Happy Superbowl Sunday. Here’s the score. I think you’re OK to look away from the TV for a minute.
About a month ago, I received an email inquiry about my availability for an interview with a Japanese automotive lifestyle magazine called Kurumag. The magazine’s third issue is under development and they wanted to include my story! I may need to call upon those of you who are fluent in Japanese to translate it, but I’m stoked to see how it turns out. This morning, I received a visit from the following:
Yujiro Otsuki, Motorsports Marketing Photographer
Shigeyuki Ishikawa, Managing Editor, Automobile Business Division
Here’s a sneak peek at the vantage point we were able to achieve with some strategic parking and a step ladder.
Mileage, by the way, for the cars in this picture was:
2013 ILX: 65,802
NSX: 97,567
Legend 1: 144,429
Legend 2: 528,562
Total: 836,360
Here’s an example of Kurumag, the Winter 2013-2014 Issue, featuring Ken Block
I’m pretty anxious to see what these guys come up with! The magazine is very widely distributed so maybe I’ll pick up a few followers from that side of the world. Many thanks to Yujiro and Shigeyuki for making the time to come visit with me. My Legend sedan turned over a memorable milestone while out & about today.
Here are a few shots of my ILX from a quickie trip up Arizona Highway 87 toward Payson yesterday. I found a concrete underpass that begged to have its picture taken.
The ILX has a menacing appearance from this perspective.
Go toward the light!
Wait, is that Harry Henderson painted on the wall back there?
This masterpiece, it appears, may have originated from two different artists. Oh, the many things you see when driving the road less traveled. “So Dope,” for sure.
The real deal (I had nightmares about this guy back in 1987):
Dang, broken foglight lens. Discovered it this morning!
Guess it’s time to let this cat out of the bag. I’ve been hoarding Acuras for years now. My secret toy obsession is a Formula Red 1992 NSX that I bought for my 30th birthday exactly two years ago, on December 17, 2011.
During the first generation NSX’s production run from 1991 through 2005, there were only about 8,000 cars made. My NSX is one of 421 in its color & transmission configuration for the year. The NSX is an iconic car that showed the world that an exotic sportscar didn’t have to be unreliable. It’s powered by a 270-horsepower 3.0 V6 engine with VTEC, which puts the power to the pavement via a 5-speed manual transmission.
When I picked up my NSX up just two weeks before my 30th birthday, it had 80,440 miles on the odometer. It came with full service records back to new, all the manuals, a dealership sales brochure, and 4 keys including the original titanium key that was issued with all new NSXs of that era. Talk about a perfect find! I was in heaven for the entire 12-hour drive home to Phoenix. The car grabbed more attention than I knew what to do with.
Over the last couple of years, I’ve taken the NSX on a number of fun adventures. The driving experience is unlike any of the other dozens of Acuras I’ve had the privilege of being behind the wheel of. I can best describe it as “raw.” The NSX has no power steering. No cupholders. No “frilly” unnecessary luxuries. It is the most connected car to the road and to the driver of any I’ve driven. In any other vehicle, a key ingredient in a pleasurable drive is a rockin’ sound system. Not in the NSX. The Bose stereo is nice, but I’d rather leave the audio turned off entirely. Hearing the car’s mid-mounted V6 rev to the redline from behind the jet-inspired cockpit is an intoxicating feeling that brings endless grins. It makes you want to push the car’s limits again and again.
Come reminisce with me as I take you on some of those trips through the many pictures that follow, in chronological order. You’ll probably see some NSX pictures from time to time on the blog as I continue my Acura travels in 2014 and beyond.
November 2011 – This is a photo from the original San Jose, CA Craigslist ad
December 17, 2011 – The traditional key handoff picture. The man handing me the key was the 3rd owner. He’d owned the NSX for about 14 years.
First ride, caught on video:
Just before driving away to bring my baby home to Arizona
First arrival in Scottsdale and meeting its stable-mates, the 1994 Legend coupe and sedan
December 31, 2011 – My brother’s place in St. George, Utah after adding the 2002-05 model year, 17″ NSX wheels and ditching the OEM 15″ / 16″ staggered setup, which I still have in storage.
January 22, 2012 – Driveway photoshoot in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friends Branson and Matt, along with the two Legends
February 23, 2012 – Car show at Arizona State University
February 25, 2012 – Scenic drive up Interstate 17 in Arizona
February 28, 2012 – “Supercar Saturday” drive in Arizona with over 100 exotics & sportscars
March 2, 2012 – Saguaro Lake, Arizona with my friend Matt’s 2012 Nissan 370Z Sport 6MT
March 4, 2012 – Mount Lemmon Cruise, in Tucson Arizona with Matt and my friend Josh in his Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution
More from Mount Lemmon
March 3, 2012 – Cars & Coffee meet-up in Scottsdale, Arizona with fellow local NSXers
March 31, 2012 – NSX Meet in Tempe, Arizona
April 2012 – Photoshoot in Tempe, Arizona. Pictures by John Bazay.
April 2012 – Hurricane, Utah Easter Car Show with my friend Branson and his dad Don
Great day at the car show. Lots of fun comments about the “squirrel wheel” (spare tire) in the front compartment.
My grandma “Doce” getting some seat time in the NSX at the car show:
April 2012 – St. George, Utah, on the dyno machine at H&S Performance. Numbers: 242 horsepower, 179 foot-pounds of torque.
Dyno video:
April 2012 – Vermillion Cliffs Scenic Drive, Highway 89A, in Northern Arizona on the way back to Phoenix with Matt and his 370Z.
May 2012 – Photoshoot in Tempe, Arizona with a 1979 Porsche 928 belonging to my friend Scott Utter
June 30, 2012 – Logan Canyon, northern Utah with my friends Ryan (Honda S2000) and Tyler (Honda Prelude 4WS).
More with the 3 great Hondas
July 2012 – Canyons east of Salt Lake City, Utah, taken by my friend Branson
September 2012 – NSX Meet in Tempe, Arizona
October 2012 – Supercar Saturday event – Jerome, Arizona. Below is a screen capture from a YouTube video.
Skip to 8:05.
More from Supercar Saturday in Prescott, Arizona
October 14, 2012 – Coronado Trail Scenic Byway in Eastern Arizona. This is Highway 191 – the “Curviest Highway in America.”
Superior, Arizona, crossing a bridge on US-60
Just south of Eagar, Arizona at the north end of Highway 191
Eating up some twisties on the Coronado Trail
No place I’d rather be!
December 2012 – Scottsdale, Arizona, at home with the 2013 ILX
January 2013 – NSX Meet in Chandler, Arizona at Science of Speed
More from the Science of Speed meet
Last picture from Science of Speed
February 2013 – Scottsdale, Arizona – checking out an ultra-rare “Imola Orange Pearl” 2002 NSX for sale. This one even had the orange interior.
February 2013 – Parked at work on a Friday, and this blue Corvette Z06 owner decided to copy my parking style.
April 13, 2013 – Supercar Saturday (Scottsdale to Payson, Arizona).
Skip to 1:12 in the video below to see me.
April 28, 2013 – At home in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friend Matt’s 2013 Nissan 370Z Sport 6MT
July 4, 2013 – Cache Valley Cruise-In Car Show (Logan, Utah) with my brother and his 1968 Chevy II Nova SS
Two very mean cars with two very different missions
V6 versus V8
Photo in Grandma’s backyard, Logan, Utah
Logan Canyon scenic drive to Tony Grove up Highway 89 with Ryan (Honda S2000), and Tyler (Honda Prelude 4WS)
July 27, 2013 – Cedar City, Utah with my friend Chanc and his two Acuras (1999 Integra GS-R and 2006 TSX)
August 30, 2013 – Scottsdale, Arizona during a visit from my friend Ben
October 27, 2013 – Desert Center, CA en route to a Legend forum meet-up in Santa Monica
At the Santa Monica meet with these great friends
Santa Monica Place
Mini NSX meet at my house – November 2013
December 7, 2013
Cars & Coffee meet-up in Scottsdale, Arizona with my friends Joe, Michael, and Kelvin
drivetofive 