Back to it's roots.

Merry Xmas and a view to the New Year

GT-Roadster + Advan RZ 19".

I've been thinking a lot about the future of my car recently and whether to return to an FD3s Rx7 or stick it out with the roadster.

I believe I've made a decision to keep the roadster. I have decided it will remain a 100% road car. No track days for the beauty! I'll leave that for another car in the future. With my friends in Japan, I'll be able to rent a ride in a race car anytime anyway. Probably for the same price as a weekend on the circuit myself. Oils tyres, pads etc.

I don't think many can really have a streetable race car. It ends up being a compromise. Too far and it stays in the garage because it's too much trouble to run around town. Too loud, too stiff, too fast. Not tuned enough and simply... too slow on the track.

So with a realistic decision made. I should keep the roadster for a little longer and save for a circuit based FD3s a way in the future. (maybe a long way)

So that leaves the roadster with it's true direction as it always had from the begining. I bought it because I wanted to emulate the KS-Auto KD-X Burnout NC in some ways. That car has a real presence and definately influenced my purchase over S2000 which I believed would have had me at the track spending money again just like an FD3s that this car replaced.

That was never the role for this car. This car's role was cheap daily transport and touring around.

As I owned the car for a while and hung out with others, this direction became blurred to performance and racing. So rather than lightweight parts like seats, exhaust and bonnet, that don't match the RHT anyway. I'll put them on the back burner in favour of street stance and impact. The result should be very special. Not unlike the impact of the Burnout car.

I've been contemplating 19"wheels for soooo long. So I think I'll do it. (I'll still need to save though)

Bronze Advan RZ in 19" 19x8.5 with the deep GT-R design with stretched 215 or 225 /35/19 rubber and make them fit. Total cost should be 200,000yen + the cheapest tyres I can find about 50,000. There's not too much required other than a fender roll and maybe some minor inner guard trimming. Lower my ohlins to the lowest setting. Ride height should be about the same, but stance will improve. Of course there is the sacrifice of power, handling and braking, but hey, it's all about image. Not performance.

90% fast is ok.

Russ.

Saclam Exhaust and Mnifold

Saclam are Lotus specialists with many other parts.

They have just finished development of Exhust manifold and muffler, they are a work of art.

Tsukuba Super Lap

Nopro has upped the spec of their car to MZR-L5 2.5Litre with high comp pistons.

clocked a 1'04"242 on the day. Very fast for an NC. S-tyres are now fitted also.

Once settings are perfected this will be even quicker.

Running on Rays CE28NF with Direzza O3g. It's all fun.

Nopro + Jet's

Nopro's new lip spoiler is out!

I phoshopped my canards on to the combo and it looks perfect.

It is the best one I have seen. Already fitted to a couple of R16 member cars.

Decision... Can I sell my M'z lip and replace it.
Issue... Mounting holes already in my bumper. Maybe cover with a sticker.

Just dreaming.

Zero Fighter

Zero Fighter!

The ultimate Japanese Roadster. JRF-Japan Road Force.

Neutral.

I like the Zero.

Here is a Mustang style chrome and the red and white tail. A lot of them had yellow and black checkers also.

P40 Warhawk, Fighting Tiger style with the blue and white tail.

This is the style I like most though. The F15 Eagle style. Japan also used these in the modern era.

Subtle two tone grey.

Russ.

NR-S-GT-RA-V-TypeX

Yo! peep this! Dope, Sick, Sponsors?

I'll take ADVAN...RGII   RAYS...V.R.G2  WORK...11R  or others.

Just need wheels, lower side skirts would be cool too...

Yes... Nopro

Nopro NC1 Development. Now this will be the best NC lip on the market. FRP and Carbon later in the year.

Note the outline for the wide fenders. (see above and fenders below.)

This would match my canards in Carbon!

Damn....Makes you want to remake things.

I didn't really want the M'z lip but the "Free" price was right for me.
Cant go back. there are big mounting holes in my bumper now.
I like my Unique Lip now anyway.

Anyway looks like a swag of new parts on the way.

Now all I need is a sponsor. 255/35/18 on 18x9.5 +18  RAYS G2 with wide fenders.

yum.

Traqmate Video

TGRacing TRAQMATE from Vimeo.

For anyone who thinks they are a good driver, you NEED something like traqmate. Our friend Richard from http://www.traqmate.jp/ in Japan set up the Traqmate system for TG-Racing to use in their prelude. It has some cool features like G-Sensors, car information pickups and most importantly video.

This video shows a theoretical best lap of me at Japan's Ebisu Circuit in the TG-R Prelude.

First thing I have to work on is steering hand position and learn to be more confident and consistent. I had over 1.5hours of footage to check. It really opens your eyes.

Russ.

GT-Roadster

Went to the DIY centre to get a few things for some stickers. And took a few shots.

Wasn't many people around. So it was easy to snap a few.

I'm liking the rear. It's a good match with the side stripe.

The rear overhand is nothing. hardly noticeable from most forward angles.

But get down low and you will see my horrendous fujitsubo exhaust. I don't know if they designed it to discolour like this but the interior weld marks are digusting. +2hp +2kg ??? Sounds quiet. Previous owners useless choice.

The sun was out.

So top is open or down. whichever you prefer to say.o

Still looking pretty good.

But say good bye to the gold wheels. because one of the things I bought was wheel paint... hehe.

NOPRO NC GT Update

NOPRO NCEC 2.3 Aero is now under development. The large fenders will be able to accommodate huge rubber legally. New Lip spoiler with raised corners looks good too.

Monday RAIN FAIL

I was planning a trip today. But driving on the touge with this weather in likely fog is not desirable.

To be re-scheduled.

Russ.

Crank it up~!

Wash and a little shoot to see how the car is looking. Only major thing left to do in my stage 2 plan is to paint those wheels Black.

I must admit the car is looking pretty sweet. I'm liking my sticker design. The wheels look ok with the yellow trucks in the background. A little colour does look good sometimes.

With the canards attatched, intentions are seen, but the rear diffuser remains a subtle item from the front quarted view.

It's not until you get around the side that the car starts to show the full effect. Subtle changes don't change the overall image but just make you wonder about the details.

I wish I could say that there was a 250Hp renesis or 2.3L in there. But unfortunately stock will do for this car.

The Nopro rear under spoiler shortens the rear of the car and with the roof off, sets a pretty cool image.

The fuel gauge is on "E" and the orange light is ON. With and bills to be paid, I'll have to wait for a bit of driving as paying road tolls and gas is not a priority at the moment.

26th may see some dust come off.

Russ.

Do the Bolt

Re-fitted the under spoiler with coated allen head bolts because I hate the cheap look of rivets. These are actually steering boss bolts but were fitted with 4mm aluminium threaded rivets in the actual bumper underneath.

Nopro Rear Under Spoiler.

Ok. My Nopro diffuser is on. Almost.

The side profile has really changed. I am really glad that I painted it body colour also.

The car/colour glaxy grey is dark enough to carry the effect well. I think black would have been too noticable.

Here from the rear. The contrast is evident. the shadow almost makes it black anyway. It's only fitted with two bolts at the moment, so I stopped off at the car shops looking for better bolts. I got some 4mm steering wheel hub bolts that should complement it well at the rear.

Thanks to the guys at e-sugiyama for painting and stuffing around with some fitting prep. Arigatou.

I'll take some more pics next week. Clutch Ideas are also underway.

Russ.

MONSTER F A T TE37

Ok. I found these monster 18x9.5+15 with stretched 215. Fake TE37s to photoshop on the car. Takes my mind off things. I'll be trying a friends monster 18x9.5+15 RE30's one day. Stay tuned.

The term FAT comes to mind.

Russ.

Nopro GT NC

Check these wide fenders underway at Nopro.

Stay tuned

Plan

I dropped off the rear diffuser for painting this afternoon. Maintaining the Galaxy Grey 32s should keep it all subtle and inconsistent...haha. It won't be long until the beast is ready now. Plans are in action. Wheel Paint next.

Don't Drive!

This is Japan's answer to stimulating the economy.

Reduce the toll on the highway to $10 from 30 or more

Everyone is so happy they try to go somewhere.

But little do they know their journey will be among 50Klms (NOT JOKING) of traffic Jam in every direction.

Now the New Government wants to remove it completely so people can buy more cars and drive..... WHERE?  It will create a blocked system. You'd better buy one with a bed in the back.

Images are from my digital TV of the Road Network on the long weekend. RED is traffic.

Russ.

Exeddy Ready.

Picked up my car today. Drove home. Seems ok but a little different than before. Slight more difficult to engage but I guess i'll get used to it. Go for a drive tomorrow and evaluate.

Roadster Ultralight by RE-Xtreme

Well, http://www.autoblog.com/2009/09/11/mazda-mx-5-superlight-leaked-ahead-of-frankfurt/ and I must say it wasn't grabbing me.

The interior is mostly fantastic except the leather. So I did what I always do. Chopped it. My ULTRALIGHT version shuns the puny 1.8 in favour of a real 200-210hp 2.0L NA screamer. Eco Friendly light RAYS RE30 in Hyper Bronze. I moved the handle to right hand drive. The bonnet, fenders, doors and boot are all carbon. I lowered the passenger seat out of the wind and gave the bonnet hump a shove to one side and joined it to the dash and added a little screen. I think the result is something much more appealing to the tuning scene. My ultralight achieves 888kg kerb weight.

Come on show car guys. Who was the target audience for your slug? A performance car with no performance.... I am yet to see the Prius fuel economy series, so petrol engine is not dead yet.

Youtube Mazda release here.

Frankfurt Shots here

Russ.

Superlight sees light

Stripped of all weight and down to 990kg.

Looks pretty cool, touches of carbon.

I'm sure the leather trim could have been changed for a weight saving... It is a show car I guess.

But it does not meet the concept. Take out 1 more seat or use some of the Mazda Taiki's plastic interior.

I think it really needs a small acryllic windscreen too. I'll chop it soon.

Russ.