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Blog Title: Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant
The saga of a demon. Striving to create the fastest street driven FF (front wheel drive) car in the US, we constructed a fire breathing monster out of my 1997 Eclipse GS-T Spyder.
This is the same car that blazed across the salt flats in land speed trim during the 2006 and 2007 seasons.
For details on the modifications and specifications, click here


This is the new blog, for the older blog entries go here
2009/2010 Super Lap Battle Finals Limited FF Champions and multiple record holders. Driver: Matt Andrews Designer/owner: Andrew Brilliant Crew Cheif: Bret Collmer
hits: 
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Posted 07-10-2011 at 02:44 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
I did a write up about the dual element I designed for APR a little while back. It is slated to be produced pretty soon. I thought it might be of interest.
case studies | Motorsport Aerodynamic Development
Click on the first case study link
The prototype of this will be going on my car for physical testing.
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Views 2331
Comments 10
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Views 2925
Comments 17
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Posted 03-28-2011 at 03:08 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Hello everyone. As you can see I updated my sponsors for the 2011 campaign that is now under way.
There will be some upcoming announcements as I get all the new goodies from the sponsors onto the car in the next few months. Most notably we added Magnus Motorsports. We had reached the end of the performance of the car because we could not keep oil at the pickup. We had been using...
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Views 1173
Comments 6
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Posted 03-27-2011 at 01:23 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Here is a sneak peak of the magnus motorsports dry sump kit. These pieces are absolutely beautiful. The pan and the front cover are unbelievably nice. Custom bracket to use a 5 stage barnes pump. I dont think I can go back ever again the dry sump really makes the 4g63 engine. We have so many problems with crankcase and lubrication. This should be a huge step for engine reliability, popping out...
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Views 3258
Comments 30
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Posted 03-13-2011 at 07:36 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Hello everyone. It's been a while since I posted last. First, I got some messages and I wanted to let people know that I was not in Japan when the quake hit, I had just come back to the US for work. I got word today that my apartment is intact and no serious damages except my bottle of nice scotch. If you can afford to help out please donate something, even $10 for the Red Cross. There are tens...
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Views 2360
Comments 12
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Posted 11-17-2010 at 05:50 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
huge news! We won! Super lap battle final 2010! Back to back champions!!
Set the track record as well! more to come! For now here are some pics of the car
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Views 2867
Comments 35
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Posted 08-16-2010 at 04:36 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Hello I just wanted to let you guys know that I will be finishing out the season in IndyCar series with Conquest team!  Please root for us, thank you! Sonoma is this weekend!
Please check the drivers Bertrand Baguette and Francesco Dracone will be in for the race.
Here is the team info:
http://www.conquestracing.com/
Car #34 and #36...
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Views 1429
Comments 14
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Posted 06-13-2010 at 10:22 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Continuing the topic from the last DSM handling tips installment, we talked about some advantages of the split lower control arm setup and how to make the most of it. Next we used a combination of bearings and bushings to create a desirable dynamic effect on the suspension geometry.
First we lay down some simple facts, a drag race suspension setting is not a good road course suspension...
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Views 2352
Comments 8
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Posted 05-26-2010 at 04:27 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9--JUt5GR4
This is a comedic take into the development for the 2010 FXMD NSX.
My name mention in the video for credits on the aero package. Look forward to big things in the future and my appearance in future videos
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Views 1356
Comments 14
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Posted 05-23-2010 at 10:09 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
As many of you may have noticed, our cars have a split front lower control arm rather than a traditional "double wishbone". Some of you may have wondered why.
There are two big advantages of this system
1) Packaging, there was simply not enough space to fit the engine and a full double wishbone suspension in our cars without widening the whole thing. There is no question...
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Views 2407
Comments 9
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Posted 05-20-2010 at 05:14 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Updated 05-23-2010 at 05:31 PM by gixxerdrew
Hi everyone, I want to keep this blog going and posting tech. I'd like to keep sharing technical details, but I have almost no free time, so I have to rush through writing. With that said, I cant write it all up from square one to explain all the concepts. So if it's alright with all of you, Id like to try giving you food for thought and get you started on your own research to understand it. That...
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Views 2636
Comments 11
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Posted 05-09-2010 at 11:06 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Updated 05-10-2010 at 12:54 AM by gixxerdrew
I got a couple PMs asking whats going on with the car so i thought I'd post up. I've been busy here in Japan with races but I talked again with Mike, the owner of the new sponsor shop, Competition GT in Costa Mesa, CA. Things are moving forward and we’re planning a little rebirth for the car. It is going to be taken off the racing scene and developed to come back hard. We realized with two consecutive...
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Views 928
Comments 6
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Views 1026
Comments 8
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Posted 04-07-2010 at 05:03 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
check out my post here:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/hang...#post152172496
It is possible that production could begin soon if there is enough interest. I know a few of you have PMd me about this in the past so please let me know if you all are in a position to really follow through on it. Hit me up by PM! Thanks!...
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Views 1215
Comments 0
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Posted 04-01-2010 at 12:46 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Hello everyone.
We came out to Round 1 Buttonwillow of Redline Time Attack. Unfortunately the spare transmission we were using couldn't take the power for more than the practice day and although we were not able to compete in the race our practice session time was 1.8 seconds faster than the Mod-FWD track record!
Had we repeated that time in the race, we would have...
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Views 1775
Comments 11
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Posted 03-15-2010 at 10:12 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Today I would like to announce some changes in our car sponsors for 2010. It is both with a heavy heart and excitement that I announce the replacement of my long time sponsor and friend, KBR Performance. Karlo at KBR has supported the car from the land speed days when nobody believed in it and has been such a huge part of it’s achievements. I have to express sincere gratitude for those years....
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Views 955
Comments 8
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Posted 03-05-2010 at 09:36 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Been a little while since I had time to post but I thought this was really cool.
This is a paint scheme and a tune for Mitsubishi eclipse. This is what the designer said:
"
There's going to be 50 free ones and an unlimited amount of ones that are 10,000 CR each, the car's tune will be free,...
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Views 2597
Comments 21
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Posted 02-10-2010 at 05:22 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Well, I didnt think it would come down to this but it has. I feel that since coming to DSMTuners I've grown close to this community and I feel like there's a lot of support from this group. I hope that we have given you something to aspire to and faith for the love we all have for these cars. Its really rewarding for us when we get feedback about people who are inspired by the car or learned to...
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Views 1495
Comments 13
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Posted 02-09-2010 at 04:26 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Hello everyone,
I uploaded some new images to the gallery, if you have free time, please rank them so I know which ones you guys like the best!
Link to gallery:
http://www.dsmtuners.com/gallery/bro...mageuser=84613
Thank you!
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Views 1012
Comments 6
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Posted 12-05-2009 at 11:45 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Updated 02-02-2010 at 11:39 PM by gixxerdrew
(addition of hi res download link)
My 2009 season review video: Click Here!!!
This is a must see 
sorry the embedded mode ruins the clip so take that link and replace the [dot] with a period and thats the link
hi res downloadable:
http://gallery.me.com/andrewbrilliant1#100829
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Views 1570
Comments 10
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Posted 11-21-2009 at 11:41 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Updated 11-22-2009 at 08:47 AM by gixxerdrew
My friend Boris took some really great photos of the eclipse before it starts getting torn apart. Hope you guys enjoy!
http://borhor.wordpress.com/2009/11/...ubishi-eclipse
These pics will be helping a lot. I'm working out a promo/marketing package for potential sponsors for next season. If anyone has some suggestions or leads for sponsors for the car,...
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Views 1592
Comments 13
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Posted 11-13-2009 at 08:53 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
We won with the eclipse at Super Lap Battle finals!
Detailed writeup next week, video, all coming soon! But the quick version is we blew up a gearbox, Sam and Robert at RRE came through with one for us to use, Karlo and Nick busted ass to get it swapped in over night. We limped at minimum power and an open diff and still won by 3 seconds!
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Views 2475
Comments 43
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Posted 10-26-2009 at 08:09 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
So knowing that we would have to do some serious street miles for this engine break-in and with how crappy the factory headlights are I commissioned a friend of mine install projectors into the factory casing. I had a huge gripe with most of the projector retrofits on 2g DSMs. I feel like the stock reflector is really good looking and that when people replaced the reflector altogether it never...
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Views 1615
Comments 8
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Posted 10-22-2009 at 02:56 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
TEM machine working into the night and trying to get as much of the long block assembled as possible. If we cant get a motor by friday we're scrapping the race. This is cutting it real close guys. Wish us luck. Nick (NSFab) flying in tomorrow morning. KBR is standing by, we just need the motor in our hands and we're rolling.
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Views 1072
Comments 5
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Posted 10-16-2009 at 06:47 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
check it out!
full video link
http://www.douro-oni.com/media/meOnSpeedTV.mp4
wooohoo 1.8 seconds of fame! Just realy rare for an engineer to get TV time you know. Its usually drivers  i guess adjusting...
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Views 1904
Comments 17
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Posted 10-06-2009 at 04:18 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
My sponsor and friend KBR Performance Vallejo, CA pulled the engine out of the car last week. They stripped the long block down and my now full sponsor machine shop TEM Performance Napa, CA is on the case.
I was really happy that TEM came through to sponsor us on the labor for the engine because I have NEVER found another machine shop that I trusted at this level I was really paining...
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Views 1412
Comments 14
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Posted 10-03-2009 at 10:23 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
So since my newly found free time with my lost job and my car being down with the blown motor, I have been opened up for some good things!
I'll be arriving at Laguna Seca this Wednesday to work again with LG Motorsports in American Le Mans series. As you may know they qualified second at Petit Le Mans just a week ago so I have big dreams with this one. The Corvette has been reborn...
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Views 829
Comments 4
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Posted 09-29-2009 at 08:30 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
I'm sorry to have to deliver bad news but a foreign object went through the timing belt and the engine has been destroyed. I do not have the money for another engine. I'm sorry but we will not be competing in RTA for the duration of the season at least. I need to find a job.
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Views 1165
Comments 26
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Posted 09-24-2009 at 09:14 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
I am back in the US! We are getting ready for the race at Spring Mountain in Pahrump. I never expected the car to be ready to even shakedown but thanks to Nick Salyer at NSFab working tirelessly for two weeks, we will be there for some shake down, test & tune. We're not expecting to win because we're going easy on everything with the car (unless a miracle happens) but we're going to make a showing...
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Views 648
Comments 3
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Posted 09-12-2009 at 09:41 PM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
hehe some pics you guys might like of the race queens, sorry I dont get much time to take pics at races
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Comments 6
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Comments 3
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Views 653
Comments 5
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Posted 10-18-1975 at 10:55 AM by gixxerdrew (Time Attack Build Blog :: 1997 Eclipse GST Spyder :: Andrew Brilliant)
Updated 10-19-2009 at 08:29 AM by gixxerdrew
Thank you to David at Angry Panda Fab for putting this document together. It shows the step by step construction of the aero bits:
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Views 312
Comments 18
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