Genuflection: Hot Wheels
Genuflection:
gen·u·flec·tion
/ˌdʒɛnyʊˈflɛkʃən/ [jen-yoo-flek-shuhn]
–noun
an act of bending the knee or touching it to the ground in reverence or worship. (more…)
31st Aug2011
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26th Aug2011
2011 MPRA Racing Round 5
In conjunction with Lap Battle, Miller Motorsports Park held their own racing series called MPRA. Last weekend was their 5th round this year and we went out to capture it with both pictures and video. Check it out below.
*Please be patient while the gallery loads*
MPRA Round 5 Racing 2011 from CAMautoMag on Vimeo.
Photos by Michael Chandler and Trent Bray, Video by Trent Bray
*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners. Images and words may not be re-posted, re-distributed, modified, or copied without expressed written consent from CAMautoMag.Com.
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25th Aug2011
Project Perfection: RB26 Datsun 260Z
This project has been a project of love and determination. Clint, the owner of this 74.5 Datsun 260Z originally started this transformation 9 years ago on a different continent. He was stationed in Okinawa, Japan with the Air Force and bought this US Spec car in Japan 15 years ago. Being constantly surrounded by Nissan Skyline’s, he decided it would be best to mate the looks of his Datsun, with the power of the almighty Skyline.
Just before Clint was transferred back to the United States, he got the motor swapped in. He was stationed in Alaska where the majority of the work on the rest of the car was to be completed. It unfortunately spent 5 years in the chassis shop, so the motor got transplanted in another Z and ran a 9.1-sec 1/4 mile before he wrecked the car at the track. He estimates it is now putting down 750whp.
How does a stock RB26DETT turn into the beast it is now? He started with a motor out of an R32 Skyline GT-R and swapped in an R33 crank, Crower Rods, HKS Pistons, JUN ported head and valvetrain, 280-deg. cam, Head coolant mod, 1000cc injectors, and a T88 34D turbo. All of this is controlled by an HKS VPro Tuner, HKS meters, and HKS Boost Controller.
Getting this power to the ground not only requires a healthy dose of tire(31″ tall Mickey Thompson slicks), but it is channeled through a 2-speed Power Glide transmission and a Ford 8.8 Rear End.
RP Squared in Utah finished up the chassis before paint and it is now certified to run an 8.5 1/4 mile. Clint is currently deployed in Qatar, but hopes to be back on the track when he returns and plans to run a low 9 or high 8-sec. 1/4 mile.
The body is hardly original on this car, it is comprised of many fiberglass replacement parts to lighten the load. The front mirrors and doors are all that remains untouched on the body, the rest is aftermarket.
Out of the 9 years this car has been under construction, it has been on the road for a total of 1 year. Clint demands perfection in this project, he made sure to point out things in the shoot that just weren’t quite perfect enough and said we weren’t shooting that. This car just needs glass and it is perfect. The paint glistens, the stance is just right, and the swap is clean. However clean it is, Clint tells us he still has some work to do in the engine bay to tidy it up. While in there, thoughts of a bigger turbo also come to mind to ensure he hits that elusive 8-sec. 1/4-mile time. We plan to follow up on this car as it hits the track sometime next year, until then it’ll be perfectly preserved waiting for its chance at the Christmas Tree.
RB26 Swapped Datsun 260Z Feature on CAMautoMag from CAMautoMag on Vimeo.
Words and Video by Trent Bray, Photos by Michael Chandler
*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners. Images and words may not be re-posted, re-distributed, modified, or copied without expressed written consent from CAMautoMag.Com
24th Aug2011
Lap Battle Time Attack: August 20
The LapBattle.Com Time Attack Series returned to Miller Motorsports Park this weekend and it was filled with thrills. It was another eventful weekend out at Miller Motorsports Park.
There was the first vehicle on vehicle wreck. Jason Smith, of Innovative Garage and one of our sponsored drivers, collided with Sally McNulty, who came down and was driving in her blue Hawkeye WRX, after she lost control. Everyone was fine, and Sally put her car back together and went back out for the following sessions. She was a trooper!
Other notes:
Zane Miller brought out his STi swapped 2.5RS coupe. It was very quick and loud.
Hands down the quickest car was an orange Evo with a sock monkey tied to one of the supports for its spoiler.
4 M3’s were running: an E92 coupe, an E92 sedan, an E46 coupe and an E36 coupe. There was also an E36 sedan running around, but I can’t remember if it was an M3. Either way, the Bavarian machines made their presence felt.
Normally Mike is the one to cover these events as I always tend to be out of town on the weekend that this happens, but this time I was fortunate enough to come see the event again and record some video. Check it out the pics and video below.
*Please be patient while the gallery loads*
Lap Battle Time Attack Series 08/20/11 from CAMautoMag on Vimeo.
Words and Photos by Trent Bray and Michael Chandler, Video by Trent Bray
*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMautoMag.Com and their respective owners. Images and words may not be re-posted, re-distributed, modified, or copied without expressed written consent from CAMautoMag.Com.
23rd Aug2011
Genuflection: Acura NSX
Genuflection:
gen·u·flec·tion
/ˌdʒɛnyʊˈflɛkʃən/ [jen-yoo-flek-shuhn]
–noun
an act of bending the knee or touching it to the ground in reverence or worship.
I was looking back on cars that I adored growing up, and some stuck out more than others. I thought of the Twin Turbo Triplets(300ZX,Supra,3000GT VR4), and although one of them influenced me more than the others(more on that another time), a Naturally Aspirated car stuck out in my mind as a car I lusted after more than those. Despite this car’s shortcomings, I still lust after it today, the one and only Acura NSX.
The NSX at the time set the world on fire and gave credence to Acura having some credibility in the sports car market, and in my opinion, set the stage for the 94-01 Acura Integra to become a sporty FWD icon. It had 270HP which at the time was a big deal from an N/A motor and an aspirational 8,000RPM redline!
Thoughts of a red one of these parked in my driveway were racing through my mind. Unfortunately Honda let the NSX languish and didn’t give it the proper updates it deserved, much like the fate of the S2000. And even with rumors of a new NSX surfacing every few months, none will capture the glory quite like the original NSX. One day I will own one of these cars.
-Trent Bray
[Source: Genuflection: genuflection. (n.d.). Dictionary.com Unabridged. Retrieved August 23, 2010, from Dictionary.com website: http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/genuflection]
*Article and Photos are copyright of CAMAutoMag.Com and their respective owners. Images and words may not be re-posted, re-distributed, modified, or copied without expressed written consent from CAMAutoMag.Com.
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18th Aug2011
Japanese Classic Car Show
Over the weekend, a gathering of classic Japanese cars congregated at a park about 10 minutes from my house. I had several things I had to do that day during the time the show was going on, but it was worth the hour I was able to spend there. Check out the pics and the video!
*Please be patient while the gallery loads*
Japanese Classic Car Show 08/13/11 from CAMautoMag on Vimeo.
Photos and Video by Trent Bray
*Article, Video, and Photos are copyright of CAMAutoMag.Com and their respective owners. Images and words may not be re-posted, re-distributed, modified, or copied without expressed written consent from CAMAutoMag.Com
17th Aug2011
It Plays: 2005 Acura RSX Type-S
I’ve known Nate, the owner of this Blaze Orange RSX Type-S, for a few years. He used to own an EP3 Civic Si, and oh how the jokes about him punching his radio flowed. Thankfully he stepped his game up and bought something with a proper K-series. Something that doesn’t require man on radio violence to change gears. (more…)
16th Aug2011
$30K Check: 2012 Hyundai Genesis 3.8 R-Spec
I’m breaking with convention! For all of the $30K Check articles we’ve done, we haven’t yet chosen a brand new car. Well, even though I recently picked up a new car in a similar price range, this is a car my heart yearned for. I already have a weekend car, so I went for practicality on my most recent purchase. However, if I wanted a new car that could hit the track on the weekends and commute me around town during the week, this thing strikes a perfect balance to me.
Your first thought might be, why not save some money and get the 2.0T R-Spec? Simply because I think the 3.8 has better around town manners. Sure the back seat isn’t large and in charge, but how often do I need it? It’s suitable for short distances and maybe your friends won’t ask you to drive them around. Plus one there! I also know from a neighbor that you can fit a 125lb. dog in the back seat without issues.
The R-Spec package on the Hyundai Genesis takes away the things you don’t need, and adds the goodies from the Track package like Brembo brakes, Limited-Slip differential, and sportier suspension. It still has A/C and a stereo, but no leather or heated seats needed here. The best part of this car, is that it’s a few grand shy of $30K, leaving enough room for a set of track tires and brake pads. Maybe I’ve convinced myself I need to go trade my car in…
-Trent Bray
Photos by Hyundai USA
15th Aug2011
Wide Open Wednesday: August 10
Another Wednesday meant me and some other people itching for some cheap track time were out at Miller Motorsports Park for Wide Open Wednesday. A 137 photo gallery awaits… (more…)
12th Aug2011
Put Some Mustard On It – Datsun 510
When Allen Anderson was 16 his dad asked him what car he wanted. Allen said he wanted a Datsun 510… He ended up with a BMW 2002. (more…)
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