About

#everyonehasastory – and it starts with these two…

GTM focuses on reselling VAG products

Eric M’s father Nic M wanted to start his own European Car Parts reselling business and was looking for names. On a whim, and since GTA had been merged into the Audi Club website, Eric M suggested they call the business “Gran Touring Motorsports.” – The business was in operation until 2010.

Nic M was a 30 year Pro-Solo/Auto-X veteran, winning many championships in CSP (CRX) and FP (914). His humble beginnings as a racer started him out with a Mk1 Scirocco in the late 70s, and later graduating from the Dick Turner AX school in NY. Nic spent his free time with his children (Eric M and Tania M) and working on what seemed like an unending array of car projects. 

Nothing was ever stock. He held positions in various car clubs (SCCA, PCA, ACNA, etc) and as Auto-X started to fade in popularity in the DMV in the late 90s, Nic moved his attention to HPDE and spent 10+ years as a DE instructor for many clubs. He loved anything Motorsport, from Karting, MotoGP, F1, Rally, AutoX, you name it… He was interested and wanted to be involved. He earned the title “MacGyver” many times for his grassroots approach to solving automotive engineering projects; and it wouldn’t have been a “Nic Approved Solution” if it didn’t involve some sort of custom bracketry or use of scrap copper. In 2010, Nic M passes away from Stage-4 brain cancer. RIP. Member #00000

  • 1.9 Liter GMP, Mk1 VW Scirocco
  • 3.6L Porsche 914/6 Slant Nose
  • Pro-Solo Mk1 Honda CR-X
  • 4.2L S8 swapped Audi Coupe Quattro
  • V8 Engine Bay
  • 3.6L V8 1983 Audi URQ
  • Mk4 TDI "Racer" at Summit Point (T9) - this car is now owned by Mountain Man Dan!

Meanwhile, Eric M decides to follow in his father’s footsteps and venture away from Kart Racing and AX to pursue DE. Eric M had to finish the final project car that he and his father were working on (1983 Audi Quattro w/ 3.6L V8 Swap, as seen below), and also decided to convert his daily driver Jetta TDI to a “track car.” 2011 was a disappointing year as high hopes for the VW TDI “racer” that Eric built suffered a blown motor at the end of the 2011 season at VIR.

Eric M spends some time deciding what to do after a disappointing 2011 season. With the help of some friends and supportive wife and family Eric M finds a 2000 Audi TT Front-wheel-Drive which will quickly evolve into his mainstay HPDE / Time Trials car. #theterribletoad is born!

On a business trip to Omaha, NE… Eric M reunites with high-school classmate Brad N. After spending time together at the track Eric M and Brad N start forming a larger circle of friends and ultimately decide to stand up an email list-serve to stay in communication with folks when not track-side. Trying to come up with a name for the group Brad N suggested we resurrect “Gran Touring Motorsports” (GTM) name and logo in honor of Nic M.

GTM morphs from a social group to a 15 person “club” where its more than just track time, it’s car shows, AX, karting events, BBQs, etc… and by 2015 more and more people join GTM, sponsors come on board… 79 members strong, GTM is committed to continuing to grow and maintain its grassroots motorsports heritage. If you’re part of the group, you know what it’s all about… It’s the people, not the cars.

…and the rest they say: is History

– well, sort of!  We haven’t stopped growing since 2014… we’ve expanded our Social Media presence, increased our partnerships and affiliations, developed all sorts of tools and apps, and gained fantastic new additions to the team.

We’re looking forward to the years to come with special events planned for each year, and a one of our biggest Cannonball runs in 2023. Stay tuned! – For those of you that aren’t part of the team, come and visit us at one of our events, and see what all the fuss is about.