Exploits of Kazuhiko Nagata, also known as "Smokey," is a renowned figure in the Japanese automotive tuning industry, particularly during the 80s, 90s, and early 2000s when Japanese automakers produced tuner-friendly cars. He gained popularity as a street racer and tuning expert in Japan, earning a reputation that extends worldwide. Today, his name always comes up in conversations about JDM tuning and street racing.

Born in 1964, Smokey Nagata spent his formative years in the Japanese prefecture of Hokkaido, in a little village surrounded by picturesque countryside and rolling hills. Smokey's fascination with automobiles stemmed from tinkering with cars from an early age.

After a bad break in his career as an amateur mechanic when he was 16 years old, he headed to Tokyo to pursue his dream of becoming a racing car driver. Though a humble guy, Smokey Nagata has never humbled his dreams and ambitions. He eventually rose to prominence as a leading street racer and tuning expert in Japan.

Kazuhiko "Smokey" Nagata began his career as a mechanic for Toyota as their youngest employee. He then became a tuner and fabricator at Trust/GReddy. As he began using the Trust shop for his own personal projects in 1978, the name "Top Secret" was born, as a nickname for his discreet work at the Trust facility. His employers allowed this to continue as Nagata was a highly skilled employee and valuable asset to the company.

Top Secret became independent from Trust in 1991 and set up their own shop in Chiba. In 1993, the company began exhibiting at the Tokyo Auto Salon.

A recognizable feature of many Top Secret tuned cars are their gold paint schemes. Only cars that Nagata deem to be the best and most accomplished projects that represent the epitome of the Top Secret tuning philosophy receive this special gold paint scheme.

Top Secret Garage specializes in high-performance automotive tuning and aftermarket parts. They offer a range of products designed to enhance the performance, aesthetics, and handling of vehicles. Some of the products sold by Top Secret Garage include:

Engine Performance Upgrades: Top Secret Garage offers various engine modifications such as turbo kits, intercoolers, intake systems, exhaust systems, and engine management systems to increase horsepower and torque.

Suspension and Handling Upgrades: They provide suspension components like coilover kits, sway bars, strut tower bars, and performance brakes to improve the handling and responsiveness of vehicles.

Body Kits and Aero Parts: Top Secret Garage offers a selection of body kits, front lips, side skirts, rear spoilers, and aerodynamic enhancements to enhance the visual appeal and aerodynamic performance of vehicles.

Wheels and Tires: They provide a range of aftermarket wheels in different sizes, styles, and finishes, as well as high-performance tires to improve the grip and traction of vehicles.

Interior Accessories: Top Secret Garage also offers interior accessories such as racing seats, harnesses, steering wheels, shift knobs, and gauge pods to enhance the driving experience and add a sporty touch to the cabin.

These are just a few examples of the products offered by Top Secret Garage. Their goal is to provide enthusiasts with high-quality performance parts and accessories to enhance the overall driving experience.

Even though "Smokey" is well-known because of unlawful high-speed runs, people know very little about his life and journey. Here is some information about 'Smokey' Nagata, the man who attempted 200 mph on a British Public road.

Smokey Nagata is a dedicated and skillful speed demon. Owning several well-modified cars capable of pro-level drifting, street, and circuit racing, he's rumored to have been a member of Japan's notorious street racing outfit – the Midnight Racing Club.
On the Yatabe oval circuit, he drove an R33 Skyline GT-R from 0 to 186 mph in 17 seconds, before breaking 204 mph in the Aqua-line tunnel in Tokyo.
Behind the wheel of self-tuned cars, Smokey has hit insane speeds on different freeways (wangans) around the globe. The most notable feats include clocking 222mph at the Nardo Ring in Italy and again 229 mph on the Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line tunnel. These, among other high-speed runs, made him a legend in the underground racing scene.
Smokey Nagata's 200-mph attempt on the A1(M) in the UK was a PR stunt to advertise his company Top Secret globally as the real deal in tuning cars for speed. It worked like a charm, with the footage going viral. Notably, he only had a few attempts, it was raining, and there were other complications. On one run, the engine was running lean (the air-to-fuel mixture was too light), and the hood was almost getting blown off around the 190 mph mark. Nonetheless, his Mk4 Supra managed to clock 197 mph.
This unofficially became the fastest a car has reached on a UK public highway. While spectacular, it was also illegal, landing him in trouble. Smokey only admitted to doing 120 mph and got jailed. Luckily, he got released the next day but got banned from the UK for 10 years, a one-month international license ban, a £155 ($174) fine, and £35 ($39) in court fees.
These interesting details provide an overview of Smokey Nagata's background, achievements in the tuning and racing industry.

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