Let the MODS begin!

With nearly 500 kilometers on the odometer.. I got Fuji Speedway planned for tomorrow morning.. (should have another 100 kilometers by the time i get to fuji)

Since I am just got back today from London.. I figured that would be plenty of time to get my sway bar that I kept from my AP1 installed on the new AP2.

I started about 9pm, and after a couple hours, it was all in and working well. I finished up just in time before the rain started..

Here are the two swaybars next to each other.  might be hard to tell from the photo, but the ASM (red color) bar is a bit beefier! 

The change is immediately noticeable!

The Feather king works best at night!

The Feather King is BACK!

After a very long delay.. The Featherking is back!

It has been such a long time since i've made a post, all this will seem like very old news..

For those getting caught up, i decided on getting the Laguna Blue 2008 AP2.

Unfortunately, in 2008 the V-Type is not offered, so i went went the standard model. the S-type seemed a bit too Bling for me.

The 2008 model introduced VSA (Vehicle Stability Assistance) system. This actually works pretty good at keeping the car on the road.. i've tested it on several different occasions..

At times where my AP1 would've surely spun out.. (Meguro-dori on-ramp).. the VSA light on the dash would light up and the car would quietly settle down and just keep on going as if nothing happened..

quite amazing all this computer controlled stuff.

2008 S2000 CR video

I just found a video clip of the new 2008 S2000 CR. The Club Racer (CR) version is what the US version is being called. The Japan version is being called the Type-S.

Here you can see the Gumball Blue color... (which I really dislike).. and it also shows the new interior color scheme that is only available on the Type S (black and yellow).

I don't think the JDM Type-S version comes with the hard cover behind the rear seats.. I think this is a CR option only...

Just for additional confusion.. I believe the CR comes with a hardtop and hard cover (instead of the of soft-top). I believe for weight savings the soft-top and it's mechanisms are removed.. that would explain why in this video, there is a blank space on the center console where the soft-top button would normally be. (left side of center console behind the shifter).

You can clearly see the new front aero design as well as the extremely ugly tail wing... i am happy that i did not order one of these...

take a look for yourself..

Fuji International Speedway Live Action Video #2

I was being followed by Roxy and was caught on his in-car camera.. cool to be able to see myself on the track from behind.

On the last turn before the straight, i go wide and Tom passes me on the inside.. but I am able to overtake again during the straight.. thanks to my newly installed SLD..

You can also see a blue Lotus pass both of us..

enjoy the video!

(more)

Fuji International Speedway Live Action Video #1

This is a short video taken from ground level right on the 1.5 Km front straight at Fuji International Speedway. It was great to be able to get 3 members of SDIJ all together.

The black Cayman is Yoshida-san, the red RX-8 is John, and I am in the Red S2000.

I think john must be around 180km.. (because of the speed limiter).. but I think Yoshida-san and I are closer to 200+km... my top speed on the straight section was 213km..

enjoy the video.

What color AP2?

Well, I am pretty much convinced that I need to get the 2008 S2000 AP2.

Since Honda stopped taking orders on the 2007 Model... Final pricing and order taking for the 08M won't happen until mid-late August.. Order in August and I should be able to take delivery in October... (Hopefully there won't be any more large earthquakes to stop auto production).

I need help from anybody/everybody that is reading this.... My problem is deciding on the exterior color and top combination.

Please vote on the right side! thanks!

Here are the 3 choices:

1. Bermuda Blue (black soft top):

Bermuda Blue (blue soft top)
New Formula Red: same as my current AP1.. I think red is still an awesome color for this car, but I also kinda like the Bermuda Blue..

Fuji International Speedway Preview (富士スピードウェイプレビュー)

As the weekend comes closer, the anticipation of a great day at Fuji International Speedway is building up!!!

As most people already are probably aware.. This year 2007 F1 Japan Grand Prix will be held on the very same track.. we get to try it out first!

Here is the track layout..

I was digging through some old photos and videos.. I found a video that I took with my digital camera that looks down on the massively long front straightaway... take a look..

Tsukuba TC2000 - April 2007

Now that i finally figured out how to do simple video editing, it is actually kind of addicting..

I put together a couple of short clips of my last trip to Tsukuba TC2000.. this was April 2007.

This actually the third session of the day, so the car and tires were already quite warmed up...
you can see the pace get faster and faster...



Here is a short clip of where i almost lose it after the back straight...

I think what happened is that i down shifted just as i was entering the curve.. the car wasn't very settled, and then i jerked on the steering wheel a bit too hard. The back end slid right out..

also, i find it hard to judge speed on the back straight when there are no cars in front of you.. so.. i have a tendency to over speed there? or not prep for the turn properly? not sure what my problem is...

need more track time....

HKS SLD Post Installation Test

Unfortunately the only way that you can test this SLD is by seeing if the car shuts down at 180km/h.

Here is a small video of my test run...



Looks like my speedometer is getting the signal from the ECU.. The speedometer stops at 180km/h, but the revs keep climbing. My Circuit Timer registered a top speed 197km/h. (not necessary top speed for the car, but that is best that I could do with the traffic conditions..

I thought the Daisan Keihin would be a good test road, even though it is usually crawling with police.. but, at high speed, Daisan Keihin was a bit on the curvy side... not to mention a bit crowded..

anyhow, enjoy the video..

HKS SLD Installation

Many... All? JDM（Japan Domestic Market) cars have a 180 km/h speed limiter on them... Not sure why anybody would want to go faster than that..

But, if you are racing your car on the circuit.. especially at this weekends event (Fuji Speedway), then there is a chance that you will be going over 180km/h...

So for those that have the desire to go faster.. the HKS SLD (Speed Limit Defencer) is your answer.. Once installed, you will be able you go as fast as you dare...

Super Autobacs →￥１４，５００

This is what he looks like.. small simple little device.. there are some switches on the front.. need to let it know what kind of car you have.

There is the ECU. The silver square box in the passenger side foot area. Basically, the SLD gets wired into the ECU wires.

Little better view of the ECU. Quite big actually... This is the brains of the entire car!

Not sure why they put these little connectors ends on the wire... because I will just..

cut them right off!

Wire up the power and splice into the speed sensor input... solder them up, and your done!

This guy just kind of sits there.. I just tucked it behind the carpet and re-installed the panels..

Start to finish was about 30 minutes...

Next step... testing it...... check out the video~~

Dyno Run

Super Autobacs is amazing.. I don't understand why they have so much junk in their megastores... I mean really, how much car fresher could they possibly sell?

But the Super Autobacs store in Minatomirai, Yokohama... also has a dyno!　only cost JPY5,250 for 2 or 3 good runs... not a bad deal!

This is the Feather king's ride... Not too many mods.. Just a Mugen exhaust system..Big throaty sound! but a bit on the too noisy side..

220.9 PS.. pretty good for a 2.0 liter engine! turning 9,000 rpm is a good way to get your power ratings up there!

Here is the dyno run!

Family drive through Okutama~

Just a friendly cruise through Okutama..

John was driving behind me and Tom was filming with his video camera..

pretty good action video of us.. having a leisurely stroll though the mountainside..

John's former RX-8 was really loud.. just like a low flying airplane..

Feather King's Adventures

Welcome to the Feather King's Adventures..

Enjoying various adventures in a 2004 Honda S2000 (AP1).

I hope you enjoy~