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Eliminator: Words: Dan Sherwood Pics: Matt Woods
Eliminator: Words: Dan Sherwood Pics: Matt Woods
ELIMINATOR
RIPPING APART A NISSAN GT-R AND BINNING THE
VR38 MOTOR SOUNDS MENTAL, BUT AFTER
CARBON KING
WITH MUCH OF THE CAR’S
BODYWORK NOW RESIDING IN THE
BIN AFTER BEING SWAPPED FOR
LIGHTWEIGHT CARBON PANELS
FROM MILTON KEYNES-BASED
KNIGHT RACER, THE GT-R IS MUCH
REBUILDING THE BODYWORK IN CARBON FIBRE LIGHTER THAN STANDARD,
ESPECIALLY AFTER JON WEBSTER OF
WEBSTER RACE ENGINEERING
AND INSTALLING A 2000BHP TWIN TURBO V8, GUTTED THE METAL CHASSIS AND
ADDED A TUBULAR SPACEFRAME
MARTIN SMITH’S R35 MAKES FOR A KILLER
COMBINATION… THAT’S STILL ROAD LEGAL TOO!
WORDS: DAN SHERWOOD PICS: MATT WOODS
E
ver since Nissan six and in came an apparently tuning – and we started to see possesses a man to buy a mint
developed the package of untunable – according to what the R35 could really do. example of Nissan’s latest
Skyline body and RB26 Nissan – 3.8-litre VR38 V6. Even Month after month, reports of performance flagship and
powerplant, petrolheads have the Skyline moniker had been ever increasing power figures proceed to rip it apart, bin-off
been onto a winner. In standard dropped. Things were not came in as tuners pushed the the engine and technologically-
trim it’s a potent combination, looking good for Nissan’s unknown engine to see how advanced transmission and
but add a few well-chosen flagship – even though the base much it could take. In no time start a new project where only
modifications and, whether it be car was a stonkingly handsome at all, four figure outputs the barest trace of GT-R DNA
for fast road use, circuit racing beast with OEM credentials to seemed (relatively) easily remains?
or blasting up the quarter mile wipe the floor with a similarly achievable, although expensive, Enter Martin Smith, the
strip, the pairing of the Skyline stock Skyline – as with the new and the R35 won back a lot of madman, or possible genius
chassis and RB motor has been car, the tuning potential seemed Skyline fans that were behind said creation.
unstoppable. With such a to have been lost in translation. wondering if the new car was ‘I’ve liked the R35 ever since
revered and proven format it Nissan fans didn’t have to worry justified in wearing the GT-R they came out,’ says the 43-
was with some trepidation that for long though, as soon a new badge. And as we all know year-old shipping and logistics
Nissan fans greeted the arrival breed of geeky techno tuners today, it truly is justified and in magnate. ‘In fact I bought one
of the R35. Gone was the managed to unlock the VR38’s tuned form is actually one of the before this one, which I was
legendary and 1000bhp+ potential – largely due to most potent cars on the road. planning on building into a drag
proven 2.6-litre RB26 straight- modern advancements in ECU So with this in mind, what car, but I liked it so much I’ve
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good £40k car,’ he laughs. ‘But I relatively unknown to be capable Martin with the body of the car chassis in place. The only thing
had a vision of the finished of over 1,000bhp back then. as he part exchanged the VR38 that’s left of the GT-R is the
article and I knew it would be the During the build I did read about for all the carbon panels that the original tub, which is painted
perfect car for my plans.’ others making 1,500bhp, but car now wears, not only making Panther Black but has carbon
Martin’s masterplan involved never saw them run or was able it looks as hard as nails, but also bumpers, wings, bonnet, doors,
gutting the R35, creating a full to identify how reliable they greatly lightening the chassis. boot lid, spoilers, splitters and
chromoly 25.2 SFI certified were. So combine the unknown ‘With the engine removed, side skirts.’
chassis and dropping in a with wanting more than Jon went to work on the shell, With the strong yet
Chevrolet V8 with twin turbos. 1,500bhp, plus the cost – tuning cutting out all the floor pan and lightweight shell sorted, Jon
‘So many people ask me why an VR to four figures is very the chassis rails and putting the moved on to the engine, which
I went down the V8 route,’ Martin expensive – and I made the car on a jig,’ explains Martin. ‘He Martin says is making over
says. ‘And the simple answer is decision to go with the twin then lightened the shell further 2000bhp!
PARATROOPER
STOPPING THE GT-R ON THE STRIP that, when the build commenced turbo V8, and I must say, I have by removing as much of the A super-tough Dart ‘Little M’
FROM SPEEDS OF UP TO 180MPH IS around two years ago I initially no regrets.’ unnecessary metal as he could, block was used to get the 427
MORE THAN IS SAFE TO BE LEFT TO wanted to develop and use the In fact getting rid of the which on a GT-R is actually quite cubic inch (7.0-litre) capacity. It
MERE DISC BRAKES ALONE. TO
SOLVE THE RE-OCCURING PROBLEM Nissan VR38 motor, but it was original OEM motor helped a lot once you put a full tubular was fitted with a Bryant crank,
OF RETARDATION, MARTIN HAS
EQUIPPED THE GT-R WITH A
PARACHUTE WHICH IS DEPLOYED
AFTER HE CROSSES THE LINE VIA A TEAM EXTREME RACING
RELEASE HANDLE IN THE COCKPIT MARTIN SMITH RUNS WITH TEAM EXTREME RACING: ‘WE ARE A CLOSE
GROUP OF FRIENDS WITH A COMMON INTEREST (DRAG RACING),’ SAYS
MARTIN. ‘THE TEAM CONSISTS OF VARIOUS TYPES OF CARS; GTR’S 2 X
R35’S (650 BHP TO 2000BHP), 4 X R32’S (600BHP TO 1200BHP) AND 1
X R33 (THE TOP SECRET DRAG R2) 2 X RX7’S (550BHP & 750BHP),
ESCORT COSWORTH V8 TWIN TURBO (1200BHP), CAMARO PRO STREET
(750BHP) AND THE RAGING BULL RACING MUSTANG 05 PRO STREET
(1200BHP). TRANSPORTATION IS LOOKED AFTER BY AN EX HONDA F1
TRANSPORTER, VARIOUS TRAILERS AND AMERICAN MOTORHOMES, SO
WE HAVE A GOOD TIME, FOR SURE!’
kept it for road use, running a the standing quarter changed cemented my love for to use an R35 as a base for a
‘mild’ 650R package.’ dramatically and he was Japanese cars, unfortunately I drag project, but had ended up
No stranger to ballistic hooked. ‘I went out and bought managed to break that one falling for the car’s all round
machinery, Martin was initially a an old Sierra full tube chassis most weekends too, so abilities as a road car, so
biker, however, too many close V8 powered machine which I decided to speak to renowned shelved the idea. It wasn’t until
calls called time on his two shared with my brother,’ laughs drag car builder Jon Webster of an opportunity to buy another
wheeled fun and he made the Martin. ‘It was great, although I Webster Race Engineering in R35 – for a relatively bargain
swap to four wheels instead. probably spent more time Rushden, Northamptonshire price – came up, that Martin’s
‘Around five years ago, pushing it than driving it, as it about a purpose built car for dream could become a reality.
when I stopped riding bikes, a broke down so often.’ the Street Eliminator series.’ ‘I bought what was to
few mates asked if I fancied In a search for something With a love of Japanese become the basis for this car in
going down to Santa Pod to more reliable, Martin decided to cars and a desire to do October 2011 and did a couple
watch the car drag racing,’ give Jap machinery a go and something unique, building a of trackdays in it before taking it
recalls Martin. ‘At the time, I dived straight in the deep end. Skyline or Supra was not an to Webster’s in December for
wasn’t into drag racing at all ‘I bought the Top Secret option as both have been done the drag build to begin,’ Martin
and felt that just planting the Drag R2, the 1000bhp gold R33 to the highest level already, says. ‘Even though I got it for a
throttle for a quarter of a mile from the famous Japanese meaning Martin had to look good price, the car was mint
wasn’t much of a challenge.’ tuning firm,’ says the Ipswich- elsewhere for a base car. As and people couldn’t get their
But after that first experience at based racer. ‘That was a mentioned previously, Martin head around the fact that we
the Pod, Martin’s perceptions of serious piece of kit and had already pondered whether were going to cut up a perfectly
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TECHSPEC
‘AS SOON AS THE TURBOS HIT If you fail any of the criteria then
you won’t qualify for the racing.’
2000bhp at your disposal, Martin
says you have to be careful with
still more yet to come.
‘We ran the 8.1 on medium ENGINE
BOOST THE WHEELS SPIN AND On the road, Martin says the
GT-R, which has been converted
the throttle. As soon as the huge
turbines hit boost the car spins its
boost, we’ve still not tried it on full
boost yet,’ he says with a grin.
7.0-litre, Chevrolet V8, Dart ‘Little M’
block, Bryant crank, Oliver conrods,
EXTERIOR
Full tube chassis with GT-R shell
painted Panther Black with Knight
Racer carbon bumpers, wings, bonnet,
doors, boot lid, spoilers, splitters
and skirts
INTERIOR
Full FIA drag spec safety cell rollcage,
custom dash, 2x Reverie carbon seats,
custom switch panel, TRS 5-point
harnesses and window net
THANKS
I’d like to thank Jon Webster of
Webster Race Engineering, Dave Rowe
HITTING THE ROAD of EPS Motorsport, Andy Frost of Frost
YOU WOULDN’T BELIEVE IT TO Autos, all of my crew (Stuart Mail, Matt
LOOK AT IT, BUT MARTIN’S
GT-R IS STILL FULLY ROAD Smith, Gary Gooding, Matt Becker and
LEGAL – A REQUIREMENT FOR Craig Monroe), my wife Jane and
THE STREET ELIMINATOR SERIES
IN WHICH THE CAR COMPETES. daughter Bethany. Phil Peck (Raging
AS PART OF QUALIFICATION, Bull Racing) and Mark Moseley for
THE CAR HAS TO DO A CRUISE
OF UP TO 26-MILES, FILL UP
introducing me to drag racing. Also a
WITH REGULAR PUMP FUEL big thanks to milsom Hotels –
AND DO A ‘HOT’ START TOO, www.milsomhotels.com – for the
WHICH IS EASIER SAID THAN
DONE IN SUCH HIGHLY TUNED indoor photoshoot location
DRAG MACHINES
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