3rd-4th October saw the JapShow Finale, the original Japanese drag racing event, take place at the world-famous Santa Pod Raceway.
Turbo Dynamics, sponsor of the Santa Pod dragstrip, attended the event on Sunday with two gorgeous TD Girls, ‘Heavenly Hayley’ and ‘Charming Charlene’, and supported its customer, record-breaker Mick Begley.
As the 2009 motorsport season is now drawing to a close, Mick attended with his tuners TR Racing hoping to break yet another record. Mick races in a Nissan Skyline R33 called the ‘Gaijin’, which is powered by twin Turbo Dynamics modified and blueprinted GT3542R bespoke turbochargers.
The weather proved perfect conditions for racing, dry and cold, and with both the TR Racing and Turbo Dynamics teams on-hand to provide support and advice, everything was looking good for Mick to get a new record.
Driving the Gaijin, Mick took to the dragstrip and warmed-up his types with some good old-fashioned burnouts. Following this, Mick did some very impressive runs getting huge cheers from the crowd and times of 8.25 secs at 170 MPH and, better still, 8.15 secs at 169 MPH.
Having not quite got into the desired 7-second bracket though, the TR Racing team soon set to work, making a few tweaks to Mick’s 1400+ BHP car to give it the extra boost that was required.
Everyone held their breaths for Mick’s next record-breaking attempt, but unfortunately it was one-attempt-too-many for Mick with his gear box giving up the ghost and consequently ruling him out of any further attempts over the weekend.
Down to Earth and not to be deterred, Mick said “These things happen.” He said he was glad it had happened at the end of the season rather than part way through. Mick will now be looking forward to 2010 when he can try for the record again.
Turbo Dynamics’ customer Ashley Clements also attended the JapShow Finale this year; displaying his Mazda RX7 with its impressive graphics and Turbo Dynamics GT4202R Garrett turbocharger. Ashley hopes to compete in the last round of the Time Attack Series on 11th October, but is in with the challenge of getting his car mapped in time.
As if all this dragstrip and show ‘n’ shine action wasn’t enough for the spectators, the JapShow Finale also featured UKFMX Stunt Shows, a Show Car Paddock, Drift Shows and a handling circuit where drivers could test their skills in road legal cars. A mobile dyno and Run What Ya Brung sessions were also available for those wishing to test their car’s power at the event.
It was the first time that the JapShow played host to the UKFMX freestyle motocross crew who performed massive heart-stopping stunts 60ft above the tarmac! The 10,000+ BHP Santa Pod Fireforce Jet Car was also used for demos over the weekend, flying down the dragstrip on Sunday in 5.89 secs at 280 MPH!
One of the biggest draws on Sunday though, was the HKS Drag Series Qualifiers/Final round. The race classes: Pro, Street, Factory Modified and Front Wheel Drive battled it to be series winners/runners up and to set new personal bests.
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