SP Rides: Project Mayhem
By Michael Kitchens
Oahu’s economy is widely supported by the US Military. Considering the fact that it has the 4th largest military work force in the nation, it’s no surprise to regularly see armed forces members cruising the local pavement in hot rides.
As a retired USAF Combat Arms instructor, I can identify with the strong automotive culture they bring to the island. Deservedly so, in my opinion, as these young military men and women spend months in foreign countries, far away from home from friends and family. It’s understandable that they’d dive deep into the passions they’ve only been able to dream about while overseas.
Take Patrick Michael Chittock, whose automotive passions developed while day dreaming on a deployment in Iraq in 2008. After spending over fifteen months in the sand, his first inclination was to purchase a Nissan 350Z. Within a week of purchase, his brother and himself had already installed a twin turbo kit and the path down the dark side began.
With expendable income, Patrick went full bore into the Z build before promptly losing it all in an unavoidable accident just a few miles from our photo shoot location. While being absolutely gutted, he spent the next several months hoofing it from place to place. It’s at this point that he started to look at his options for his next potential ride.
With research, exhaustive planning and a deployment on the horizon, Patrick reasoned that he could afford the legendary GTR badge. Nine months later, he flew directly from Afghanistan to Colorado, drove through a blizzard in Utah, a trip through Nevada, all the way to San Diego and threw it on a boat. Now that’s dedication!
Patrick babied the car for awhile after receipt, but eventually, the modification bug hit him hard and his love for tinkering came to the fore. Learning much from the NAGTROC site and forums, he began to modify the car to his liking. Following the byline of his fellow SFS members, he focused on Style, Function, & Simplicity.
The engine has been mildly modded with an Injen intake and intercooler pipes and tuned by AMS via a Cobb Accessport to the tune of 570WHP. The car has been opened up thanks to Cobb down and mid pipes.
The GTR’s ride has been upgraded with sixteen-way adjustable Bilstein coilovers and rolls on Advanti 20″ 3-piece forged race wheels fitted with Dunlop Sportmaxx GT 600s on the front and rear with Hawk HPS brake pads for added stopping power.
The exterior and interior has been modified with a grip of parts that really make a statement. The outside mods include a gorgeous AMS Alpha 12 Carbon Fiber hood, RevoZsport Duckbill Carbon Fiber trunk, and a JDC rear diffuser. Tasteful highlights include the vinyl wrapped mirrors, and tinted front and rear lights. In addition, the front lip and side skirts have been color matched to the car. Patrick is held fast by Sparco Harness Bar and 4-point harnesses while staring at the amazing interior display designed by renowned GT5 programmers, Polyphony Digital.
GTRs are rare, exotic beasts imported from the Land of the Rising Sun…They’re the Japanese version of the supercar, only more affordable but just as capable. Patrick’s iteration is a daily driven beast that he has serious plans for…his eventual goal is to have the infamous AMS Alpha 10 package installed for a whopping 1250 AWHP.
Holy wow…that’s mayhem alright.
