Ozhonda – Gripshiftslide

Honda Nationals 2013 :: The Power Of Dreams

Grant — Fri, 03 May 2013 11:47:27 +0000

When it comes to Honda owners they’re usually considered the ‘black sheep’ of the car community and often shunned by other modified car owners for being too extreme with their love for all things Honda and their endless ramblings about the benefits of that magical thing known as VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control).

So what happens when you invite all of these fanatics to one race track in regional Victoria located close to the NSW boarder? You get some of the most intense Honda build this country has to offer, some 110db of ear piercing, valve bouncing, limiter bashing adrenaline and some of the friendliest people you’ll ever meet at a racetrack!

The idea was simple, enthusiasts getting together for a once a year occurrence to celebrate all things Honda!
Winton was the racecourse of choice for it’s unique ability to cater for both novice and professional drivers alike, with very wide corners it is a forgiving track to learn on but allows those determined for fast lap times to follow a precise ‘racing line’ and see some blisteringly quick lap times!
The BYP Integra was the defending champion from previous years of the Honda National series (2011-2012).

The reigning champ was the car to beat with one of the best setup packages for time attack racing, just earlier that month the BYP crew set a new record for front wheel drives at Winton. The team won the Vic Time Attack series with an astonishing lap time of just 1:26.8670!!!
All things were looking good for the team to record some similar numbers, here the Integra is treated to a quick bath before it hit the track.

Before any racing could happen everyone was called on for a quick but informative drivers briefing.

It was great to see so many people racing for the first time, so meetings like this are a must so that the safety of other drivers and of course those precious cars are always maintained.

Drivers were also allowed to request an instructor for the first session so they had all the tools they needed to set some new personal bests which is what the day is all about really.

After the meeting it was time to walk the pits, first up we spotted a favorite of ours. This little EP3 Civic is always head turner and it’s always a pleasure to see another sticker of ours on a car!

Another Civic that gets our hearts racing is Trevor’s pocket rocket ED Civic, expect more on Trevor and his Civic that could soon!

Vyet’s S2000 is a simply car that crosses the boundary’s of street, track and show car all in one perfectly executed package. We have nothing praise for his car and his dedication to enjoying it to the fullest!
This was one of three cars representing Melbourne based Time Attack crew Nakama, these cars are all about looking great, driving fast and not holding back.

While not as polished or refined as Vyet’s S2000 this is another Melbourne based car that always has our attention, in fact we sometimes prefer the ‘driven hard’ look.
Brake dust, chipped paint and big thick slick tyres are a must!!

Inside is much the same affair, plenty of practicality and yet it’s still full of quality parts is perfectly functional.

The track was beginning to warm up after soaking up the morning sun so it was now or never for 60+ Honda’s to hit the tarmac!

To keep the amount of cars on track manageable, cars/drivers were grouped based on modifications and then moved accordingly based on their skill level to make sure there wasn’t an excessive amount of overtaking etc.

Some of the drivers took full advantage of the instructors on offer, here Pboi decided Elmo from Sesame Street was the best bet for chasing those few seconds of his PB!

Things didn’t take long to get serious, after just a few laps we started to hear that all too familiar sound of Honda’s on full throttle around Winton.

Just a few short laps into the first session for some of the serious cars, Michael Hack’s EM1 began blowing a small amount of smoke.
Unaware in the cabin Michael kept pushing eventually coming off the track slightly causing his control arms to bump into an already lose oil fitting as a result the oil pressure dropped suddenly sending alarm bells ringing and Mike pulled off track immediately!

After a tow back to the pits a later inspection found the source of the problem and everything was corrected and the oil was again re-filled.
Even though Michael had the green light to go back out it was hard to regain the trust in the car and push it to the limit, after all the last thing he wanted to do was drop more oil and ruin it for everyone.

We took advantage of Michael’s down time between session and filmed a quick interview which we will be cutting together and releasing soon so keep your eye’s peeled for that!

David Napoleon is young driver chasing his dreams, his car is rumored to have it’s duties soon restricted to track use only as his build gets more serious.
We eagerly watching as he continually beats his best lap times track day after track day. So far for Winton David’s tracking a 1:42.0350 with room for improvement as the car progresses to all out track spec.

Believe it or not David actually drive this EP3 Civic every day exactly as you see it here, wing, stickers and all!!

Another EP3 setting some quick time was Chris’s ‘JDMCVC’ with a 1:41.1030.

We also got to see one of our previous feature cars out on track, it was of course Nity’s K20 swapped FD Civic!
You can check out the full feature here >> http://gripshiftslide.com/2012/01/11/double-ks-problems/

The great thing about a track day such as this is that it really didn’t matter what you were driving as long as you had fun out there!!
From stiff setup suspension…

To not so ideal factory shocks/springs, Honda did get the combination right for street driving and occasional track use though. This Type R Integra broke past the 1:50 mark with a fast lap of 1:47.3180!

It was great to see this bright yellow CRX mixing it up with the big boys out on track, this little car is a testament that setup is everything!
No engine swaps here just great suspension tuning and maintenance saw a quick time of 1:42.8340!

All eyes were on BYP and their Integra after setting a blistering time of 1:26 just a few week earlier for Vic Time Attack series.
The car did experience some gearbox issues so the car was retired early but did the team manage to set a fast enough lap to take home the win? Only time would tell!!

Half way through the day there was some issues with the tracks surface after this drop dead gorgeous S2000 unloaded a considerable amount of oil on the track, luckily the car made it back to the pits without any major mechanical issues.
However there was plenty of down time while everyone pitched in to clean up the slippery surface.

In the the extended break it was time for everyone to check over their cars, fluids, tyre pressure etc.

We did a full lap of the pits to see how the cars were going cooling off in the breeze. Michael’s Autosphere K24 swapped DC5 was looking suspiciously clean after a few sessions although we expect he was setting a good example and not driving too hard given that when he wasn’t behind the wheel he was busy overseeing that everything was going to plan, so who says you can’t run an event and race at the same time?!

This Integra was sporting a JDM front conversion and looked the part but something was not going to plan, the car just couldn’t get a full session in. We’re keen to see it progress in the future as it looked great when it was out on track!

Further up the pits the JDMyard team from Sydney had stopped to refuel both the car and their team.

The boys from JDMyard sure know how to build a quick car, this DC5 is their latest creation and no expense has been spared!!

Inside it’s all business with an intense shifter kit, Mugen steering wheel and carbon panels to block up any holes in the dash.

Everyone was excited to see what the NSW’s based team could muster out of their monstrous looking DC5 race car.

The team managed to coax a 1:33.3770 which landed themselves 2nd fastest outright and fastest N/A powered car of the day!!

It wasn’t all workshop builds that had us impressed, check out this immaculate S2000 with an engine bay full of make fast bits and a level of cleanliness that is boarding on obsessive.

We’re used to drift days here at Winton but looking around the pits every car was loved, there were no ‘track hacks’ here every car was treated well…

…Some more so than others, Pboi’s S2000 remand off the track after the oil spill incident, so we just got more time to drool over it.

By now the oil had really been soaked up so it was now time for many to try for that last chance at a quick lap time for the day.

Michael had regained his motivation and headed out once again after the oil fitting issue he had in his first session.

Despite giving it all he had Michael still didn’t manage to beat his PB of 1:36.3, he was still a few seconds shy but he knows the car has plenty more in it as his old PB was set with only 70% throttle!!
With brands like Hybrid Racing on board helping him out, it won’t be long till we see Michael at the top of the score board!!

Lap after lap we saw some very quick passes through the front straight of the course so we were really excited to see the leader board, did BYP do enough before their gearbox gave out??

Our favorite S2000 scored 4th fastest of the day with a blistering 1:36.0440! Well done Vyet!!

So did BYP break their previous record lap of just 1:26.8670??… No, the car had suffered and the gearbox gave out but they managed to cling onto the number one spot with a much more conservative time of 1:31.3800.
With two seconds between them and the JDMyard DC5 which is still an impressive feet though no new records were set.
All in all this was one of the best track days we have been to, with much the same vibe as one of the locally run EXE Crew track days the event was a huge success and a great spectacle even if you weren’t a die hard Honda fan.
The organisers really showed us what a track day should be and we hope that the event gains more popularity in the years to come as we had an absolute ball and who knows… Maybe next time we’ll be driving!!
A big thank you for the warm welcome we received from everyone and of course all the sponsors and volunteers, without you this event couldn’t have happened.
Full results can be found here >>> http://racing.natsoft.com.au/
For more info and post event details check out the H Nationals Face book page >>> https://www.facebook.com/HNationals
Thanks for reading,
– Gwyn.

Royal Honda Meet :: Under The Bridge

Grant — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 12:13:44 +0000

These days any excuse to get together will do!
Last Monday was a public holiday, so a bunch of Ozhonda forum members decided to have a small meet for Victorian Honda owners.

After a few posts on the forums and a quick heads up on our Facebook page, the location and time was set!

As we were arriving straight from a feature car shoot we were a tad bit early…
We weren’t exactly sure how many cars would come out with everyone recovering from the long weekend, however the turnout was much better than the last Ozhonda meet we attended. This time around 40+ cars were in attendance and a few surprises too!

As with any Honda meet, Civics are still the chariot of choice. With half a dozen EK’s,EG’s and a few EP3’s out and about among all the other Honda’s.

It seemed nearly every car had the bonnet up at some point and with good reason too! As most of these little hot hatches weren’t just your regular grocery getters!!
Nearly all the cars where equipped with Honda’s infamous DOHC Vtec engines, a host of hop-up parts like aftermarket headers, cold air intakes and a plethora of tuning and suspension parts.
But getting groceries is serious business it would seem!

As we said earlier, we had just finished shooting a feature car, so we invited the owner and friends along to see what the Honda kids get up to these days.

The three white imposters stole a bit of attention away from some of the Honda owners, little did they know both the R33, 180SX and Impreza are all N/A powered.
The Subaru packs quite a punch, with a worked SOHC engine it surprises anyone that is game enough to stand near it when the engine turns over!

Did we say there were a lot of popped bonnets at the meet?
Nearly every single car was showing off something under the hood that day!

I still have the S2000 high on my ‘Cars I need to own’ List, with prices continuing to drop it might happen sooner than I think.

JDMST supporter sticker!!
Now they don’t hand these out to just anyone! Well maybe anyone who pays…
Want one? Simply head to http://www.jdmstyletuning.com/

Such a simple interior, and that digital dash…
I really need to cross this off my list!

As well as the Civic’s, there were a fair few Preludes at the meet. I must say, I have never come across a 3rd generation Prelude with as clean an engine bay as this!

Somehow I don’t think the scrape sticker was really necessary for it’s current height…

Now this is just your standard Honda S2000…
F20C engine with your umm a giant oil catch…
No wait, ummm a window wiper jet…

… No, that’s just a dirty great big turbo charger!
The car is currently putting out about 298 rear wheel KW on just 13PSI, there is apparently room to move with this and there was talk of it hitting nearly 400KW with a previous tune!!

Mr Neil Gray of Primal Garage fame’s daily EG Civic, with a passion for sliding high powered rear wheel drive imports and owning one of the best looking 180SX in the country, you can imagine that this isn’t exactly your standard EG Breeze…

Running a B18C2 from an Integra VTI-R and 5 stud conversion this is definitely an exciting daily driver!

One of the only Anime inspired cars in Australia, this tiny Excel turned some heads when it rolled in!

Nity’s FD looking just as good as ever. At every meet he goes to, people are just drawn to this carbon draped Civic.
As soon as the carbon hood is propped open a small crowd forms, like feeding ducks by a pond.

LS Integra’s are becoming a rare sight, so it is nice to see one getting looked after. How clean is the paintwork?

Love it or hate it, this car gets attention for all the right and wrong reasons depending who you talk to. We love it!!

We are also very pleased to have made the windshield hall of fame!

I absolutely love shooting under the Bolte bridge, where else can you find such an awesome background and not be disturbing the public and creating a problem for the local police?!

Yes this is a genuine EK9 Type R Civic, I think I’m in love!

From little things, big things grow!
This turned into around 40-50 cars by the end.

Joshua’s bagged Accord now sporting some “defect me now” plates…

It really was nice to see a bunch of very different Honda’s mixing it up together, normally it is only one group off together and things tend to get a bit too repetitive.

For anyone who is not big into the Honda scene, some modifications can go unnoticed or unappreciated.
The rear control arms under this EK Civic are worth a few shiny pennies!!

One very low and stripped out DC2 Integra sitting on some widened steelies, something gaining some popularity here in Oz.

The car scene has changed dramatically in last 12 months, since attending meets early last year enthusiasts have turned each event into a mini car show.
Everyone walks around and mixes with other groups and they talk cars, parts and more cars!
It really is a breath of fresh air to an otherwise boring experience of parking a car and standing next to it.

To think it’s pretty much winter and we are still able to get an exciting bunch of cars out in the minus 10 degree weather, this summer will be Melbourne’s biggest year for modified cars and like minded enthusiasts.

Another EK9 Type R! Seriously perfect from factory!
If I won the lottery this would be one car I’d purchase and lock away for many, many years!

Being the middle of the year the sun soon faded just past 5pm, having headed to this meet straight from a feature car shoot that started at the crack of dawn, we were also fading so it was time to head home!

Grant and myself finished our last lap of the cars before packing up and heading home, everyone else still continued exploring and chatting amongst themselves as we left and the light disappeared.
If you haven’t been to a recent car meet, make sure you are a fan on our facebook page to get the latest meet and cruise info and get yourself along to the next one!
Otherwise you are missing out!
Thanks for reading,
– Gwyn.

OZHonda :: Annual BBQ Meet

Grant — Mon, 09 Apr 2012 05:52:27 +0000

What started out last year as a charity meet to help raise funds for tsunami ravaged Japan, has now become an annual event for the local Honda community.

I can’t help but think of Hannibal Lecter every time I see a car with a nose mask…

This white EP3 Civic has been getting around to a few meets with this wild wheel combo. You don’t often see Gram lights on a Civic let alone fluro pink!

Colour choice aside, the fitment is spot on!

With any large ‘one make’ meets there are always a few gatecrashers. This BMW with contrasting powder coated wheels had quite a few fans on the day.

The very low E30 BMW belongs to Michael “DYNALL” who is well known within the community for his highly competitive track only EM1 Civic.
Mike’s Civic is undergoing a heart transplant, the now retired B20 is being swapped in favour of a fresh K20!

This EK Civic was showing off it’s extreme chassis bracing, they’re Miracle X Bars made by Next.

Being a modified Honda meet meant not everything was as it seems. This agile looking DC2R had some serious stuff happening under the bonnet.

The shifter inside is a dead giveaway to the not so factory power plant finding it’s new home under the hood.
The DC2 Integra is now equipped with a K24 engine from a late model Accord.

One of the cleanest EG’s in Melbourne and still rocking ‘Garden State’ plates!!

The ‘fitment’ movement has taken the Honda scene by storm. Both locally and internationally, Honda owners are striving to push the boundaries of what wheels they can fit and chase after the rare set of wheels that nobody else has.

New generation Accord Euro on TE37’s. While you normally see these guys representing the VIP scene, the race look is doing wonders for this white Accord.

You don’t need to spend massive amounts to fit in with all the ‘stance’ kids.

These Sportmax 501’s look great on this DC2 Integra.

A full set can be had for around $10o0, cheap as chips!

Phwaah indeed! This black EK Civic had some of the craziest rear camber!

Everyone’s favorite Euro, Jason’s Accord is ticking all the right boxes.

Still missing a sticker… *cough, cough*

Clean, flush, perfect!

Dc2 on Work Equip 03’s.

Very nice wheel choice for this simple looking Integra, sometimes you don’t need to ruin the lines of a factory looking car to stand out.

The BBQ was a great success, with around 40 cars in attendance and plenty of sausages demolished by the hungry boys and girls.
A big thank you to the organisers for taking the time to pull this all together.
And an even bigger thank you to Alan from AL Captures for taking these great photos.
If you would like to see more images from the meet or just want to see some awesome car photography make sure you visit http://www.facebook.com/AlCaptures
Thanks for reading,
– Gwyn.

JDMST :: End Of Year Meet

Grant — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 21:10:10 +0000

With the end of the year fast approaching JDMST.com Vic members banded together to have one last bash. With the turnout expected to be pretty good, Grant and I eagerly headed out after work.

There were a few cars in attendance that are becoming quite the star of the local scene, one being Heath’s wicked Datsun Wagon.

This was the only mx5 that came to the meet and in blue too! It was great to see something a little different to the rest of the crowd.

What started as around 20+ cars spiraled out of control when it seemed that the meet got invaded by the local Ozhonda community.

Some Honda’s ranged from the meticulously clean to the more ‘USDM’ inspired with roof racks and all!

I think that that the AUDM circle headlights are growing on me a lot, now that every man and his DC2 Integra has a JDM front end conversion.

The common trend among Melbourne cars at the moment and I’m sure most cars around the world is ‘fitment’.
Having unique wheels with aggressive offsets or getting the wheels to sit as flush with guards as possible is the aim here, trolling through the internet I think most of Melbourne’s modified cars are getting this part very right.

Flush, tight and sweet, just how we like it.

Drift pipes are becoming very popular over here, loved the sound of this R32.

The Honda’s certainly dominated this meet, followed closely by Mitsubishi Evo’s. At one stage I counted around 15 Evo’s.

White and black were the choice of colour for the Evo’s, checkout this line up of spoilers.

Nice list on the back of this one.

In total the meet had around 130 cars, it’s a rare site to see such a large group like this in Melbourne and it didn’t go unnoticed by the local ‘boys in blue’. Thankfully most attending behaved well and there weren’t any incidents with the police.

This Supra is clean!! It puts most new model Supra’s to shame, nothing tasteless here.

This Skyline’s owner went out of his way to get a matching yellow sticker for his windscreen.

The location looked like a shopping center carpark during Christmas, the small path around the cars became blocked pretty quickly too.

One very nice looking Evo X.

The award for the most modified car goes to this incredible FD Civic, sporting Carbon everything and a K20 swap it had a crowd around it all evening.

The location was spot on and is easily the best place to hold a meet of this size, I personally would love to see a car show held here in the gritty docks of Melbourne.

The loudest car was this Subaru RS Impreza, it was a bit of a love hate relationship with those who attended. Some loved the sound while most fell to the ground having seizures it was that loud!

Sprint Hart CPR’s and wing lifters made this EK Civic stand out, little touches that the Americans have been doing for awhile are making there way here. keeping the modified scene fairly fresh.

The three black Em1Ccivic coupes stole the show at the beginning of the night, they looked so good together. All in the same colour and ride height!

What a line up!

For some it’s a way of life.

In the words of Dave Chappelle during the Rick James skit “darkness is here, darkness is here everybody!!”

Evo’s for days…

And days!

The crazy FD Civic again, loved those Carbon fenders.

Hello Domo!

Hate it or love it, roof racks are here to stay it seems.

Another impressively clean Evo.

It seems that it’s still pretty cool to be fashionably late, a group of Skylines arrived a bit later and stole the show.

Especially this menacing R34 GT-R.

Mitsubishi Legnum is a very rare sight on the streets.

The Skylines looking down on the rest of cars.

No one had any idea this end of year meet would become the monster meet it became. The crowd was great and it was a pretty positive gathering for the local scene. Only a few bad eggs at the end made some noise as they were leaving and the police made their presence known but didn’t flex their muscles at all.

It was a great way to end the year and I can’t wait to see what’s in store next, with loads on the drift calender and the World Time Attack in August as well as some regular feature cars, there is plenty going on!
From the team here at Grip Shift Slide, have a wicked Christmas and a safe new years!
Thanks for reading,
-Gwyn.