey shared unforgettable moments but, most importantly, brought friends and family closer together. The Pit+Paddock Drivers Project was created to harness all of the favorite aspects other team members and I have learned through various road trips over the years to create a one-of-a-kind experience for a select number of industry partners and automotive influencers.
HOW IT ALL STARTED IN 2020
Last year, we kicked off The Drivers Project with a three-day excursion that took a caravan of 12 cars from Los Angeles to Monterey to Reno, finally closing out the 1,200-mile journey in Las Vegas. Cars ranged from my own personal Toyota GR Supra to YouTuber Dustin Williams’s Nissan GT-R, Titan 7’s Lamborghini Huracan, and a Lexus RC F Track Edition driven by Formula DRIFT champion Dai Yoshihara. There were plenty of moments to remember the first Drivers Project by, for example, parade laps at WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca led by the racing legend Scott Pruett and a massive finale car meet hosted at motorsports theme park SpeedVegas. The entire experience was unique and memorable for all the attendees and sponsors on board, which is why it was a no-brainer to build a second Drivers Project tour for 2021, this time, one that would take place on the opposite coast.
THE CAST OF THE DRIVERS PROJECT II
The Drivers Project II was put together with the help of title sponsor Hawk Performance. It followed a similar formula with a three-day road trip but with all-new stops, routes, and company. Straight off the bat, we knew it would be extra special as six of the 13 cars were transported from California. These select vehicles included a Porsche 996 Turbo from CSF Performance, a twin-turbo Lamborghini Huracan and a BMW M2 from Titan 7, a Porsche 911 GT3 RS from Rywire Motorsports Electronics, and a BMW M3 from Sparco USA. In addition, four other cars met us in PA: HondaPro Jason and his Phoenix Yellow Civic Type R from Chicago, the crew from Atlanta-based Competition Clutch also driving an FK8 CTR, EatSleepRace with a clean Honda S2000, and Matt Daul with his heavily modified widebody BMW M2 who made the journey from North Carolina. Last but not least, piloting the Pit+Paddock GR Supra built by R/T Tuning would be pro photographer and Hoonigan AutoFocus host Larry Chen.
HIGHLIGHT #1: KICKOFF AT TURN 14 DISTRIBUTION
There were honestly way too many highlights and photos to remember from The Drivers Project II, so we’re going to be dividing the galleries into parts. The first is from day one as the entire group gathered at Turn 14 Distribution Headquarters in Horsham, PA. It was there that all 13 participating cars and two Lexus support vehicles gathered, cars were stickered up, attendees gifted goodie bags, and warm breakfast was served.
HIGHLIGHT #2: CLIMB TO THE READING PAGODA
The first leg of the drive headed 60 miles northwest to Reading, PA, where the group climbed Mount Penn to grab some photos and videos outside the Reading Pagoda. Once destined to be a hotel and restaurant in 1908, it has become a local tourist attraction. However, the SCCA uses the roads leading up to the top for two sanctioned hill climb events. One utilizes 13 turns, 2.3 miles, and 800 feet of elevation change. It was the perfect kickoff to the Drivers Project II, giving our participants a taste of one of Northeast’s most challenging roads.
Stay tuned as we’ll dive into the next special moments of The Drivers Project II. We’d also like to take a moment to thank all the partners that made the Drivers Project II happen: AEM Performance Electronics, Akrapovič, Competition Clutch, CSF Performance, Falken Tires, Gates, Hawk Performance, Injen, KW Suspensions, Meguiar’s, Sparco, Titan 7 Wheels, Turbosmart, and Turn 14 Distribution.
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