A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
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Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,810
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From: Yokohama, Japan, Japan
A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
We spent a day at Fuji Speedway yesterday. My cousin and took their course license seminar to get our course license so that we could participate in track event.
We ran 3 cars:
My Integra Type R turbo
My cousin's Alfa Romeo 155
and the team car, a Rover Mini Cooper
All three cars perfomed really well. Since it was my first time running a Fuji, I didn't get any good lap times, but I was able to muscle my way past some Ferrari's on the front straight. I was able to get up to about 230km/h on the straight, but lifted (mainly out of fear of not being able to stop at turn 1, which is tight hairpin-like turn. You get it wrong and you end up in the dirt or the tire barriers.
The Integra performed well because the weather was very cold, but unfortunately I came away with no reverse gear. I suspect that my shift linkage took a dump. I initially lost fifth gear too, but was able to get it back during the drive home.
The Alfa lost its brakes. My cousin was battling with it all the way home, using the clutch and side brake to slow the car down in traffic.
The Mini came away flawlessly. Surprising the car, although slow on the straights, was really nimble and quick. The braking was also really good, and was able to slow down from 160km/h to 60km/h in less than 100 meters, where most cars needed 200 meters or more.
Edit: video link on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQWlu4kkB9o
Sorry about the poor camera angle...the camera is attached to the rear tie bar which turned out to be too low.
here are the pics from the day:
We ran 3 cars:
My Integra Type R turbo
My cousin's Alfa Romeo 155
and the team car, a Rover Mini Cooper
All three cars perfomed really well. Since it was my first time running a Fuji, I didn't get any good lap times, but I was able to muscle my way past some Ferrari's on the front straight. I was able to get up to about 230km/h on the straight, but lifted (mainly out of fear of not being able to stop at turn 1, which is tight hairpin-like turn. You get it wrong and you end up in the dirt or the tire barriers.
The Integra performed well because the weather was very cold, but unfortunately I came away with no reverse gear. I suspect that my shift linkage took a dump. I initially lost fifth gear too, but was able to get it back during the drive home.
The Alfa lost its brakes. My cousin was battling with it all the way home, using the clutch and side brake to slow the car down in traffic.
The Mini came away flawlessly. Surprising the car, although slow on the straights, was really nimble and quick. The braking was also really good, and was able to slow down from 160km/h to 60km/h in less than 100 meters, where most cars needed 200 meters or more.
Edit: video link on YouTube
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mQWlu4kkB9o
Sorry about the poor camera angle...the camera is attached to the rear tie bar which turned out to be too low.
here are the pics from the day:
Last edited by MiraiZ; Jan 12, 2009 at 04:40 PM.
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Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2
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From: New York
Re: A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
I can only dream! One day I hope to drive the circuits in Japan.
I'm trying to get my boss to let me go on a trade show with them in Japan!
I really admire your dc2, that's pretty much the same look I am trying
to achieve, really clean and sharp looking.
Oh wow, it's turbo too! Nice Job!
I'm trying to get my boss to let me go on a trade show with them in Japan!
I really admire your dc2, that's pretty much the same look I am trying
to achieve, really clean and sharp looking.
Oh wow, it's turbo too! Nice Job!
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,810
Likes: 0
From: Yokohama, Japan, Japan
Re: A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
The Mini has the stock A series engine. There are plans to do a VTEC swap, but the Japanese DOT regulations would render it street illegal, so we are currently trying to find ways to transport the car to the race events, in the even we do swap the engine.
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,810
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From: Yokohama, Japan, Japan
Re: A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
Yeah, the Mini is awesome. The only care that came away from it with no damage. But I'd prefer running it at Tsukuba where top speed doesn't matter. I added a video to my top post. Driving is horrible, I know...but it was my first time at Fuji...
Thread Starter
Honda-Tech Member
Joined: Oct 2000
Posts: 7,810
Likes: 0
From: Yokohama, Japan, Japan
Re: A Day at Fuji Speedway Japan
http://www.firstmolding.com/fm-aero/...egraindex.html
This is not my car BTW...
