Although the in-house rollers at GT-Art have the ability to simulate quarter-mile drag runs, there's no substitute for the real thing, so drag strip virgin John and his newly finished Skyline set out for the real world to put it to the test.
"We pre-set the rev limiter and had worked out what revs to launch and change gears," said John. "I dropped the clutch at 8000 rpm and my first ever run up the drag strip took 13.7 seconds, on road-legal tires. The car got wheelspin in every gear-it was absolutely petrifying-even in fourth at over 100 mph the back was still trying to overtake the front. The power kicks in at 5,700 rpm and then the turbo is on full boost: it is absolutely brutal-almost like riding a motorbike." From the outside the sound was like a jet fighter being launched from an aircraft carrier and it probably accelerated just as fast.
The car's best time of the weekend was an 11.6-second run, but it was hampered by the suspension set-up, which just didn't provide enough weight transfer, and the tires, which struggled for traction. The crew tested at Millbrook test track the following week where Leda addressed and cured the suspension problem. From here it was off to Santa Pod Raceway with high hopes as well as softer Mickey Thompson tires bolted to the rear axle.
With the suspension working as it should and the tires providing the traction, the Skyline stormed down the strip to record an 11.9-second quarter with no problems to report at all. This impressive time was followed in quick succession by a 10.9-second run, then 10.2, then 10.1, then 10.02. Then both driveshafts decided that they had had enough. Bear in mind the GTS is currently running with a standard gearbox and shafts, although a new sequential box and up-rated shafts will be installed soon. With two new shafts fitted, the car reached new heights for its last run of the day stopping the clocks in 9.93 seconds at 140 mph. According to John, that time is a new world record for a GTS fitted with an RB25 engine, although an RB30-equipped GTS in Australia (with a live axle swap no less) has recorded a 9.4-second quarter.
Setting a new world record on only the car's second outing left the team with huge smiles over their faces, albeit somewhat shocked that so much had been achieved in so little time. And ominously, the car was only running at around 1.9bar (27 psi)-some 300 hp down on its full power and the NOS button has yet to be pushed. The potential for this car is almost beyond belief. Reaching the low 9s by the end of the season doesn't seem unrealistic at all.
And yet John and Gary are not resting on their laurels and are already thinking ahead to the 2007 season when they plan to fit an even more powerful engine under the bonnet. Lookout drag GT-R owners, John has his eye on you.
FAST FACTS
OWNER John Bradshaw
POWER 900 hp with 3bar (43 psi) of boost(on race fuel but without NOS)
UNDER THE HOOD 24-valve RB25 (bored, honed, and balanced to 2650 cc); Nismo engine mounts; Drag Flow cylinder head; JUN super piston kit (Coated), Super connecting rod kit, camshafts, oil pump, Racing head bolt kit, and Racing main stud kit; HKS T51 SPLBB turbo, modified turbo manifold, waste gate, intercooler, head gasket kit, 1200cc injectors, fuel rail, knock sensors; GT-R injector resistor pack, injector wiring, GT-Art oil catch tank, water pump special oil sump; Mocal differential and fuel cooler; GReddy intake plenum, extra large throttle body, oil cooler, water pipe carriers, thermostat housing; Race Spec radiator; various ceramic coated parts; Wizards of NOS 200+ hp special direct port system; Goodridge hose connection kit; ATL fuel tanks, fuel tank sender units; twin fuel pump kit, custom exhaust system
DRIVETRAIN ATS carbon triple-plate clutch and metal LSD; Xtrac gearbox kit; Nismo gearbox mount
BRAINS HKS F-CON V Pro management system and EVC 5 boost controller
STIFF STUFF Leda/GT-Art Drag Special suspension; rear drag solid crossmember; Cusco front and rear drag adjusters; front strut tower brace; nylon differential bushings
ROLLERS 17-inch Team Dynamics Motorsport wheels with 215/45R17 Federal Super Steel S95 tires (front); 15x8 drag wheels with 275/40R17 Mickey Thompson ET Street Radial tires (rear)
STOPPERS Brembo GT-R R34 brake kit
OUTSIDE Prepreg carbon fiber doors, hood, trunk lid, splitter, rear diffuser, rear spoiler; Lexan windows; GT-Art graphics
INSIDE GT-Art roll cage; carbon fiber seats; Sabelt harnesses; prepreg carbon fiber dashboard with digital display and data logger; Race Logic launch/traction control; MOMO steering wheel, alloy parking brake lever, shift knob; fire extinguisher