Road Trip 07/12: Last one I promise.

Well it was a very interesting pseudo vacation.  Had my last meal of waffles, coffee and yogurt.  Watched Formula 1 Germany on the large flat screen.  Then headed out to the track to pick up the trailer so we can make our way back to Southern California.  Even after the Formula D event was over on saturday, the locals held an event on Sunday.  I tell you drifting is in their blood.

Road Trip 07/12: Seattle Day 5

The day of reckoning has arrived.  With the car running good and Taka qualifying in the top 32 the stage is set for some interesting competition or controversy.  It seems I was wondering what was going on during competition rather than enjoying it.  But at least monsoon season is over and the track was greeted by the sun.

Road Trip 07/12: Seattle Day 4

For some reason I feel like I'm at work, but in another universe, I woke up early and got my usual.  Waited for the rest of the gang to roll out of bed and head out to the track.  Since yesterday's practice day was taken up by the engine repair, today's hour practice will be the only chance to see if all our efforts from the night before will be worth it.

Road Trip 07/12: Seattle Day 3

Last episode, taka's car was feeling a little pooped.  After some discussion that night with Taka and crew chief Dan, it was agreed to pull the head.  Went to bed pretty late, but I still woke up at 6 a.m. (i'm still on the work bio clock).  While everyone was still sleeping I headed down for my continental breakfast of waffles, yogurt and coffee (this was the norm for the whole week.). 

Road Trip 07/12: Seattle Day 1 & 2

Vacation time is something I rarely use to my benefit.  Mainly due to laziness.  I haven't really made an effort to actually plan a trip.  But since i'm not public union worker I can't be like a chipmunk and hoard my hours until i'm able to cash it out when it's time to retire.  Usually I just take one day to make a 3 day weekend.  But when Megan Racing graciously offered a ride to Formula D Seattle, how could I resist.

Classical Z

A classical video for a classic Z

AE86 Tech #86-27: GZE hot

Water line is rerouted and sent directly to the radiator.

Plumbing of a 4AGZE is not only the air charge pipes.  The cooling system must also be considered when designing and completing the GZE project.  Quite a few projects i've come across have always eliminated the use of a thermostat.  Since the original spot for the thermostat for the RWD 4AG is now occupied by the SC12 supercharger.  Well let's fix that.

Animated build

An 11 month build condensed down to 2 minutes. 

Related articles

• Build Awesome Apps with CSS3 Animations

  ---

I like pets.

But I really hate the owners who let their stupid (insert animal here) roam around the neighbor.  Making their mess in random places, like this wheel.   So I end cleaning up after their stupid pets.  Those bastards.

Related articles

• How Fourth of July Can Hurt Your Pet

  ---

Night edition

 It used to be early to bed, for an early morning trek to the track.  Though this weekend was a change in schedule.  Xtreme speed setup a night time track session at Willow Springs for some of the night owls who have a problem with getting up late.  I must say it's a bit different waking up later, and moving like molasses to load up and head to the track.

Hi Ace

Hi Ace
Originally uploaded by orange_advan
After concluding some business at the Citadel, I spotted this Toyota Hiace in the parking lot.  I though the Toyota Hiace was only sold in asian markets. Looks some one from Tijuana Mexico scored one.  And if you're wondering, it is left hand drive.

Related articles

• [#ACE_ FRESH] Dharsaw, BaseOne 'n' Drew - DRAG SHINE [prod. by Drew]

  ---

Anime Expo 2012

Even though Anime Expo caters to the newer types of anime, I grew up on Tranzor Z and Robotech.  I still support it and I still love going here and its quite fun.  I was bummed when I had to miss last year so I made a last minute decision to make the trek to downtown Los Angeles for the 2012 event.

Dash idea

I think i wanna build a dash like this.  Though I'd probably leave out the middle light.  I would feel like I'm being watch by HAL 9000 if i left it there.

Related articles

• Who Was HAL 9000?

  ---

New radiator for 3

In my quest to get the 3 running again,  I needed a radiator.  The last time I tried to get it up and running (a few years ago), the original radiator began to leak. I guess it developed a hole by just sitting there, dunno know what happened.  Since a stock piece is difficult to allocate, I searched for an aftermarket item.

Say it isn't so

A revolutionary engine has finally been laid down to rest in Japan.  Mazda has finally ended it's production of the rotary engine.  I'm sure many fanboys have started going into an emo state when they read the news.  But I guess it was inevitable since Mazda is promoting their skyactiv technology stuff.  I should start thinking about hoarding rotary engines, since there's currently no one going take mazda's place.  There maybe a gold mine out there.

Related articles

• Mazda Kills Rotary Engine

  ---

Latvala AE86

AE86 Levin in the background.  Pretty clean for a rally car.

Even WRC driver Jari-Matti Latvala got love for AE86.  Being he's a rally driver, it's probably a coupe.

Related articles

• 2012 Fia World Rally Championship Update

  ---

Carrier duty

Not just a job. Truly an adventure in wind surfing, with out the surf.

Related articles

• G-20 Pushes Europe for Crisis Endgame to Revive World Economy - San Francisco Chronicle

  ---

Virtual COTA

A virtual driver's view at the not yet finished Circuit of the Americas.  Can't wait to see it for myself.

Related articles

• COTA ticket sales kicks off Sunday

  ---

Wait no more

I guess the first baptism of the new Toyota sports car is in the books.  It's very unfortunate but it was inevitable. 

The now shamed owner even posted on the net his own stupidity here.  Can't really feel sorry the chap since he tried to pull the stunt on the street and not on the track.  If he had only done this at the track all he probably would have to deal with is a bruised ego and a dusty car.  There are track days for a reason, and it isn't only to go fast.  It's about understanding the limits and tendencies of the car.   

Related articles

• Toyota's retro rocket

  ---

Deeper look into the BRZ

With thoughts of joining the bandwagon and getting a Subaru BRZ/ Scion FRS, I wanted to know more information on the car.  But it seems like everyone reports the same thing, all the superficial stuff.  But I have yet to find just the oddest information about the car.  Until I stumbled on to folks at Perrin Performance blog.  They truely have the same mindset as me when it comes to finding information about the car itself.  Hopefully they're also a bunch of drivers and they will tell me how many tires I can fit into the car.

http://blog.perrinperformance.com/2013-brz-exposed/

Related articles

• Toyota and Subaru recall BRZ and Scion FR-S over printed materials

  ---