These Top 10 style articles are popular in both the Diamond Star and Honda camps. We like them because they help chart the course of the breed. For instance, our last Diamond Star review (February 1999) the number 10 car ran an 11.38. This Top 10 had a cut-off e.t. of 10.74-that's evolution. The times for this article were taken from the recognized source for DSM drag times-www.keckconsulting.com. Of course, the numbers may change between the time we put this feature together and the time it hits the stands.
David Buschur
Buschur Racing
9.43 @ 141 mph
1992 Eagle Talon RWD
When it comes to 2.0-liter Diamond Star performance, David Buschur's rear-drive, back-half chassis'd Talon is in a class by itself. The Eagle battles in the Outlaw Class while the vast majority of the other cars featured in this list are of the Quick Class variety. Dave's Talon (cover February 1999) runs a Powerglide automatic transmission that spins a race-prepped Chevy 12-bolt rearend. The Buschur Racing-built 4G63 is pressurized by a T-Series Turbonetics ball bearing turbo that is fed exhaust gases via a HKS four-into-one cast-iron manifold. Boost is chilled by a Buschur Racing front-mount intercooler prior to entering a Buschur-fabricated intake manifold. Buschur raced the yellow beast from coast to coast in 1999 and looks to better that effort in 2000.
Sean Glazar
Extreme Motorsports
9.57 @ 148 mph
1992 Eagle Talon Tsi
Sean's Talon is the world's quickest uni-body Diamond Star and at 9.57 is the world's quickest Quick Class racer period. As chief proprietor of Extreme Motorsports, Sean knows what makes a 4G63 tick; being a hardcore racer, he knows what makes a Diamond Star break. The Talon's built engine is boosted by a secret-spec Garrett turbo and controlled via a Haltech E6S-8 fuel computer. In our last Top 10, the car was running four 750cc injectors and a EFI Systems PMS. With the Haltech, Sean is utilizing eight 550cc squirters. Extreme has recently installed a DynoJet which has had a profound impact on the Extreme stable of cars. Sean has also recently moved to slicks (four of them) which is why he has both improved e.t.s and increased breakage. Extreme Motorsports plans to focus on fortifying the driveline in the off season.
Brent Rau
Extreme Motorsports
9.74 @ 146 mph
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Brent's powerplant has changed greatly since its 11-second days (January '99). Extreme Motorsports converted the car to stand-alone engine management utilizing a Haltech E6S that replaced previous stock ECU and PMS piggyback set-up. The 4G63 now runs an HKS exhaust manifold and an Extreme Motorsports-spec turbo that is more efficient than the previous turbo, generating 30 to 40 more horsepower at the same boost setting. A pair of HKS 272-degree cams also help the induction characteristics and power generation of the 2.0-liter. With these mods, Brent was able to run 10.57. How did he go from 10.57 to 9.74? Sean put it best. "The only difference between a 10.57 and a 9.74 is a really good launch and a 100-horse shot of nitrous." A Nitrous Express single-nozzle GEN-X kit was plumbed up and the combination was fine-tuned on the dyno.
Lyle Henry
Extreme Motorsports
10.54 @ 133 mph
1995 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Lyle is also out of the Extreme Motorsports stable. His '95 Eclipse was being prepped for the 1999 Diamond Star Shootout when the engine's oil pump failed on the dyno, resulting in a spun bearing. With less than 48 hours until the race, the Extreme crew swapped in a first-generation powerplant. Barely making the show, Lyle advanced to the semis where Brent Rau got the better of him. His 11.08 at that event put him in the top 10. Since then he has improved to number 5 and 10.54. Lyle's engine runs a Haltech computer and a custom Extreme intake manifold. The intercooler on Lyle's DSM is an air-to-liquid proposition and a Nitrous Express system has been plumbed up but reportedly not used on the strip as of yet.
Garry Marsh
WrighTouch Racing
10.23 @ 137 mph
1990 Plymouth Laser RS
Garry Marsh runs his Laser out of the WrighTouch Racing stable. The car is the world's quickest front-drive Diamond Star with its impressive 10.40 second e.t. It can be seen at Texas tracks, namely Houston and Dallas, during import events as well as grudge nights. The hard-hitting first-gen car flexes a fully-built 4G63 that runs a GReddy T78 turbo, a custom Wrightouch exhaust manifold, a front-mount GReddy intercooler originally destined for a Supra and a high-energy MSD DIS ignition. The engine is commanded by a Haltech E6S-8 fuel computer that drives four stock 450cc primary injectors and four 850cc secondaries. The car has been sponsored by GReddy and looks to make a big impact in 2000.
John Shepherd
Buschur Racing
10.70 @ 132 mph
1991 Eagle Talon Tsi
John's Talon is out of Buschur's barn. The intake system of the 4G63 consists of a 20G turbo, Buschur Racing front-mount intercooler and a Bushur Racing custom intake manifold. Boost is limited to 25 psi via an HKS wastegate. Also part of the induction equation are HKS bumpsticks and AEM Tru-Time cam gears, The engine is tuned by HKS VPC and GCC computers working in accordance with the stock ECU. Internally, the 2.0-liter has been built with JE slugs and Crower rods.
Earl Hinds
WrighTouch Racing
10.69 @ 127 mph
1978 Toyota Corolla
Here's a twist on the usual Diamond Star plot-an old school Corolla with a 4G63 under the hood. The car is configured for rear-wheel-drive so the 4G63 has been rotated thereby opening up room for a bigger turbo. The bottom end of Earl's engine consists of JE pistons, Saenz rods and a stock crank. The valvetrain is commanded by HKS 272-degree cams. The fuel system is made up of 750cc injectors that are run by an HKS VPC, Apex AFC and Apex ITC computers along with a tuned stock 1995 DSM ECU. Induction is provided by a TS04 turbo. The turbo system uses a Blitz blow-off valve, front-mount intercooler and Edelbrock 75mm throttle body. A pair of NOS bottles provide a mist of power on the top end. Earl's Toyota is based in Florida and its stomping grounds include Moroso Motorsports Park.
Jeff Hill
TurboTrix
10.73 @ 132 mph
1991 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Jeff Hill's TurboTrix Eclipse was recently featured in the December '99 issue and little has changed since. The first-gen engine runs second-gen pistons and rings. The 4G63 is topped by a Bushur Racing head which was ExtrudeHoned for added flow and fitted with stainless-steel valves. Valvetrain events are controlled by HKS camshafts. On the induction side, TurboTrix modified the intake manifold to accept a big 70mm BBK throttle body.
Todd Chiamparino
BRE Engines
10.74 @ 135 mph
1990 Mitsubishi Eclipse GSX
Todd caught the Diamond Star bug after reading about the Diamond Star Shootout in Turbo. He attended the next shootout and, as they say, the rest is history. Todd has the distinction of being the only Top 10 car from the West Coast. Based in San Carlos, California Todd looked to BRE Engines in San Jose for 10-second power. BRE strengthened the internals with Ross pistons, Crower rods and a knife-edged stock crankshaft. BRE reworked the cylinder head bowls and ports, added Inconel valves, experimental twin-spring valve springs and titanium retainers. Web Cam cams oversee the proceedings. A one-off BRE turbo system flexes a T-Series Turbonetics turbo and boosts to 28 psi. The car retains most of its factory interior and was a daily driver when it appeared in the October 1999 issue of Turbo.
Dan Kraft
Extreme Motorsports
10.76 @ 135 mph
1990 Eagle Talon RS
In the last Top 10, Dan was perched at 10th with an 11.38. Since then, he and his front-drive Talon have broken into the 10s to hold on to the last spot in our survey. In 11-second trim, Dan ran stock rods and second-generation pistons in his short block. He has since moved to Crower rods and forged pistons. Back in the day he ran a stock ECU with EFI Systems PMS set-up but like most of Extreme's top-flight cars a Haltech now oversees engine functions. The proof of these mods is in the proverbial pudding-the car is .62 seconds quicker than before.