Route 66 Raceway, Joliet, IL, 9-16-03: The HRC RS Eclipse has reset its own record! We recorded an 11.05 @ 130, with a 1.74 60 foot time, and a 7.24 second 1/8 mile @ 106 MPH. The tens are so close now! A street 2GNT in the tens...can't wait!

Over the last week, the RS has run 11.46, 11.24, 11.20 and 11.05, with a handful of other 11's as we have been tuning out this latest iteration of our little red 'Clipse.

In dyno testing last Sunday, we recorded an eye-popping 505 WHP, just shy of our previous 508 WHP record. This number is even more impressive when one considers that our old HP record came with DFI fuel control...the RS currently is no longer DFI equipped (previously, it was considered a Stage V, now it is our new Stage IV configuration)!

What you are witnessing is the long-awaited completion of our Stage III and Stage IV system iterations. We embarked on this program over two years ago, and much experimentation has occured in that time.

Here's the quick rundown on the car's current setup:

Stage IV Hahn RaceCraft turbosystem, exactly the same as a Stage II FMIC equipped system except for following:
Super 20G-H Turbo
New Stage IV Fuel System
Crane Ignition with Boost Proportional Retard
Crower rods
HRC-JE forged pistons, latest design
HRC-NX Pirahna wet port nitrous system, tunable from 100 to 250 HP (We are currently at the 150 HP level.) Available soon!
Howell Performance 55mm throttle body
New HRC-Clutchmasters rebuildable Stage IV clutch with aluminum flywheel (VERY nice combo, available now!)
Quaife limited slip differential
3.55 final drive ratio
Driveshaft Shop Stage V axles
26 x 10 x 15 M/T slicks on Weld wheels

Total weight with driver: 2800 pounds (let's face it, this ain't no lightweight Civic, but at least you can stand to look at it!)

I must also acknowledge the efforts of the entire HRC crew who helped make this a reality! Special thanks go to my son, Adam, who convinced me to get the car back on the track and performed a HUGE amount of work to help make this happen, and my friend / employee Craig Martinelli, whose help and endless enthusiasm for all things racing infected me big time! And a tip of the hat to Frank of The Driveshaft Shop for empowering me to use those big slicks without fear!

Without nitrous, the car ran 12.08 @ 113 on the Stage IV setup, and 12.72 @ 105 on the Stage III. Information and pricing on both Stages will be provided to you as soon as we complete the process of packaging and costing. For those of you awaiting the DFI Gen VII Stage V configuration, hang in there...after the Stage III and IV development is completed, the Gen VII goes on!

Thanks for all the support, you guys rock,
Bill