Perfect Lap Podcast

Mark Kilgore and Mark Jager
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Sports
  • Weekly

A time attack racing podcast talking all things time attack. Whether it is rules, events, tires, suspension, cars, or anything else related to time attack, you can find it here.

  1. 2d ago

    Ep. 67 - Alex Bernstein of Sub2Speedhouse

    Perfect Lap Podcast hosts Mark Jager and Mark Kilgore talk with Alex Bernstein, a longtime automotive journalist and photographer, track driver, and founder of Sub2Speedhouse. Alex explains how his E92 M3 shaped his driving and business philosophy, why his consultancy emphasizes curated parts and incremental builds, and how a last-minute Corvette outing at Laguna Seca became a memorable time-attack weekend. The conversation also traces his path through car culture and the unusual BMW 135i build that helped grow his profile. Alex provides his input on the tradeoffs between an underdog project and a competitive platform, and how a serious car fire changed his priorities. https://www.instagram.com/bernooo/ https://www.instagram.com/sub2_speedhouse/ https://www.sub2speedhouse.com/  Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs. www.wushautomotive.com https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/ https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners!   00:00 The E92 M3 fire and the lessons of staying naturally aspirated 04:32 How Sub Two Speedhouse grew from a napkin idea 07:32 Why curated parts and customer goals matter 11:11 Learning from one upgrade at a time 14:15 The E92’s development and a hard-won Laguna Seca lesson 16:45 A spontaneous C8 Corvette time-attack entry 21:35 The failed wings and the no-rear-wing solution 26:03 Sub Two’s Club Sport focus and build consultancy 31:50 Why novice drivers should resist too much power 39:20 Track notes, setup data, and repeatable progress 43:46 Growing a one-person business without losing the personal touch 51:17 From early Volkswagens to the BMW 135i project 01:04:06 Turning a narrow-body 135i into a 1M-style track car 01:08:54 The E82 135i changes hands and returns to the track 01:13:08 E82 versus E92: chassis feel, geometry, and driving character 01:16:49 When modifying a 135i costs more than buying a faster platform 01:20:28 Charles’s F82 build and the case for strategic development 01:24:43 Self-imposed build goals and what makes a project meaningful 01:27:25 Street-driven track cars, trailers, and protecting time for the hobby 01:31:04 The E92’s pace, the Thunderhill fire, and Alex’s return to racing 01:40:13 Burnout, perspective, and committing to a 2027 Gridlife season 01:46:10 Why the E92 keeps its V8 and gets a sequential gearbox 01:51:17 A lighter supercharger concept targeting 600-650 wheel horsepower 01:57:47 Rapid-fire car questions and Alex’s future track-car wish list 02:00:32 Closing thoughts and where to find Alex

  2. Oct 30

    Ep. 66 - Bonus Episode: What Tony Szirka learned from being on FIRE

    Perfect Lap Podcast hosts Mark Jager and Mark Kilgore talk with Tony Szirka about winning the Ultimate Track Car Challenge at Eagles Canyon, then recount the drivetrain failure and fire that ended his event. The conversation turns the incident into practical safety lessons on fire suppression, emergency response, and practicing exiting from a race car. https://www.instagram.com/umstunah/ Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs. www.wushautomotive.com https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/ https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners! 00:00 Meet Tony and the Ultimate Track Car Challenge 01:16 What makes UTCC a run-what-you-brung event 04:29 Learning Eagles Canyon and the first off-track moment 05:54 Belt failures threaten Tony’s limited track time 07:35 Finding pace: 56 seconds, then a 55.2 09:39 A broken driveshaft triggers the fire 11:19 Smoke, fire-system confusion, and a difficult escape 14:09 Tony describes the trackside fire response 18:05 Why working fire extinguishers matter 22:30 Footage, the UTCC win, and how the lap time compared 25:22 Exit practice, HANS snags, and the steering-wheel release 29:29 Toxic smoke, protective gear, and practicing in darkness 32:02 Power-steering smoke versus a real fire 34:01 Knowing what your fire-suppression system sounds like 34:51 Staying calm and practicing emergency exits 36:30 Why quick-release windows matter in a fire 39:29 Track-day fire risks and basic protective gear 42:04 The fire-system coverage gap under the flat bottom 45:32 Sponsor break: Wush Bespoke Wheels 47:29 Fire-system testing mistakes and heat damage 51:12 Supporting Tony’s return to the track 52:58 What Tony would change after reviewing the fire 57:00 Handheld extinguishers and extinguisher recertification 01:00:19 The team gets to work rebuilding the car 01:02:24 Unfinished business and the tracks Tony loves 01:05:12 Rebuild priorities, damaged parts, and the S2000 for sale 01:11:20 Finals plans and show sign-off

  3. Oct 22

    Ep. 65 - Breaking Street Class in a 718 Cayman - Luke Lederman

    In this episode, Luke Lederman shares his journey from autocross to time attack, his modifications on the Nissan 350Z and Porsche Cayman, and insights into getting started in SOCAL time attack. The episode explores how Luke moved from his Nissan 350Z to a Porsche Cayman and how he developed as a driver. We follow up with Luke recapping his experience at Gridlife Laguna Seca, including overcoming radiator issues, strategic decisions during a race, and winning Street Class. https://www.instagram.com/gasbrakegrip/ https://www.youtube.com/@gasbrakegrip Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs. www.wushautomotive.com https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/ https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners!  00:00 — Luke Lederman joins after a Gridlife podium 01:16 — Early car background and choosing the 350Z 03:53 — Autocross beginnings and moving into Time Attack 04:49 — Nissan Challenge championships and track records 06:34 — How Nissan Challenge compares to Honda and BMW Challenge 10:16 — Local Time Attack events versus Gridlife 13:03 — Making the leap to larger events 18:43 — Building the 350Z for Time Attack 20:13 — Suspension, differential, cooling, and setup 22:44 — 200-treadwear tires and driving to the track 23:15 — The 350Z’s splitter and aero setup 25:00 — Why Luke started looking for a Cayman S 27:54 — Choosing the 718 Cayman S 31:13 — Cayman S specs and choosing PDK 33:25 — Tire sizes and grip on the Cayman 35:21 — Learning to drive a mid-engine car 38:20 — Cayman upgrades: suspension, brakes, and exhaust 41:24 — Early Gridlife results and a Laguna Seca record 44:05 — Why the Podium Sprint is so compelling 47:35 — Triathlon training before Laguna 52:15 — Tuning, heat management, and car prep 55:37 — The Cayman’s center radiator and cooling setup 58:50 — Track sessions and the first signs of trouble 61:46 — A rock punctures the radiator 66:43 — Keeping the weekend alive 68:40 — Planning a repair with help from the paddock 74:02 — A Home Depot fix saves the weekend 76:15 — Bleeding the cooling system 79:06 — Sunday misfire and tune adjustments 81:59 — Managing coolant temperatures during the sprint 83:29 — Entering the Podium Sprint in P3 86:20 — The final laps and a 139.06 record lap 91:20 — Learning Luke had won 93:28 — A close Street class podium sprint 98:19 — Upcoming events and plans for the Cayman 100:24 — Considering aero or weight reduction 102:57 — Cayman power potential and current output 105:34 — Where to follow Luke 106:48 — Rapid-fire questions and track preferences

  4. Oct 8

    Ep. 64 - Jager Lost The Bet and Got Fired, Welcome Kevin Burke

    Jager made a bet and lost....to a Cayman....at Laguna. Kevin Burke, co-host of the What's Up Player? Podcast steps in as the winner of the first annual Time Attack Podcast Challenge. Will Jager come back? We'll have to see. Kevin talks about his history in time attack from a record-setting Honda S2000, a C7 Corvette, a Dodge Viper, and a Porsche Cayman GT4RS. We talk Gridlife Laguna and how much cooler Kevin is than Jager. https://www.instagram.com/_schmevin_/ https://www.youtube.com/@KevinBurkeRacing 00:00 Podcast challenge at Laguna Seca 01:14 How the Instagram bet started 02:38 First impressions of the Supercar Three R 03:26 What’s Up Player? and how it began 04:50 Building cars for fun, not just winning 05:18 Laguna Seca: lap times and cold tires 06:11 SDC’s growth 06:55 Tire warmers and getting heat into the tires 09:13 Three R pricing, sizes, and ideal applications 10:36 Why Kevin likes the Three R for consistent lapping 12:03 Alignment, camber, and tire temperatures 13:57 Kevin’s S2000 and current track cars 14:26 The Viper’s engine failure and rebuild plans 17:08 Why seat time beats chasing peak horsepower 18:34 Looking ahead to future time attack battles 19:27 Favorite tracks: Watkins Glen and The Ridge 21:37 The growing competition in Street Mod 23:20 How Kevin first got involved with the Viper 25:09 The Torco partnership and early Viper wins 27:03 Buying the Viper and its history 28:27 Updating the Viper’s suspension, diff, and aero 29:25 The Viper’s weight-loss and power plans 31:15 Traveling and sharing costs with SDC 33:01 Racing culture, social media, and “lifers” 36:38 The challenges of covering every time attack battle 42:11 Why time attack can be hard for spectators to follow 44:11 Laguna’s podium sprint battles 45:37 Tire strategy and starting at the back 47:19 Why reliability matters in podium sprint 48:16 A standing-start format idea for time attack 50:33 Why live timing boards help spectators 51:25 Kevin’s history with GridLife events 55:42 Class tech, rule enforcement, and cheating 59:46 Reputation and the consequences of cheating 61:37 Ideas for improving tech inspections 65:24 Should intentional cheating mean harsher penalties? 68:20 The real cost of traveling to race 73:42 Why West Coast track culture is different 77:45 Bailey Woods, the E36, and long-term development 79:56 Torque-based traction control in time attack 81:49 Why Mark’s BMW i8 project was canceled 83:17 Choosing a unique car build 88:02 The challenges of modifying a carbon-tub car 90:26 Why the BMW Z4 GT3-inspired build made sense 95:53 Why Kevin still loves the Viper 98:32 Devin’s Z4 build and the retractable roof 100:26 Building a car for the experience, not just results 101:39 Privateer racing and the resource gap 103:12 Sponsorship economics and content demands 105:48 Planning a rematch with Jaeger 107:11 Rapid fire: car types, tracks, and driving style 109:41 V10 engine swap talk 109:54 Rapid fire: analog cars, championships, and favorites 110:26 Moving on from cars without regrets 111:03 Lime Rock and future track plans 111:50 Where to follow Kevin and What’s Up Player?

  5. Sep 24

    Ep. 63 - The Godfather of Time Attack - John "Nads" Naderi

    In this episode, Nads shares his deep history and insights into the world of time attack racing, from its origins in Japan to its evolution in the US. We explore legendary cars, racing strategies, media coverage, and the future of time attack as a grassroots motorsport series. Nads shares his opinions on what things are right, and what could be better, in the current time attack scene, both domestically and across the globe. We discuss iconic cars, legendary drivers, the culture of Time Attack, and the future of the sport. Don't miss this one! Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs.  www.wushautomotive.com  https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/  https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing  Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners!  00:00 — How Time Attack Came to America  02:39 — Choosing Buttonwillow as Time Attack’s Home  04:20 — The Japanese Roots of Time Attack  05:39 — Minimal Rules vs. Creative Cheating  07:02 — The Lost JC Menet Record  10:27 — From Global Time Attack to World Time Attack  12:16 — Why Time Attack Needs Better Storytelling  14:15 — The Problem with Unlimited Classes  15:42 — The Media Personalities Covering Time Attack  17:35 — Why Car Specs and Driver Stories Matter  21:16 — The Mike Warfield and Eastern Creek Strategy  23:16 — What Professional Drivers Bring to Time Attack  26:43 — Building the Ideal Time Attack Media Platform  30:17 — Why Long-Form Automotive Journalism Still Matters  35:31 — The Golden Era Teams and Cars  37:37 — The HKS Track Attack Altezza and “Outlaw” Cars  40:45 — Aero, Slicks, and the Limits of Technology  43:52 — Time Attack Controversy and Racing Lore  46:25 — The Cyber Evo and Bending the Rules  48:25 — When Time Attack Becomes an Arms Race  52:19 — Horsepower, Aero, and Choosing the Right Track  55:25 — Why Grassroots Tracks Matter  60:58 — The Rise and Fall of Red Line Time Attack  67:16 — Why Time Attack Needs a Pinnacle Event  69:07 — Simplifying the Rules and Racing for Time  71:55 — The Japanese Philosophy of Time Attack  77:11 — Nads’ Most Memorable Time Attack Experiences  80:24 — The Factory Chevrolet Cobalt That Changed Everything  83:13 — Professional Awesome and the Buttonwillow Curse  90:10 — The Sierra Sierra Evo Story  100:23 — What Today’s Time Attack Scene Gets Right  104:40 — Rivalries, Promotion, and Making Racing Exciting  108:52 — Why the Stopwatch Never Lies  112:01 — The Future of Time Attack Coverage  114:09 — Learning from Time Attack History  119:09 — Rapid-Fire Time Attack Questions  122:14 — Closing Thoughts and Where to Follow the Podcast

  6. Sep 10

    Ep. 62 - AJ Hartman talks Aero

    In this episode, AJ Hartman from AJ Hartman Aero shares insights on aerodynamic components, wind tunnel testing, and practical tips for racer's looking to optimize their vehicle's performance. AJ Hartman shares his journey from a garage builder to a renowned aero parts manufacturer and racer. AJ has taught himself how to design, manufacture, and install numerous aero parts, and you can too.  www.ajhartmanaero.com www.youtube.com/@ajhartmanaero www.instagram.com/ajhartmanaero/ trackaeroconsulting.com/ Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs. www.wushautomotive.com https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/ https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners! 00:00 — Introducing AJ Hartman Aero 01:29 — Low-drag, tape-on canards 04:12 — Canard design: balancing downforce and drag 06:28 — CFD testing and canard development  08:23 — Canards as an aero tuning tool  11:39 — Adjusting aero for different tracks  13:25 — Designing parts with CFD and wind-tunnel data  15:42 — Custom splitters, wing mounts, and chassis-specific parts  18:23 — C-pillar wing mounts and structural strength  22:22 — Wing upright design, knife edges, and cutouts  25:19 — Aero-part failures and track safety  27:16 — Compressible splitter rods  32:25 — What happens inside a wind tunnel  37:55 — Unexpected wind-tunnel results  41:23 — Splitter end plates and aerodynamic details  45:09 — Building an effective splitter on different budgets  48:11 — Blunt versus rounded splitter leading edges  51:08 — Planning a wind-tunnel test program  54:18 — Basic aero tests for a new car  56:28 — Hood louvers, cooling, and drag  60:14 — Diffusers with flat versus dirty floors  63:23 — The challenges of building a flat floor  66:19 — Diffuser ventilation and heat management  71:52 — AJ’s Mustang and racing background  78:16 — Building a business from a small garage  83:38 — The most challenging parts AJ has built  88:30 — Carbon-fiber molds and manufacturing  95:34 — Why AJ races in GLGT instead of time attack  101:10 — Making racing more affordable  105:57 — Rapid-fire car and racing questions  109:48 — Where to find AJ Hartman Aero  112:11 — Lime Rock predictions and future race-car plans  114:00 — Closing remarks

  7. Aug 27

    EP. 61 - Evan McLaren - The GL ClubTR Two-Timer

    In this episode, Jager and Kilgore chat with Evan McLaren, two-time Gridlife ClubTR champion and Honda Integra Type R driver. Evan shares his journey in time attack racing, the evolution of Club TR, and insights into car setup, rule sets, and how to win a championship in GridLife. Evan talks about his first love, Subarus, and then moving on to JDM and Honda for his time on track. https://www.instagram.com/bigmacvtak/  https://www.facebook.com/evan.mclaren.7  https://www.youtube.com/@blandsarcasm ++++++++++ Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs. www.wushautomotive.com https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/ https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners! ++++++++++ Want MORE Time Attack content? Follow the hosts, Jager and Kilgore, and get more Time Attack content in your life! Follow Mark Kilgore: https://www.instagram.com/mkilgore_909/ https://www.youtube.com/@09_motorsports Follow Mark Jager: https://www.instagram.com/jagerracing/ https://www.youtube.com/@JagerRacing ++++++++++ 00:00 Intro and Evan McLaren’s background  01:11 Why the Integra  04:10 Starting track driving in 2020 and Track Night in America  08:26 Club TR success, parity, and why the class works  15:59 How Evan got into cars, Hondas, and the Integra journey  22:09 Power numbers, dyno discussion, and K24 setup  24:58 Club TR rules, engine limits, and class philosophy  28:34 Sustainability, cost, and whether Club TR is “real” time attack  31:18 Why aero matters and why Street Class feels less exciting  36:37 The most important mods to stay competitive  41:31 Motivation, budget, and how time attack felt “unreachable” at first  44:48 Rivalry, friendship, and racing against Pete  53:36 Tire strategy and how Evan attacks a session  58:12 Weekend format, too many sessions, and podium sprint thoughts  61:38 Car progression and thoughts on 2027 plans  64:18 Axle problems, drivetrain headaches, and garage life  71:11 Gearing, final drive, and transmission setup  79:32 Paddock transmission repair story  81:19 What’s on the wish list for 2027  93:30 Sponsors, partners, and shoutouts  101:41 Future plans, possibly taking a break  105:37 Rapid-fire questions  110:06 Social media and where to follow Evan

  8. Aug 14

    Ep. 60 - Peter Granberg and K24 Subaru

    In this episode, Jager and Kilgore chat with Peter Granberg who shares his journey in time attack racing, the evolution of Club TR, and insights into car setup, rule sets, and how to win a championship in GridLife. Peter talks about his K24-swapped Subaru, going 4-off and still winning Mid-West Fest, and his favorite hobbies besides racing cars.    https://www.instagram.com/petergranberg511/  https://www.facebook.com/peter.granberg.167  https://www.youtube.com/@PeterGranberg511    ++++++++++    Wush Automotive is a proud sponsor of The Perfect Lap Podcast. Check out Wush's line of Wush Bespoke Wheels for fully forged wheels that can be customized to your exact needs.       www.wushautomotive.com    https://www.instagram.com/wushautomotive/    https://www.facebook.com/WushRacing         Want 5% of your Wush Bespoke order? Provide the code "perfectlap" at checkout and receive a 5% discount for our loyal listeners!         ++++++++++    Want MORE Time Attack content? Follow the hosts, Jager and Kilgore, and get more Time Attack content in your life!         Follow Mark Kilgore:    https://www.instagram.com/mkilgore_909/    https://www.youtube.com/@09_motorsports         Follow Mark Jager:    https://www.instagram.com/jagerracing/    https://www.youtube.com/@JagerRacing      ++++++++++    00:00Introduction to Peter Gramberg and his racing background  01:59The origin of Club TR and its purpose in the scene  03:47Peter’s journey from Subaru to K Series engine swap  06:58Car setup, modifications, and maintaining reliability  09:47The importance of community and crew support in racing  13:03Contingencies and strategies for winning the championship  16:05Analyzing Lime Rock performance and lap times  19:06Working with driver coach Scott Robertson and data tools  23:00Car aerodynamics, weight management, and rule set considerations  28:56The mental game: confidence, data, and race mindset  33:59The importance of rule clarity and updates in racing organizations  38:01Community, trust, and the future of time attack racing  44:00Current state of Club TR and its growth  50:00Balancing fun and competition in racing  57:58Final thoughts on racing, community, and the future

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

A time attack racing podcast talking all things time attack. Whether it is rules, events, tires, suspension, cars, or anything else related to time attack, you can find it here.

Information

  • Creator
    Mark Kilgore and Mark Jager
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2026
  • Episodes
    68
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Mark Kilgore and Mark Jager
  • Show Website
    Perfect Lap Podcast

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