JR Motorsport and Sumo Power Open Day (56k and Jap Haters need not apply!)

This will probably kill my hosting but it had to be shared................

I spent a large part of yesterday visiting my friend Jim's new facility in Rye Harbour.

To say it's amazing is an understatement. I've never seen anything like it. I though the garages in films were nice but this is on another level.

His company - JRM Group, is relatively unknown outside Mitsubishi circles, but owns Sumo Power since June of last year and also ADR Motorsport who used to run the Mitsubishi Works Rally team.

Current Involvements that I am aware of are the HKS Drag Series, Group N Rally and the FIA World GT Championships amongst no doubt numerous others.

I have no doubt they will become reknowned in time.

I turned up with a couple of mate to be directed to space reserved for the MLR cars, just inside the compound. Heres what followed...........

The facility and compound




The JRM truck for transporting the competition cars


Parked up with MLR cohorts






One of a few GTR attendees


A rather nice Stagea




The old girl looking comparatively crap against some of other attendees!



Santa Pod brought some of their toys


My friend Dan taking an interest in the jet engines (He's doing a doctorate in aeronautical engineering)


Cosworth F1 engine (I believe so, oh and didn't see the sign till later!) - 915hp / 19000rpm


HKS built 4G63 with Garrett T/C and dry sump.



Wasn't a fan of this but it was here nonetheless


J's Racing Skip


Fruity Supra



Sumo Power Drag Skyline

Sumo Power S15 Drift Car



Jim's daily, a 500-600bhp GTR in the chassis dyno cell




JRM on everything!


Here's the interior of the facility:

Rear work bays



Body Shop




One of around 15 JRM owned Evo X RS' on site on the day. All in various stages of prep.


Dalby Spray Booth


Evo X undergoing chassis prep



Rally Spec Impreza on the MOT ramp


Jim's personal drag car. Cited at approx 1500bhp



Slurp!





Bit of Motec just lying around


Parrot Shoot


The CAD/CAM room. Allows the creation of pretty much anything in house.
Saw examples of wheel spacers/housings/tools on show.

An unidentified something being milled


Machine shop, Rottler block honing machine amongst others.




Engine build clean room



In house built Ally billet conrods probably built for the drag car. Ridiculously light.


A stock head next to a ported and flowed head





Build in progress


Superflow Engine Dyno




Upstairs - One of the FIA GT Cars - R35 GTRs. Not utilising the VR38DETT but a 5.6 Litre V8 instead. These are run in collaboration with Nismo. Nismo has provided the cars and has sent over around 9 japanese engineers, who are permanently on site and work with the JRM engineers to develop and maintain the cars.

I'll be going to see them run on the 2nd May at Silverstone for the UK leg.






The second car - the driving positions amazed me. The drivers are practically lying down inside these.


More of the first floor



Another Evo X under prep


Parts storage - Made me cry to see so much stuff I wanted in one place

Everyone knows the 7 is the best - this one is yours for circa £70k



One of Tommi Mäkinen's no doubt numerous Evo VI WRC Cars



The main work area, the vehicle lift and the first floor.









I'm off to get a cup of tea, as sorting the 200+ pics and writing this has killed me.

Impressively clean workshops.

I want it. all of it.

Housey said:

Impressively clean workshops.

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That is what I was thinking.

Housey said:

Impressively clean workshops.

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It's blatantly normally a dump and they stayed up the night before making everything spotless

Wow, impressive stuff thanks for the pics!

Really impressive stuff.

Bunka said:

I want it. all of it.

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I'd settle for the fabrication kit and the skills to use it.

That is absolutely amazing, working there must be akin to going to work and finding yourself in a playground all day...

Crizzy said:

Wow, impressive stuff thanks for the pics!

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No worries, it simply had to be shared.

Housey said:

Impressively clean workshops.

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cymatty said:

That is what I was thinking.

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Bunka said:

It's blatantly normally a dump and they stayed up the night before making everything spotless

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What I forgot to add amongst many things, is that this facility is obviously relatively new.

From what I gather, whilst they have been taking on work whenever possible during its completion, it's mainly been industry and motorsport based.

Jim wanted it to be open last May but during the various times I spoke to him on the phone, they were waiting on the CAD/CAM install, flooring and then at November last year, for the health and safety inspection to be completed.

The open day yesterday I feel, was more of an opening day for the services of the general public, although Sumo Power has operating independently, in essence throughout.

Very impressive shop.

The inhouse fabrication kit is my favourite bit, very nice.

Very impressive working areas there, looks as though they have enough of everything to be a top notch outfit. Wonder how long it will stay that sparkling for!

Car porn.

Thanks for sharing, I love jap cars.

That's a lot of boosted jap beef!

I will echo the clean statement...it will never be that shiny again!

There's a garage up the road from here that always has a few Evo's, tweaking and race-prepping some...forget what they call themselves though...or the guys name. I can find out, sisters boyfriend with his FQ-360 always goes on about the place...

Absolutely lost for words. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

My only thought is just how are they going to generate enough work to fund all that?!

Daaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaymmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm!

Thats nice but its almost show garage like!

[TW]Fox;16108788 said:

Absolutely lost for words. Incredible. Absolutely incredible.

My only thought is just how are they going to generate enough work to fund all that?!

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Quite. How has a garage nobody has ever heard of got a facility like that?

Nice though, but they have a way to go to catch up with TRIAL

Oh, and that Silvia, not seen it before, a new build for 2010?