For each child who grew up within the ’90s obsessing over Japanese automotive tradition, tales of the notorious Mid Night time Racing Crew have been inconceivable to disregard.

And the way many people wished we might be part of it? Admittedly, again within the day I used to be fantasising about becoming a member of the grunge band Nirvana, not an underground racing group in Japan. However regardless of the automotive tradition bug biting me a bit later than some, the magnitude and historical past (spanning 4 many years now) of Mid Night time is as infectious now because it was all these years in the past.

It’s a really totally different story for Miyakawa-san, although. He’s one of many new era Mid Night time members who proceed to put on the silver sticker with satisfaction, albeit with the membership’s focus now extra centered round time assault than simply road operating. However that doesn’t imply becoming a member of the Mid Night time ranks hasn’t been Miyakawa-san’s sole focus; it has for so long as he can bear in mind.

Impressed by different Mid Night time automobiles, together with Nanami-san’s 964 Turbo and Noguchi-san’s 996 GT3, Miyakawa-san set his sights on at some point proudly owning a Porsche and, in time, perhaps, simply perhaps, with the ability to develop into a fully-fledged member of the group.

Porsches have all the time been a pillar of Mid Night time – even proper again to the membership’s inception – so Miyakawa-san’s selection of a 997 GT3 over one thing turbocharged and Nissan isn’t as odd as you’d first assume.

However how precisely do you go about becoming a member of such a group? The method nonetheless stays an extended and arduous one; you’re not simply given your stickers and away you go. In reality, for these nonetheless of their early days, pink Mid Night time stickers are used to indicate their probationary standing earlier than changing into full membership members.

However right here’s the factor – Mid Night time has by no means been some super-mysterious membership with hidden identities. The data and other people have all the time been on the market, be it in previous magazines or by means of particular tuning homes. The membership’s code of conduct nonetheless offers hierarchy to elders who’ve put many years of their time into it, and whereas egos stay a needed by-product, these members are nonetheless scrutinised for a way they behave each on and off the observe.

Simply being good and well-behaved isn’t sufficient although; firstly you could be quick. However it’s not solely about straight line velocity. No matter what different sources have cited, Mid Night time’s focus has all the time been about being quick on the circuit and winding roads. A lot so actually, that the Hakone touge was fiercely battled up to now.

Having a automotive able to ridiculous velocity wasn’t all the time needed; having one able to sustaining excessive speeds for a very long time – and being simply as expert when the roads bought twisty – has been the true key to success.

Right now’s Mid Night time group are solely targeted on observe driving, with circuits like Tsukuba and Fuji Speedway the go-to spots. There’s been an inflow of recent members lately – therefore why you’ll see fairly a couple of Mid Night time-stickered automobiles at numerous time assault occasions now, however they preserve their guidelines of conduct and recruitment similar to years passed by. There’s nonetheless a person president on the high, and Miyakawa-san knew he wanted to show his potential and dedication on and off the observe to earn a spot on the group.

He spent a couple of years tuning and racing GT-Rs, together with an R32 and R34 and peaking with a 1,000hp R35 GT-R fitted with a full dry carbon aero equipment. Miyakawa-san has additionally owned an AE86 Toyota Trueno and Suzuki Cappuccino for observe, in addition to a Nissan Z33. 9 years in the past he picked up the 997 GT3 and elevated his driving to a brand new stage.

The 997 definitely appears the half, having be upgraded with real GT3 Cup bumpers entrance and rear, real Cup mirrors and dry carbon engine hood, one-off entrance fenders from The Verify Store and an enormous rear wing.

Whereas the three.6L engine out again stays internally inventory, it breathes freer because of an AFE air filter and Volcano exhaust manifold. The 6-speed transaxle runs an Arugos twin-plate clutch and an OS Giken Tremendous Lock LSD with GT3 Cup 4.0:1 closing drive.

The suspension makes use of a variety of real GT3 Cup elements, together with each entrance and rear uprights, decrease arms and hubs. JRZ Motorsports 3-way coilovers characteristic in any respect 4 corners, as do StopTech Trophy brakes – 6-pot callipers up entrance and 4-pots out again, all fitted with Limitless pads.  Lastly, the wheels – one-off, center-locks from Agio, measuring 18×9-inch and 18×12-inch with Hoosier A7 tyres in 245/40R18 and 315/30R18 entrance and rear respectively.

However for those who assume it’s the sensible chassis of the GT3, the 415hp on faucet or the mods which have opened the door for Miyakawa-san, then assume once more, since you’re solely half proper.

For years, Miyakawa-san honed his driving talent on the observe. He mapped his racing traces utilizing a DigSpice GPS tracker and timer, refining each entry and exit of each nook, and reviewing the information logs with scrutiny so as to shave tenths of seconds off his lap instances.

Lastly, the observe paid off; Miyakawa-san entered his first race – a seven-hour endurance – alongside Mid Night time seniors and positioned 2nd outright. He then went on to clock a 1:52:222 lap of Fuji Speedway, which is significantly faster than Keiichi Tsuchiya’s 2:01.18 in a Porsche 911 Carrera S (997), and sits within the high 15 submitted by Finest Motoring. For reference, Fuji’s quickest automotive lap instances are across the 1:42 mark.

In fact, these are all numbers and we will debate the various components which contribute to a sure lap time. However the necessary factor to remove from that is that one thing caught the eye of the membership’s senior members and bought Miyakawa-san observed. And that particular one thing helped him earn his place within the Mid Night time Racing Crew. 

Toby Thyer
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