Mini Meet with Nopro

Well, the day started early. I headed to the PA to meet the guys. Soon enough the bright yellow beast came along with some interesting stories.

After a chat, we headed off in a southerly direction. The pack was cool.

Hello Fuji san... weather was great for open top touring. But a litty chilly.

After about an hour. We came to Shizuoka. I didn't really care where I went today and I didn't really know the way. Just following along.

Gami-san had already fitted some chunky CE28N and good rubber to the NC2. It made all the difference as the wheel wells were filled nicely. The stance is high but he plans to review the suspension before embarking on an all out butcher job.

The galaxy grey twins today were 1 Soft top and my RHT. We both have the same bumper hole problem. a big sticker might be a good temporary solution for me too. We both have Fidanza flywheel but the softtop has many many mods now and it's single exit exhaust is loud.

We went up hill to the ropeway. The sun was out for some nice shots. Keitai is not so good for photo's I forgot my camera so the quality is not up to par for me.

The sky was awesome blue. Grey cars always gets good colour from blue sky.

Here is the clan. The yellow car really sticks out among the other dark cars.

The Yellow RHT is interesting. I think the car looks much better with the top down. There is a bit too much yellow with the RHT in the raised position.

But thats yellow. While talking to Gami-san, you realise he knows his stuff. His review on the sound enhancer.... "Cant tell the difference." There's a waste of development effort Mazda.

He also said response is very good compared to NC1. RE: Roll centre changes, it was too early to tell if there was much difference. After a few months of evaluation, the car will receive custom Ohlins and lowered height as well as a few "Special" mods. I think a Panda carbon bonnet would be cool and gami-san is thinking about developing something.

Nopro's FRP front bar for the NC1 is awesome. Rodopina's car is the same green as my FD was. The biggest pain in the arse colour to photograph ever. A few stone chips starting to pepper the bumper. That's FRP for you.

The lights look MUCH better in chrome than the normal soft top ones. Not as plastic looking. The indicators have a nice design.

4 RHT today, 3 equipped with Ohlins, and Rays Vs Advan. CE28N, RE30 Vs RS, RGII.

Rays wear 235FR and 225/235FR combos for in your face attitude. Advans are 205 and tuck under the cars nicely.

From the rear the new lights look good, but they do stick out a long way. They look great in reflected light from headlights. There is a horseshoe shape reflector all around the light that is very cool. In the tunnels today, the new car looked cool. It's a pity they cant be transferred easily.

Bird's stormy blue is so cool. Sounds great in the tunnels. Very raspy with it's HKS catalyser and header. His Gun Advan RS make my Gold RGII look very small. But they are the same size.

Time to head back to the Interchange. R16 drew many looks from the public.

200Ks at halfway. Some traffic on the way back... but that's the joy of Japan at new year.

Just had to get away for the day.

Russ.

Rollin on 19's

Inspiration from the Hummer.

Rollin on 19" hyper inch CE28N

Yo' spin dat shi' Lil Flip.. Rollin on 20's

Hmmmm

Which is bigger? My roadster or this hummer? Never trust a camera.

Shot these when I went shopping today. I don't even know how the hummer got into the carpark.

Russ.

2009 plan?

2009 plan... I don't know.

There are som many parts I want. - Wheels, body panels, 2.3L engine... haha
There is so much driving I want to do. Regular track days...

But so little cash to do it with.

So I guess I'll just buy a few small parts like Mirrors, Canards and a Cheap seat.
I'll get to the track maybe only 2-3 times.
But go touring a fair bit.

See what happens...

TAS Preview

Usually, I don't post stuff from magazines, but when I got my latest "Rev Speed" mag, I almost had a heart attack. The RAYS booth at Tokyo Auto Salon will feature their new wheel range. The 08 limited range of gunmetal were good, but this year the '09 Limited range will be Hi-Meta-Bronze! I litterally had to force myself to breath. RE-30 are intial release but mention of TE37 Also!!!!

The Advan booth at Tokyo Auto Salon will have the designers usual blue FD. But this year it will be fitted with these Advans RS-D. They are awesome. A deep dished version of the Advan RS wheel. Black and cut rim or Chrome. 18-20. I guess we shall see them on a GT-R somewhere but 18 will fit an MX5.

Available Late Jan or Feb for both... maybe Start saving now.

So come on manufacturers, use your websites as tools! I swear Japan is miles behind the times. You can guarantee they won't be updated with any info for months.

There were advertised in the latest Rev Speed magazine so they must have had at least a month's lead time.

Othe news is dissapointing. Mazda will show 13 cars at Tokyo Auto Salon but The only roadster at the Mazda booth will be the NR-A. No modified mazdaspeed version will appear. Boooooooooooooooo!

I hope they at least have the NR-A with the diffuser and front air dam.

Merry Xmas 2008

Santa was out testing his new delivery vehicle at tsukuba with some friends.

The interior and ride is PLUSH! hohohohohohohoho ho ho ho ho ho hu hum

Hope you get a bootload of tuning parts for xmas.

New Roadster in the Flesh

Ok well, Here it is. I was lucky my local dealer had my favourite colour. Marble White! It was a soft top also and specced the way most enthusiasts would like. RS 6 speed. It really looked good in person. The dimensions do not look too long at all. But compared to my car it is very different.

The front grill looked very good on the soft top. the flat plastic item doesn't look too tacky. I think it would be much easier to keep cleen too.The front lights I don't think are as elegant as the older ones. The park lamp is simply stuck in the side. The centre slat just looks wierd hanging there. I think the chrome lights would look better. The silver finish is not so great on these. It kind of looks like it doesn't match.

The depth in the rear lights is very noticeable here. They really do stick out a lot.

This is how you they look from the rear. Yet to confirm retro-fitment. Hoops are silver as standard. I hope some people ditch these for chrome and sell them on Yahoo. Cheap.

The front for laps fitted here look ok, but nothing much happening on the black version.

Side view shows the option BBS and the SUPER LONG FRONT. I think we were all over re-acting. It's probably 5mm longer and without the number plate hanging out in front its quite a nice integrated design. Need to option those fog pods though.

This thing still has me interested for all the wrong reasons. Why is it there again? to make the car feel sporty? I'm not sure. My normal engine sounded pretty good this morning. I only have a Fujitsubo exhaust. It has some electronic connections? Is it a speaker? Kind of like a fake BOV and everyone bags those.

Iterior debate. Hmm. at first look the Alcantara Recaro seats, subtle redesign on the interior looked good. But When I sat in them they squashed my kidneys only.

Shoulder support is almost non existent. I was sliding off them actually. But I'd take these over the standard seats anyday. Just not for the price.

The back of the seat has the stock headrest, trimmed into the Alcantara mid section.

The base is pure RX8 normality. No support on the side, feels normal to me.

Now this bit is awesome. The HUGE clip to the centre slide cover is gone. You can actually put something in there now. The plastic flaps are a bit stupid though. They don't have a quality feel.

It slides easily and the pen holder is a nice idea. I am always looking for one to record MPG.

I don't know if the stereo has changed because I have an aftermarket one anyway.

And of course it looks better chopped and lowered. If I had the choice of my slightly tuned 08 or this one for 3Million yen it would be a tough choice.

Russ.

New NR-A

During my drive to Mt Tsukuba today, I had time to think about the new Roadster. I was wondering how much quicker it is going to be around Tsukuba? It also got me thinking of how they will run the one make series now that there will obviously be a car advantage for the newer version.

Roadster NC2

Thanks to the guys at D-Technique. They posted some pics of the NC2. Of course I hate the standard look so it received the regular chop and drop.

The changes are good and the rear lights are growing on me but the originals are cool so there is absolutely no reason to change them.

Enjoy.

Russ.

Disney Roadster

I was playing with photoshop and just a couple of small changes to the front grill, then I saw it..... Doesn't take much to get the roadster featured at Disney studios.

A bit of fun... Russ.

Tsukuba Roadster Videos

NOPRO (Nogami Project) NC. 2.3 Liter

Brightning NC. 2.0 Cosworth SC & NOPRO (Nogami Project) NC. 2.3 Liter

Rev Speed Super Battle.

The Rev Speed Super Battle is Japan's premier Time Attack event. Although it doesn't include any Option Magazine sponsored cars, it still has more than enough cars to fill you day.

For roadster fans Nogami Project = Nopro. Gami-san's silver NC is a real track weapon. It has a 2.3 liter engine upgrade with a straight through exhaust. It runs 255/40/17 street tyres and laps very quickly. For today hae added the straight muffler and a new splitter for extra downforce.

Brighning is Japan's cosworth supplier and their NC has recently obtained a few more mods.

It was already a mighty car with straight exhaust, ECU tune, Aim Meter pod and AP brakes.

Now it has;

1. Cosworth Supercharger,

2. Canards,

3. Front fender wind defectors,

4. Garage Vary carbon bonnet and
5. Advan RZ with 235 Neova.

On track it looks the goods but it's sooooooo quiet. You would not know this car had a Supercharger until it went past you.

Nopro's car on the other hand sounds AWESOME! It growls like a bee blowing a tuba.

Together on track they both looked awesome. But brighning were fighting traction as the track dried out.

Some more coolness under the bridge.

At the main hairpin. Minimal roll.

Both cars were running 1.06 and a few hundredths with Nopro a shade quicker. Over a full 3 seconds quicker than NR-A spec 2.0L

When the car's went out for the second session, Brigtning had removed the rear GT wing.

Still tough. Note the front window surround is Black. strange.? maybe it looks good without the hard top.

Nopro's splitter carved through the pit. But did not return from the session. I didn't have time to get final times and ask but I'll find out soon.

Russ.