To steal a line from our good friend Big C, HKS is doin' it real big in '07. In addition to celebrating its 35th year in the United States, the tuning company named after Howard's Killer Smile is rolling out a brand new supercharger. This HKS GT Supercharger-currently available for VQ-powered vehicles such as the FX35, 350Z and G35-is particularly notable as it's the first supercharger developed completely in-house by HKS.
Thanks to new HKS-developed technologies, including a newly-developed torque response traction drive system, this compact centrifugal supercharger is both quieter and more efficient (and therefore more powerful) than typical gear-type centrifugal superchargers. Being Super Street, we're not smart enough to understand the engineering behind the unit, but we are intelligent enough to recognize the fact that the GT Supercharger-equipped 350Zs we drove felt like they had a few dozen rockets strapped onto them. Allowing us to keep these force-fed beasts under control was HKS' new HiperMax III suspension.
Thanks to our crappy driving skills, we didn't look good behind the wheel of the HKS Zs, but we sure had a good time driving 'em. HKS' GT Supercharger kits are only available at HKS Certified Pro Dealers and Authorized Installers and come with a one-year warranty. Pricing starts at $6,495 for a complete kit.
Gardella Wins Indy
Gary Gardella won his first race of the season at the inaugural Indy NHRA Sport Compact Nationals in Clermont, IN when his PRO FWD '07 Cobalt ran a 7.344 pass at 198.96 mph. Said an excited Gardella of his first win: "It feels great to get back up on our feet... the car really stepped up and I hope this can keep going on." Gardella wasn't the only winner of the weekend; the fastest drivers and times are listed below:
PRO RWD: Brad Personett; '08 Scion; 7.029 @ 207.46
PRO FWD: Gary Gardella; '07 Cobalt; 7.344 @ 198.96
Modified: Brent Rau; '99 Eclipse; 7.257 @ 188.54
Hot Rod: Stephanie Eggum; '00 Civic; 7.958 @ 183.79
Honda Tuning All Motor: Norris Prayoonoto; '04 Insight; 9.681 @ 140.08
UrbanRacer.com Sport FWD: Cortney Green; '95 Civic; 9.861 @ 153.16
Sport RWD: Jason Greeawalt; '93 Nissan; 9.483 @ 145.05
Chu's Or Lose Ricky Chu
My Gift Wish List
To keep things P.C. I'll say Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, Happy Kwanzaa, Happy Festivus and Happy Holidays in general. I think that covers most of the spectrum and I apologize in advance if I missed one. But let's get down to the important part of my editorial-my gift wish list. Sure, some of the things I'm asking for are kinda far-fetched but who knows, someone might just have the hook-ups on one of these and pass it on to me.
* Pyramid and Sphinx
* Helicopter
* Trip around the world
* Time machine
* To be 6 ft. tall and be able to dunk
* Get rid of all potholes, dips, steep driveways and unprotected left turns
* No traffic... ever
* Shoe sponsorship from Adidas
* Lifetime supply of Steer Inn and Omaha Steaks
* A personal driver, bodyguard, trainer, physician, therapist and chef
* Skin that's not oily
* Private gym
* Endless wealth (no bills or payments on anything)
* My own island
* VIP status everywhere
* Private jet
* Holiday named after me
* Health and happy family and friends
* Key to a city
* Copies of Project Car and Super Street at the office before they go on sale
* Full sponsorship of regular,Special Reserve and XR Crown Royal
* No hiccups with any project cars
* No "check engine" lights... ever
* Lifetime gasoline sponsorship
* A working Project Car website
* World peace
* Feed the hungry
* Jeans that fit me
* Smaller veins and lower blood pressure
* Ownership of the Los Angeles Clippers and Staples Center
* Rename Staples Center to Rikdaddy Center then give the Lakers the boot
* A constant temperature wherever I am in the world of 70 degrees
* Coliseum* No allergies * Cell phone that actually works
* Revamped Rikdaddy.com site
* Lifetime supply of antibacterial soap, hand wipes and gel
* Racetrack Ricky Chu Rikdaddy@projectcarmag.com
I'm Back, Bitches!
With the half-wit count at Super Street halved, I've been given back my lil' ol' column. And since I've left to work on Siphon, all the new experiences I've gained have made me into a better, stronger, much more mature editorial half-wit. Proof? I'm back, aren't I?
Despite my innate deficiencies, there is something I've learned about our scene, and it's that Scion owners are about some of the most passionate bunch of car nuts out there. And not the backwards, flesh-wearing Texas Chainsaw Massacre type of psycho, but a group of car owners with a true sense of community.
Here's the thing: With the exception of a very few heavily modified ones, Scions are slow. You know it, I know it and believe me, Scion owners know it or are in denial about it. (Hear that? That's the silent pop of bubbles being burst) They didn't buy their xBs to spank Evos or STIs. It was out of practicality. Something to drive to work/school and back home that still has some cool factor. That's right, cool. Since when have you ever remembered econo cars being any semblance of Travolta (pre-ambiguous Travolta-think Pulp Fiction)? Scion owners are a social bunch, too. At car shows they're always together, they have clubs that meet regularly, and Scion corporate throws special events exclusive for their owners. How cool is that?
I had an opportunity to go out to Hawaii for Streetcar Showoff. Still green in the Scion scene, I got in contact with the local Scion Evolution chapter. Marshall, the liason, invited me out to their monthly meet at a local Scion dealer. Gathered were people from all walks of life: guys and girls, families and singles, students and employees. They trade parts, work on each other's cars, do (gasp) community service or just hang out. They're like a huge family linked by brand instead of blood. And although I was the non-Scion-owning, red-headed stepchild, all the members were very welcoming. I felt like Webster adopted into the Papadopoulos family. Big ups in particular to Daryl and Dave for the extra hospitality. Mahalo SE Hawaii.
Carter Jung seoulman@superstreetonline.com