The season is done. There is nothing left, and that’s somewhat of a relief. Now I can concentrate on things like graduating, and finding a job for next year. Sept. 30 marked the last of the beyond drift events this year. Ten cars turned out, including a couple of RHD S13’s from Edmonton. The course was a bunch of challenging transitions in the top of second gear, with one very wide 180 left at the end. The first three transitions really opened up and let you gain some speed, but the forth was quite tight forcing one to bleed some off. This was most challenging part for me, and led to a couple of wild spins. By the end I could do it by increasing my angle substantially in places, or by getting on the brakes gently with the car in transition.
The fact that the oval is not a good venue is become more and more obvious. Not only is it too small, it is too bumpy. The infield was intended merely as a pit area, and the asphalt is really chewed up. Wheels have been bent and broken, suspension bits have been broken… and that’s gay. Many thanks to Race City for opening up for us, and I will continue to come out just because I want the practice, but I would much rather be somewhere else.
One thing we never really got a chance to touch on, in these four events, was good corner entry. Every course has been a string of transitions with out much of a straight in between. So I never got a chance to learn what I wanted to… and that’s coming into a corner way fast, initiating a drift with the brakes, or feint and bleeding speed sideways down the straight and holding an angle all the way to exit. This is drifting imo… something for which the big hp guys have no advantage. Something which I got a chance to practice back in July, and something that nobody except for one guy could do consistently. Power over everywhere has gotten quite boring. Hence my commitment to staying with stock motor!
So… within the next week the 86 should disappear into the garage for a winter nap, and my 92 will come out. If anybody wants to trade a 92 for an 86 (even an SR5) send me an email. My 92 is a fully loaded kouki model with the small port motor. Nice car, but I want to drive the rear wheels all winter. Wakarimasu ka.
And so… my winter plans for the 86 are something like this:
-install the electric fan I have lying around
-properly plug of the EGR (sick job currently)
-replace water pump (all leaky)
-replace headgasket (oily green)
-get some proper exhaust hangers (not coat hangers)
-oil catch can… cause it’s gross when I shoot blue
-new brake pads (stockers almost gone)
-new clutch (something I can kick around… exedy twin plate?)
-Chassis reinforce… T3 Tri-brace, and cage? stitchweld? Cause I feel bad…
-interior clean up… get some carpet that doesn’t have holes in it and removed tar
-find some decent speakers… yes I drive this car every day.
-get another alignment
Ok maybe I should stop… nothing major going on here… but sooo much little stuff. Stay Tuned.
And update on the GZ20. Getting this car on the road has proved to be a serious Pain in the ASS. Coming soon…