ojas's pics: 2005.10 NSXPO 2005

T minus 3 hours. The Austin crew prepares to depart.

I left at 5 PM CST and took a little break somewhere in the Texas countryside.

On I-20, between Abilene and Roscoe, a mean looking front is looming on the horizon.

1024 x 768 As I crossed the front, the winds picked-up considerably. Driving through the crosswinds kept me wide awake for the following hundred or so miles.

I passed several accidents, including one semi truck that must have jackknifed before it came to a rest in the highway median. By the time I arrived in Lubbock, it was really cold and really wet.

As I crossed the front, the winds picked-up considerably. Driving through the crosswinds kept me wide awake for the following hundred or so miles. I passed several accidents, including one semi truck that must have jackknifed before it came to a rest in the highway median. By the time I arrived in Lubbock, it was really cold and really wet.

1024 x 768 I made it to New Mexico by the end of the day and spent the night in a little town called Clovis. Accomodations at the Howard Johnson Express Inn were decent.

I made it to New Mexico by the end of the day and spent the night in a little town called Clovis. Accomodations at the Howard Johnson Express Inn were decent.

The following morning, I was well-rested and was looking forward to joining the Albuquerque caravan to NSXPO.

1024 x 768 I’m in the middle of the Llano Estacado - a region that covers much of west Texas and east New Mexico. It spans nearly 40,000 square mile, so the slope from the 2000 feet elevation change from one corner to the opposite is completely imperceptible.

One can spot the occasional plateau from miles awake; however, there’s really not much to see - not even a tree.

I’m in the middle of the Llano Estacado - a region that covers much of west Texas and east New Mexico. It spans nearly 40,000 square mile, so the slope from the 2000 feet elevation change from one corner to the opposite is completely imperceptible. One can spot the occasional plateau from miles awake; however, there’s really not much to see - not even a tree.

The scenery starts to change.

I take a little break about 30 minutes from Albuquerque.

Mountains start to emerge.

The Sandia Mountains, just east of Albuquerque, are quite imposing.

I never met any of the NSX owners who I would be joining in Albuquerque...

1024 x 768 We had a fantastic lunch at with 6 other NSX owners from Albuquerque (Viper Driver, NSXT, Don Lakotish) and Colorado (Doc C, LRDVader, Ojas).

After lunch, 53HeloFE meets up with us as we depart for the Kirtland Air Force Base for a photo shoot. I follow Doc C's beautiful Silverstone 2004. I actually saw this NSX a little over a year ago - when it was sitting in the showroom of an Acura dealer in Austin.

We had a fantastic lunch at with 6 other NSX owners from Albuquerque (Viper Driver, NSXT, Don Lakotish) and Colorado (Doc C, LRDVader, Ojas). After lunch, 53HeloFE meets up with us as we depart for the Kirtland Air Force Base for a photo shoot. I follow Doc C's beautiful Silverstone 2004. I actually saw this NSX a little over a year ago - when it was sitting in the showroom of an Acura dealer in Austin.

1024 x 455 One more enthusiastic NSX owner, gotTurbo, joins us at the base, where we take photos with one of the styling inspirations of the NSX - the F16.

One more enthusiastic NSX owner, gotTurbo, joins us at the base, where we take photos with one of the styling inspirations of the NSX - the F16.

1024 x 768 gotTurbo is the owner of this Monte Carlo Blue 1997 NSX-T. Under the hatch lives a Factor X FX400 turbo system. As gotTurbo demonstrated later, it’s plenty fast.

gotTurbo is the owner of this Monte Carlo Blue 1997 NSX-T. Under the hatch lives a Factor X FX400 turbo system. As gotTurbo demonstrated later, it’s plenty fast.

1024 x 768 Five of us (Viper Driver, Don, Doc C, LrdVader, and myself) depart for Phoenix, planning to enjoy driving through the mountains and canyons in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona.

There is some interesting cloud/mountain/sun interaction on the way down to Socorro.

Five of us (Viper Driver, Don, Doc C, LrdVader, and myself) depart for Phoenix, planning to enjoy driving through the mountains and canyons in western New Mexico and eastern Arizona. There is some interesting cloud/mountain/sun interaction on the way down to Socorro.

West on US Highway 60, we start going through some mountains.

It seems like one could take a short hike up a hill and end up in the clouds.

A little while later, we arrived at one of our scheduled stops - the <a href=

VLA." alt="1024 x 768 A little while later, we arrived at one of our scheduled stops - the VLA." />

A little while later, we arrived at one of our scheduled stops - the VLA.

We encounter more beautiful scenery as we continue west.

The road is just slightly wet, but we are having no problems. Yet.

Five minutes later, four NSXs are off the road.

1024 x 768 It all happened so fast. I remember seeing Viper Driver’s NSX fishtail side-to-side and thinking “hydroplane”. (Even during that split second, I thought this was odd because the road surface did not offer any sort of visual clue - there was no transistion and the area did not look any different than the rest of the road. I also did not see any “roostertail” from Viper Driver’s NSX.)

So I slowed down, but had no chance. As the car skidded sideways into a ditch, I thought for sure I was going to flip. I could not see a thing and just braced for the roll. Debris covered the windshield - it was not until the car stopped that I was able to see anything.

It all happened so fast. I remember seeing Viper Driver’s NSX fishtail side-to-side and thinking “hydroplane”. (Even during that split second, I thought this was odd because the road surface did not offer any sort of visual clue - there was no transistion and the area did not look any different than the rest of the road. I also did not see any “roostertail” from Viper Driver’s NSX.) So I slowed down, but had no chance. As the car skidded sideways into a ditch, I thought for sure I was going to flip. I could not see a thing and just braced for the roll. Debris covered the windshield - it was not until the car stopped that I was able to see anything.

Back outside, the Science of Speed Zanardi #8 looks good. 15mm/25mm spacers add an aggressive stance.

The Poohbear-style paint scheme shows off the carbon-fiber, yet maintains a tasteful appearance.

The crew prepares for the group photo.

This is the most NSXs I have ever seen in person in one place.

There are rows and rows of Japan's finest.

I follow Kenny on the way back to the hotel (because I have no idea how to get there).

1024 x 768 Saturday morning's activities include technical seminars and vendor displays. The new supercharger system from Science of Speed I read about the night before is on display.

Saturday morning's activities include technical seminars and vendor displays. The new supercharger system from Science of Speed I read about the night before is on display.

The individual throttle bodies look amazing. I can only imagine how intoxicating it must sound.

The Science of Speed Zanardi #8 is running AEM engine management - big news for owners of OBD2 NSXs.

The widebody trio and the Zanardi are the most unique NSXs around.

Purple?

More purple?

This once-black NSX now has an amazing custom purple candy (?) paint job.

Comptech brought an incredibly well-modded NSX.

It has all the mods you need and none you don't.

It is owned by Kip Olson and was in the Ultimate Street Car Challenge in the November 2005 issue of Sport Compact Car Magazine.

It looks mint - inside and out.

I am in love.

Comptech had their updated supercharger on display. The new design looks good. More importantly, it produces more power.

1024 x 768 The NSX community is very fortunate to have a long-time aftermarket supplier like Comptech. It is rare to have a company who produces such high-quality products and is committed to such a limited production car. I suppose it's a natural fit - Comptech, as a company, seems to embody the same enthusiasm and appreciation for quality as the NSX owners.

The NSX community is very fortunate to have a long-time aftermarket supplier like Comptech. It is rare to have a company who produces such high-quality products and is committed to such a limited production car. I suppose it's a natural fit - Comptech, as a company, seems to embody the same enthusiasm and appreciation for quality as the NSX owners.

I take a break back inside. We had a beautiful view out of the hotel balcony.

1024 x 768 That afternoon, we depart for the Pavilions Car Show and

That afternoon, we depart for the Pavilions Car Show and "Zymol Concours pour L'Amusement".

Nick's and Gus's NSXs are looking good.

The guys running the show did an excellent job of getting grouping all the NSXs together.

There were lots of beautiful NSXs.

There were also some interesting non-NSXs.

Norm has one of the cleanest NSXs on the planet.

Several silver NSXs were group together. My NSX is next to Gus's.

Nick's NSX is not far away.

Sam's NSX looks showroom condition as usual.

These guys are the judges?

We head back to the hotel.

To the west is a lovely sunset.

Gus

Ms. Purple

Ms. Purple and Sam

It's drag race time for Ms. Purple, Sam, and Gus!

OK, I don't know who won the race, but Ms. Purple and her beautiful NSX gets the win in my book.

Later that evening, we gathered back at the hotel for the banquet dinner and awards ceremony.

Mike (NeoNSX) made a wonderful speach.

I'm so glad he made it to NSXPO and that I was finally able to meet him. I'm sure everyone else felt the same way.

Thanks to all the sponsors.

YMCA!

A few folks head straight to the bar after dinner.

...to watch the F1 race.

The following morning, we go for a group drive to Watson Lake in Prescott. The roads there were amazing with lots of curves and very smooth.

NSXs took over the parking lot.

Dozens of NSXs were quite a sight...

...but they did not compare to the natural beauty of the area.

Unreal

Nick and I ruin what would have been a fantastic shot.

Gus

Back at the lot, folks start lining up for individual photos.

Northeast NSX group

Mike

Nico

And then, I run into these guys...

Looking good?

They do have nice NSXs.

Mark

Nice form!

Nick, Gus, Frank, Kelvin, and I head towards Sedona. Well, we head there after point our cars in the right direction.

Jerome

What a quaint little town hanging off the side of the mountain!

We arrive in Sedona.

Gus's NSX

Nick's NSX next to mine

Frank's NSX

We take a pit stop for some ice cream.

Gus at the Chapel of the Holy Cross

The architecture is nothing less than a piece of art.

This place is so serene.

Beautiful view

A huge residence is under construction below the chapel.

The amazing architecture blends with the natural formations.

We stop for gas before we go back to Scottsdale for dinner.

We drive directly to the Pinnacle Peak Patio for dinner.

We arrive just in time.

Live music

After dinner, we go back to the hotel and rest up for tomorrow's track day.

It's a 30 minute drive to the track. The RL (with SH-AWD) looks impressive.

Gus looks ready for some serious driving.

Lito on the track

Nick on the track

Lito on the track

Pikes Peak Acura race car

There does not seem to be many race or track-prepared NSXs with widebodies, so the Pikes Peak Acura car is quite unique in this way.

What the?

Interesting brake dust pattern

Gus chats with his fans.

I love the phat-five wheels!

After a long day, we head back to clean-up for dinner.

I follow Frank and Nick.

Kenny and Conrad

The gang

Mike looks a bit worried by Conrad's advances.

After dinner, we decide to go karting. On the way there, we spot a Mirage that thinks it's a Range Rover.

Heather and Stephen's NSX

The following morning, we are back at the track.

Something's missing.

Oh yeah, it's my side vent.

After a thrilling day and a half at the track (and 5 days in Phoenix), it's time to pack up and go home.

The road back is long, but at least the scenery is nice.

There are some interesting rock formations in the distance.

I wish I could stop and take some pictures.

Awesome! There is a rest area here.

Trees, boulders, mountain, moon

Less than an hours later, I am in New Mexico.

I take a break to stretch.

Even though I'm wearing dirty clothes and my car is missing a side vent, we still look pretty good.

Beware of rattlesnakes.

The longest part of the trip is still to come.

Big tires for some sweet DUBs?

What a blast the last 5 days have been.

It is dark by the time I reach Texas.

I need to take a break if I want to keep driving through the night.

I play around with my camera for a while to help keep from feeling tired.

When you are in the middle of nowhere, you see a lot more stars.

I'm making good time and am less than 2 hours from my parents place (where I will spend the night), when I encounter some fog.

It is actually, not just "some fog". It is the thickest fog I have ever seen in Texas.

1024 x 768 This picture is screwed up a little, but it captures exactly how I felt. After being on the road for about ten hours, driving through fog for a hundred or so miles made it feel as I was playing that old Atari 2600 video game: Night Driver.

This picture is screwed up a little, but it captures exactly how I felt. After being on the road for about ten hours, driving through fog for a hundred or so miles made it feel as I was playing that old Atari 2600 video game: Night Driver.