#48 Toyota Supra
Our story began when mom purchased a Toyota Supra brand new back in 1988. Little did she know that years later, her beloved car would become the heart and soul of our racing team. In 2017, she asked if we could fix up her old car, perhaps without considering a race car conversion at the time. Since then, our car has seen over 100 hours of on-track action, pushing the limits of our abilities and the capabilities of our trusted vehicle.
Our team name, Traylor Trash Racing, pays homage to our mom's family name, Traylor, and the humble beginnings of our racing adventure.
The Build
In early 2018, we embarked on the street car to race car conversion journey. Initially, we raced the car with the factory 7MGE 3.0L Naturally Aspirated Inline 6 engine. However, we soon realized that our fun factor was limited, especially considering our +3000 lbs. curb weight. This realization led us to explore a solution: swapping in a 1UZ-FE 4.0L V8 sourced from a mid-90s Lexus LS400. This engine upgrade not only amplified the fun factor but also earned us the self-proclaimed title of having the best-sounding car on the track.
How it’s Going
In October 2019, we unleashed the power of the V8 at Road America, and the exhilaration of 250 horsepower was unmatched. However, the newfound speed revealed that the stock brakes were inadequate. To address this, we upgraded to 4-piston calipers sourced from a 2004 Mercedes, providing the stopping power we needed. Despite resolving the brake issue, the demands of road course racing proved too much for the factory 5-speed transmission, leading us to replace it four times. Finally, we made a wise decision and opted for the legendary (but expensive) Toyota R154 transmission. Once the car was reliable and pretty quick, we realized that V8 needed every drop of fuel we could squeeze in it to make a competitive strategy.
The pursuit of continuous improvement never ceases, but neither does the sheer enjoyment of the journey.
