Shift-S3ctor Airstrip Attack 5 from our POV

Shift-S3ctor Airstrip Attack gets bigger and faster every year.  It’s incredible to see more participants and sponsors involved each event.  For the 5th Airstrip Attack, we brought out 10 GT-R’s, 8 of which were registered in the event with our SPE power packages.

Preparation for the 5th Airstrip Attack is definitely something we’d never want to experience again.  We had 2 GT-R’s to complete while the other 5 came in to be serviced, inspected and even re-tuned.  One of the 2 GT-R to be completed was a brand new 2014 in which we had one month to complete – engine build, transmission build, carbon ceramic brake kit, suspension, carbon fiber exterior and interior pieces (custom matte finish on all interior pieces) and tune.  The other GT-R to be completed was Sean’s Godzilla which required a lengthily time of R&D on in-house made products to ensure for maximum performance out on the airstrip.

Despite being the night of our departure to Shift-S3ctor, the technicians had their work cut out for them.  One particularly stubborn transmission required removal, dis-assembly, reassembly and installation a total of 4 times due to microscopic shards of debris trapped within the valve body, solenoids and pump – inhibiting movement from the vehicle throwing itself into limp mode.  To add atop of the adversity, we had finished buttoning up Sean’s Godzilla that same night as well as tuned it and got it aligned.  Even though time was ticking and we all grew very tired, everyone still had a helping hand for each scenario.  Because of this, our proposed plan to depart from SP no later than 8-9PM completely fell through – we ended up leaving at 3AM!  With a 3 1/2 hour drive ahead of us, we knew we wouldn’t be happy campers as the gates to the Airstrip Attack opened at 7AM.  We checked into our hotel at 6:30AM, attempted to get some shuteye, and headed out to the event to meet with all of our clients who were anxiously waiting and wide awake to get out on the airstrip to get some runs in.

On that Saturday, each car was running perfectly.  Very consistent MPH on all runs.  Before each run, we always have our customers turn on the data logging on their COBB units.  Although each GT-R is tuned correctly, we always look over the data just in case of any surprises that may arise under normal driving conditions and at the race track.  After each run, we would add more boost for our clients to pee their pants.  All eight (Sean, Louie, Joshua, Ashkan, Aaron, Vincent, Mel and Greg) of our registered customers had a blast.  Some of the guys that had similar power would race each other to see who would win by better shifting reactions.

Sunday.  Where do we start?  That Sunday was a hard day for us all.  With speeds up to 200+ MPH no doubt will there be some type of mechanical failure or even worse, calamity striking.  With everything going exceptionally well, Sean had a huge misfortune happen towards the end of the event.  On one of his solo pass, he ran his fastest recorded run at 213MPH.  Right after passing the finish flags, brakes were applied to slow the monster down.  Because all the weight was up in front under hard braking, crosswinds hit the rear of the car, forcing Sean’s GT-R to over-steer left into the fields.  At this point, everything happened so fast and there was no saving it.  The vehicle clipped a ditch which sent the car flipping head over heels, missing contact to the roof.  Sean is 100% okay for those wondering.

There are two choices to make when something that can kill you happens – You completely quit the sport or you go back out again.  Let me tell you something, Sean is a BEAST.  It’s completely understandable for a professional race car driver to get back into the driver seat after a crash.  But for a normal awesome person like Sean?  Passion.  Many respects to Sean for wanting to build another Godzilla.  With that said, look out for a Midnight Opal Godzilla.

We want to give a special thanks to our SPE techs, Shift-S3ctor hosts, ADF Fabrications, Coalinga Fire Department, Coalinga Paramedics, Interstate Towing Services and all of our family/friends/supporters who went out of their way to make sure that Sean was okay.  We appreciate it!

Photo recap of our clients GT-R builds –

Sean – SPE Godzilla:

Louie – SPE950R:

Joshua – SPE1000R:

Ashkan – SPE950R:

Aaron – SPE1000R:

Mel – SPE700:

Thanks for looking!

– SP