I dunno, but whatever it is, I'll take two.


Many of you have heard of Steve Kan at Gotham Racing. Well I've had my 7 tuned by 3 different people and it was running pretty good at 409whp @16 psi. We'll I was still having some ignition retarding issues and startup issues as well as drivagbility issues. I just assumed since I'm modded to the gills it was just something I had to learn to live with.

In a desperate attempt to try and at least cure the ignition retard issue (J&S Knocksensor) I trailered the car 400 miles to Gotham Racing to give Steve Kan a shot.

First thing I noticed about Steve is that he calls you with any question about your setup or any info he needs. I liked that alot, made me feel he really was interested in getting the car tuned right and not just tuned so it'll work.

Second thing is that he was on the ball and got er done!! Very timely in my book, 3 days from when I dropped it off I was picking it up.

Third thing is just how good this guy really is. When I picked the car up he asked me to go take it for a spin and see what I thought. Well it started right up, Hey thats cool!, never started so easily before. I give it a little gas and vrooom, Hmmm, no hesitation, no qurikiness, no shutters or stutters. So I go for the drive and this car drives (throttle response and smoothness) as good or better than ANY NEW car comming off the lot. I did not think this was possible. I actually enjoyed driving this car down the road, I was not feeling ANY jerking or hesitation. WOW, I thought, This is Great, I bet I lost some power though getting it to drive this smooth. So I try a 2nd gear roll from about 40mph, desperately hoping the ignition would not retard and the smoothness would still be there............. Guess what

.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...??

The boost comes on and both tires break loose. Holy Sheet!! He musta found 50-60 more hp as well!! This car rerally flies now! It was no slouch before trapping 110 in the 1/4 but I would guess It'll trap 120 now. More HP with no detonation or timing retard and smooth throttle..

Steve needs to charge more... Had I known my car couild run this well and be so smooth at the same time I would have come to him first. I would not have blinked an eye if he had charged triple so good is this tune. My car is actually enjoyable to drive now, that is worth more than words can describe. I worry about nothing now, the car simply goes and goes very well.

Anyone wondering if your 7 can have more drivability, give Steve a shot. I know he travels around alot to different events and does tuining for people so if you close to an event he's at and are thinkign about getting a retune I STRONGLY suggest you get signed up for it. I promise you will not be dissapointed.

Any of guys far away I would not hesitate knowing what I know now to haul my car 2000 miles to let him tune on it. Steve actually did that good of a tune on my car.

Sorry if this is too long or seems like a plug for Steve but I've never dreamed my FC could run as smooth or as strong as it does simply from a tune. The difference is Amazing and I just wanted to share it with you all.

 

moving to south..

 

I think what makes Steve so good is that he has been blowing up his own cars for years and years

Seriously, it isn't hard to understand why he does a good job. He's an intelligent enthusiest who devotes a lot of time to studying and understanding these systems. His knowledge is way past nuts and bolts, he understands theory and its application so he can therefore troubleshoot or improve upon things he may not have seen before.

 

Being that there are very few tuners and they get all the business, they get the experince. Thus there are really no OTHERS to compare too.

Talk to some people who are good but not known, and they will tell you that it is hard to get customers unless the reputation is already there.
The old CATCH 22 law.

Also most of the owners are now "used car owners" who are also young and bedazzled by the older and experienced owners. Steve has been around for years like I have been.

I have had my FD R1 since July 1992 and have seen many changes. I have owned my car for more years than many current owners have been out of high school.

 

There aren't many in the country that I would trust to tune my FD. Steve is one of them, and I think that says alot.

 

That's why every year we ask him to come and tune at our event and don't make a dime off of it.

Ask him any question while he's tuning and he's glad to show you why did certain things.

We are proud to have him attend every year.

 

he has big asian *****, at least rich say so..

 

Steve does more than just tune. He's a damned good driver as well. I saw him tear up VIR(at MADS) in 2000 with his Veilside FD.

A lot of us thought he was just a drag racer. He did an awesome job racing around that track.

 

I suppose you don't know about his SCCA GT class records (pre-dragracing days)?

 

^^Negatron.

 

So you would consider Steve the best tuner in the US? What about Jason or the guys at rx7.com?

 

It all depends on who you like and trust. Steve is a good choice because he offers competitive pricing, and, unlike most vendors he warranties his engines.

 

In my years of watching the scene I can't say that one particular shop (tuner) has taken performance to a level that other "professional" shops cannot atain.

there are several quality shops in the US and Steve is one of them along with the other mentioned.. heck I imagine that Steve learned a few of his tricks from his years as a Chris and Ari's (rx7.com) team mate on the track.

 

Pulled a 12.04 with a a 1.70 60' on Sunday @ 19psi

3700 elevation driving into a 30mph headwind

It's got an 11 in her.

Thanks again Steve!

 

You make such valuable contributions to this forum. Oh, and thanks for the call back

 

What was the trap?

 

R/T .099 (they changed it up in NHRA where .000 is perfect now no matter the tree)
60' 1.793
330 5.029
1/8 7.731
mph 92.62
1000 10.071
1/4 12.044
mph 114.76

 

I agree that steve is the man... He is up there in the rotary god candidate list.

 

rotary god? hahaha...

 

HukHuk is the Gin and Tonic God

 

lol.... I need to edit the vid but I have the 3 rotor w/ out a header on tape... nice.

 

but rotary performance tuned your car

 

I have never, EVER seen a male asian pornstar.

 

^^^That's because they already used the name William Hung on a useless singer.

 

Rich/Ihor,

You guys crack me up. Steve would be so proud of the direction this thread is heading

Let me just add that Steve pegs the personal integrity scale. Hopefully he will continue serving the rotary community for some time to come. However, the day he decides to hang it up and move on to something new will be a sad day for all of us.

No one else that I'm aware of in the country will come to YOU, spend one or two days of their time to help you get your car running properly, all for only $300.

One heluva deal, and a great person to boot!