Leaving the GTA world

[Tony89GTA]

Damn Fred it's going to suck to see you go :(

[gtayumiko]

Well, if the Supra doesn't work out, you could always try one of these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7HFiDRoVNvc

This is the same as above but much longer.....Warning - some bad words (cursing) in the beginning.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NXTPh_vGY2Y

Yumiko

[Fred91GTA]

Oh man, Yumiko... thanks for the videos... those are great! I actually visited Japan a few months back and the racing scene over there was a big influence in my decision to go to imports. I actually had the chance to take a Twin Turbo Fairlady Z (Nissan 300ZX) out onto the Wangan which is a long stretch of the Shuto Highway. I actually hit 230km/h which is around 143mph. I actually saw a white 88 Trans Am there as well... Unfortunately, he blew his engine during a high speed pass on the Wangan.

A Supra engine is one that can't be beat if you tune it correctly. I had a chance to drive my cousin's Mk IV down in FL and his makes around 600hp to the wheels. VERY streetable car... as long as I stay out of boost... And it's been in it's current configuration for over 40k miles with 150k on the stock short block. Incredible! The tranny though is a completely different matter... :vomit: The streetability becomes compromised when an owner moves from a twin turbo setup to a large single turbo setup. I'm just looking for a nice 450hp to the wheels and I'm calling it a day when it comes to mods.

I have to say though... Asian racers are extremely crazy. My time in Japan has certainly confirmed that. I'm glad to be one of them... LOL

[gtayumiko]

I am glad that you got to go there. Interesting about the white 1988 GTA that you saw. May have been the same one that I saw there in 1990. Reason white is the common color for cars in Japan is because at one time, believe it or not, there was a restriction on car colors. White was primarily the color. Blue, green, yellow and those type of bright colors at one time were not allowed. Most times, guys would paint their cars a very bright color to sort of be a rebel and such. Perhaps in the early 1990s, this restriction became relaxed and it has sort of just gone away. There are all types of colors on cars in Japan now. But it never used to be that way.

And your right about crazy drivers in Japan. I know so many of my friends who had friends that were killed in motorcycle accidents there. I knew no one personally who have died in a motorcycle accident, but it is very common in Japan, because the motorcycles are incredibly fast but they have basically a fraction of road space compared to like in America. So they are basically speeding around in a very very narrow margin of error. Alot die and some believe that since death is life's certainty, some do not mind if it comes when they are young and full of energy.

Anyways, thanks for telling about your experience in Japan. I always like to talk with people who have visited and what they talk about how it was for them. Yumiko

[mike91]

How much for the slp stuff you have if you have not already sold it. I have a 91 gunmetal GTA (305) 5 speed that would love that under the hood!!

[355GTA]

Rememer Fred, when you get that pilot slot, look me up on the global (that's a list we have of all AF personnel's email addresses). You MUST take me up for a flight in your plane. It's my dream to one day get to do that.