Topak 2015

A brisk friday in late March brought me out to Streets of Willow for another Team Topak track day.  The last time I drove with this group was in 2013, sigh can't believe it's like 2 years ago.  Even though I was more of a spectator/observer this time around, they do put on great events.  I think i'll need to start renting a car or something to get back into it.

Suislide Girls Drift

 
After some wholesome break in time at the dyno.  It was time really test Barney and it's cleaner emitting tune.  Signed up the the Suislide Girls drift event at the balcony at Willow Springs Raceway.  It's cheap, low number entries and there's girls.  But they didn't have any tattoos as far i'm aware of, but they do like to drift.

2010 Review

 

Now it's time to reflect back as another year comes to a close.

Turkey bowl

I recently signed up for the AE86 Grip day at streets of willow, which is happening Thanksgiving weekend.  The car isn't completed just yet.  So this will be an added incentive to get the force purple rain finished.
But I do have a back up plan just in case things don't go my way.
Here's a couple old scanned photos, as in almost 10 year old photos some past event.  When it was fun to own a corolla.  Do you remember some of these cars?

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Grip Day 2: Almost but not quite

A very wet saturday was supposed to be the Drift Associations 1st Grip Day event at Horsethief Mile located inside Willow Springs Raceway. If you like short courses, or touge style track then this track is for you. I've been 2 months without driving an event so it's about time I got my fix. Unfortunately it was cancelled due people flaking because of the wet weather. Since I was there, I took advantage of the situation and took a couple of snaps. You know I need to get my $10.00 worth.


For the few core drivers that stuck it out, the balcony was open for drivers. For a fee, they were able to burn up tires any way they please.


I did spot what looks like Tanner Foust driving a Toyota Supra on Streets, another one of my favorite tracks or maybe it's just his helmet. A jack of all trades when it comes to driving. From what I hear, he'll be driving a RWD Scion TC this season of drifting.


A Ford GT 40 adored in Gulf colors was romping at the big track. It looked very at home on this track. I heard that it even decided to go off course and get some air. That must hurt, kudos for it's owner bringing it out in the less than ideal conditions to stretch it's legs.

There was at least one Corolla keeping the spirit alive.

Oh and this one too. People need to get their weekend fix not matter what they drive.

During the course of the day it just got really cold and I decided to call it a day.


And I ran into this cloud full of water. It was a tad wild on the way home.

Go here for more pics

Be Safe

Unlike most circuit enthusiasts/specialists I have yet to attend my first track day of the year. With the new year let's all be safe when participating at an open track event. Try not to be this guy.

2010 U.S. Grand Prix?

2007 U.S. Grand Prix - Indianapolis, Indiana
Originally uploaded by Pendleton-Gazette.com

With no Formula 1 stop this year or next year, it's been disheartening not being able to watch. Well i'm just disgruntled because I had a chance to go in '07 but passed. Now teams are clamoring to try and get the U.S. Grand Prix back to the states by 2010. A venue is up in the air, but one spot that is up for consideration is Las Vegas. Which is really cool and close by, though I'd like to see Long Beach back in the loop. Hopefully we'll see Formula 1 back in the U.S. by 2010.

Source: Autosport

Specialist T #2

At the shop, there was this corolla race car that the owner acquired not too long ago. I've seen the car in pics online. It's hard to miss a spoon colored corolla. I never truly knew the history of the car itself. On Club4AG a driver by the name of Scott Webb had posted an in car video. On his avatar there was a pic (shown above) of the car itself which looked like to one at the shop. I showed him the shop car and he confirmed that was the one. He gave me a very brief history of the car, it was owned by Paul Goduti and was featured in the Toyota Performance Handbook published in 1990. It's the silver hatchback with the mesh wheels. So it's been a race car most of it's life. Truely, amazing the car has survived for this long. If only it can speak, and tell us of the many battles it has faced over the years.



It's been through a couple of owners since then, and now sits in hibernation waiting for the call to do battle once again.



Here's a video Scott duking it out in a Cal Club SCCA enduro race at Buttonwillow in 2000.

The Grid is Full

wheels down winter testing0089.jpg
Originally uploaded by antiundersteer

This weekend is a racer's weekend. 24hours of LeMons Lemans, Indianpolis 500, Formula 1 Monaco, Coca Cola 600 for all you Nascar fiends and yes I am one of them. So let's drop our tools put the car on hiatus for the weekend and enjoy some good driving from the heroes we aspire to be. Unless you are one of them professionals gearing to do battle this weekend. Good luck to you.

For stream of Lemans click here it's in german so you better brush up. There is also english here its just podcast no video.

Formula 1 fans try here

Nascar fans should already know where to go if not try here

Only radio broadcast for indy here

Bored @ Work

This morning I was really bored, and decided to make a motivational poster. Thanks to Mike Self and his great talent for photography. This was taken at the 4AG challenge at Willow Springs International raceway (aka Big Willow). The unknown R33 GTR being chased by Toyota Corolla in Levin form. Driven by Mitsu of Mitsu's Garage. Thanks to all who particiated. No Skylines were harmed during the event, except for a bruised driver's ego.

Driver Seat 911 GT3 RS

I was sent this link a while back and thought it's one of the best sites i've seen yet. If you love the sound of an all motor Porsche or just have a driver's view of Weissach track in the cockpit of a Porsche GT3 RS then this place is a must. It takes time for the video to load but it's all worth it. 56k people you'll need to steal the neighbors wireless to view this, but make this the last thing you see before you get busted.

Click here or the picture above.

Easter Madness

Easter a holiday that has been commercialized with a rainbow colored eggs and a bunny rabbit. For the some christian religion, it’s the celebrated day that Jesus rose again from the dead. But for us car guys, it’s an excuse to hit the track. Hours after I arrived from Arizona, for Nopi qualifier, I loaded up my gear and headed out to Horsethief Mile for some open track fun. I actually thought I wouldn't make it there I so tired. Eventually I made it safely, second only to the Megan team which also traveled to Horsethief after Arizona. What the hell is wrong with us.

Met alot of old faces I rarely see at the track anymore. So it was like a reunion. Lots changed since then.

Taka and Yoshie were rocking their competition cars, getting some practice time before the upcoming season, which is about to start April 12^th @ Long Beach. Hiro was sporting his JZX 90 Chaser, which used to be really cool when he first got it, but now looks like crap. It was so ugly I couldn't post it up pics I was afraid the computer may crash.

Alex P. traitor traded his AE86 for a real 180SX. Matt with the white coupe in the background, which was formerly owned by Hiro with the ugly Chaser.

Andy Y. brought #2 the sparkling poop colored coupe for a romp around with us. Amazingly enough it was his first time there, but he drove like a pro.

Geoff drove Naoki’s old kouki coupe, which still retains the original paint. Still looks shiny after 20 years. Did I mention it has the original red paint?

Then there’s the newer peeps I’ve been going to the track with lately.

Steve in his silly green hatchback. He got frustrated with the RA-1’s and decided to man up and get some Hankook racing slicks for the next event. Damn that means I need to get some.

Mark and Noemi with the nawwzz fed corolla and the lemons mr2, yes it does stretch it's legs every now and then. And me parked right beside them. Were like neighbors and it sucks.

The Drift Association crew parking it like they were at a car show.

Random Volkswagen, I think one of the Drift Association staff. Sorry don't know who you are.

I didn't take many pictures due to fatigue so I missed some people like Charlie (just drift) and Naoki (drift association) and 3rd place Nopi Qualifer and license holder Cyrus M.
It was a really laid back event, wish there was more like these, and I enjoyed myself even though I was really tired.

Need to feed the Beast

Got that hot motor installed and ready to wreak havoc on the track? Need a place that can feed a vehicle with a sweet tooth for some high octane goodness? Here's some information for Southern California residents who fit this criteria:

Harman motive Southern California tuning shop specializing Nissan, Mitsu, Suby, Beemers and probably anything else you throw their way. Just make sure you got funds in the account, window shoppers need not apply.

Osbourne Automotive A regular mom and pop type of shop, similar to where I work at on weekends, that sells race gas. Too bad it's they don't do that at the shop I work. This list covers all the 76 Stations that carry 76 race gas in Southern California.

I can't say if these links are up to date, so call before you head out there to be sure that they are still in business and sell racing gas.

LeMons gets the Boot

I get an email (actually spam) from Jay Lamm, organizer of 24 Hours of Lemons, notifying us that the southwest Lemons race has been cancelled. It seems that Spring Mountain Motorsports Ranch has decided that the Lemons racing venue is not good enough for their country club track. Boo on them. It would have been nice to be in Las Vegas baking in the sun in June. Oh well, I guess we'll be freezing our arse's off in December for the Freeze A Palooza at Thunderhill.

2008 GRM UTCC

I decided to enter my AE86 in hopes of running with all the big boys. I don't know how it will do but I won't know unless I do.
"Do or do not, there is no try" - Yoda (Star Wars Empire Strikes Back) Words to live by.
If you're up for a challenge I suggest you sign up here.
If you want to see a corolla in this event then swing by and vote for me. GRM UTCC