What is Underground Racing, and How Do I Play?
Underground Racing makes fast cars even faster. Here’s a bit about this North Carolina gem.
Written by Alex Reale
Reviewed by Kathleen Flear
Half the fun of owning an insanely powerful car, it seems, is trying to make it even more insanely powerful. Forget the hundreds of horsepower that you already have—can we get that number above 1,000? One proprietor in North Carolina can and will answer this question.
Here’s a bit about Underground Racing, an automotive
modification
shop with a penchant for Audis and Lamborghinis
.About Underground Racing
Founded by KC and Kevin Howeth in 2005, Underground Racing does modifications and
custom builds
for a variety of makes and models—Lamborghinis, Audis, Ferraris, Vipers, and Ford GTs are all cited. Clients can choose from a lengthy menu of options. You could add twin turbochargers, upgrade your wiring or drivetrain, mess with the suspension, or modify some fuel injectors, and that’s only scratching the surface. The point of all this: take your car to the next level without losing street legality.
Unsurprisingly, it’s the flashy Lamborghinis that get most of the social media air time, and the most attention to detail on Underground Racing’s site. A description for “Lamborghini race modifications” gives potential customers a sense of the complexity of their car’s upcoming surgery. First, the Lambo in question gets a full checkup, and a full detail for good measure.
Once the car is cleared, the gutting can commence: the engine is removed entirely from the car and taken apart in their garage. The disassembled engine is then stuffed with new connecting rods, pistons, and cylinder heads, put back together, and reinstalled in the car.
Finally, Underground Racing’s twin-turbo system joins the party, and a car that was already shocking in its speed and power is even crazier. Talk about an embarrassment of riches.
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An Underground Racing project
One happy customer discussed the modification of his Lamborghini in a
video
from about a decade ago. Kyle Bennett’s 2006 Gallardo underwent the full Underground Racing upgrade process, getting a new engine build, twin turbos, some suspension updates, new wheels and tires, and custom paint. The final flourishes were the addition of a roll cage, parachute, and fire prevention system—prerequisites for entry into street races.
This was the first Lamborghini that Underground Racing ever worked on, and it was an auspicious start. Bennett’s Gallardo jumped from 500 hp to 1,500 hp, and wound up setting a record (249.6 miles per hour) at the Texas Standing Mile shortly after its upgrades had been completed.
Bennett comments in the video that he expected to have to “give up something” in exchange for the insane power increases, but he felt that he didn’t make any such compromise with the modified Gallardo. Towards the end of the video, he praises the car’s “streetability” and lack of overheating issues as the camera pans over multiple Lamborghinis that are in queue for modification.
Underground Racing was off to the races, and has been ever since.
MORE: The Exocet Miata Is the Most Fun You'll Ever Have Doing Arts and Crafts
Insuring a modified Lambo
Whether your Lamborghini is modified or not, you can still save on
car insurance
. The Jerry
app is a good place to start. A licensed broker, Jerry does all the hard work of finding cheap quotes from the top name-brand insurance companies and buying new car insurance. Jerry will even help you cancel your old policy.And to ensure you always have the lowest rate, Jerry will send you new quotes every time your policy comes up for renewal, so you’re always getting the coverage you want at the best price. This level of service is why Jerry earned a 4.7/5 rating on the App Store and made it the top insurance app in the country.
4.7
