Getting Down To Business - 2006 Infiniti G35 Racecar

In place of the stock VQ35DE six-cylinder engine now sits a VK45DE eight-banger. Being that this car races in such a high caliber series, you might be expecting extensive mods to the V8 mill, but they're noticeably absent. To keep the racing competitive and exciting, the Rolex racing series does their best to keep the power-to-weight ratios close for all cars. So, the more power the VK45 makes, the more weight HLM would have to add to the car. So to keep costs and weight low, they left the engine remarkably close to stock.

The engine still received its share of attention though, and got a tummy full of new parts over at Menards Head in Indianapolis, IN. Menards handled the install of forged connecting rods and pistons, as well as a dry-sump oiling system and a set of custom cam gears. Engine management for the Japanese V8 is taken care of by a Motec ECU, while the ignition system is another "classified" piece.

The suspension on this ride looks the part of a full-blown racecar because it is. Bolted to the custom tubular arms are a set of dreamy Moton remote-reservoir dampers paired with Vogtland springs. Crawford also rigged up some custom anti-roll bars and a custom electric rack and pinion while they were at it. The remainder of the suspension is per Rolex Grand American specs.

The massive 4-piston front and 2-piston Alcon brake calipers are just what you'd expect on a racecar of this caliber and look real pretty sitting behind a set of massive Fiske wheels. Measuring 18x12.5 up front and 18x13 in the rear, the massive one-off wheels hold a set of sticky Hoosier racing slicks, per Grand Am Specs, of course.

If you're wondering about the strange-looking seat they've got in this rig, wonder no more. It's removable, and each driver has their own custom fitted seat. We imagine that'd be pretty impractical for a daily driver though. Look a little closer and you also see the obligatory safety equipment, like on-board fire suppression and a Willans 5-point harness.

In order to be competitive in the business world, you need the financial backing, and the business of auto racing is no exception. In this climate of corporate downsizing, outsourcing, deregulation and globalization, businesses of all types of have been forced to re-evaluate the way they do business. Is the business of racing about to change, or is HLM's new approach just another blip on the radar? We certainly don't know... we'll leave that to the bean counters to decide. As long as we've got cars like this to drool over, the fat cats can worry about where the dough comes from.

By Ryan McKay

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