Nissan Skyline - Blue Horizon

Waging battle on the Ti-circuit at high rpms for extended periods on end, it was a no brainer that a serious fuel delivery system was proven necessary. Tucked away in the confines of the trunk is a custom fuel system combining three 280lph SARD fuel pumps. Fuel is pulled in through a custom surge tank setup and pushed into the engine bay where six 1000cc/min injectors pulse and feed the 2.7-liter monster while a SARD fuel pressure regulator keeps fuel delivery on check. Responsible for the RB engine churning out reliable horsepower is the ever-popular A'PEXi Power FC. "I've had my share of letdowns with numerous fuel management systems but, up until this point, the Power FC and SARD combination have been one of the best," says Nakai.

It's hard to imagine that a vehicle with such an extravagant body design could ever compete wheel-to-wheel on a circuit until your eyes meet the interior of this car. No fancy carbon overlays or flip-up head units. Nakai conceived the interior's design with the sole purpose of a fully functional racecar. A single carbon-kevlar bucket seat keeps Nakai's posterior in place as the unmistakably green Takata 340MPH harness securely fastens his body. A discontinued GReddy 80mm Twin Pressure Meter sits within a cluster of GReddy gauges located on the center console. Uniquely designed, the GReddy TPM is equipped with a twin needle system to monitor two independent boost pressure settings. In the Canbell's Skyline case, the monitor sensors were plumbed in the charge pipes before and after the GReddy intercooler. Encompassing the 80mm unit is an array of oil pressure, water temp, and oil temp warning meters all of GReddy branding. "What's with the zip ties?" I asked Nakai-san as I perilously scanned through the car. "Were you a one-time drifter?" Nakai-san responds with a laugh saying, " You know, this car goes through so many changes, it's a case of finishing up the vehicles final shakedown before I finalize the whole interior setup. It's important for me to have all gauges and electronics easily accessible when I'm on the track."

Just as the final words leave his lips, the photographer barked instructions to move the car to another location. With a quick sleight of hand, Nakai grips the Nardi steering wheel as he reaches out with the right hand to hit the ignition starter button located just bellow the P-Lap II timer. The engine roars to life with a staccato rumble as the RB26 beast comes to life. Notching the OS Giken cross transmission into first gear, Nakai depresses the clutch, engaging the OS Giken triple plate system, and the car begins to slowly creep towards its designated spot. With a quick blip of the throttle, the HKS boost gauge makes a quick sweeping motion as the NEKO AF700 air fuel meter gauge flashes a series of numbers; relaying to the driver that engine vitals are in perfect working condition.

Chassis flex, body roll and sloppy handling are a nightmare that no performance vehicle should ever possess. Nakai and his Canbell staff wasted no time in stripping the factory Skyline shell down to its skeletal remains in preparation to stitch weld the chassis from top to bottom. While the chassis was in the process of being strengthened, a custom chromoly cage was fabricated within the confines of the interior. Further adding to the rigidity of the vehicle are gussets that were placed throughout the cage. Once chassis modifications were complete, Nakai took to the drawing board for weeks on end to create a one-off body kit that would complement the aggressive features of the R33 Skyline. "Since body modifications are not regulated in the series I currently campaign in, I wanted to create a kit that would make other Skyline owners envious while imposing fear on other drivers as they see me barreling down on them from their rear view mirror," said Nakai as he gleamed an evil smile. It was a painstaking process, but after months of shaping and designing, the final outcome was none other than breathtaking. Custom front and rear diffusers were implemented on the body kit as a unique dual wing delivers serious downforce on the rear end as the Skyline blasts though the Aida Ti circuit. The silky smooth exterior received its final homage with a coat of custom blue paint applied to the GT-R's skin.