The Photography of Dr. Jeff Harper

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Yes, peddle to the metal . . .

A good launch to start a good run.  This is a bracket, or 'Super' class, race. Here I am trying to hit the 11.90 class index.  I ran an 11.93.  Very good.

Proud Owner/Racer

That's me in my trackside race shop (paddock) with my friend and tuner, Khun Mac.

Sitting Right

Taken in my shop after I rebuilt, and lowered, the front suspension.  Much better now at 135 mph! Notice the "3JZ" emblem on the front fender.  In Thailand a '2JZ' Toyota cylinder block with a '1JZ' cylinder head is called a "3JZ" (2JX + 1JZ=3JZ)! In the rest of the world it is called a 1.5JZ.

At the green . . .

We run a 'total time' elaple time system in Thailand.  I like it.   The clocks for the e.t. start when the green comes on, not when the car breaks the staging lights. This means there are fewer red lights.  Here I am preparing to stage at the starting line for my run . . .  my car runs 10.70s against an 11.90 bracket . .  . so I will wait on the line 1.20 seconds to leave . . . and then run flat out.  None of this trottle stop stuff!

On a Night Run

We race at night every week-end. Here I am at the 1/8 mile.

Cover car

Every Car Guy's dream: having your car on the cover of a car magazine!

Grand Opening of newly upgraded Bangkok Drag Avenue.  I was the fifth car to run down the strip . . . . but I broke the rear end gears about 20 feet past where this photo was taken.  Oops!  I had the honor of being the first car to be towed off the drag strip.  Oops!

In The New Staging Lanes

A beautiful night at the recently upgraded Bangkok Drag Avenue.

Rear End Repaired

The Joys of Race Car Ownership!  I shouldn't complain.  Here in Thailand when I have a heavy job I go by a race shop I use and pay a mechanic to come to my track-side paddock and help me out.  The old ring and pinion shattered, so I needed a new third member as well.  The spool and axles were fine.  I took advantage of the tear-down to change from a 4.30:1 to a 4.10:1 gear ratio because of the newfound torque created by the new header arrangement.

Slippery Track

March 28, 2009: With the rear end back in with the 4.10:1 gears, Khun Mac attempted a test run which resulted in major slip and slide in every gear. Unfortunately, the track owners decided that the new surface needed sand-blasting because it was too slippery.  This might work . . . .  but not last night. They are trying to figure out what to do to make the surface better.  They have traction compound and a tractor to drag it with rubber.  Mostly they need to be patient while more rubber gets laid down.  

King of Drag Truck Race 2008

A very rare day race at the Bangkok Drag Avenue.  This was the annual 'King of Truck' race. I ran heads up with too much boost . . . . . Khun Mac was driving and ran a personal best of 10.63 at 133 in the Familia . . . but blew the head gasket on this semi final run (came back and won the 3rd place run).  I have since solved the head gasket problem.  Front wheels up!

Race Motor - Intake Side

I use a ported Toyota 1JZ cylinder head and port-matched a 2JZ intake manifold. This combination, combined with a 'smallish' turbocharger,  makes a lot of low and mid range torque. The camshafts are HKS 264s on both intake and exhaust.

Toyota "3JZ"

In Thailand a Toyota 2JZ short block with a 1JZ cylinder head is called a "3JZ" (2JZ + 1JZ = 3JZ). Notice the engine setback - the #1 spark plug is at the front spindle.

Turbocharged!

I use a 'smallish' Holset 40 turbo with a 6 into 2 into 1 large tube stainless header that spools up at around 2000 rpm. I normally leave the line at 2300 rpm on a 2-step rev limiter against the 4200 stall converter.  When bracket racing the boost control is set at 0.9 bar (13 psi) and shifted at 5000 rpm, I have run 10.70s at 130mph (1.60s for the 60 foot). This is a motor-saving, no tire slip, deadly consistent approach.

The Office

This is the office.  Some things to notice: a PCS trans controller (lower left); the MicroTech ECU (lower left) and head unit (center); standard 1JZ shifter, AutoMeter gauges & playback tach; and line-lock with brake pressure gauge. It's a pretty small space, so I have to brake with my left foot. The boost controller and other electronics are in the glove box.

189 cubic inches

The light was beautiful . . . I couldn't resist another motor pic.

The Results

I  do this for fun and the love of the sport. A trophy now and again is nice.

Chassis

This is a 3-D computer rendering of the chassis of my race car done by a former student of mine, Gabriel Dubois.  It is a standard "back half" arrangement with a 12-point roll cage. The drawing is 90% accurate . .  there are a few small details missing, but it gives a good idea of the set-up.

An Evening's Drive

Preparing for a 'dry hop' before a time trial run.

Twittering? No.

In the lounge at my trackside paddock sending out messages on my iPhone after a night of racing.

Getting some 'ink' on the Internet.

A little web expxosure is a good thing for me . . . and my sponsors. I really like this photo . . . my racer looks really great in this shot.

My new 1uz project

Soon to be supercharged Toyota 1UZ V-8 resting between the reame rails.  Nice

Toyota 1UZ V-8 fits the Mazda Familia nicely.

The motor mounts, trans mounts are all complete.

1uz engine set-back

Like an old 60's gasser!

Supercharged 1UZ race project

It is amazing what a little paint can do.  The 1UZ is a beautiful engine, no doubt about it.

Photogenic 1UZ V-8

I can't wait to hear it snap to life . . . . .

Supercharged 1UZ

This is the current stte of affairs:  days from dyno tuning.  March 25, 2010

Failded Attempt to Tune

A late night thrash that came up short.  At least we discovered several things:  the ECU was wired wrong and the sensors were grounding which resulted in mass amounts of fuel being randomly sprayed into the engine which resulted in burning fuel dropping out the headers!  This resulted in a blown head gasket, which resulted in ordering a good Cometic steel gasket, re-wiring the ecu, and ordering head studs -- which resulted in three months of delay, so far.  Oh well that's racing!

80mm 1UZ Throttle Body

In the meantime (trying to start it and waiting for parts) a massive air leak was discovered in the intake (somewhere?), and so a larger, better throttle body was mounted.

1UZ Dry Nos

Since the "Top Truck" class will require qualifying, a dry NOS system has been installed.  Two 0.21 dry nozzles have been placed in strategic locations after the supercharger, and a .063 jet has been placed at the NOS t-fitting. One nozzle should yield around 50hp and both should yield around 100hp. 

Mazda Familia Drag Truck

I really miss this old drag truck.

Mazda Familia Drag Truck

I had a lot of fun with this drag racer.

Drag Race Mazda Familia 1.5JZ

I won my fair share of trophies too! 1.5JZ

Drag Race Mazda Familia 3JZ

This photo was in it's 1.5JZ iteration soon to be blown up duting the "King of Truck" race . . . too much NOS, not enough gas.  Oh well.

Familia Drag Racer JZ

Dashboard . . . not much time to look at these during a run . . .

Familia Drag Racer JZ

Outside my shop at the Bangkok Drag Avenue.

Familia Drag Racer JZ

In my shop . . . ready for a night of racing . . .

Familia Drag Racer JZ

Preparing for a night pass . . .

Familia Drag Racer JZ

Some of the roll cage visable.

Familia Drag Racer JZ

A nicely supplied race shop.

Familia Drag Racer JZ

Te "office"!