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Scott's
review:
| The first
Volume of the BMI video series deals Exclusively with
the Honda (and Acura in the U.S.) Type R series of cars.
The Type R designation is Honda's street legal racing
version of their popular road cars. The first Honda
to get the Type R badge was the already potent and exotic
NSX. BMI V1 clearly shows how the standard NSX performs
in relation to the track ready Type R version and through
the tests shown it's easy to see how the Type R series
of cars benefits from tweaking and tuning an already
capable road car. The same treatment goes for the Integra
and Civic Type R cars. |
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This particular International
version of the Best Motoring video series is the debut video
of the already popular Japanese language series of videos
that others have come to enjoy for years. There is an English
language track laid over the original Japanese, and despite
it's sometimes corny and under-enthusiastic tone, sounds
like it translates very well the meanings and intentions
of the original dialogue. Technical aspects are all covered
well and there is never really any gap or sense of being
left out of the loop on what is being said. Cleverly, there
are distinctinve voices portraying each of the individual
drivers and people being interviewed. Although they lack
some of the outright personality of the original Japanese
language, they do let you get a sense that the BMI group
has gone to extra lengths to make the video complete and
convey the same sense of fun and car enthusiasm as the original
crew does.
As a bonus for the International
version's debut BMI has included some footage of the S2000
prototype with Gan san tearing up the Nurburgring. Personally
I think it's great! The track is long and Gan san takes
the S2K through that course with traffic at alarming pace.
You can tell that the car was very well sorted even in it's
prototype phase and may have even been tuned down for street
version as to not steal any of the NSX's thunder.
In conclusion, if your absolutely
against Honda cars, as some are, then this video may just
give you a severe headache. BUT, if you like driving and
want to see how it's really done by great drivers, this
video is a must have. I kid you not, I must have watched
my copy of BMI V1 over 100 times and I still watch each
time with careful study to throttle positions and driving
technique. If you're more of a gear head you should appreciate
the video as well for the in depth explainations of how
the cars were tuned and tweaked to earn the Type R badge.
I'm a believer now and I must say that the world would be
a better place if more auto makers took Honda's approach
to performance driving and enthusiasm.
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Best Motor International
Vol.1 traces the development and evolution of Acura’s
NSX-R, Integra Type R and Honda’s Civic Type R. It
is action-packed with incredible Type R race footage shot
at famous race circuits including Suzuka’s F1 track
and Germany’s historic Nurburgring. Featuring some
of the best camera angles in motorsports, the race segments
are highlighted by the amazing driving talents of legendary
test driver M. Kurosawa. Thrilling in-car camera views place
you in the heat of the action, while close-up insets of
Kurosawa’s footwork on the pedals provide an advanced
lesson in car control. Witness head-to-head Supercar battles
of Acura NSX-R versus Ferrari F-40, and Dodge Viper, plus
Integra Type Rs slugging it out in the Japanese Domestic
Machine Battle and Under Two-Liter Challenge. These head-to-head
competitions prove the Type R’s superiority on the
track compared to the some of the best performance cars
in the world. Best Motoring's International Vol.1 offers
more than racing thrills. Highly regarded Japanese tuner
Spoon Sports’ CEO Tatsuru Ichishima takes viewers through
the technical highlights of each Type R model from engine
to suspension, including complete specifications. He also
provides useful track prep advice for the weekend racer.
An added treat is a 10-minute, 130mph thrill ride over the
scary Nurburging circuit with Kurosawa in a Honda S2000
prototype. Buckle up and be prepared to hold your breath
for the entire 10 minutes as Kurosawa gobbles up sport bikes
and Porsches like they’re staked to the ground. This
could be the best car video ever – great action, colorful
english narration and the insider low-down on the hottest
Asian imports ever built – a must -have for every gearhead’s
video library. Running time 1:15.
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