After the crash, very few people imagined Unplugged Performance would even attempt to re-enter (just ask the folks in the comments). Newly purchased Model 3 Performance, to be used for parts Lasting impactĭespite the loss of Rocky’s trainer, he rallied a true friend in Apollo Creed, trained in a totally new way and went on to win against Clubber Lang. For reference, Tesla’s site lists the price of a Model 3 Performance as $54,990. This rebuild will be costing Unplugged Performance about double their initial investment into the race. Their plan is to harvest necessary pieces out of the new car and transplant them into the existing race car. How much will it cost?Īt the time of writing this article, the team is at work stripping another new Tesla Model 3 Performance model, with the intent of replacing key suspension and drive components. The team expects to turn out a race-ready car in just 48 hours.
#Ben schaffer unplugged performance driver#
Rear drive with assemblyĮngineer Eddy Castelan compiled a frenzied list on his phone of the needed replacement parts, which he shared with Electrek:Įlectrical issue, Need piro test, Rear drive unit, Rear driver and passenger side caliper, Both rear brake lines, Rear coilovers, Rear oem arms, Rear control arms, Rear sub frame, Rear drive unit, Rear axels, Rear sensor harness, Both Rear calipers, Both Rear brake parking harness, Rear sub frame, Both Rear brake hard lines, Rear wheel speed sensors, Condenser, Radiator shroud, Lower support, Steering rack, Front sub frame, Front axles, Front sway bar mounts, Drivers side upright. Front core support, 4 corners upright hub/knuckle, Rear rotors Starting just yesterday afternoon, Schaffer spent hours on the phone, pooling resources from across the West to assist in the rebuild, and it’s happening. Calling in favors, paying overtime, overnight shipping, all nighter repair work… whatever it takes. He reached out to his own team in California, to fly to Colorado with parts in hand on the plane. Schaffer reached out to Eurocars Collision Center in Colorado Springs for help. After seeing the damage and possibilities, he and the team decided to rebuild and re-enter the race. In racing, the highs are high, and the lows are low.īen Schaffer, president of Unplugged Performance, got to work. Still in race uniform and standing on the mountain, Pobst reflected: With the car loaded on a flatbed truck, the team held their heads low, and their spirits were lower. The front and rear ends of the car were smashed, the drive unit was showing signs of being caved in, and many presumed the car to be totaled. Pobst lost control entering an area of the track called the “bottomless pit.” The tuned Model 3 slammed into a barrier, dove into a gravel ditch, and slid up the mountain about 10 yards. However, during practice, the team suffered a demoralizing blow when driver Pobst engaged in “a rookie mistake.” Crash during practice run
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The team scored an impressive record-breaking time at the Laguna Seca track not long ago, and set an impressive Pikes Peak qualifying time of 4:15. Front drive unit removed from the wrecked car Crash Things were looking up, until they weren’t.
Unplugged Performance is out to prove their tuned performance additions can turn any Model 3 into a race-capable vehicle. In a short time, they bought a new Model 3, fit it with their custom parts, and afforded practice time for their star driver, Randy Pobst. Unplugged Performance has been preparing feverishly for Pikes Peak. You may recall Rocky, the reigning boxing champ, being knocked out by Clubber Lang and then being forced to find motivation and true allies needed to fight again. Unplugged Performance is going through their own version of Rocky III. The team is currently scrambling to finish the car in time for re-inspection before official clearance to race again. The car will likely be declared totaled, after suffering damage to a variety of drive and suspension components (list below).
#Ben schaffer unplugged performance upgrade#
Unplugged Performance, a premium performance upgrade company for Tesla vehicles, will re-enter the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb after their Model 3 crashed during a practice run.
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