November 2011 | ProjectImport.com

Modified Mag: Grocery Getter photo shoot

Project Import, November 17th. We experienced the privilege to have Nate Hassler, from Modified Magazine, visit Project Import in preparation to feature Kiet Le’s “Grocery Getter” Honda Accord. A Honda Accord, normally the father’s family-car pick; asking his wife for a coupe, but maintaining some family responsibility. The carrier of milk, eggs, and bread. The “Grocery Getter”. Not this Accord!

Because the Accord is such a rare platform for road racing glory, it peaked the interest of the folks at Modified. The Accord, flexing a J35 complete swap from a 2007 Acura TL type S, makes it even more of a jewel in the rough. APR GTC 200 rear adjustable wing, PI special alumalite splitter, and Tein Mono Flex suspension screams “I am tired of the norm!” while throwing the milk out the window. It is a great platform with stability at high speeds due to weight, wheel base, added aero, and all the torque to get there. We strive to perfect the car as we go, buying new components between races. The car has come a long way since its first track event early this year. It shows considering this car was consistently a second behind Greddy’s turbo Scion TC in the Redline Time Attack series.

Being that we had returned from Vegas Motor Speedway a few weeks before, the car looked as though it had just come off the track – the look that Nate was searching for. Although we cleaned the car a bit, there was no added glamour to the Accord. We did not try to perform a wire tuck, Password fender washers. Nope. What you see is what you get. Nothing but hella functional here kids!

The shop was cleaned the best we could, moving builds in and out of the shop. All of this while ensuring that our customers were kept a priority! It was great seeing a professional at work. Nate showed us what’s up, showing up with his large Canon DSLR and monster tri-pod. He took a variety of engine shots, however under body and exterior shots was the core of the shoot. Sadly we didn’t perform any e-brake drift moves or burnouts for him, but we are greatly appreciative of the honor. We hope to see him again soon to show off another one of our prized cars.

Special thanks to our sponsors Eibach Springs, Church Automotive Testing, A’PEXi, Sparco, WHITELINE, Spec Clutch and Motul.

November 22, 2011/0 Comments/by piadmin

Spreading The Word

Project Import: WHITELINE Authorized Performance Center

Project Import had the opportunity to be asked to be a WHITELINE Performance Center. What does that mean? We are official representatives of WHITELINE USA and Australia.

Got to love big banners.

Being a WHITELINE Performance Center (WPC), makes us an authorised specialist tuner with the ability to sell, fit and tune WHITELINE’s quality range of suspension products. It’s the perfect upgrade proposition. With so many high complex chassis set ups, merely purchasing the product is not enough these days. The ability to service the consumer with technical advice, installation and tuning knowledge allows us to build a set up that will meet the customer’s plan while not sacrificing the overall performance at any level. (Sorry HellaFlush you look cool, but…)

Doug from the Aussie side of WHITELINE went into great depth to explain, roll centers, virtual roll centers, and many other suspension geometries and how they tie into a lowered cars center of gravity and their related symmetric and asymmetric suspensions designs. Then enlightening and giving more depth on sway bars, springs and dampers / coilovers, tires <(the overlooked “spring” that is the starting point for every suspension) and of course your suspension bushings which really tie into your total grip. Not just throwing parts on because someone on a forum says they work.

We can discuss in real world situations why a 24mm rear sway bar may not be the best setup for your Honda, or why up grading your Subaru’s front endlinks may be all you need.

So if you have any questions feel free to give us a call or stop by the shop, we will be more than happy to go over suspension ideas for your vehicle.

Special thanks to our sponsors Eibach Springs, Church Automotive Testing, A’PEXi, Sparco, WHITELINE, Spec Clutch and Motul.

November 12, 2011/0 Comments/by piadmin

Events

Festival of Speed: Las Vegas Motor Speedway November 4th-6th

We went out for the North American Festival of Speed, the first of hopefully many this past weekend at Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The event featured a wide variety of events:

• Pirelli Drivers Cup
• MotoIQ Pacific Tuner Car Championships
• Radical Challenge
• Time Attack Invitational
• Drifting exhibition

Las Vegas Motor Speedway built in 1971 is a 1.5 mile Tri-Oval Superspeedway. The banks have 20 degree angle compared to Fontana Auto Club Speedways 14 degree bank. Configured into a 15 turn track with the infield. The track was changed to a 12 turn track not shown above due to limited lighting at night.

Project Import Peaceful Warrior S2000

Drift smoke

Radical challenge

Pirelli Drivers Cup

Participating in the Time Attack Invitational was a good experience. It was a three day event that proved to be really only a two day event due to rain on Friday.

But Saturday also proved to be a task in itself because we were driving at night with low lighting in the infield. This didn’t stop Project Import/Matco Tool man driver Kevin Courtney from taking first place street class rear wheel drive with a 1:33.209 in his #07 AP2 S2000. Slightly after setting this time though the S2000 encountered a broken driver side wheel bearing which would not allow him to finish out the weekend.

Always need to stretch

BAD WHEEL BEARING!!!!! Because of the bad wheel bearing the heat plus the strain from racing sheared off the axle nut and broke the rotor.

Our #88 Project Import Peaceful Warrior S2000 driven by Bryan Friday didn’t have the best luck on Saturday night either. The Spoon Sports hardtop the car had equipped came apart at 140mph on the front straight. The hard top from what we can tell had been taken apart by an upholstery for show purposes and was not properly reassembled. Lesson learned scrutinize everything even $5000 Spoon hardtops.

Top down crew!

Good bye hard top, your going on our wall of fame!

Sunday with clouds hanging over the track and track temperatures around 50 degrees we geared up. We maintained our tire pressures from the night before and inspected our cars. With two sessions left Bryan in the #88Project Import Peaceful Warrior S2000 and Kiet Le in the #1 Project Import Grocery Getter Accord to hone their skills to produce faster times.

Bryan was able to get a consistent 1:30 lap times in the first session, progressing by about a half a second without the aerodynamic hard top. Sites on a chance to beat the Tanaka Corvette’s 1:22 lap time. But the second session proved to be a disappointment when the car started having brake failure due to a loosening AN fitting on the intake manifold. “Smooth and safe is my motto” so Bryan decided to end the session only after two laps to save the car from any more damage.

Kiet was able to drop his times down to a 1:38 fastest lap time. Battling with his own mind was consistently trying to cut time by going into the bank at faster speeds. Learning as well the new Tein Mono Flex suspension and a slipping clutch.

All in all we had a great weekend and can’t wait for the next event. Special thanks to our sponsors Eibach Springs, Church Automotive Testing, A’PEXi, Sparco, WHITELINE, Spec Clutch and Motul.

November 8, 2011/0 Comments/by piadmin

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