RealTime Racing’s Peter Cunningham Tells Us Tales of Acura Motorsport
Things Take a Turn for the Amusing
The RealTime Racing collection are all surrounded by ropes, with signs indicating to please not touch the cars. At this point, Cunningham and I have drawn a crowd, simply because we have been ignoring these instructions, entirely. Race fans, young and old alike, are listening intently to Cunningham’s tales, and there are nodding heads of approval as he pops the hood of this 2009 TSX.
The approval quiets as the crowd spreads. Security has arrived to see why all these people had gathered around the cars, and, upon seeing us two poking and prodding the TSX, ask us to back away from the car. Cunningham doesn’t even flinch. “This is my car,” as he points to the Cunningham sticker on the windshield, “I’m Peter Cunningham.” At this point, a representative from Acura, who had been watching nearby, surfaces from the crowd and flashes his badge to security. “We’re good here,” and the history lesson continues.
This gen two TSX represents a notable step forward in development. It’s packing a J35 V6 engine, which is a 12.5:1 compression NA build, with pistons, rods, cams (with VTEC on the intake and exhaust side), and a Motec ECU. It’s paired to an X-Trac sequential transmission. The team started with the standard K24 in 2009, but a class change in 2012 meant they could crib the more potent J35 from later TSX.
This TSX has been lightened to a class mininum weight of 2,650 pounds. Brembo brakes are tucked behind rather large Forgeline wheels. I lean in, and note to Cunningham that I wasn’t aware that a stock body TSX could fit a 305 section-width race tire up front. He explains that the bodywork is designed to resemble stock panels, but most are made of lightweight composites, or aluminum, hence the ultra-low curb weight. The suspension, again, uses Eibach race springs, though, this time, they are paired to high-end Penske race shocks. Fancy.
ALSO SEE: FK8 Honda Civic Type R Track Tested!
All of this leads up to, perhaps, the most renowned race car ever fielded by RealTime Racing. This is their TLX-GT Pikes Peak car, and it is absolutely insane to behold, in person.
Originally run in Pirelli World Challenge, the TLX-GT was retired after the 2015 season. RealTime Racing pivoted, and switched their focus to Pikes Peak. And, in 2017, Cunningham wheeled the TLX-GT to an open class record up the hill. He ran the 12.42-mile course, which has 156 turns, 4,725 feet of elevation change, and a 14,115-foot summit, in just 9:33.797.
The build is as insane as the feat itself. The J35 engine is twin-turbocharged, and set back an extra foot in the engine bay, occupying a space where the firewall and dashboard were once located. The driver’s seat, as a result, is located closer to the rear doors than the front ones. RealTime has developed an on-command boost controller that changes the power output from 800 horsepower, to 700 to 600. This is to account for the change in air density from the base of the hill to the top.
Cunningham returned to the legendary hillclimb in 2018 and scored another class win, and third place overall finish, with a time of 9:27.352. I ask about the 2019 event, which takes place on June 30, and Cunningham enthusiastically says that he is returning to tackle the hill, again. I ask about making changes to the car, and he says that “more power would be nice.” I press the matter, saying that a built and boosted J35 can crack 1,000 horsepower, at least, at lower altitudes. His eyes light up and he cracks another smile. I’ve led him right into giving out the spoilers, and, right as he’s about to let loose the secrets, his phone rings. He has an NSX to go drive. Just like that, he’s back to being the busiest man in Long Beach, and he’s off. “Thanks for the history lesson, Pete.”
Join the Honda-tech forums today!
