Newsflash
Ariel Atom ownership - More than just performance figures
Many automotive enthusiasts get lost in the blur of performance figures, option choices, and supercar lap time comparisons. We are guilty of this as well. With all of the facts being put to print it is often very easy to forget the other benefits that come with owning a supercar....The statistics that you just cannot put to print. Meeting up with a group of like-minded owners for a Sunday morning drive. Meeting up with a group of owners to hang out in a local parking lot to talk about cars. Getting away from the daily grind for a few hours and enjoying yourself....and your car.
Recently there was an event in Califonia that brought together a number Atoms. Below are a couple pictures that speak for themselves.
Sometimes it is nice to step away from performance figures and track tests and enjoy everything that Ariel Atom ownership has to offer - It is relaxing just looking at these pictures.
Above - a large group of Atoms enjoys a Sunday Drive.
Above - a group of Atoms parked together and ready to share stories from the day.
Photo credit - Gabriel Nobles
Eddie Hill Joins the Ariel Atom Team
For Immediate Release
April 14, 2010 Alton, VA – TMI AutoTech, Inc. is pleased to announce a new and exciting association with Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles of Wichita Falls, TX. This new partnership will see Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles represent the Ariel Atom brand as the Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas exclusive dealer.
Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles is a well established business with 44 years of service as a motorcycle, ATV, and powersports dealer maintaining the Better Business Bureau highest rating of A+. The dealership will provide sales and service for the new Ariel Atom 3, as well as provide sales, service, and support to existing Ariel Atom 2 owners.
Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles was opened in 1966 by Eddie Hill who has since gone on to become famous in the world of North American motorsport. Eddie is the only racer to have set official National Records as the fastest and quickest in the sport of drag racing and has also won World Championships in Top Fuel cars as well as Top Fuel boats. One of Eddie’s most notable accomplishments came in 1988 when he was the first person to officially run the ¼ mile in under 5 seconds!
After retirement from full time racing Eddie continues to be very active at his dealership along with his wife Ercie. When not at work Eddie continues to spend free time at the race track and can routinely be found with his own personal Ariel Atom at local race tracks turning some very quick laps.
“Our new partnership with Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles builds on an already enthusiastic dealer network of genuine automotive enthusiasts…and to add a motorsport legend into the mix is fantastic!” states Mark Swain, V.P. Sales and Marketing for TMI AutoTech, Inc. “If the Ariel Atom can satisfy the need for speed of someone who was routinely running from 0-320mph in 4.5 seconds….that says a lot about the performance capabilities of the Atom 3!”
For more information on Eddie Hill’s Fun Cycles please visit www.eddiehillsfuncycles.com
For more information on the exciting Ariel Atom 3 please visit www.arielatom.com
Unique Fabricating Becomes Authorized Factory Service, Repair, and Installation Facility
TMI is pleased to announce a new partnership with Unique Fabricating of Central Point, OR that will see them move forward as a Factory Service, Repair, and Installation facility for the Ariel Atom.
Unique Fabricating has a long history with the Ariel Atom in North America and is well suited to attend to the needs Ariel Atom owners. TMI is excited about this partnership as it gives current, and future, Ariel Atom owners a facility that may be geographically closer than TMI in Virginia. Unique Fabricating is equipped to handle everything from routine maintenance to vehicle repair.
Unique Fabricating is well known within the Atom community, as well as the Motorsport world. Owners Tom and Judy Smurzyski are ethusiastic, and passionate automotive enthusiasts that many current Ariel Atom owners may recognize from their participation at the most recent AtomFest event.
Unique Fabricating
541.664.6000
Central Point, OR
Ariel Atom 3 On-Track @ VIR
TMI recently participated at a NASA track event at Virginia International Raceway. The first event of the season for NASA was a success with great attendance and well organized run groups. TMI had a great weekend running the Ariel Atom 3 demo car; you cannot beat a weekend at the track!
Cold temperatures were not enough to keep the eager team away from the track....Saturday morning temperatures of 28 degrees made for a chilly first session, however the day warmed up and provided some fantastic data. Engineer Jansen Lipps and Brent Gates were present to work through our Race Technology DL2 data system along with the support of Race Technology's own Al Seims to assist with our new Video 4 installation. We will have some video up shortly.
We were fortunate this event to have the opportunity to run the famous VIR Full course on Saturday and switch to the challenging and twisty North course on Sunday. Running back to back on different tracks showed the versatility of the Atom 3 as no set-up changes were required to enjoy either track.
The Ariel Atom 3 ran flawlessly all weekend; Thanks to NASA Mid-Atlantic weekend for a great event. Watch for an Ariel Atom 3 at a track near you!
NASA Events are well run on a time sensitive schedule including a 7:30am drivers meeting which means an early start to the day; at this time of year it is still dark out when getting ready to head to the track.
Brent and Jansen look over some data prior to the car hitting the track
Ariel Atom Paddock Set-up - NASA events are great, low-key, competitor friendly events
TMI AutoTech, Inc. Announces New California Dealer
February 12, 2010
Alton, VA – TMI AutoTech, Inc. is pleased to announce a new partnership with Sector111 of Temecula, CA that will represent the Ariel Atom brand within the California sportscar market place.
Sector111 will provide a sales and service dealership for the new Ariel Atom 3, as well as continuing to expand its service capabilities for the Ariel Atom 2 owners.
“The partnership with Sector111 is one that will benefit current and future Ariel Atom owners alike” says Mark Swain, V.P. Sales and Marketing for TMI AutoTech, Inc. “Sector111 will allow new clients the opportunity to view an Ariel Atom 3 demo car at their facility prior to purchase, as well as provide an authorized service location for all Ariel Atoms”
The addition of Sector111 as a California Ariel Atom dealer builds on an already strong North American dealer network for the Ariel Atom brand with locations in Arizona(Forman Motorsport), Montreal, Canada(Auto Ferah), and Mexico City(UK Supercars). These partnerships provide excellent exposure in key markets across North America.
For more information on Sector111 please visit www.sector111.com
For more information on the exciting Ariel Atom 3 please visit www.arielatom.com
Ariel Atom 3 and UK Supercars tackle Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
January 23, 2010 – Mexico City, Mexico - Ariel Atom 3 and UK Supercars tackle Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez
TMI AutoTech, Inc. and UK Supercars spent the past weekend at the ex-Formula one circuit in Mexico City, Mexico. Autódromo Hermanos Rodríguez is a challenging and fast 4.4km road circuit located in the heart of Mexico. This track was home to the Mexican Grand Prix and has also hosted the stars of NASCAR and Champcar.
UK Supercars, the authorized dealer of the Ariel Atom in Mexico, were on hand with their supercharged demo car to showcase the new car, as well as provide demo rides to potential clients and fans alike.
With sunny skies and a pit lane full of over 100 other exotic vehicles the Ariel Atom 3 stole the show and drew a large crowd as it was unveiled in the morning. The Ariel Atom 3 ran non-stop for the duration of the day, eventually logging more than 200 fast and trouble free miles on the flowing circuit.
“The Ariel Atom 3 has created a huge wave of excitement today” stated Mark Swain, VP of TMI AutoTech, Inc. who was on-hand to support the event. “This is the first Ariel Atom 3 that has been run in Mexico…and….without a doubt has exceeded the performance, and reliability expectations of the Mexican drivers!”
With the announcement that the Ariel Atom 3 would be heading to Mexico late in 2009, with UK Supercars as the dealer, there was a buzz within the motorsport community. “This is a great opportunity for us to show our clients the car in its natural element” enthused Fernando Valasco of UK Supercars “We have had many clients fly into the event specifically to experience the Ariel Atom 3 first hand today…and….the huge smiles on their faces after getting out of the Ariel Atom 3 tell us exactly what they thought!”
TMI is very excited by what the future holds with UK Supercars; UK Supercars is a young and dynamic company that has some very exciting events planned in the next few months. Stay tuned!
For more information on the Ariel Atom 3
www.arielatom.com TMI AutoTech, Inc. – North American Builder of the Ariel Atom 3
www.uks.com.mx – UK Supercars – Authorized Ariel Atom Dealer
The UK Supercars team awaiting the start of the event.
Mark Swain(TMI) and the UK Supercars team discuss the days events in Pit lane
Ariel Atom 3 in the Paddock
AtomFest II A Success
TMI AutoTech was pleased to support AtomFest II at Hallett Motor Racing Circuit just outside of Tulsa, OK. The event billed as "3 days of Atoms at Speed!" brought owners from all over the United States and England together in one location for track sessions, tech sessions, and camaraderie.
Bringing multiple Ariel Atoms together in one location is not only visually stunning, it is also fantastic to watch as they circulate the track at speed. Atom owners come from many different backgrounds with a common passion for the Ariel Atom.
Atoms ready and waiting
A couple of Atoms getting ready to head ontrack
The Atom 3 tackles Limerock Park
TMI AutoTech had the pleasure of attending a club event at Limerock Park over the weekend. Weather could not dampen the day with numerous miles driven around the twisty, undulating, and historic road course in the Ariel Atom 3 demo car. "This was a great opportunity to mingle with club members, talk about cars, driving, and it also gave us the opportunity to showcase the Atom 3s on track potential"enthused Mark Swain. "Rain and flowing water on-track were great challenges as a driver but the Atom 3 handled them with ease; It was great to take members for ride-alongs and show the reliability, performance, and fun that can be had in the Atom regardless of weather!"
Thank you to The Club at Limerock Park for your hospitailty; We look forward to hitting the track with you again soon. For anyone looking for a great track with a friendly atmosphere check out www.limerock.com
Below: The Ariel Atom 3 speeds through the stunning scenery that is Limerock Park.
Photo by Peter Orosz. More Photos can be viewed at http://kzamm.com
Ariel Atom 3 Heads to Mexico
TMI AutoTech, Inc. is pleased to announce that it has expanded its dealer network and recently formed a relationship with UK Supercars based out of Mexico City. UK Supercars will be responsible for all sales and service of the Atom 3 within Mexico.
"UK Supercars is an excellent fit for the Ariel Atom 3"says Dave Goadby, President of TMI AutoTech."They are enthusiasts who have a passion for automobiles, driving, and understand the needs and wants of an Ariel Atom 3 owner"
If you wish to find out more about UK Supercars please check out their website at www.uks.com.mx
This is an exciting move forward for the Ariel Atom 3 that will help to open up the market and bring the excitement of the Ariel Atom 3 to an entirely new audience.
Car and Driver Review
Ariel Atom 3 - Specialty File
Small tweaks and a berserk Honda powertrain make the near-perfect Atom lighter, faster, and better.
Those who weren’t among the half-dozen anxious souls who had an Atom on order as its former U.S. builder, Brammo Motorsports, closed its doors are excused for missing the track toy’s one-year hiatus. The builder’s baton has since been passed to TMI AutoTech, a recently formed U.S. subsidiary of Canadian firm Trak Motorsports, which ran the Ariel atom Experience [Upfront, October 2007] and, in March 2008, set up operations in a 10,000-square-foot warehouse on the grounds of Virginia International Raceway. The first Atom emerged in January from TMI’s facility, where the steel-tube frame is bent and welded and the car is painstakingly hand-built by the company’s five employees. TMI plans to produce 50 cars this year and with additional staff, 100 the next.
This latest Atom 3, as distinguished from the first model sold here, Brammo’s Atom 2, is now essentially identical to the version built in the U.K. and sold in the rest of the world. Changes include Honda-only powertrains—the majority of Atom 2s were powered by the Chevy Cobalt’s supercharged 2.0-liter—as well as seemingly small but important tweaks such as specifically tuned Bilstein shocks that replace the off-the-shelf Konis, and slight modifications to the frame, suspension, and seats.
