"Dark Helmet" Plaid Sets New Lap Record at Big Willow Track. FTW!

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

Thanks for the comments everyone! We added for context a note that this lap record was unintentionally set during shakedown runs for Pikes Peak. The record lap was the 3rd hot lap during this testing session which began with an already heat-soaked battery. It is easy to see the car has more potential left in it.

[@christiancooper7825]

😳 2.28 G’s Last Right Turn 👀 . . . 2.09 G Turn at the beginning 😮. AWESOME. THANKS (Model 3 Run topped at 1.88 G’s . . .)

[@tevan1593]

Thank you for leaving the center camera on guys! 😭😭😭😭

[@mullholand]

PLEASE TAKE THIS BEAST TO THE RING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!

[@bearlemley]

It wouldn’t make it. Did you see the Full Throttle at the end of this comparatively shorter course. At the start of the lab full throttle edged over 700 kW, but at the end of the race with the battery temperature in the red full throttle only yielded 340 kW. The ring would kill this car.

[@zevi]

Insane to look at the speedometer as its casually strolling through the turns! Great driving with a fantastic car!

[@alanmay7929]

Lol!!!

[@twothbeave]

Yup. And that's 7 mph faster than the GT3RS was able to hit up the long straight.

[@alanmay7929]

@@twothbeave very funny! A super heavily modified Tesla against a stock Porsche!!

[@UltimateTViptv]

@@alanmay7929 Just suspension and weight reduction.... The Plaid is a very heavy car stock also speed limited

[@alanmay7929]

@@UltimateTViptv the Porsche isn't that light either and it barely has half the power of that Tesla and it's also only rwd only put that In perspective! And it's also top speed Limited! In fact all cars are top speed Limited.

[@380898572]

Crushed the time in complete silence and no drama just precise driving

[@modlife]

Absolutely ridiculous! I can't wait to see him make a perfect run... some of the lines got a little sloppy, and he still CRUSHED it! I hope the plan is to take it back SOON!

[@Tonijo]

Hey, does this plaid have the unlocked max speed from the plaid ceramic brakes kit? Will you get it somehow? And does this model s have your carbon ceramic brakes?

[@Martin-xh1hd]

Bruh

[@Tonijo]

@@Martin-xh1hd hm yeah my message sounded kinda rude. Wasn't my intention, sorry

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

Hi Toni, it does not have unlocked speed. It requires the lastest software and potentially other components which we do not have. We do have our full cermic brake kit installed.

[@cyberkeak]

Hello , after Pikes Peak , come at Nurburgring please !!⚡⚡⚡

[@angelwalker.]

Why it stopped accelerating at the end?

[@manuelalmaguer123]

Battery ended up dying. I bet if they fix that battery issue. There's about a second to give in it.

[@apekatt2007]

Madness!

[@scotty305]

That looks fast! Which Yokohama tires were on the car during this lap?

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

A005 330X19

[@OneDanCentral]

How can i get one?

[@danburkland]

That is a wild ride, nice job Craig!

[@MichaelMcKown]

Congrats to UP! Now...attention Willow Springs International Raceway...put in some Tesla Superchargers. 🙄

[@bearlemley]

1:20 seconds this Tesla was toast. Throttle was down to half the kilowatts at the end. The secret to beating a model S with a Miata is just to do 5 laps.

[@ruftime]

Love Big Willow❤ Way to go UPP!

[@pjbiggleswerth8903]

Why kph tho?

[@johnreese1906]

What is the front/rear power distribution ?

[@alanmay7929]

It's a trimotor vehicle which means 1/3 front and 2/3 back

[@larryc1616]

​@@alanmay7929 no Alan the front and rear power distribution is totally adjustable now through the track mode software. For someone who hates ev, tesla and the Plaid baby, you sure are at every plaid video. Tell the truth, you ❤ America and tesla. Come out the closet Alan! 😂🇺🇲

[@lukabosnjak3829]

​@@alanmay7929 Technically each motor can deliver around 500hp so it means that it always varies between power distribution - much superior to gas cars

[@taipoxin]

@@alanmay7929 Idiocy on full show. Power distribution is fully adjustable in the software.

[@lachlanB323]

​@@lukabosnjak3829 I'm pretty sure each motor can only do 345 HP though right?

[@sigabiz]

Amazing!

[@ericchen3129]

Could definitely do a lot better, especially with battery cooling so it can remain at optimal temperature (and subsequently put out optimal performance) for much longer so that it can do longer tracks but otherwise congrats on the record!

[@speeddemon4468]

Insane!

[@ProfessorHamer]

Battery overheated after only one lap? Is that real? Track mode not optimized?

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

This lap record was unintentionally set during shakedown runs for Pikes Peak. The record lap was the 3rd hot lap during this testing session which began with an already heat-soaked battery. It is easy to see the car has more potential left in it.

[@ew10j4turbo]

We want to see the laptime in nurburgreen

[@alanmay7929]

Wtf are you talking about!?

[@ew10j4turbo]

@@alanmay7929 wtf to you man who cares this circuit!

[@lukabosnjak3829]

​@@ew10j4turbo We will soon with track package, I'm gonna be disappointed if it isn't in top 3 4 door cars (factory stock)

[@Tothefloor]

No acceleration past 1:20. Is that because of the overheating battery? If you could fix that it would shave off another 2-3 seconds easy.

[@thenonadventure]

Correct. He passed the line a full 20MPH slower as a result so there is definitely some time on the table. I've seen that same thing happen in all the Tesla Plaid Nürburgring videos. They put out a massive charge that absolutely destroys the competition but once that box turns Red on the display, the performance goes limp. It seems like the cooling was only ever designed to sustain 1/4 mile runs so hopefully that can improved for track use or even longer races.

[@Cloxxki]

On the start straight it already seemed to bog down a bit in the 150s. With such a powerful and slippery car I'd not expect that, knowing it can go well past 200 when not restricted. Perhaps the lap(s) to warm up the tires made the battery less "green" than it was shown to be.

[@thenonadventure]

@@Cloxxki yea quite possibly. There is also a lot of downforce being used to try and keep such a heavy car planted. I'm sure that's not helping with straightline speed either.

[@Cloxxki]

@@thenonadventure Gotcha. I looked at the recent pictures of this thing and it's way more "time attack" high downforce than even DTM cars from the prototype years. Curious what the drag coefficient is now :) It may be a faster lap timke than the GT2RS, but that car with probably one with plates and not even the MR upgrade kit. A lot of upgrading to the Tesla to get one lap out that barely betters a stock Porsche. With the same treatment, the Porsche would drop a bunch of seconds itself. And its plates.

[@fabadabean]

What we don't know is how many laps it did before this. But agreed, it's crazy that the battery goes into red so quickly.

[@RafaelZavarce]

This was without track package software that allows greatest speeds

[@alanmay7929]

Lol!!!! Are you sure about that!?

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

@@alanmay7929 He is correct. It requires the lastest software and other components which we do not have.

[@Just_a_random_birb]

@@alanmay7929the clown is back

[@TeslaElonSpaceXFan]

👍

[@robertlinder6414]

Is it ready for FSD?

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

We planted neura link with intergrated FSD in Craig.

[@ChipHead0110]

​@@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla 😂Totally underrated answer! I surely hope Tesla is letting shadow mode learn from this amazing data though. Don't know about Craig, but I've wanted a chip in my head since childhood. ❤😅

[@totszwai]

You guys need a matte screen protector

[@taipoxin]

Seems Tesla needs to improve their cooling systems a bit more still if they want people to be able to take advantage of the track pack and see its full potential. Better cooling, better suspension, seats with better side support. CCB should be stock or a much cheaper add-on.

[@twothbeave]

Why? If you aren’t tracking the Plaid, you really shouldn’t need the CCB. With the stock brakes it’s stops quicker than the Taycan Turbo S. Those are serious binders, they just can’t put up with the stress of the weight and repeatedly stops from high speed. Most drivers won’t ever need them. In case you haven’t noticed CCB alone are expensive upgrades 15K on every other car. On the Plaid if not only includes brakes installation but also new wheels and tires as well as the software upgrade. The Plaid is an untouchable value without the brake kit. There’s a reason it’s not included. Where do you get the Plaid suffers from heating issues? Never seen anywhere where I’ve seen it’s suffering from thermal management issues. That was found in previous Model S’ remedied with this iteration.

[@taipoxin]

​@@twothbeave I'm not saying you necessarily need CCB's outside of track use, but it would be a lot more confidence inspiring for spirited drives through bendy back roads given the power of the car and how continuously cycling on the steel brakes with that much kinetic energy is going to soften them quite quickly. It's been mentioned in countless review videos and by actual owners on the TMC forums about the brakes feeling too soft for the power of the car. And no, the Plaid stock brakes do not stop quicker than the Taycan Turbo S. Testing shows the Plaid stops in 104 feet and the Turbo S in 103 so they are about equal. And I'm aware CCB's alone are expensive, I just think they should be included in the price of the car - especially given how easy the car is for people to drive fast in, yet who lack experience in combination with a suspension that isn't very robust either. Tesla has big enough margins on the S and X that they could easily afford to include them or lower the price to make the car a more attractive buy while also more safe. An "untouchable" value or not, sales are still lagging as can be seen with the significant price drops and delivery numbers (less than 2%). There are still many compelling reasons people prefer a gas sports car around the same price point and not including CCB's isn't doing them any favors in swaying people who otherwise might consider buying one. As far as thermal management, there are numerous track runs where the Plaid runs into heat soak in the battery and drops down into severe power reduction and it shows the battery in red in track mode. You can start by watching Misha Charoudin's lap video around the Ring. The Rimac Nevera is a much better engineered EV with sophisticated cooling for the battery, motors and power electronics. Tesla should have done the same and just charged more for a more track focused or more highly capable Plaid such as the cancelled Plaid Plus, but they rely only on the heat pump and some minor improvements to active cooling since Palladium gen model S's.

[@speeddemon4468]

​@@twothbeave Look at Nordschleife laps if you want to see overheating issued.

[@larryc1616]

99% will never track them so no need for ceramic brakes

[@TesLatino]

Let’s go!!!

[@Shy_Knee_Side_Up]

Only thing surprising about this is that it has not happened sooner. Why haven’t more people done this with the Model S Plaid’s? I mean there is NO other car on the market where you can get an 1100hp sedan out of the box for like $150K NEW. The formula is not rocket science. Same as an ICE car. And some of these are more pre-requisite to set lap records then others. -Strip unnecessary weight - ✅ -Upgrade brakes - ✅ -Upgraded suspension/chassis-✅ -Crazy aero set-up -Sticky tires - ✅ -Driver with big balls - ✅ Win. Repeat.

[@andrewdekoning]

What we've found is that the community of high performance driving enthusiasts and Tesla fans just doesn't overlap much. We are running the Mountain Pass Performance sponsored Plaid as teamPGR and running against ICE cars in the eastern and middle of the US in OLOA and later this year Grid Life with some success.

[@alanmay7929]

Crap!!! Is it because the Tesla community is super boring ASF!! I mean I haven't seen any wild project from any of them not even unplugged performance! They are all lazy talking about money and nothing else! It's the non Tesla enthousiaste that actually does something like whistling diesel...... Grind hard plumbing....

[@frankhage1734]

I hope I'll see a bunch of electrics at pikes peak this year. Better have no siren..

[@IR-xy3ij]

Overheated in less than a lap

[@edwardspan396]

You can hear the downforce.

[@iowa_don]

Dark Helmet has S3XY buttons on his steering wheel?? I wonder what they are programmed to do??

[@mrmiliman]

Defrost 😂

[@iowa_don]

@@mrmiliman Aha, I see what you did there!! Well Played!

[@alanmay7929]

Crap

[@Just_a_random_birb]

@@alanmay7929you are

[@Cloxxki]

This is with the car that is more "racecar" than a GT3 racer, right? It has a lot of weight to overcome vs the factory stock GT2RS, but to barely get one lap that beats that one, seems to give room for improvement. And that's Tesla's job more than Unplugged's.

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

This lap record was unintentionally set during shakedown runs for Pikes Peak. The record lap was the 3rd hot lap during this testing session which began with an already heat-soaked battery. It is easy to see the car has more potential left in it.

[@Cloxxki]

@@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla Indeed then!

[@lukabosnjak3829]

​​@@Cloxxki Wasn't that GT2RS modified as well?

[@Cloxxki]

@@lukabosnjak3829 Oh could well be actually. Record keeping needs to be better and list mods.

[@alanmay7929]

@@lukabosnjak3829 it's already modified which means it's a stock racing car

[@g00d-news]

aaaaand again lol!

[@RafaelZavarce]

Tesla should have I racing league with different teams modifies suspension and aero and go racing each other

[@alanmay7929]

Utterly boring!!!!

[@MichailGreshishchev]

Tycan can do laps until the cows come home. Plaid always overheating battery. Needs better cooling.

[@Cloxxki]

Taycan. Of course it pull less power which helps, but its battery is a bit smaller as well. I do wonder how much can be won with cooling alone. Investing 50 kg or 100 kg there. Or a crushed ice container that makes the most of it over a few minutes. Battery chemistry might be a better way to get "cooling" from. Simply spec cells that prioritise low heat rejection (low internal resistance) a bit more over range per kg of cells. Cooling circuits can always be improved on, budget and time allowing.

[@UnpluggedPerformanceTesla]

This lap record was unintentionally set during shakedown runs for Pikes Peak. The record lap was the 3rd hot lap during this testing session which began with an already heat-soaked battery. It is easy to see the car has more potential left in it. Also consider our spec race aero generates ~4,000lbs of downforce at 150mph. Think about a Tesla model 3 on top of Dark Helmet. You can imagine how much more energy that takes away.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

"Tycan can do laps until the cows come home" Not in race trim. Plaid can do the same, but not in race trim.

[@Cloxxki]

@@wolfgangpreier9160 A high downforce setup would also not help. More full throttle time.

[@wolfgangpreier9160]

@@Cloxxki They've done the record with a a pikes peak setup. For that you need as much downforce as possible - even better variable downforce. Low in the long straights and + 50 tons in every corner. I would love to see the McMurtry running up that hill.

[@crusader777]

Every communist dream car

[@alanmay7929]

Nope

[@Just_a_random_birb]

@@alanmay7929your opinion

[@steveaustin9752]

< GO TO THE GREENHeLL with the latest Trackpackage plaid modded by yourself > = Your business of performance parts will improve as fast as this futur beast made a Nurb EV lap record !