Powerworks FocusForce Exposed!
The FJ Staff has had some harrowing experiences in the quest to bring you, our valued reader, the story. But, in one of our boldest capers to date, we were able to gain access to the inner sanctum of Cosworth Technology, Inc. to bring you yet another Focaljet exclusive.
Many times before we had seen prototypes of the Powerworks FocusForce Intercooled Supercharger Kit. However, we received 'official' word from one of our Motor City moles who works for a delivery company that the final product was being installed on a couple of cars in the Cosworth garages. Having been to the Cosworth offices for a meeting, we knew security was tight. So, we set out to devise a believable scenario that would allow us to breach security in broad daylight and come away with what we were after.
Spending several weeks planning this mission, we were startled when the call came in yesterday morning that if we were going to go it had to be now. Apparently, the cars were being finished early and would soon be loaded onto transporters to be driven west. Their final destination? Vegas, home of the 2004 SEMA Show.
Disc-O, our tech guy, wasn't quite ready with the full arsenal of custom built surveillance equipment we had designed for such a mission. But, we had no choice. We had to move. So, using a pair of hacked Oakley Thump sunglasses wired to produce a video feed to a concealed Panasonic mini DV cam, we were able to capture this exclusive video.
Our agent, codename: Zetec, arrived this morning posing as a writer for a industrial metalworking trade magazine. He had confirmed the day before that he'd like to stop by and interview a couple of employees for an upcoming article. Our hunch was that since our "writer" was from a well-known magazine (with no automotive connections) that the normally high security at Cosworth would be put off guard. Since our agent wasn't 'an automotive guy,' he wouldn't be considered a threat. They probably thought he wouldn't really even realize what he was seeing. Their false sense of security played right into our hands.
After a few minutes of small talk, Zetec was asked if he'd like to take a tour of the facility and meet the employees he was to interview out in the shop. Bingo. Things were a bit dodgy being that Zetec had to wear his sunglasses inside. However, an off-handed comment and apology--something about "an eye infection"--and nobody was the wiser. Having just added the Thumps to our collection of gadgets, things almost went seriously wrong. Zetec attempted to make an adjustment to his shades and accidently pushed 'Play' on the MP-3 enabled glasses. Britney Spears' "Toxic" blasted from the earpiece/ (Editors Note: Don't ask me why our man Zetec had loaded THAT particular song onto the Thumps.). Our tour guide looked perplexed for a second, but there was so much noise in the shop that he didn't catch on to what had happened before Zetec was able to hit the 'Stop' button on the temple of the glasses. A close call to be sure. Thirty minutes and a few handshakes later, Zetec left the Cosworth facility and was phoning us on his way back to our HQ. Mission accomplished.
It was a bit touch and go, and Zetec admitted that his little "slip up" almost blew the whole mission. In the end, though, we got the goods. Our crack editorial team is committed to bringing you the hottest Focus news, no matter how high the risk. Enjoy this behind the scenes look at Cosworth Technology and their new FocusForce Kit before its official SEMA debut.
Click this link to view video (16.8MB)
Alternative link to view video (16.8MB)
I'll give them the benefit of the doubt though and assume they just had motors pulled to pretty them up for SEMA.
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