Battle On!

In anticipation for the excitement that will be the 4AG challenge next month, here's a fantastic mind blowing video I found. S2k, AE86, Integras and Civics all battling. The sound is incredible! Turn it way up and enjoy! The in car from the Integra driving is also pretty damn crazy.

4AG Time Attack Drivers and Machines

Name: Geoff Wise

Hometown: Benecia, CA

Car: 1986 Toyota Corolla GT-S

Engine: AE101 20V

Power: 160

Clutch: ACT

Shock: Tokico HTS

Springs: Eibach/KGMM

Suspension Arms: BattleVersion

LSD: Cusco

Tires: Kumho Victoracer 185/60/14

Brakes: Hawk Blue

Name: Mark English

Hometown: Vermont

Car: 1988 Toyota MR2

Engine: AW11 16v W/Nitrous Oxide

Power: 150-180

Clutch: ACT

Shock: Tokico

Springs: TRD

Suspension Arms: Stock

LSD: None

Tires: Toyo R888 205/50/15

Brakes: EBC Yellow

Name: Alex Villareal

Hometown: Cerritos, CA

Car: 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S

Engine: AE101 4AGZE Turbo

Power: 220

Clutch: ORC

Shock: Koni

Springs: Skunk2/TRD

Suspension Arms: BattleVersion

LSD: Cusco

Tires: Kumho V710 205/50/14

Brakes: Apex-i

Name: Taka Aono

Hometown: Gardena, CA

Car: 1986 Toyota Corolla SR-5

Engine: AE111 4AG

Power: 165

Clutch: OS Giken

Shock: Tokico HTS/TRD

Springs: Eibach/TRD

Suspension Arms: Stock

LSD: OS Giken

Tires: Falken 615 205/50/15

Brakes: Stock

4AG Time Attack Drivers, Continued

Name: Andy Yen

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Car: 1986 Toyota Corolla Gt-S

Engine: AE92 4AG ITB

Power: 145

Clutch: Exedy

Shock: DG-5

Springs: DG-5

Suspension Arms: Battleversion

LSD: KAAZ

Tires: Toyo RA-1 205/50/15

Brakes: Hawk Blue

Name: Steven Choh

Hometown: Concord, CA

Car: 1985 Toyota Corolla GT-S

Engine: AE92 16V ITB

Power: 170

Clutch: ACT

Shock: Tokico HTS

Springs: Tanabe/KGMM

Suspension Arms: BattleVersion

LSD: TRD

Tires: Toyo RA-1 205/50/15

Brakes: Raybestos Race Compound



Name: Cyrus Martinez

Hometown: Murietta, CA

Car: 1986 Toyota Corolla Gt-S

Engine: AE111 4AG

Power: 180

Clutch: ORC

Shock: Megan Racing

Springs: Megan Racing

Suspension Arms: BattleVersion

LSD: KAAZ

Tires: Dunlop Z1 Star Spec

Brakes: Stock

The dream

Trailer, car, tent, all customized. Full tool setup, all he's missing is his own umbrella girl.

Nitrous, Heinracy, and Butt Hurt Organizers

I'm sure that some of you remember this thing. It was GM's entry in the 2005 Super Lap Battle, then known as the Super Street time attack challenge. John Heinracy piloted this factory GM supported vehicle which was built with mostly off-the-shelf parts and proceeded to kick everyone's ass. This is a perfect example to show that when GM wants to do something right, they suceed. The rest of the time they build a fleet of undesireable cars that put them in financial ruin.

This vehicle is interesting to me for several reasons. First, what ever happened to it? Really, its quite a machine. Regardless of how you feel about American cars, reading the spec sheet clearly shows that it is simple and well engineered. What this means is a reliable vehicle that is fast with correct driver inputs. If it were allowed to compete today (we'll get to that in a minute) it would be a force to be reconed with especially since it toppled the top teams of the day, which included Signal Auto's R34 Skyline.

The second reason the vehicle is interesting to me, is because the popular consensus is that it caused lots of people to be butt hurt, and forced the "no nitrous" rule in most time attack series. On paper and without the nitrous, the vehicle made a claimed 264 horsepower, but with the nitrous it made 344. It wasn't event a huge shot, but a big enough one to make the car competative. Apparently, since this vehicle destroyed so many of the other vehicles in that time attack, the organizers banned the usage of nitrous afterwards.

This begs the question however as to why nitrous oxide is not legal in either the Super Lap Battle or the Redline TA series. I'm sure their arguments stem from the classic "nitrous isn't real horsepower" or "nitrous is cheating", but in reality using a nitrous system and setting it up correctly, as well as using the correct accessory parts to fully utilize it is just as financially and labor intensive as a supercharer or turbo. The reason this topic is even on my mind, is because of how un-competative my AE86 would be considering the class its supposed to be in. In reality, my car should be competing aganist Integras, Civics, Sentras, and other 1.6-2.0L naturally aspirated vehicles. Unfortunately those are all in the FF class. Since I'd be running against cars with 50-300% more power, nitrous would be a way for me to stay competative.

The Cobalt is long gone and with GM's current financial state, probably won't be back to compete any time soon. Please re-consider your rule books gentlemen.

His favorite tracks

Really, the things that make me laugh out loud shouldn't be shocking.

Other Women

Some people say owning a car is like being in a relationship. I whole heartedly agree. Just like in a relationship, your girl usually gets mad when you checkout other girls. The problem is, that's just human nature. I'm not just attracted to one archetype of a women like some people, so my automotive tastes vary quite drastically. I do own an AE86, and I am into odd Japanese aero and large lipped wheels, but I also dream of owning some of Europe's elite. I'm not really talking the mass produced, abundant in Beverly Hills automobiles (however great they may be) but I'm talking specifically about vehicles a connoisseur would own. Something a little more rare. Something that goes unsuspecting to average people, but pretty captivating to those in the know. Two words help describe this: homoligation special.

I browse automotive sales sections of forums and other places like craigs list every now and then to see what's in the market. These two vehicles that I found recently truly make me swoon.


The first is this 1986 Mercedes-Benz 190E 16v Euro edition. While the vehicle in itself is very rare and desireable, this one has special edition Aero, widebody, and a turbocharger system. Talk about car porn:

Next is this E30 BMW M3. This one is more expensive but you can see the attention to detail the current owner has put towards this machine. Everything looks brand new! In addition, the engine was recently overhauled and he says it only has about 450 miles on it. Such a clean, clean machine.

I of course don't have the cash to buy either of these (there's no way in hell I'm ever selling the Corolla). It never hurts to look though!

The Best Sound in the World

This is an old video of Renault testing one of their Formula 1 engines. Quite plainly, it is a visual and audible bombardment of ecstacy.

The 70's were better

Race of Champions...Who do you want?

The Race of Champions is coming. I'm sure most of you are familiar with the event but for those of you that aren't, the event baisically takes the world's best drivers, divides them up according to country and pits them against each other on the same track. All drivers use the same machines, at the same time. Ever wonder who would win in a race between Sebastian Loeb and Michale Schumacher? How about testing a NASCAR guy against a DTM guy? All those dream scenarios come to life with this single event.



For the past few years, USA has had quite the showing. In 2002, team USA even won the Nation's Cup with a dream team consisting of Jeff Gordon, Colin Edwards, and Jimmie Johnson. In 2006, both Jimmie Johnson and Scott Speed were unable to race the day fo the event due to injury, leaving Travis Pastrana to fend for himself and to single handedly represent the USA. What happened you ask? Travis finished 2nd. He beat out the worlds best but eventually lost to the Finns (Heikki Kovaleinen and Marcus Gronholm).



So the question remains, who should represent? There are certainly a number of drivers that could put on a great show. I'd love to see Nikki Hayden, Tanner Faust, Marco Andretti, or event Boris Said compete and represent the USA. Above all however, I'd like to see.....

This guy....

...and this guy

How awsome would that be? Who are your pics to represent the USA?

No Canadian GP for '09

So last year, I started really getting into Formula 1. Only after I started racing myself and began understanding the technology behind the cars as well as the discipline and concentration needed to move a machine around a race track did I become a pretty big fan. After my trip to Japan, I was delighted to see that other countries shared in my enthusiasm. It was only natural that I then wanted to attend Grand Prix as soon as possible!

The debate was, do I go to Japan again to further explore hentai, maid cafe's and small AE86 shops? Or do I travel to another country to experience Formula 1 in all its glory? The question still remains, but one of the options was to attend the Canadian GP, since it was fairly close to us. It would be a chance to visit Canada, perhaps see my good 'ol friend Migs, and view the world's most popular motor sports all in one shot. Apparently Bernie doesn't care about me, my dreams or budget, and has taken the Canadian GP away at least for next year.

The small light at the end of the tunnel, is the rumor about '10's possibility of a US Grand Prix, perhaps in Vegas. Anika at the OG here I come!

Chaser of my dreams

Its been difficult to find time lately to update, as I've been all over the place. Two weeks ago I was at the Coronado Festival of Speed, which was a blast. I got to hang out with some friends I hadn't seen in a while, and watch vintage race cars duke it out on a mini circuit. It almost looked like another round of the Monterey Historics, if they had a full racing schedule. Me being the idiot I am, forgot to bring my camera with me. Then this past weekend, I was at a wedding in NorCal. Again, forgot the camera, but the only thing automotive related that I experienced was riding in my friend's new BMW. That being said, I wasn't really equipped to blog about any automotive experiences in the past few weeks, until I came across this thing. This photos is of Daigo Saito's Chaser which is currently for sale.





I'll probably have to create a separate post to describe the Alex Pfeiffer trifecta for automotive hotness (with new addition thanks to Taka Aono) but this Chaser has it all. The funny thing is, this isn't even Daigo's "A" car anymore, and it still reaches a level of super-hotness rarely achieved by anyone. Maybe I adore it because its a Toyota, or maybe I adore the generous usage of BN Sports, but either way, its definately a vehicle I'd buy if I wasn't repaying college loans, gettin tricked into taking hoes out to eat, and putting gasoline into my 9 mpg AE86.

Check it out for sale, here