In what seems like a split second you hit the 9,000-rpm fuel cut as the wastegates scream away under the car and the exhaust expels copious amounts of hot gasses. Grab the next gear through the tight OS Giken close-ratio gearset and the acceleration gives no sign of dying off. There is so much power available that the car torque-steers from all four wheels and virtually veers left and right as you desperately tug at the steering wheel in an attempt to keep her straight. This is what high-power GT-Rs are all about: monster acceleration in every gear with equally impressive and relentless grip. Should you feel the need to light the rears up the Grid Dancer torque split controller allows you to send all power to the back while a line lock system makes sure you stay put.
With this amount of thrust under your right foot a decent set of brakes are always a good idea and Duke certainly didn't skimp in this area. Grex/Alcon 4-pot front calipers bite down on slotted rotors providing a reassuring strong pedal feel at any speed. The owner of the car enjoys the occasional time attack on fast circuits like Fuji Speedway and so the suspension can be set up for either circuit or drag thanks to the fully adjustable Kawasaki coil-over kit.
Back in the interior a set of HKS dials keep important parameters like oil pressure and exhaust gas temperature under scrutiny while the Nismo 320 km/h combination meter is eclipsed by an Auto Meter Sport Comp tach with shift light, a necessary piece of equipment for those full rpm drag launches. The rear of the Recaro bucket seats have actually been signed by none other than Daijiro Inada, the daddy of all things aftermarket and extreme in Japan. They were actually purchased at auction and fitted to the car recently, without a doubt a great conversation starter.
Duke Racing was clearly successful in the goal of developing a heart-stopping R33 that isn't so ostentatious everyone stares. In Japan, the owner of this GT-R can blend in with the others when he wants to and with a tap on the accelerator blow everyone away on a whim. Peel off the stickers and this Skyline is the sleeper of all sleepers. What we were reminded of is the age-old adage: "Don't judge a book by its cover." The true beauty here, or one could say threat, lies under the hood.