Tokyo Auto Salon 2012
19 January, 2012
Tokyo, Japan

All images courtesy Mugen Co., Ltd.

Taking center stage at the Mugen display area were the two RR CR-Z concept cars. Highly modified and supercharged, these cars are test beds for Mugen’s pursuit of speed and performance for the newest Honda vehicles, including hybrids. Also on display was Mugen Forumula Nippon race car, partially disassembled live by Mugen technicians.

CAPTIONS (top to bottom):

pic 1:
Getting ready for the big show. Mugen marketing staff preparing the stage for Mugen's Type RR CR-Z concept vehicles.

pic 2:
Still under wraps - Mugen Concept CR-Z's with Mugen's Formula Nippon Race Car in the background.

pic 3:
The post-unveiling press interviews begin. Mugen's supercharged LEA-MF6 at center stage.

pic 4:
The press frenzy starts immediately after the cars are unveiled.

pic 5:
Typical Mugen attention to detail, ensuring the lighting is correct.

pic 6:
Snapping some in-house pics.

pic 7:
Q&A with the Mugen gurus!

Pic 8:
It's a fortunate few who get this close to Mugen's Formula Nippon car.

Pic 9:
A rare look at a partially disassembled Mugen road race car.

Pic 10:
A live demonstration by Mugen's highly-skilled technicians.

On the weekend of September 16th-18th, The Ohio Valley Region held an IT-Spec Miata Challenge race as a support race to the Grand-Am weekend at Mid-Ohio.  The event was open to all IT classes and Spec Miata with 48 entries.

It was a great weekend for long-time road racers and King Motorsports customers Bob and Joe Moser. Both of the Moser’s ITA CRXs chassis were fabricated and set up at King Motorsports – and both cars run King Motorsports built and tuned engines.

On Sunday the group ran two qualifying races and one trophy race, all on the pro course.  In the first photo Joe is leading the field to the start through the carrousel for the first qualifying race.  In the second photo Joe has pulled out a substantial lead at the end of the first lap while Bob races for position with two of the ITS cars.  In the third photo Joe is forced out of the first qualifying race with a grill blocked up with debris and starting to overheat.

In the second qualifying race Joe had to start at the back of the field.  He passed 44 cars in 12 laps to finish second overall behind Tim Selby in the ITS Miata and Bob Moser in the other King Motorsports ITA CRX.

The podium photos are after the feature race.  Tim Selby won first overall in the ITS Miata, Joe Moser second overall and first in ITA and Bob Moser third overall and second in ITA.

Joe Moser kept whittling down the ITA pro course lap record through the weekend, ending up dropping it by almost a half second to 1:40.35!

Check out Joe’s lead over the entire field on this rear-facing in-car video.

Congratulations to Bob and Joe on a great weekend.

John Hinrichs really likes his Honda CR-Z. Apparently he also really likes Mugen.

For his fourth major Mugen modification on his CR-Z, John opted for a set of Mugen 17x7 GP wheels in Gunmetal. As with his other mods, John worked directly with King Motorsports President and CEO, Scott Zellner. Scott: "The color of the Gunmetal GP's are a perfect compliment to the Black CR-Z." John is equally happy with his purchase, "I love the way these wheels look!" After each upgrade, John usually sends a picture and a note, or stops by to show us the results, as he did recently with after the GP wheels were installed.

John's other Mugen mods are the Mugen 5-Way Sport Suspension, Mugen Carbon-Fiber Air Intake and Mugen Cat-Back Exhaust.

Congrats to Rob Delimat, our 2011 Dyno Day Photo Contest winner!

Rob's picture was chosen because it captured so much about what Dyno Day is all about: Race Cars, Street Cars, People, and Cars on the Dyno. For his efforts Rob's photo will be featured on the front page of our website and he will receive a King Motorsports TShirt. Rob's uncropped photo can be seen here.

Rob's pics on Facebook.

Thanks to everyone who entered.

First off, thanks to EVERYONE who sent in photos from Dyno Day 2011. We received a lot of great images, but after some tough decisions, here are the finalists (in no particular order):

Rob Delimat

Brandon Adkins

Nick Campos

Here they are, 150+ photos from Andy at NoggsPhotography.

** We just got this note and review from John Hinrichs for the Mugen High Performance Air Intake System (Carbon Fiber) for CR-Z - Thanks John! **

Scott,
 
Just got back from making the holiday rounds. Driving through five states visiting friends and family (and showing off my car, of course).
 
Some of the people I visited are car guys, some just thought it was pretty, most loved the way it sounds (thanks, by the way) (Mugen Exhaust, ed.) , but everyone had something to say once the hood went up.  Even with all that's going on under the bonnet of a CR-Z, with the normal engine stuff and all the extra IMA wiring, the first thing everyone locked on to was the Mugen intake. That smooth expanse of carbon fiber had everyone interested, and I can't blame 'em, it is gorgeous. 
 
Not only does it look great, but under load the intake provides just enough extra sound to balance the tone of the Mugen exhaust.  Its obvious these two pieces were designed for each other: Subtle with a hint of badass.
 
Special thanks to Mike for doing such a great job on the install.
 
Happy Holidays! 
 
-John Hinrichs

Thanks to Bob and Joe Moser for these amazing pics!

Click the buttons in the lower corners of the picture below to see the slideshow.

11/6/10, Road Atlanta

by Scott Zellner

photo and video courtesy Moser Racing

Heading into the SCCA ITA American Road Race Championship, Brian Price’s Miata was considered the car to beat. With the horsepower and torque of a 1.8 engine combined with near 50/50 weight distribution, superior suspension design and rear wheel drive, the Moser Racing CRX had an uphill battle.

As expected, Brian Price and his Miata took the pole position with a new record of 1:41.589. Moser and his CRX were a close second at a 1:41.953. The strength of the Miata’s being its straight line speed on the long back straight of Road Atlanta became a nightmare for the CRX contingent. The Moser race strategy was to avoid losing contact with the Miata, apply pressure and use track knowledge to gain the upper hand.

The race is on! Moser and Price begin their battle for first place.

The first lap saw the Miata and the CRX go two abreast into Turn 1, the Miata taking the point on corner exit. A true battle was on! Lap after lap, Price and Moser swapped the lead for the entire 45 minute race! The Miata and CRX battled nose to tail, always racing cleanly but not giving an inch. Price bobbled at turn 10a with one lap to go and Moser grabbed the lead.  Price then used the 1.8 Miata power to repass Moser on the back straight but then bobbled on 10b on the last lap which opened the door for Moser to make the final pass for the win.

Described as the best race of the weekend, Price set a new race lap record of 1:40.741 with Moser second fastest at a 1:41.253. King Motorsport congratulates the 2010 ARRC ITA champion Joe Moser and the entire Moser race team, unbeaten in 2010!

Here is the entire race from the in-car on Joe Moser's ITA CRX. Incredible racing and well worth the watch!