SP Rides: A Touch of Lotus

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By Michael Kitchens

Name: Bill Wong Jr.
Age: 46
Occupation: Opthalmologist
Hobbies: Racing, family
Year/Make/Model: 2005 Lotus Elise
Color: Saffron Yellow
Engine: BOE (Beyond OEM Engineering) REV400 Supercharger with Fastworks Tune, BOE A/F intercooler, BOE catch can, BOE Fuel Surge Tank, BOE Rear Clam Hinge, BOE Silent Touch high exit exhaust, PPE Performance Header, ceramic coated, Lava wrap, Voltphreaks Battery plus cutoff switch, ProAlloy Radiator
Exterior: Rear panel delete, CIRO Racing Carbon Fiber Dual Element Wing, Self -Fabricated trunk bracing for the wing, Self-Fabricated Front Splitter and mounts with APR rods, Xenon headlights
Interior: Sector111 Harness Bar, Schroth Harnesses, LETSLA shifter kit, Shifter bracing, body color matched interior trim, Matte dry weave CF door panels, Center mount gauge console, AEM boost gauge, AEM AFR gauge, 130lbs of lead ballast with self-fabricated brackets to make it SSM legal.
Suspension: BWR (Blackwatch Racing) Super Stiff Swaybar, BWR Double Adjustable Ohlin’s shocks with remote reservoirs and custom Eibach Springs and perches (550-lb. front, 800-lb. rear), BWR polyurethane suspension bushings, Milled steering arms for more camber
Wheels/Tires/Brakes: TR Motorsport C3M 15×9 wheels, square setup, Hoosier A6 245F/275R race tires, extended wheel studs, Custom Spacers, SS brake lines, ATE Superblue Fluid

The Lotus Elise is one of the most uncompromising performance machines on the planet. In it, there are no cupholders, no carpeting, not even a glove box. This is an unrelenting roadster dedicated to pure exhilaration, and the 2005 model is pushed to its limits every chance owner Bill Wong Jr. gets. With his history, it’s little wonder why he picked such an adventurous thrill ride.

Bill has long lived an interesting and varied life. He’s studied to be a mechanical engineer, had an eight-year stint in the military and today works as an ophthalmologist. It was during his time in medical school that he was introduced to autocross and since then he’s become an active participant. After the demise of his auto-x ride, he came across this saffron yellow Lotus Elise and decided he couldn’t pass up the opportunity of owning this beauty.

This particular model has been steadily modified to wring every bit of performance out of the chassis. First, the suspension has been thoroughly worked over and features a slew of new components designed to make this car handle like it is on rails. Blackwatch Racing’s double adjustable Ohlin’s shocks with remote reservoirs have been mated to custom, super-stiff Eibach Springs, and a BWR Super Stiff Swaybar is one of the ride’s prominent features. Additionally, the suspension bushings have been replaced with BWR polyurethane sets. The entire car has been corner-weighted and camber-adjusted for optimal race performance.

Although the engine is only 190HP from the factory, the car has a base weight of 1,900 pounds, making it an absolute rocket. Bill has even taken it a step further with the addition of a Beyond OEM Engineering REV400 Supercharger package with a Fastworks Tune. This includes the addition of a BOE intercooler, catch can, fuel surge tank and a PPE performance header. The BOE rear clam hinge allows the engine to be even more accessible by allowing the entire rear body to lift. The rear has also been modified to fit the super aggressive BOE Silent Touch high exit exhaust.

The exterior and interior are straight race and both showcase a large number of performance improvements. A custom fabricated front splitter is mounted for additional front downforce with APR rods. In addition, the rear sports a CIRO Racing carbon fiber dual element wing. Bill had to personally install more bracing to support the automobile’s incredible wing. The interior includes a laundry list of necessary gauges as well as racing harnesses from Schroth supported by a Sector111 harness bar.  A LETSLA shifter kit keeps it smooth and weight reduction has been carried out with the inclusion of matte dry weave carbon fiber door panels.

While racing, the car runs on super-sticky Hoosier A6 245 front/275 rear tires mounted on TR Motorsports C3M 15×9 wheels in a square setup. Custom spacers were needed to make the setup work, but the end result is one truly monstrous wheel and tire package.

Along with his co-driver and teammate, Chris Carris, Bill has spent three seasons racing and modifying this blazing fast yellow sunburn. Bill admits that racing provides an immeasurable amount of benefits.

“It helps relieve stress, improve my reflexes, sharpen my skills while having a ton of fun,” he says.  One thing is for sure: A spin in this baby will definitely put a grin on your face.

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