Tuned In

Latest Episodes:

Revisited: Your BEST Performance Modifications. Jan 20, 2023

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Revisted: The Unreliable Rotary — Fact or Fiction? Jan 13, 2023

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Aaron and Tuned In host Andre Simon jump straight into Aaron's rise through the industry, beginning with his danger-soaked early obsession with street bikes and eventual progression onto four wheels — the rotary-powered Mazda FD3S RX-7 in particular.

Everything rotary then takes over the conversation, covering why these unique motors have such a shaky reputation for reliability, how you can build one properly and have it last for years' worth of hard driving, why rotary tuning and turbo selection needs to be approached differently, and plenty more.

When he's not building cars on the internet, competing in drift competitions in his RX-7, or stunt driving in Hollywood productions, Aaron spends his time running Wolf Motorsport Wire, providing high-end motorsport wiring solutions for some of the fastest cars on the planet.

Aaron and Andre get deep into the ins and outs of the motorsport wiring world, discussing future proofing, providing a service that keeps customers happy, and what makes a good wiring job in motorsport.

There's a lot to chew on in this episode — it's well worth a listen, especially if you think rotaries are garbage.

You can follow Aaron here:
IG: @aaparker.300, @wolfmotorsportswire
YT: Aaron Parker
As mentioned in the podcast, the Stephan Papadakis episode can be found here: https://hpcdmy.co/papadakis
Want to learn more about motorsport wiring? Claim your spot for the next FREE lesson: https://hpcdmy.co/wireb

Revisted: Setting Your Drift Car Up to DOMINATE With Fredric Aasbø. Jan 13, 2023

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**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**
This week's High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast guest comes to us all the way from Oslo, Norway.
Fredric Aasbø is the winningest driver in Formula D history, with a bunch of championships under his belt and the chiselled jawline to match. Fredric recently took some time out of his busy winter ice drifting schedule to sit down with Andre and discuss all things drift — the driving, the cars, the setups, the business — all of it.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
The conversation begins with a look back into Fredric's past, from the early days of his grandmother teaching him how to use the E-brake to control a sliding car on ice, to his experiences in karting and drifting as teenager, through to the stark realisation that getting into the pro-level motorsport game — let alone to the very top — means making big sacrifices and pouring everything you have into your dream. Fredric confirms that, as we suspected, there are no free rides in motorsport for the vast majority of us.
Andre and Fredric then get into the finer details of drifting at the highest levels, from studying and understanding the judging system, to driving techniques, sponsorship pressures, and even the need to fine-tune your "bullsh*t detector".
Fredric also dives into the heavy-duty technical side of the sport and its vehicles, discussing how these pro drift monsters actually work, and how he was able to dominate with a little four-cylinder in an economy car body... Over and over again.
Interested in learning how to do your own wheel alignment for the track or street? Start with a free alignment & suspension 101 lesson now: hpcdmy.co/alignmentf
There are plenty of interesting tidbits to dig into here when it comes to how Fredric and his team set up his cars for each track with asymmetric alignments, turbo sizes, gear ratios, tyre pressures, and a whole lot more.
Like to skid cars? This is the episode for you.

Revisted: No Mods. Tune Only. 25% MORE POWER. Jan 06, 2023

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**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**
How much power is hiding behind a factory diesel tune? What are the traps a gasoline tuner can fall into when dipping their toes into the diesel world? And what's a sure-fire way to create a nifty inspection hole in your diesel block on the dyno?
If you want the answers to any of these questions, as well as many more, check out this week's episode of the High Performance Academy Tuned In podcast with our guest, Nick Priegnitz of Duramaxtuner.com.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
It can be tricky to find good, solid information in the performance tuning industry when it comes to learning and improving our craft (that is, after all, why we originally founded High Performance Academy) and for whatever reason, it's even harder to find in the diesel world.
This is where Nick Priegnitz comes in – he's long been an open book when it comes to mastering and teaching aftermarket diesel tuning, and in this episode, Andre and Nick discuss the many ups and downs of the field, as well as the many differences seen when compared to gasoline performance tuning.
Learn more about performance diesel engine tuning. Start instantly with 4 free lessons: hpcdmy.co/essential-diesel
This is going to be a great listen for anyone that's even remotely interested in the world of performance diesel tuning – even if it's not your thing, learning about just how differently these systems operate and how your approach to tuning them needs to be drastically modified is well worth your time.

Field Report: Losing 27% Horsepower And Going 4.8 Seconds FASTER! Dec 28, 2022

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Having 140hp less might not mean a lot if you're running a 2500hp drag car, but when you go from 590hp to 450hp, that is quite a difference (27% in fact!).
Benjamin Perry of Benchmark Solutions runs us through the Team ERS @Evolution Racing Spares Official EVO 6 which took out first place honours in the Clubsprint Class at the last @World Time Attack Challenge
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
The 4g63 is an EVO 6 bottom end with an EVO 9 head giving it MIVEC (variable cam control) which is controlled by a @MoTeC Global M1 along with the ACD (Active Center Differential) system via a NA Autosport and Engineering firmware package.
A @Bosch Australia Bosch Motorsports brake package has been fitted, the same used in GT3 class cars, and no doubt that ABS has helped with the seconds shaved off the lap time along with getting the suspension, chassis and driver up to speed before any fine tuning with the help of DNA Autosport.
The car now runs a @Garrett Motion - Garrett Turbo G30 770 in place of the old Garrett GTX3576R GEN II it ran previously as well as a new, simpler ARTEC Performance cast manifold which is more than good enough for the job at hand and allows less points of failure and makes the car much quicker and easier to work on. With a previous turbo gasket failure giving the team a headache at a previous event, the clamp setup is naturally much preferred with that experience under the belt too.
The aftermarket cam previously fitted as been replaced with one from GSC Power Division and while the engine does make around 100kw or 140hp less, it retains a similar midrange and lower end but with a flatter torque curve giving owner and driver Jamal 'Jimmy Evo' Assaad the ability to pedal the car smoother and faster.
The team ended up setting a new class record and was almost 5 seconds faster than their 2019 winning time proving all the logical steps taken to be worth the effort.
Want to learn how to tune EFI? Start here instantly, and for free: https://hpcdmy.co/tuneb

Revisited: Billet Blocks, Six-Second Quarters, And Pushing Past 2500whp. Dec 23, 2022

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**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**
This week's High Performance Academy 'Tuned In' episode is all about big boost, big launches, and even bigger power figures as we sit down for an in-depth chat with T1 Race Development's Tony Palo.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Self-taught and always learning by doing, T1 Race Development's Tony Palo is a long-time industry veteran that has spent years pushing the limits of just what's possible in the import drag racing scene. Over the last decade, Tony has narrowed his focus on the venerable Nissan R35 platform, and now runs some of the fastest GTRs in the world.
In this episode, Tony talks to Andre about getting his start in the tuning world and his initial dealings with "fast" Hondas during a time when going quicker largely meant a process of trial and error. These days, things are a lot more precise, and the pair discuss the many advances that the industry has seen over the last decade that have allowed tuners like Tony to push the boundaries of just what's possible.
Learn more about Performance Engine Building by coming along to the next FREE lesson: hpcdmy.co/enginebuildingf
When it comes to R35s, Tony really knows his stuff — something that's immediately obvious as this episode progresses. Massive turbos, billet VR blocks, pushing way past 2500hp, and the lessons that have been learnt along the way are all discussed in detail.
This week's instalment of Tuned In is all about life on the bleeding edge, and it's a wild ride.

Field Report: This 20k 180SX Build Will Surprise You. Dec 21, 2022

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Dry sump, sequential dog engagement gearbox, solid aero, and this Nissan 180SX could be mistaken for a larger budget build but all things considered it's surprisingly modest!
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Usually seen supporting the likes of Under Suzukis Scorch Racing team, this World Time Attack Andrew Handmer of SX Developments was invited to take his own Nissan 180SX to the track instead which saw him net a top 5 finish in the Pro-Am Class.
Originally destined to be a more tame build based off an old daily driver, things quickly escalated to the aero equipped 480hp (360 kW) at around 26 psi 1.8 bar) build here. The 180SX is powered by a Nissan SR20 with Wiseco pistons, Eagle rods, upgraded cams and valve-train with a Kinugawa TD06 SL220G billet wheel fitted turbo delivering the boost. A dry sump setup has been pieced together with some consideration going into the pump rather than just sending it with the first budget option that came along.
The transmission is a NASCAR Jerico Performance Products unit that has been converted to sequential shift with a relatively stock driveline putting power to the ground.
Electronics wise a Haltech Elite 2500 is paired with a MoTeC ADL3 logger/dash and a solid CAN configuration options for both the Haltech and MoTeC units allow Andrew to simplify his wiring and controls where possible including some sensors to help him with his own driving development like steering angle, brake pressure, damper potentiometers (shock pots) and accelerometers.
The car has been built with a budget in mind that is more relatable to many than of the builds we see on the track (not that there is anything wrong with that either!) and while we're sure there have also been many, many hours poured into this, a $20,000 odd dollar build for a car like this is a solid effort and a testament to Andrews hardwork and skills, including bargain hunting 🤘
FUTURE PLANS: Andrew's hoping to come back again with a pneumatic shifter to help avoid some of those miss shifts, a fix for the boost spike issue which isn't normally an issue at his local track but had a bit more impact here at Sydney. From there with a bit more practice on the circuit and based off the cars data and how that has worked for his local track, he thinks there is a 1:29.00 in the car and it's just up to him to extract it all going well!
Want to learn how to tune EFI? Start here instantly, and for free: https://hpcdmy.co/tuneb

Revisited: 650hp, 2 tons of downforce, and ZERO visibility. Dec 16, 2022

Show notes

**We're spending a couple of weeks away from the microphone over the Christmas and New Year period. This means that although we won’t be publishing any new guest appearances until mid-January, we’re going to be bringing back some of our favourite older episodes that deserve another listen.**
This week's episode of the HPA Tuned In podcast is a fascinating one as we dig into the finer details of building and driving one of the fastest hill climb cars on earth with Robin Shute of the Sendy Club.
Recorded just a few days after Robin's recent third consecutive overall win at the 100th running of the Pikes Peak Hill Climb, this ace driver and automotive engineer is coming off a brutal week full of engine fires, sleep deprivation, and appalling weather conditions — and he has a whole lot to say about the experience.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Sure, someone wins Pikes Peak every year, but the difference with Robin and The Sendy Club team is that they aren't backed by a big manufacturer opening up the chequebook in search of glory — it's a bunch of (admittedly very smart and talented) enthusiasts who've come together to dominate at the world's greatest hill climb event.
As an automotive engineer and top-level driver, Robin is an absolute goldmine of information when it comes to not just driving exceptionally fast cars, but the finer, nerdier details of building them too. A lot of time is spent in this podcast pouring through the details of the Sendy Club's incredible Honda K-powered Wolf hill climb car. Turbo sizing, altitude considerations, aerodynamics, braking performance, and everything in between gets covered here.
There's also a great discussion had around the art of driving itself — both in terms of how to be fast, proper preparation, and carving out a successful career in motorsport.
This episode is absolutely jammed with useful and inspirational information that'll have you itching to get back into the workshop and on the tools.
Watch SuperfastMatt's excellent coverage of this year's Sendy Club campaign:
https://youtu.be/quzcLY6UflE
Follow Robin and the Sendy Club here:
IG: @robin.shute, @thesendyclub
YT: The Sendy Club
Want to take your driving skills to the next level? Start here: https://hpcdmy.co/driverb

Field Report: Why A 4G63 Is BETTER Than An RB26 | R32 GTR 4 Banger. Dec 14, 2022

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Pulling out an RB26 and replacing it with a 4G63 is not something you see to often, or possibly ever, when it comes to the R32 GTR Skyline chassis, but that is exactly what has been done to this time attack weapon. Let's see what makes it tick.
Use ‘PODCAST75’ for $75 off your first HPA course here: https://hpcdmy.co/hpa-tuned-in
Dom from Tony Rigoli Performance (TRP) runs us through some of the reasons why Chris Alexanders CJA Motorsport Nissan R32 GTR Skyline is better off with a 4 cylinder Mitsubishi 4g63 producing 1030hp to the hubs via a Borg Warner EFR 9280 is better than the equivalent 6 cylinder RB26.
The 4g63 retains the MIVEC setup in this application which along with a custom cam helps the car have great boost response from as low as 4,500rpm with engine management and traction control strategies being managed by an EMtron KV16 and a MoTeC Dash/Logger handing the rest including extra data logging along with a MoTeC PDM.
Like many cars we see now the factory strut towers are retained as per World Time Attack Challenge (WTAC) rules along with the firewall which is one reason why the team have chosen to go with a 4 cylinder engine which gives them great packaging advantages especially when coupled with a transaxle in the rear of the car.
'Fire ring' cylinder sealing is used to keep cylinder pressures where they should be, and how that works along with a copper gasket is explained by Dom along with why a 2.2L 4g63 build using a TRP stroker kit was chosen over a 2.4L option.
Not bad for a build that took a few weeks eh! We're sure there is plenty to dial in and look forward to seeing this build progress up the time sheets in the coming time attack events after a few battles with the aero at this event.
Want to learn more about motorsport wiring? Claim your spot for the next FREE lesson: https://hpcdmy.co/wireb

Revisited: EFI At 14,000ft With Shane T. Dec 09, 2022

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NOTE: Some scientists claim swearing can be a sign of intelligence, and if they used Shane as a subject we'd say they're right, so be warned Shane has a 'diverse' vocabulary that may be unsuitable if you're still convinced that your children will never hear such words or use swear words themselves 😅

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