So after several hours, I moved on. I started in the trunk and installed that crazy crossbrace. I had to remove the panels over the struts, then removed a piece of trim over the rear seatbelts. To get the top c pillar bar in, I removed the bolts holding in rear belts and then installed the mounts, then bolted the bar into the mounts. Same for the rear lower strut bar. Then I installed the crossbraces, they connect to the mounts. So this took about an hour and a half.
After that I installed the rear LED lights. Besides the lowering springs, this was the hardest mod I have done so far. I took off the rear bumper and then removed the panels to access the bulbs and bolts. 2 weeks later, my hands are still cut up from getting to those bolts and bulbs. So after I removed the old headlights, I had to rewire the passenger side to get the bulbs to fit. I also had to do some work to the get the reverse bulbs to fit.
So after 2 hours and dropping the passenger side light on the driveway (worst feeling in the world, but no damage) I finally got to step back and check them out. I thought at first the top part was smoked too dark, but instead I think it looks great! While I had the hatch open, I installed my LED 3rd brake light, took about 5 mins and looks awesome too.
Then time to move to the front. I jacked up the drivers side and got to work on those brakes. I popped off the stock pancakes and installed the hot slotted and dimpled rotors. Next came the Hawk HPS pads and repeated on the passenger side. I went out and bedded in the new brake setup, got the car washed and took some pics.
I got some sleep and then woke up to get out to the Dragon. I texted Roger to meet the group out at the intersection of 28 and the Dragon. I was running a little late so I tried to pick up the pace without getting another ridiculous ticket like I got last time.
I was expecting a ton of traffic considering it was Saturday and the leaves had started to change, but it was clear all the way up. When I first went up there, it was hard for me to tell exactly where the Dragon began, the winding country road gives you a preview with a few tight turns, long bends, and deep banks. Then you get to the wide open area running by the lake. Past the bridge things get much, much twistier. I ran alone for a while and hadn't seen any cops yet. I wanted to make sure I didn't end up with blue lights behind me again. So about halfway thru my run, I take a hard left and see a silver S2k come flying by, followed closely by a blue Mazdaspeed RX8, yellow Cobalt SS, Mazdaspeed 3, red Miata, 240SX, and then I started to recognize my group, 2 Fits came flying by each honking with a silver CR-Z playing caboose. I waved and found the closest turn around and then punched it back after them. After the Harley in front finally let me past. I came hunting thru the turns to catch the group. This is a lot harder than it sounds - these guys had been up here for 3 days learning the roads and tearing it up! I kept catching glimpses thru turns and slowly making up ground. Traffic held us up and I closed in on the CR-Z's rear bumper. Traffic pulls off and everyone pushes to pick up the pace. As we find the rhythm of the road again, the beautiful colors in the trees become a constant stream of vibrant color as we scream past. Hard on the brakes, turn in, foot hovering over the throttle til the right time and then punching it out of the turn. The Fit's suspension allows me to keep pace with cars that would leave me for dead on an open highway. Some of these guys are pushing 2-3x the power of my car, but balance is more important up here. The Fit's low weight combined with grippy tires and suspension mods help this thing change direction quicker than electricity! So we slow for the lot by the lake and I meet Roger. Short guy, stronnnng midwestern accent, friendly as can be. He looks over my car and seems to be impressed with what I have done. We check out his CR-Z and he has done a few cosmetic mods, but just got the car a few months ago. Im sure it wont stay that way for long. We decide to rejoin the group and head back the way we came. He tells me I should lead since he is on all stock tires and suspension. We pull out just after a black Hummer H2. Great, this should be a slow trip.....right then the H2 driver punches it and pushes this 20 ton beast around the first few turns. Dang, this guy can drive! We keep pace using our brakes and suspension advantage. After a few turns, the H2 doesn't slow down, but seems to be pushing a bit too hard, a few passes over the yellow and Im not so impressed any more. We keep pace and soon we bunch up behind a group of cruisers. They do not pull over, so we press on.
I can see a retro Ducati in my rearview and it seems hellbent on passing its way up to the front. First past a few bikes, then Roger. I pull to the right, but am still hustling around the turns. I hear a throaty roar over my left shoulder and the Duc is already passed and is riding very close to my driver's fender. This thing looks sick and sounds even better. Another crack at the throttle and this thing passes the H2 like its sitting still. Rider sets up for the next turn, leans in and passes the group ahead.
We make it to the intersection of 129 and 28 "Moonshiner's Run". This is becoming a popular road, less travelled than the Dragon and just as fun. We decide to head to Robbinsville to get some lunch.
We made a quick stop at Wendy's and grabbed a bite. I got to talk to a few more of the guys and get to know them and their cars. Hansel and his brother drove a Mugen GE8 all the way from Florida sporting an almost hellaflush stance. Really cool guys, Hansel's brother (I think his name was Rob?) has a RSX featured on Password JDM.
So, we hit the roads again headed back towards the Dragon. It was fun chasing that white Mugen up thru the mountains. We made a short stop before the dragon to let the brakes cool and some of the guys started popping hoods (not sure why....) then back to the driving. Traffic held us up a bit on the way back. The lead driver kept slowing down, then speeding up, this caused a pretty frustrating flow on the way back. We stopped at the end of the Dragon and chatted, meanwhile a sheriff pulls up to my car door with his lights on.......oh great.....One of the other drivers complained that our group was driving irratically with all the starting/stopping, one of the members of our group smoothed things over and we were free to go. That was my cue to head home, lol.
My Fit did great, the weak link at this point is the brakes. They did fine with all the hard driving and never faded, but they still never inspired confidence either. The pedal seems soft and unresponsive for the first half of its travel.
Overall, it was a great day. These guys were quick – probably some of the quicker guys I have seen up there, especially since they weren't locals.
