You know that this event would be special when Mr. Tetsuya Kawasaki from Japan driving the famous HKS 180SX decided to compete for points that day instead of the scheduled exhibition passes. This car is known all over the world as the fastest Nissan. It got that title four years ago when it first broke in the sevens with an explosive 7.2 sec@ 189-mph in Japan. We guess when they were putting this car together they didn’t have time to play around with the original four. They decided to swap the already potent four, with the much stouter RB26-DETT in-line six from the skyline. This motor is supposedly producing a whopping 1,300hp@9, 000rpm, and a hefty 672ft/lbs of torque @ 7,000rpm. Everything in this machine is all HKS products, except the five-speed air shift liberty tranny and the wheels and tires maybe. This was the first time this car ever ran on the U.S soil, and it blazes the track stopping the clock @7.184sec with a trap speed of 190.62. Whew! Thank goodness, it’s not really competing in every event. Hey! This car is not a YOTA. No its not, but since this was such a huge event were giving props to these impressive cars and to show some of the high quality competition our beloved Toyota were up against.


The next new comer to the import scene was this wicked green Cougar with an Innovative twin turbo set up on a Jaguar V6 motor. This car is a full tube frame chassis by Jerr Haas Chassis. The driver however is no stranger to the drag scene. He was known as the Witch Doctor with his kick ass 69 Nova in the IHRA super Chevy competition. He was always among the top five racers IHRA. His best time so far with an import is a 9.579@136.54mph. That’s not bad considering it’s a new car with a few bugs to iron out.


This Sunfire competed in the hotrod category and also a new comer to the import scene. It is own by Bothwell Motorsport and driven by Marty Ladwig.  Its best time was 10.265@139.82mph.  The Chevrolet Cavalier is also own by Bothwell Motorsport which participated in the modified class which was driven by Nelson Hoyos at a best time of 9.104@168.60mph.  The 300Z  driven by Jorge Lazcano ran an impressive 7.912@148.18 and then back it up with a 7.455@181.3 on Sunday semi final.


As you can see, the Boys from New York are back with a vengance sporting their new hard hitting V8 Toyota Thundra which ran in the Pro V8 catoglory driven by Craig Paisley.  His best time for the event was a 7.961@169.66.



Brand new to the scene is this 91 drag Tercel own and driven by Hose Ramos.  This Tercel is NHRA spec tube framed chassis powered by a turbo charged 3TC.   For its first visit to the track it blast through the quarter mile stopping the clock at 10.341@149.93mph.  According to Ramos, his time should trigger down to the 8's later during the season.



This Lexus SC400 by Blast caught our eyes with its unusual twin turbo setup.  It was driven in the Pro V8 series by Mr Tadatoshi Wakita another native of Japan.  Due to mechanical problems, the car wasn't able to perform up to par.  Its best time of the event was 7.626@170.51mph.  But as soon as the Blast crew get everything straighten out, they promised a lower ET.  Look to see you guys at the next NHRA at Atco.

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