If You Had To Pick A Drifter To Drive Yourgt-R At The Time Attack Who Would It Be And Why?
Are you kidding me? Outside of Samuel, Rhys or Tanner, I would pick myself and I don't drift. Sorry, but most US drifters have absolutely no idea what a race line is. Out of those three, I would choose Samuel. He's driven our BNR34 GT-R for me before and he's fx@#ing fast.
You're Always Clowning Me About JDM, Why All The Anti-JDM?
I'm actually not anti-JDM at all. I just clown you all the time because you are so damn pro-JDM. I mean, how many fools go out and buy a JDM JGTC300 car (it's a former GT500 car, but who's counting - CJ)? I just think JDM is over-hyped is all. JDM for the exterior is dope. I love the wheels and body kits, and Japanese tuning products are still better than American products (especially turbo systems and definitely electronics). Without the JDM influence I don't think our market would be where it is today.
The fact of the matter is that Americans have more ingenuity and it's easier to race in America. Because of this and the American do-it-yourself mentality, you have a superior general knowledge base of racing and racecar parts which are simply more affordable and accessible. However, when it comes to tuning, I would have to say on the whole JDM tuners are better than American tuners. There are some serious hack shops in the US and I'm definitely not proud of that. I will say USA all the way when you talk the best USDM vs. the best JDM tuners.
A perfect example of JDM vs. USDM tuning: our daily driven 580whp R34 GT-R that came out to a Time Attack a couple years ago. We were 0.1 seconds slower than the Signal R34 GT-R with 750whp, full cage, no interior and a sequential transmission. Both cars were driven by Tarzan so you can't say it was a driver issue. That's when I first learned that JDM tuning is just hype. Look at all the Spoon cars that come to the states-a f*@$ing joke.
So Who, In Your Opinion, Are Some Of The Best USDM Tuners?
Most US tuners aren't into road racing yet. But a good tuner is someone who can build a car for whatever application and in the US it has been drag. However, I would have to say AMS Performance, Skunk2, DynoComp, RPM (out in New York), Comptech, HPA Motorsports and of course XS Engineering are the US' finest.
What's The Most Dyno-Proven Horsepower You've Ever Extracted Out Of A Motor?
1,069 whp out of a 2.6 liter RB26 on a Dynojet. And yes, he daily drives it at 720whp on pump gas. I don't build dyno queens unless the client wants one-and as long as his money is green.
What Is The Singular Aftermarket Product That Makes The Most Power?
ECU/ECU tuning. Most don't realize that tuning is the beginning and everything. I'm not talking about piggybacks either. People, piggybacks are f*@$ing jokes. Take them off your car and sell them to all the cheap-asses who buy crap from eBay. Always use a standalone or have the factory ECU ROM-tuned.
What's Your Favorite Motor To Tune?
I would have to say the RB26. 2JZ's [Supra motors] are too easy. The 2JZ is why you have so many dyno queens these days. Even if you make 1000whp, Supras are useless on street tires. You need slicks just to move forward in a Supra when making over 600whp. You're moving forward in a GT-R regardless of power.