He calls it a holiday, but for Raynil Lal, the trip back to Auckland from Tokyo holds a different agenda. The 41-year-old security architect isn’t here for sightseeing — he’s here to unleash the power of his 1990 Nissan Skyline BNR32 GT-R on the streets for some exhilarating gear-plucking (and whining) fun. This isn’t just a drive, it’s a full-blown sensory experience.
Common to many car enthusiasts, our unhealthy obsession with cars kicked off at a young age, whether fuelled by influences from the Fast and Furious franchise, Need for Speed, or Grand Turismo. Ray was one of us, falling prey to the obsession with all things fast. In his case, his passion extended to both aircraft and cars. He used to binge-watch a VHS tape featuring the first-generation Dodge Viper and was fascinated by the SR-71 Blackbird, an aircraft that once held numerous speed records. Repeatedly, he’d lose himself for hours watching footage of this speed-record–holding masterpiece. Little did he know that this fascination would inspire him to embark on the journey of building his R32 GT-R.
Raynil’s love for the RB platform began in fourth form during his lunch break. “I heard a midnight-purple R32 GTS-T take off from the lights. Once I found out it was a Skyline, I was hooked!” This encounter led him to drool over the BNR32 chassis, watching footage from back in thesome physics-defying moves. “Just listening and watching them pull away on the conrod straight is priceless!” Raynil was certain that this was the car destined for him, and it was only a matter of time until he could lay his hands on one.
