Saying the words "Do-Luck" in certain ethnic communities one might unintentionally offend the elders. Pronounced Doe Raku, it's Japanese for a passion or a pastime-not the remotely similar pho restaurant expletive. The Ranch 99 parking lot experience that epitomizes the Chinese knockoff production has no doubt had a mixed blessing with the company name. In spite of this, Shigeru Ito seems completely unfazed, even pertinacious when he asserts that racing is at the heart of his company. Likewise, people know Do-Luck's OE fit and material quality. No one has ever actually accused Do-Luck cars of demonstrating form over function. If anything, that blame of fiberglass consumption can be placed on the rice-boy fraternity. Well, at least body kit sales help to fund racing.
To that end, current Do-Luck racing operations include domestic efforts at various circuits, along with teams from America and England swathed with Do-Luck. Last year marked exponential growth as UK team Sumo Power broke Brands Hatch track records with their 350Z and Evo IX. The Sumo Power lads also hit mid-8s at the Santa Pod drags with their "God of Wind" Fuujin R33-all using Do-Luck tuning and aero products. This year the Sumo Power team will be one of the first to challenge the Japanese on their home turf, Tsukuba.
The R34 GT-R that graces these pages is their street showcase car, which includes the trademark aero styling that is Do-Luck. This particular Skyline will race in the S-tire Class Time Attack series at Tsukuba.
All subtlety, tanuki, tokage and small children are lost within the confines of the front bumper spoiler and top hood diffuser, but a closer look reveals its functionality. The bumper frames a massively thick ARC 109mm 12-row intercooler and a carbon belly under tray. Complete with a NACA duct, the hood is composed of vacuum-molded carbon. Not only is it lightweight, it's also structural. Like the bumper, the front aero fender, side skirt and rear bumper spoiler/diffuser are all comprised of FRP. Downforce is addressed by Do-Luck's Type II carbon three-piece wing and drag coefficient by their aero mirror, which is also carbon. FRP tail lens covers finish off the aesthetics. Still, getting high on polymer resins only covers a fraction of the Do-Luck catalog.
Immediately noticeable upon popping the carbon hood is the enormous 1.0 A/R HKS TO4Z turbo that sits portside of the ubiquitous RB26, which feeds 1.4 bar to the ARC intercooler. Further up, the Nismo surge feeds port-matched Nismo-spec sextuple throttles. Turbulence gets encouragement from a PWR Enterprises 800cc charge and an HKS 272-degree cam lever against Nismo valves. On the exhaust stroke, the HKS 280-degree cam releases spent gasses spinning the HKS manifold, turbine and downpipe, ultimately flowing through an HKS hi-flow catalytic and a Do-Luck D-GrowKai exhaust.
Lets start on the bottom end by saying it's an HKS Stage 1 2.7-stroker kit. If the RB26 wasn't good enough, this one's been fitted with a complete HKS package including 4mm-plus stroke crank, H-beam connecting rods and 8:8 compression ratio, 87mm bore pistons. Known for its heat-resistant properties, the HKS pistons are coated in a nickel alloy.
Shigeru seems to ascribe to the old-school tuning ethos, as there's no V-cam here. A set of HKS adjustable camshaft pulleys was spotted after a close inspection of the engine bay. Delving further Do-Luck triple-core radiator and vacuum catch can display the company's aluminum-welding prowess. Finishing off our glimpse of the engine bay is an Okada Project coil with X-Power ignition amp and an HKS titanium strut brace. Fuel delivery is commissioned to twin Bosch fuel pumps fed through Earl's stainless hoses to a custom aluminum catch can. Downstream an HKS fuel rail with its PWR Enterprises injectors and Sard fuel regulator ensure that the RB is kept happy. Fuel management is administered by an HKS F-Con V-Pro Unit and boost levels by an EVC-Pro.