Page 3 - Under 1 Minute
On Monday, since I have got nothing to do (plus the Supra is being worked on), I head to Tsukuba Circuit in Ibaraki. Ibaraki is somehow located at the outskirts of Tokyo, and no wonder why a lot go to Tsukuba to have fun. Fuji, Suzuka, Sendai Highland, Autopolis, and other major circuits are located far away from the capital.
Upon arrival, I immediately saw a matte pink Murcielago SV. Looks really great!
And I see a live timer recording the lap time. I won't be surprised if the car has done less than 1 minute...
The moment it passed the line, the timer recorded 57.3 seconds. Impressive! But I don't think the Lambo is modified.
It returns the pit lane. And it turns out that Takanori Kanonji is driving it.He takes off his helmet and fixes his hair with his hand.
Takanori: "It's freaking hot!!! Oh, there you are Nobuyuki-san! What brings you here? How's Samui?"
Nobuyuki: "I just want to kill boredom. I will try to set a lap time with this Viper. As for Samui-kun, he is doing great. He will be an asset for the team."
Takanori: "Glad to hear it! Ooooh, a GTS, huh? Pretty neat. I like it more than the 2004-2010 Viper, actually."
Nobuyuki: "I didn't increase the horsepower. I focused on improving the handling instead. I don't want a 10-second car like some bald guy in the movies want."
Takanori: "Hahahahaha! Right... You want a sub-1 minute car, huh? No problem with that, I guess."
Nobuyuki: "Time to set off."
Takanori: "I wish you good luck. Hmmmmm.... I wonder where's Hiroyuki-san?"
Nobuyuki: "Hiroyuki?"
Takanori: "Oh, that's Hiroyuki Hiramoto-san. He is now the technical director of Lexus apart from being the member of The Dream Alliance."
Nobuyuki: "Ohhhhh.... Well, I want to meet him. Anyways, I've got a lap time to set."
After a warm up lap, here I go! I'll be happy if this sets a lap time faster than 1 minute...
I can corner with confidence. When I drove it in stock, there's body roll, and sometimes I end up in understeer. With the new fully-adjustable suspension and LSD, I guess these shall bring improvements.
58.8 seconds.... Damn, so close! that's just .1 second slower than Samui-kun's Spoon NSX! With his current NSX though, it'll be even more difficult to beat.
I return to the pit lane, and I see a group of mechanics. Takanori-san is with them.
Takanori: "Hey, nice lap time!"
Nobuyuki: "That's 1.4 seconds slower than your SV."
Takanori: "I actually didn't tell my wife that I'll bring her SV, hehehehe... She's in Tokyo with her father and our 2 kids doing shopping."
Nobuyuki: "I see. What's with the mechanics here?"
Takanori: "Hiroyuki-san has just arrived."
Nobuyuki: "That's him? In that Lexus?"
Takanori: "Indeed!"
Judging by its exhaust note, it's definitely heavily modified. But I don't hear a turbo blow-off sound. Usually, turbocharged cars conquer this track. But that Lexus just flies by!
Takanori: "Impressive speed, isn't it?"
Nobuyuki: "I agree."
Takanori: "Though I find having 8 gears in an automatic just crazy. But he told me that it's an old man's transmission, and I must deal with it."
The ISF clocks in at 52.3 seconds. Amazing! That's on par with time attack cars.
It goes back, and he comes out of the car. He immediately notices me...
Hiroyuki: "Aren't you The Yellow Flash?"
Nobuyuki: "Yes. It's a pleasure meeting you."
I bowed in front of him as a sign of respect.
Hiroyuki: "And you remind me of someone..."
Nobuyuki: "I expected you to say that."
Takanori: "Hmmmm.... I just checked the internet in my smartphone now. The stories of that "Phantom Supra" are growing."
Hiroyuki: "Phantom Supra?"
Takanori: "It's said to be seen running in Suzuka. The creepy part is, that it has no driver..."
Hiroyuki: "No driver??? What are kids taking these days? Something worse than drugs? Are they inhaling bleach instead of marijuana?"
Now that he mentioned it.... That white Supra that passed me in the highway. Could that be?
Nobuyuki: "I've seen it too, I guess."
Takanori: "Huh?"
Nobuyuki: "A white Supra overtook me at high speed in Route 7 last Saturday. Could that be it? Kinda vague, but it dons a Castrol livery..."
Takanori: "What the...!?"
Hiroyuki: "It might be just another one. After all, Nobuhiko has a share of fans too. His Supra is just resting in a garage just nearby the circuit. I haven't even have the time to run it ever since he died. I fear that it won't even start at all. I'll try running it this weekend."
Takanori: "Well, I gotta see it to believe it!"
Nobuyuki: "But stories about the driver-less Supra are growing."
Hiroyuki: "Whatever. I don't believe in paranormal stuff. I can't believe that kids today are believing in those."
Oh shoot! I almost forgot! I have to check my Supra back in Tokyo! Gotta go...
Nobuyuki: "Sorry to cut this short, but I have something to do. We'll talk next time."
Hiroyuki: "Take care. And I just hope you don't inhale bleach too."
I get back in the car. And you know what, I am so happy.... that I shed a tear. I have to fight back my emotions back there...
How does it feel seeing your first-born son again, Oyaji? I miss you and Okaasan so much! It's been 16 years! I'm back!
Then I just let tears flow while I'm driving...
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