TP1's Articles

Recently Issue 3 of the User contributed Gran Turismo Magazine released and it featured some of my articles.
First of all, thank you Schwadegan for including them, and I hope everyone enjoyed reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.
I thought I'd include some more shots (also larger), which didn't make it into the magazine in their full-size glory.

Godzilla: The Sequel
Make-Belief: 2011 Lamborghini Gallardo LP570-4 Superleggera
Make-Belief: Mercedes-Benz SLR 722 GT
Make-Belief: 2012 Mercedes-Benz C63 Black
Make-Belief: Mercedes-Benz SLR 722
Bertone Prototype
Raging Bull Gallardo

In 1998 a mutated creature grew to an incredible size, invaded Manhattan and destroyed everything in its path.
In 2007 history repeated itself and a beast once again left the Japanese Islands, with a much bigger goal this time around; to conquer every road in the World.
However this time the beast was contained in a 3799cc engine. Pushing out over 470HP before any sort of modifications done to it.

The amount of torque passed through the 1740kg body is most certainly still able to destroy a tank, amongst other things.

Reaching 60 mph in 3.2 seconds will definetely catch Dr. Niko Tatopoulos this time around; and with its incredible aerodynamic shape pushing down on the ground and 4WD, there will definitely be no rolling over in corners.

The are more ways in which these 2 dominating beasts leave clues to their presence. Godzilla leaves gashes in ships, whereas the GT-R leaves tyre marks on concrete. One engulfs 3 trucks worth of fish, the other 18 MPG of premium fuel. One comes in a terrifying color, while the other one has dark green scales.

I have yet to mention the most truly terrifying fact of all. The Nissan GT-R (R35) has a brother, the stripped down version called SpecV and a Super GT cousin for the race tracks.
With this, I must conclude saying that the invasion has begun and that it’s taking place on all forms of asphalt.

• Car = Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ’08 [253,300]
• Paint =
Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-4 ‘08: Bianco Monocerus/ Nero Noctis [0]
Lamborghini Murcielago LP 640 ’09: Arancio Atlas/ Giallo Orion/ Grigio Telesto/ Verde Ithaca [385,600 + 2,000]
• Wheels = RAYS VOLK TRINITI V (black) [3,500]
• Aero Parts = Front A + Rear A + Wing B [50,000]

• Body/ Chassis = Chassis Weight Reduction Stage 1 (Weight 1340 kg/ 2954 lb) [5,000]
• Engine Tuning = Stage 1 + Sports ECU (Max. Power 562 BHP) [3,500]
• Transmission = Full Customisable Transmission (Max Speed 330 kmh/ 205 mph) (Final Gear 4,456) [20,000]
• Drivetrain = Single Plate Clutch + Differential (Distribution 30/70) [16,500]
• Tyres = Sports: Soft [8,000]

• Total Price = Cr. 361,800 or Cr. 747,400 with Murcielago Paint Chip

• Car = Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ‘09 [598,500]
• Wheels = Prodrive GC-010G (paint Black) [3,500 + 2,000]
• Aero Parts = Front A + Rear A + Wing A [118,500]

• Body/ Chassis = Chassis Weight Reduction 1,2,3 + Rigidity Improvements + Window Weight Reduction + Carbon Bonnet (Color) (Weight 1390 kg/ 3065 lb) [63,000]
• Engine Tuning = Stage 1,2 + Sports ECU (Max. Power 680 BHP) [48,500]
• Intake System = Intake Manifold + Racing Air Filter [2,950]
• Exhaust = Titanium Racing Exhaust + Exhaust Manifold + Catalytic Converter[14,000]
• Turbo Kits = Supercharger (Max. Power 650 BHP) [17,500]
• Transmission = Full Customisable Transmission (Max Speed 320 kmh/ 198 mph) (Final Gear 3,911) *(Gear Ratios: 3.561, 2.191, 1.411, 1.001, 0.831) [20,000]
• Drivetrain = Twin Plate Clutch + Semi Racing Flywheel + Carbon Propeller Shaft [8,500]
• Suspension Kits = Fixed Sports Kit [3,000]
• Tyres = Racing: Hard [15,000]

• Total Price = Cr. 914,950
*Actual gear ratios. Adjust as best possible.

• Car = Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG ’08 [104,400]
• Paint = Mercedes-Benz C 63 AMG ’08: Calcitweis/ Iridiumsilber metallic/ Feueropal/ Obsidianschwarz metallic [0]
• Wheels = Prodrive GC-010G (gray, or paint in any “Titanium Gray Metallic” paint if available) [3,500 + 2,000]
• Aero Parts = Front A [8,000]

• Body/ Chassis = Chassis Weight Reduction 1 (Weight 1710 kg/ 3770 lb) [5,000]
• Engine Tuning = Stage 1,2 (Max. Power 510 BHP) [17,500]
• Transmission = Full Customisable Transmission (Max Speed 310 kmh/ 192 mph) (Final Gear 3,176) [20,000]
• Drivetrain = Twin Plate Clutch + LSD [10,000]
• Suspension Kits = Height-Adjustable Sports Kit [4,500]
• Tyres = Sports: Medium [7,000]

• Total Price = Cr. 179,900 + 2,000 for painted rims.

• Car = Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren ‘09 [598,500]
• Wheels = SSR Professor VF1 (black) [3,500]
• Aero Parts = Front A [47,500]

• Body/ Chassis = Chassis Weight Reduction Stage 1 (Weight 1724 kg/ 3800 lb) [5,000]
• Turbo Kits = Supercharger (Max. Power 650 BHP) [17,500]
• Transmission = Full Customisable Transmission (Max Speed 340 kmh/ 211 mph) (Final Gear 3,320) *(Gear Rations: 3.561, 2.191, 1.411, 1.021, 0.831) [20,000]
• Suspension Kits = Height-Adjustable Sports Kit (Height -10/-10) (Dampers 3/3) [4,500]
• Tyres = Sports: Soft [8,000]

• Total Price = Cr. 704,500
*Actual gear ratios. Adjust as best possible.

You may have asked yourself “Why is this car so expensive”? Well I have found the reason and would like to share it with you.

The Miura is the Homo Sapiens of Lamborghini cars. Because of it, Lamborghini cars are mental, from insane top speed and acceleration, to unbelievable engine sounds and gorgeous designs.

With its creation in 1967 the modern supercar era begins. The Miura was a side-project being worked on just for the fun of it, by a group of 7 friends, all in their early 20s. Whereas other contemporary fast cars at the time had engines in the front, the Miura had its 3929cc V12 resting on the rear wheels; unknowingly this turned out to be one of the greatest innovations in car history, as all serious sports cars nowadays are MR.

“So what is it like to drive it?” you may be wondering at this point. It feels light on the steering wheel. Very responsive to the throttle input and remarkably, it is incredibly easy to drive around the track. It must be said that it does understeer, but whereas some might see that as a disadvantage, I believe it to be a great asset to the car. Would you trust this exquisite machine in the hands of your friend who just came to drive a few laps at your house, if it was an uncontrollable beast like a GT40 from 1969? I didn’t think so either.

Sure you can spend your money on some other car that will handle better, be more powerful and reach higher top speeds than the Miura. But there are countless people with Enzo’s, Veyron’s and McLaren’s, but only a select few who are part of the Miura Prototype club. Saying you have a P400 in your garage will turn heads, because it shows class and appreciation for a car that has only one side mirror and tilting headlamps; it proves that you are a man of character. And do remember that this car allows for full modification. So give it another go with your Stage 3 Engine upgrade!

So I ask you now if Cr. 15,000,000 is really that much to ask for a car that spawned one of the most beloved car brands of all time?

Here is my tailored 1169 kg raging bull: a 2008 Lamborghini Gallardo LP 560-04. It has a maximum of 760 BHP but is limited to 668 BHP, to be able to attend the Lamborghini Seasonal Event, which is where I spent the first 6 hours of owning this machine fine tuning it to be perfect. The price of this car? Cr. 911,050!
The car costs Cr. 253,000 at the dealership. The trip to the Parts Shop cost me Cr. 219,950 and the body-kits were Cr. 52,500. So what in Sant'Agata Bolognese cost me Cr. 385,600?!
Well you see, I have a sweet tooth for green colored Gallardo's. And not just any green, but Verde Ithaca, a color that only comes with the Murciélago. So I did what any sensible person does, and bought myself a Murciélago LP 640 '09 just so I can swap the paint on my Gallardo!

After driving it for 1,428 km, I can confidently say that this car is appalling!
It's a wild bull that can't be tamed. So all your controls are "kind of want to go left" or "kind of want to go right". I say "kind of" because there is no way you can be certain that the car will turn how much you want it to. This bull goes from understeer to oversteer with the slightest jiggle of the wheel.
So far you may have gotten the impression that this car is horrible to drive; on the contrary, it's fantastic! The problem is in finding a driving style that suits the car (definitely not the other way around). Each turn is exciting, and you're always thinking to yourself "Can I hold on to the steering-wheel long enough, or will I just get kicked by the bull?”.

Every race is one big power-slide. There isn't one turn in which you'll just slow down, turn the steering wheel, and drive off relaxed. You'll be begging, crying and crunching your teeth as you wrestle the "car" to do what you want it to do. There isn't enough glue in the world to make this car stick to the track. Each time the wheels are turned, the wheel icon gets red; I'm not kidding when I say that you could blow air on the steering-wheel and it will make the icons go flaming hot.
Just to give you an idea: I went from finishing 20 seconds behind the first car (in the SuperCar Festival) to being first, without making the slightest adjustment to the car itself. I did that by simply understanding that I'm not in control of the car; I'm merely suggesting where it should turn next!

It’s been 2,997 km now and I'd like to describe the feeling of when you know you're actually behind the wheel. You go flat out, see a corner, break late, gear down as you turn in for the corner, break, break, break, full throttle down, and right then and there for a brief moment there is absolutely no resistance in the steering wheel. The wheel icons are going sun-core hot. That’s when the raging bull turns exactly how much you wanted it to. And that is when you know you've taken the bull by the horns!

• Body/ Chassis = Chassis Weight Reduction 1,2,3 + Rigidity Improvements + Window Weight Reduction + Carbon Bonnet
• Engine Tuning = 1,2,3 + Sports ECU
• Intake System = Sports Intake Manifold + Racing Air Filter
• Exhaust = Titanium Racing Exhaust + Sports Exhaust Manifold + Catalytic Converter: Sports
• Transmission = Full Customisable Transmission
• Drivetrain = Twin Plate Clutch + Semi Racing Flywheel + Carbon Propeller Shaft + Torque Distribution Centre Differential + Fully Customisable LSD
• Suspension Kits = Height-Adjustable Sports Kit
• Tyres = Racing: Soft
• Wheels = RAYS VR.G2 (paint them black)
• Aero Parts = Front A + Rear A + Wing B



• Aerodynamics = 20
• Transmission Max Speed = 430 km/h (260 mph)(Final Gear = 4.888)(Gear Ratios: 3.455, 2.200, 1.533, 1.118, 0.854, 0.662)
• Drivetrain:
LSD = Initial Torque 10/10 + Acceleration 35/40 + Breaking 20/20
Torque Diff. = 40/60
• Suspensions:
Ride Height = 0/-5
Sprint Rate 12.0/12.0
Dampers = 2/2
• Brakes = 10/0