INSPIRE: YK*RKEW EG6 Civic is now the fastest NA FF at Tsukuba Circuit-56.070 seconds

Since yesterday's post on the GNR EK9, I've been researching more Instagram accounts and YouTube channels along with reading the 4 Parts to "The Chronicles" Attack Tsukuba event posts. I found out that the Yellow Factory R KEW (Kanagawa Engine Works) sponsored EG6 Civic hatchback is now the fastest NA FF (front engine-front wheel drive) machine with a best lap time of 56.070 seconds. He is knocking on the door to that 55 second barrier. Wow!

I want to make sure I give credit to those taking these photos.

So, enjoy these photos from The Chronicles 4 posts. Find more here:
https://stickydiljoe.com/2020/03/25/attack-tsukuba-2020-coverage-part-4/
Please also jump over to Joey Lee's YouTube channel here:
https://www.youtube.com/user/stickydiljoedotcom

Please also check out @shuboxinc Instagram page. This dude lives in Japan and Vancouver and covers the racing scene in both places. He also has a YouTube channel found here:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYH32V6cfQ0lDRQgnltiQ8Q

Without these dudes taking their time and money to travel to Japan and photograph and video these events and cars, I wouldn't have them, so big thank you!

Ok, back to the Yellow Factory * Racing Kanagawa Engine Works EG6 Civic hatch time attack car.
My notes on the car are:
Yellow Factory*RKEW EG6
K24, ITBs, ???hp/770kg (1694lbs)
Big aero, wide fenders f & r

Photo by Joey Lee of "The Chronicles" 

My point in writing this blog entry is to appreciate this car and its lap times, see the similarities to those of the other Top 5 Hondas and the differences. Because there are really no rules except to run street legal sticky tires, the creativity of Time Attack leaves it open to each team copying what works and coming up with their own tricks along the way using trial and error.

An interesting thing too is the "Time Attack season" in Japan is pretty short. It's during the winter months. Why? Cold dense air makes more horsepower and less stress on the powertrain. If the sun is out, the cool air and sun keep the track surface warm enough for grip but not so hot that the tires get greasy and slippery. Makes sense. Also only makes it possible for 3 big events. At least, that's all I'm really seeing during these months. That could be partially due to the small amount of coverage I see online. IDK.

Big front aero, wide wheels/tires, carbon body panels

Wide fenders, wide wheels/tires up front, carbon hood, doors, hatch and wings. I noticed the yellow tape sealing off the front splitter to the bumper. Cheap and functional. Heat and air vents in the hood.

Here was my first clue that the YF RKEW EG6 had set the fastest lap time. Thanks @shuboxinc! 56.0 is insane! It's super fast!

Notice the long shifter. I'm pretty sure that is a

Here's a video of the car a year ago (Feb 2019) run a 56.697 sec. In an entire year he's gained .627 seconds. A years worth of development and driving! Hours of hard work! Lots of money! All for .627 sec. LOL Much respect!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l48A3101pZ8&t=28s

So, I know this is a K24 powerplant. You can see ITBs, which Joey Lee's article says are Toda Racing Sports kit. A titanium strut brace, tube front radiator support. I don't know the power level.
The weight of the car is even lighter than the GNR EK9, by 176lbs. That's not chump change. 1694lbs is feather light. Part of the difference could be the EG chassis is slightly lighter than the EK chassis.

Super cool picture looking down on the paddock at Tsukuba. Man and his machine! Pretty cool that the rear hatch is still functional. You can see the rear side windows are lexan or carbon as well just like the GNR EK9.
The YF*RKEW EG6 and GNR EK9 are very very similar in build design. Let's see if we can spot any differences.
One difference I spotted was the YF EG6 has a rear carbon diffuser for cleaning the air flow out the back of the car and likely helping with downforce. Both cars are running 295 (or larger) fronts and smaller rears. Both have K24 engines. What I don't know is if either have standard 6 speeds or sequential gearboxes. That could cut down on gear change times and allow for customized gear ratios. The details of the drivetrain specs are just not known in the public so there could be some key differences there. Also, the "driver mod" is another big factor in lap times.

56.070! There you have it! The gold...errrrr....yellow standard for all other Honda time attackers to beat!

INSPIRE: Touge Factory (TF-Works) wide +50mm EK front fender

I mentioned in my previous post that there are a few blogs I want to do to log what other Honda guys are doing that inspire me right now. I have lots of ideas on this and need to start somewhere. So, I'll start with some of the street cars that I'm digging lately. 

LATOMMYLA and his zenki EK hatch "test fitting" Volk TE37 in 17x9 :O

"LATOMMYLA" has a very popular (in the Honda circles) YouTube channel and Instagram page. He lives in the San Diego area. He's had his YouTube channel rocking for like 2-3 years. He's had a couple EK chassis Civics. He works for a Honda dealership. He appears to be a young single dude living with his brother and parents and living the 90's era-Honda dream. :) He has a customer colored green (honestly I don't know what the name or code of the color is, but every time he has to paint fenders or bumper, it needs to be done at least twice to get the color to match the rest of the car). The EK hatch that makes up most of his posts and videos is not his daily driver. I've been following him since soon after buying my own EK hatch. I've learned a lot. Go check him out! Here's a link to his YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/LalalaToMi

Tommy changes his wheels all the time. Usually its 16x8 very class and expensive legit Japanese wheels like Volk TE37 or Regamaster EVO. He runs sticky high quality tires, usually Falken Azenis. His suspension is pretty low but not "stance" low. What he's done recently has really inspired me! He bought some fiberglass Touge Factory wide front fenders. Then he took pictures test fitting 17x9 +15mm bronze Volk TE37, which is a Nissan GTR (R32, R33, R34) fitment/size. Wow! On a little Honda Civic! So aggressive! He is running 235/40/17 tires. He then finally found some black 17x9 +18mm Regamasters to match his 16x8 rears. 

LATOMMYLA with the "final" look, 17x9 Regamaster EVOs and 235/40/17 Falken Azenis under the Touge Factory TF-Works wide +50mm front fenders

Once I found out where these wide fenders are from, I quickly googled more images. I think separately (can't remember, I was in a search frenzy, going down the rabbit hole), I found Instagram account "shuhei1212" who lives in Japan. He has a white EK9 (Civic Typer R) with these front fenders and runs bronze Volk TE37v (v for vintage fitment/size) with what look like 225/50/15 Advan tires. These wide TF fenders are just so killer! 

Instagram member "shuhei1212" from Japan rocking the TF-Works on his Kouki EK Hatch. Those Volk TE37v and Advan meaty rubber look killer!

So, if you want to get a set of these fenders for your EK hatch, drop by Touge Factory's TF-Works website and drop down $400 + $120 shipping! It's definitely on my wish list. 

https://www.tf-works.com/tfworks-honda-civic-ek-kouki-99-00-50mm-wide-front-fenders/

The fenders are +50mm, which for those non-metric folks (like me) that's 50/25.4 = 1.97" inches. You can get them in zenki (1996-98) or kouki (1999-00) models. 

Shuhei1212 with Touge Factory wide EK fenders and TE37v's!

Shuhei1212 front quarter view! Along with the TF-Works fenders, he's also got the TF-Works carbon fiber brake duct and Tactical Art front lip! Except for the sunroof, this is a perfect set up in my opinion! Inspiring!

So, while my car is a street driven, daily driver, my biggest inspiration and end goal is to have a track/time attack build. So, I see these fenders as a way to get wide front wheels and tires for more grip at the track. I'd try and fit 17x9 wheels with 255/40/17 or even 275/40/17 tires. :) he he The first step would most likely be some 15x9s with 245/45/15 or 225/45/15 sticky rubbers. A boy can wish!

Gittin Jr's new 2010 Drift Mustang

I love the new bodystyle and these white Volk TE37 wheels. Sick! It has perfect stance too. Apparently this is his practice car with "only" 550hp and harder tires for drifting demo's at the recent Barrett Jackson Auction.

R34 Skyline GT-R "Top Secret" Plastic model

I just finished putting this killer model together tonight. It was a birthday present. I just had to have a Skyline in my plastic garage. This one came molded in the gold metal flake, I just added the "carbon fiber" hood and trunk. I'm diggin' the Volk Racing TE-37's and cf rear diffuser for those 200mph runs. :) Enjoy!
Chris

New Wheels for the Civic

So, I hit a large piece of concrete and ruined one of my wheels and flattened two tires, so decided to go aftermarket. I picked up some 16x7's 40mm offset bronze SSK wheels, which are copies of the Volk TE-37 wheel. I finally got them installed on the ol' Civic today. The color looks good with the grandma red paint. :) ha ha

Now the Civic just needs some lowering springs and shocks and she'll handle sweet and look good too.

Chris