Southern Drifters trail
Disclaimers: Shigeno and Tokyopop the car companies are next: Nissan, Nismo, Lancia, Mazda, and Toyota.
Ok last time Kenneth defeated the Anacondas and headed back to Japan with Salina.
Chap. 9: Beginnings of a New Legend
Upon returning to Japan Kenneth had sent all but Salina's 280Z and the Buell Firebolt back to South Carolina. He believed that the Low Country 914 belonged in SC were its legend was born.
Kenneth walked up to the Firebolt with the side car and set about removing it 10 minutes later it was off. Kenneth got onto the motorcycle and pulled out on a search of the local junkyards. As he pulled into the parking lot of the local junkyard he thought well since the 914 is gone now I must start a new project car for the Gunma Prefecture.
As he walked around the yard a faded black Nissan Skyline GT-R R33 sitting between a totaled R32 and an 180SX. It was missing the front bumper but it seemed to call out to him. As he approached the R33 he noticed the missing GT-R symbol and a dented Nismo intercooler.
As he surveyed the car he noticed a place were dirt stuck to the body from were a vinyl once resided in the dirt he could make out parts of numbers and a letter. "Could this be a…." He could hardly believe his eyes so he opened the driver's door and pulled the hood release. When he heard the hood pop into the safety latch he walked around to the front. "Well here we go."
As he lifted the hood he was greeted bye a Twin Turbo inline 6 surrounded by Nismo parts and a thin layer of dirt. "It is! To think I could find one in a place like this!" "Someone must have bought the body parts." He closed the hood and realized how messed up and dented the hood was. "I wonder where they got this hood from."
Kenneth looked around for a possible downer car. Across the road he noticed a black ER33 Missing a hood or an engine for that matter. Kenneth looked back at his find and said, "I guess that means they know what you really are."
He pulled out his cell phone and called the front office of the yard and said, "I'm Back here looking at buying the Nissan Skyline R33 out here. The Identification number is R12B19. I need to know what the price of it is as it is?"
He heard some discussion over the phone and then the man spoke again, "$4,500 for the whole thing." Kenneth smiled and said, "Sounds great I'll take it." Kenneth hung up and looked at the R33 and shut the hood.
A small pickup truck pulled up and an employ stepped out. "You must be the guy that's buying that right?" Kenneth nodded and said, "Yea. Could you give me a ride?" The man walked up to the R33 and put a sold sign on it. Then he turned back to the truck got into and said, "Get in I'll take you to the front." Kenneth hopped in and they headed to the front.
The total was $5,200. $4,500 for the R33 plus $500 for the wheels from the R32 GT-R V-spec II and $200 for delivery. After everything was set Kenneth hopped on his Buell and headed home.
On his way home he noticed Ryosuke and Keisuke Takahashi on the side of the pass so he pulled over. "Hey Ryosuke." Said Kenneth as he removed his helmet. Keisuke was shocked. "Kenneth? I thought you drove a 914! Not some motorcycle!" yelled keisuke. Ryosuke chuckled and said, "Keisuke why are you surprised after all the 914 is known as the SC Low Country 914. He wouldn't drive that here. And I'm willing to bet that you sent it back to SC. Right?"
Kenneth nodded and said, "Yes I have found a new project car to form into a legend for the Gunma Prefecture." Keisuke looked at Kenneth and said, "So what is it?" Kenneth put back on his helmet and said, "That's a secret for you to found out in # days at the E3 shop." Kenneth hopped onto the FireBolt XB12R and headed home.
3 Days later the Akina Speed Stars and the Takahashi brothers stood with Kenneth behind the E3 shop. "I can't wait!" said Itsuki. He was dieing to find out what the next legend of Akina would be. As the flatbed truck backed into view Keisuke was joined by most of the others in a simultaneous, "What the………"Kenneth smiled and said, "don't let your eyes fool you." The R33 was soon off loaded.
"Why would you want a 33 GT-R?" Keisuke was pissed that the new project car was a GT-R. Kenneth grinned from ear to ear and said, "What GT-R I see no GT-R here." Keisuke pointed at the R33 nearly screaming, "Don't play stupid that GT-R!"
Kenneth chuckled and said, "That's no GT-R."
Kenneth walked around and popped the hood. Keisuke stood in shock and finally managed to say, "But that's a….." "RBX-GT2" finished Ryosuke. "Yes it is and that makes this a 400R." said Kenneth as he looked at the powerful twin turbo inline-6 in the engine bay of his 400R.
"Keisuke don't think I'm a bad driver just because I drive this." Said Kenneth calmly. Keisuke huffed, "So you're just going to give up drifting so you can drive this R33!" Kenneth shook his head lightly and said, "What makes you think I'll stop using drift?"
Keisuke glared at Kenneth and said, "The Aggess AWD system makes it almost imposable to drift and the things as heavy as a tank!" Kenneth smiled as he looked at his 400R project and said, "I know it won't be easy but I'll adapt my style to use drift." He walked up to the Skyline and said, "It wants to race again. It wants to win."
Kenneth began to go to work finding the problems and was soon joined by the others even Keisuke helped he wanted to see how Kenneth could drift a 400R. Soon the problems were discovered: the transmission was destroyed, the intercooler was badly dented, the exhast was torn all to hell, and the brakes needed replacing.
Soon after everyone left and Kenneth ordered the replacement parts. He went out to the 400R and pressure washed the underbody and exterior and pushed it into an empty bay. Then he headed home for dinner.
When he arrived Salina was already cooking and stopped to greet him as normal but lately everything that she did took on a new level of perfection. "Kenny your home!" she was always over joked to see him but ever since that night everything just meant more.
Kenneth smiled and said, "Hey babe how was your day?" Salina was still flutering around in thoughts of the soon to come wedding. "My day was great! But I still can't wait until the wedding." Said Salina with a smile. Kenneth smiled and said, "You will have to wait one week. Ok" Salina nodded excitedly and said, "I'm trying but it's hard to wait."
The sound of the kettle witling got Salina running back to the kitchen. Soon dinner was ready and the soon to be married couple sat and ate the delicious meal. That night they slept in each others arms enjoying the warmth.
The next morning Kenneth was up and moving by the time Salina finally woke. She rushed downstairs to kiss Kenneth goodbye.
Back at the Shop Kenneth and some of his mechanics began to strip the 400R to the bare frame. The whole car was soon ready to be sent to paint. The RBX-GT2 was sitting on an engine stand being rebuilt.
At the paint booth behind the shop Kenneth's paint crew prepped the 400R for paint while Kenneth and his master painter discussed design ideas and finally chose a sliver body and the 400R vinyl painted on with a carbon fiber look.
Mean while the engine was being overhauled as well as the suspension and brakes. Kenneth returned to work on installing and tuning the new transmission. "Kenneth do you want to repaint the engine as well?" Kenneth turned to see his master painter with the value cover in hand. Kenneth thought about it for a moment and said, "Sure I'll help you get it ready."
Soon the 400R was out the booth and being reassembled. The sound of twin RX-7 rotary motors could be heard pulling up out front. Kenneth saw Ryosuke and Keisuke in the lobby so he radioed the clerk to send them to the back.
Kenneth went back to work when the brothers got to were he was he said, "So what's going on you two?" Ryosuke was calm as usual answering, "Wanted to see how the 400R was coming along."
Kenneth nodded, "well in just look at it and you can probably tell." He pointed to the newly repainted R33. Keisuke was shocked that so much had been done since Saturday "Wow it's amazing you got so much done in one day!" Kenneth smiled "yea well I didn't do it alone."
He continued working on the front right suspension as others readied the rest of the suspension and interior. Soon the engine was rolled in and ready for reassembly. "Ok time to get this put back together" said Kenneth as he began to assemble the motor and was joined by Ryosuke and Keisuke.
In 1 1/2 hours the engine was ready to be installed. Kenneth smiled and said, "Wow keisuke I didn't think you would help me with the engine after all it is a GT-R." Ryosuke chuckled while his brother gave Kenneth a smartass look. Keisuke finally said, "It's not the engine I hate it's the fact that people who drive one are normally only good because of the car!"
Soon the engine was installed and ready to run. Kenneth got in a cranked the RBX-GT2 lisining to the now 510hp RBX-GT2 twin turbo ideal because of tuning from E3. Kenneth revved and lisined to the twin turbos spool up. The Takahashi brothers went to their RX-7s and readied for a little run with the 400R.
The 400R pulled out followed by the RX-7s and headed for the pass to make a bit of a trial run. But Kenneth detoured to a large empty parking lot of an abandoned Wal-Mart. Kenneth began to run a course that was laid out for auto cross during the weekends. The RX-7s followed.
Suddenly the 400R broke away Ryosuke and Keisuke were surprised by the power it had but the RX-7s were only barely able to stay with it. Suddenly the 400R began drifting around turns but was not completely in control. After about 5 laps the 400R pulled off and over to a parking spot. Kenneth exited the 400R with the look of surprise on his face.
The RX-7s followed and the Takahashi brothers exited their cars with the same facial expression as Kenneth. "That was fast" said Kenneth. Keisuke nodded and then asked, "Did you get used to driving it that fast and then drifted it?" Kenneth nodded "well I must be going." Ryosuke nodded and then asked, "Why are you leaving so soon?" Kenneth smiled and said, "Because Salina and I are getting married next Saturday so I need to help get everything set."
Ok there is chapter 9 sorry about not making it longer but I just felt that having the completion of the 400R and the wedding shouldn't be in the same chapter.
OK please R&R this is my attempt at writing so be honest FYI the 914 in the other chapters is the plan for a 1970 Porsche 914-4 that my uncle gave me. Until next time Bye.