It’s common for car enthusiasts to rush their car onto the dyno before it’s truly ready, only to have it strapped down and the tuner uncover a list of issues. Nothing kills the excitement of chasing those long-awaited power figures faster than unexpected problems.

Booking a session with remote tuning expert Shawn Christenson could save you thousands. Shawn, from Tuned by Shawn, is a Haltech specialist who can remotely tune your car from anywhere in the world.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

Shawn shares his journey from a childhood fascination with cars to becoming a self-taught tuner and business owner. He talks about the challenges of diving headfirst into tuning, including his first attempts learning on his FD RX-7. “Piston engines were easy after learning to tune on a Rotary”

We explore how Shawn began his tuning career with Adaptronic before transitioning to Haltech, which he now specializes in and also provides technical support. He outlines his remote tuning process and why it works so effectively, stressing the importance of road-tuning a car before it ever sees the dyno.

Shawn breaks down the pros and cons of remote tuning, including how he manages tricky areas like knock control when the car isn’t physically in front of him. He also touches on CAN bus integration in modern vehicles, an area he’s becoming increasingly involved with.

Spending hours—or even days—on the dyno can quickly add up if things don’t go to plan. Shawn’s focus on minimizing hiccups and maximizing efficiency makes a strong case for his approach. He might just be the one to help get the most out of your car.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

Follow Shawn here:

Instagram: tunedbyshawn

Facebook: Tuned by Shawn

WWW: tunedbyshawn.com

Timestamps:

0:00 How to Avoid Wasting Thousands on the Dyno
3:44 How did you form a passion for cars?
8:12 I brought a FD RX7 for $9000
12:00 Did you learn to tune on your FD RX7?
24:54 What were you doing for Elliot (Turblown) at this point?
29:06 The process of remote support and tuning
32:03 How did Tuned by Shawn start?
36:48 How and why you specialised in Adaptronic then Haltech
43:04 Tech support from ECU brands is massive
49:34 Firmware updates
52:50 Getting the car dialed in before the dyno
56:24 What are long term fuel trims and how do they work?
1:00:00 Is being away from the car a pro or a con? Remote tuning
1:03:21 What’s some red flags you look for in the long term fuel trim table?
1:08:33 Are you remote tuning on a dyno or on the road?
1:12:48 How do you tune to avoid knock remotely?
1:23:04 Are you providing a more conservative tune remotely?
1:26:11 How are you using CAN Bus on the Haltech?
1:47:06 Final 3 questions

Formula 1 represents the pinnacle of motorsport and James Densley along with the team at TDF Limited are breathing new life into retired F1 cars, transforming them back into the ultimate track weapons.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

James shares his journey from a car-obsessed child through karting to mechanic at the top levels of motorsport. He recounts his experiences in Formula 3 and then with Mercedes F1, before explaining how TDF Limited was founded and started specialising in restoring and supporting retired F1 cars.

The conversation explores the complexities involved in purchasing, restoring, and maintaining historic F1 cars, including the challenges posed by obsolete electronics and sourcing rare components. James emphasises the critical role of modern technologies such as 3D scanning in facilitating these restoration projects.

We also discuss the operational and logistical challenges of running historic F1 cars today, the development of the TDF One program to make these cars more accessible, and the technical hurdles of modernizing powertrains while preserving the true essence of Formula 1 racing.

It’s unfortunate that these extraordinary machines often face the scrap heap or sit around as expensive ornaments after their brief racing lives. What TDF Limited are achieving by resurrecting these masterpieces and returning them to the track is truly groundbreaking.

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

Follow James here:

Instagram: @tdf_limited
YouTube: @tdflimited
WWW: tdf.co.uk

Timestamps:

0:00 Is a Retired F1 Car the Ultimate Track Toy?
4:22 How did you form an interest in cars?
6:34 What’s a race weekend look like in Formula 3?
7:59 How do limited slip diffs work?
9:19 Tell us about Mercedes F1
14:00 What is TDF and how did it come to be?
18:20 How does TDF Works get a hold of used F1 cars?
22:22 Used F1 engines, are they hard to find and get running?
27:45 How do we get a trans axel for one of these cars?
31:50 What is seamless gear shifting and how does it work?
34:41 How do you go about running these cars on old electronics?
45:03 How do you source replacement body and aero parts?
49:50 Can you put something like a Judd V10 in one of these chassis?
52:37 What’s it look like for TDF Works to take a F1 car to the track for the day?
58:04 Can you give us an idea of the hydraulic system?
59:05 What is TDF One and how does it work?
1:02:55 How much of a debate was it to go to a turbo 4 cylinder?
1:06:29 How much HP are the genuine F1 cars making compared to TDF One?
1:07:59 What is the 4 cylinder engine in the TDF One cars?
1:11:03 Are you running a F2 trans axel in the rear?
1:12:52 What’s the electronics package and have you added ABS & Traction control?
1:15:46 How often do you need to overhaul the engine and gearbox and other parts?
1:20:50 How does crack testing on carbon fibre work?
1:22:15 How much does a TDF One car cost to run?
1:23:57 How many TDF One cars are out there?
1:24:44 What’s the build time on one of these cars?
1:28:26 Final 3 questions

No matter the stage of a build, most projects reach a point where giving up feels tempting. They demand grit and perseverance—and Karel Silha from Karel S Motorsport’s wild DTM-inspired M4 Time Attack build is no exception.

We first spoke to Karel in 2022, and now he’s back to share what it really takes to shake down and test a home-built car of this caliber. Believe it or not, it all started with a toy car that Karel scanned and scaled up using CAD

👉 Use the code ‘PODCAST500’ to get $500 OFF HPA's VIP Package: https://hpcdmy.co/podvip

In this episode, we explore the engineering details behind the build. Karel explains the challenges of mounting a massive aero package capable of generating serious downforce. He highlights the practical difficulties of high-performance engineering in a garage environment.

Karel also shares how he’s utilised modern tools like CAD and FEA to optimise the design. We talk through his experience testing on KW Suspension’s seven-post rig—fine-tuning the suspension for low-speed mechanical grip and managing the immense downforce at high speeds.

We discuss the complexities of engine management with turbocharging and individual throttle bodies (ITBs), the importance of on track testing versus dyno calibration.

Despite the technical challenges and the emotional toll, this episode is far from bleak. Karel’s journey is incredibly inspiring and he’s optimistic that 2025 will finally be the year this insane build shows its true potential.

Follow Karel here:

Instagram: karel_s_motorsport
Facebook: Karel S Motorsport
Youtube: karelsmotorsport

Links:

Episode 26 with Karel: Building a Tube Frame 1100hp Time Attack Weapon

Episode 75 with Dave Higgins (Aero Dave): The Realities of Driving and Maintaining Your Own F1 Car.

Timestamps:

0:00 DIY Motorsport Isn’t Easy But It’s Insanely Rewarding
4:12 Welcome back, can you give us a quick intro into who you are?
6:06 Can you give us a quick overview of the car?
12:24 Designing car modifications with serviceability in mind
16:40 What engine setup do you have in the car?
22:51 How do you go about the first shakedown for a car like this?
26:37 How did you go about fixing the initial issues?
30:12 What was going on with the wheel speed issue and why do we even need wheel speeds?
34:51 Why are you not running ABS?
38:15 Wheel speed issues wrapped up.
42:29 Were there any other issues in the initial testing? Dry sump issues?
49:40 Issues with the fixing points for the splitter and wing?
53:27 What material are you using?
56:37 Can the average enthusiast get good results with FEA or do you need to be an Engineer to use it?
1:01:25 Did you have any cooling issues?
1:07:49 What is the height of the splitter at static ride height?
1:11:14 What is a 7 post rig?
1:19:44 Are you tuning the car onto bumpstomps to combat aero at high speeds?
1:21:46 Where does testing go from here?
127:11 How are you going about tuning your engine package?
1:35:11 Were you able to do any gear shift calibration on the dyno?
1:43:00 Will we see you at WTAK in Australia?
1:46:35 Final 3 questions