COBB goes to the Modified Tuner Shootout

[Justin]

Due to this event being a Modified Magazine Shootout, I cannot post results until the issue is released, but I will still try to give a decent recap of our weekend.

As like much of our events, this one started with some prep work, this time on our R35 GT-R. Billy was working on designing some aerodynamics, Eric was fabricating a cat back exhaust section, while Dave was working on some prototype coilover sleeves. Not to mention Joe and Rob were hard at work on that infamous un-hackable ECU

The week before the event we had rented out Miller Motorsports Park to shake down the car. The prototype coilover sleeves were fitted, and a slew of different spring's with different spring rates were ready to be tested. The aero was not yet completed, so it could not be tested. If it were to be finished within the week, it may not even be used due to lack of test time. We had a spare set of 19" Volk ME's laying around from our project G37. So on a whim we mounted some Toyo R888's (295/30/19 and 305/30/19) to see if the tire pressure monitoring system (TPS) would freak out when not in place.

Our testing day had arrived. A few days before were spent installing the Sparco seats from our 2006 STi time attack car to R35 specific Bride seat rails. The Bride rails fit perfect, but the seating position is a little high for my taste. The car is so big that Billy didn't mind....for now. Through the seats we mounted some Takata 5 point harnesses. The test day started off a little late, but once out there, the car was performing quite well. We conducted most testing on the OEM Rays wheels with the OEM Dunlops. Getting out on track confirmed the speed limiter had indeed been removed. The spring rates we had initially installed also seemed to be performing quite well. Since there was a slight delay in beginning the test session, it was late in the day, during our slalom testing that the Volks and Toyos were tossed onto the car. Needless to say the grip had substantially improved, though the R888's still had yet to prove to be able to contend with the girth of the R35.

The car seemed to be in solid condition. With a small list of modifications, we were ready to hit the road. Our R35 GT-R was leaving with the following:

COBB prototype test pipe section
COBB prototype cat back exhaust
COBB prototype coilover sleeves
COBB ECU reflash (speed limiter removed)

Sparco Pro2000 carbon seats
Bride Seat Rails
Takata Harnesses

Volk ME's (19x9.5 and 19x10.5)
Toyo R888's (295/30/19 and 305/30/19)





One of the more stock cars we have ever competed with, but we were eager to see what she could do against the powerhouse list of competitors. We load up the R35 and our MazdaSpeed3 in our race trailer and hit the road.

We leave a bit late, but our four man team is in good spirits. Its always a pleasure traveling with Billy, Eric, and Dave. We mesh well as a group and these guys know what it takes to get the job done. The perfect team to travel with in my opinion. Billy and Dave are our engineers, and Eric is part of our R&D team....yet they are all very accomplished drivers. Eric is to drive the COBB MazdaSpeed3 in the Super Lap Battle qualifier, and Billy is to drive the COBB R35 in the Modified Tuner Shootout and the Super Lap Battle qualifier.