Aloha, Oregon, November 8, 2016|Fifty year anniversaries are commemorated in gold. In 2016, Lux Performance Group celebrated the Trans Am Series’ five decades of competition by bringing home two wins, two runner-ups, three third-place finishes, two pole positions. The Aloha, Oregon-based team never ran outside of the top-five taking the checkered flag each weekend. All of that in a limited five race schedule for its two Dodge Viper ACR-X race team. Steve Streimer (Sherwood, Oregon) captured the top-step twice in his red No. 42 Viper while Cindi Lux (Aloha, Oregon) chased her student across the finish-line twice in her own black No. 45 V10 ACR-X. The pair combined for the remainder of the top-tier results in the TA3 class of North America’s oldest road racing sedan series.
"I get a lot of questions on why we would haul our racecars over 10,000 miles coming from Portland Oregon to race. However, it is simple," commented Cindi Lux. "Racing in Trans Am is super challenging and exhilarating. Granted, it is not the smartest thing as most of our season budget is consumed in vehicle transportation, which is why we cannot participate in a full season, but the competition drives us. We are always fighting for the additional funding to do more races. If we had that, there would be no question it would be a much different story. We’d be at all of the races."
"It’s been an incredible year racing alongside Steve. Started working with him on HPDE days back in 2009 and it has been a joy to see him grow as a driver within our program," Cindi said with much admiration.
With the 2016 season now complete and the two front-engine American supercars back in the team’s Northwest shop, Lux Performance team principal Fred Lux has his full attention on the 2017 campaign. 2017 marks 23-years of motorsports distinction for the husband-wife effort. And they are looking to make it the most significant to date – no easy accomplishment for the former Dodge, Mopar and SRT factory effort.
Lux Performance Group currently has an opening on their 2017 team to support a driver in a "turn-key" program.
"We do it all: prepare, transport and provide trackside support." said Team Principal/Engineer Fred Lux. "Cindi will act as driving coach and head the non-mechanical aspects of the team. One of the things I am most proud of in our 2016 season is that we had no DNF. Don’t get me wrong, wins and pole positions are important. Nevertheless, it just shows how much we care about vehicle prep and durability that come out of our shop. You can’t get wins, podiums and poles without getting to the checkered flag," continued Fred. "We have a record of bringing cars to the finish, and in contention, that I will put up against any team in motorsports."
With the new West Coast Trans Am Series slated to begin next year, Lux is exploring options for a championship assault on that or the prime package back on the east coast. Having had much success in Pirelli World Challenge and SCCA Club Racing as well, Lux Performance Group is also examining the options for several other series and classes.
One of the most decorated teams in any paddock for its fit and finish both on the track and off, Lux Performance Group has shown itself an ideal fit for the "arrive and drive" approach.
"We are just exploring all of our options for 2017 at the moment," offered up Cindi. "It’s my busiest time of the year but I love it. We have sort of a 24-hour rule. We allow ourselves to enjoy the successes of the season for about a day and then it is right back to work. The sport is changing a lot right now, that isn’t a bad thing. Change brings options and opportunities. I think we have a lot of both, good ones."
"Our success and how we present ourselves on and off the track has attracted a lot of positive attention," continued the 12-time road racing champion. "We had never fully considered the turn-key approach for our own program before but we keep getting people asking so it would be foolish for Fred and I to just ignore the option. After all, we did it during the Viper one-make championship when we prepared the two celebrity factory cars. So, we are open to inquiries. With the off-season getting shorter and shorter each winter and the options being almost endless, we hope to have all of it in place before January 1. Then we can put full-focus on winning races and titles."
Those interested are encouraged to contact the team through its website, www.LuxPerformance.com
Aloha, Oregon, October 18, 2016| New Orleans might seem like the laidback capital of the country but NOLA Motorsports Park was anything but a walk down Bourbon Street during Saturday’s Trans Am feature. When the “Battle of New Orleans” was through, Lux Performance Group had placed its two Dodge Viper ACR-X entries on the top two steps of the TA3 class podium. Taking his second win of the season was Steve Streimer (Sherwood, Oregon) who nosed out teammate Cindi Lux (Aloha, Oregon) who captured her fourth podium of the short season.
The Aloha, Oregon-based operation has run a limited Trans Am series schedule in 2016 but has shown speed throughout the selection of races. The 100-mile/ 60-minute race features the great muscle and sports cars of this generation including the V10-powered American supercar that Lux Performance has become synonymous with.
Streimer took the pole position in Friday’s qualifying session driving the Fred Lux-prepared No. 42 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X. Cindi’s lap fell just shy and placed her No. 45 next to Streimer on the front row of the grid in the intensely contested class. Streimer, who has been under the teaching of the Lux for several seasons, got a great start and took the lead entering turn one. With the inside, line the stronger of the two, third-place slipped past Lux, dropping her to third for the first lap, pressed hard by Porsche in fourth-place. Streimer continued to hold the lead while the second-place BMW spun coming on the front straight. Lux moved into slot behind her teammate, the Porsche to third. Streimer had a clear view from the windshield of his red Viper while Lux had a mirror, side window and then windshield full of 911. The two battled with each taking the edge in portions of the track that benefited their particular brand. The two ran side-by-side through the quickest portions of the circuit until the rear-engine entry ran wide and spun off course bringing out a full course caution.
Restarts in sprint racing are always highlight reel material and this was no exception. While the pair of Lux machines ran one-two, the bunched field brought the fire into the fight as the green flag waved. Streimer held the lead but behind Lux found herself under an onslaught of pressing bumpers and fenders. She got hit in the rear bumper, sending her and 2 other TA3 cars off course and two other competitors were spun off course by the third-place running Vette. Lux was the first to gather her machine under control and return to the racing surface to maintain her second-place position. The two would take the checkered flag – which was also under yellow – one-two.
The 2016 season now is at a close for Lux Performance Group. The operation is headed back to its Northwestern shop for an off-season of preparation for 2017. Plans for the next race season are currently under review with multiple opportunities for the team and drivers. Additional entries are currently being considered by the husband-wife run operation.
Quotes |
Fred Lux, Team Principal/Engineer, Lux Performance Group | “This was so much of a better weekend than VIR. We made many setup changes prior to this race and the results showed that they worked. Our drivers raced smart and with the help of a little bit of attrition, we ended up having a great weekend. There is a lot of diversity in this class. When we have cars not turning the fastest lap times during the race but they are so reliable, that is how we make the difference. In addition, this reliability comes from Dodge building a great car and the tremendous crew members we have. Everyone has so much passion and commitment that it is impossible to stop the results.”
Cindi Lux, Driver, No. 45 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X | “Coming in from VIR, I really didn’t know what to expect at NOLA. We were beaten pretty badly in Virginia but the team never gave up. Everyone was working hard before this race to get our cars better. NOLA is a busy and bumpy track. There really is not too much time you’re steering wheel is straight! That race kind of reminded me of a Bristol NASCAR race: cars running hard and super close and a small mistake have big ramifications. You are fighting the track, your car and the competition every second of that race. Of course, there was a little light rubbing as well but it’s all part short track racing at NOLA. Steve ran a great race and deserved to win. Anytime you can come away with a team one-two finish in a series as competitive as Trans Am, it is always good way to go into the off season.”
Steve Streimer, No. 42 Lux Performance Group Dodge Viper ACR-X | “What a weekend. Coming into NOLA on the heels of what was our last race at VIR we did not have high expectations. That said, as soon as I hit the track on test day in the Lux Performance-prepared Viper, I knew we had a strong car for the weekend. There is no one that can better prepare a Dodge Viper than Fred. But, he continues to develop this car every week and, frankly, we had the set-up dialed this weekend. Fred and the entire Lux Performance team make my job easy. I dedicate this win to Team Lux Performance 2016; Fred, Matt, JP, Chris, Robert, Paul, Keith, Jeff and of course my friend, mentor and teammate Cindi Lux."
More Articles …
Page 5 of 14
