2021 Summary & 2022 Projections

As I reflect on 2021 and consider 2022, I’m bolstered knowing that the ‘new’ normal somewhat resembles the ‘old’ normal.  COVID has been a nightmare, but we are all slowly finding ways to interact with the things we love.  Yes, many of us had to back off on the gas a bit or downshift.  Here at InoKinetic, we have done both.  2021 became a year for us to build a stronger foundation for our future.  We moved into a new shop and invested in inventory, people, and equipment.  We introduced new products, reintroduced old products, hosted & sponsored events, and continued to interact with many of you.  Moving forward, our main objectives in 2022, are to continue our focus on light cars and to extend our lead as North America’s 111 platform specialist.  

Service + 111renew

We are doubling down with our service capabilities to refresh all sports cars but with an emphasis on the 111 platform.  Our focus on delivering mechanical, paint, and bodywork are a key to our dedication to the platform – hence our service we call 111renew.  Our Hunter Alignment rack investment ensures we can deliver cars that are fun to drive.  New techniques like vapor blasting along with nickel plating have rejuvenated more than one car that has passed through our shop.  Additionally, our Lotus Boneyard has been a great source for parts that are difficult to find.  We are investing further in people and equipment to keep these cars on the road.  As I write this, we have cars from AR, GA, and two from FL getting rebuilt or refreshed and upgraded.  Three to five years from now, I expect over half the cars here will be from out of state.  Yes, we love these cars and plan to support them for many, many years – at least as long as I am walking on this planet!

Parts

Product development has been a passion of mine which started with my tenure at 3M Automotive.  My favorite new product this year has been the FASTarms.  This product has been well received and is quickly catching the attention of many S2 111 enthusiasts.  Our HOTplate commercializes an upgrade that has been a favorite on the forums and a must-have for any street car.  We also started to reverse engineer and produce some parts that are no longer available like the 111HL Gasket (headlight seals) and offer affordable options like the EPDMhoses (rubber rad hoses).  Our Monolites are considered the best wheels for the Elise/Exige and are now offered in Gold for the first time.  Admittedly, it’s not a shade for everyone so it seems my proclamation that Gold is the ‘new’ Black is falling upon some deaf ears.  Our immobilizer defeat, Andy’s Plug, has been selling well and improves one of those niggling issues that plague the 111 platform.  We also reintroduced a few old favorites including the OS Giken LSD and our ULTRAliteLINES.  Yes, by popular demand, Sector111 will return in 2022, as a Lotus-focused brand.

Future Parts

Though our pace of new product introduction has slowed, we intend to keep commercializing tasty bits that we believe are needed.  Sometimes these are items that have been discontinued or better solutions for known problems.  Our LED headlights are still under development, and we continue to be bogged down with finding off-the-shelf components to control costs.  We have not succeeded yet – but anyone that knows me knows that persistence is my middle name.  The KATANA3 will come out in 2022.  In fact, our calibrator has made some great progress with our tuning abilities.  This has created improved BLADE tunes and will result in a better KATANA.  I will admit that I am applying more financial prudence to our current R&D endeavors which have also slowed us down.  Naturally, this is a good thing for our long-term financial viability!

New Communications

Our YouTube video reboot has been one of the ‘new’ methods to get in touch with you.  You are clearly enjoying them as much as we are.  Our ‘Sessions with Shinoo’ has been warmly welcomed by the community as it eases scheduling time into our overly busy lives.  I have thoroughly enjoyed talking with many of you through this new scheduler.  We have been spending more time with LotusTalk and writing our newsletters than on FB/IG/etc.  Expect us to keep our toes in the Social Media water but a bit less than before.  We’ve realized that most people want to communicate through email and phone.  Honestly, I remain a bit old-school, so never hesitate to reach out to us for help.

Events

In 2021 we hosted several events in our new location, including an Open House, a Tech Seminar, Cars & Coffee, and a Track Weekend at Spring Mountain.  We have been a continuous sponsor of the Lotus Owner Gathering since 2004.  This year we did as well, though sadly, we were unable to attend.  I am a big believer in clubs as they offer the best place to hang out with like-minded enthusiasts.  2022 will also see the same activities plus a Temecula Wine Run and a couple of Track Weekends.  I’ve kicked off a ‘Trackdays with Shinoo’ event to offer a small group gathering for any of you who want to join me at the track without the fear of attending a super spreader event!  Plus, I need to get a monthly track fix in 2022 where I actually get to drive!

Cars

The niche cars with which we offer, continue to excite and inspire.  In 2021, I sold a Ginetta, a few Monos, an Atom4, and several Lotus, including the original Art Car that we fully rebuilt.  Building a couple of Drakans is our intention in 2022 – but first, we have to jump-start the supply chain.  This may take a bit more effort but I don’t give up easily.  All these boutique cars fascinate and enthrall me with thrills that are unmatched by the 3,500+ porkers that currently masquerade as sportscars. 

The Emira should be with us a year from now, hopefully sooner.  It is a very nice refresh of the already fantastic Evora.  I see it as an evolutionary, not revolutionary, new Lotus.  I spoke with a few Lotus execs at the Emira reveal, and they are all very excited and state it is all new.  Plus they were equally jazzed about the new EV Type 132 Crossover.  They claim it is a true Lotus that drivers will relish.  I’m a big supporter of this direction as Lotus needs to find a volume vehicle to subsidize the development of low-volume sports cars.  Lotus’s full EV future is not popular with many, but I remain optimistic.  Lotus’s LEVA platform appears to be an innovative EV architecture that should deliver the driving dynamics that we desire.  Richard Rackham was recently quoted suggesting the LEVA is as revolutionary as the 111 chassis was when it was introduced in the 90s.  I’m a big fan of Richard’s work so have total faith in his prediction.  2022 will be quite revealing.

Partners

A key part of our longevity has been partnering with other like-minded suppliers.  We introduced Girodisc, Nitron, ReVerie, ProAlloy, Toybox, Arqray, OS Giken, Racetech, and many others to our North American community.  In addition, we have several manufacturers, many local, who build products to our specs that have been critical to achieving our mission of high-quality products and service.

These are just a few of the many passionate companies who, like me, believe in delivering high-quality products and service.  Parts from these companies coupled with parts that we have engineered have fleshed out an S2 portfolio unmatched by any other competitor on this continent. 

Last month I had the pleasure of visiting a couple of partners, including DNA, in Italy.  Travel restrictions have limited my yearly overseas visits, but slowly and surely, I will find my way back to in-person meetings with other suppliers, especially those in Japan.  Expect more bitchin’ solutions from creative problem solvers.  I’m always on the hunt for these products and will certainly find more for us all.

Parts, service, communications, events, partners, and cars are all on my mind but most importantly so are all of you.  To me, the best part of this business has been supporting enthusiasts who share my automotive passion.  I jump out of bed every morning knowing that I will interact with cool folk – that is a tremendous reward for me.  Thanks to all of you for your support.  I remain dedicated to light cars, especially the Lotus 111 platform.  When I started developing tasty bits back in 2003, I did not realize that fully supporting the S2 111 would become my true calling.  It is now crystal clear.  I can assure you that my foot remains flat going into the new year! 

Have a great New Year and I hope to see you in 2022!

Cheers,

Shinoo

Cost Effective Torn Mount Repair

As the 111 platform ages, there are several OEM parts that begin to fail due to both age and excessive wear. One part that can degrade over time is the rear torque mount (transmission mount). Recently while inspecting a customer’s car, we found that the OEM transmission mount had begun to start tearing.

One way to prolong the life of a transmission mount that has begun tearing is to add our sportINSERTS. Our sportINSERTS will stiffen the drivetrain which will effectively increase the life of torn mount as well as other rubber isolators by reducing powertrain movement. This transmission mount itself will eventually need to be replaced; however, in the meantime, this will serve as a cost-effective way to prolong the mount’s life. 

                                       

Lotus Elise Radio Delete Compartment

The Lotus Elise/Exige platform has held true to the Lotus motto, “Simplify, then add lightness”.  The Elise/Exige are very minimalistic and contain very few features that aren’t necessities for driving. Despite this, many Lotus owners are still constantly searching for ways to simplify their cars further and add more lightness.

One option for Lotus Elise/Exige owners who would like to pull a few pounds out of their car is to delete their radio. Deleting your stereo isn’t too difficult; however, once your radio has been deleted, you’re left with an ugly hole in your dash that looks incomplete… Fear not, there is a solution.

A few Lotus owners have discovered that a small storage compartment from the 996 generation Porsches works perfectly for covering the ugly hole after deleting your radio. These Porsche storage compartments can be found by searching for the part number: 996-552-253-01-01C. The storage compartment slides right into the old radio slot and turns it into a storage compartment with a more refined look. We’ve already installed one in our InoKinetic Lotus Outlaw car and are very happy with the results.

Find yours HERE

Supercharger Maintenance - MP62

 The Exige S and KATANA kits use a Magnuson M62 or MP62 supercharger. Like any moving part on a car, occasional service is usually needed. Here are the manufacturer's recommendations.

The recommended service interval from the manufacture is 80K miles. The recommended oil is GM supercharger oil An oil change is about 5oz. Manufacture recommends 140mL.

Ensure a Good Seal on Your Oil Pan!

Sometimes the most obvious solutions are not so obvious. Spreading the RTV on the flange before installing your oil pan is a great way to get an even and consistent layer of RTV. Your rubber glove (you use them, right?) makes the clean-up even easier.

Beware of Used Wheels!

Buying a set of used wheels is a good way to save some money but you need to be careful. If you are counting on these wheels to hold up to performance driving on the street or track, then you need to be especially careful. We have seen used wheels that appear to be good but are compromised. Keep reading to learn how we have repaired a forged wheel to cosmetic excellence but we would not dare to use it aggressively in the canyons or track.

We were able to repair (with a local specialist) a forged factory LSS wheel to an excellent cosmetic standard but would not trust it for serious use.

We bought a crashed S240 Exige and salvaged the wheels off of the car. The rears were in excellent shape but the fronts, where the car was crashed, were in unacceptable shape. I asked our trusted wheel refinisher if he could repair these wheels and he was confident that he could. I asked him to go ahead and fix them as we could use some wheels to use in the shop to roll around cars that are in various states of repair.

Here is the crashed car and wheel:

First, the wheel was straightened and then welded to fill in the missing metal.

Our supplier was then able to machine the edge acceptably and refinish the wheel. I asked him to paint the wheels bright orange so that we would not accidentally sell them.

Why is this a concern? Welding onto the wheel will elevate the metal in this area to temps above the anneal temp range of 600-700deg F. When the aluminum gets annealed, it begins to soften. Aluminum melts at 1200 deg F and is approached in the welding process. Since these are forged wheels, this welded area will get annealed thus making it softer than the rest of the wheel. This could ultimately cause a failure. We believe it is not worth taking the risk on a car that is run aggressively.

It is critical that you know how a used wheel was repaired. If it was repaired, it would be worth knowing if any welding was involved. Wheels are considered a consumable on a track car (or any really) but it is also a critical safety component that is holding you to the ground. Are you sure you want to take the chance on those cheap used wheels with unknown history?

Balanced Approach to Tuning

I’ve been tuning the 111 platform since 2004 and have learned many things - good and bad. We love helping clients understand what has worked for us and save them the headaches that come from trial and error. Many years ago, we put together a chart to reflect our philosophy when it comes to tuning the Elise/Exige - especially for track use. Safety (driver & car) became our primary emphasis with performance secondary. We summarized it in the chart you see below.

Tire Sizes - Elise/Exige

I had previously written about tire selection in a Blog found: HERE. This Blog entry lists the many sizes of tires that are possibilities - especially if you have different wheels or want to try other tire brands. Stock sizes for a Sport package Elise or an Exige are: 195/50R16 front & 225/45R17 rear. A key dimension to use in selection is the Overall Diameter - shown below as ‘Circumference’. Ideally, you will choose a tire size that is as close to the stock dimension as possible.

SIZE SIDEWALL RADIUS DIAMETER CIRCUMFERENCE RIM WIDTH

205/50R15 4" 11.5" 23.10    

195/50ZR16 3.8" 11.8" 23.70 74.4" 6-7-7.5"

205/45R16 3.6" 11.6" 23.3 73.1" 6.5-7-7.5"

225/45ZR16 4" 12" 24 74.4" 7-7.5-8.5"

225/50R16 4.4" 12.4" 24.9 78.1" 6-7-8"

245/45R16 4.3" 12.3" 24.7 77.5" 7.5-8-9"

225/45R17 4.4" 12.4" 25 78.1" 7-7.5-8.5"

235/40R17 3.7" 12.2" 24.4 76.7" 8-8.5-9.5"

235/45ZR17 4.2" 12.7" 25.3 79.6" 7.5-8.9"

245/40R17 3.9" 12.4" 24.7 77.6" 8-8.5-9.5"

255/40R17 4" 12.5" 25.1 78.6" 8.5-9-10"

If you want to try different sizes, it is always a good policy to change the front and rear in the same amount or ratio. DImensions provided by manufacturers can vary from company to company. We don’t recommend mixing tire models or brands from front to rear.

Our favorite sizes are stock or 205/50R15 front and 245/45R16 rear.

stock tire sizes here with slightly wider wheels: 16x7” and 17x8”

Winterizing Tips from WT Roadsters

 

Winter is coming up quick. Bill Thomas was kind enough to put together a list of items he does with his Elise, Triumph, and supercool motorbikes:

• Wash and if possible wax/detail vehicle. Make sure the vehicle is completely dry before permanent parking. If it is not possible to wash and/or detail the car then at a minimum it should be wiped down. Remove all items such as paper, food, etc. from the interior. The less clutter the better as this will help prevent rodents from wanting to move in.

• If the vehicle is to be stored throughout the winter without any chance of being driven, inflate all tires to 5 psi above maximum inflation pressure stated on the tire sidewall. This will help reduce flat-spotting of tires during extended immobilized storage. You can go one step further in preventing flat spots by parking vehicles on dense rubber pads large enough to cover the contact patch of tire. A 12''x12'' square one to two inches thick at each wheel is sufficient.

• Change oil and filter if possible. Clean oil sitting in the cooler(s), filter, and sump for upwards of six months is better than dirty oil!!!

• The fuel tank should be completely full. This will prevent condensation from forming on the inside of the tank walls should there be a rapid change in temperature and humidity.

• Check all fluid levels (coolant, brake, clutch, wiper reservoir) and adjust levels as required. Be sure to verify freeze protection of coolant/antifreeze solution in both the engine and windshield reservoir.

• Remove the battery from the vehicle and store it in a warm, dry climate utilizing a battery tender. Make sure windows are fully closed first. If a warm, dry area is not available such as a basement or garage, place the battery on a wood plank with tender attached. The wood will act as an insulator between the ice-cold floor of an unheated garage and the battery. The current flow created by the battery tender will generate a slight amount of heat in the battery. This is a good thing and will help prevent freezing.

• If the storage area has a tendency to become damp or experience rapid temperature and humidity changes (an uninstalled garage is a good example) you should spray a light mist of WD-40 or silicone in the engine bay completely covering everything. This will prevent corrosion on some of the aluminum and steel engine-related parts (ECU, Air Flow Meter, misc. fittings, and fixtures). Do not overdo it with the spray. Make it shine, not drip!!

• Once you have completed the checklist, your final task will be to cover the car with a soft, quality car cover. It should be able to 'breath', meaning that moisture can pass from the vehicle surface through the cover fibers to the atmosphere. This will help protect paint and trim from staining should the cover get wet or surface condensate.

• Finally, if the vehicle is accessible during the storage period, you may check its well-being as often as you care to. I have stored vehicles for 8-12 month stretches without any problems.

• One final important tip: DO NOT start the car and let it run for a few minutes at a time sporadically throughout the storage period. I know many people out there think this is a good idea but it is not. This practice will rapidly contaminate the engine oil and fill your exhaust with condensation (water!). BAD, VERY BAD!

Thx to Bill Thomas, WT Roadsters, NJ InoKinetic Authorized Dealer & Katana Installer (908) 313-4482 or info@wtroadsters.com