News : June 16, 2009
I’ve updated the website with photos from the Myrtle Beach Corvette Show and the ImportsNC Meet from this past weekend.
National Speed was a sponsor of the Myrtle Beach Corvette show and we’d like to thank the Myrtle Beach Corvette Club for asking us to be involved this year. We met a lot of great [...]
News : May 26, 2009
We’ve recently created a Facebook account for the shop. So, if you’ve got Facebook make sure to add us! This is just one more way for you to keep up with the events, news, sales, and other awesome stuff that we’ve got going on here at National Speed.
CLICK HERE to check out our [...]
Uncategorized : May 20, 2009
The Port City Mopars hosted their 10th annual “Charity Car Show” this past weekend. This is the second time we’ve been involved in this show and we plan on being there again next year too! Over 100 cars packed into the show. The cars were beautiful and the weather cooperated all day. Check out some [...]
News : May 14, 2009
Attention fellow automotive enthusiasts,
If you’re a customer then we’d like to post your car or truck on our website! One thing we take pride in here at National Speed is the wide variety of vehicles that we work on, which is why we’ve got a section dedicated to showing off our customers rides. [...]
News : May 13, 2009
Over the past month or so we’ve attended a few events including the Rims on the River car show, Harleys & Hotrods, and the Fast & Furious Premier.
I just uploaded some pictures from the events and I want you all to check them out! Make sure to check back periodically as we will continue [...]
News : February 23, 2009
National Speed, a premiere automotive shop featuring high performance parts, is now an official Apexi and Power Excel Dealer.
Editorial : February 20, 2009
Everyone on the planet has seen Steve McQueen careen down the streets of San Francisco in Bullitt or marveled at the vehicular insanity on display in the Jason Bourne movies. It’s amazing stuff to be sure, but it’s also pretty boring at this point. If you’ve seen one car chase you’ve seen them all…or have you?
Gear and Tech : February 18, 2009
F-Sport has finally expanded it’s already ridiculously awesome product line to include the Lexus GS, IS C and the IS AWD models. The F-Sport line (parts derived or inspired by the Lexus IS-F) has only encompassed the IS250 and IS350 line, but now you can have all of the previously exclusive and ballertastic parts on [...]
News : February 18, 2009
We’ve updated the Dyno/Tuning section of the National Speed website to now include dynocharts from some of the cars we’ve tuned. This is just a small selection of the dyno charts that we have available. There’s plenty more to come.
We just wanted to give you a preview of the upcoming feast…kind of like [...]
Media : February 16, 2009
In case you’ve been living under a rock, or missed the 30 second teaser that aired during the Superbowl, Transformers 2 is going to own you. Judging by the latest trailer, the sequel doesn’t look to disappoint — it’s bigger, louder, and will eat your babies if you don’t watch it.
Pay careful attention during [...]
Gear and Tech : February 13, 2009
This is quite possibly the most entertaining deathtrap ever created. Can you imagine 638HP in a 2,138lb package? That’s around 3.3lbs per horsepower. To put that into comparison the Bugatti Veyron has a P/W ratio of 4.1lbs. UK Garage decided to give the Lotus Exige a “little” boost in power.
Based on the Lotus Exige chassis, [...]
News : February 12, 2009
National Speed is an industry leading performance automotive company based in Wilmington, NC. We’re working to build a new generation database of performance parts, and we’re looking for a talented, energetic, detail oriented candidate to fill the position of Data Manager.
News : February 12, 2009
The new 2010 SHO is finally revealed. With 365 force-fed ponies, paddle shifters and the aid of All-wheel-drive, the new Ford Taurus SHO is sure to excite…Ford guys with families need to have their fun too, right?
Gear and Tech : February 11, 2009
Want to feel the power between your legs? Mission Motors has you covered, recently unveiling an electric crotch rocket capable of going 150 mph. Read on for specs and pics.
Gear and Tech : February 10, 2009
Ever thought about placing a Motor in the middle of your living room? How about putting YOUR rear end in the rear end of a car?…in your kitchen. In order to get as much automotive paraphernalia as you can in your life, you need to bring some of these unorthodox contraptions into your home.
Events : February 10, 2009
On February 10th, National Speed hosted the ECOTEC Cruise-in and Dyno Day. Tons of ECOTEC powered goodness was on hand…We had more Cobalts on display than the periodic table. Read on for more pics and info.
News : February 9, 2009
It has long been thought that the Black Stig was killed off when he dramatically drove off of the HMS Invincible in a Jaguar XJS and plummeted into the Ocean, never to be seen again. Alas, whether it be from advanced internal sense or just a long nap, the Black Stig has returned.
News : February 6, 2009
You may have noticed a few staff changes the past few months at National Speed, and with that comes a new sheriff in town…and his name’s Jack Harris. Actually, Jack’s not really affiliated with the long arm of the law, but he does have really long arms so that probably counts for something.
Media : February 5, 2009
Check out the sexy new shop tour of National Speed. We spared no expense and hired Steven Spielberg to direct it. Actually, we spared a lot of expense and hired his Canadian, non-union equivalent. Read on and behold the cinematic glory that is National Speed.
News : February 4, 2009
Aston Martin, purveyors of the automobile we’d most like to have sex with, have decided to take their oh-so-delicious Vantage and add 4 more cylinders. Read on for sexy pics of the Vantage, just be sure you’ve got some spare ice cubes around because this sucker is HOT!
Humor : February 3, 2009
Having a tough time picking up the ladies? Shave that mullet, tuck in that shirt and leave the El Camino at home. If you’re trying to show that special someone a good time this Valentine’s day, take our advice and stay far, far away from these rides.
Editorial : February 2, 2009
There are some sounds that just hit people the right way. Whether it be the sharp, raucous bark of a Porsche flat 6, the whine of a ported Eaton, or the low thrum of an STi, there’s a sound for everyone. Read on for the list…
Gear and Tech : January 30, 2009
Audi is working on a new technology called “Travolution” which allows for drivers to tell when the stoplight will change. Think of all the times you are rolling up quickly on a stoplight trying to decide whether or not the light will turn red by the time you get there. Thanks to Audi’s Travolution [...]
Gear and Tech : January 29, 2009
What the hell is a Rotary Motor? What’s all this about rotors and NO PISTONS!?! Blasphemy! Jokes aside, the rotary gets a lot of flack but there’s actually many advantages to this type of engine. While you make think that’s “rotarted”, read on to learn more.
News : January 28, 2009
There’s much hype over the new 2010 Mustangs, and the most important part is the engine choices. There’s been a lot of gossip and smack talk about potential Mustang engines, and now you can add one more to the fire. 400 Horsepower sound good?
Events : January 27, 2009
There’s nothing better than hanging out with a group of car aficionados killing time and talking shop. Throw in a smoking hot Dodge Viper SRT10, 600 horsepower Nissan 350Z, and a slap-your-momma C6 ZO6 Corvette into the mix and you’ve got yourself one hella good Dyno Day.
Humor : January 26, 2009
Nigerian Police are holding a goat in custody for accusations of stealing a car. A goat that Nigerian police believe to be a witch that transformed into a goat in order to evade authorities. Yes, you read all that correctly. I’ve heard some pretty crazy stuff, but Grand Theft Auto: Goat is definitely a new one.
Humor : January 26, 2009
What’s in a name? Plenty. Take for example the fictional British spies James Bond and Harry Palmer. There’s a reason why everyone remembers James Bond and nobody has a clue who Harry Palmer is (I’m sure it doesn’t help that Harry Palmer sounds like someone addicted to self-pleasure).
Bad analogies and juvenile sex [...]
Gear and Tech : January 23, 2009
While viewing coverage for this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon, I’ve noticed a few trends that might take off here in the States.
The main thing that I’ve seen is wheel vinyl…As in printed vinyl on the lips of wheels. Printed Graphics on cars is nothing new of course, but putting this type of thing on wheels [...]
News : January 23, 2009
So you may have noticed we’ve given the National Speed website a face lift. A little nip here, a tuck there. But not to worry, we didn’t go all Kenny Rogers on you. We’re still the same National Speed you’ve come to know and love.
“OMG! They Killed Kenny!”
But this isn’t just a [...]
Editorial : January 22, 2009
As the automotive industry catches up with the technology at its disposal, more and more brick and mortar shops are opening online performance parts stores. In an industry that’s largely resistant to change, it’s nice to see people finally embracing the opportunities that an online performance parts store has to offer.
But there’s trouble in [...]
Editorial : January 21, 2009
Alright, I’ve seen a lot of odd conversions and such, but this one is just out there.
Midfield motors went out of the way for advertisement and crafted up a Lexus LS400 with a pickup bed on it. Not too sure where the rear end came from, but in all honesty, it’s a clean conversion…despite how [...]
Gear and Tech : January 20, 2009
Everything old is new again. Rocky Balboa, Rambo, Indiana Jones, John McClane, even the Dodge Challenger have all blown the dust off and made notable digital age comebacks. And while Indiana Jones probably should’ve stayed in mothballs, the brand new Radio Flyer wagon looks set to make a welcome return.
As you can see, [...]
News : January 19, 2009
Yep, that’s it folks. The white horseman of Top Gear has officially been revealed. There’s been much speculation as to who the legendary “stig” is, and the cat is finally out of the bag.
It’s 33 year-old Ben Collins! Ben Collins has raced everything from NASCAR and Lemans, to doing movie stunt work. Most recently Ben [...]
Editorial : January 16, 2009
Pay no attention to Greg’s Dream Garage list, this is the real deal. However, I drive a Ford Focus station wagon, so take my opinion for what it’s worth…
1961 Triumph TR6 Trophy Bird. I’ve always wanted a motorcycle, and if I can ever afford it, this is the one I’d get. You can [...]
Editorial : January 15, 2009
You know, I figured it’d be a lot easier to narrow it down to 5 cars I wish I had, but alas it seems almost impossible. I could probably narrow it down to a top 20, but that’d still be tough. Either way, I’ve tried to narrow it down to a top 5. For some [...]
News : January 14, 2009
Well here’s one that’s rather off the wall.
Created by Loren Kulesus, the Cadillac World Thorium Fuel Concept (WTF) is designed to last 100 years without any normal maintenance. That means tires, gas, oil, or anything for that matter. How would they go about achieving this, you might ask? Apparently they’re using something called “Thorium” [...]
News : January 14, 2009
Right up there with the greatest unsolved mysteries of the world (who’s the second gunman on the grassy knoll? Who shot J.R.? What happened to Steven Seagal’s career?) — the true identity of Top Gear’s The Stig has finally been revealed…
Sort of.
News of the World reports that the anonymous driver is a happily [...]
News : January 13, 2009
For those of you looking forward to the stout and sleek Ford Interceptor, you can pretty much throw that idea out of your head.
J Mays, Ford’s design chief is officially saying that Ford Motor Company’s plans for a new RWD Sedan is done-for. Mays states that FoMoCo has “Other Priorities” and that “We’re going down [...]
News : January 12, 2009
I may not be the biggest fan of hybrid automobiles, but it would appear my prayers have finally been answered. Fisker Automotive, the newest American manufacturer of green automobiles for aging hippies, has actually made a Hybrid that doesn’t look like a hulked out electric shaver.
Click to biggie-size for extra sexiness.
Not only is [...]
News : January 12, 2009
Hennessey, of Twin Turbo Viper and SRT fame, has got their hands on a 2010 Camaro already.
A supercharged 6.2 liter LS9 fuels the new Camaro (dubbed the HPE700) and it pumps out 705 horsepower and 717lb/ft torque routed through Michelin PS2’s (not PlayStation’s) wrapped around lightweight HRE wheels. Slowing down the Camaro is a set [...]
Gear and Tech : January 9, 2009
Sorry for the deceiving title, I’m not hawking parts today. This article is about increasing the Top Speed Performance of your vehicle. Sure, you can always increase acceleration, but it gets to a point where horsepower becomes a minuscule factor and you’re aerodynamically limited as opposed to horsepower or gearing limited. This is mainly for [...]
News : January 8, 2009
Yep, it’s time folks. For a while now, the GTR Spec V has been speculated on more than Britney Spears or Oil prices. It’s officially official! Nissan released the scoop this week. Unfortunately though, it will NOT be sold in the US.
So what does this Spec V have that the GTR doesn’t? Well first off [...]
Media : January 7, 2009
Today I felt like highlighting automotive videos shot with REAL Production quality. While the burnout you did in your dad’s Camaro on Streetfire was cool, the fact that it was shot on a cellphone and was so fuzzy you could barely make out your mullet and acid washed attire was not cool.
I suppose the point [...]
Media : January 6, 2009
Watch the video below to learn about the greatest breakthrough in medical science since the twelve hour erection. And if for some reason the embedded video doesn’t work for you, click the following link to learn more about Turbolestra.
Hear what customers are saying about Turbolestra!
“Turbolestra is the most mind-blowing experience I’ve had since [...]
Editorial : January 5, 2009
We’re now through the looking glass. The world has changed and there’s no turning back. The machines have won. At this point it’s only a matter of time before Judgment Day arrives and a metallic endoskeleton that looks strangely like the Governor of California comes marching down the street to urge you [...]
News : January 2, 2009
Tired of getting punked on the way to the Grocery store? Wanting to run 9’s at the dragstrip but take the kids too? Trying to take a weekend roadtrip and smash on a few turbo Corvettes along the way? Folks, if you answered “Yes” to any of these questions, I have your answer.
The LSX Gods [...]
Editorial : December 31, 2008
As if the title didn’t make it clear enough…this is it, the last blog of 2008.
It’s hard to believe that we’ve been cranking out these blogs since…whenever we started cranking these things out, but its been a lot of fun and we hope you’ve enjoyed reading them. That being said, we hope to take [...]
Gear and Tech : December 30, 2008
Holy Carbon Fiber Crap, Batman!
Yesterday’s article wasn’t nearly enough to cover the wondrous objects constructed out of this woven greatness. I found a few more things that are a little….out there.
First on this list is something completely unnecessary, yet completely badass if you can afford it.
Carbon Fiber Stairs. Say whaaat? This thing is a giant [...]
Gear and Tech : December 29, 2008
They surely do make everything out of Carbon Fiber nowadays…
I’ve chosen a few products from the guys over at Carbon Fiber Gear Direct to highlight:
First off is CFG Direct’s super ballin’ Carbon Fiber wallet. With a sexy combination of Real Carbon Fiber and Soft Leather, this wallet is built to be durable. The wallet is [...]
Editorial : December 24, 2008
On behalf of National Speed we’d like to wish all of our readers Happy Holidays. Stay warm, try to enjoy the annoying presence of scary relatives, talk loud for the older folks, and remember to turn the fire off when Santa tries to squeeze his wide apple-bottom down the chimney.
Good luck to the last [...]
Editorial : December 23, 2008
Most of the time, buying a car with some minor mods isn’t a problem. It’s only later down the road when you wish you would’ve spent the extra money doing something yourself.
It’s not so bad buying a vehicle Pre-modded, but of course that goes into how deep the car has been tampered with before you [...]
Humor : December 22, 2008
Sure you got Supercharging and Turbocharging and hell, even Twincharging but what about Ghettocharging?
Alright, maybe it’s not a new form of forced induction, but damn is it Ghetto! I thought I’d seen it all with budget builds, but this is a TRUE budget build. Electrical conduit from Home Depot for Coolant Lines, Sheet metal from [...]
Editorial : December 19, 2008
This is to you true grassroots guys (and gals). This is to those of you who scrounge up every last dollar and cent just to go visit the racetrack every month. This is to the autocrossers, roadcoursers, drifters, dragracers and rallycrossers. To those who value ducttape and zipties more than anything. To those of you [...]
Editorial : December 18, 2008
Poise and Balance is something we forget about every now and again. When building a car, a lot of people overlook balance and attack everything with brute power. Brandon’s FC RX7 is the underpowered underdog nipping at the heels of cars with over twice the horsepower.
After having a mildly built ‘67 Camaro, Brandon already had [...]
Gear and Tech : December 17, 2008
It’s holiday season folks, I saw this and had to post about it! “RoadMice” is what it’s called, and I think it’d be a great stocking stuffer for whomever automotive inclined you decide to get it for. Basically it’s a mouse styled to look like a car. There’s no two ways around it.
It’s got your [...]
Editorial : December 16, 2008
So by now I’m sure most of you know about this new Ecoboost motor that Ford is going to be throwing in half a million of their vehicles in the next 5 years.
Basically, the forever ingrained V8 motor that ford uses in everything is slowly going to be phased out. Know what this means: A [...]
Gear and Tech | News : December 15, 2008
What would you think about Speed Sensitive Speedbumps? Kind of an interesting concept, I think.
I’m not too sure about the technology behind it, but apparently if you drive the speed limit, the bumps do not raise. From what I understand, by using a small damper inside to flatten out when a car drives [...]
Editorial : December 12, 2008
One thing that I’ve noticed: a lot of people can’t size equipment right.
What I mean by this is the guys that are throwing a 70 trim journal bearing turbo on a small displacement motor and wondering why they don’t spool until 1k before redline. They always ask why their powerband is so bad, or nonexistent. [...]
Gear and Tech : December 11, 2008
Two-step, and Three-step. It has one purpose in mind, making lots of noise and propelling you forward as fast as possible. Not dancing.
First off let’s start with the basics. Two-step is also known as a stutterbox and is a form of launch control. Essentially two-step works as a secondary rev limiter. Two-step works off of [...]
News : December 11, 2008
Those crazy Brits are at it again! Seeking to get their names in the record books for something besides bad teeth and crazy lingo* — “Balderdash!” “Bloody hell!” — the British Steam Team (hehehehe) have set upon breaking the land speed record for steam powered cars.
The steam powered “steamster” (patent pending) recently fired [...]
Gear and Tech : December 10, 2008
VIP or Bippu, is a somewhat new style of tuning that is slowly taking over the scene. Companies like Junction Produce, Auto Couture and Fabulous are starting to creep into US Car shows.
What is VIP you ask?
VIP cars are Japanese luxury cars such as the Nissan President, Toyota Celsior and Toyota Aristo. These aren’t [...]
Media : December 9, 2008
He’ll be back. Again.
That’s right folks, the powers that be have decided that a fourth Terminator movie is necessary and a Japanese trailer has just leaked onto the internet offering a sneak peak at what is sure to be a better sequel than Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines.
You might be asking yourself why [...]
Gear and Tech : December 9, 2008
I think people very seldom value how important proper ergonomics is.
What exactly is Ergonomics? The scientific study of people and their working conditions, done in order to improve effectiveness. While it sounds boring, ergonomics is insanely important. You only get one body, and you know how fast that can all go downhill, which is why [...]
News : December 9, 2008
For all of you domestic owners out there, this is as close to heaven on earth as you’re likely to get.
Imagine this: you’re walking through the woods clutching your hunting rifle and six pack (because if you’re anything like me that’s what you do in the wilderness) and you come upon an amazing discovery the [...]
News : December 8, 2008
A new AE86? I know I’m interested.
There hasn’t been a fun, cheap RWD sportscar in recent years, and I think Toyota/Subaru knows exactly what we need. A joint product between the two companies, the new Rear Wheel Drive coupe is sure to strike home with tuners. With a 2.0 liter Naturally Aspirated boxer motor producing [...]
Editorial : December 5, 2008
There’s no technical jargon or breaking news in this blog today folks.
It’s Friday, my brain is fried and I’ve come to realize something lately.
With everything automotive that I’ve been surrounded with in the past year or so, I think I’ve really taken it for granted. Once in a while everyone needs to slow down [...]
Gear and Tech : December 4, 2008
Looking for a gift for that performance minded enthusiast in your life? We’ve put together a few items that are sure to please them! This is only a portion of our list, the rest of which will be put out later on this week.
DEI Header Wrap Kit
Tired of heatsoak robbing you of precious power? You [...]
Editorial : December 3, 2008
Some love it, Some hate it. I’m very “ehhhhh” on the subject. I think it’s the headlights for me.
As many of you know, the Nissan 370Z was unveiled about a week and a half ago at the LA Auto Show. The new body style was a big deal for Nissan and Z lovers alike, with [...]
Media : December 3, 2008
It’s been a long time coming but gamers itching to get their hands on the full version of Gran Turismo 5 may finally have something to celebrate. According to Spanish newspaper El Financiero (why can’t we have cool newspaper names like that?) the ultimate video game driving simulation may be on U.S. store shelves [...]
News : December 2, 2008
Over the weekend, the Spec-V’s modification list was leaked to GTR-world. According to the leaked information, engine output for the Twin turbo 6 cylinder will increase from 478 to 520 forced induction ponies. The transmission select mode has been removed, leaving only the “Race” setting.
One of the biggest downfalls of the Nissan powerhouse has been [...]
Gear and Tech : December 1, 2008
When the Cadillac 472ci came out in 1968, they were a giant in the world of displacement. While still a large motor, it has now been overshadowed.
The Wartsila-Sulzer RTA96-C Turbo 2 stroke diesel engine is the most powerful and most efficient Diesel motor in the world today. These engines were designed primarily for very large [...]
Humor | Media : December 1, 2008
In order to promote the new Nissan 370Z, Nissan has released a promo video which features the most annoying techno music since Moby’s cat ran across his keyboard and released PLAY. “Some see a letter, others see a Car,” is their new advertising slogan and I hope you like it because it’s repeated at [...]
Gear and Tech | News : December 1, 2008
Anyone that reads the National Speed blog knows that I’m a big fan of flying cars. I’ve been clamoring for flying car technology since I tried to pilot my way out of the womb (take my advice and wait until they cut the umbilical cord before trying to takeoff). Little did I know [...]
Gear and Tech : November 28, 2008
Happy Black Friday from us here at National Speed, and we hope everyone had a great thanksgiving! For those that may not have heard, we just wanted to let you know that we’ve got a great performance parts black friday special. We have setup some deals that you really don’t want to miss (and I’m [...]
Gear and Tech : November 26, 2008
Forget you guys with your lifted trucks. You aren’t ballin’ hard enough if you aren’t riding on some Honeycomb wheels.
The University of Wisconsin-Madison and Resilient Technologies have come up with a wheel that doesn’t need any type of Air pressure. Instead of rolling on air, you’re just rolling on a honeycomb structure. Oh, and [...]
Humor : November 26, 2008
Fans of all things small have something to celebrate today: the size doesn’t matter folks at MINI have announced a “Word of the Day” desktop widget. Cooper drivers rejoice, you now have daily desktop entertainment to accompany your MINI joyriding.
Today’s word: “FARKING SPOT!” This is what happens when you think you’ve found an empty [...]
Humor | News : November 26, 2008
It’s been awhile since our last quickie, so I thought it’d be best to set the mood with a little wine and romance. Just kidding. I’m not one for long winded speeches or intros, so whaddaya say we get down to business and report on all the automotive news that’s fit to print…and [...]
Editorial : November 25, 2008
I think I’ve officially seen it all…
Sure, swapping a Chevy motor into a fox body is old news, but how about a Chevy LS1 with a pair of turbochargers hanging off of it? In an R34 Nissan Skyline. Or how about the reversal of that and throwing a 2JZ-GTE into a First Gen Camaro. [...]
Editorial : November 24, 2008
I honestly think the Turbodiesel is the way of the future.
Countries with astronomic gas prices have been using them for years…why has it taken so long to catch on in the United States? The UK has diesel powered EVERYTHING and 40% of new cars sold are Diesel Powered. Sure, we have them in our [...]
Gear and Tech : November 21, 2008
All too often people seem to forget that having lots of Horsepower is absolutely useless if you can’t put it to the ground. Unless you’re building a show car or a dyno queen, if you can’t get the power down, what’s the point?
While all of this is generally up for debate, I believe you have [...]
Editorial : November 20, 2008
It’s just not fair. I’m not too sure why we don’t get hot hatches over here, but it’s just not fair.
Take a look at the Ford Focus for example. Sure we have it, but over here, in all honesty it’s a box of fail (sorry Casey) compared to what already exists in Europe. At its [...]
Gear and Tech : November 19, 2008
You know, this may be an odd article, but I saw this and just had to cover it.
This is one badass baby carrier.
Rory Craig of the Art Center College of Design has created a clever prototype for a new Sparco Babyseat. While not officially affiliated with Sparco, Rory is trying to pitch the idea to [...]
News : November 18, 2008
Ford unveils the new iteration of its longtime flagship model, this time a bit more appealing.
The new slightly Italian-esque Ford Mustang takes on a new look this year. Starting out with a minor facelift, the turn signals have been moved, the headlights are now more slightly curved for aerodynamic purposes, and that unsightly old [...]
Gear and Tech | News : November 17, 2008
GReddy has just released the Greddy Type-RZ Blow off valve, which is to replace the current Type RS and is similar to the Type-S.
GReddy Blow Off Valves are easily adjustable to eliminate compressor surge and preventing premature boost leakage, while increasing boost response between shifts. Each valve is made of durable cast and billet aluminum [...]
Editorial | Humor : November 17, 2008
If the movies are any indication of what’s to come, where in the hell are my flying cars?!?
For decades, Hollywood has teased audiences with hypnotic visions of an automotive future which has sadly yet to come true. It’s incredibly frustrating to walk into a movie theater and have your mind blown by fantastic images [...]
Gear and Tech : November 14, 2008
A van with sex appeal? Yes, please.
You know, I’ve always thought the best bet was to go hang out in front of Walmart in my moms minivan to pick up chicks. I guess there isn’t much appeal to a fat guy with an Afro chilling in a rusty 1982 dodge caravan. It appears Honda tuner [...]
Editorial | Gear and Tech : November 13, 2008
Gymkhana
For those wondering, Gymkhana is basically a mixture of autocross and drifting, with other additional skillful maneuvers thrown in as well. Cones represent obstacles to navigate through. The “obstacles” involve many highly difficult driving maneuvers such as 360 spins, parking boxes, and figure eights…in other words my daily commute. For those of you talking trash [...]
Editorial : November 12, 2008
The NSX.
First off, back to basics. We all know the Mid-engine NSX (”New Sportscar eXperimental”) was rare to begin with, and with a price of 85,000 greenbacks, it wasn’t exactly in everyone’s price range. The Acura NSX was set to be the everyday supercar.
The NSX had a cutting edge ultra-rigid and ultra-light aluminum monocoque chassis, [...]
Gear and Tech : November 11, 2008
A 3.2 liter Honda? Honda motor swaps have been done every which way, and now thanks to Hasport, there’s a new direction to go.
Hasport has just released their “j” series motor mounts for EGs and DCs (92-95 Civic/94-01 Integra/93-97 Del Sol). The J series motor is the same motor that powered most Acuras from 1998 [...]
News : November 10, 2008
How many of you Honda guys WOULDN’T like to have the world’s fastest Honda Civic?
What if I also asked how much you would be willing to pay to HAVE that title.
That’s right folks, out of all the places in the world it could be, it’s for sale on eBay.
Officially the World’s Fastest Honda Civic, having [...]
Gear and Tech : November 7, 2008
With Christmas time right around the corner, we here at National Speed have compiled a list of gift ideas specifically for Subaru owners.
Factory Top Mount got you down? Stock Blow off valve just not cutting it? Perhaps you’re looking for some coilovers to slam your car and go terrorize a road course. Whatever your fancy, [...]
Gear and Tech : November 6, 2008
Cheap and Effective. Sound good to you? It sure does to me. It’s all about getting power for cheap nowadays. I think it’s time to go over some inexpensive but effective mods you can make to your vehicle for your budget build.
Intake
It’s pretty hard to drink something through a coffee stirrer, isn’t it? That’s what [...]
Editorial : November 5, 2008
Low. Black. Popping. Crackling. Whistling. Half mechanic and half bionic, the Chrysler Conquest was a vehicle some revered in an almost mythical sense. The name itself struck a tone of confidence in an owner. Created by Mitsubishi, but being imported and sold under the Chrysler name, the Conquest is also often overlooked as one [...]
Humor | Media : November 4, 2008
Work got you down? Kick back and take a break with National Speed and enjoy these hilarious clips that the voices inside my head told me were funny. The voices also told me that the National Speed eStore is now open and that you should definitely check it out. All the cool [...]
Editorial : October 31, 2008
We’ve worked long and hard to bring you the best online shopping experience possible so check out the new National Speed Performance Parts eStore. Over the past few weeks we’ve worked closely with several car enthusiast forums and clubs to test the shop and gather feedback.
As such, the team at National Speed has been [...]
Media : October 30, 2008
Rockstar games has been on a winning streak this year with their juggernaut Grand Theft Auto 4 tearing up the sales charts as well as garnering critical raves, but it’s their lesser known Midnight Club franchise that really has us salivating here at National Speed. Featuring an amazingly detailed rendering of L.A. for you [...]
Humor : October 29, 2008
This one comes to you courtesy of the folks at Gizmodo and yes your eyes aren’t deceiving you — that’s Animal from Jim Henson’s The Muppets behind the wheel of a car.
Apparently this is a REAL photo from a European traffic camera. The driver, a prankster that has been plaguing German Police for several [...]
Editorial : October 28, 2008
You know the name, you know the number. In what is cinema’s longest running and arguably most loved franchise, James Bond has become synonymous with high-octane adventure, gorgeous women, and exotic cars. Ever since Sean Connery ripped up the road with his modified 1963 Aston Martin DB5 in Goldfinger, automotive enthusiasts have been [...]
Humor | Media : October 27, 2008
Every Monday on the blog we try to run a series of video clips that we think are funny, outrageous, or just plain cool. I say try because sometimes things come up and we’re unable to update on schedule. You know, like that whole work thing. Life would be so much easier [...]
News : October 24, 2008
It’s boring to read the news, that’s why National Speed is cutting out all the fat and giving you only the stuff that matters. No politics, sports, or world events — unless its automotive related. We understand that you’re busy people and don’t want to read boring introductory paragraphs (irony!) so let’s cut [...]
Events : October 21, 2008
It may have rained cats and dogs, but it’ll take more than a few inches of falling kittens and man’s best friend to put a stop to National Speed’s Mustang Dyno Day. Sponsored by Chris Durham and the awesome folks at the Wide Open Throttle Mustang Club, we ended up having over thirteen ’stangs [...]
News : October 16, 2008
That’s right boys and girls, impromptu spy pictures of the new Nissan 370Z have surfaced and boy is it a sweet looking ride. Other than a recent appearance in the trailer for EA games latest iteration of the Need For Speed franchise, the 370Z has been pretty camera shy. Not anymore. Thanks [...]
Humor | Media : October 13, 2008
In celebration of our upcoming Law Enforcement Dyno Day in November, National Speed presents 5 clips of Law Enforcement hilarity. Disclaimer: in no way are these clips meant to make light of Law Enforcement Officers, but rather the absurd situations that they sometimes find themselves in…Why do I suddenly have a sneaking suspicion that [...]
News : October 7, 2008
It’s boring to read the news, that’s why National Speed is cutting out all the fat and giving you only the stuff that matters. No politics, sports, or world events — unless its automotive related. We understand that you’re busy people and don’t want to read boring introductory paragraphs (irony!) so let’s cut [...]
Humor | Media : October 6, 2008
There are some people that were born to sit behind the wheel of a car. These are not those people…
1) Car Rotisserie. This is what happens when gearheads with too much spare time get inspired while stuck in front of the spinning chicken rack at Golden Corral. I can’t imagine anything else that [...]
Events : October 1, 2008
Saturday, September 20th marked National Speed’s first annual Diesel Dyno Day. In between coughing fits from all the smoke and chomping down on juicy burgers we ended up dynoing over ten massive diesels with John Porterfield taking home the most horsepower trophy (826.84) and Nate Eix claiming most torque (1020). Congratulations guys, but [...]
Humor : September 24, 2008
This is something new we’re trying out in the blog. Every Wednesday we’re going to post a humorous pic from the shop, random artwork from the crazies in Cubeville, or something incredibly weird to justify your mouse clicks. For example, today you get a rare glimpse at rare works of art from National [...]
Editorial | Humor : September 23, 2008
Those of you that frequent the shop have probably already met our technicians Ben, Bobby, John, and Tim (and if you haven’t check them out here) but what about the rest of the guys and girls of National Speed? Peek behind the curtain and behold the astonishing, fantastic, and in the case of [...]
News : September 19, 2008
It’s boring to read the news, that’s why National Speed is cutting out all the fat and giving you only the stuff that matters. No politics, sports, or world events — unless its automotive related. We understand that you’re busy people and don’t want to read boring introductory paragraphs (irony!) so let’s cut [...]
Humor | Media : September 16, 2008
I hate to admit it, but I’m a bit of a rubbernecker. When I see a crash on the side of the road, I slow my car down to Flintstones speed just so I can get a better look at the remains (of the car — not the body, sickos). And while there’s [...]
News : September 12, 2008
Here’s the news that’s breaking so fast we drove our news van into the wall just to get it to you.
According to recent financial reports, Greddy, one of the biggest names in performance parts recently announced they’re declaring bankruptcy. Autoblog reports that this is due to a steady decline in the Japanese performance parts market [...]
Editorial : September 10, 2008
The New York Times published an article yesterday calling for all vehicles sold in the United States to only be able to go 75 mph. In effect this means that no car will be able to grossly exceed the speed limit because the car itself is severely limited. The author, Kent A. Sepkowitz, [...]
Humor : September 5, 2008
If you’re anything like me you spend a good portion of your day thinking about meaningless crap: if I jumped off the Wrightsville bridge would I survive? What would happen if I drove my car through Home Depot? If zombies attacked which shopping mall would I call home? And my latest prize winner: when [...]
Editorial : September 3, 2008
Why does saving the environment have to be so ugly? Is it a requirement that every hybrid has to look like something from a made for Sci-fi Channel movie? Every time I pass one on the street I half expect to find Casper Van Dien behind the wheel. Better technology is all [...]
Editorial : August 29, 2008
Just wanted to post a quick update to our previous blog about the new Dodge Challenger SRT-8. We originally didn’t post the National Speed dyno numbers due to having to wait for Chrysler’s prior approval. We’ve since been given the go ahead so here you are…
Humor | Media : August 29, 2008
Here are some of National Speed’s five favorite video clips. WARNING: do not try this stuff at home! These people are trained professionals, and in some cases absolute maniacs. It’s amazing how often those two traits sometimes coincide.
1. This clip proves that it’s not the size that counts but how [...]
Editorial : August 28, 2008
Sometimes I have to remind myself I get paid to do what I do. Normally my typical morning at work consists of perusing MySpace and trying to remember what’s her name’s name, but this morning was different. Today I’m told that Scott Vandekerckhove, a representative from Chrysler with a name my spellchecker absolutely [...]
Editorial | Humor : August 26, 2008
A recent survey conducted by General Motors said that nine out of ten women would prefer to date a guy that drove the latest fuel-efficient car rather than a high performance sports car. Now I’m not sure where General Motors conducts their surveys, but it obviously isn’t Wilmington, North Carolina. It might not [...]
Editorial | Gear and Tech : August 21, 2008
I have a confession to make. I went a year and a half without changing the oil in my car. There, I said it. I’m not proud of it, nor would I ever recommend trying it. In my defense I’d like to point out that I didn’t do this out of [...]
Editorial : August 19, 2008
If you don’t read this blog and forward it to 5 of your friends in the next 24 hours your car will explode. Kidding of course, but odds are you’ve probably received an email similar to that, warning you of the dangers of keeping aluminum foil in your glove box or something equally ridiculous. [...]
Gear and Tech : August 14, 2008
Coke vs Pepsi. Freddy vs Jason. Turbochargers vs Superchargers. The debate has raged since the dawn of time (slight exaggeration), and in the case of forced induction technology, shows no signs of stopping anytime soon. The ultimate irony is that both technologies are basically the same thing, they just derive their [...]
Editorial : August 12, 2008
This morning I pull up to see the normal crowd at National Speed prior to opening. Bobby (our head tech), informs me that one of our customers that’s at the shop for the first time has multiple R35 GTR’s, in town. I start asking about them, almost skeptical.
After talking for less than 30 [...]
Gear and Tech : August 9, 2008
On August 9th National Speed’s tuner, Taylor King, squeezed 535 horsepower out of a Turbonetics 60-1 Ball Bearing turbo on our 2003 Nissan 350z. Check out the video to see the awesome footage.
Click here for a full description of the 350z’s modifications.
Gear and Tech | News : August 6, 2008
For the four of you on the planet that haven’t seen the Dark Knight yet, allow me to introduce you to the new Batmobile. Thankfully, you won’t find Adam West in skin-tight spandex behind the wheel, nor will you see current Batman Christian Bale searching for a throat losange in the cockpit (seriously, what’s [...]
Gear and Tech : August 5, 2008
I became employed by National Speed back in February. That was the first time I’d seen Ben’s 00 Honda S2000. The car was bone stock and made for the perfect daily driver…until Ben tore it apart piece by piece. Apparently Ben not only enjoys tuning cars, but also taking them apart. [...]
Gear and Tech : August 1, 2008
I once had a friend in college that drove an ‘89 Civic with 250,000 miles on it and the sucker ran like a dream. No engine sputtering, no squeaky brakes, not a peep. Other than a busted lime green paint job and hemorrhoid-inducing seats, you’d swear the thing was mint. So when [...]
Events : July 30, 2008
From July 22nd to July 26th a massive herd of Mustang enthusiasts got together for Mustang Week. Here at National Speed we do a significant amount of work on Mustangs so we decided to participate by attending the car show on Friday and the “cruise-in” on Saturday. I couldn’t imagine these events taking place in [...]
Gear and Tech : July 24, 2008
It’s no secret that gas prices are gouging you at the pump. Every time I stop to fill up I half expect the attendant to blindside me with a shotgun and ask me to empty my pockets. At this rate we’ll be paying $8.00 a gallon and selling our souls for a gallon [...]
Gear and Tech | Humor : July 17, 2008
“What the hell’s a gigawatt?” Children of the 80’s rejoice. If you’ve ever roared down the highway at 88mph hoping you’d travel back in time (I can’t be the only one that’s tried it) now is your chance. Thanks to the enterprising geeks at Diamond Select you can turn your car into a [...]
Events : July 15, 2008
For those of you that may not know, Hot Import Nights (HIN) is an automotive lifestyle event that tours the country. The HIN Nightshift event takes place from 4pm – 11pm and includes a huge car show, music performances, drift demos, Freestyle MotoX, vendors, beautiful models and much more.
Did I mention the beautiful models?
Anyways, [...]
Events : July 11, 2008
Saturday, July 5th, National Speed had its Military Appreciation Day in honor of America’s Armed Forces. The event was a great success and we raised over five hundred dollars to be donated to the Wounded Warriors Project. They’re an amazing organization that touches the lives of many. So on behalf of National [...]
Gear and Tech : July 10, 2008
When tuning is your job, the dyno you use to tune vehicles is of the utmost importance. With that in mind, I wanted to find out which dyno would give me the best information for tuning vehicles. To do this, there were five primary questions I wanted to know the answer to when it came [...]
Editorial | Humor : July 7, 2008
So it’s been brought to my attention that perhaps my Smurf-blue Ford Focus station wagon isn’t the sweet ride that I once thought it was. Never mind the fact that it gets excellent gas mileage and has surprisingly good pickup (when the air conditioner’s not running). Some people can’t see the forest through [...]
Humor : July 7, 2008
What happens when you take the madmen (and women!) of National Speed, stick them in a cubicle loaded with Red Bull and Nerf guns, throw in hot cars and tell them they can write whatever they want? You get this. The official National Speed blog.
Don’t say we didn’t warn you.