|
Hiroshi
Shiobara - 7.12.2002
Hiroshi
Shiobara
40 years old
Saitama, Toda City Japan
The
name Hiroshi Shiobara might not ring a bell
but when it's associated with his red Nissan
300ZX that does the quarter mile less then
most well known Pro-Import Racers, I'm sure
you won't forget after reading this article.
Hiroshi is the owner/driver and also the President
of Escort Drag Racing Service.
Let's
back up 11 years...
In 1991,
Hiroshi went out and bought a brand new red
Nissan 300ZX Twin Turbo and added it to his
personal collection which includes a Nissan
S30, Nissan S130, and a 96 Ford Explorer.
In over a decade of development of the Nissan
Fairlady, Hiroshi consulted Willie Rells Sr.
(Rells Sr. has worked on Pro-Stock legends
including Warren Johnson, Bob Glidden, and
many many others. Rells Jr. has worked on
Saruwateri's NSX) to help him with chassis
work, interior, and suspension work. After
3 months the rolling chassis was completed
and shipped back to Japan to set records in
the RRC Japanese Series Championships. Escort
Racing in Japan has built some of the fastest
cars on Japanese streets and raceways, including
the Infiniti Q45 owned by the President of
Nissan Motors Japan.
Here's
some info on the car...
The
300ZX is powered by a 3.2 liter engine that
is 3 mm over bored from stock. The horses
are put to the ground by the help of Lenco
transmission, linkage and clutch assembly
that gets the motion going while the Richmond
pinion and ring gear in a Mark Williams rear
end does the final balancing between traction
and tearing the 33x17x15 Goodyear slicks up
into thick white smoke. All this motion is
put to rest by the help of Lamb Components
Calipers in the front and the rear.
And
now...
After
11 years of build up, testing, and tuning,
Escort Racing emerges and surprises everyone
in the NHRA and IDRC series to show the world
that Simrock and Lazcano isn't the only ones
leading the Import Drag racing scene. Hiroshi
estimates that at least $200,000 has been
put into the car looks as thought that he
isn't finished yet, as he is aiming for the
magical 6 second run and the 200 mph limit.
The
Interview ...
How long have you been racing?
Shiobara: 20 years
What
got you into racing cars?
Shiobara: Started out as an engine mechanic,
sort of a tuner in my day. Then I started
drag racing, soon after.
What
made you choose a Nissan 300ZX to race?
Shiobara: My first racecar was a Datsun 240ZX,
then a 260ZX, etc. Naturally the nest step
was 300ZX. All the previous cars were Outlaw
or Quick class type cars. The current car
is a Pro Stock tube chassis, built like the
NHRA Pro-Stock cars.
What
kind of motor are you running in your Nissan
300ZX right now and how is it doing for you?
Shiobara: VG30DETT, It’s a very good
and light engine. It produces a lot of torque
and horse power.
What
is the best time you ever ran in your car
to date?
Shiobara: Best time 7.409@183.78MPH at the
last NIRA event at LACR in Palmdale,CA.
Fastest MPH, 7.534@187.42MPH at The Battle
of the Imports event at Famoso Raceway in
Bakerfield, CA.
Are we going to be seeing any new sponsors
or setups for the 2002 season?
Shiobara: If we told you we had to kill you.
Just kidding, right now we are in the process
of acquiring a Title Sponsor for the Team.
As for new setups, we’re gearing up for
next years V8s We can’t reveal our secrets,
quite yet.
Would
you plan to build another car soon, if yes
what kind of car is it?
Shiobara: If we get the right sponsorship,
we would like to build a Pro 350ZX. Not sure
of the engine, but it would be of Nissan origin.
What
do you do when you’re not working on
cars or racing? How is your weekend life?
Shiobara: Weekends are for Racing! Racing
is more relaxing than running a shop.
If
you had a choice of any model to drive your
racecar, who would it be and why?
Shiobara: Francine Dee, just kidding. No one
drives my car but me.
Who’s
your favorite racer? Why?
Shiobara: Bob Glidden, he was a consistent
champion before John Force.
What
would be your dream match up?
Shiobara: Warren Johnson VS. Hiroshi Shiobara
Which
racer do you respect the most/enjoy watching
is your favorite?
Shiobara: Bob Glidden, I respect the most.
I enjoy watching Warren Johnson and John Force.
Kenny Bernstein is my favorite.
Who
would be your dream sponsor?
Shiobara: Nissan or NISMO, of course.
If
there were no import drag racing what would
you be doing with your time?
Shiobara: Probably racing in Japan. But we
call it domestic racing. hehe
How
has racing affected your life?
Shiobara: Racing is my life!
What’s
the hardest part about your job?
Shiobara: Traveling, I race and manage two
shops in Japan.
What
is your dream car?
Shiobara: Mercedes 600SL or a Bentley Mulliner
Azure like Shaq.
How
do you think the scene will be doing in 5
years? Where do you fit in to
that?
Shiobara: It’s going to explode. Like
the way muscle cars broke the way of the for
Racing in the 60’s
Photos:
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Source:
Escort
Drag Racing Service
4-19-4, Sasame
Toda City, Saitama, 335-0034 Japan
Website: www.escort-us.com
Lenco
Equipment Co.
6470 Federal Blvd.
Lemon Grove, CA 91945
Torco
Oils
10652 Bloomfield Ave.
Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670
Willie
Rells Racecars
Spring Valley, CA
(Recently Moved and not directly associated
with RPM)
Maximum
Power Technologies
6720 Radio Drive
San Diego, CA 92114
Photos
by Anthony Carter and provided by Escort Racing.
High resolution images available upon request
- View
Sample
|
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
