I dont know why most of you guys are bagging on drag racing. Drag racing is what started the whole import revolution. Do you think they would have brought back the Z if the import scene wasnt as big as it is now. Just because some of you guys autox and road race your cars doesn't mean that your any better than the rest of us.

I dont know about the rest of you but i love drag racing. I race on the streets, I admit it. BUt for you autox racers, im sure you have had your share of messing around on the streets.

And if im sitting at a stop light and a mustang comes up to me and revs at me. Hell no am i gonna say "Excuse me I dont like to drag race can we AutoX instead"? NO. Im gonna drag him, win or lose. And for you guys who AutoX, the Z is not the best car for AutoXing anyways. SO be happy at what you guys do and we 1/4 mile peeps will live our lives a 1/4 mile at a time. Because for those 13-14 seconds we are free. hahahahhahah

Thanks to our DRAG RACER HONDAS we have what we have now like: 350z;Mitsu Evo; Subaru Wrx-Sti;Rx8;soon to becoming Rx7;Skyline;Supra.

REMEMBA AUTOX DID NOT START THE IMPORT REVOLUTION, DRAG RACING DID.

 

Damn i thought some of the vette owners were snobs.
Danm coule of you wine and cheese boys are just plain legends in your own minds.

 

I'm not bagging on drag racing, but your "import revolution" propaganda is bogus. A Civic with a fart pipe was the defining factor that convinced Nissan to launch the 350Z? I think not. The STi and the Evo maybe, but not the Z, Supra, RX-8, and other sportscars (vs. modded compacts).

You're implying that we should all be thankful for the "import revolution". All I see coming out of it is obnoxious guys tossing their Civics around in a totally unsafe/unskilled manner on public streets. What's there to be thankful for?

 

We can thank the original 240Z for all the great import sportscars.

And the Street scene was inspired by the original STi amd Evo's, not the other way around.

The WRC has created some of the greatest import sedans, and those trickled down to the PS-2 crowd. From there they wanted the US Eco cars to looks like thier JDM counterparts. And that went on to the import racing scene.

 

While hot lapping is more fun than drag racing, drag racing takes less money (track costs) and is more accessible. Thus I drag race more than I hotlap.

The comment about not caring what XXX mod will do for your car on the drag strip but rather caring what it will do for the car on the race track is pretty rediculous. Every road course is different and you can't compare, in any way, shape or form, the numbers from two different tracks.

The comment about drag racing taking little skill is asinine. It takes a different skill set, that does not mean it takes little skill. Thats the reason some people are running 13.8s in stock 350z's and others are running 14.8s. That's equivalent to running a 2:00 lap time vs a 1:49 lap time. Given the same car setup, the disparity is due SOLELY to the skill of the driver involved.

Lastly, hot lapping is not road racing. I wonder how many of the "road racers" in this thread are getting these two activities confused. I suspect quite a few, though I do see a few replies that lead me to believe there are a few people who have actually road raced on this thread.

 

I agree that drag racing started the import revolution...not to say that's a good thing. That's a whole different argument. 10-15 years ago, import enthusiasts would autox or run the canyons...in a sense it was an underground thing, something purer (snobby i know), not today's rice-o-rama. I don't like the term 'rice' but it's hard to argue when fools insist on staging at the street light with their PIAA driving lights, intake and exhaust and expect their front wheel drive is going to take a rear wheel drive V8 torque monster with simple bolt-ons.

I look at it this way, German car manufacturers build for the autobahn, the Japanese build for the circuits, and the domestics build for Detroit's historic Woodward Ave. If i wanted to drag race, I'd rather have a solid rear and the cost for modding plus car price is a helluva lot cheaper too.

 

Glad to see this thread is still alive, though VERY wounded

The comment about "import revolution" starting with WRC or whatever is BS. I'm old enough(ugh) to fondly remember the BRE Datsun 510's kicking .......butt in the Trans-Am back in the early 1970's. Beating Porsches, Alfa's, BMW's, etc.

I'm confused as to what revolution you're talking about.


Time for a slice of Quiche!



A track is a road coarse.

A drag strip is a STRIP!

 

Geez.I thought this thread was dead nice to see that some level headed folks are giving some input. I really like this one:, hot lapping is not road racing. I wonder how many of the "road racers" in this
thread are getting these two activities confused. I suspect quite a few, though I do
see a few replies that lead me to believe there are a few people who have actually
road raced on this thread
.
Who really cares if it is called a track or strip!!!

 

So your sayin that the whole import craze thing had nothing to do with the Z's comeback? Common!! Hondas are the bench mark for import performance (in the U.S.). Other car companies build cars to be able to market against Honda automobiles. What car is the "Rival" of the Z...Hint its a convertable Honda. The S2000 was inspired by the import revolution. ALL of these dead sports cars are only coming back to life because the whole import scene blew up. And what would you say to a Civic with a "FART" pipe that will smoke you on the 1/4 mile? I have a Z dont get me wrong, its a quick car but it will get smoked by built "FWD" Hondas.

The CIVIC is basically what started the whole "IMPORT REVOLUTION " We wouldn't have the cars we have today if it weren't for their popularity.

 

I hear you, but your still implying that RWD is the BEST WHEEL DRIVE. DOnt think the Z or any RWD Car is the ultimate drag car. It is logical to drag a RWD car, but what do you say to all the HONDA CIVICS running 11 to 12 seconds all motor in the 1/4 mile, daily driven? I've seen muscle car's with their big V8s and their louder than Sh*t motors get smoked by a "Lawn mower" engine Honda Civic. There are alot of fast cars out there and just because they are a civic does not mean they are slow.

Have you guys not seen the video with the Honda Civic smoking a VIPER? a 4 cylinder motor smoking a V10 $70000 car (I think), torque monster. Which driver do you think would feel like Issh after that race? (ANd you can say "well its still just a civic", well news flash for you. YOu just got smoked by a Civic.) OUch...

and IMPORT RACING is about defying the ODDS. Who would have known that a "FWD" All motor civic could run 9's in the qtr mile.

 

No one ever said that the "Import Revolution" started the WRC!

THe "Import Revolution" I'm reffering to was started out by guys like, Stephen Padapakis; Ken Myoshi; Dr. Charles; Viet Lam; Elton Lo; Tony Fuchs; Bergonholtz Racing; Adam Suwartari (sorry for the spelling); JoJo Callos these were SOME OF the guys who started the whole import racing craze.

Its more of a drag racing thing, yes i know that. but like i said IT all relates to it (in the U.S.) so all im saying is dont hate on the DRAG RACERS. WE BLEW UP THE SCENE to WHAT IT IS NOW. IN every aspect drag racing, AUtoxing, hot lapping (i dont really know what this is but, i'll include it) We wouldN'T OF haD all these companys coming out with products to support our cars if it wasnt for the import drag racers. (I'LL GET OFF MY SOAP BOX NOW") CHEERS

 

Well, I just totally disagree. The time was right for the S2000 regardless of the popularity of fart can civics. If the "import revolution" had goaded the auto industry to action, then they would have come out with a bunch of hopped-up sport compacts, not nimble RWD sports cars. That's why we've been blessed with the neon SRT-4, saturn redline, etc. That's like saying that Dodge saw the booming popularity of rock crawlers so they came out with the Viper.

What would I say to a fart can civic that will smoke me in the 1/4 mile? "Good on ya!" I couldn't care less. There are ricers, pickup trucks, boats, airplanes, motorcycles, jet skis, and air-to-air missiles that can all smoke me in the 1/4 mile, and somehow I still sleep at night and don't feel that my manhood is threatened.

 

So why do you even race? IF YOUR ONLY OUT THERE TO LOSE???
You have probably been smoked by little fart Civics on the street, drag strip, road course or where ever you race your RX-7 or Z that you hate civics with a passion. Im sorry for your losses.

LET ME say it AGAIN- THE "IMPORT REVOLUTION" was the source of all sports car comebacks and is the only reason we have the cars that we have today.

YOUR SO IGNORANT that this is my last post addressing you.

p.s. BETTER SLEEP WITH ONE EYE OPEN, CAUSE I'll COME AND TAKE UR MANHOOD AWAY.
If you know what i mean

 

Never been smoked by a civic -- I don't street race. I race the 7 in a class that's all 1st gen 7s, so no embarassing losses to civics there. I beg you to point out where I said that I hate civics. Perhaps I do, but I never said so.

Well, I'm glad that's the last time you'll say it. What a relief.

I'm so ignorant that I calmly, reasonably state my opinions while you resort to childish insults and threats. You've really impressed us all.

Too bad that was your last post addressing me. It was, right?

VIVE LA REVOLUTION!!!

 

So I guess given the arguements here, The appearence and race success of the original 240Z (Preceeded shortly by the 510's) and the record sales of said vehicle over a 20 year period. The joined by the likes of the Celica (before the Supra was ever around), then the growth of these cars into world class sports/GT cars, then the overpricing of the Older Import sports, then the return of cars like the Miata had nothing to do with the cars out today?

Most of this happening WAY before there was an import drag racing scene.

 

That's pretty much what I was going to type if someone hadn't said it first. The import scene was around looooong before the first 16 year old with a Civic bolted on a fart can and oversized aluminum spoiler to his ride. Anyone who thinks otherwise has been watching TFAF too much. That movie depicted what the import scene had become in the last decade or so, not what it started out as. Back in the day, the import scene had an identity of its very own, rather than leeching on to the American tradition of drag racing like so many import drivers do today. I don't think that there has ever been an imported car from Europe/Japan that has been designed for drag racing much like the Mustang/Camaro/Charger etc were. Import drivers saw what was going on with their friends who drove domestics and decided that they wanted in on the drag action, so they started modding their cars for drag. To lay it out simply, Domestic Drag Racers -> Import Drag Racers. I guess we could say that we had the "import revolution" because we had domestic drag racers, then, if we follow the Import Drag Racers -> "Import Revolution" train of thought.

The Civic was not the import "sports car" that started the influx of great Japanese machines. This car was arguably the Datsun 510 or Nissan 240Z. As others have mentioned, if the market for souped up Civics was the reason for high performance Japanese cars to be imported to the US, Honda would have brought the CTR over long before they made the S2000 and NSX. Nissan, Toyota, Mazda, et. al. would have brought over high performance versions of their compact cars rather than the performance-biased-from-the-ground-up cars that they did during the 70s, 80s, and 90s. It's simple business sense and logic, something that companies that are as successful as these companies have been and have lasted as long as these companies have are very familiar with. The Civic scene started because people who couldn't afford a real sports or muscle car took what they already had and ran with it, trying to get in to the racing scene with the only means they had at hand. They did not start the "revolution" but, rather, were a part of it.

 

That's pretty much what I was going to type if someone hadn't said it first. The import scene was around looooong before the first 16 year old with a Civic bolted on a fart can and oversized aluminum spoiler to his ride. Anyone who thinks otherwise has been watching TFAF too much.


Yes, but the REAL import scene was 1959-60 and Datsun/Nissan was not a player yet. And Nissan used the Datsun name on the 510 and Z, so that no one new who really made it.
59-60 had many many import cars flood into the US market. Simca, DKW, Isetta, Volkwagon (on a large scale) NSU/Wankle, Renualt and on and on. I can only speak for Cali, but the drag strips set up a class for them EC (economy car) and you did not see them road racing and autox was just emerging, so they were drag racing them. The NSU Prinz was the closest thing to a sports car other than the MG's, Austin Healey's,Jags, Porches etc, which were also racing at California drag strips. I am not sure what you guys in the east were doing other trying to copy Cali cars, but with disasterous results. (continental kits, mud flaps, fender skirts etc.)
Detroit countered with the Corvair, Falcon and Valiant. These cars were also in the EC class and dominated the imports, with the Valiant being the fastest in the stock form with a slant six. The corvair was right behind them and so on. None of these cars were designed for drag racing, but we car guys and girls race what we have and make it better. If you want to throw around import revolution etc. start at the beginniing and don't be selective about the information. Possibly this is just an age thing and you are not aware when the real import revolution started. in 59-60 there were probably over 20 overseas auto makers importing into the US. It was not successful as you can see by the emergence of the gas guzzling muscle cars of the mid 60's. You don't have to like it, but americans have drag raced every kind of car that they can get thier hands on. At least in the west.

 

Cool... the last few posts confirmed what I said earlier.....THE REVOLUTION started a LONG time ago......Anyone remember the MG TC?...........like, late 1940's..........


Kids today don't respect (understand)their history.



As a musical artist a long time ago sang: "The Revolution Will NOT be Televised"!

 

Yes, MG TC and TD. No roll up windows in a "REAL" sportscar only side curtains. Leak oil, cold, gutless,crappy brakes but a whole lot of fun. When I went to buy a Sunbeam Tiger with roll up windows and some power from that little V8 I thought... this is living!

 

WELL IF WE WERE ONLY PART OF IT, THEN WHY DONT WE ALL HAVE SOUPED UP MUSCLE CARS? DUHHH...KEY WORD "IMPORT". AND IF YOUR UNDERGROUND IMPORT SCENE WAS SO CRAZY WHY DID IT NOT BLOW UP UNTIL THE "IMPORT REVOLUTION" STARTED. IMPORT REVOLUTION = DRAG RACING

NOTHING ELSE.....PERIOD

ARGUE ALL YOU WANT. THE IMPORT SCENE WAS WHAT LED THE WAY FOR ALL THESE CAR COMPANIES TO COME OUT WITH CARS THAT WERE DISCONTINUED. LIKE THE Z, LIKE THE RX-8, LIKE THE CELICA, LIKE THE CIVIC SI. AND THE IMPORT REVOLUTION IS DEFYING THE ODDS IN OUR GROCERY GETTERS THAT ARE FWD.

YOU STATED:They did not start the "revolution" but, rather, were a part of it.

I SAID THE "IMPORT REVOLUTION" NOT DRAG RACING. GEESH ARE YOU GUYS NOT LISTENING. OK IF THE IMPORT SCENE AND THE HONDA CIVIC DID NOT LEAD THE WAY FOR THE CARS WE HAVE TODAY THEN WHAT DID? 240Z? THEY DISCONTINUED THE Z REMEMBA? WHY DID THEY BRING IT BACK? FOR STREET RACERS LIKE US, NO OTHER REASON.

RX-7? SUPRA? BOTH DISCONTINUED BUT BOTH ARE BEING BROUGHT BACK BECAUSE OF WHAT? THE IMPORT SCENE IS BIGGER THAN EVER. THE IMPORT SCENE IS WHERE IT IS NOW THANKS TO THE CIVIC. BAG ALL YOU WANT.

REMEMBA ERIC AGUILAR IN HIS...O...COULD IT BE...THATS RIGHT A CIVIC. HES RUNNING 9 SECS, DEFYING THE ODDS.