Tokyo Auto Salon 2013 - ZestyRacing

Fresh things still happening the FD3s world.

Tsukuba Super Battle 2011 - Panic Attack

It's time for the top two FD3s at Tsukuba's rev speed Battle. I think you can guess this car.

But it was a long wait until the big guns hit the track. Moist does not describe the weather.

Check the windows... a heavy breathing session...?

Laughing gas perhaps? No the Pan Speed car is like a space ship... It lives mostly in an anti gravity environment.

but when it touches down, it looks awesome!

Even doing 2 km/h it looks fast.

But on track it looks ballistic. Like a heat seeker.

Dunlop sponsored, the Pan speed car uses Direzza 03G tyres, which may be lagging a bit in the grip department compared to the other guys with super grippy GS compound.

Unlike those guys however, the TA2010 spec car is able to do 5~10 laps on each set. Providing a bigger reward for the driver.


That's probably the main difference in this car's times. so if you factor that in, it's probably capable of more. It's super reliable these days.

One of the few times I got the shutter speed and my panning speed to match the name's sake.

Back in the pits, some contemplation must be in their minds.

These cars run on a limited budget. You will notice pan speed use wheels from a while ago. SE37K etc

Rear brakes are ground back to make things work.

It's not your million dollar sponsorship deal from Mazda thats for sure.

Mazda spends more in America in a weekend on crap executives travelling to meetings and Mazdaspeed Demios and MX5 cup than it does supporting motorsport in Japan because there is ZERO tv coverage for any motorsport over here. The Sports car market is dead in Japan.

Has any tuner been given a Spirit R RX8 to promote the car...? NO!

The public is basically incapable of comprehending motorsport apart from F1 these days due to money going to a few tv execs who support the same tv actors for 30 years.

Mini-rant over, the Pan Speed team and all Japanese Teams need support...

Come on! Buy some genuine gear people! The AB-Flug / Pan Speed collaboration bodykit is now available.

Keep them near the front. They are fighting hard. '56.197 is awesome. But it's far from the car's true potential.

Tsukuba Super Battle 2011 - On Screen Antics

Now Screening... "Monster Attacks".

I was ready, but I wasn't. The start to the session happened suddenly with the cars exiting their respective pit exits in a blur.

Well, that's how I saw it, because I hadn't adjusted my camera from the previous session.

So I slid through the Tsukuba gate to get a few nice shots. I think I could sell a few RX-8 style light sets with this one.

Maybe some Dunlop tyres... No! The Screen car runs Hankook.

 A terrible shot, but the two hankook runners didn't get in each other's way.

Ahh, now the desktop shots are coming. What's that web address? www.screen-powers.net, Thank you!

Something about taking in more of the scenery. You get an idea of the atmosphere. If not the sound.

The guys did quite a few laps allowing me a few chances to get it right and many to get it completely wrong. I guess photography is just like driving in many ways. The right conditions, decent setup and a lot of practice.

The screen guys have an insane equipment, great setup, and they got their practice in early. Full attack landing them third fastest FD on the day, only 2 tenths off the Pan Speed TA spec machine. '56.415 is even under the RE-Amemiya GT AD benchmark of 2003. This car has really improved and it will go faster.

There's something about this car that I love. It's very close to the road looking machines and it is now arguable the fastest stock body machine. Pan Speed's suspension geometry could be said puts them in a different class. So has this has become the ultimate "FD3s"?

for the time being, let's say yes. Until the hurricane returns at least.

Congrats to Screen Powers. in the wake of the Tsunami, the sendai based outfit has been through a lot.

Screen Power's Blog Entry has a beautiful shot of their machine. Check it out.

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Tsukuba Super Battle 2011 - Screen Play

GO! ..................................... SLOWLY!

I guess the guys at Pro Shop Screen just wanted to dial in some settings in their first session because the track was so wet that a reasonable time was not possible.

So lets have a look around the Screen GT35 FD3s that is now sponsored by D2 Japan.

This R-Magic N1 Spec Body is extended in the front with Screen's own splitter design, they use an RE-Amemoya hood and a large SARD Wing. 18" CE28N do the grip.

The result is very aggressive.

RE-Amemiya Sleek Lights with one removed for Turbo intake ducting do the illumination and the small R-Magic N1 Bumper already includes tiny bulbs for indication. Not the track spec stone chips.

A nice canard array helps with doenforce and airflow management along the side of the car.

The setup is quite intricate.

CE28 N have the D2 spec callipers peering through from behind. 8pot up front.

4 pot in the rear. Both use a floating slotted rotor design.

R-Magic N1 quarter panels finish at the normal bumper and an RE-Amemiya diffuser all help anti-drag management and rear downforce.

You've probably already noticed the cool welding on the exhaust. maybe you didn't notice it exits on the opposite side than normal.

 The tip is just for show but angles sound away from decibel meters.

 The guys were warming up the car for their attack session. the whine of the sequential transmission was very cool.

The engine bay is on the clean side. Everything looks as functional as a chefs stainless kitchen.



 Ready to do some cooking?

Almost.

The side diffusers also help to smooth airflow, then the rear section kicks up air vortexes to speed air past the rear wheels. (that's the theory anyway)

Then these long canards try to create vortexes to reduce drag at the rear of the car too.

Replacement lights for the FD3s are hardly noticed these days. RX-8 styling seems to suit the car. But they almost look like stock items anyway.

Stay tuned for Part II. I'll showcase the Screen Machine on track.

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