Shift Magazine

Slide around all day with this rc drift car pg 49
S H I F T M A G . C O M | D e c e m b e r 2 0 11 , I s s u e 1
Get ready for your first autocross pg 19
2006 Subaru wrx with a full STI interior swap pg 44
Check out two acuras that represent a dying breed pg 38
SHIFTMAG.COM
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aempower.com
AEMTUNER software is infinitely adjustable software that allows tuners to program virtually any
combination of engine control, power adders and
auxiliary devices, and accurately delivers proper
amounts of fuel and correct ignition timing for
any boost level or operating condition.
December
2011
Brother from another mother
Why? Because RC CAr
Another Level pg. 10
pg.26
Anatomy of an autcross
pg. 49
End of an era
pg. 38
World rally champ
pg. 19
pg. 44
5
MAIL BAG
DOLLAR DOLLAR BILL Y’ALL
I have a little suggestion: when posting full feature
cars in the specs column, I would like to see an
estimated amount of money used to fund that
project. I know sometimes the cars are shop or
private projects, and in either case sometimes
it might be a little difficult to keep exact count of
expenses used, so a ballpark figure is what I’m
looking for. This will be an excellent idea because
reading the se articles inspires so many to say
“Heck with it!” and really try to go after their dream
projects. At least for me, it would allow me to
gauge if I’ll have the means to tackle a project I’ve
been considering for sometime.
READER RIDEs
OF THE MONTH
Runners up
Domingo Jacobo
Perris, CA
We normally do pull this sort of information from the
car owners but know that many of these projects
are out of the realm of many readers. Even we
don’t make the kind of scratch that’s necessary to
finish cars of these caliber.
Vince de Asis
Girlie Girl EK Project
I’m building my 97 Civic EK hatch right now.
Planning on putting in a JDM B18C and build it all
motor. Any suggestions for the build? Or should
I keep it as a daily and save money to build a
K-Series? I have big plans for my car to make it
unique with fully custom paint, bay, front bumper,
etc...and not just following current trends with the
slammed, negative camber, stretched tires, and
poking rims. I enjoy seeing the current trends but
I’m going for a function and form model with the
hopes to someday track it. Anyway, I hope once
it’s done, it’s good enough to be featured in your
magazine. Love you guys!
Amanda Au
Centerville, Virginia
Adam Dawson
If the project would have to be put on hold
for you to save up for a K-Series then
we’d suggest going B-Series. Do it now
as you’ve got the motivation to do it. Also
this way you can start on the swap and
maybe have even some more money
for all the other areas of the car that you
want to do. Later on when you get more
money you can sell off the B and go K.
And good luck wih the feature.
Got questions? Need advice?
e-mail us at
[email protected]
6
Jack Tirley
READER RIDE
OF THE MONTH
2009 MazdaSpeed 3
Wes York’s 2009 Mazda Speed3 has a clean “murdered out” look that
doesn’t go too far and ruin the aesthetic of the car. The Cobb Tuning
short ram intake sounds good and really makes the recirculating blow
off valve loud.
Thanks to Wes for letting us shoot the car.
You want to be featured in SHIFT? Send us some photos and info to:
[email protected]
7
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8
In memory
Birth of a new Civic
8th Gen Honda CIVIC
And the 7th Gen Honda Civic SI, along with the beautiful
specimen to the left. This 2008 Honda Civic Mugen SI is
fitted with the standard 18″ Mugen GP wheels, a Mugen
body kit including sideskirts, lips, and a the wing, Mugen
exhaust, Mugen coilovers and a numbered Mugen plaque
on the inside of the car. This might be the best looking
Civic ever produced and we’re sad to see it replaced.
9th Gen Honda CIVIC
And the 8th Gen Honda Civic SI. The K20Z3 has been
replaced with a K24 similar to that found in the Acura
TSX. It generates similar horsepower figures to the last
gen K20, but a huge increase in the torque output. Will
this new Civic push the feeling that has made the Civic SI
such a popular platform, or will it be soon forgotten due
to its lack of a the fun high revving K20Z3 and a hardly
noticeable V-TEC crossover? Only time can tell.
Check out all the cool people on 8thCivic.com.
If you’re looking for anything having to do with
an FA or FG Civic. This is the place to go!
FG2/FA5 Civic SI Specs
Production ........................................2006–2011
Assembly ....................Alliston, Ontario, Canada
Body style ...........................2-door coupe (FG2)
4-door sedan (FA5)
Engine .............2.0L 197 hp (147 kW; 200 PS) I4
Transmission ............................6-speed manual
Wheelbase .................104.3 in (264 cm) (coupe)
106.3 in (270 cm) (sedan)
Length ........................174.8 in (441 cm) (coupe)
176.7 in (447 cm) (sedan)
Width ............................68.9 in (172 cm) (coupe)
69.0 in (175 cm) (sedan)
Height ............53.5 in (134 cm) (2006-08 coupe)
56.5 in (142 cm) (sedan)
Curb weight .............2,877 lb (1,305 kg) (coupe)
2,945 lb (1,336 kg) (sedan)
9
Another
Level
Chicagos Finest
In the early afternoon of August 6th the sky over Palantine,
Illinois was filled with the hum and rumble of engines born
across the world. As the different levels of the parking
garage quickly transformed into a showroom for the
automotive obsessed, the amount of pride taken to create
these gorgeous cars was obvious; they represent Chicago’s
finest in the tuner world. Enjoy the shots.
words by Robert McCarthy
photos thanks to Brad Sillars
11
Diving deeper
into the layers of Another Level it is easy to
become overwhelmed with just how many cars are
actually on display. The several floors of cars were
organized by make, clubs, and status. The best part
of the show is getting away from all the shop and
show cars to see the real tuner cars, the heart of
what makes this community so great.
12
As the sun set
on such a momentous show we can reflect on what an amazing
collection of cars and people this community brings together. It doesn’t
matter if you drive a dumped Civic or a 1000hp Supra, we’re all in this
because we all love cars. Til next year, drive safe.
Check out Brad Sillars on
thephotomotive.com
13
Five reasons the Hyundai Genesis Coupe is not a Tiburon
While the Tiburon was Hyundai’s only performance coupe for just over a
decade it has been dethroned by the new and improved Genesis Coupe.
Photos thanks to Brad Sillars, check him out on thephotomotive.com.
Chasis
Let’s start off simple, it is a whole a new car. While
the looks are somewhat similar the chassis for
the Genesis is taken from the Genesis Sedan (go
figure) where as the Tiburon had its own.
RWD
The Genesis Coupe is Hyundai’s first attempt at a
RWD platform and we couldn’t be happier about it.
Engine Options
Stock the Genesis Coupe comes with a Theta
2.0L Turbocharged engine producing 210hp/223 ft.
lbs. of torque. This is upgradable to the Lambda
3.8L V6 making 306/hp/266 ft. lbs. of torque. Both
options are a huge step up from the Tiburon’s
2.0L that made 140hp or even the V6 that made a
depressing 173hp.
Sound
The exhaust note of the Genesis is fantastic,
end of story.
Finally
Hyundai has repeatedly said that the Tiburon’s
replacement is not the Gensis, but the new Hyundai
Veloster. The Veloster will have a 1.6L Gamma
Engine producing 140hp with a turbocharged version
producing 208hp to be released later on.
While the Tiburon will live on as a common tuner
car, there isn’t a doubt in our minds that the Gensis
will far exeed that of its older brother. With a better
platform, more power, and a prettier face we think
this is a good thing.
15
STREET. TIME ATTACK. DRIFT
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Developed for true tuning enthusiasts, the
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or surpass several short-lived R-compound
competitors at circuits across the country.
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FRESH vinyl decals can give
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that makes it stand out
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a hella flush Honda, drift spec
Nissan, or a donked up
Chevy; FRESH Car Decals
has something for you.
Anatomy
of an
Autocross
“Solo II is a precision sport, much like, say, archery, riflery
or golf. You must be precise and consistent, all the while
driving so fast you can barely concentrate.”
- Mark Sirota
The Basics
Solo II events (also known as autocrosses) are an all
forward motion driving skill contest. Each driver is
individually timed to the thousandth of a second, over a
short, miniature road course clearly defined using traffic
cones. Cars compete one at a time, hence the name
“Solo”, in a class with similar cars. An event can be
held on any flat paved surface, usually a parking lot, or
airport apron or runway.
Or at least that’s the official definition; so what does
that all mean. A Solo II event, which we will now refer
to as autocross, is a meeting of people who love to
drive. It is by far the easiest form of legal racing to
get involved in, which makes it a great starting point
for anyone who wants to start any motorsport. At
the same time autocross is very different from other
motorsports. Many times you will see professional
drivers from different disciplines who will drive in the
novice autocross class.
So where do we start?
Well let’s remember what this is all about, having fun.
Sure winning is nice but chances are you’re not going to
be first in your heat on your first time out. Join up in the
novice class; it will help pay off. Now that that’s out of
the way:
What do I bring to an event?
This list covers everything from sunscreen to snacks to
tire pressure gauges. You will probably come up with
your own list of things you need at a Solo event, but this
will get you started.
You must have:
Your car (although you may share a car with someone
else). Your entry fee a valid driver’s license.
You may want to bring:
-Your SCCA membership card, to get a discount on entry fees
-A safety helmet
-Extra air in your tires. Stop at a gas station and fill your tires to
approximately 45psi-Front/35psi-Rear for a front-wheel-drive car, or
40psi all around for a rear-wheel-drive car.
-Suitable shoes for driving. The best are light-soled, with a narrow sole
which does not stick out past the side of the shoe.
-Sunscreen
-Clothes appropriate for the weather forecast, plus a change for when
the forecast is wrong.
-Rain gear / umbrella
-A hat
-A folding chair
-Thermos of water or other non alcoholic beverage
-Cooler for lunch or snacks
-Windex and paper towels
-A pad and pencil to write down all the advice you’ll get
-A copy of the current SCCA Solo II Rule Book
-A good tire pressure gauge
-Chalk or white shoe polish to mark the tires
20
Purposely left blank
21
Purposely left blank
22
So Now What?
Well in one phrase, try it! You can read, talk, and
pretend all you want about motorsports but you won’t
really get the full experience unless you just go do it.
There are clubs and organizations all over the country.
Try finding one near you. Forums and the internet are
really great sources to find local clubs and friends who
will be willing to help you get involved.
Don’t be timid, talk to people, ask questions. Don’t be
afraid to help out at your first event. The best way to
make friends is to be helpful. Eventually, you’ll be in like
Flynn and enjoying the world of Autocross.
Some helpful resources:
www.Autocross.com
www.autocross.us
Speed Secrets-Winning Autocross techniques
Ross Bentley
words by Robert McCarthy
photos by Adam Dawson
23
TunerSchool.com
The world’s first school dedicated to teach and train future performance vehicle tuners!
877-Tuner-77
TunerSchool.com
Located at Lonestar Motorports Park
No matter what dimension of quality and refined taste a product
engenders, as long as RAYS is involved, you can be assured of its
safety and reliability. By bringing to Japan only things that are
worthy of the ‘By RAYS’ tag, and then supplying them to the world,
RAYS strives to be a company that comprehensively supports
car users who want to derive full enjoyment from their cars.
words by Emily Muren
photos by Robert McCarthy
L
ike two brothers, from different mothers;
that’s how one would describe Robert
McCarthy and Jon McDonald’s relationship.
From their first year at Southern Illinois
University Carbondale as floor-mates to their
senior year as roommates, their affiliation has
grown into a strong, steady, lifelong, friendship.
As typical boys in their twenties, both contain an
extraordinary amount of love for video games,
music, friends, computers, and especially cars.
Humor and laughter can be heard coming from
their apartment along with the occasional
conversations about either ordering new parts
for their cars, or the latest game of League of
Legends they played. Both are finishing up their
degrees at SIU for graphic design and hope to
eventually fulfill their dreams of becoming
successful designers. For the past four to five
years, these men have been strengthening their
friendship through similar hobbies, friends, and
struggles. I have had the pleasure of getting to
know these hilarious and very loving men and
can always count on them for anything. At first,
I thought the car hobby was only going to last
for a bit, but then I quickly realized both were
mildly obsessed with their four wheeled babies.
28
B
oth have added some healthy modifications. Robert has fitted 18″
Gram Light 57s that emit a beautiful rainbow glow from the lip. The
wheels fit perfectly with the 2.5’ drop from the Redshift Koni coilers
and the small amount of negative camber set up for autocrossing. These are
complimented with blue powdercoated brake calipers and blue neochrome
Muteki lugnuts. What really is crazy about this car is what’s under the hood;
with an aftercooled CT-Engineering supercharger making right around 10lbs
of boost, this small Civic not only has show but the go as well. All the boost
is released through a Vibrant catless header and exhaust which screams as
the car rolls down the street.
“When the pedal’s to the floor it almost
sounds like the world is ending.
This makes me smile.”
29
A
ll the boost is released through a Vibrant catless header and exhaust
which screams as the car rolls down the street. Sitting inside the cabin
is a treat to hear the roots blowers whine fight over the loud exhaust
as the car enters VTEC right around 4500 RPMs. A TMW Performance short
shifter is installed to make sure Robert never misses a shift and is topped
off with a neochrome blox shift knob to match his outstanding wheels. To
keep track of his supercharger he has installed AEM boost and AFR gauges
mounted in the best looking gauge pod for any car ever, the Excelerate
Perfomance gauge pod made specifically for this generation of Honda
Civics. The interior is topped off with red accents on the door trim and on
the shift boot and center console. The exterior of the car is kept pristine
with only a few modifications. Window visors, JDM Honda emblems, and
Customlightz retrofitted headlights give the car a menacing appearance.
Robert has plans for an HFP lip kit and possibly a Brembo BBK setup.
30
O
n the other hand, Jon stuck with a more traditional setup and
lowered his car with Raceland coilers almost a full 3”; along with
that Jon managed to fit 18”X9.5” XXR 522s. “I just love seeing that
poke when I get out of the car,” notes Jon. To contrast the gold wheels, he
has added Green Muteki lug nuts that really stand out. The Toyota engine
comes to life with the TRD intake and Megan Catback exhaust; it growls
especially when downshifting. says Robert.
“The thing sounds like a boxer
out of a WRX. It’s crazy,”
31
T
he interior is finished with a Megan short throw
shifter and a Wink 5 panel Mirror. The exterior
of the car has a full TRD grille and badges along
with rolled rear fenders to fit those massive wheels.
Jon has plans for a custom turbo kit in the future. “It’s
kind of crazy how similar our taste in cars is, even
some of the things we bought for them [the cars]. Like
for instance we both have the same alarm and remote
starts and the same lug nuts; it’s just weird. Maybe
that’s why we’re friends,” states Robert about Jon and
their relationship.
“It’s kind of crazy how
similar our taste in cars is,
even some of the things we
bought for them ...”
32
J
ust like both of their cars, they contain
different personalities, yet they fit
together perfectly like two peas in a pod.
One reflects off another in a way that both
men can sit in a room and have a conversation
that only they understand. Thinking back to
freshman year when I first met these two
boys on Mae Smith’s 14th floor, all I can
think about is how I’ve been an audience to
their friendship through every moment of
World of Warcraft, to hilarious drawings on
anything they can get their hands on. Jon and
Robert work perfect together because Jon
has the more goofy, free spirited personality
whereas Robert is a more quiet, levelheaded
being. Together, one can bring out the best
in the other.
33
Name
Jon McDonald
Age
22
Location
Chicago
Occupation
Student/designer
Hobbies
Cars, Sketching, Video Games, Tennis
Build Time
4 years
Motivation
Looks, I can’t stand a boring car.
Feedback
[email protected]
08 Scion TC
170 HP/175 LB-FT Torque
Engine/Performance
Toyota Racing Development Cold Air Intake,
Megan 2.5” Catback Exhaust
Suspension
Raceland Coilovers, XXR 522 18X9.5 in Gold
Muteki Green Extended Lug nuts, Nitto NT809s
Exterior
VRD Honeycomb Grille, VRD Fogs, TRD
Carrbon Fiber Badge, rolled fenders
Interior
Wink 5 Panel mirror, Megan Short Shifter, MRG
Carbon Fiber Shift Knob
ICE
Autopage 2way alarm/remote start
Check out this feature on
SHIFTMAG.COM
34
Name
Robert McCarthy
Age
23
Location
Chicago
Occupation
Student/designer
Hobbies
Cars, Computers, Music, Art
Build Time
2 Years
Motivation
Being different and I love the attention people
give the car.
Feedback
[email protected]
09 Honda Civic SI
270 WHP/180 LB-FT Torque
Engine/Performance
Ct-E Supercharger Stage 2, Merc Racing
Aftercooler, Vibrant Catless Header, Vibrant
Exhaust Gen 2, Injen CAI, ID1000cc, Walbro
255 Fuel Pump, Hasport Rear Motor Mount,
Candy Wine Red Valve cover
Suspension
Redshift Koni Coilovers, Ingalls front/rear
camber adjustment, Gram Lights 18X8 +38
Burnt Titanium Lip, Kumho Ecsta SPT, Muteki
Burnt Blue Titanium lug nuts
Exterior
Customlightz 6000k retro with halo parking
lights, Noyka Yellow Brights/DRLS, Noyka
Yellow Fogs, 35% tint, 3M Vinyl Carbon Fiber
wrap, YoSpeed rear tow hook, JDM red Honda
Badges, Blue powder coated brake calipers,
ebay window visors
Interior
Bride Red shift boot, Bride red center console,
Recaro Jersey red door inserts, Blox 490LE
Neo Chrome shift knob, TWM Performance full
short shift with aluminum bushings, AEM Boost
& AFR gauges, Excelerate Gauge pod V2,
Sticker bombed wink 5 panel mirror
Check out this feature on
SHIFTMAG.COM
ICE
Pioneer Avic F90BT, 10” Memphis Audio
Subwoofer, Autopage 2way alarm/remote start
35
14 years of proven gains
Made in USA
Three different finishes
www.ingen.com
The performance oils preferred by the pros.
866-932-1949
skipbarber.com
forzamotorsport.net
End of an Era
Words and photos by Robert McCarthy
I nitially
when the RSX was revealed in 2000
as the successor to the Acura Integra there were
some doubts. The idea that this car was going to
be bigger, heavier, and clunkier than its predecessor
had many Honda enthusiasts running scared. When
the car was finally released in 2001 it put all those
theories to rest. The first K20 package release
state-side, the RSX Type S outperformed the
older cars in ever aspect. With a very similar 2.0
liter inline 4 cylinder engine that’s in the newest
generation of the Civic SI, this car screamed up to a
8K redline bringing the high revving Honda back into
the focus of the turning world.
As time passed the Acura RSX became a staple in
the tuning scene. As common as its older brother,
the Integra, Civics, 240’s and a host of popular
platforms. Honda realizing that this setup had a
great amount of potential, borrowed heavily from
it to create the new Civic SI’s which are widely
considered to be the best entry level daily sports
car since the CRX SI. Unfortunately, many have
been molested, destroyed and forgotten, but there
are a few out there that are still in pristine condition
that will remain classics for years to come.
39
G reg L orentz
bought his RSX Type S heavily
damaged. The car was dented and keyed over
almost the entire body. Greg took the time to
remove the dents and refinish a good part of the
body using a metal glaze, similar to bondo. He
then sanded the entire car bumper to bumper and
let Auffenberg Body Shop reshoot the car in the
silver you see now. After receiving the car, he color
sanded and cleared it to make sure the paint had
some pop.
As far as engine modifications go Greg has opted
to use an Injen CAI, paired with a 60mm Skunk2
40
catback exhaust to let that K20 breath. He then
put the car on some 17” Konig Feathers powder
coated in black.
The biggest treat about this car has to be the OEM
A-Spec lip kit that comes with a front and rear lip,
side skirts, spoiler and a 1.5” spring drop. You don’t
see too many real A-Spec kits out there. To finish
off the exterior of the car, Greg has added JDM
depo headlights and JDM yellow fogs accompanied
by a 55watt 10k hid low beam kit.
B rendan C oursey bought his base RSX new in
2004 and has transformed it into a very respectable
Honda. Like Greg’s car, Brendan also has an OEM
A-Spec kit including bumpers and side skirts mated
to a Integra Type R wing on the trunk. The car sits
on 18x7.5 Work Emotion CR Kai’s and is lowered with
Eibach pro-kit lowering springs. Finally, the car is
finished with a Greddy Ti-C 60mm Exhaust that gives
the car a great sounding deep tone.
On the inside of the car Brendan has installed
Infinity Components 6.5in. front and rear speakers, a
Kicker 750.1 mono amplifier, an Audiobahn 12”
subwoofer at 1000w RMS all powered by a
Sony headunit.
It’s nice to see two cars that manage to keep
their classic looks. It’s just as nice to see two
enthusiasts who enjoy their cars enough to treat
them as something that will become a treasure in
the future.
41
WRC is coming to SPEED this February. Tune in to see all the
excitment and danger in the 2012 season. Tune in. Strap in. Hold on.
martymccarmack.com
He’s back.
December 2011
The World Rally Champ
The blue and gold of the Subaru World Rally Championship team is
identifiable by any car enthisast in the world. Originally started in
the 1980’s the team was developed to showcase Subaru’s all-wheel
drive technology, and is credited for increasing sales of the hugely
popular WRX STI. The team was historically an extremely strong one,
competing in the WRC longer than any other manufacturer team in
their current form. It has won the manufacturers’ championship three
times, in 1995, 1996, and 1997, and the drivers’ championship three
times, in 1995, 2001, and 2003.
Like many of the world’s autosports teams though, Subaru has removed
itself from the WRC because of economic downturn but the WRX will
live on in the tuner community as one of the strongest contenders on
the road.
words and photos by Robert McCarthy
Bryce Bowe fully appreciates what Subaru has perfected over
the decades. His 2006 WRX TR has all the components to
make it break some necks. Starting with the exterior, Bryce
has found a good mixture of that blue paint and carbon fiber.
The CF spoiler risers make the stock WRX wing pop a bit
more and give it almost a show car look. The Rota SVNs give
a very classic Subaru style and look fantastic on top of those
red calipers.
The interior though, is where this thing really shines. Bryce
has replaced all of the boring stock WRX Interior with stock
STI interior. The seats look and feel fantastic. He has put a
custom roof liner on to match the new interior and added a
cobb shift knob. His gauge pods are mounted above his radio
controls and almost look like they were sold stock on the car;
really a great alternative to the typical screwed in gauge pods
that always look tacky. All in all, Bryce has built one hell of a
WRX and were happy to have him in the magazine.
46
Name
Bryce Bowe
Age
24
Location
Carbondale, IL
Occupation
Student
Hobbies
Cars, Science
Build Time
4 Years
Motivation
Building the car is just fun.
Feedback
[email protected]
2006 Subaru WRX TR
Full STI Interior Swap
Engine
Cobb Tuning Accessport ECU Tuner w/ Stage 2
Mapping, Perrin Performance Recirculating Blow Off
Valve, Perrin Performance Turbo Inlet Hose, Perrin
Performance Short Ram Intake, Perrin Performance
Front Mount Intercooler, Cobb Tuning SS 3’’ Downpipe,
ACT Performance Street Disc, ACT Heavy Duty
Pressure Plate, ACT XACT Flywheel Streetlite, HKS
Carbon-Ti Exhaust system
Suspension
Perrin Performance 22mm Front/Rear Sway bars,
Perrin Performance Front/Rear Endlinks, Perrin
Performance Stout Mounts, Goodridge G-Stop
Brakeline Kit, EBC Yellow Stuff Brake Pads, Rota SVN
Hyper Black Wheels 5 x 100, 18 x 8.5, +48 offset
Exterior
Seibon RC Style Carbon Fiber Hood, Seibon Carbon
fiber rear spoiler adapter, Kartboy Extra Long Exhaust
Hangers, OMP Racing Hood Pins, tinted windows
Interior
Cobb Tuning Black Satin Delrin Shift Knob, Subaru
WRX STI complete interior,
Custom headliner, visors in black suede,
Defi Racer Gauges, Oil pressure, Oil temp, Boost, ATI
triple gauge pod, JDM Red Hazard light
I.C.E
Eclipse AVN726E 7’’ Navigation In-Dash Touch
Screen Monitor, Boston Acoustics Pro 50SE
Front/Rear Door Speakers, Boston Acoustics GT22 2-Channel Amplifier, Boston Acoustics GT-40
4-Channel Amplifier, JL Audio W6 10’’ Subwoofer,
Custom ported subwoofer box by Audio Specialists of
Hopkinsville, Kentucky, Rockford Fosgate 3SIXTY.1
Equalizer / crossover
47
WHY?
BECAUSE
RC CAR.
With the price of modifying and using (in a sports
manner) cars being so expensive it is hard for all
enthusiasts to race around a track and really get all
that bang for your buck. So with this in mind, we set
out to find an alternative.
After doing a few weeks worth of research on the internet we found
some pretty great information on all sorts of remote controlled cars.
Now these aren’t your everyday Toys’R’Us bought cars, these are fully
adjustable mini vehicles. There are a few things we should note before
we really get started. First, we bought an electric drift car made by
HPI, one of the leading companies in the RC world. The HPI E10 is
considered an entry level electric on road car meaning while many
parts are interchangeable, not all are. The cool part about this car is
the motor mount system. The motor position can be altered to allow
for different weight distributions which gives this car the ability to drift,
or compete in a more traditional road race. We decided to go with an
electric car because it was cheaper and easier to maintain for some
newbies to the RC universe like us. Second, we are by no means an
expert in this field or in professional racing for that manner, but we do
like to have fun which is exactly what these cars deliver, fun.
words and photos by Robert McCarthy
As mentioned earlier we decided to purchase a HPI E10 Chassis
set up for drifting. We bought our kit from RCtradingpost.com and
it cost $279.30 including shipping. The car we bought came with
a Nissan S15 Silvia pre-painted in Galactic Purple. Other bodies
are available to purchase either painted or not for $30-$50 each.
They are a flimsy vacuum formed plastic that is easily painted
with various types of paint. The flimsiness of the plastic sounds
like a problem, but actually it’s perfect; I’ll explain why later. The
ready to run kit we ended up buying comes with everything we
need to get started quickly. The car comes pre assembled with
a remote control, receiver, batteries, battery charger, and tires
mounted on replica Gram Light wheels. We opted to buy an
extra battery pack for the car so we could have two ready for
longer drift sessions. We recommend getting extra batteries or a
quick charge system if you really want to drive all day.
Our initial response while unboxing our car was shock and awe.
RCtradingpost.com did a great job painting our car. There were
no missed or poorly done spots. They did apply all the ugly
stickers that came with the car though, but this was no big deal
as we could peel them off easily with out damaging the paint. We
decided to leave a few on to show just what kind of stickers the car
comes with. The detail of the models is impressive. Everything
from large sponsor stickers down to windshield wipers and the
insides of the headlights look realistic and really give the feeling
that this is a real car.
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8 - AA Alkaline Batteries 49019-2
$3.99
Venom 6-Cell 7.2V 2400mAh VNR1531
$16.99
Nissan Silvia Hpi E10
Color = Galatic Purple
$239.99
17530-HpiE10Drift
Subtotal 264.96
Shipping 14.34
Tax 0.00
Total 279.30
Here’s our final price list for our kit. We really think for sub $300
we’ve already got our money worth out of this little car. For the
extra money we plan on ordering the quick charger and a few
extra batteries to keep the good times rolling, or sliding in this car.
Receiver antenna
Height adjustable body mounts
Grand touring style tires
Real working suspension components
Limited slip differential
Foam front bumper
Gear compartment
Electric motor
Drive shaft
1500 mAH battery
Battery brace
Radio control receiver
Steering servo
Power switch
Battery power connection
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Packaging
The box that came from RCtradingpost.com was protected with
newspaper type material wrapped around the original E10 box.
The actual E10 box seal was broken from RCtradingpost.com
painting the shell that came with it (so it’s fine that the seal was
broken). The pieces that came with the kit were all still sealed in
their plastic bags. The kit wasn’t missing anything we ordered
or expected to come with it. Overall we’re very happy with our
purchase and would buy from them again. Below we’ll go into a
bit more detail.
RC Receiver/Controller
The controller that came with this kit feels about as cheap as
a $5 toy controller, but it works perfectly fine for someone as
new as us. It takes 8 AA batteries to operate and is pretty light
weight although some of the not so smooth plastic parting lines
can cause some discomfort on the users hand. The steering
trim works well enough to keep the wheels straight but ours still
pulled to the right a bit, we tightened up the screws after a few
sessions and this fixed the issue. Also, the wheel turn adjustment
allows you to adjust how much the front wheels rotate when you
turn the knob on the controller, we felt this was a nice feature
especially when learning to control the car. We never had any
issues with losing signal or any loss of control while using the
receiver. Overall the feel of the controller is the biggest let down
but is easily replaceable if it bothers you enough.
E10 Chassis/Shell
The E10 chassis is simple enough for any beginner to assemble
and figure out how to fix, this doesn’t mean it’s a bad or great
chassis though. There are plenty of strong suits, the biggest
being the changeable motor mounts to allow for different weight
distributions. The ease at which the shell can be removed makes
fixing any issues a breeze, also the battery brace can be removed
almost instantly making battery swaps painless. There is no
problem reaching any of the removable parts and it requires no
special tools, which is good on the budget. The flimsy feeling
shell is great for a few reasons. First, if you collide with something
the shell just bounces a bit and is fine. Ours was a bit scuffed
after a few runs but still in fine shape. We really had to find any
damage to it at all, plus they are cheap to replace. Second,
modifying the plastic is as simple as cutting thin plastic. It would
be easy to modify any body panels or even add LED head/tail
lights in minutes (we plan on doing this).
The chassis lacks any aluminum parts, the drive shaft, gears,
and suspension (minus the springs) are all made of plastic. The
plastic is durable enough for the small forces put out by the engine
but it would be nice to see some polished aluminum in there, this
would also raise the price though. When we first examined the
car we were delighted by the suspension travel. It was so cool
to see something so complex in such a small form. We thought
the best way to test the suspension was to take the car outside
on the rough cement parking lot. The car bounced around quite a
bit more than on our tile floor but it was no problem for the shocks
to handle.
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Driving
The packaging and design is good and all but how does this thing
drive? Well in one word, exciting. When you’re starting out on
one of these you have to remember this isn’t really meant to drive
like a real car. It’s meant to drift at the drop of the hat. Once you
realize how easy it is to actually get the car to go sideways the fun
comes in learning how to control the car and exit the drift. This is
where throttle and steering control become the true test. Practice
makes perfect, after a few days we were able to drift around
corners or objects confidently. Stringing a few corners together
though now becomes the hardest part. Learning to drive the car
comes in stages, small single drifts to stringing some together.
This sounds a bit tedious but the thing is so immediately fun to
drive we were never bored with the controller in our hands.
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NExt month
We Invade
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Classic car shows all over the US,
looking for inspiration on our classic
Datsun build.
One mean
COBALT
This 550+HP Cobalt SS will take down
almost any Evo, STI, and hell, even
some Porsches.
Touge
Factory
Chicago’s Touge Factory shows us a few
of their new projects and gives us a very
fast tour of Chicago’s rich tuning culture
from inside.
Get ready for the 2012 FORMULA D Season.
7 rounds of sideways excitment coming to a
city near you.
www.formuladrift.com
December 2011, Issue 1
Check out our merch at
SHOP.SHIFTMAG.COM
Bob 1, Thesis 0.
Robert McCarthy
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SHIFTMAG.COM
Thanks to everyone who helped out with
imagery, writing, proofing, ideation, feedback,
and just dealt with me.