A few weeks ago, eBay Motors launched Between 2 Rides, its action-packed YouTube series - opens in new window or tab.. We thought it would be impossible to beat the madness of the first episode - opens in new window or tab. when Formula Drift Champion Chris Forsberg drove his 1,300HP Nissan Z between shipping containers and under forklifts.
But since then, things got more bonkers in episodes featuring racers Emelia Hartford and Tanner Foust.
Emelia’s Nine-Second C8 Corvette
Is double the horsepower double the fun? That’s the question posed by actress and race-builder Emelia Hartford in the second episode of Between 2 Rides. When Hartford purchased her 2020 C8 LT2 Z51, she wasn’t planning to modify it. But that soon changed.
Watch Episode Two now:
Hartford’s C8 was one of the first to be fitted with a twin-turbo system. With the mighty snails spinning, the car hit 1,022 horsepower on the dyno. Then, she promptly shattered the quarter-mile record for a C8—clocking a 9.41 elapsed time and a top speed of 144 miles per hour.
Emelia Hartford's record-setting C8, ready for takeoff.
In the second episode, Hartford gave series host Collete Davis a ride in her record-setting 2020 Corvette C8. The duo arrived at the tarmac at Agua Dulce Airport in Santa Clarita, Calif., where they took on an unusual flying competitor.
With a whopping 1200 ponies on tap, Hartford’s C8 is an absolute beast. A stock 2020 C8 delivers a respectable 500 HP from the factory. So how did Hartford more than double the output?
The Essential Parts
- Precision Turbo Twin-Turbo - opens in new window or tab.If you want to make serious power, you need serious turbochargers. Peitz Performance’s twin-turbo setup employs Precision Turbo Gen2 PT6466 turbochargers with Compression Engineered Aerodynamics compressors and turbine wheels.
- Performance Design Carbon pTR Intake - opens in new window or tab.A time-honored tradition on the drag strip, tunnel ram intake manifolds streamline fuel and airflow into the cylinders for higher horsepower output. Performance Design’s lightweight carbon-fiber pTR tunnel-ram provides complete ECM integration and looks wicked cool.
- Holley Dominator ECU - opens in new window or tab.A stock engine control unit will only get you so far. Holley’s Dominator is the brains of the operation, allowing for highly aggressive tunes “with a proper racing harness.”
Tanner Foust’s Flying Beetles
In the third episode, Tanner Foust swoops in with a retro Baja Bug (a.k.a. Grandpa Cabo) to match up against a stock late-model Volkswagen Beetle.
Watch it now:
As you can see, there’s plenty of hang time. Both Veedubs put an abundance of air between their tires and the ground. Foust has a pilot’s license—and five years of experience behind the wheel of the Volkswagen Andretti Rallycross Rockstar Energy Beetle. He might be the world’s leading authority on how Bugs fly.
The Grandpa Cabo Baja Bug packs a modest 150 horsepower. That might not sound like a lot, but Foust explains:
As rough as the terrain typically is in Baja, you can get into a lot of trouble with 150 horsepower.
How many aftermarket parts can you identify on Grampa Cabo?
The Essential Parts
Foust used these accessible components to make it happen:
- UMP Filter - opens in new window or tab.Baja is a notoriously harsh and dusty environment for racing. A speck of dust can ruin your day. So Grandpa Cabo uses a heavy-duty Unique Metal Products air filter “designed to take chunks of stuff out of the air.”
- Roll Cage - opens in new window or tab.Whether on a road course or off-road, no driver can compete in a professional event without a tech-approved safety roll cage and harness - opens in new window or tab.. Money spent here is a wise investment.
- Fox Shocks - opens in new window or tab.Stock suspension systems have no place in off-road racing. Tanner’s Baja Bug rides on well-proven Fox Racing Shocks. If you’re into flying bugs, a smooth landing is essential.
Ample ride height and suspension travel are off-road racing essentials.
Foust’s racing career highlights include nine X-Games medals—and a pair of championships in both Formula Drift and Global RallyCross. His Hollywood career includes co-hosting six American Top Gear seasons and stunt-driving duties in many films, including The Fast and the Furious Tokyo Drift and The Bourne Ultimatum.
When it comes to Baja racing, affordability opens doors. Tanner said:
You could bring a trophy truck or some other crazy thing built up, but this Baja Bug is the most accessible weekend warrior racing ever.
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This article is meant to provide general guidance only. Automotive maintenance, repair, upgrade, and installation may depend on vehicle-specifics such as make and model. Always consult your owner's manual, repair guide for specific information for your particular vehicle and consider a licensed auto-care professional's help as well, particularly for advance repairs.