tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-15800628245629574612024-03-21T04:52:26.969-07:00hardtuned's Motoring J Style blog postshardtuned.com provides content to Motoring J Style, Northern California's biggest Japanese car eventhardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.comBlogger28125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-78684367564143501332008-06-10T14:21:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:28.824-08:00Notes from comparing the 2008 Mitsubishi EVO, Subaru STI, VW Golf R32, and BMW 135i<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YhZlxColm_Sg-Qek-4Knj3aB1M3PIHL1Gb3w8P8njx_Q-RxMto7jcwmhFj9pFC2ozG8A7Td7uGTUNN9sj1FxMRlMymS9cMxiMdSr0v9WRKBV3futSZrHvUsGiaE57-uQjrA4kAw8Wpz-/s1600-h/comparo19.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_YhZlxColm_Sg-Qek-4Knj3aB1M3PIHL1Gb3w8P8njx_Q-RxMto7jcwmhFj9pFC2ozG8A7Td7uGTUNN9sj1FxMRlMymS9cMxiMdSr0v9WRKBV3futSZrHvUsGiaE57-uQjrA4kAw8Wpz-/s320/comparo19.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210367930006380546" /></a><br />On a recent comparison article for Sports Car International Magazine written by Alex Palevsky, I was tapped to drive the cars and offer my input. Here are my thoughts:<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddDgaP-sX-BLTD36RRX4myPzn0xNrFEq21-o04MwEea5IyKQzvg_iTY5CHpo7RCNMgwbVL4-xZ3XsOB1VTluSOfS1b2k7ELYJg0Nf0UJ6S7Phm-m1slTlO6SyXFRhVpe9PkDZCZZnKYGW/s1600-h/comparo69.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjddDgaP-sX-BLTD36RRX4myPzn0xNrFEq21-o04MwEea5IyKQzvg_iTY5CHpo7RCNMgwbVL4-xZ3XsOB1VTluSOfS1b2k7ELYJg0Nf0UJ6S7Phm-m1slTlO6SyXFRhVpe9PkDZCZZnKYGW/s320/comparo69.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210367927584432482" /></a><br />EVO X MR<br />As a “driver’s car” the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X MR delivers the most positive feedback of the bunch, and despite the efforts to add a little refinement, the soul of the EVO is left intact. The razor sharp steering, the overall grip, the chassis’ willingness to change direction puts the EVO squarely on top. That said, it lacks a little of the EVO IX’s explosive feel – a tradeoff clearly made for everyday drivability. The styling is controversial – it seems more cluttered than the concept, and the front end suggests a fish with an overbite when viewed from the side. At the limit the chassis balance tips from neutral to rearward, making it easy to place, slide, and gather up. The sport-auto mode on the transmission is very intuitive, and does a good job of keeping the revs right where you want them when attacking a curving road – when operated in paddle mode (Ferrari-style with fixed paddle locations that don’t get lost with a turn of the wheel) the shifts are quick and positive. The car feels far more nimble than a trip to the scales would suggest.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rhcRyrH9BYo9q_6JXCT_QR9KrF_dq2G3PepkDjas9G1JhV-094uvgsog6QGHE1IR4BUPYFAj9fXrbiD-uGc_zyRF9DMyPO2ldc0Xv0napWEM1X67N0-PIjW7Zd5pG9udoo08qskW2Yyn/s1600-h/comparo75.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_rhcRyrH9BYo9q_6JXCT_QR9KrF_dq2G3PepkDjas9G1JhV-094uvgsog6QGHE1IR4BUPYFAj9fXrbiD-uGc_zyRF9DMyPO2ldc0Xv0napWEM1X67N0-PIjW7Zd5pG9udoo08qskW2Yyn/s320/comparo75.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210367931410423954" /></a><br />Subaru WRX STI<br />The flares and optional wheels turn the otherwise bland WRX into a smoothly aggressive package – worthy of its WRC heritage. I desperately want to like the car – the power is definitely spot-on, and like the EVO, the ride has been refined to deal with everyone’s inevitable interaction with freeways. The problem here is that softening the suspension has amplified an issue I’ve always had with the STI (on the road) with the front differential. On and off throttle produce different turning arcs – step on the throttle and it wants to straighten out, lift off and it tightens up. This STI’s steering feels more numb than previous versions, and with a softer platform underneath it, it amplifies the effect to the point it impedes my ability to place the car accurately on the road. From previous experience, had off-road ability been on the menu for our test, the new STI will cover ground like no other car, and the front diff issue doesn’t rear its head off the tarmac. When pushed, the default is understeer – surprisingly the best way to combat it is to allow the DCCD computer to make it’s own decisions about where to distribute power in the AUTO- setting. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEloIrmVL2yiPI4Ale-dh7p6STBYJo6ZlJ7KpzSQfoSB5zkuSAe8lLtNFbwmRcDmZEmoyp8idpYVMBky5BhZoDXs0wOCjS-neJIPUoKPE-ox2cl3qLCkdXKfaSsEkph_0Y8fLgqnq5Y4c/s1600-h/comparo866.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfEloIrmVL2yiPI4Ale-dh7p6STBYJo6ZlJ7KpzSQfoSB5zkuSAe8lLtNFbwmRcDmZEmoyp8idpYVMBky5BhZoDXs0wOCjS-neJIPUoKPE-ox2cl3qLCkdXKfaSsEkph_0Y8fLgqnq5Y4c/s320/comparo866.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210367935147795362" /></a><br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL1No5_o2YqmlBezCtLDj4RbJqZ3UQYfgUGG5CuKRHLd-N9zk7ds-AOGw01O3BKehU-icoV_msWQPZXa7OGk_PExddcQrd0nwkLMD-QTOt23zfpCsEtRz6lHJaf5Wc-RwYPZya2qHCXnN/s1600-h/golf860.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimL1No5_o2YqmlBezCtLDj4RbJqZ3UQYfgUGG5CuKRHLd-N9zk7ds-AOGw01O3BKehU-icoV_msWQPZXa7OGk_PExddcQrd0nwkLMD-QTOt23zfpCsEtRz6lHJaf5Wc-RwYPZya2qHCXnN/s320/golf860.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5210367941758251394" /></a><br />VW R32 Golf<br />For me the competence of the Golf was a huge surprise. This was by far the easiest car to bring to the limit, which was unexpectedly high. When cornering hard, the chassis is totally consistent no matter what the surface, or road camber. Drive it like a front driver with a heavy right foot – if you overcook it, a slight lift of the throttle will tighten the line and noticeably pitch the rear end a few degrees. Unlike the EVO, you can feel the car’s weight working the shoulders of the front tires hard when really hoofing it, and it was clearly the least powerful of the foursome. The DSG transmission is the smoothest of the paddle-auto shifters here, but I tend to get lost on the wheel-mounted paddles. The Golf also had the stiffest freeway ride of the bunch. The exhaust note is the least refined of the bunch.<br /><br />BMW 135i<br />The motor is the class of the field – I was blown away by the powerplant and its lack of turbo lag when I last drove the 335i in Austria, and it’s just as smooth and silky in the 1 Series. It howls like a straight six, and has a little less weight to pull around than in the 3, making it even better. Driving to our showdown from Northern California, we thought this might be the ringer – it feels so right on the open road and around town – tight, crisp, and balanced but not harsh. With rear wheel drive and near 50-50 weight distribution, editor Eric Gustafson thought it might be like bringing a gun to a knife fight, but it turns out there are a few compromises that make it more tricky to drive near the limit. The suspension tuning that makes it so good on the open road and around town can seem unsettled long before you reach the adhesion limit of the tires. In long corners, especially when on even throttle with the weight of the car evenly balanced, it seems like the shock valving creates a slightly unstable feeling front-to-rear oscillation, and if you proceed further it funnels into understeer. In playing with it, the chassis (with this shock valving) wants the weight to be transferred to the rear on the throttle, or to the front under braking. So the closer you get to driving really hard with no compromises – you’re either accelerating or hauling it down – continually pushes that instability further into the background. When you lose grip, it will be at the front, and the BMW is slower to respond to throttle changes to pitch the rear and tighten the line than the other three. While I found it tricky at first, it was also rewarding to figure it out and make it work. I like the looks, and the size – it feels like the E36 BMW, and it has a simple, straightforward interior that you can reach across and almost touch the passenger’s door panel (like the original 1600/ 2002). There’s room for improvement in the suspension tuning.<br /><br />Ranking – <br />1 Mitsubishi EVO MR<br />It does it all, it’s still razor sharp, with a little comfort. The motor sounds a little like a miniature UPS truck – but who cares? Fast, and fun.<br />2 BMW 135i – Love the motor, and silky daily driving experience. Despite the handling nuances, I enjoyed figuring them out and always wanted back into the BMW…<br />3 Golf R32 –Totally consistent chassis with high approachable limits – surprisingly fun to drive, and how often will you be drag racing these other three anyway? <br />4 Subaru WRX STI – wanted to love it, it’s got the power and the looks, but the steering made it feel like I was sailing instead of driving.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-62425013665058127452008-04-11T10:36:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:29.378-08:00Lakes Speedster - Datsun motor looks like offy 6<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC1rtyk5yg-oSyNyoHnwwDWnFPFhJLYTSCKNvLNpudk89Jg49kynsyr43lohVYnaKZ5VHHD53vwKlMO1u5AQ3gXEcudVXWxeav3YvYlE51m0BQ0uImCeqYpM5eVJZAyaznNdUX10F0p6-/s1600-h/Lakes-Speedster-2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaC1rtyk5yg-oSyNyoHnwwDWnFPFhJLYTSCKNvLNpudk89Jg49kynsyr43lohVYnaKZ5VHHD53vwKlMO1u5AQ3gXEcudVXWxeav3YvYlE51m0BQ0uImCeqYpM5eVJZAyaznNdUX10F0p6-/s320/Lakes-Speedster-2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188043625765544866" /></a><br />This sweet salt-flats style speedster rod just popped up on Jalopnik, and what looks like at first glance to be a period Miller/Offy straight six is actually a Datsun 260z lump! Jim Pendleton of Texas is responsible for the build, and did a spectacular job. <a href="http://jalopnik.com/378722/details-emerge-on-lakes-style-speedster">Read more /see more photos on Jalopnik</a>. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYFQ2O75uhD5cz7KgQVRkK50eyuKXnzRR_xzbcOfKReFhp0Ns0tdLi6CzDe62qB4qdvX-Mg3v82FeZAzORXTyI9-wQzMnuOvGkYes1ar8Rmjxq5SR2KVlucBbe5WpSzHlLN_cn87REnSG/s1600-h/lake3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAYFQ2O75uhD5cz7KgQVRkK50eyuKXnzRR_xzbcOfKReFhp0Ns0tdLi6CzDe62qB4qdvX-Mg3v82FeZAzORXTyI9-wQzMnuOvGkYes1ar8Rmjxq5SR2KVlucBbe5WpSzHlLN_cn87REnSG/s320/lake3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188043634355479474" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKGPvYSucpzrfNRZsqL5a4sBqKfWmv21LV90tjP5DutUsLbr1LEvFmBxB-SCK8WMveyW6P7oMhMPethVqSoNR4uO6gobJ5Vz416n4Xo-4qTxj2AO9XbZeYU0M1wXK54NRQ7_-56NF_vI8/s1600-h/lakemot1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPKGPvYSucpzrfNRZsqL5a4sBqKfWmv21LV90tjP5DutUsLbr1LEvFmBxB-SCK8WMveyW6P7oMhMPethVqSoNR4uO6gobJ5Vz416n4Xo-4qTxj2AO9XbZeYU0M1wXK54NRQ7_-56NF_vI8/s320/lakemot1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188043638650446786" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9gLsqis_HtSnGq2x1NaHqRadLoYu39YyfaMDF8wRuT_VO0fNrsi_xcwzKia5PRRQE0s5aS4Z0WZNxxVFpkHhbnREjXrA_B3cBbGK7OGYExl0C_N_aReTe1djtidejsb-WUIrkrTzpVu1/s1600-h/lakemot2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgp9gLsqis_HtSnGq2x1NaHqRadLoYu39YyfaMDF8wRuT_VO0fNrsi_xcwzKia5PRRQE0s5aS4Z0WZNxxVFpkHhbnREjXrA_B3cBbGK7OGYExl0C_N_aReTe1djtidejsb-WUIrkrTzpVu1/s320/lakemot2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5188043647240381394" /></a><br />The Datsun motor posing as an Offy really sets it off - nice detail work Jim... This represents the next frontier - making modern motors look vintage in period style builds. Along those same lines is this <a href="http://jalopnik.com/347865/this-might-be-the-most-badass-model-a-ford-ever">Model A Ford</a> powered by a twincam Cosworth four that looks the part.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-53262775953033863432008-04-08T18:33:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:30.059-08:00Z side by size<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrWM9eXAwSN1oXUm6lNgo3IFICPhiXbznIcxt1Kh2nVHKzJG2zelUNhD53e1If6S8GYYnaHIot2SQrqoCP3Tsg82h4ZFhKlYanbbtkBXgXiEJxf-Wx4T98uhXHqJRn6IZRKh7SaKhwAjM/s1600-h/dat868.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXrWM9eXAwSN1oXUm6lNgo3IFICPhiXbznIcxt1Kh2nVHKzJG2zelUNhD53e1If6S8GYYnaHIot2SQrqoCP3Tsg82h4ZFhKlYanbbtkBXgXiEJxf-Wx4T98uhXHqJRn6IZRKh7SaKhwAjM/s320/dat868.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187053122211012786" /></a><br />I have to say the new NISMO Z takes the 350z up a notch, and makes it feel more tuned and more special than the regular car. The drooped nose and giant front splitter gives the Z a more aggressive stance, while the back aero package takes a little more getting used to. However, when compared to the original, it’s apparent how much safety equipment and modern crash standards influence the sheer size of modern automobiles. The new Z feels fairly compact inside, in some ways even more so than the original – but on the outside it’s apparent there’s a lot of stuff packed underneath the skin. Roughly 3320 lbs of stuff versus 2300 lbs on the original. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJg8nNYZAEZfp1UBcqpNt7smb65eKNqDSYvm1n4fVAisInPxe_uZAu3F-pbwDSD1ItPV7EIxIK9umXsb93RVtJYvsmuc6ODNoOKbYeUHi7vyCyiH19QRuLQFeKljbxgWfUp02jPMsmmN6/s1600-h/dat872.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOJg8nNYZAEZfp1UBcqpNt7smb65eKNqDSYvm1n4fVAisInPxe_uZAu3F-pbwDSD1ItPV7EIxIK9umXsb93RVtJYvsmuc6ODNoOKbYeUHi7vyCyiH19QRuLQFeKljbxgWfUp02jPMsmmN6/s320/dat872.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187053130800947394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N2mwgB4ZU3-nn-bDMErKp9rXjeGkuSzn2M3Kw5DcasPjkIvWJCYUsY_4MPqlh4jVt1AROjGFaZaWEg1sGmwBp3L7vQZen1C0LespYp3Y46M3nDFiECGgpsZbJa9HkmuXWpiK_r3iWrSd/s1600-h/dat876.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7N2mwgB4ZU3-nn-bDMErKp9rXjeGkuSzn2M3Kw5DcasPjkIvWJCYUsY_4MPqlh4jVt1AROjGFaZaWEg1sGmwBp3L7vQZen1C0LespYp3Y46M3nDFiECGgpsZbJa9HkmuXWpiK_r3iWrSd/s320/dat876.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187053130800947410" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTUp1HuiuPGTx3P2kbWBBTLa_sL6VwqTWCMW9Yumb6ZVUA1Ww8Mp0BHWJibgqxh-qQrwgipMOoKZdM8LgvlxP_zp1-B5dKuL5wRbjO9EQNY2UBflo48rXH1cXOC2Koy5q6h3aC8r3xrW6/s1600-h/dat878.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkTUp1HuiuPGTx3P2kbWBBTLa_sL6VwqTWCMW9Yumb6ZVUA1Ww8Mp0BHWJibgqxh-qQrwgipMOoKZdM8LgvlxP_zp1-B5dKuL5wRbjO9EQNY2UBflo48rXH1cXOC2Koy5q6h3aC8r3xrW6/s320/dat878.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5187053135095914722" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-54581178904085373252008-04-01T11:18:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:31.082-08:00Toyota and Isuzu Sportwagons Rocked the 1971 Tokyo Show<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK4PEHqHRlXCJ6u_H8cv0NSXqOs5IvuJxCY7cBZbipGE5f0TZzOSCK4a_B9fGjoWeRPzvgi9AfjwVbInsNeAYW7IC_k2c1rhHj8UUtqgkm0X_LjTSaYJWidxQZUmcvPcr19dix4Hf4N-o/s1600-h/toyrv1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLK4PEHqHRlXCJ6u_H8cv0NSXqOs5IvuJxCY7cBZbipGE5f0TZzOSCK4a_B9fGjoWeRPzvgi9AfjwVbInsNeAYW7IC_k2c1rhHj8UUtqgkm0X_LjTSaYJWidxQZUmcvPcr19dix4Hf4N-o/s320/toyrv1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184344174668275826" /></a><br />In 1971 Toyota hit the Tokyo Show with the RV1, “Recreational vehicle 1” was Toyota’s first attempt at a sportwagon. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCV6vrQUpw6XV1-BgfVybmMJdg4MalS4SaeAdTLRwi_lVAWouYEmg1HUUSgyL3YhA2AmPRTUmEU4hm2pH-wiReN1rnkBQPviYDJ-6xEtcSNJvpaoBSQ9NBEbAHBMqMO_iAdKyCXt6-v2i/s1600-h/71toyota_rv-1_1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbCV6vrQUpw6XV1-BgfVybmMJdg4MalS4SaeAdTLRwi_lVAWouYEmg1HUUSgyL3YhA2AmPRTUmEU4hm2pH-wiReN1rnkBQPviYDJ-6xEtcSNJvpaoBSQ9NBEbAHBMqMO_iAdKyCXt6-v2i/s320/71toyota_rv-1_1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184344178963243138" /></a><br />The concept featured a small trailer filled with an inflatable camp-hut that would expand to 13 feet in diameter and 6.5 feet high to sleep 4-5 people, and 500-watt portable generator to run an electric air pump for inflating the hut. The lid of the trailer also turned into a small boat, complete with small outboard motor.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRGgA6RTANYicBPqgYYxp6HEdqZq6WPmftG9onKa3tO7Iu7-2UCNqKh8YnjXYge8cShGlqkvKMMRWGTmM3sgoz0Td9dZyD3-HW4lhc1zakmSSwI-sfZzmmWb-iv44kaLm5UiTRBvhGM2G/s1600-h/71toyota_rv-1_2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBRGgA6RTANYicBPqgYYxp6HEdqZq6WPmftG9onKa3tO7Iu7-2UCNqKh8YnjXYge8cShGlqkvKMMRWGTmM3sgoz0Td9dZyD3-HW4lhc1zakmSSwI-sfZzmmWb-iv44kaLm5UiTRBvhGM2G/s320/71toyota_rv-1_2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184344178963243154" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgmGTj4TveXpAGUFifC7Z7gAlbhrQJzYXRrpi2hEUyYdoMxnCmMgsvE1MsliXICjfSU3sTjbibwGYB-mDvmC9eO4cye1831CVrT42-Osb0pjipAX_xnRkHPAycBjDcinUeKCA-EU1Ib3K/s1600-h/71toyota_rv-1_3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkgmGTj4TveXpAGUFifC7Z7gAlbhrQJzYXRrpi2hEUyYdoMxnCmMgsvE1MsliXICjfSU3sTjbibwGYB-mDvmC9eO4cye1831CVrT42-Osb0pjipAX_xnRkHPAycBjDcinUeKCA-EU1Ib3K/s320/71toyota_rv-1_3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184344183258210466" /></a><br />The Celica based chassis made do with a 105hp inline-4 from the Corolla. The design featured a narrow tailgate (between the elaborate taillamp assemblies with 30 lights in total, and unique gullwing opening rear hatches. Nissan must have studied this showcar in detail for their Pulsar NX “Sportback” option. Needless to say, the RV1 never saw production, but the idea of the sportwagon was never forgotten in a host of liftbacks and hatchback designs. <br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-XxJcPzi30PsvgcivJTnS4pEtHvcnKRiW4_ch0Aqj2nDcE2UVXjvNwadAMhvddQ2Gzhyphenhyphen4s9hEpi-_FmAcoUfQ-JU-V39Qev9HETzbiKR7dnflJmaVGSYt3eAEoVZZp0GtuIDpPy4xk3Q/s1600-h/isuzu1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6-XxJcPzi30PsvgcivJTnS4pEtHvcnKRiW4_ch0Aqj2nDcE2UVXjvNwadAMhvddQ2Gzhyphenhyphen4s9hEpi-_FmAcoUfQ-JU-V39Qev9HETzbiKR7dnflJmaVGSYt3eAEoVZZp0GtuIDpPy4xk3Q/s320/isuzu1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184343350034554962" /></a><br />Also at the ’71 Tokyo Motor Show was a sportwagon from Isuzu based on the Bellett. At the time it was called clean and European – and looks like a cross between a Lotus Eclat and a Gremlin. Based on the Bellett GT chassis, and fitted with a 1.8 liter dual carb’d twincam, the Isuzu was more sporty than the Toyota RV1 across the show on Toyota’s stand. At the time it was compared to the Volvo ES – a 2+2 with some luggage space. Like the RV1, the Bellett sportwagon never made it to the production line.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAkPCEsSVQyMJAkr0yicYV2CnG3jxsoVwstS-zhNbdHoHcKKfk07U-jY1NlfW-OLMhAHAxTMCyzB6ySG1oYFwg1wAbtOu87m1Lw7BRsWW0-Pk86gLSrB8OmR_focUA1mkjcuaxbHIeXMy/s1600-h/isuzu2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaAkPCEsSVQyMJAkr0yicYV2CnG3jxsoVwstS-zhNbdHoHcKKfk07U-jY1NlfW-OLMhAHAxTMCyzB6ySG1oYFwg1wAbtOu87m1Lw7BRsWW0-Pk86gLSrB8OmR_focUA1mkjcuaxbHIeXMy/s320/isuzu2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5184343354329522274" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-65522345454473211022008-03-27T18:34:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:31.142-08:00Datsun's Rotary<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi1y0Sd3Cw-xLS4j9_36cpDYrUUBBPnpfXc-hbFx0MAbIPJ95u4DIl0fEZpPZ5bcgFsuHbUilSDgGbphOzBG0Qmp4gnNpi4iW6s4yEoQPuhUWdUdN49r9bUMsvalD92t8Ct1NOOFOYiWH/s1600-h/8051.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHi1y0Sd3Cw-xLS4j9_36cpDYrUUBBPnpfXc-hbFx0MAbIPJ95u4DIl0fEZpPZ5bcgFsuHbUilSDgGbphOzBG0Qmp4gnNpi4iW6s4yEoQPuhUWdUdN49r9bUMsvalD92t8Ct1NOOFOYiWH/s320/8051.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5182600435125968962" /></a><br />Back in the early seventies, Datsun (along with a host of other car makers) was serious about developing a Wankel engine on the heels of NSU and Mazda. Toyota was also rumored to be working on one, but Datsun built them and ran test prototypes in Datsun1200 sedans. T<a href="http://datsun1200.com/modules/nsections/index.php?op=viewarticle&artid=90">he Datsun 1200 Forum has a cool 1973 article on the state of development</a> (at that time) of the Datsun Wankel.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-36404929265494130912008-03-21T22:12:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:31.557-08:00The Clean Room - Nissan GTR engine building facility<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8l0Dg80GZQy92UIoBE6I4RI8Rr5vqow2TheW534ZJbVDdL0SbTEGFeQEy2CL9-bDixUhnTBSnnsTUY8TSEKgEccx0iV0F9niFQdMha2N-73F1Sfd-bG51o-12Ab79zZ7tmCIoRBMWJEH/s1600-h/motor8.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_8l0Dg80GZQy92UIoBE6I4RI8Rr5vqow2TheW534ZJbVDdL0SbTEGFeQEy2CL9-bDixUhnTBSnnsTUY8TSEKgEccx0iV0F9niFQdMha2N-73F1Sfd-bG51o-12Ab79zZ7tmCIoRBMWJEH/s320/motor8.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180432434419195954" /></a><br />Yokohama Japan: Building the twin turbo VR38 GTR engine.<br /><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTob0BEIYsMg0D3bLQ9f8uYazeQRnoyPGwcGO195qqX55HCxSByUA7GpuBgf16fnFkfUtPKYMnwwGK8GIRdm_IiKyT04MKj5BcVqtgM7IMCFNYTsC9SRo4dT-u8MCD2aZag-qNW4Kd9hx3/s1600-h/motor40.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTob0BEIYsMg0D3bLQ9f8uYazeQRnoyPGwcGO195qqX55HCxSByUA7GpuBgf16fnFkfUtPKYMnwwGK8GIRdm_IiKyT04MKj5BcVqtgM7IMCFNYTsC9SRo4dT-u8MCD2aZag-qNW4Kd9hx3/s320/motor40.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180432335634948130" /></a><br />It’s a totally different world in the air-pressure regulated GTR clean room engine assembly area when compared to the rest of Nissan’s motor assembly facilities.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOkK8Tig7vRZlg9hwsLsHEcLwIVbvBb-DNawlyN94XHn_ubwEfZSBkjYH-GscWT88VKQzNxLaijn7vXI29CBtKBFjakoez4Ej5VKfeLB6eRmPgzU5tUkponp1CkyJlf6LTATiUlGttIjG/s1600-h/motor47.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGOkK8Tig7vRZlg9hwsLsHEcLwIVbvBb-DNawlyN94XHn_ubwEfZSBkjYH-GscWT88VKQzNxLaijn7vXI29CBtKBFjakoez4Ej5VKfeLB6eRmPgzU5tUkponp1CkyJlf6LTATiUlGttIjG/s320/motor47.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180430690662473746" /></a><br />The workers in this clean room are called Takumi, or skilled craftsman and each motor is assembled entirely by one technician. This Takumi is building a fuel injection rail. The engines move from station to station, around the room as pieces and specific tools are added and needed. The process takes about 200 minutes and involves some 370 steps. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13kRkIybNPVvtDCTM88NtoZLDmoeVhF_R4R-k2wVzYHFUXehlkxRzYfilIVmR-kTHRlUAUMPfpJtgV5DIeXz_iFOHqRvBPqTgw8Oakm3jDmNYRfDaIynPbgZG2JCnjkcoP-6scsYDddhv/s1600-h/motor66.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj13kRkIybNPVvtDCTM88NtoZLDmoeVhF_R4R-k2wVzYHFUXehlkxRzYfilIVmR-kTHRlUAUMPfpJtgV5DIeXz_iFOHqRvBPqTgw8Oakm3jDmNYRfDaIynPbgZG2JCnjkcoP-6scsYDddhv/s320/motor66.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180430540338618370" /></a><br />If there are any irregularities detected during assembly, the engine is set aside for analysis. Nissan even designed special electric tools for the clean room instead of the normal air-operated setup in order to keep dust and particles to a minimum. After assembly, each engine is tested with a no-load firing run, followed by a full load power test. For the startup of production Nissan has 13 Takumi’s building about 27 motors per day in a single shift, but can add another seven builders and go to a double shift as production ramps up.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-53506577869567016622008-03-21T21:46:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:32.597-08:00Hammering away on the Nissan GTR Assembly Line<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8b53VtT0VdRjQ4eJb8v-OPOufl4xwXy_cVc_fQWYFB7876uUOxrhpj5_xLTF2GvjYyc7vwDtlHI58uGFQqXX6SMJeOgyn25_y6daAOJz_SzVMsHx5sMO_5ANQtASnD8tF2soEP43Q3Z0/s1600-h/line1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZ8b53VtT0VdRjQ4eJb8v-OPOufl4xwXy_cVc_fQWYFB7876uUOxrhpj5_xLTF2GvjYyc7vwDtlHI58uGFQqXX6SMJeOgyn25_y6daAOJz_SzVMsHx5sMO_5ANQtASnD8tF2soEP43Q3Z0/s320/line1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180425377787928562" /></a><br />62 miles north of Tokyo, at Nissan’s Tochigi plant, the GTR takes shape. The facility was established in 1968 and has produced cars since 1971. It’s ringed by a high-speed four mile banked oval with the Nissan logo spelled out in shrubbery that you pass under while entering. The GTR is assembled along the same line as the Skyline coupe and sedan. I wasn’t allowed into the stamping shop or the area where some of the die-cast pieces are fitted into the body, but did get to wander through the actual assembly line inside a giant tin clad building. <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-DP_V79LMkHuMkfh69euK8koVoSHjhfyqftKZ4-x3ztD6HCgtX-pzNrS4fn0gTK13sDQMrYDHuf0dyZv9jRX6BJu0qWhVZLl0AIIU_w_C04p9_zwOtJ5UobJ58no-XAR6lvQ9BkuL6f1/s1600-h/line39.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhB-DP_V79LMkHuMkfh69euK8koVoSHjhfyqftKZ4-x3ztD6HCgtX-pzNrS4fn0gTK13sDQMrYDHuf0dyZv9jRX6BJu0qWhVZLl0AIIU_w_C04p9_zwOtJ5UobJ58no-XAR6lvQ9BkuL6f1/s320/line39.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180425244643942370" /></a><br />On the assembly line itself, GTR’s are interspersed randomly among Skyline coupes, sedans, and US bound G35’s and G37’s with about six meters of space between them. Robots do most of the heavy lifting, as the line is 83% automated.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQkqtJw5YnFTiOOCJHP6VV6PLt4fXJVEIIDD-9ZrLmZqxuQEcfwmfsvl2ekEg1rChBNpEmNfd-4wrlZxEQjFTJXRuUMpn3oK2IVHK4ppkjUTvPs9Z5Oq1ElDyoLWACWdXoYWjbFMWiLt3/s1600-h/line50.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMQkqtJw5YnFTiOOCJHP6VV6PLt4fXJVEIIDD-9ZrLmZqxuQEcfwmfsvl2ekEg1rChBNpEmNfd-4wrlZxEQjFTJXRuUMpn3oK2IVHK4ppkjUTvPs9Z5Oq1ElDyoLWACWdXoYWjbFMWiLt3/s320/line50.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180425145859694546" /></a><br />There are fewer of the musical robotic delivery carts than in the regular engine assembly areas (in Yokohama, GTR engines are built in a clean room, separated from the giant automated 4-cylinder MR assembly line full of robot delivery carts rolling along the aisles) but they’re present and belting out high-pitched happy songs (like Mary Had A Little Lamb and It’s a Small World in pitches that could double as mobile phone ring tones) as the cars snake along and workers at different stations install their guts.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJzhyphenhyphen0WTajcpB_JHkzALSIHDwl6C1x3fxvu1VDJRDvknsJBbMZGW1-8y9f9bVynaAoA6oJN4FEENsaxcvFV9Qi9-LNNl_wPOiiaDpEKS43LVxknmwJL2tcRErmkHzpfQXzRXAUsAnFoDq/s1600-h/line52.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSJzhyphenhyphen0WTajcpB_JHkzALSIHDwl6C1x3fxvu1VDJRDvknsJBbMZGW1-8y9f9bVynaAoA6oJN4FEENsaxcvFV9Qi9-LNNl_wPOiiaDpEKS43LVxknmwJL2tcRErmkHzpfQXzRXAUsAnFoDq/s320/line52.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180424969766035394" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJdFQ_X23EMZ5vmPNfvnaoEnLxKjtN27dGPH4BDb2ctcL4C5n0d1zKGV7AsQIXx7AMOFirqHmfzxNGaB4GxJLCMxi1CwYne7KH9tnRefSCAyyQ_XOnJgWM150ZfAIyomxWbDALKq05Phd/s1600-h/line60.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZJdFQ_X23EMZ5vmPNfvnaoEnLxKjtN27dGPH4BDb2ctcL4C5n0d1zKGV7AsQIXx7AMOFirqHmfzxNGaB4GxJLCMxi1CwYne7KH9tnRefSCAyyQ_XOnJgWM150ZfAIyomxWbDALKq05Phd/s320/line60.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180424527384403890" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjAQKX0pv9mvHE_e7kbj1gIC2lPfg0FaEWwvN4uKvP8NtUfB_1d-53CMlAByKTP13Jfr7uUInEU0T3_nlz2e2QjVe2lVs8ZA5X3CSd6tenruiiD2oHn6_f-c2bcyujf58YdpXXvu9HYMp/s1600-h/line89.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiPjAQKX0pv9mvHE_e7kbj1gIC2lPfg0FaEWwvN4uKvP8NtUfB_1d-53CMlAByKTP13Jfr7uUInEU0T3_nlz2e2QjVe2lVs8ZA5X3CSd6tenruiiD2oHn6_f-c2bcyujf58YdpXXvu9HYMp/s320/line89.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180423977628589986" /></a><br />After the components are installed along the 900-meter long line, the cars are driven to a four-wheel dyno station that automatically shortens or lengthens itself for the next car. At the front of the dyno station, several monitors display camera images of the front and rear of the car so the operator can test headlight and taillight functions, and a central screen depicts the rolling road speed on the dyno for checking speedometer calibration.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTnqsEt9FDpTA055GCd2GbylGKtwyJ7_EfPo2Qz8OiSvftRphWYUndJK_zwj7VXGNQBnXSyZ2IAXJIMhD96vNylXTXsjLqt2BftxF9JnMdRTRaD2mEiKyVlhg-1A9OxPhX4zlGX6Ij8CQ/s1600-h/line94.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGTnqsEt9FDpTA055GCd2GbylGKtwyJ7_EfPo2Qz8OiSvftRphWYUndJK_zwj7VXGNQBnXSyZ2IAXJIMhD96vNylXTXsjLqt2BftxF9JnMdRTRaD2mEiKyVlhg-1A9OxPhX4zlGX6Ij8CQ/s320/line94.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180423865959440274" /></a><br />Assuming there are no problems on the dyno, the cars were driven forward to a final quality inspection lineup under a sea of intense flourescent lights. Workers crawl around the car and checking panel fit and finish of the interiors. It's amazingly bright!hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-40601417817062097562008-03-21T21:33:00.001-07:002008-11-15T01:09:33.042-08:00Crazy Precise Alignment on the new Nissan GTR<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiW1xfAxFaVwO8wXUmvEqZmjy3Ldd8JddI1jkuTcpSfl3n8xKgffkZx4ZgEh_iH5KwRa5u-3TG70KSidAyUM37XJZBHsY8FzKMF822hT_F7SFqRY2hLfvXpV9aYzuo9iVZzJLvu2vwCt5/s1600-h/rearsusp16.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUiW1xfAxFaVwO8wXUmvEqZmjy3Ldd8JddI1jkuTcpSfl3n8xKgffkZx4ZgEh_iH5KwRa5u-3TG70KSidAyUM37XJZBHsY8FzKMF822hT_F7SFqRY2hLfvXpV9aYzuo9iVZzJLvu2vwCt5/s320/rearsusp16.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180419850165018482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIgg6-3fq4_OjceH3P2aAT_aDgwO0eRw1iFxSEwOyYAUUkEzr_y6Mw0JZSfLkVOncV8v795viMjr9Us7zJvsgs5LuXD4SwkfeIe9lIbbQlN0C8Q2mWnAl5FrLXZmILrzHfvzte0jG_eHb/s1600-h/rearsusp23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyIgg6-3fq4_OjceH3P2aAT_aDgwO0eRw1iFxSEwOyYAUUkEzr_y6Mw0JZSfLkVOncV8v795viMjr9Us7zJvsgs5LuXD4SwkfeIe9lIbbQlN0C8Q2mWnAl5FrLXZmILrzHfvzte0jG_eHb/s320/rearsusp23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180419858754953090" /></a><br />One of the more unique processes of the GTR is the high precision alignment it gets as it is assembled. Before the parts hit the assembly line, the axle shop assembles the rear subframe with the rear transmission/transaxle unit, the suspension arms, uprights, and rotors and then mounted to an elaborate hydraulic cradle that sets the suspension at rideheight – simulating the weight of the car so that two technicians can setup the alignment specs with race car precision on a laser guided tool before the piece is mounted in the car. This ensures that the wheel alignment is precise before the parts go into the car, and it’s checked again after the brake-pad transmission shakedown on every car.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-68664294903265167772008-03-21T21:23:00.001-07:002008-11-15T01:09:33.353-08:00GTR Break-in Procedure<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1ihvUc1DhSF-Hz3Tw6TOqiSq0lgMNYQZNqEPQJonrVDrbj0EC9m87cgDBZX-gtvHhUYFtEjfsG6tl6QkingtNCsJm2-fz3LEYogwXx7I9qxrG0a7oB0R1eLAMk0vuKWiJfPmB0QJSjAc/s1600-h/breakkin24.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjS1ihvUc1DhSF-Hz3Tw6TOqiSq0lgMNYQZNqEPQJonrVDrbj0EC9m87cgDBZX-gtvHhUYFtEjfsG6tl6QkingtNCsJm2-fz3LEYogwXx7I9qxrG0a7oB0R1eLAMk0vuKWiJfPmB0QJSjAc/s320/breakkin24.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180417238824902482" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhxYaNJh1T6yaNATp6gn7hJcG8QRC2llbN48Kt68LHx-IaqMk1NLSDQNockdPjVI-bKYst-OPCx2QUhXm2dR9-xh60m-N5-rMmFa5j_vlcYCqpsJfVNgm4RcZmd-GjXIXWN5hNHgvtjhz/s1600-h/breakin23.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnhxYaNJh1T6yaNATp6gn7hJcG8QRC2llbN48Kt68LHx-IaqMk1NLSDQNockdPjVI-bKYst-OPCx2QUhXm2dR9-xh60m-N5-rMmFa5j_vlcYCqpsJfVNgm4RcZmd-GjXIXWN5hNHgvtjhz/s320/breakin23.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180417243119869794" /></a><br />Kazutoshi Mizuno, Nissan’s project leader and self proclaimed ‘Mr. GTR’ wanted to ensure that every GTR be capable of the performance claims they’ve made and to keep themselves honest, each car goes out for nine laps on a test loop on the proving ground at the Tochigi plant facility. The loop itself isn’t a picturesque road course or even a high speed wailing on the banking, but instead looks like a multi-lane drag strip with different lanes with different road qualities. The goal is to properly and uniformly break in the various systems on the car. The procedure is well orchestrated, with the first four laps consisting of a set number of progressively harder stops and a little brake and throttle at the same time to properly break in the massive rotors and bed the pads. Laps five to seven focus on checking turbo boost and loosening up the transmission, and the final laps take the GTR on a bumpier section of pavement to reduce the friction in the suspension bushings. After the drive, each car is measured at several key points, and the alignment specs are re-checked and adjusted if needed. Nissan doesn’t want any funny vibrations at 300kph!hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-51012265069039293412008-03-21T20:35:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:34.586-08:00More Vintage Touring<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkS5Pw2mjGmIQmerYv4ou5g-YIVatfJjOim8tLBIfcXdBYM2TdxPQLOk7uwQqjIS-6_6jPerGqKVNOKE7JY1q_iSyQglTz7uvFVqSGtTXWI52fBdQ2L3r5CJtDcPG4V8wnsaaOwOFpvOF/s1600-h/L1010697s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKkS5Pw2mjGmIQmerYv4ou5g-YIVatfJjOim8tLBIfcXdBYM2TdxPQLOk7uwQqjIS-6_6jPerGqKVNOKE7JY1q_iSyQglTz7uvFVqSGtTXWI52fBdQ2L3r5CJtDcPG4V8wnsaaOwOFpvOF/s320/L1010697s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405857161568002" /></a><br />Like to drive? There are a number of non-make-specific rally-style touring events where you can get out and mix it up with exotics, and rough and tumble classics on the backroads of California. It’s a low key way to enjoy your classic without having to compare mirror bolts, or be told you’re running the wrong sun visor by a self proclaimed “fill in your car name here” expert. These folks just enjoy getting out and blowing the cobwebs off their classics across less traveled routes. There are a host of events, from the no cost “<a href="http://www.bench-racing.com/html/no_frills.html">NO FRILLS IRON BOTTOM Motor Tour</a>, the <a href="http://www.californiamelee.com/">California Melee</a>, the now retired <a href="http://www.alpine500.com/">Alpine 500</a> which will be succeeded this year by the <a href="http://www.thesnowballrally.com/">Snowball Rally</a>, <a href="http://www.socaltt.com/">The SoCal TT</a> and more… <br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDumHnmczqW_MITzTOcPo6xar6RK5UJPwNsdD4yFMhRKrQQoF2OoxLkWbgs3GN1XeM6LyChH0pXkP52aiA-0sj3IvDzwcpB1Jk6Z9f8iVxQ9NSpSY1bgDYkPGsMuPb9jinWZpbevPT3Sx/s1600-h/P1010003s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmDumHnmczqW_MITzTOcPo6xar6RK5UJPwNsdD4yFMhRKrQQoF2OoxLkWbgs3GN1XeM6LyChH0pXkP52aiA-0sj3IvDzwcpB1Jk6Z9f8iVxQ9NSpSY1bgDYkPGsMuPb9jinWZpbevPT3Sx/s320/P1010003s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405857161568018" /></a><br />Early Celica Liftback on the Iron Bottom, also a veteran of the California Melee - piloted by our own David Swig<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQ3dFhGxKGh9akfKS1LSrIiZ3a4BmxDaiOgq0Iel4mtIAegVO37sWA1ADlAfVMM5fM3u-QXWRjyDJllR5x7wJrVqHB_7cQljWg2-poHh9g8WBpdUfU7kVfHhJMZBHt4dRuzgcDYjD_Pl/s1600-h/PICT0064s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicZQ3dFhGxKGh9akfKS1LSrIiZ3a4BmxDaiOgq0Iel4mtIAegVO37sWA1ADlAfVMM5fM3u-QXWRjyDJllR5x7wJrVqHB_7cQljWg2-poHh9g8WBpdUfU7kVfHhJMZBHt4dRuzgcDYjD_Pl/s320/PICT0064s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405861456535330" /></a><br />Ford V8 powered Datsun on the Iron Bottom<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZPA4Pk9FW1h9WdYQly0wvVHeMmFcu-_pvUPsNQf3k3ePPhOo7f24ttjbY0zrR6ea_wkU8r2LMRzvGNidEtt3Ci8CY1EWss1jZB69JpNqGRuW2KfE8LCHCh_D4QvJBXKRkCvdYLYyuUYq/s1600-h/P1010025s.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRZPA4Pk9FW1h9WdYQly0wvVHeMmFcu-_pvUPsNQf3k3ePPhOo7f24ttjbY0zrR6ea_wkU8r2LMRzvGNidEtt3Ci8CY1EWss1jZB69JpNqGRuW2KfE8LCHCh_D4QvJBXKRkCvdYLYyuUYq/s320/P1010025s.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405861456535346" /></a><br />Afraid of a little dirt? Don't try this with your Z then. 24 Hours of LeMons Creator Jay Lamm has no fear in his Z...<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnpVLADeK3s6iFzetgOVA8hoDBMd21pGLLO5wKyxFaOWfLBSxztFh9zgXLR63t08646zABpci8CBt_6Kcq_hxSlIf0uj4t6lqTCvTEvwXgNcCbeTZrGi5V3jYH4lkXexGzQZ_0ipi2l4r/s1600-h/2047957960096101482DycbdO_ph.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgnpVLADeK3s6iFzetgOVA8hoDBMd21pGLLO5wKyxFaOWfLBSxztFh9zgXLR63t08646zABpci8CBt_6Kcq_hxSlIf0uj4t6lqTCvTEvwXgNcCbeTZrGi5V3jYH4lkXexGzQZ_0ipi2l4r/s320/2047957960096101482DycbdO_ph.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405865751502658" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf08K39GLqqy2eC3Ke6opmpWPJqVLqpjxsTPrUTWXi4Q_7TzkqHMUAqMyP0mf5faOBOJBTRgT4vHB8j-uL1X9LfbSSRePyGsNn7nr1k6zGnvuB88wNSwcsp8nxRIqaLWCxJ-uOVu5j3H3/s1600-h/calp729.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilf08K39GLqqy2eC3Ke6opmpWPJqVLqpjxsTPrUTWXi4Q_7TzkqHMUAqMyP0mf5faOBOJBTRgT4vHB8j-uL1X9LfbSSRePyGsNn7nr1k6zGnvuB88wNSwcsp8nxRIqaLWCxJ-uOVu5j3H3/s320/calp729.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405152786931378" /></a><br />Sweet Honda S600 Coupe on the Alpine Rally!<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgfKm2BOC5bBjnlqN4Kij0H_lxSygMuVkS_1fmtv6N3_REc8rzY-UYudb0qKe2P65SREF-XFmfxCOn6qpFnPv56iRFmTNgEqO1-00ZWYcyC2YNteMiVgYk7QWQAA63TZu3b9uN7rWzIZf/s1600-h/blue1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipgfKm2BOC5bBjnlqN4Kij0H_lxSygMuVkS_1fmtv6N3_REc8rzY-UYudb0qKe2P65SREF-XFmfxCOn6qpFnPv56iRFmTNgEqO1-00ZWYcyC2YNteMiVgYk7QWQAA63TZu3b9uN7rWzIZf/s320/blue1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405157081898690" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QzVHM9c1jL33ZvG8pNWPH2Zb8WPL55wOeL9b1JgplZOJcXztXoi-3pareMYoDqtI2TPOcUzKVBgWXyvfqudR0165RRFgMf_wrOjqviPu5m1z0hqjdmC1a0YKO2fzWGJLKEiAk7dC4U8R/s1600-h/skagsck3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2QzVHM9c1jL33ZvG8pNWPH2Zb8WPL55wOeL9b1JgplZOJcXztXoi-3pareMYoDqtI2TPOcUzKVBgWXyvfqudR0165RRFgMf_wrOjqviPu5m1z0hqjdmC1a0YKO2fzWGJLKEiAk7dC4U8R/s320/skagsck3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405161376866002" /></a><br />RHD SSS 510 Coupe on the California Melee<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAU0oNCLLBHTntwZv71rxWFhY0x0bTEU1XyddtnqC3TmH3yI28mbjcHLRsMMwIcpysTJ222IqjCwl2vKy9IyazL8xvoulUSGSicq0ffpJf1zg6mOVP3ngX9llJTeBtcCDub3i1nLnkL7/s1600-h/jalp22.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWEAU0oNCLLBHTntwZv71rxWFhY0x0bTEU1XyddtnqC3TmH3yI28mbjcHLRsMMwIcpysTJ222IqjCwl2vKy9IyazL8xvoulUSGSicq0ffpJf1zg6mOVP3ngX9llJTeBtcCDub3i1nLnkL7/s320/jalp22.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405161376866018" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhDihsu3TAsc0OK7M8L2VHAsoxqgmnQRyNRxik2Hzj_KMZShtulIDPb7xn6XOpIfpOKCeNx6kwB8ehVkAAVfN0vHym70lwQn4qn46g9HVyu4OtoJDTn7wriz3hmhgePzGADgKmp20dDLy/s1600-h/jalp43.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIhDihsu3TAsc0OK7M8L2VHAsoxqgmnQRyNRxik2Hzj_KMZShtulIDPb7xn6XOpIfpOKCeNx6kwB8ehVkAAVfN0vHym70lwQn4qn46g9HVyu4OtoJDTn7wriz3hmhgePzGADgKmp20dDLy/s320/jalp43.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180405165671833330" /></a><br />Get out there, you know who you are!!!hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-57571634006766567352008-03-21T15:33:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:35.692-08:00Peanut Corolla on the low-buck vintage rally scene<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8DeF60F-BPSVUcvpJI-Bhjk13G0eL875tVBLcqEIszDNA7N0kbMLLlzxi9Ce-VkEzmftfoZh2R_G5I73_FY_6YEv7IX9Urx64J7kFBweeyLILd8MT5ycqM5inR9oRjSNyKBdbvo17J_V/s1600-h/calp727.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjm8DeF60F-BPSVUcvpJI-Bhjk13G0eL875tVBLcqEIszDNA7N0kbMLLlzxi9Ce-VkEzmftfoZh2R_G5I73_FY_6YEv7IX9Urx64J7kFBweeyLILd8MT5ycqM5inR9oRjSNyKBdbvo17J_V/s320/calp727.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180327705936649826" /></a><br />In the Norcal lo-buck vintage rally scene, Elizabeth Pfau is a regular with her “Supernatural Powers” Peanut Corolla. Fitted with coilovers and period Cromodora five-spoke wheels, the Toyota is as at home crossing the Sierras as it is zipping along the rugged California coastline. Pfau typically does 3-4 vintage events a year, and prefers to drive the car rather than show it. In the near future she’s planning a motor swap that will give the little Corolla a little more oomph over the hills.<br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLG9sjC31T1TU8IM8hQPPdigbIE6ux2NsEZWsyCD4hR2mVQ3cHr8ft9rEv6U-cVB8sT3OpoGQj-VpE5Uf0BRpBUCagqu_d1LTm5vTxwCsrGeetIbjPKzBPuQ9BiSkyLgmBX3q-NDhBYe7/s1600-h/calp734.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggLG9sjC31T1TU8IM8hQPPdigbIE6ux2NsEZWsyCD4hR2mVQ3cHr8ft9rEv6U-cVB8sT3OpoGQj-VpE5Uf0BRpBUCagqu_d1LTm5vTxwCsrGeetIbjPKzBPuQ9BiSkyLgmBX3q-NDhBYe7/s320/calp734.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180327710231617138" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX5o71ijUkLC70P7vdv9SQ-8cVzLJBGtw1VvQSVzCJ-_2cOZ6qpk-ONTd40crX3LUqYn7dfQWtVHjag1AyaHTUQ-hr1_PgEPsecNuOI80oOAeMjQOUMcQLPQ-ur74EuIxN_52u8nV91Jd/s1600-h/alpE.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMX5o71ijUkLC70P7vdv9SQ-8cVzLJBGtw1VvQSVzCJ-_2cOZ6qpk-ONTd40crX3LUqYn7dfQWtVHjag1AyaHTUQ-hr1_PgEPsecNuOI80oOAeMjQOUMcQLPQ-ur74EuIxN_52u8nV91Jd/s320/alpE.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180327714526584450" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJHPXkTnajPsoF6vkmi7QaXcJeeHziOsIBdkQkJ5qTf2HfpoqiaHOLkB-Jw0YR7VUWCVRGszQne9JQ4huJHqgJR5yktmhlFPL3LZ9OyfPo21p6jYG6CNX8nYtDshqShyQQTiBEE64rt9x/s1600-h/5406.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCJHPXkTnajPsoF6vkmi7QaXcJeeHziOsIBdkQkJ5qTf2HfpoqiaHOLkB-Jw0YR7VUWCVRGszQne9JQ4huJHqgJR5yktmhlFPL3LZ9OyfPo21p6jYG6CNX8nYtDshqShyQQTiBEE64rt9x/s320/5406.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180327718821551762" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8zJR5SI6ZfOHHcMTztlqcg_Px8dfulFXdAD8NVC1Q_oGbEs91JiqolECgHc3ZZduJ-Mb37tIXBae9l83_4SQEQs2J-XgFfQ0LqWdwviL1v3opIm6SlzrYtSht_PNjqFqZsu0eFuM3kiu/s1600-h/jalp6.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgs8zJR5SI6ZfOHHcMTztlqcg_Px8dfulFXdAD8NVC1Q_oGbEs91JiqolECgHc3ZZduJ-Mb37tIXBae9l83_4SQEQs2J-XgFfQ0LqWdwviL1v3opIm6SlzrYtSht_PNjqFqZsu0eFuM3kiu/s320/jalp6.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5180327718821551778" /></a><br /> Keeping busy is never a problem for Pfau, She’s the moderator of an online vintage rally forum Vintagerallycartel.com, and the chief perpertrator of a female vintage car / driving club – <a href="http://www.atomicpetrolettes.com/">The Atomic Petrolettes</a>. not to mention a seriously talented painter of automotive and non-automotive themed art which can be viewed at her <a href="http://www.atlasphere.com/">Atlasphere</a> website.<br /><br />Hopefully we’ll see E at Motoring J Style in May!hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-50444808677055133752008-03-17T14:06:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:36.360-08:00Mitsubishi EVO X MR<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb62DPBhwmX4JDUYOOnsZM_7RbpRP3ZGrUaFv5jf5ftQMkae-hxXbQYA1Mumt1L1RWHcRLp3A5Z1ZSaQFL5W-ZixsAj-8Oqq_Bhu_KAoqQTortiwsThiluoho1MiQB3gX8K_3ZGxgO38GY/s1600-h/evo861.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb62DPBhwmX4JDUYOOnsZM_7RbpRP3ZGrUaFv5jf5ftQMkae-hxXbQYA1Mumt1L1RWHcRLp3A5Z1ZSaQFL5W-ZixsAj-8Oqq_Bhu_KAoqQTortiwsThiluoho1MiQB3gX8K_3ZGxgO38GY/s320/evo861.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178822159189111666" /></a><br />The new Mitsubishi Lancer EVO X MR is still a driver’s car, and despite the efforts to add a little refinement the soul of the EVO is left intact. The razor sharp steering, the overall grip, the chassis’ willingness to change direction puts the EVO squarely on top when compared to the ’08 Subaru STI. That said, it lacks a little of the EVO IX’s explosive feel – a tradeoff clearly made for everyday drivability. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7-oL1GAX5kJgWW6zXtzCvIxW7yClR5x9O-k44HlRK34-af9MHy_awB_pg5KhTF1cc3vpbIAQB_Q3rVtMYhMIyQXcwgM13ggZDFRF_EXik4cSGNpvyFi4Rpznc_0behVrX6vEu527Hw67/s1600-h/evo850.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq7-oL1GAX5kJgWW6zXtzCvIxW7yClR5x9O-k44HlRK34-af9MHy_awB_pg5KhTF1cc3vpbIAQB_Q3rVtMYhMIyQXcwgM13ggZDFRF_EXik4cSGNpvyFi4Rpznc_0behVrX6vEu527Hw67/s320/evo850.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178821970210550626" /></a><br />The styling is controversial – it seems more cluttered than the concept, and the front end suggests a fish with an overbite when viewed from the side. But who cares, because at the limit the chassis balance tips from neutral to rearward, making it easy to place, slide, and gather up. The sport-auto mode on the transmission is very intuitive, and does a good job of keeping the revs right where you want them when attacking a curving road – when operated in paddle mode (Ferrari-style with fixed paddle locations that don’t get lost with a turn of the wheel) the shifts are quick and positive.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu2I26HyPFXxp3KyQx-F7U3gCSpCVo1YQeoeX4cUMD4bCuIfOvTcnrGzv8iGeQ6w_FsTMwwY-ApHWyGD92AuQMJzVEBQRzqK-MGFuAPK8OwMzK5Sh0kduq38gmsbfRJECCykXCwEiqP_5/s1600-h/evo843.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVu2I26HyPFXxp3KyQx-F7U3gCSpCVo1YQeoeX4cUMD4bCuIfOvTcnrGzv8iGeQ6w_FsTMwwY-ApHWyGD92AuQMJzVEBQRzqK-MGFuAPK8OwMzK5Sh0kduq38gmsbfRJECCykXCwEiqP_5/s320/evo843.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178821540713821010" /></a><br />The car feels far more nimble than a trip to the scales would suggest too, and the seats make you want to hop in roll for hours. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ-vLxh7tuudFp8mPAD2g9kp30xGtl1X2rqeZ-N6i-hupsT5HQ2ITN8zFFBDqOtAFA1IfIjqOY23y1pt-21KuLejS0Je4CnPMGEoH7GhH-6NStklHf2uaxnvrrm9N0B61fAqVvlVyaHZa/s1600-h/evor859.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrQ-vLxh7tuudFp8mPAD2g9kp30xGtl1X2rqeZ-N6i-hupsT5HQ2ITN8zFFBDqOtAFA1IfIjqOY23y1pt-21KuLejS0Je4CnPMGEoH7GhH-6NStklHf2uaxnvrrm9N0B61fAqVvlVyaHZa/s320/evor859.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178823005297668994" /></a><br />At the Mitsubishi Design Center, the EVO in the reflection of the Eclipse design study in the window...<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT74ArtU7YxRk5v_i60XkHgnyF7x1jSwtlDUI9Rtvd5pm71DqGJ3PmrlfbuAZCQiUQ5LqjRuZ5vrDlIufDWUYJ74Zj9W6_oQ4v-Labab0O4W0c0odV1z2lcEPcmCdQj0d9VXgt8IB4SV8D/s1600-h/sti863.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT74ArtU7YxRk5v_i60XkHgnyF7x1jSwtlDUI9Rtvd5pm71DqGJ3PmrlfbuAZCQiUQ5LqjRuZ5vrDlIufDWUYJ74Zj9W6_oQ4v-Labab0O4W0c0odV1z2lcEPcmCdQj0d9VXgt8IB4SV8D/s320/sti863.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5178821304490619714" /></a><br />We played with the EVO and the STI on smooth winding desert roads, in the same situations the STI is more prone to understeer, and lacks the positive steering feel of the Mistubishi. It’s still quick across the road, and on bumpier surfaces, or off road it may have an advantage. Both of these cars have been re-tuned for better ride quality, and the optional wheels make all the difference on the STI in the looks department.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-60819872041608434132008-03-10T09:03:00.000-07:002008-11-15T01:09:36.838-08:00How not to sell a car...<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eUx2k2lqQoua1MZJ1PDI1GX6X8TFuzyncD13LkADd8vDJ_P08TsqbZa01tsymdqo1RNltNw8lj8fEdcVR_Mzw2ZQ-47ckSFAh9byLUuFAanjnMPYLRyvNIVjZJBPrizL8plc5lAsauHC/s1600-h/r1002.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2eUx2k2lqQoua1MZJ1PDI1GX6X8TFuzyncD13LkADd8vDJ_P08TsqbZa01tsymdqo1RNltNw8lj8fEdcVR_Mzw2ZQ-47ckSFAh9byLUuFAanjnMPYLRyvNIVjZJBPrizL8plc5lAsauHC/s320/r1002.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176146480463049522" /></a><br /><br />This stuff drives me nuts – the open ended no price “just send me offers” ad for a car. This approach totally opens the doors for anguish on both sides of the negotiation. This right-hand-drive Mazda R100 is currently for sale in the Los Angeles area on Craigslist, and the ad text reads: “So if you have the money, please send me your reasonable offers and please no low ballin’ as I know everyone in the rotary community knows how much they are worth… As of now, i am taking offers. I don't have a set/firm price as of yet. <br />so send me your offers. Or what you think the car is worth.” In my experience, it helps to at least have a ballpark reference point – or harsh emails are bound to bounce back and forth. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQcxr8aEvAkTmp8zRGCUovICjutuBWvUbDZlcrmMPX5-NjKdcD_k6dVX6vjufY9BNTQzqW27dOyAZF_sLfPAMsCaoaesr0TSv4iexipDmqDKuw1g4a5wLtXOxOOpW9plgVTifIbgPjGhj/s1600-h/r1003.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtQcxr8aEvAkTmp8zRGCUovICjutuBWvUbDZlcrmMPX5-NjKdcD_k6dVX6vjufY9BNTQzqW27dOyAZF_sLfPAMsCaoaesr0TSv4iexipDmqDKuw1g4a5wLtXOxOOpW9plgVTifIbgPjGhj/s320/r1003.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176146222765011746" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdzR8Eud32woC2ZAtnuJuAN-lZoz1-r_DgXB0Sddqs2q-fd6Hx0Q5wbua9EX5B8HBYs1XX6FjLwCFXGrbDTbgQKYP5zazvfIvy-4czT1_0Az5r1x4ddzRliHiyaBvnuaLfIwZcba7Hs9_/s1600-h/r1001.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTdzR8Eud32woC2ZAtnuJuAN-lZoz1-r_DgXB0Sddqs2q-fd6Hx0Q5wbua9EX5B8HBYs1XX6FjLwCFXGrbDTbgQKYP5zazvfIvy-4czT1_0Az5r1x4ddzRliHiyaBvnuaLfIwZcba7Hs9_/s320/r1001.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5176145385246388978" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-46343979210279487322008-03-07T11:22:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:37.826-08:00Woah, Franken-Rotary Honda 600 Alert<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_d35h2z3oIfN0YyYXepzSVIxwV4MNFEqTU7oIaEW60WEY5jDA5iiTqWnWiXNbFu1Asio7KYTNBO9EJpkIqRsYY4QWwh9B1hXE0aGVXaTSMmn1t66t-KE6hunArq9VJ8ZvMNN2OpTAyq9x/s1600-h/dc2d_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj_d35h2z3oIfN0YyYXepzSVIxwV4MNFEqTU7oIaEW60WEY5jDA5iiTqWnWiXNbFu1Asio7KYTNBO9EJpkIqRsYY4QWwh9B1hXE0aGVXaTSMmn1t66t-KE6hunArq9VJ8ZvMNN2OpTAyq9x/s320/dc2d_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175083252718989890" /></a><br /><br />On ebay right now is the opportunity to refine a monster – a 12A rotary powered Honda 600 – just what you need to for doing wheelies on the way to the grocery store. The automatic tranny is a bummer, and the RX2 floor board suggests at least a portion of an RX2 pan was used. Front suspension is RX7, and the rear axle is from a Datsun B210 and hasn’t been narrowed to fit the rear end. The Mazda truck taillights are also somewhat unfortunate. The RX4 emblems are a notable addition, as is a sound system lifted from an ’83 RX7. (Sweet.) Also thrown on from the random pile are a rear roof spoiler from a Chevy Blazer and an “Alpha” brake booster. Would that be from the Datsun 280Z based Alpha 1 GTO replica? Who knows, but as the ebay ad states, it’s “unique indeed, and may need some attention.” <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-HONDA-600-SEDAN-MAZDA-12-A-ROTARY-CONVERSION_W0QQitemZ330216600087QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item330216600087">Check the listing if you dare...</a><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIq7bUQh6o4mZcMz1JbfZqaf-SLfzaPP5Z9Hs2K0PJgda6Sl7jrw2MwxrW4AVvZ5oqxp5OLnRCL2UR9RLx2TTCDdmbSDA54Mv414-mjgzUmvZeAIYcumsmqdnsLAIin2XIhmSYga2hJKa/s1600-h/e14a_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNIq7bUQh6o4mZcMz1JbfZqaf-SLfzaPP5Z9Hs2K0PJgda6Sl7jrw2MwxrW4AVvZ5oqxp5OLnRCL2UR9RLx2TTCDdmbSDA54Mv414-mjgzUmvZeAIYcumsmqdnsLAIin2XIhmSYga2hJKa/s320/e14a_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175083257013957202" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmNZqH_wMjHEnNXnrszhyEzDxLrkO52fYTHZcdPa5lXUm7VstEyn4YmO5dA18rw1oHtQFsb0Uh-uN3TwHzCxA-q6nMNudoQBKqGR0vtHFpnHp50jpjKxUgGMD1AOASLnZNN8ZzWYyNNBp/s1600-h/eba4_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFmNZqH_wMjHEnNXnrszhyEzDxLrkO52fYTHZcdPa5lXUm7VstEyn4YmO5dA18rw1oHtQFsb0Uh-uN3TwHzCxA-q6nMNudoQBKqGR0vtHFpnHp50jpjKxUgGMD1AOASLnZNN8ZzWYyNNBp/s320/eba4_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175083261308924514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl2GPFcY_sPiSPFU_jIgb3209ZBqAxyIcL9STw16XqWaskN5YC_dN3ZIxqOdGyQjpz1KROu_EPWPx2Ltr3a-JgeYTXHpa00LOTMKIiDv5hfVrAQrlh0SbqDRNrL3Ic75Uoa0Fy_g-G37X/s1600-h/f08f_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigl2GPFcY_sPiSPFU_jIgb3209ZBqAxyIcL9STw16XqWaskN5YC_dN3ZIxqOdGyQjpz1KROu_EPWPx2Ltr3a-JgeYTXHpa00LOTMKIiDv5hfVrAQrlh0SbqDRNrL3Ic75Uoa0Fy_g-G37X/s320/f08f_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175083265603891826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TN9YQ2dQTdM3t1_eOGWL9PpIWrV95q7Tlvf10h6a8ukm_Xuk0Z40bMTCujc_86dcI_K-CI69eMSsQuhueZZBIo-6Ik9Re-bWXvUfdJwbvUoW3wNwRg4VAcgcB0txlgxLVrfP7xgy0KQt/s1600-h/e4bb_1.JPG.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8TN9YQ2dQTdM3t1_eOGWL9PpIWrV95q7Tlvf10h6a8ukm_Xuk0Z40bMTCujc_86dcI_K-CI69eMSsQuhueZZBIo-6Ik9Re-bWXvUfdJwbvUoW3wNwRg4VAcgcB0txlgxLVrfP7xgy0KQt/s320/e4bb_1.JPG.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5175083269898859138" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-15641469530239846272008-03-03T16:43:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:39.424-08:0075 mpg in a Geo Metro<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wQZkQMVBiba9ECOBgXjtemJZxs-N6Y2Ff7xcBW0Y-oM6ZS4zA69dHhQpzZckBB5yuDetlnZHaCyGSX2zX0jhYRRJPnZaKrTU2Houc9HbOa6QCjjiJlbGFQn_gsNM4jEUuYLWu_-edtNH/s1600-h/car2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wQZkQMVBiba9ECOBgXjtemJZxs-N6Y2Ff7xcBW0Y-oM6ZS4zA69dHhQpzZckBB5yuDetlnZHaCyGSX2zX0jhYRRJPnZaKrTU2Houc9HbOa6QCjjiJlbGFQn_gsNM4jEUuYLWu_-edtNH/s320/car2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173681109511697202" /></a><br />Back in 1993, Doug Heffron took an ’89 Geo Metro with a 3 cylinder Suzuki motor (very similar to the JDM Suzuki Cultus) and created a tandem seat streamliner. By narrowing the cockpit and removing extra weight, he pulled about 300lbs out of the Metro. The result was this 75mpg commuter (up from a high of 58mpg on the stock version) which he drove for two years. Heffron was a machinist and welder in the Army, maintaining medivac helicopters. In civilian life, he’s a mechanic for Anheuser Bush, and it was his 50 mile commute that inspired him to build the streamliner. He spent three years researching and designing the streamliner, even sculpting his concept in clay models. Not including his time, the mods cost about $1300 back in ’93, and he spent about ten weeks sawing, and doing the sheetmetal. He even cut the glass for the windshield himself. Heffron put his Metro into storage two years after creating it, but with gas prices on the rise, he may just want to bring it back out this summer. <a href="http://1989geometro.com/">Check out Doug's Metro</a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9JNd2ZUyU7DEzQVQbcVcWdvpX1ZrWMEOvEy4baqQLtOpVoFWNHa2wzhd_QgVaSAlaFPsz6xZL3cbyeCvdm9RYAvJNgdMbKqqVQ4cbXkR341QjbfBywPYtnAWzkYMsXwL8hgLddZpz0ip/s1600-h/car1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG9JNd2ZUyU7DEzQVQbcVcWdvpX1ZrWMEOvEy4baqQLtOpVoFWNHa2wzhd_QgVaSAlaFPsz6xZL3cbyeCvdm9RYAvJNgdMbKqqVQ4cbXkR341QjbfBywPYtnAWzkYMsXwL8hgLddZpz0ip/s320/car1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173681113806664514" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBhosq7fBGPF16ySHmXIxdRNHaRImY4L8oQ239ZtMlZZmIPg6xBnd5pRGUQB32G1PdfVRtkewieE_Y_0YuPH4g0Q4t5FBQ_hEk_UiJxS7hUghY-a-uQBOyDFDmQXUjloE-9vCPc1zldia/s1600-h/21.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuBhosq7fBGPF16ySHmXIxdRNHaRImY4L8oQ239ZtMlZZmIPg6xBnd5pRGUQB32G1PdfVRtkewieE_Y_0YuPH4g0Q4t5FBQ_hEk_UiJxS7hUghY-a-uQBOyDFDmQXUjloE-9vCPc1zldia/s320/21.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173681118101631826" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XaJrS3L8aGsM5E2l7CpQBTW4tPgXHjXxRuQTrgcCjs_9Mz7HGq3kq-3txbAhtxjhAgLlH1paVF_i15HZK1b9WC_3TO-U8Qd2QfJ4PTtCVxET_O2tewvcHnYd12pEEwGKGnPLfjpRgh2x/s1600-h/15.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6XaJrS3L8aGsM5E2l7CpQBTW4tPgXHjXxRuQTrgcCjs_9Mz7HGq3kq-3txbAhtxjhAgLlH1paVF_i15HZK1b9WC_3TO-U8Qd2QfJ4PTtCVxET_O2tewvcHnYd12pEEwGKGnPLfjpRgh2x/s320/15.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173681118101631842" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrGQ0uUEbA7-4XCOUdoPkMw3c6is_kzt38Cw7SkT33k_nk9hUNSJiE4q8XzFckt47ZwLSFAd-ruNimZ_CckKQjXNgMNrt357On9RzJkU43b0pO1jjiZKYsmG5_bhtkA1oRSyHjm1q5RoK/s1600-h/20.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTrGQ0uUEbA7-4XCOUdoPkMw3c6is_kzt38Cw7SkT33k_nk9hUNSJiE4q8XzFckt47ZwLSFAd-ruNimZ_CckKQjXNgMNrt357On9RzJkU43b0pO1jjiZKYsmG5_bhtkA1oRSyHjm1q5RoK/s320/20.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5173681122396599154" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-56430528630116647582008-02-29T16:07:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:40.544-08:00SCCA RallyCross no special license neededAll you really need is a driver’s license, a pulse, a small sum of cash, and access to a tin-top car to experience off-road rally thrills in Sports Car Club of America (SCCA) RallyCross.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCbFEsc_y7YX9bMKyOg8_fp44t15WzzGBXNNKLUROHbn6AshqdIN__IeXYjXyWPyo40pSoY2zEH13SHTuSrT8sT_-FW9aP4JxcI2tYz6B63eglc-sENfMG_uw8Nl7IvsngPi8FKGwa6XM/s1600-h/rxsteinsub.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigCbFEsc_y7YX9bMKyOg8_fp44t15WzzGBXNNKLUROHbn6AshqdIN__IeXYjXyWPyo40pSoY2zEH13SHTuSrT8sT_-FW9aP4JxcI2tYz6B63eglc-sENfMG_uw8Nl7IvsngPi8FKGwa6XM/s320/rxsteinsub.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172559779849382850" /></a><br />The format is straightforward – like autocross. Transplanted into a field it’s called RallyCross. Like autocrossing, each competitor completes multiple runs as quickly as possible without knocking down the course marking cones. The formats diverge in scoring – at an autocross, only the best recorded run counts. RallyCross mimics stage rally. All of the runs count towards a cumulative time, so you can be leading your class, make a mistake on your final run and hurt your overall position. Steady and smooth driving can really pay off at the end of the day.<br /><br />SCCA’s San Francisco Region owns and operates Thunderhill Raceway Park, just west of Willows California. A gradually sloped field near the track’s access road serves as the region’s home site. I talked with (at the time) RallyCross Chief Skylar a couple of years ago. Stein got involved at its inception in Northern California. “I bought a Subaru WRX in March of 2002, and I wanted to do something fun. I started to autocross, because that’s all there was to do. The first RallyCross in this region was in July of ‘02. I came out to that, and came away saying – damn, this car just wants to be in the dirt.” <br /><br />Compared to other events under the SCCA umbrella, RallyCross is its own animal. A set of national rules recently appeared, and there’s been talk of a national runoff, but it hasn’t advanced past that. Stein explained, “We actually run the California Rally Series (CRS) classes. They’ve been around a long time – running events out of Southern California. Several of our events even pay points into the CRS championship.” <br /><br />There’s no need to flip through a two-inch-thick car-classification book, as the CRS rules are pleasantly simple. Essentially three classes are split into two and four wheel drive categories. Street Stock, Street Modified, and Open. Put rally tires on the car and it’s in the open class. Period. Street tires are defined by a measurement of the non-circumferential sipes (cuts) between tread blocks. Roll bars and cages are encouraged, but not required, except on trucks. My STI (well it actually belonged to Subaru) with its sticky (on tarmac) Bridgestone RE 70’s slotted into Street Stock 4.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKk6ebYUnHr2-jKW4oN-Zx4h0bnEqbaX_VEycOMHcDwH-mXwnnc6VwO7xTUt4lIE9Voahjck_UAzBFqne8K4Twtv9QTvlKLP8O6zX41MrsSDIg983ZlzGPnfSCX_RIsV69eHnnslpWbkxB/s1600-h/rxsub1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKk6ebYUnHr2-jKW4oN-Zx4h0bnEqbaX_VEycOMHcDwH-mXwnnc6VwO7xTUt4lIE9Voahjck_UAzBFqne8K4Twtv9QTvlKLP8O6zX41MrsSDIg983ZlzGPnfSCX_RIsV69eHnnslpWbkxB/s320/rxsub1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172559784144350162" /></a><br /><br />Registration was a breeze; hand over some money, show them your helmet, (loaners are available also) and pick up a tech card. The inspection was a self-performed checklist of common sense items like battery hold-downs, wheel play, and loose items in the car. Before things get started, competitors walk the course to learn the sequence of turns and speculate how bumps, ruts, and irregularities might influence potential fast lines. While walking, I ran into Mark Anton and Mike “Boomer” Malsed. They became friends years ago racing remote control cars. “I was spending more than $4k a year on R/C cars.” Boomer said. “Mark tried RallyCross with his Ford Probe and was hooked - told me about it – so I went out and bought a Honda Civic for a grand.” Sounds like a good thing to do with a $1k car to me.<br /><br />A brief driver’s meeting explained the running order and the rules. Timing is recorded on a rally clock in hundredths of a minute. Each cone toppled adds two hundredths to your time, and if you DNF a run – by going off course and rejoining somewhere else- the slowest run of the group plus two-tenths is recorded. Jump the start and expect a .1 penalty. All drivers must share the workload; shagging cones, manning flags, or working the timing equipment or face disqualification. Each run group starts with a parade lap of all the cars, to give drivers a chance to see the course from behind the wheel, and if there’s time at the end of the day, fun runs are a buck each.<br /><br />Looking across the impromptu paddock, it was a sea of Subarus. Roughly half of the cars were “Subies” several of which were fitted with full WRC (World Rally Championship) replica roll cages. The balance of cars ranged from a stock Ford Focus and Dodge Neon to a rally-tire shod 1973 Mini Cooper all the way up to full-blown stage rally cars like the Volkswagen Corrado of Viet-Tam-Luu. Luu started out rallycrossing last year in a Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, and switched to the fully prepped VW earlier this year. <br /><br />RallyCross regular Pete Cowan designed the course. He laid it out on a giant sheet of paper with a scale model car, and spent Friday afternoon setting up the real course for Saturday’s event. “I tried to mix it up with technical sections and some longer straights to equalize the cars.” Pete’s technical section referred to back-to-back u-turns that looked tighter than our STI’s turning radius. (That’s tight.) Ultimately, Cowan took top time of day with his own open class Subaru STI.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YPfW2yoKVCU8Xt67cHTSjOYlJGsteVvonhUXn6LYHuafAObvvpbJp0qCrOzr2sNL1-sgXCxelAROrpgY0kDSJARvHf43O4IfewuJkqAmxCK9k-nV1yP5IOhYCsX9hj3MDcWmyA6J0KmY/s1600-h/rxsub2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-YPfW2yoKVCU8Xt67cHTSjOYlJGsteVvonhUXn6LYHuafAObvvpbJp0qCrOzr2sNL1-sgXCxelAROrpgY0kDSJARvHf43O4IfewuJkqAmxCK9k-nV1yP5IOhYCsX9hj3MDcWmyA6J0KmY/s320/rxsub2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172559788439317474" /></a><br /><br />The actual seat time is fleeting, but it’s adrenaline packed. Typical times hovered around a minute and a half – giving most competitors about five minutes behind the wheel. Even though you’re only in first and second gear, relative to the size of the course, you’re covering loose ground quickly. It’s busy behind the wheel, as you toss the car with opposite lock from side to side, and maybe a dash of e-brake to initiate rotation on the tighter stuff. My first runs were pretty clean, and I felt like I was sliding the car a bit. I tried different settings on the adjustable center differential to get a sense of nuances in power delivery when it was doled out at varying percentages front-to-rear. For my last run, Travis Brock hopped into the car and said, “Hey can I ride along?” Brock is a member of the “Gravel Crew”, a group of rallycrossers from Southern California who compete for points in CRS and put on their own CRS sanctioned rallycrosses. (you may be familiar with his father, sports car and Datsun 510 legend Peter Brock.) My own rear wheel drive road racing style became apparent as Brock instructed me how to use the throttle and four-wheel drive to pivot the car around the tight corners. His instruction to “Hit the throttle” would come as I was just gathering the car into the corner. I obliged, and the STI rotated itself sideways and leapt forward as if it instinctively knew where to go.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRd1FKS_5_fKmFlJOoPACF1Id6cjfZSdUoa34PGukQBKU92igIkkgz63ajWQe6BwkoORRCls93GCvLGXm9XrSfRnlTY2Df6nPaF0hALrkIfNR_Gj3u1EnKXYw0ZibU5uQtksmC4VWN7aQ/s1600-h/rxbrock.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaRd1FKS_5_fKmFlJOoPACF1Id6cjfZSdUoa34PGukQBKU92igIkkgz63ajWQe6BwkoORRCls93GCvLGXm9XrSfRnlTY2Df6nPaF0hALrkIfNR_Gj3u1EnKXYw0ZibU5uQtksmC4VWN7aQ/s320/rxbrock.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172559792734284786" /></a><br /><br />I rode along with Brock in his own normally aspirated Subaru 2.5RS for a humbling ride with an experienced driver on Pirelli P Zero Gravel rally tires. Despite a general lack of interior and full WRC style cage, it serves as his daily street driver. He tapped his right foot until the last few hundredths of the start countdown and we were off in a hail of spinning tires and shooting rocks. Aside from the phenomenally improved grip afforded by the rally tires, I was impressed at how much he used weight transfer to pivot the car in the tightest corners – even before using the hand brake, it felt like the back of the car was up in the air, and the fronts were hunkered down grabbing the dirt. Brock finished second in class and overall. <br /><br />Most of the competitors I talked with had been involved with RallyCross between 1-3 years. Some were hooked by rally video games. Others found out about it through the SCCA memberships that came with their new Subarus. The CRS contingent from the south had a heavy influence from off-road desert truck racing. Brock’s buddy John Jimison sold his full-blown rally car when SCCA pulled out of sanctioning special stage rally events at the end of 2004. “I’m one of the guys that freaked out, before we found out the events would continue under new sanctioning bodies.” He’s also got a D1 drift license to fall back on. While some were set on RallyCross as the destination, many are looking to hone dirt skills they could take into performance rallying. <br /><br />It’s also a great place to shake a rally car down without getting stuck in the woods. Jack Maranto was into SCORE off-road trucks before he got involved three years ago through a friend at the Ridgecrest Rally School. “The first year we ran the whole season in rental cars – a different car each event. Last year I ran the first ¼ of the season in rental cars, and won my class.” He was running an STI that was piece by piece evolving into a fully prepped rally car. It’s backdated with 15” wheels and gravel tires, a steering rack with fewer turns lock-to-lock, and a giant hand brake right next to the steering wheel that simultaneously cuts power to the rear diff. “Sometimes rally guys like Leon Styles and Rhys Millen come out to our events, and we can beat them. It’s all about the cleanest line, smooth is fast. You’ve got to remember – in like a lamb, out like a lion.”<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLEFem4yzZInho7c_h9yFl9ToJDTzwODNKs2Ex4vci3G-87wYXjC62FgrDwJmO0iX8ONdLgy5_9N03evc3ItvU_R2m7m6i41w4DFa6KdgUNMN4qE9MchDVQw6__MB82YcGsSKlOGZZjXA/s1600-h/rxtoycorola.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZLEFem4yzZInho7c_h9yFl9ToJDTzwODNKs2Ex4vci3G-87wYXjC62FgrDwJmO0iX8ONdLgy5_9N03evc3ItvU_R2m7m6i41w4DFa6KdgUNMN4qE9MchDVQw6__MB82YcGsSKlOGZZjXA/s320/rxtoycorola.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172559797029252098" /></a><br /><br />On average, turnouts hover between 40 and 60 cars as the program continues to gain momentum. The atmosphere carries over from rally - it’s low key and competitors are friendly and eager to help newcomers. “It turns out that not everyone wants to get their cars dirty.” Stein said, but for those who are willing, playing in the dirt has a whole new meaning.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-13334246496468709802008-02-29T09:30:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:41.457-08:00Nissan 350Z - street vs. T2 racer on track<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgGGK4W9skuJZEB2aHUyp90HnNRtVvBrd9L4MMdicQvwUj2T0K961xkAXyu4hypI01N-Z_OTI5KebRdgO9sLvQpepB6F_oTXaCRYmYaHk3zWfH2jcjh-P5PtndLhsVTCBiquGjiMvfuz1/s1600-h/z1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtgGGK4W9skuJZEB2aHUyp90HnNRtVvBrd9L4MMdicQvwUj2T0K961xkAXyu4hypI01N-Z_OTI5KebRdgO9sLvQpepB6F_oTXaCRYmYaHk3zWfH2jcjh-P5PtndLhsVTCBiquGjiMvfuz1/s320/z1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457271864929202" /></a><br />Cheap racing. It’s a bit of an oxymoronic term, but once in a while someone gets it right by doing their homework and finding enthusiastic partners. David Ray is a long time Sports Car Club of America road racer and the organizer of Hooked on Driving, a track day program for beginners with high performance road cars. Back in ‘06 he put together a program for SCCA’s T2 category with a local Nissan dealer and as racing budgets go, he’s running a competitive car on the cheap. Why not put the T2 racer and the stock counterpart on the track to see how some fairly simple modifications transform its’ character? Well that’s just what we did at Thunderhill Raceway Park in Willows CA.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0Fhaj97d46rGQQFnH30-NnX_Ku_DqNzc8NslbTq3efGMEWK1sCaxyOLyEVtVSqhqbh45EmWCugH4JpxoS3mJxN_zJszAp2qMZsjIyI_6qn6G1WxCg50jjZF5vo_Em-NOh6wsSbt5PM-b/s1600-h/z4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgi0Fhaj97d46rGQQFnH30-NnX_Ku_DqNzc8NslbTq3efGMEWK1sCaxyOLyEVtVSqhqbh45EmWCugH4JpxoS3mJxN_zJszAp2qMZsjIyI_6qn6G1WxCg50jjZF5vo_Em-NOh6wsSbt5PM-b/s320/z4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457078591400802" /></a><br />The 350Z is an axiom in the two-seat sports car market, praised for smooth power, crisp handling, and controversial door handles. Our 35th Anniversary edition ‘05 model is a healthy base for an enjoyable track-day car with 300hp, front and rear spoilers, “track-option” Brembo brakes, all riding on 18” diameter wheels: 7.5” wide up front and 8.5” in the rear shod with 45 series Bridgestone Potenza RE040 tires. <br /><br />The T2 class follows a street legal format and attempts to level the playing field with specific suspension and engine modifications tailored to each car. Safety regulations mandate a full roll cage, fire system, removed air bags, and each car is prescribed a minimum weight – 3268lbs with driver in the case of the 350Z. Across the board limited slip differentials and aftermarket shocks are allowed. Competition comes from a host of rivals you’d find roaming the streets: Mitsubishi EVO, BMW M3, Subaru STi, RX8, S2000, F-bodied Camaro, even Cadillac CTS-V and Porsche Boxter. As a testament to the tuning rules, the cars are fairly close on the track.<br /><br />Ray’s 350Z makes the most of the rules while conforming to a reasonable budget. The class allows updating and backdating of specific parts on the Z as well as a host of NISMO (Nissan Motorsports) upgrades. Ultra-competitive Nationals competitors blueprint engines and take things to the exact limit of the rules, but Ray started with a 2003 lease turn-in with 30,000 miles on the clock. The motor hasn’t been touched – although that may change for next year, as he’s allowed to update to a newer cam profile from the ’05. Under the hood, the only visible difference is a large oil cooler. A K&N filter resides in the stock airbox, and the exhaust flows through a nine-pound lighter Nismo cat-back piece. Ray estimates he’s making around 300hp, putting it on par with the 35th Anniversary model. From the outside, there’s no mistaking the T2 version. It’s set down 2” on stiffer Nismo springs, and 8.5” front and rear BBS wheels are wrapped in aggressive 245/40 ZR18 DOT approved Hoosier R3S04 racing rubber that fill the wheel wells nicely. Inside, a welded roll cage, cut door panels (and missing side windows due to the NASCAR inspired door-bars) Sparco racing seat, and an airbag-free MOMO steering wheel remind us what we’re not driving to the grocery store. Adjustable (36mm front and 22mm rear) Nismo swaybars and aftermarket shocks are the only suspension modifications allowed. Ray chose Konis with separate bump and rebound adjustment. Aside from disabling the ABS, the only mods to the “track option” Brembos are the Hawk Blue racing pads, stainless lines, and high temp ATE Blue racing brake fluid.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3MWBRKhIeQ1eoL9gy7WVMa_h7B1mVkM99ytXEcZ5t-D3NGBZ3rvWy4-13ZpT_QNEYSNu4E5tbPcHyc8oei2bEMjgWT1nlvjQlf_WZP3Xpl_Kj3_2Yn8U6H8As-zDbpJylM0jkd5dNj93/s1600-h/z5.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz3MWBRKhIeQ1eoL9gy7WVMa_h7B1mVkM99ytXEcZ5t-D3NGBZ3rvWy4-13ZpT_QNEYSNu4E5tbPcHyc8oei2bEMjgWT1nlvjQlf_WZP3Xpl_Kj3_2Yn8U6H8As-zDbpJylM0jkd5dNj93/s320/z5.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457082886368114" /></a><br />We hit the track in the Anniversary Edition first. Bringing it up to speed, it turns in well, feels neutrally balanced, and makes a nice six cylinder howl as it pulls to the 6800 RPM rev limiter. When pressed harder the street focus becomes more apparent. It’s time to push the VDC button on the dash and disable Nissan’s Vehicle Dynamic Control. VDC uses the ABS wheel speed sensors to identify slipping and reacts with reduced engine torque or individual wheel braking if necessary to keep the Z in line. On the track, the car essentially shutters and shuts off with any appreciable rotation – great for a rain soaked street, but unsettling across the apex of a third-gear corner. With the safety net down, it’s possible to work the car harder into the entry of medium and fast paced corners only to find a fair dose of understeer. <br /><br />Turns 1,2, and 3 at Thunderhill were made to punish the front of a car three different ways. One is a fast 4th gear slightly uphill left-hander at the end of the front straight, two is a moderately banked 180° 3rd gear left with a long apex, immediately followed by the long off-camber turn three sending you in the opposite direction. On street rubber, it’s a given that three will be a screecher all the way around. With the Z up to speed, the initial turn-in still points it in the right direction. Soon thereafter, the front tires began to howl as they’re asked to do more than the combination of compound and width can deliver – after all it’s a 3200 lb car. Slower corners involve enough weight transfer to effectively combat the understeer. When combined with an early application of throttle, it’s possible to hang the back end out – not the quickest way around, but it looks impressive. With a little practice, and a conscious driving style change, (adjusting the entry speed in fast corners) the chassis demonstrates its balance by rotating in a nearly neutral drift across the apex of turn one. The Brembos work well for less than five lap runs, but the street pads and fluid begin to heat up and loose some bite when asked to go longer. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt_c152ObGePUTL5nwHoGypzXk6RU5_Gqob9CeduTpE7W9Yu5w0lo-fet8nvMo33QoVsrHM1rrQfamJvVz8Wn5mL7unSGZzXjwzfpEIsrvstTq7TtvxssneVTAp7sk_CnYCb4tjNSo1UE/s1600-h/z7.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpt_c152ObGePUTL5nwHoGypzXk6RU5_Gqob9CeduTpE7W9Yu5w0lo-fet8nvMo33QoVsrHM1rrQfamJvVz8Wn5mL7unSGZzXjwzfpEIsrvstTq7TtvxssneVTAp7sk_CnYCb4tjNSo1UE/s320/z7.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457091476302722" /></a><br />Entering the #77 Z requires stepping over the cage and falling into the non-adjustable seat. Inside it looks familiar, barring harness, and lap timer equipment. The Nismo exhaust is nearly as quiet as stock, and the clutch pedal is actually marginally lighter than the yellow Z. Idling through the pits, the car’s stiffer springs are immediately noticeable as the poly bushings squeak and complain. Turn the wheel full lock at slow speed and the Nismo limited slip scuffs the inside rear tire like a welded diff. <br /><br />First lap out, the turn in is crisp, and before the tires get enough heat it’s actually a bit loose. As the temperature (and pressure) increase, the grip increases logarithmically; the rear of the car calms down, and even though this set of Hoosiers is pretty cooked from more than two events, it’s a different world from the stock Potenzas. The overall balance is good. The most noticeable difference comes from those wider front wheels and tires. It points in and takes a set, allowing a more aggressive driving style into the corners. With the slightly shorter rear tire circumference and the Nismo diff, the shift points on the track came up quicker than with the yellow Z, forcing extra shifts, and more speed. The racing compound brake pads took a lap build heat and were a bit grabby at the rear before the rear tires heated up, but hauled the car down consistently without fade. Ray mentioned that at the end of a full race distance he might have to give the brakes a pump, but a recently allowed brake duct should help that.<br /><br />The numbers on the stopwatch tell the story. At the time, Ray held the T2 qualifying lap record at Thunderhill at 2:06.6, and my time in 8 laps was 1.5 adrift at a 2:08.1. Given the tires and a stiff headwind, I was pretty happy. I saw 122mph at the end of the front straight in the # 77 car. Our yellow Z hit 116mph in the same spot, and screeched the tires for an additional five seconds, for a 2:13.7 lap. The front straight speed difference was attributable to a higher corner exit speed onto the straight, as both cars felt strong on the throttle.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YcJ2p4slyP5xsidiP6OYdb5HpsYQ3h_GhND5y6WlXBRld0L9QAjjzmct0pa0POO0RaxEHEjqXxc2L0x8pKvRoOQrsmv8SwmfyxGYiHs5OD82Z9j_LPu3BJu_Nn81-cx5jDq_qwNRwTUk/s1600-h/z3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6YcJ2p4slyP5xsidiP6OYdb5HpsYQ3h_GhND5y6WlXBRld0L9QAjjzmct0pa0POO0RaxEHEjqXxc2L0x8pKvRoOQrsmv8SwmfyxGYiHs5OD82Z9j_LPu3BJu_Nn81-cx5jDq_qwNRwTUk/s320/z3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457095771270034" /></a><br /><br />One of the key elements for both driver and sponsor is the involvement of the Dirito Brothers’ service department. Ray explained how it came together; “When I finally did the pitch to the last guy, he was going to say no to me. I proposed that converting the car to T2 specs should be done by the dealership, and hopefully we could talk to the service department and there would be some guys that would volunteer some labor off the clock. The manager went straight to service department manager Aaron Larkin. He got fired up about it, and talked four guys into helping. I think that was a key to making this thing happen. The dealership said – there’s no way I’m going to pay $100 an hour to work on my own car. Aaron stepped up.” The crew is made entirely of service technicians, and they prepare it between events at the dealership. Ray explained, “There’s a lot of pride in the service department. They’ve got all of my plaques and winnings right there on the service department wall. Customers can see that they maintain it, and the Dirito Brothers are establishing a reputation as a performance dealer.” <br /><br />Crew chief Larkin gave us some insight into how difficult (for a room full of Nissan mechanics) it was to convert the car to SCCA T2 specifications. “It was gone for a week and a day for the roll cage fabrication. It took us about four and a half hours a day for three days to do the rest of the mechanical conversions.” Maintenance between events, in racecar terms has been a sweet deal. “It’s pretty much just fluids. We change brake pads and differential fluid every other event, and in four events we changed the oil once.” They’ve also found out what stands up to the abuses of racing, and what doesn’t. It turns out that newer model transmissions are a bit stronger, and the stock viscous coupling limited slip diff definitely has a lifecycle when aggressively raced. The Nismo LSD was a recent addition, as was an updated transmission. “We work on the car on off hours, and we’re having fun with it. It took a little convincing to get the other techs to give up some off time, but once we started talking about it, I took two of them to a race, and that helped a lot.”<br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzjmmn5FteL-cCew-wEoAvvGHqCQWac7MfBYvz1rxZcipTUKxVrV1BNAeCGz8RCtigd-1d2yxlSC7OLL3P-Jr-8SGRKr7OG4ZrqHs46gm1tzBu1Gpc8CA8uCY1qAIYUH8Z1VFtwS5LPV/s1600-h/z2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPZzjmmn5FteL-cCew-wEoAvvGHqCQWac7MfBYvz1rxZcipTUKxVrV1BNAeCGz8RCtigd-1d2yxlSC7OLL3P-Jr-8SGRKr7OG4ZrqHs46gm1tzBu1Gpc8CA8uCY1qAIYUH8Z1VFtwS5LPV/s320/z2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5172457100066237346" /></a><br />Ready to write the check, or convince your local dealer to blow off a few ads and go racing? Some quick snooping around produced the following rough numbers. Let’s say a run of the mill used “track option” equipped Z is going run in the neighborhood of $20k. A bolt-in roll cage runs in the $800 ballpark. Budget around $3650 for the bolt-on items responsible for the well-behaved personality on track. Other safety items will quickly add up, as will the wider front wheels. On the consumables front, every other weekend will set you back $1000 in tires and $300 in brake pads. When the stock diff begins to complain, the Nismo unit averages about $1100. Ray’s program is golden when you contemplate the labor involved in both installation and maintenance.<br /><br />Driving Ray’s T2 350Z illustrates that with minimal tweaking and some bolt-on goodies we can make an enjoyable road car even more fun and potent on the track and the backroads. And it makes us want to get out on track again… soon.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-26069101232116657792008-02-26T10:40:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:42.576-08:00Redline Time Attack!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQXplrVy7ht_FjcWQyMbD2KgwTGgSqgDlLxtlsLttIIDGrYflXHYxVkn2piFwicmyzV-vCqfJUKlKk-y596tmzp9wBV6i4ACoOdKFAT1tGLN57zf_D3IED8_oTPbVEcmIq3Y18KRR-ku3/s1600-h/rtyler94.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiQXplrVy7ht_FjcWQyMbD2KgwTGgSqgDlLxtlsLttIIDGrYflXHYxVkn2piFwicmyzV-vCqfJUKlKk-y596tmzp9wBV6i4ACoOdKFAT1tGLN57zf_D3IED8_oTPbVEcmIq3Y18KRR-ku3/s320/rtyler94.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361706783690402" /></a><br /><br />Time Attack competition slots in somewhere between Auto-X and Club/Pro racing – sort of. Popular in Japan as a venue for tuners to show their stuff, it’s just catching on here in the States. I say sort-of because the drivers vary in experience from those fresh off the auto-x course to pro-racer/drifters like <a href="http://www.tylermcquarrie.com/">Tyler McQuarrie </a>with his Hankook sponsored RHD Nissan Sylvia S15. At the Laguna Seca event, he was the only one with an 18- wheeler support truck and all the trappings of his Formula Drift team – (running a Porsche in that series). There were more than a few serious teams from all over the country that had towed out to Laguna Seca, like the <a href="http://www.amsperformance.com/">AMS Lancer Evo</a> from Chicago with just as many hands on the car as the guys with the rig. But then there were also the first timers with minimal modifications, just getting used to track driving. The atmosphere was test day with Linkin Park blaring over the loudspeaker system – with friends and crewmembers making up the majority of the crowd. Many of the events take place during the week, so it’s not designed to be totally spectator friendly – but the competition looks fairly low key. The only weird thing I experienced asking questions about the cars was a reluctance to give up any “tuning secrets.” “I can’t tell you what we’re doing with the turbo system on this NSX…” That’s OK, I’m not going to turbocharge my S2000 powered English Ford for a while anyway. The Redline series started in November of 2005, ran four events in ’06, and six in ’07. It’s definitely a great alternative to street racing your 450hp EVO, carbon bodied Miata, or Crazy Rotary 510…<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSty_5P7M8prXmlXY15kurRNJJw-tdv1XdZ0Og1vt8XpaQGnohxGqrqsZmfg_7BEGfm1fmZeetHeoWXRNetFmaz7ET12iDrcCPtoQ0zqmQeHLQzjOPwUyS9e6JSTeM2C1QLmhyfN8CyG8Y/s1600-h/rz86.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSty_5P7M8prXmlXY15kurRNJJw-tdv1XdZ0Og1vt8XpaQGnohxGqrqsZmfg_7BEGfm1fmZeetHeoWXRNetFmaz7ET12iDrcCPtoQ0zqmQeHLQzjOPwUyS9e6JSTeM2C1QLmhyfN8CyG8Y/s320/rz86.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361711078657714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfuNYmZaNtuRHlfYsbzTZQjduX5TRCYJ6YpJO7j7yW2OB173uuw37_fXQSBpKRdPP35VbeHFKmSZ-RVCDzZ6eimzMTO2PCVUOC5qJ2-iTAKKjFUs4b3pD0piVYCs5CTZe4la_J6AcGtzt/s1600-h/r510cork25.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpfuNYmZaNtuRHlfYsbzTZQjduX5TRCYJ6YpJO7j7yW2OB173uuw37_fXQSBpKRdPP35VbeHFKmSZ-RVCDzZ6eimzMTO2PCVUOC5qJ2-iTAKKjFUs4b3pD0piVYCs5CTZe4la_J6AcGtzt/s320/r510cork25.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361311646699090" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeasnKOTYeYPam6BAi9ygDsqBYOmZmSjsvAa4clAAHS7tct9l2kaZJv4JJz1QrHtni0cUEFOMLTstXbZRZV23eRdN-bPTQXtP-Rbfm_GesuUaWqvVsVHfIv4NMF1n3P7czJ4-mEGqRwSCI/s1600-h/r510strat05.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeasnKOTYeYPam6BAi9ygDsqBYOmZmSjsvAa4clAAHS7tct9l2kaZJv4JJz1QrHtni0cUEFOMLTstXbZRZV23eRdN-bPTQXtP-Rbfm_GesuUaWqvVsVHfIv4NMF1n3P7czJ4-mEGqRwSCI/s320/r510strat05.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361320236633698" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MPR4evsrJ8xbngB3j8xo7PMVAqqKuDAvLdZqfq-6WsUas5fJDWuiSnPY0gviotiOjbCklXKSevYV79pffU_7N77IE-Ee6goO6p1bMaXQqePYjV5i5xnoB3vJpbB0G_p0Due7VBtD4on3/s1600-h/rsub80.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MPR4evsrJ8xbngB3j8xo7PMVAqqKuDAvLdZqfq-6WsUas5fJDWuiSnPY0gviotiOjbCklXKSevYV79pffU_7N77IE-Ee6goO6p1bMaXQqePYjV5i5xnoB3vJpbB0G_p0Due7VBtD4on3/s320/rsub80.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361320236633714" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7jQ4W_LuUjGNcpvWeJEEbXdzVCNO50NOT9l-2iXGjd0FsozaQ__47HeJLIvJqSkyx2jQ-9HDsHDpux0-T1fj-Jd09P3uian61l5AZGa19-qhPsw0QzMD72miZB2J4XTMT0DrNCdHkQU6/s1600-h/rams54.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho7jQ4W_LuUjGNcpvWeJEEbXdzVCNO50NOT9l-2iXGjd0FsozaQ__47HeJLIvJqSkyx2jQ-9HDsHDpux0-T1fj-Jd09P3uian61l5AZGa19-qhPsw0QzMD72miZB2J4XTMT0DrNCdHkQU6/s320/rams54.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361324531601026" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yxfMyPhmpzuOYalNaJPCH6rTxGZnykT5H3OJtQqmVwncHCPvspXByT5zTOUN8nqNu0DVkuiYrcOwK-TrQJHLj_szuB78nUQwaZQZggwKpV2ty1sFoWR_SY42sCnAaya__Mme8dKNLEme/s1600-h/rmiata50.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4yxfMyPhmpzuOYalNaJPCH6rTxGZnykT5H3OJtQqmVwncHCPvspXByT5zTOUN8nqNu0DVkuiYrcOwK-TrQJHLj_szuB78nUQwaZQZggwKpV2ty1sFoWR_SY42sCnAaya__Mme8dKNLEme/s320/rmiata50.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5171361328826568338" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-17271651379031110222008-02-25T08:34:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:43.145-08:00Meyers' Mazda - A Premonition of the RX7<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbQHeIbvdoPkkw21f3fqDyMABC1LNCJRKxdcpmzk6Jit5HWCHzUTu18xvErMzsZMUrLq2xupWiAtvDR0JXvdixPkSed8t-YjCYQUjQxo3NAyn6733dPaBcYAxOVEBvB14sESfNH6LhqKq/s1600-h/meyers1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrbQHeIbvdoPkkw21f3fqDyMABC1LNCJRKxdcpmzk6Jit5HWCHzUTu18xvErMzsZMUrLq2xupWiAtvDR0JXvdixPkSed8t-YjCYQUjQxo3NAyn6733dPaBcYAxOVEBvB14sESfNH6LhqKq/s320/meyers1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170958155951525378" /></a><br />Dick Meyers, a freight company executive attended the LA Autoshow in 1972 and was smitten with a showcar designed by Sergio Coggiola based on the Volvo 1800ES Coupe. Meyers was an RX2 fan – he bought one of the first ‘71’s when it came out and liked everything about the car. He commissioned Chuck Porter to build a car based on the RX2 with a shape similar to the Volvo 1800ESC showcar. Porter, known for race cars, show cars and movie cars put about 2000 hours into the project. Everything on the car was made from scratch or modified, bar the dash, motor, and tranny. These shots were taken by Joe Rusz (still with R&T magazine) in 1973, when the car was first finished. Little did Meyers know that the RX7 was just around the corner, but I’m sure he liked his Mazda sports car better anyway. <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNrHNPKc-cPZdbWGM4_G82y1AhrabSH9jkCGcensSXWNof5M8mpF31-8BJsCT5v3qFSCSVZMGMlOgzRr_RSiAC_XSe6nPng7k5dCRwZYy0pvtP1SRezgA1ON_NWcF0RIPTidGhhlJT0-8/s1600-h/meyers2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEifNrHNPKc-cPZdbWGM4_G82y1AhrabSH9jkCGcensSXWNof5M8mpF31-8BJsCT5v3qFSCSVZMGMlOgzRr_RSiAC_XSe6nPng7k5dCRwZYy0pvtP1SRezgA1ON_NWcF0RIPTidGhhlJT0-8/s320/meyers2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170958160246492690" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrung8pbq1CL4JyyXyuVn5s8W1mPnnpkw4TKED4J007cKUuZxNqoefaccCaugKf9PrnCX6KiZjhmBTRizGcQIOrRmAuRKLSBMLwkgzbDUcEOJDm7uSs5ZGGfsfNSb17ReIQAvWeCjUZhCr/s1600-h/meyers3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrung8pbq1CL4JyyXyuVn5s8W1mPnnpkw4TKED4J007cKUuZxNqoefaccCaugKf9PrnCX6KiZjhmBTRizGcQIOrRmAuRKLSBMLwkgzbDUcEOJDm7uSs5ZGGfsfNSb17ReIQAvWeCjUZhCr/s320/meyers3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170958160246492706" /></a><br />Below, the Coggiola styled Volvo prototype Meyers saw in at the show.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbuKQ6cx43hA1v5zPHd-Ul7n73AstrktizXxepRVVpAU6lTIt_quyi1Jok7uP505R0ekP_Uu9bD9FNPAfYCxxsj-026B9nbjVspVJjrIKwSqKg3nO-02qkbNSGoDnWp8IcG_oxakTSiSs/s1600-h/volv1800esc1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmbuKQ6cx43hA1v5zPHd-Ul7n73AstrktizXxepRVVpAU6lTIt_quyi1Jok7uP505R0ekP_Uu9bD9FNPAfYCxxsj-026B9nbjVspVJjrIKwSqKg3nO-02qkbNSGoDnWp8IcG_oxakTSiSs/s320/volv1800esc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170958164541460018" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vLOiR-7oIi29Fbo8KRtnBAZdy1T3MWwoDGFwrfnsj4nMev-AR2uaDMOAUPbJENzlFjLEBEkZvXCd9huPj8bkHuDV2rgpbOm5E3kDezgrTNm_mmOX-T4JiNInOoVALsM-6Orum-1LqgbT/s1600-h/volv1800esc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9vLOiR-7oIi29Fbo8KRtnBAZdy1T3MWwoDGFwrfnsj4nMev-AR2uaDMOAUPbJENzlFjLEBEkZvXCd9huPj8bkHuDV2rgpbOm5E3kDezgrTNm_mmOX-T4JiNInOoVALsM-6Orum-1LqgbT/s320/volv1800esc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5170958168836427330" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-21313663210530485932008-02-21T10:22:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:44.500-08:00Japanese Iron at Chuck's Trucks<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaai_dAg0xEo-wWKFj3WsnFodZbSA3UlY96M3G88UvtBtEO0wm-PVsfwAD2zn6n7DAvyjGJOLl3rxWSzL6mmOusghcr7dBzFlCwZTh3ZOvoAXzhPL2F8nySCDhm5E4xNts9QmOCfsgMldB/s1600-h/chuckfront.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaai_dAg0xEo-wWKFj3WsnFodZbSA3UlY96M3G88UvtBtEO0wm-PVsfwAD2zn6n7DAvyjGJOLl3rxWSzL6mmOusghcr7dBzFlCwZTh3ZOvoAXzhPL2F8nySCDhm5E4xNts9QmOCfsgMldB/s320/chuckfront.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501925814980034" /></a><br />Highway 70 snakes along the bucolic Feather River canyon on the west side of the California Sierras. On last year’s Alpine 500 rally (the successor will be run this year as <a href="http://www.thesnowballrally.com/">the Snowball Rally</a>) the route passed Chuck’s Trucks. It could be Arkansas, or the rural California mountains – but some of the inventory strongly suggested we were closer to foreign car country. It was Sunday, and Chuck wasn’t around but most of the rally participants stopped to take a peak. Among the American iron, and a corner of Citroens representing France, were several Datsun 411’s and others from the land of the rising sun. Enjoy… and if you see something you like, everything is for sale. Just don’t open the doors without Chuck’s permission.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlLOB3HTsv3kMyi7tNk65NdW7GUJPSVzDYu2ISBD-yvOscapA9UIfW93GsCLAonfl9fzJRni3srBgXwHhl5Xqt3_zU6MkxJnZIQQswd2Ajx_uT9XET7hQmpqbRoPzfLHhyphenhyphenMBZfG5dh4f9/s1600-h/chuckg.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhlLOB3HTsv3kMyi7tNk65NdW7GUJPSVzDYu2ISBD-yvOscapA9UIfW93GsCLAonfl9fzJRni3srBgXwHhl5Xqt3_zU6MkxJnZIQQswd2Ajx_uT9XET7hQmpqbRoPzfLHhyphenhyphenMBZfG5dh4f9/s320/chuckg.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501930109947346" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuf-w4YYUNG1QXaWgO2OJs1U0U2_xc_4CpIkBmYqS9A7yvcL74-WHx9PiHn760-HqdA1dGqKSBF457rW0HipUSpwtCqIYhrHMwuT-hDeUaRp9VNySvEtx_OezpIeM9GjzCF6JjEzaLMr51/s1600-h/chuckh.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuf-w4YYUNG1QXaWgO2OJs1U0U2_xc_4CpIkBmYqS9A7yvcL74-WHx9PiHn760-HqdA1dGqKSBF457rW0HipUSpwtCqIYhrHMwuT-hDeUaRp9VNySvEtx_OezpIeM9GjzCF6JjEzaLMr51/s320/chuckh.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501930109947362" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NJ_qCNrkJBZ05ZYtrhjTonSfVxkPSXqMeofBwNdhV34FKAa1Qw1QRZU6I0JHZjJaIXgBNB7VUCZ6GLcuA_qByltdP7XjAh6y78mdlbM293af0shjJtCp3uKmsukjDQaS4dlcYJx-uRVx/s1600-h/chuckl.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_NJ_qCNrkJBZ05ZYtrhjTonSfVxkPSXqMeofBwNdhV34FKAa1Qw1QRZU6I0JHZjJaIXgBNB7VUCZ6GLcuA_qByltdP7XjAh6y78mdlbM293af0shjJtCp3uKmsukjDQaS4dlcYJx-uRVx/s320/chuckl.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501934404914674" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoPDU9vZ5K2ECvP_zgRKcSVNoYdtMEQJPzdcyiehO2s7HmLbDLkZW_d3DJG8_Ny2np2Uv08JP_GMFaWc_91l-bvdMeQdJjeFDpSIEupgJrV-RlCkmoxcSfzYfYVbDeh14tbID0kMYyBVp/s1600-h/alpchuck3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNoPDU9vZ5K2ECvP_zgRKcSVNoYdtMEQJPzdcyiehO2s7HmLbDLkZW_d3DJG8_Ny2np2Uv08JP_GMFaWc_91l-bvdMeQdJjeFDpSIEupgJrV-RlCkmoxcSfzYfYVbDeh14tbID0kMYyBVp/s320/alpchuck3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501294454787442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjgf_1oxGAYF9C_ExkRo5ACcNQTKLe54krwmOZTPjjacsHFUga0f6ljlhJl2zWug5b9Ifn6GVS4ET_UAhGZCJ9mPYKtc27xHDN9SX_hsjxhS7KXsJa85UbAvzRTbTWgvYBv3jTjJDCyDD/s1600-h/chuck46.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmjgf_1oxGAYF9C_ExkRo5ACcNQTKLe54krwmOZTPjjacsHFUga0f6ljlhJl2zWug5b9Ifn6GVS4ET_UAhGZCJ9mPYKtc27xHDN9SX_hsjxhS7KXsJa85UbAvzRTbTWgvYBv3jTjJDCyDD/s320/chuck46.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501298749754754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixcSbG3I1sccakIBf6scPHPgKbRbhkzdGwoL3YwNt7AFHTH3U1ZSGxO5Uc4MPKIUxwZHCEpCcL0I50Ty94poj_caEj2X7AcF5tqhOykqaq1JKGYw4scbYKm50fCQUWfhIHfZKTV5r3TL0/s1600-h/chuck53.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiixcSbG3I1sccakIBf6scPHPgKbRbhkzdGwoL3YwNt7AFHTH3U1ZSGxO5Uc4MPKIUxwZHCEpCcL0I50Ty94poj_caEj2X7AcF5tqhOykqaq1JKGYw4scbYKm50fCQUWfhIHfZKTV5r3TL0/s320/chuck53.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501303044722066" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW15pMr8WqIsVXIn3xWo1wsDbyV5RyJOp-TTUggQqL2_8YfQ-BrSZZkiVcEO7wb3tlps3SpEv6nQC8B0Uo8RLyRMeoE7VcNKqMyOPoFjTWnTf2Dn1b-G4Yumfrm5zyGJL-AF7qNUeRpIw/s1600-h/chuckf.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivW15pMr8WqIsVXIn3xWo1wsDbyV5RyJOp-TTUggQqL2_8YfQ-BrSZZkiVcEO7wb3tlps3SpEv6nQC8B0Uo8RLyRMeoE7VcNKqMyOPoFjTWnTf2Dn1b-G4Yumfrm5zyGJL-AF7qNUeRpIw/s320/chuckf.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501307339689378" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cLwWJWv_1oSK_ntn2w9MhwkVgZK6WpnyBNUsVEqan9gzAjFynCHaOTJhKBKvzGscuhf5_MEzycE6nyKYZ1ABk-VqhgQ9YScgwa5DeAvEd1XCo42ssX0K6QYUkBM6Z-UFr1znYp_zPm1d/s1600-h/chucksign.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3cLwWJWv_1oSK_ntn2w9MhwkVgZK6WpnyBNUsVEqan9gzAjFynCHaOTJhKBKvzGscuhf5_MEzycE6nyKYZ1ABk-VqhgQ9YScgwa5DeAvEd1XCo42ssX0K6QYUkBM6Z-UFr1znYp_zPm1d/s320/chucksign.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5169501311634656690" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-20007125302751172972008-02-18T09:09:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:45.801-08:00Hot rodded Toyota FJ's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGB7AQfbgsYgRt_Tz_0ygwsvWGlrLiEXY8HKT1pU0Rq0tdkAe_CbGL3yoRHFXVe_OmWrm4t7wmAr6_v16ReWwYH0NaHDAd85d5-D2iZ4w073TWfcPlfcohoitGhL6Y3uVLHOrl7RXNAt3/s1600-h/fjrod2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBGB7AQfbgsYgRt_Tz_0ygwsvWGlrLiEXY8HKT1pU0Rq0tdkAe_CbGL3yoRHFXVe_OmWrm4t7wmAr6_v16ReWwYH0NaHDAd85d5-D2iZ4w073TWfcPlfcohoitGhL6Y3uVLHOrl7RXNAt3/s320/fjrod2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168370914897055026" /></a><br /><br />A couple of years ago the theme for the 2006 SEMA show (the show’s 40th anniversary) was American Muscle, but Toyota joined in on the retro-muscle bandwagon with hot rodded truck of their own.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTmt35zk5LNK23jRu8x692l9LKluGLwJnO83EJSqVjq7WkP2qd1601idN3q5hvEX126rRSkg0rRaoSuy6Le_JeOQkKM8wMaOydiaFiOeAjMZVc8Cipbg4Xj_ooR2BjDwinE8PaXHBlcwX/s1600-h/fjrod1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzTmt35zk5LNK23jRu8x692l9LKluGLwJnO83EJSqVjq7WkP2qd1601idN3q5hvEX126rRSkg0rRaoSuy6Le_JeOQkKM8wMaOydiaFiOeAjMZVc8Cipbg4Xj_ooR2BjDwinE8PaXHBlcwX/s320/fjrod1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168370923486989634" /></a><br /><br />The FJ45 Hot Rod theme coincided with the arrival of the FJ Cruiser 4X4. Mark Amstock (the National SUV and Minivan Market Planning Manager at Toyota Motor Sales at the time) led the team that developed Toyota’s ’06 SEMA show cars. For the FJ45 Hot Rod, Amstock located the FJ45 pickup and gave it to hot rodder Richard Graves.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFNzqGcZWxaZraya1mzSL4qb-vJq6fmtOo0hw4CI_gbc0Rc_RsCtD6Y9HYImV2bm_rH9dMPZogK6ezloikyxK8r5trweigFQpBFHM21WDfzfoZ6RAjKVrYMvS1ACdElTtJQMp_UZd4FRT/s1600-h/fjrod3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjFNzqGcZWxaZraya1mzSL4qb-vJq6fmtOo0hw4CI_gbc0Rc_RsCtD6Y9HYImV2bm_rH9dMPZogK6ezloikyxK8r5trweigFQpBFHM21WDfzfoZ6RAjKVrYMvS1ACdElTtJQMp_UZd4FRT/s320/fjrod3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168370927781956946" /></a><br /><br />Graves chopped the top, narrowed the body, channeled it, coated it in satin black (with the signature white roof) and set it on red steel wheels. Amstock also talked TRD out of a NASCAR Toyota Camry V8 motor and had it detuned to 600 horsepower for the hot rodded truck. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj2zaOybcTbmyrxhzF2quwezL6tTTqXBelEXtUobUAo_nvc4hv5V-xr2ZlH-TkZ2s5cPC6eM1WC3eX1fc3GHIvVB0xuUr0Jwpw8nVRTT7oRekhVbTFEduoAdrnokok1V2WPZX-U5eXYmS/s1600-h/fjrodint.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOj2zaOybcTbmyrxhzF2quwezL6tTTqXBelEXtUobUAo_nvc4hv5V-xr2ZlH-TkZ2s5cPC6eM1WC3eX1fc3GHIvVB0xuUr0Jwpw8nVRTT7oRekhVbTFEduoAdrnokok1V2WPZX-U5eXYmS/s320/fjrodint.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168370932076924258" /></a><br /><br />Toyota’s North American sales guys didn’t start a trend by modifying an FJ series truck, they merely tapped into a scene that’s been rolling along for a long time with companies like <a href="http://www.tlc4x4.com/2000/home.htm">TLC (Toyota Land Cruisers)</a> of Van Nuys California.<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXwBD_xwFp2QisGqpu6m1Ois4a-PirLakUbPJ7qcrf4m3aQfwVlLTziIkxLM1bYaqzUQruX7t2bpwzwzQuMnOHSkF_-nLQ1SI6AWC5XpR0uwojWkCQWTTMh2P4W7wyJIeMqi2iWvQR8OU/s1600-h/fjtlc1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCXwBD_xwFp2QisGqpu6m1Ois4a-PirLakUbPJ7qcrf4m3aQfwVlLTziIkxLM1bYaqzUQruX7t2bpwzwzQuMnOHSkF_-nLQ1SI6AWC5XpR0uwojWkCQWTTMh2P4W7wyJIeMqi2iWvQR8OU/s320/fjtlc1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168369141075561714" /></a><br /><br />TLC has been restoring and tastefully modifying the FJ series and all Land Cruisers for years. The original FJ series was available in the US between 1963 and 1967 as a shortbed pickup with a fixed or removable roof, and as a four door wagon. TLC’s full blown (to use a Mustang term) “resto-mod” restorations put modern 6 liter V8’s into the FJ and other Landcruisers. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpDutAXDzhRH7cYUbezc6qPmCvR2YaRh2u3w7fSjkDi5h9gOZQOS7Zh8nedLA05txg07JKcIIIsCgtAQXIvxuQQeWjCGtN_P0QH8gXGRqe7fCZjdj2yg1gMWLKSQwgRYkaDYJkqB1A0DR/s1600-h/fjtlc2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtpDutAXDzhRH7cYUbezc6qPmCvR2YaRh2u3w7fSjkDi5h9gOZQOS7Zh8nedLA05txg07JKcIIIsCgtAQXIvxuQQeWjCGtN_P0QH8gXGRqe7fCZjdj2yg1gMWLKSQwgRYkaDYJkqB1A0DR/s320/fjtlc2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168369149665496322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNUm-T-Gsprw14V1AQ3mqhtA5ZF1CjoDyhogqMPBTVMpkMzcjdba1nfNfpNb6nTkKADFAH2LpejH2uMex_boo1z-86qothqI_f1LMFPxqNa5Y0eaNCRv4JqWGJq2f-FcTRoxncCwp-7Rt/s1600-h/fjtlc3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZNUm-T-Gsprw14V1AQ3mqhtA5ZF1CjoDyhogqMPBTVMpkMzcjdba1nfNfpNb6nTkKADFAH2LpejH2uMex_boo1z-86qothqI_f1LMFPxqNa5Y0eaNCRv4JqWGJq2f-FcTRoxncCwp-7Rt/s320/fjtlc3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168369162550398226" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc6bVfIbvL8f2XIkpss6Z9yJhh1ZGecgmGRKXHVEbKkjlUqekpn1cgDt1i_YtDU0XEISlx0cx5rXeYA6Mhe33-TaYfZSHS5HNg_bWAbKBRkIIOurkLWuNp9rZiobZ-QlzGqa-Ylj1k3aL/s1600-h/fjtlc4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqc6bVfIbvL8f2XIkpss6Z9yJhh1ZGecgmGRKXHVEbKkjlUqekpn1cgDt1i_YtDU0XEISlx0cx5rXeYA6Mhe33-TaYfZSHS5HNg_bWAbKBRkIIOurkLWuNp9rZiobZ-QlzGqa-Ylj1k3aL/s320/fjtlc4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5168369175435300130" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-63149208348625926692008-02-13T09:17:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:47.329-08:00Baja B210's<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxBCIf3jj6HwAoWwQbbaaFT855uZTlF_xOYUkIIwThdUwzzER50xQ_thkE0F_blCjumROQ90d4QiCO8qxqOKFJHQH-cnrhjRDnGvUkF-Zq8is94TvGNJi8QB-lOkp0NAGK8eTjImOI7oZ/s1600-h/marlbfstbak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUxBCIf3jj6HwAoWwQbbaaFT855uZTlF_xOYUkIIwThdUwzzER50xQ_thkE0F_blCjumROQ90d4QiCO8qxqOKFJHQH-cnrhjRDnGvUkF-Zq8is94TvGNJi8QB-lOkp0NAGK8eTjImOI7oZ/s320/marlbfstbak.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516008716225666" /></a><br /><br />Some 907 miles south of Tijuana lies the capital city of Baja California, La Paz and the ending point of the grueling Baja 1000 off road race. While on a random trip a number of years ago, we couldn’t help but notice that La Paz with its desert climate was a hotbed of Datsun B210 survivors. Most were faded, dented and well worn but still running strong. Or running at least, as no one drove particularly quickly in the city. <a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/bill/autoscene/sunny/sunny.htm">The entire collection is here</a>, and below are a few of the standouts. <br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6hAyzGO35qf3QVCkeh8FrGVULN023aOQeon9d0L3He8LlEpCoQPPwzYVi5sLq01kEB18fgmDI2yD-uL1WYs3w3VLc1Y50vX_xbtbE653ch5S8i9L5UOSpnZuZQaID_FSq4QHPpkRANwO/s1600-h/adobeb210.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEie6hAyzGO35qf3QVCkeh8FrGVULN023aOQeon9d0L3He8LlEpCoQPPwzYVi5sLq01kEB18fgmDI2yD-uL1WYs3w3VLc1Y50vX_xbtbE653ch5S8i9L5UOSpnZuZQaID_FSq4QHPpkRANwO/s320/adobeb210.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516008716225682" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTVDbN48OkQw4n1ofeiyO3lAsGN-okt32ee7e8n9f0DZm33RMZKGwD3yM_VBQq3rFGVUj_u3XSQZOOuGvRluWn0JlE_kb1lBujMEny0f0S16ep4mf70mHJms_wDh18ocaqD_kb8xc4gpM/s1600-h/bluecoup.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbTVDbN48OkQw4n1ofeiyO3lAsGN-okt32ee7e8n9f0DZm33RMZKGwD3yM_VBQq3rFGVUj_u3XSQZOOuGvRluWn0JlE_kb1lBujMEny0f0S16ep4mf70mHJms_wDh18ocaqD_kb8xc4gpM/s320/bluecoup.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516013011192994" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qtbloAwghmd3q5QBIy9zu-FfTZHmwR5wN-MdHqbhJd222NgSz3oCxpz3S8sodZildEXaf2BUcGbGROtn6Yyvn4vGqF89534KNLuKsZF7WNCVlM2q9gW0s6iicAbrdbWjlkeLMhU7mfH/s1600-h/bluerake.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh6qtbloAwghmd3q5QBIy9zu-FfTZHmwR5wN-MdHqbhJd222NgSz3oCxpz3S8sodZildEXaf2BUcGbGROtn6Yyvn4vGqF89534KNLuKsZF7WNCVlM2q9gW0s6iicAbrdbWjlkeLMhU7mfH/s320/bluerake.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516013011193010" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSFH6yaLQrKlWzR_GZXZRPOWFpo-mM2N2NCVw4pYR56fbeNIO2AsLS8u8HE1H4QwT3C_ibXpGMCV1UDXt27ZmnXLEDSWgZXNTqjd6s72CQhW7KMY-5A4Uk92FwgjT7upYtZshv-c9VWbZ/s1600-h/blufastwing.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgRSFH6yaLQrKlWzR_GZXZRPOWFpo-mM2N2NCVw4pYR56fbeNIO2AsLS8u8HE1H4QwT3C_ibXpGMCV1UDXt27ZmnXLEDSWgZXNTqjd6s72CQhW7KMY-5A4Uk92FwgjT7upYtZshv-c9VWbZ/s320/blufastwing.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516017306160322" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9t8vo4nMCT3OhrNi1wAKqci42sc-JOM9a0iCAApduJNQrOi9iqVDFquhfiFlSZoIVUOtdgOaVf_niJhSyu5kvkDITMLohlM9Gu73NZJF85q6ypHlZf9KVLN9dItz3wgXNejg_L73AWYi/s1600-h/greenfastbak.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc9t8vo4nMCT3OhrNi1wAKqci42sc-JOM9a0iCAApduJNQrOi9iqVDFquhfiFlSZoIVUOtdgOaVf_niJhSyu5kvkDITMLohlM9Gu73NZJF85q6ypHlZf9KVLN9dItz3wgXNejg_L73AWYi/s320/greenfastbak.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516395263282386" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9R3C-Wiy-yuoanpSZSS_cFWd666copXrXWQuMPvcRgnZNZm7GwMKZmoXu0M9RgT4WwVxD_AxD9HU7I2qsaAcir2SXBkMIDKe7cqpLTNndv1uiUZBJ7Q0bEMhH5KqK581ZQsherSMVEhb/s1600-h/turqfast.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgP9R3C-Wiy-yuoanpSZSS_cFWd666copXrXWQuMPvcRgnZNZm7GwMKZmoXu0M9RgT4WwVxD_AxD9HU7I2qsaAcir2SXBkMIDKe7cqpLTNndv1uiUZBJ7Q0bEMhH5KqK581ZQsherSMVEhb/s320/turqfast.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166516442507922658" /></a><br />Good times indeed in the Datsun Sunny!hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-44991197559698584592008-02-12T09:38:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:47.610-08:00Clean Stock Celica ST on ebAY<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpzB0LvbFm5bqXZOPqbrHc8my9uyIzFXizKRraAVPYM-dRj2FtRDJJ5OcQwgG2ND7LtNfELQ2O5WF36jGYrw1-mX6fuSfq8kSChQ9L72RRRw89_popH3OO8a-g1QJDDSp-b1vTqrqUZ6B/s1600-h/DSCF1806.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOpzB0LvbFm5bqXZOPqbrHc8my9uyIzFXizKRraAVPYM-dRj2FtRDJJ5OcQwgG2ND7LtNfELQ2O5WF36jGYrw1-mX6fuSfq8kSChQ9L72RRRw89_popH3OO8a-g1QJDDSp-b1vTqrqUZ6B/s320/DSCF1806.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166157645234981986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCNxUR-jjeQbfcGPYdn-zWQaBqKcvLNyHHNtw7PNQX-nFLHYYlxaD4fLkJcrBvvDEE4uaecq_XQv5t9UupQoDTZk_xWI_JDr63Ec8TgUxIpideeDccw6FU040WfZXo6Daa6ucY1gGEvfO/s1600-h/DSCF1839.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyCNxUR-jjeQbfcGPYdn-zWQaBqKcvLNyHHNtw7PNQX-nFLHYYlxaD4fLkJcrBvvDEE4uaecq_XQv5t9UupQoDTZk_xWI_JDr63Ec8TgUxIpideeDccw6FU040WfZXo6Daa6ucY1gGEvfO/s320/DSCF1839.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5166157649529949298" /></a><br />There's only 13 hours left on this fairly clean and stock <a href="http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1971-Toyota-Celica-RA20-SUPER-RARE-SUPER-CLEAN_W0QQitemZ230220412097QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item230220412097">1971 Celica ST on eBay </a>- <br />The buy it now price is 6,500. It will be interesting to watch - it's not as desirable as a GT version, but it does have the manual transmission and doesn't appear to have suffered from the advances of rust. Judging by the multiple Celicas in the background, the seller probably knows the cars well.hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-80975425917657726372008-02-11T16:51:00.000-08:002008-11-15T01:09:49.853-08:00Tired of your Miata? Throw a kit on that whip!The world of bodykits and aftermarket aerodynamics is a weird and wonderful world of automotive personalization. On the quality side there’s decent stuff, and there’s shlock. Companies like Dobi and Zender came up in the seventies with spoilers and the first aero sideskirts for mass production – before that people did their own flares and spoilers. On modern imports "Combat" and other aggressive kits add gaping radiator intakes, wings, spoilers, side skirts, vents, and flares in occasionally cartoonish proportions. Retro-inspired kits have traditionally been more popular in Japan than US, and the Miata is a popular basis for a total makeover. Here are some examples – with varying degrees of sacrilege. Below Pit Crew Racing takes a <a href="http://speedwellengineering.com/glasspage.html">Speedwell Sprite front end theme</a> and molds it with a Datsun Roadster rear end taillight treatment – I kind of like it.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rVKQY9PsZXQ10R07FuXwz0Ecx9PAL_2cp6gfBNJgbKwNWz2xayTrlXA7rMCFHhl1E4xyAbK7tq1D8PL0DKxZZAqkoQmppRUIHz-j0U2xxV8fuih4us0cTRz_cRtBZZ55b_aJeNGg4AO7/s1600-h/bob1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5rVKQY9PsZXQ10R07FuXwz0Ecx9PAL_2cp6gfBNJgbKwNWz2xayTrlXA7rMCFHhl1E4xyAbK7tq1D8PL0DKxZZAqkoQmppRUIHz-j0U2xxV8fuih4us0cTRz_cRtBZZ55b_aJeNGg4AO7/s320/bob1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906905044241442" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiYtEXJjav4O1RjPdPj9MdH7GhBgdZYpSFXJWZoWYb4Rt9EYlgELYycQEucy0duEGKACP0w07nxTym3O6SBbIap2g7XqCK5jNs0SszVze36XcU2NBmPJkX84JMexl6nn27pf3FES5S72S/s1600-h/bp.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZiYtEXJjav4O1RjPdPj9MdH7GhBgdZYpSFXJWZoWYb4Rt9EYlgELYycQEucy0duEGKACP0w07nxTym3O6SBbIap2g7XqCK5jNs0SszVze36XcU2NBmPJkX84JMexl6nn27pf3FES5S72S/s320/bp.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906909339208754" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedhy8i5Y6GoYgjfuDd7uWt01T-fl5EeWiqY_OVY6-Jcg43gXu6vfBrzISF7TI9sv9phPPtdmd5BUVFQLDICRMe_-Ih4quMrpAOwuzI58ipxIo0izhX4E2gtXME2kfvDCouoWxr3ZxA0Gq/s1600-h/na11_big.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiedhy8i5Y6GoYgjfuDd7uWt01T-fl5EeWiqY_OVY6-Jcg43gXu6vfBrzISF7TI9sv9phPPtdmd5BUVFQLDICRMe_-Ih4quMrpAOwuzI58ipxIo0izhX4E2gtXME2kfvDCouoWxr3ZxA0Gq/s320/na11_big.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906913634176066" /></a><br /><br />The Hiroshi 2000GT kit attempts to capture the glory of the Toyota 2000GT roadster (from Bond film fame) and the detailing is impressive. The rear end overhang proportions leave a little to be desired when compared to the black and white image of the real thing.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5rt6AqO-PW1VKREwqZ3NNN3V7o2ccqjHpk5b5uluthOMRgvH90AulAFGvOwdUf1s7JmtW4Pesd4kZu5Mn-YiqGUS7Dxcdr4XEpy3uRTZM0oHwWNeRWjQIW_m9-M-2S6hnM_hBr7Lkcm-/s1600-h/hiroshi1.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc5rt6AqO-PW1VKREwqZ3NNN3V7o2ccqjHpk5b5uluthOMRgvH90AulAFGvOwdUf1s7JmtW4Pesd4kZu5Mn-YiqGUS7Dxcdr4XEpy3uRTZM0oHwWNeRWjQIW_m9-M-2S6hnM_hBr7Lkcm-/s320/hiroshi1.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906256504179666" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Wgs-EWPM4Fk2q-3A3oRWCRgFJRu-nbZdhVh8MbZVASPOrVLqp6hiimw9BT4VHGEDYMGDcdFOVEa_vfBDioB_nWwliKh1o-hXi_uKnd6SPzCjI9gXW7VX1hnKiEMz0B_fFzyhNPoWDJV/s1600-h/hiroshi2.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhb8Wgs-EWPM4Fk2q-3A3oRWCRgFJRu-nbZdhVh8MbZVASPOrVLqp6hiimw9BT4VHGEDYMGDcdFOVEa_vfBDioB_nWwliKh1o-hXi_uKnd6SPzCjI9gXW7VX1hnKiEMz0B_fFzyhNPoWDJV/s320/hiroshi2.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906265094114274" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMs5Ee4VCP8CNQKdUxExZUHkNagCydVUh5-fPdDjB3f9tC3Tj-Pq3sdbktouK5Bspid4Hqe2mtb2i2nXJ4hrwa-E-LYZDvs5V8I23ghAIP__wOtV4OW6a4Zm3xRFp9VFhpfP82ifUm_Ej/s1600-h/hiroshi3.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFMs5Ee4VCP8CNQKdUxExZUHkNagCydVUh5-fPdDjB3f9tC3Tj-Pq3sdbktouK5Bspid4Hqe2mtb2i2nXJ4hrwa-E-LYZDvs5V8I23ghAIP__wOtV4OW6a4Zm3xRFp9VFhpfP82ifUm_Ej/s320/hiroshi3.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906269389081586" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsrpEe8-JqsZhH4tTxAYGi68I1F6KERKntB7y6rCHbL2mctpjJUjOUJnnahS_-_yblWPonOQHkQa837r_D_GMvIPagClwuFFHjTsMjjijNHeDiNk1YhJEb0z9P7FbC0wXIzuVVWDhlJ_z/s1600-h/Bond_70.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjMsrpEe8-JqsZhH4tTxAYGi68I1F6KERKntB7y6rCHbL2mctpjJUjOUJnnahS_-_yblWPonOQHkQa837r_D_GMvIPagClwuFFHjTsMjjijNHeDiNk1YhJEb0z9P7FbC0wXIzuVVWDhlJ_z/s320/Bond_70.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906273684048898" /></a><br /><br />The Manta (below) is a generically Italian themed bodystyle – sort of a shrunken Iso Grifo front end.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzzxtWfNH_bX3eTubkvx6VnpvtVKD4ki7YNB54TGWE5H73NevPz8jEPuR36XWYECAd4Re1wX4NpQeagkAnlvckVlo79CBGgo4Yd8DSVV8LRqwXeCVd9ygsApu0vP6Rq5ouMOHfAQLYwO9/s1600-h/manta_cam4.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAzzxtWfNH_bX3eTubkvx6VnpvtVKD4ki7YNB54TGWE5H73NevPz8jEPuR36XWYECAd4Re1wX4NpQeagkAnlvckVlo79CBGgo4Yd8DSVV8LRqwXeCVd9ygsApu0vP6Rq5ouMOHfAQLYwO9/s320/manta_cam4.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165906277979016210" /></a><br /><br />Miata based Cobra gets it all wrong. Cobras were also copied on MGA’s and MGB’s with similar success.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid99rBsD3TILwUF7aaKelK1zOgjaiOLHAq-QK2nYIxh69zTaR8_exDP7J1Ap_o3TdhknRnL9qpesoU2ZRRUv2RXEzRx0hldpAOaoZoZxT49FUJpppkdW1aqqHayEODf5bIB_5SULe2UbzE/s1600-h/cobfront.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid99rBsD3TILwUF7aaKelK1zOgjaiOLHAq-QK2nYIxh69zTaR8_exDP7J1Ap_o3TdhknRnL9qpesoU2ZRRUv2RXEzRx0hldpAOaoZoZxT49FUJpppkdW1aqqHayEODf5bIB_5SULe2UbzE/s320/cobfront.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165905212827126658" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-yq8yLW8DTZC3xxPM2Y42iJHckLuvDusI6IGF-rg6bbgmHSGZyS67I6xi4khlO3R-9KpS5HkfkfsGsqmXmEx3cYbBclYr3Ee_ptshZETCJZFr7BYHj3PKAbO73n71hOVoXL5nB_n5dMw/s1600-h/cobrear.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg-yq8yLW8DTZC3xxPM2Y42iJHckLuvDusI6IGF-rg6bbgmHSGZyS67I6xi4khlO3R-9KpS5HkfkfsGsqmXmEx3cYbBclYr3Ee_ptshZETCJZFr7BYHj3PKAbO73n71hOVoXL5nB_n5dMw/s320/cobrear.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165905212827126674" /></a><br /><br />Ah, the Mustang Miata – this is just weird, but the detailing is disturbingly accurate. Who’s to say there isn’t a Monster Miata 5 liter Ford underneath.<br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5kZpX89jGShFj3OHUHBL2M8w5PUYgKNrIAmOQdqVk0091M3_P6C8_TMUshG_E7XzWsppk3Sp0GVAu0gryQP2UTcQLlHqPpluWZJYSSaezvGLqAVyK0rS-OPUsiIQhc4_Hn7Gcj9J-DDt/s1600-h/leaves.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm5kZpX89jGShFj3OHUHBL2M8w5PUYgKNrIAmOQdqVk0091M3_P6C8_TMUshG_E7XzWsppk3Sp0GVAu0gryQP2UTcQLlHqPpluWZJYSSaezvGLqAVyK0rS-OPUsiIQhc4_Hn7Gcj9J-DDt/s320/leaves.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165905217122093986" /></a><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspWbyFMV_64krj20jWiTdfVVGc0iPkGOKco520uh2nd8k9yIWQUDpJJh-LxCtVEYpf6pTVTF0wiijApWfg2M4p6Jgw2GoFXSkJoSgsLTtYv3DWhvpxkpEvTSmrzcSicXMQOndK5MAEjA2/s1600-h/1988.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgspWbyFMV_64krj20jWiTdfVVGc0iPkGOKco520uh2nd8k9yIWQUDpJJh-LxCtVEYpf6pTVTF0wiijApWfg2M4p6Jgw2GoFXSkJoSgsLTtYv3DWhvpxkpEvTSmrzcSicXMQOndK5MAEjA2/s320/1988.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165905217122094002" /></a><br /><br />The Aston Martin is a little difficult to pull off, but it looks better than the Cobra.<br /> <br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIda-6Q3cermMQLmR0xuZY6Z2a0fk89qTquvhMTAbM3KA2lPgCV-Kx9cuogHyEHKQvu-Wrj_CtRMQOrUa23LZJ2lfXwYA09u79vfP8YrsDJhgBbteOSkgvkELXmWGYchg_-gYx2OrutcPo/s1600-h/astiomiat.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIda-6Q3cermMQLmR0xuZY6Z2a0fk89qTquvhMTAbM3KA2lPgCV-Kx9cuogHyEHKQvu-Wrj_CtRMQOrUa23LZJ2lfXwYA09u79vfP8YrsDJhgBbteOSkgvkELXmWGYchg_-gYx2OrutcPo/s320/astiomiat.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165905221417061314" /></a><br />Miami Vice light – a small reproduction of the Corvette based 365 Daytona Spider replicas. Brilliant!<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZVkdLzXg4xb58wyL7IS5rnbLkzJaK9WVT-eAxIZTe6h8p53UqyWPHVxhiOhYRnXJsbq87im9RfHHHf_rin5BAtPNV_dvZyfguruUnG49tAE80Ye0H_2qVQdhBCsMTedq6DZOPjnU5Lau/s1600-h/simpsondesign-miamiroadster.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtZVkdLzXg4xb58wyL7IS5rnbLkzJaK9WVT-eAxIZTe6h8p53UqyWPHVxhiOhYRnXJsbq87im9RfHHHf_rin5BAtPNV_dvZyfguruUnG49tAE80Ye0H_2qVQdhBCsMTedq6DZOPjnU5Lau/s320/simpsondesign-miamiroadster.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165903464775437170" /></a><br />Perhaps this is the worst, the 1955 MGTF Miata… You could park it next to your <a href="http://www.mitsuoka-motor.com/">Mitsuoka Galue</a> in the garage…<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sjVRSMVzN-OYwwIqkNpeO2znJcjRVeRJ5PCAm7b2rME5LCkPtwy357FviWJojQGXd59e6_8qqWKVj-Rp0ygiY6HB1qO_Tl3cm-cwOfQgY8YpeF1fUGMmr2LR-1yDwo9Op5nZ3jhCZqhq/s1600-h/allen-tgsports55.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sjVRSMVzN-OYwwIqkNpeO2znJcjRVeRJ5PCAm7b2rME5LCkPtwy357FviWJojQGXd59e6_8qqWKVj-Rp0ygiY6HB1qO_Tl3cm-cwOfQgY8YpeF1fUGMmr2LR-1yDwo9Op5nZ3jhCZqhq/s320/allen-tgsports55.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5165907209986919506" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1580062824562957461.post-70471901387543746112008-02-11T08:52:00.000-08:002008-02-11T09:20:21.822-08:00Nissan GTR - Graphs and Aero<a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle105.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle105.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/6068m.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/6068m.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />That’s Kazutoshi Mizuno, the project leader on Nissan’s new $70k supercar fighting GTR. The Japanese love graphs and Powerpoint presentations comparing products with the abstract. This slide demonstrates which side of the brain is jazzed by the GTR, and how the GTR doesn’t appeal to wisdom and is unlike the clothes of a general merchandising store or a run of the mill quartz watch. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/6078.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/6078.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Here’s another graph depicting how the GTR develops more fun sooner in the corner than conventional cars! I took these photos at the launch at the Sendai HiLand Raceway at the GTR’s launch event. As soon as the (Sports Car International) article prints I’ll be able to go into more detail on my impressions of how it reacts over the road, and on the track. Think of it as the quintessential Japanese muscle car, and keep in mind that muscle has gone a very different direction across the Pacific than it has in Detroit. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/2a_01.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/2a_01.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Notice the “Rectifying Effect” under the driver’s seat. I think what’s actually happening here is an attempt to attach the boundary layer to the side of the car, and keep the airflow under the car from rolling out the sides. The GTR divides the air into three regions as it passes through it – obviously above and below the car, and the air taken through the engine compartment is kept in the middle of the car, directed into the driveshaft tunnel for cooling of the transaxle before it is directed back into the diffuser flow at the rear of the car. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_10.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_10.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_11.gif"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_11.gif" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_13.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_13.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle058.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle058.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle057.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle057.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />The underbody aero pieces themselves are a mix of conventional and exotic materials – the font underbody is polypropolene, made for deformability to comply with pedestrian safety standards. A secondary piece just behind the motor is fiberglass, while the central underfloor is carbon sheet, and the rear diffuser is an aluminum honeycomb reinforced carbon composite, like you’d find in a prototype race car. The edges of the rear tray have been treated with polyester elastomer to resist exhaust heat.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_14.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/1a_14.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a><br /><br />Nissan worked for 2 years with Group Lotus in Europe, and 1.5 years with Yoshitaka Suzuka in Japan for aerodynamic development using rolling road wind tunnels. The result is a low air-resistance (Cd:0.27) and significant downforce.<br /><br /><a href="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle193.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px;" src="http://www.jagpromotions.com/images/jstyle/jstyle193.jpg" border="0" alt="" /></a>hardtuned.com's J.GLennhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06392179076338057735noreply@blogger.com0