While we would all like to think that we have the stuff that real race car drivers are made of, there are a few of us that actually do. Cameron Bennar is one of those fortunate few. When Cameron visited a Skip Barber racing school a year ago, the instructors and his father alike quickly realized that he had a natural gift for driving. So with this is mind, Cameron was encouraged to find his way into the world of racing. With his dad at his back, Cameron purchased a 2006 STI and prepped it for regional Improved Touring E class (ITE).

The rules for ITE are very simple: there are very few rules. ITE is a “run what ya brung” class that allows all kinds of modifications as long as the car retains its stock shell and stock engine type and displacement. Otherwise, turbo modifications are unlimited as are aero aids, brakes, wheels and tires and all sorts of go-fast alterations.

With this in mind, Cameron brought the car to COBB Tuning Premier Facility, Surgeline Tuning, for some mild tweaks to help give Cameron a little more power and to get his feet wet in the world of racing.

With a larger Blouch Dominator 3.0R turbo mated to a COBB Tuning downpipe and a Perrin catback and a Perrin FMIC, tuned on a COBB AccessPORT, the car had a good 350whp on tap. With the addition of a Cosworth longblock, an Accusump oiling system and an oil pressure gauge as well as some heat protection for the engine bay, Cameron was ready to attack the track.

Since this would be Cameron’s first wheel to wheel race, he would have to wear the big orange noob “N” on his bumpers and flanks so that everyone else on the track would know to give him a wide berth. Sadly for the rest of the ITE field, Cameron’s freshly-sorted and Surgeline Tuning tuned car took Pole Position while running a conservative 15psi map. Running a 1:27 lap time, Cameron wowed the field with his speed and finesse.

 

However, it soon became clear that his stock brakes were not up to the task of serious wheel to wheel racing and as he found out in his first sprint race. While this was not the “feature” for which he held pole, it would be his first wheel to wheel race. Halfway through this 15-minute sprint, his brake pedal went to the floor.

The reason for this was quickly discovered, the pads had completely worn away leaving only warped and destroyed backing-plates. Luckily, Surgeline Tuning had a set of new pads in stock and COBB Tuning employee, Travis Geny, was able to help the fledgling team replace pads and bleed brakes so that the car would be ready for the 30 minute feature race.

With Cameron leading his class into turn two, it became clear that his biggest rival, a very well turned out NSX, had been sandbagging during qualifying and showed some speed that he had been hiding and took first place within the first few laps. However, Cameron battled back and soon the pair were running nose to tail lap after lap.

  

Sadly, Cameron’s brake troubles came back to haunt him once again and he quickly began to loseWeight Exercise ground as his breaking distances became longer and longer. Thankfully, the gap to P3 was too big and Cameron was able to drive to a solid P2 finish in his first race weekend ever.

 

Before the car had even made it back to the shop for the post-race inspection, Cameron was already ready for the next set of upgrades that would allow him to take a P1 podium. To put Cameron’s second place into perspective, the first place NSX was running 295-wide tires compared to Cameron’s 235s. It was also running a huge amount of after market aerodynamic aids including canards, a front splitter and a huge rear wing, under body diffuser and a wide-body kit as well as huge front and rear brakes. Compare this to Cameron’s stock aerodynamics, stock fenders and stock brakes and it is clear that with some minor changes to his STI, Cameron should have no trouble taking the podium.

Stay tuned as we will keep you posted on Cameron’s achievements as the year progresses.