In July of 2006, Judson "Jay" Bryan of Irwindale, Calif., came face-to-face with every commuter's worst fear-a pair of flashing of blue and red tracers in his rearview mirror. Moments before, Bryan was in a state of nirvana. His 2005 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 GSR had just belted out 428 wheel hp and more than 400 lb-ft of torque in the sweltering 103 degree heat on the SP Engineering dyno, located in the City Of industry. It had been more than three months since Bryan had driven his pride and joy. And today was the first since completing the interior and electrical work. Happiness had now turned into fear as his EVO was in serious jeopardy of being cited or perhaps even worse-impounded. It was too late to turn back. Bryan was being pulled over.
Sitting patiently in the car, Bryan twitted his thumbs, awaiting the cop to come and ask him to show his license and registration. Noticing the officer appearing from the corner of his eye, Bryan takes a quick glance at his name badge as it read "Brown." With an unnerving look of suspicion, Officer Brown pokes his head through the driver side window as he scans the interior of the car. His eyes quickly focus on the DEFI 52mm oil pressure gauge, exhaust temp gauge, and boost gauge, all clustered together into a DEFI link meter unit and mounted within a 42 design gauge panel. Sitting just above the triad of gauges, a custom-mounted HKS EVC boost controller and HKS Knock AMP meter fluxuates with random numbers, sequenced to the idle of the vehicle. His eyes continue to browse the cabin as they fixate on the open glove box, with an array of HKS electronics. Shrouded in a carbon fiber parcel shelf are the HKS FCON navigator, HKS turbo timer, and HKS F Con V Pro II stand alone fuel management controller. "Why all the gauges? You a street racer?" Officer Brown questions. In an instant, Bryan felt he had been hit by a freight train. He knew exactly what this officer had in store for him-a one way ticket to hell.
"Well officer, this vehicle is what you would like to call a show vehicle. You seem like a man who can appreciate fine cars." With a look of disgust the cop replies, "Yeah I like good 'ol Detroit iron with some real horsepower." Bryan clinches his fist ever so tightly as he grits a smile and replies back with a hint of sarcasm to the officer "Detroit never had it this good". Perhaps shaken up by the words of Bryan, the officer quickly changed his demeanor and showed aggression in his voice while ordering Bryan to step out of the vehicle. Agreeing to the officer's demands, Bryan grabbed his Cyber Speed shift knob and engaged the Exedy twin-plate clutch assembly, as he cut the ignition. The Ralliart KGM gauge cluster and the once monotonous roar of the 80mm Powerhouse Amuse Ti exhaust quickly died along with Bryan's spirits. Calm and collectively, in one swift motion, Bryan unlatched his Takata 340R harness and grabbed hold of his Keys Racing steering wheel in one hand while disconnecting the unit from the Works Bell quick release system. Bryant then staunchly crawled out of the ultra rare ASM/Recaro TS-G limited race seat.
"Why don't you sit on this curb while I go eat my donuts" smirked Officer Brown as he walked off, positioning himself behind his squad car. Knowing all too well that the officer was punishing him for that last witty remark, Bryan knew time wasn't of the essence. He took the time to admire his vehicle and the hard work that brought his EVO to its current state. The look of satisfaction was evident on Bryan's face as he sat across from his EVO and its 18x9 Advan RG II, enshrouded on a set of 235/40/18 Advan A048. Peering through the Advan spokes on all four corners was a set of ENDLESS 6-piston front and 4-piston rear calipers on a set of ENDLESS 13-inch slotted rotors. If you're a true JDM fanatic, I shouldn't have to mention the exclusiveness of the Endless brake kit, but the fact that Bryan has a set of Endless calipers in gold speaks a million words. This guy knows a thing or two on obtaining the rarest of JDM components.
Bryan has always appreciated the fine line between form and function when it came to purchasing products for his EVO, even if it meant he would have to eat cup 'o noodles for the next month straight. The noodle days paid off for him as he landed a set of HKS Kansai Tarmac coilovers, paired with HKS adjustable strut tops. Agency Power rear control arms and a Hotchkis rear sway bar help to improve the EVO's already impeccable handling characteristics. Perhaps the most interesting of all the components on the EVO are the numerous chassis braces and stiffeners found throughout the vehicle. Starting off with a HKS Kansai Ti strut tower bar, the laundry list continues to trickle down with an ARC Ti rear bar, Mine's 6-point under brace, Cusco trunk floor brace, Mine's trunk brace, Agency Power engine mounts and finally a STILLWAY engine dampener.