Yearly Archives: 2008

Well, there have been a lot of changes and shake ups today. In one of the stages 7 cars went off! It was a very tricky stage and caught a lot of people out. Many of them will come back tomorrow but some have ended their week a day early.

STILLEN Ford GT Targa Rally Day 4

I have relinquished my navigator duties to Conrad Healey. He has been involved in every Targa rally that my Dad has competed in since 2001 and is a great guy. Unfortunately my nerves/stomach couldn’t handle being a passenger on the rocket ship that is the NADA Guides Ford GT. It is truly incredible to ride in the car and the video’s speak for themselves. I can’t wait to get the cameras home so we can post them up for everyone to enjoy.

I made it through two stages in the morning but I just can’t do anymore…Last year the car had good brakes, good power, and decent acceleration but it had NO grip. This year it has AMAZING brakes, AWESOME power, UNBELIEVABLE acceleration and FANTASTIC grip. The two year preparation that went into the car is fantastic for the driver but absolute hell for the person hanging on in the passenger seat.

Many of the leaders have been experiencing troubles today. Joe McAndrew in the R34 Skyline went off and lost two minutes today. Richard Mason (current New Zealand World Rally Champion) also experienced a few hurdles which set him back. Some of the Subaru’s are starting to think they can fly, before realizing gravity always wins. A couple of the Porsche’s have been seen trying to turn themselves into tractors as they make their way through the paddocks. All in all it’s been a great day and the weather is still holding. However, tomorrow is expected to be rainy and cold…It wouldn’t be Targa without rain.

Final update and wrap up to come tomorrow!!!

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

 

We’ve been working so hard on the three vehicles we have going to SEMA (2009 Nissan Maxima, 2009 Infiniti G37 Coupe and 2008 Chevy Silverado.. more info to come on the other two builds soon), we’ve been a little laxed in our updates, and for that I apologize..

EDIT 11/08/08: View the STILLEN Maxima in the Nissan Booth at SEMA

So here’s the final info on the 2009 Nissan Maxima build:

STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima SEMA Car Progress Final

The Maxima has been completed, and is prepared for the transport leaving tomorrow to take this car into the Nissan booth at the 2008 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. For those of you attending, we hope you get a chance to stop in and see it.

Here is the gallery of images of the car just rolled out of the back of the warehouse, look for studio shots as soon as we can get it back from SEMA.

For the previous coverage of the Maxima, check out the other blog posts:

To confirm the products being put into production:

Let us know what you think at info@stillen.com!

Well, this is going to be a short one. I just got into the hotel and it’s 11:00 P.M. and I am absolutely BEAT. Today was a looooong day!

Steve Millen Kyle Millen Strategizing at the Ford GT Targa Rally

Steve Millen Kyle Millen Strategizing at the Ford GT Targa Rally

One thing I forgot to mention yesterday was the violence I experienced in the navigator seat.

I actually got physically ill on 2 stages and earned a new nick name…Ralph McPukin’…Courtesy of Mark Ungles…Thanks Mark! That little story actually made it into the “Targa Tales” that are handed out each morning. It was a good laugh.

The first stage was canceled because one of the rally cars went off-road and took out a power pole. Both the driver and co-driver were alright but they needed to close the roads to fix the power lines. From there we went to the second stage of the day and had a blast! These roads were the epitome of GT country! On the rally we have to deal with a 200 KPH (124.27 MPH) speed limit and we were constantly up against it. And guess what…WE GET TO USE 4TH GEAR NOW!!!! With the 3.9 gear ratio we are able to launch out of corners and accelerate to top speed, lightning quick. I constantly find myself telling Dad to watch his speed.

During the third stage of the day we experienced a few HARD hits…We bottomed out really hard twice and felt something give out in the right rear suspension. Unfortunately that was half way through the stage. So, Dad pulled over and we jumped out of the car to assess the situation, we saw that all 4 tires still had air so we jumped back in and took off. We limped out of the stage and back to service. Mark and Wayne quickly jumped under the car to find that the upper control arm had come loose. Fortunately the nut had stayed on so they fixed it up and the car was good again. Unfortunately…I wasn’t. Conrad Healey (our local guide/man in the know/team manager/you name it…) had to jump in the navigator seat for me to finish out the day.

No worries though, after today’s rest I’ll be good to go for the rest of the week. Conrad did great on the last few stages of the day but I can’t wait to get back in my seat. Dad and Conrad held on to our top ten results and we hope to move forward tomorrow!

Check back tomorrow for more photos and results. I’m going to bed as we need to wake up EARLY tomorrow. Tomorrow is a loooooong day.

Kyle Millen

 

Other Targa Posts:

WOOOO HOOOO!!!! We’re doin’ great!!!! Dad and I have been getting comfortable with each other’s styles and we are starting to lay down some great times through these stages. The GT is absolutely incredible. The upgrades that we did over the past two years have made a world of difference. With the 3.9 gear ratio this car pulls HARD in ANY gear. It is simply amazing. The Michelin tires are handling the abuse and weather much better than expected and offer a surprising amount of traction.

Kyle Millen & Steve Millen with the STILLEN Ford GT at the Targa Rally

Kyle Millen & Steve Millen with the STILLEN Ford GT at the Targa Rally

Today was one of the toughest days of the rally. Each stage was extremely long and grueling. But, we worked hard and we put up some great times. We are still holding strong in the top ten and we’re not far off the leaders. So far we’ve been extremely lucky and there hasn’t been any rain holding us back.

We have been getting some great footage and I can’t wait to put it up on the blog when I get home. Unfortunately I haven’t been able to send over any of the videos yet. But, I promise they will be worth the wait.

Check back tomorrow!!!

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

 

Well, today was an awesome day. Absolutely incredible. We ran the first eight stages of the event. Well, seven stages at least. One was canceled due to a bad accident/car fire. One of the Ford Escorts tumbled, rolled, flipped and crashed for about 100 feet before landing on its roof and bursting into flames. Fortunately both the driver and co-driver were able to escape with no injuries. However, stage 7 was closed and we continued on to the final stage.

STILLEN Targa Rally Day 1

Stage 1 was going really well until I messed up and made a navigational error. As Steve immediately informed me, it will be my first and last for the whole week. Steve and I figured that the mistake probably cost us about 10 seconds. Which doesn’t seem like a lot but that can become an eternity towards the end of the week.

Stage 3 was a bit more exciting as we were able to blast through the pack. We caught 5 cars and we were able to successfully pass 4 of them. We caught up with the final car right before the finish and just ran out of time to get by. This particular stage was 53 kilometers (32.9 miles) long!!! That is an incredibly long distance for these rallies.

STILLEN Ford GT Targa Rally Dirty

Unfortunately the weather caught up with us a little bit today but we pushed hard and did our best to bring home a good result. According to my calculations which are most probably wrong, we currently stand in 8th place overall. If that is correct, then we’re all happy with that.

I will try to send some video and photos tonight as our internet connection is quite a bit better tonight. [EDIT: Pictures are now live, see below]

Thanks,

Kyle Millen

 

Other Targa Posts:

 

Targa Rally Prologue

Well, today was the first day of the rally. Even though we weren’t actually “racing” we were able to put the car through its paces a little bit. None of today’s times or results will count towards the finish of the rally. It’s really seen as a P.R. stage designed to please the spectators and cause some excitement. In that regard it was a complete success. I was in the car for the first pass through the stage. Then Dad’s friend from the Ford New Zealand Motorsport division went for a ride.

One of the most fun things about prologue day is catching up with friends/competitors and getting to see all of the neat cars. Sometimes it’s the second or third time we’ve seen the cars, however this year there are quite a lot of new teams competing. It is very exciting to see all the different cars. There are 2 Ferraris this year, three Porsche GT3 RS’s. A LOT of Subarus and Evos. Even a new Nissan R35 GT-R. Of course it wouldn’t be right to ignore the numerous R34 Skylines in the event also.

One of the most exciting bits of information that came out of today’s events was the weather report…NO RAIN!!! For the past 3 days we’ve only seen moments of dry weather. But, we woke up this morning and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. However, there are mixed forecasts coming out of the news. Some news stations say that there won’t be any rain, while others say we should be expecting some by Wednesday…All we can do is hope that it won’t come. If it stays dry the NADA Guides Ford GT will be a hard car to beat.

Our internet connection is fairly spotty at this first hotel but I am trying to send out some pictures along with this post. Unfortunately I wasn’t able to get any video today. I remembered to turn the camera on; I just forgot to press record…DOH!!! I’ll do my best to get some footage tomorrow.

Well, it’s time for me to get to my route books and begin studying them for tomorrow’s stages.

Wish us luck!

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Intro

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Prologue Day [Current Selection]

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 1(a)

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 1(b)

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 2

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 3

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 4

Every automotive enthusiast has their favorite stretch of road. Whether is a series of tight corners surrounded by trees and blind turns or a long straight road with no end in sight. The dreams is always the same. “Man, I wish I could run this road without the fear of oncoming traffic, police patrol, or any other hindrance.” Well, for those thrill seekers looking for a great time, the Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand is the perfect place to go.

STILLEN Ford GT

Each year New Zealand officials work closely with the organizers of the Targa Rally to close down 38 special roads. These roads will see everything from 1956 Ford Thunderbirds, to Subaru WRX rally cars and one very special Ford GT supercar. One of the great parts of the Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand is the wide assortment of cars and people. Sometimes the cars are the incredibly extreme while the driver’s are pretty subdued. In some cases the driver is the crazy one while the car is pretty “normal.” In either case you can guarantee that the car will be driven to its max and the drivers and spectators will all have a great time!

Please join us on our 6 day trip around the Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand. Starting from Auckland and finishing in Wellington we will be covering over 1200 miles in our specially prepared Ford GT. With help from the great companies that support our venture such as NADA Guides, Ford, Yamaha, Reid Construction, Michelin Tires, Total Oil, Streetfire.net, and many more we hope to bring home a great finish and even greater stories. Check back as I’ll keep you up to date our our daily activities and results throughout the coming week.

Hope you enjoy!

Kyle Millen

Other Targa Posts:

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Intro [Current Selection]

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Prologue Day

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 1(a)

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 1(b)

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 2

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 3

2008 Dunlop Targa Rally New Zealand – Update Day 4

On newsstands now! Modified Magazine’s Project G35 receives a full AP Racing brake upgrade this month, and the improvements in performance are impressive.

After realizing that a pad/fluid change could not bring the factory brakes up to snuff, Modified Magazine decided to step up to the big leagues with our AP Racing G35 Front Big Brake Kit (AP3700) and our AP Racing G35 Rear Big Brake Kit (AP3750).

AP Racing G35 Big Brake Kit

You can read the article here. Dave Pratte at Modified had this to say about our G35 AP Brakes:

The AP Racing brakes cut heat by almost 50 percent, but what these numbers don’t tell you is that after two hot laps the OE brakes were starting to fade, and by the fourth lap I had virtually no braking power whatsoever because the pads and fluid were completely overwhelmed by the heat buildup. With the AP brakes, on the other hand, I didn’t experience even a hint of brake fade after an extended lapping session where I abused the brakes as hard as I could.

The brake kits consist of the following:

AP3700 Front Big Brake Kit Specifications

  • AP Racing 6-Piston Calipers (Black or Red Calipers)
  • 14.25″ x 1.25″ (362mm x 32mm) 2-Piece Cross-Drilled & Slotted Rotors (or Slotted Only)
  • High Performance Mintex Xtreme Brake Pads
  • Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines (DOT Compliant)
  • All necessary brackets, hardware and instructions are included
  • Fits 2003-2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe
  • 2003-2006 Infiniti G35 Sedan
  • 2003-2007 Nissan 350Z

AP3750 Rear Big Brake Kit Specifications

  • AP Racing 4-Piston Calipers (Black or Red Calipers)
  • 13″ x 1″ (362mm x 335mm) 2-Piece Cross-Drilled & Slotted Rotors (or Slotted Only)
  • High Performance Mintex Xtreme Brake Pads
  • Stainless Steel Braided Brake Lines (DOT Compliant)
  • All necessary brackets, hardware and instructions are included
  • Fits 2003-2007 Infiniti G35 Coupe
  • 2003-2006 Infiniti G35 Sedan
  • 2006-2008 Infiniti M35 and Infiniti M45
  • 2008 Infiniti G37 Coupe
  • 2003-2007 Nissan 350Z
  • 2002-2008 Nissan Altima
  • 2009 Nissan Maxima

STILLEN is proud to introduce our VQ35 Oil Pan Upgrade. This extra capacity oil pan for the 350Z, G35 Coupe and G35 Sedan is a simple, effective way to ensure your VQ35 has an ample supply of oil.

VQ35 Oil Pan Upgrade

This complete VQ35 Oil Pan Upgrade Kit contains:

  • Extra Capacity VQ35 Oil Pan (350Z, G35 Sedan, G35 Coupe)
  • Oil Pickup Spacer (350Z, G35 Sedan, G35 Coupe)
  • Replacement Hardware
  • One Tube of Permatex Ultra Blue RTV
  • Detailed Installation Instructions

Here’s the product text from the STILLEN website:

Oil supply and temperature are critical when putting your VQ35DE engine through its paces. If your oil pickup becomes uncovered or your temperatures rise too high, catastrophic engine failure is just around the corner.

STILLEN’s Oil Pan Upgrade ensures that your Z or G has an ample supply of oil. This upgrade allows for an additional quart of oil. The extra capacity will allow your VQ to run cooler and more efficiently. Our design expands into the available space below the engine, while keeping the pan within the protective confines of the chassis.

STILLEN’s aluminum pan has cooling fins cast into it allowing heat to dissipate more effectively. An extension is provided for the oil pump pickup and new hardware is provided to attach everything to the engine. This simple, effective upgrade can be completed with normal hand tools. Complete instructions are provided.

Combine the STILLEN Oil Pan Upgrade with our STILLEN Oil Cooler for the 350Z and G35, and you now have a state of the art complete cooling solution for your oil system that keeps your VQ35DE’s oil temp under control.

Not for dual throttle body motors.

The 350Z, G35 Sedan and G35 Coupe Oil Pan Upgrade Kit is currently a featured product on RiceBoyTV.com

This 350Z, G35 Sedan and G35 Coupe Oil Pan Upgrade Kit will NOT fit dual throttle body vehicles.

Welcome back. We’ve been hard at work on our 2009 Nissan Maxima body parts and have some new photos to share.

Here’s a look at the final pieces created in the modeling shop, before the molds are made. This is where the fine tuning comes in, this part of the process takes a designer with a keen eye for detail and a steady hand.

Maxima Rear Wing

During this session some final changes and tweaks were made to the pieces.

The next step is creating the molds to make the parts. After that we’ll have final fitment checks on first production pieces. Stay Tuned – next time we’ll look at the 2009 Maxima performance part development and check in on some of our other projects.

Planned products coming for the 2009 Nissan Maxima:

  • STILLEN 2009 Nissan Maxima Urethane Body Kit:
    • 2009 Maxima Lip Spoiler
    • 2009 Maxima Grille – Urethane Surround w/Speed Grille Mesh
    • 2009 Maxima Side Skirts (Rockers)
    • 2009 Maxima Rear Wing (Spoiler)
    • 2009 Maxima Roof Wing
  • STILLEN 2009 Maxima Intake Kit
  • STILLEN 2009 Maxima Grounding Kit
  • STILLEN 2009 Maxima Cat-Back Exhaust System
  • STILLEN 2009 Maxima Sway Bars
  • AP Racing 2009 Maxima Big Brake Kit
  • AP Racing 2009 Maxima Cross-Drilled / Slotted Rotors
  • Mintex Xtreme 2009 Maxima High Performance Brake Pads
  • Goodridge 2009 Maxima Stainless Steel Brake Lines

For those that missed the original 2009 Maxima update, it’s available HERE

EDIT 10/30/08:  The Maxima is finished!  Click HERE for pictures/info!