The Automotive Society Podcast · Suraj Makkar

The Automotive Society Podcast Ep.37 The Engineers talk about nerdy things

April 24, 2023·1 hr 2 min·5 clips

Siraj almost crashed when a brand-new GR86 unexpectedly dive-bombed him mid-corner at Eastern Creek.

This episode features hosts Siraj and Mitch discussing their ongoing project to build a track-ready Honda Civic EG. They are automotive enthusiasts who run a podcast and society dedicated to car culture, sharing their hands-on experiences with modifications and track days. The conversation centers on their recent experiences at two different racetracks, their upcoming modifications, and a planned trip to Japan. They detail stripping the Civic's interior and removing sound deadening using dry ice, estimating a weight reduction of about 100 kilograms. The car, equipped with Hankook RS4 tires and a basic D15 carbureted engine, was first tracked at Luddenham Raceway in near-stock form, where they set a baseline lap time of 1:03.6. A subsequent session at the faster Sydney Motorsport Park (Eastern Creek) revealed significant handling issues due to worn and missing rear bushings, causing unpredictable oversteer. Mitch spun three times, including a dramatic 720-degree rotation, while Siraj experienced a failing alternator belt mid-session. The car also suffered from severe tire scrubbing on the fenders, which created visible smoke and gouged the new tires. A surprising insight was that removing weight made the car less predictable at high speed, as the extremely light rear end became unsettled. They discovered the car was originally painted under the sound deadening, saving them a restoration step. The hosts plan to install a full new suspension kit, including coilovers and adjustable arms, before their next track day at Luddenham, hoping to achieve a sub-one-minute lap time. They also discuss the booming market for older Hondas as affordable track platforms compared to now-expensive Skylines and Silvias. The tone is highly conversational and technical, filled with the camaraderie of two friends working on a shared project. The style is educational, offering practical tips and candid reflections on their mistakes and learning process. This episode would appeal to grassroots motorsport enthusiasts, DIY mechanics, and anyone interested in budget track car builds. Listeners seeking highly polished, professional racing content or discussions about high-performance supercars might find it less relevant.

As heard by us

A grounded chat that moves from EG Civic track talk to a Japan trip already taking shape.

The episode stays close to the EG Civic, with Siraj and Mitch circling back to Eastern Creek and the EG4's very plain setup, down to the wind-up windows and air con.

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Why you'd press play

For Civic talk that spills into Japan plans and anime without warning.

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