SuspensionFront: Ground Control shocks, Eibach springs, M's Factory adjustable upper camber link, NAMS bump steer correction tie rod ends, hinge pillar braces and roll center correction spacers, Cusco 24mm sway bar, Tein tension rods, NISMO steering rack bushings, NISMO strut tower brace, HKS Kansai chassis brace kit, HKS Kansai solid transmission cross member bushingsRear: Ground Control shocks, Eibach springs, NAMS lower control arm with roll center correction and traction rod, Cusco adjustable camber link, Cusco 27mm sway bar, Border HICAS eliminator kit, HKS sub frame collars
BrakesFront: 14-inch vented floating rotors with 4-piston fixed Stoptech calipers, Performance Friction padsRear: 13-inch vented floating rotors with two-piston fixed Stoptech calipers, Performace Friction pads
ExternalWheels: 18 x 9.5 NISMO LMGT-4Tires: BF Goodrich Comp T/A KD 265/35/18Weight: 3400 lbs
7:30 - Our speed trial seems to be ending before it even began. Traffic is starting to thicken up. This wasn't in the plans. Sliding into the carpool lane makes the best of a bad situation, but we're still averaging 50 mph. We wonder if we can even make it there on one tank of gas. Having to stop to satisfy the Skyline's appetite could add significantly to our time in transit. The fact that the car manages a .40 coefficient of drag in stock trim means this car punches through the air with the gracefulness of a box truck, and the addition of 265-width tires surely bumps the already ridiculous figure up even higher.
8:05 - The Bar-I'm not sure what the attraction of sucking down a glass of tomato juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco topped off with a pickle first thing in the morning is, but it seems to be a business travel tradition. So it's a Bloody Mary for me too.
As if on cue, the morning traffic news starts playing to remind me why I'm here sucking on a pickle.
9:40 - It must be Christmas bonus time because every California cop car equipped with radar seems to be on the highway today. Our trusty radar detector (secret weapon number four if you're counting) is going crazy, but slowing down is quite preferable to a $10,000 bill and a two-day desert lockdown. A simple lift of the gas pedal in our aerodynamically challenged R32 results in a drag-induced 40 mph being clipped from our speed in no time.
10:30 - I'll admit the biggest uncertainty in flying to Vegas is getting a taxi out of the airport. The line of hedonists all waiting for their taxi ride towards debauchery can take more than an hour to get through.
"Hey buddy, there's a ten in it if you haul ass and get me to the Venetian in five minutes." Before the cabby answers, my pocket starts buzzing again. It's the drivers wanting the 30-second update. Its only 4 miles to hotel, and the taxi driver takes off.
9:30 Halfway there. There's nothing quite like the freedom of drinking alcohol and taking a nap-all while traveling at over 500 mph. Something we don't advise you to try in your car.
7:15 - The trash talking is done and I'm off. They're still answering questions.
7:34 - Twenty minutes later and I'm still in traffic and not even half way to the airport.
7:42 - No parking! Time to valet the car.
10:03 - Touchdown. Only problem is it's the wrong gate.
10:30 - Out of the airport and into the cab. Only four miles to the hotel.
10:40 - It couldn't have been closer. Adrenaline still runs rampant in our bodies after screeching into the Venetian less than 2 minutes ahead of Chen.
9:00 - Speed through Barstow, CA if you don't want to keep your license. We hit our brakes, heeding our radar detectors warning.
8:05 - I'm checked-in, through security and sitting at the bar.
9:00 - Take-off and a nap.
10:07 - Though eleated to see the state line, we know it's crunch time in a big way. The pedal hits the floorboard and our heads are pushed into the headrests as we bomb down the final stretch.
7:30 - We fly through the morning madness with our "Fastrack" pass.
7:22 - Nervous, hungry and gassed up, we tear out of the gas station.