The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

I sold this race car on September 2, 2011. My beloved drag race car and shop equipment have been sold, and paddock lease given back. I saved a few tools and a lot of good memories. It was a major lifelong dream of mine, from early childhood, to drag race with a 'real race car' one day. It is almost the only constant in my life of constant change. I spent countless hours imagining every detail of the car I would build and drive one day. I spent countless money on drag racing related books and magazines to educate myself before I eventually fulfilled the dream with this race car. It was very, very difficult to make this dream come true in Thailand and required all my perseverance and patience in the face of not enough quality, timely, or reliable mechanical help available. But still, it was always an adventure to find myself in strange environments while trying to complete race car construction tasks in Bangkok and surrounds. I met a lot of good people and made a lot of good friends through my racing -- but also some cheaters and many posers. Drag racing for me was a very simple thing: the phenomena itself was captivating -- I didn't analyze it, I just enjoyed it as a crazy desire. The noise and the cars are, somehow, Beauty to me. The best compliment I ever received was an American hot rodder who said, when I asked him if he liked my race car, "You built it, you didn't just talk about it." Yes I did. It is by no means my only accomplishment in life, it is only a small accomplishment, but it carried so much meaning to me because, I now believe, it was a positively affirmative answer to the doubts of a youthful self about my own efficacy in the big world. I often said that drag racing was the only high risk behavior that a 60 year old man should be involved in Bangkok. I have many more dreams yet to fulfill, but my "race car attachment" -- what has kept me from being a Once Returner (Sakadagami) this time -- has been satisfied. Thanks for the memories. I happily move on toward my eventual death: the tank shows only 1/4 remains. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This is it: my Bangkok-based bracket race drag race truck. Up until recently, it was powered by a 550hp turbocharged Toyota 1.5JZ straight six cylinder engine. Best performance with that cobination to date: 10.63 et at 137 mph . . . with 191 cu.in., and 0.9 bar of boost on gasoline with an auto trans @ 875 kilos. Not bad! Currently the installation of a supercharged all-aluminum Toyota 1UZ 4.0L V-8 is nearing completion. Click on the photo to the left to enter the photo gallery. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 1990 Mazda Familia Mini-Pick-Up "Pro Truck Bracket." Owner: Dr. Jeff Harper, Pakkret, Nonthaburi. Special Thanks for Sponsor Support: MacTec,Goodyear Racing Tires, Garage Complete, Adjan Siriboon, Glaserit Paint, Torco Oil (USA), Mark, SPL, and MV Automatics Australia. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Weight: 850 kilos (1870 lbs.) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Engine: Toyota 1UZ 4000cc (243 cu.in.) V-8, dual overhead camshafts, 4 valves per cylinder, aluminum head and aluminum block. Engine Modifications: * Standard 1UZ bottom end (9.50 cr - early "large rod") * Custom aluminum baffled deep rear sump oil pan (7 qt.) * Cometic 1.3mm steel head gasket * ARP standard size head studs, * Kelford camshafts (intake: 264, exhaust: 264) * Bruce Crower race valve springs (2JZ) * ATI harmonic balancer * Vortech V-9 race trim Supercharger (0.6 bar - 8 pounds, max), * 80mm throttle body, * Holley Pro Scoop * Stepped header by Ramintra Turbo * Merge collector by Edelbrock * Tial 55mm BOV * Intercooler (Thailand) * Suparu WRX "Pink" 565cc fuel injectors * Custom large fuel rails (MacTec) * SARD fuel regulator * Aeromotive A-1000 fuel pump * Summit fuel filter * AEM Stand-alone ECU * 4 MSD GM Double Coils (wasted spark configuration) * MSD DIS-4 Plus CDI * Accel HEMI Race 25 Ignition Wire * TCK Spark Plugs (#8) * Synthetic 20/50 Race Oil by Torco * Dry NOS system (AEM ECU controlled by RPM) with two .021 NOS nozzles jets and one .063 jet at the t-fitting. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Transmission & Drive Line: * Toyota 1JZ Supra A342 Automatic 3-speed + overdrive (not used) * 1UZ bell housing and flex plate (with drive ring adapter) * Level 2.5 Racing Valve Body by MV Automatics (Australia) * High Stall Torque Converter (4200 rpm) by MV Automatics, Australia * Modified accumulators by Harper Racing, Bangkok * Programmable Transmission Control Unit: PCS * Transmission assembled by Harper Racing, Bangkok * Supra Shifter * Nissan 1-ton rear end: housing and axles narrowed by Adjan Siriboon * Custom Spool - 4.10:1 gears * Mitsu Evo V Driveshaft, Supra front U-joints and yoke, *Nissan 1-Ton rear U-joints and Yoke * 2 Jeg’s Transmission Coolers with Fan * Torco Racing Trans Fluid ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Chassis - assembled and fabricated by Harper Racing with support from Adjan Siriboon (WorksPower, Bangkok): * Custom "Harper Racing Turquoise" Paint by Glaserit, Bangkok * Paint application and bodywork by Garage Complete, Bangkok * Custom Bodywork by Mr. Lah, WorksPower * Mazda Familia front frame half - standard Mazda Familia suspension, rebuilt with new parts and aluminum bushings * RX7 front discs and calipers (aluminum) * Full 12-point roll cage (as per NHRA rule book) * 2" X 3" mild steel rear frame rails, narrowed ("back halved"). * Wilwood Dual Tandem Master Cylinder * Wilwood forged aluminum 4-piston rear calipers * Biondo Racing USA Line Lock (rear) * Traction/Lift Bars by Harper Racing, Bangkok * Summit Racing USA 5-gallon fuel cell, Earl's fittings * Heavy duty replacement leaf springs, two leafs removed, aluminum bushings * Rancho R-9000 9-way adjustable shocks, poly bushed * Competition Engineering USA Wheelie Bars * Moroso USA Drive Studs * Centerline USA Convo Pro Wheels, 3.5 X 15 front; 10 X 15 rear * Goodyear Racing 23 X 4 X 15 drag race tires, front * Goodyear Racing or M/T 28 X 10.5 X 15 drag slicks, rear * Parachute by Stroud USA * Chute release by Stroud * Poly glass ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Interior: * Summit Racing USA Poly racing seat and cover * Momo Steering Wheel * Auto Meter USA: Memory/Recall Tach, Oil Pressure, Oil Temperature, Transmission Oil Temperature, Boost, and Water Temperature. * AEM Wide-Band AFR gauge * Moroso USA: Brake Pressure Gauge * RCI Shoulder and Lap Belts ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ This race car was built with bracket racing as the goal. The object of a "perfect" bracket race car is to be consistent and predictable in producing the desired e.t. for the intended bracket class, run after run. This car is built and tuned to run in several bracket classes at one race. It is not built to determine how fast the owner can make it run. Currently this car is set-up to be competitive in the 'handicap'12, and 11.90, 10.90, and 9.90 second brackets, as well as a proposed "Top Truck" class (similar to Top Sportsman class in USA).