They suck. Well another has bitten the dust. On my last run of the day, with tires running on cords. Should've stopped when I had the chance. But at least the car ran flawless. Since most of the year i've been running into stupid issues left and right. At least changing doesn't take much effort.
Way back in the day, there were a few enthusiasts that liked Corollas and motorsports. With Moto's idea, Club4AG was born. Since then it has spawned the Corolla and drifting craze ten fold. Now it's 2009 in Primm, Nevada, right at the Nevada/ California stateline. Going back to it's roots of Corollas and motorsports, the dedicated people from Vegas drift, Drift Association, and AE86 Nights bring back the ideals that is Club4AG.
A 2 day event bringing the car show, autocrossing, and drift.
Day 1 was the autocross, which i'm sure everyone knows if gripping through sets of cones. Some may balk at the idea, but like everything else, it takes skill to do this sport. Anyways there's was tons of seat time. I decided to use street tires since I really didn't want to use up r compounds. The surface was slippery since there was fresh dust from the newly constructed course. I did a bunch of mornings and posted up high 38's. After that, I decided it was time for a beer break. Don't worry I didn't drive after that, I wanted to get the party on early.
Since the following week was SEMA some cars destined for Vegas decided to stop by and check out the event.
mmmm Turbo.
The celebrity of the weekend
Moto
Day 2 which I'm sure many were looking forward too, the drift and car show event.
The drift course was tricky. It was laid out with a 3rd gear entry if you have enough power accelerate. With a decreasing radius right turn so you'll need to scrub speed before then so you don't wash out. But too much loss of speed means not finishing the course. So drivers needed to find the balance.
The car show brought out some nice Corollas.
Coupes
Hatchbacks
Props to the people who were able to bring out their rides out to the middle of nowhere. No queen mary or orange county lakes up in here.
At the awards ceremony I won 2 trophies.
I was very happy. Hey Naoki where you going??
And very wet.
The event went really well, but of course when you have a collaboration of Vegas drift, Drift Association, and AE86 Nights, you wouldn't expect anything less from their hard work. Kudos to them and the many others who helped support the event. And of course to the owners themselves who came out to party and show their spirit. This is what Club4ag is all about.
Next year: ?
As the event ended I think about what's next. Due to low turn out, it maybe the last Club4AG sanctioned event. I hope it isn't so, but for now the future is a blur if there will actually be another event.
10 years ago I bought a Toyota CorollaGT-S. An 85 Zenki hatchback. I didn't think i'd own this car for that long, but man what a history. It's gone through a few minor changes since over the years, but in the end I returned it back to it's former glory. Bought it in October of '99. It was completely stock and everything worked even the A/C. My intentions were never to build a crazy car since I was working in an industry where I put together cars from silly engine swaps to psycho engine builds.
Autox Hollywood park. A first taste of performance driving and the beginning of a another era.
At the time I had a RX-3 that was setup more towards straight line battle. So I didn't care about hp. Since I started to find the straight line more and more boring. My goal was to learn performance driving. At a shop I worked at, I had met Moto of Club4AG fame with his superchargedCorolla he swayed me towards the Corolla. Wasn't really interested in Corollas at the time. I had my sights set on getting a S30 240Z . I still thought the Z was cooler than the Corolla, but the Corolla was so easy to work on. And they were cheaper and easier to find than a Z. Sure I probably could have campaigned the 3. Since the national champion was also piloting an RX-3. I figured it would be easier to find parts I needed for the Corolla than the 3.
Autox Hollywood park late 90's
I've met many enthusiasts throughout the years, most of the early owners have gone on to different things. There's a few I talk to who are still in the game after all these years.
The car has faithfully served it's master and it's taken him to different levels.
Photo by Moto @ club4ag
Learning to drift at Streets of Willow
Drift Tengoku v.14. And yes those are Hoshino Impuls
Competing in the very first Ikaten in the states.
Trying out at the RSR drift festival.
Since then i've acquired another Corolla to do battle pictured above, and retired the other one from active duty. Few old schoolers i haven't seen in a while thgought this was the first car and were saddened I beat the crap out of it. Until I let them know that's not the case.
After 10 years of ownership what's left? I've grown too attached to the car, but my old ass needs something that's more comfortable.
I still get notes or get stopped by people who are interested in the car. But can I really part with my little piece of history? Who knows....
It's been awhile since there was an 'official' meet. It's the good people at Drift Association, Vegasdrift, and AE86Nights stepping up to make this happen. With drifting, autox, and a car show, 4AG guys can choose or do all three. Hope to you see you guys there.
I'm signed up for the car show hopefully I win something cool.
Since SEMA is the following week, come swing by before you head out to the strip and say hi.
Since it's nearing Halloween and being this is the 13th tech, means absolutely nothing. Except for another cheap way of doing stuff. This time I explore bending brakes. Since I can't afford one I made a cheap one. With a couple pieces of metal and a hydraulic press.
Welding a couple pieces of metal I came up with this. Not too bad.
And this is how it works.
Sure i could probably get the same results with a vise and a good size hammer. But we're really after the cosmetics. You know me, it's gotta look good for sho'!
Anyways I don't think you can make this on the vise.
Another thing that this thing is good for is holding pipe on the the drill press. Too bad I don't have a drill press to utilize this amazing piece.
'Thank you' (for everyone else) for the memories. Well the time has come after almost a year of ownershipfermentation. I had to let go the Swedishred velvet. The car that was to be a 24 hours of lemons contender is no longer. Due to the suffering economy, the boss bugging me for a car cover, and everyone busy with other things it was decided that the car had to move on. It has provided great memories of what could have been. But rather than have it face the government 'death panel'. It's been graciously been taken in by my mexican co worker at the shop. Since both his Hondas recently broke down. Before I surrendered the keys to him, I reminded him that he cannot install 13in reverse daytons. He just grinned.
At least changing doesn't take much effort.
I was very happy. Hey Naoki where you going??
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Autox Hollywood park. A first taste of performance driving and the beginning of a another era.
Autox Hollywood park late 90's
Photo by Moto @ club4ag
Drift Tengoku v.14. And yes those are Hoshino Impuls
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It's been awhile since there was an 'official' meet. It's the good people at Drift Association, Vegasdrift, and AE86Nights stepping up to make this happen. With drifting, autox, and a car show, 4AG guys can choose or do all three. Hope to you see you guys there.![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=b30c5580-d1da-486a-9fff-e1ace6bd3ad9)
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That time of year where everyone can pretend to be German.
Loads of fun if you like having a beer with your bratwurst. If you're in Torrance visit Alpine Village and get your polka on!![Reblog this post [with Zemanta]](http://img.zemanta.com/reblog_e.png?x-id=9efacc13-58d4-4b24-bb4d-0bf1cafa37cc)
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