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1994 Acura NSX captures 1st place in the Nevada Open Road Challenge

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navigator Linda Hinson and driver Wei-Shen Chin with some new hardware

On May 16th, 1999 our red/black Acura NSX won first place in the Grand Sport Division of the Nevada Open Road Challenge with an average speed of 135.0281mph. We finished the 90-mile course on Rt.318 in 39'59", 1 second faster than our target time of 40minutes. Through a series of blunders and miscalculations we had somehow managed to cross the finish line exactly on time. Our timing equipment consisted of a $6 plastic digital stopwatch from Walgreens and old-fashioned analog charting devices known as a clipboard/pen combo. We felt like Fred and Wilma Flinstone going up against GPS receivers, rally computers and iridium satellite phones. We were rookies and we came to have fun. To win the race was beyond our wildest dreams.

What's it like to drive at speeds up to 165mph on a state highway, you ask? First we made some adjustments to the car to provide more stability at these incredible speeds:

lowered the car 2.0" in the front, 1.0" in the rear for positive rake
replaced the stock 94 airdam with the larger 97+ airdam
reduced the negative camber to -.25 on the front wheels, -1.0 rear
reduced front toe out to 2mm, rear toe in to 2mm to reduce heat
purchased new tires prior to the trip
inflated front tires to 40psi, rears to 48psi to reduce tire squirm
increased closing pressure of frameless windows by tilting them in
engine had revised oil-pump gears for increased oil volume
3.0L V-6 was supercharged providing 395bhp to get to 165+mph
Brembo 4-piston calipers and 13.5" cross-drilled rotors
Comptech pro-suspension kit and Dali Racing anti-sway bars

We prepared ourselves for every possible complication except one. Snow and 25 degrees on race morning.

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Road signs were designed to be read at 70mph. They're impossible to read at 165mph, especially the tiny mile markers, the only clues to exactly where we were. Couple that with glare from the morning sun and the bland central Nevada terrain and we're still not sure where several of the supposed checkpoints were.

The NSX tracked as straight as an arrow. No vibration. No air leaks from the windows. Our speed ranged from 100mph in the turns to 150-165mph in the straights. It was exhilarating to flash past the radar gun at 165mph. The NSX inspired confidence at any speed.

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There were a total of 180 cars entered of which 8 were in the unlimited speed class. Approximately 12 cars broke down somewhere on the course. Of the 8 unlimiteds only 2 finished. A Buick T-type crashed and flipped over at 180+mph due to a blown tire. A Pantera burned to the ground in the 160mph class. Luckily both drivers escaped with no injuries.

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The first five places in the 135mph class were separated by a total of .06mph. Second place went to a Ford Cobra at 135.0488mph and third to a Ford Mustang at 135.0631mph. The highest average speed went to a Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 at 177mph. That mark will now be placed in the Guiness Book of World Records as the fastest speed on a public highway. That same car was clocked at 220mph in the radar trap.

There were many beautiful machines at this event. The people were great. The town of Ely opened its arms to all that tourist traffic. We'll be back to race again in 2000. Now if we can just find a sponsor, modify a 3.2L engine to make 550bhp....

More photos are thumbnailed below.