Post by
AZhitman »
https://forums.nicoclub.com/azhitman-u113.html
Mon Feb 03, 2003 5:50 am
After swapping out rear struts to some new Tokico Blues on Saturday, my mechanic buddy and I went out "road testing". The initial impression is that the Tokicos made a HUGE difference. Corners much flatter, less "swing" in the rear end. Also, at speed the rear feels firmer and more stable - High-speed lane changes are much more confidence-inspiring, and the front actually feels a little "floaty" now...
Anyway, nice cool evening (65 F), and we head to the local street racer hangout. We browse the lot and talk cars with the regulars, then head out for some activity of our own...
I-17 southbound, approx 65 mph, a late 90's 'Stang with exhaust rolls up and we get it on from about 60. He gets a great jump, and starts pulling away, but at 80 the Q stops losing ground. At about 110 he backs out but I'm NO closer to closing the gap. First whupping of the night - Time to pick on something heavier.
Reverse course - I-17 northbound, we see Xenons and fogs coming onto the onramp. Slow to let it catch up, it's a 2000(?) GS400. We roll alongside for a while, it's a young Asian guy and his companion. I blip the gas in 3rd, he smiles and hammers it. Even with the jump on me, he watches as Quella pulls on him without difficulty. By 90 I'm passing his front end and at 110 I'm pulling away HARD. I shut down and let him alongside again, and he's smiling and shaking his head - "Lemme have another try." This time it's even worse - We drop 'em at the same instant and Quella just pulls away. At 120 I can see his xenons in my side mirror. I shut down, he rolls by looking sheepish.... First kill of the night!
Pull off for a snack at Wendy's - On the way out of the lot, a late 90's Integra 4-dr with an aluminum wing, Altezza's, fartcan, 17's, etc... lights 'em up in front of us. He heads for the freeway entrance which has 2 lanes. We roll up alongside at the stoplight and make eye contact. Me, being the sensitive and caring individual that I am, give his ride the once-over and laugh heartily. There's a sweeping 90-degree turn to enter the freeway, he's on the inside. Sufficiently offended, he nails it from the light. I nail it, and of course I'm half a car length behind. As we go past him ON THE OUTSIDE (the new rear struts are doing their job) his fartcan is screaming and he's clearly amazed. By the time we dump onto the freeway, I'm doing 70 or so and he's in my mirrors. I don't let off 'til 110 and by then he's WAY back. Never did this before, but I fling the haz lites at him. I back off and let him roll by so he can see what just whipped his young a$$, and he has the nads to flip me off. Second kill of the night.
Headed over to the movie theater to drum up some biz for NICO - Left NICO decals on probably 8 assorted clean Nissans and an I35...
Not a bad way to waste a quarter tank of gas.