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From fast yet mild street car (inset) to fierce time attack monster in just two years. Pic by Mercedeh Ajamzadeh.Jimmy sent the transmission out to Kyle Remus for the rebuild and then back to R-Division for the install. So with the reinforced exhaust and the rebuilt transmission, Jimmy and the R-Division team headed to Grand Bend, Ontario for the second CSCS event of the season. This track is just a few kilometres from Lake Huron and is an amazing summer resort area. It also is home of the Grand Bend Motorplex, which has a historic drag strip and a recently built road course. CSCS event 2 was running the Modified Course clockwise and the gremlins hit again. VTEC was not engaging (must stop self from making a VTEC joke) and that was causing the car to fall flat under acceleration. Eric did his best trackside diagnostic and discovered that the speed sensor was malfunctioning.
When fourth gear was lost at CTMP the internal hailstorm of loose gearteeth damaged this sensor. Visually it looked fine and the damage could not be detected until it was back out on the track under full power. Eric pulled the sensor from his Honda – there are advantages to running the same make of car and having your chief mechanic along with you – and installed it into the Type R with the words, “You go out and qualify and get pole in one lap. Then come back and give my sensor back so that I can qualify!” Using last year’s tires for warm up, Jimmy ran the course in 52.5 seconds. The fastest time during the warm-up session was 52.39, so things were looking very good. Until, that is, you looked up from the track to the west where, over Lake Huron, you could see horrendous thunder clouds developing and moving quickly towards the shore. Mother Nature struck with a vengeance and CSCS event #2 was shut down by torrential wind and rain. All results were based upon the warm-up times so Jimmy obtained his second victory. Bittersweet victories, however, because he did not have to fight for them. First place is not satisfactory unless there is a battle to get there. And if the battle results in second place, as was the case at Buttonwillow, then it is still a sweet spot on the podium. Just not as sweet as the top step!
This is an imposing sight to see approaching you via your rear view mirror! The Bell intercooler is so efficient that, unlike systems that fill the entire mouth of the car opening, this size perfectly cools air for the intake.
The driver's door panel is cut to make room for the roll bar and the speakers have been removed. The power windows and the power locks are still fully functioning. The door panel has been completely removed from the passenger side door.
You're seeing right. Those are stock Type R calipers behind the Rota SlipStreams. Form and functionality. This is not a show car. If the OEM part will do the job, then it is used and financial resources are applied where needed!Back from Grand Bend with everything dried out after a couple of days, speed sensor replaced, the final preparations were completed to ensure that the car was ready for Toronto Motorsports Park. This is the track where records stand and fall for CSCS. Other tracks and records are important, but everyone who is into performance cars knows someone who knows someone what has been timed at TMP. It is the track standard for the hundreds of fans who come out to watch and participate in the Show and Shine, the Quarter Mile Drag Strip competition, the Drift competition, and the Time Attack competition. All cars have transponders mounted and the top six in each division move into the finals. Only times recorded in the finals matter. Following with Live Timing I observed some good times but also noted that Jimmy was off his normal pace. The day began with rain, the track was wet and green, and the sky was overcast all morning. It simply did not look like a day suitable for getting good times. Then, just before noon, the sun broke through and the track got hot. There was lots of action and times started falling. The Type R was still well back, causing me to wonder if another gremlin had struck.
Pic by Mercedeh Ajamzadeh.
