The rasping voice of a former smoker spills the details of this blue R34 Nissan Skyline GT-R as its 40-something owner pilots a Nissan Caravan at speeds normally reserved for the Skyline. By most standards, the drive from Sportsland Sugo to Yamagata is an hour. My white knuckles on the 'oh shit' handle argue that we'll make the trip in half that.
Our host, Shunei Kawasaki, has just finished running in the Vitz Cup support race at the 96th running of the Super GT race series at Sugo. As we near Mr. Kawasaki's shop, Autoland Yamagata (AY), he points at the foothills above and, in his best English, says: "My home, the Ozao touge."
If Kawasaki had been born in the metropolis of Yokohama, Tokyo or Osaka, he would have likely founded a company like HKS, TEIN, or Endless. But the remote location of his home limits Kawasaki's fame. Foreign journalists rarely make it this far north. I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Super GT event. But, as I'm quickly discovering, Kawasaki is worth a visit. He emanates the same aura as the big-name tuners-the local hero, seen schmoozing at Sugo with the likes of Orido, Tsuchiya and Hoshino. "They've driven my time attack Silvia. They're my kouhai (protgs)," Kawasaki says in his Louis Armstrong-esque voice.
AY is a single-hoist, four-shutter garage in western Yamagata. The facility covers approximately 1000 square feet-tiny for a guy of this clout. Kawasaki gives us a tour, where we spy a stitch-welded R32 carcass. "This will be done in September. My street car, my engine," says Kawasaki, leading us into the engine building room, where several SR20s, 4AGs, and B-series parts are strewn across the floor. In a corner, a stack of Tomei-labeled boxes collect dust next to an RB26 bottom end, which is strapped to an engine stand. "Next time you come, that'll be done," he says.
We catch our first glance at the heart of Kawasaki's creation: this R34 GT-R V-spec. The RB26 engine has a set of Tomei pistons, H-beam connecting rods and crankshaft. Air/fuel explosions are enhanced by Kawasaki's own K-Powers brand ported and polished cylinder head, fitted with Tomei copper valve guides, seats and valves. Keeping the Tomei components slapping on extruded aluminum are Tomei Poncam camshafts. Internal rotating bits sit on Nismo bearings, while an ARC radiator, Nissan N1-spec water pump and thermostat manage engine temperatures.
The RB26 exhales through an OE exhaust manifold then into twin HKS turbochargers. A Nismo dump tube exits into a Nismo high-flow catalytic converter, then an ARC/K-Powers one-off exhaust expels the gases. If welding were a sport, Kawasaki would have a gold medal. Air compressed by the aforementioned HKS 2530 turbos blow into K-Powers custom ARC aluminum tubing, then into an ARC front-mount intercooler. Pressure is liberated during throttle lift via twin ARC blow-off valves.
The GT-R is quickly set for action, with a growl similar to the Super GT cars witnessed earlier in the day. Further investigation reveals a Nismo fuel pump and thirsty 660cc/min fuel injectors. Downstream, a Nismo air/fuel ratio meter oversees the entire cocktail. An A'PEXi Power FC ECU coerces electronic forces into supporting an estimated maximum of 580bhp at 1.7bar.
A Nismo center display keeps tabs on engine and exhaust temperatures, abnormal boost levels, air/fuel ratios and fuel pressure. A K-Powers boost scrambler steps up boost pressure to three preset levels, via the red thumb control on the Nardi wheel. The N1-spec OE transmission feeds into a Nismo 3.90:1 final drive ratio gear, with an OE rear differential and an ATS front limited-slip differential. The rear diff is cooled by a K-Powers oil cooler kit.
Kawasaki explains that suspension tuning is where the K-Powers range really comes into its own. AY's own K-Powers branded assortment of titanium bars box up the R34's strut towers, trunk and floor. The important moving bits on this car are based on a K-Powers designed Quantum (QRS) coilover kit. Kawasaki explains that all his suspension kits are designed individually for each customer's home circuit. Evidence of this can be seen in the eastern corner of the showroom, where springs are sorted by length and rate, each sporting the K-Powers logo as well as that of the spring manufacturer.
The Sendai metropolitan area is unique in that it has two major circuits within a one-hour radius. Because his experience isn't limited to only the local Sendai Hi-Land and Sportsland Sugo tracks, Kawasaki will steer each customer towards Ohlins or QRS, depending on the application and track. AY also custom-tailors each appropriate valving and spring combination, a service typically available only from the factory. This particular Skyline sits on Swift springs, Cusco pillow ball mounts, tension rods and lower control arms. Nismo bushings and an Auto-Refine rear anti-roll bar finish off the road-going apparatus.