AE86 Update..

WOW such a crazy busy time, but over the next few better blog updates you will understand why the blog has been a bit quiet. I've finally time now to sit down and write up a bit of an update...

Finished up with the car and 1 year on at its last show there (Mosney 2009) and the local Jap meet, here's some quick photos!

Then it was off the road for her big end of year overhaul and MOT test. Anyone who knows me already knows all the cars are maintained to a VERY high standard all throughout the year, but after many trackdays, alot of driving, etc I'd been expecting it to need a bit for MOT, but was quite the opposite. Full engine overhaul, fine tune and setup, new belts, fluids etc, Oh boy is it running perfect now, I thought it was good before, but now its just a different car...

Only the best will be used...do it right!

Not knowing the full true history with any car, and after the trackdays etc it was time to change all the fluids and gearbox oil, diff oil, brakes were also done, Then a fine tune suspension setup by my main mechanic (just happens to be a rally driver). The car is just so tight now and performing amazingly well for an AE86, very happy!

MOT time, she needed nothing bar a set of brake pads (which were due from her last local trackday) and had a tiny pin leak in front brake line, so upgraded them and she was getting Pad overhaul anyway. Ended up going for the Endless Super Streets up front with new lines and Ferodo racing upgrade in the back, now it stops sooo well, great setup! Something which I would definetly recommend!

Quick pic of the new Endless up front..

So she walked the MOT with flying colours for another year's driving. Car really is perfect at the minute, so I'll just be enjoying the chance to drive it when I can, then hit up as many local tracks as possible, along with Nurburgring trip later in the year and maybe few events in UK if can get the time. Here's some photos for now, my next update will need to be a video I think..I'll work on that next!

and another...

After a nice night of highway driving and touge...

Coming soon...

Yes, coming soon, a decent blog update finally...Tomorrow!

I'm back...

Holiday time, so finally got a chance for a quick little update. There has been ALOT going on lately, and to be honest I have just been way to busy to update or write a blog. Plenty of events, which I have actually been enjoying, so hence the lack of photos. The AE86 went for its big overhaul and MOT test, all is back with me now and WOW, it's driving better than ever. More on that soon. For now here are some photos from last weekend's AE86 Ireland local club meet/BBQ.

Let's hope for more fun times over the summer break!

Mosney Show...

Show and Event season is well underway now, and almost every weekend there is something going on, but I tend to be pretty selective in what I attend, when i get the time. Mosney Classic show is one of the longest running, so I thought I'd go this year in the '86 for the fun. Some really great cars were on show, and plenty of old-school cool Jap metal, but I do have to say the show was VERY poorly laid out and planned, not to mention expensive! All this means it's off my list for next year it seems. Though the fun we all had together as club members once we eventually all got parked up, certainly made it a good day! Here's some photos from the day...

One of the best parts of course is the roadtrip / drive...

My overall car of show had to be this stunning Opel Ascona!!

However I ended up spening most of my day around Japanese

...namely Toyotas at that. I was there with the Club in AE86!

My friend's Awsome Levin and KE70 Corolla, cool cars!

The Starlet crew were well represented, I love KP's!

Finally a quick shot of my own AE86 from the day...

So overall it wasn't bad, but certainly wasn't the best show I've been to, so hopefully it was just a one off and the rest of the season is alot better. However I was interested in the attention to detail at the classic shows, and special interest from 'different' style of people. This weekend will be a 'quiet' one and away from cars thankfully. We all need a break. But its all go,go,go from then, with some busy times ahead. The end of this month will be VERY busy, so no doubt I will update, when I get a chance. July is proving to be a 'classic/nostalgic' time, so it should be fun...Waringstown Car meet, AOVC Classic show, Kilbroney show, and then back to drift events! After that the AE86 is going off the road for her big yearly overhaul, lots of new parts / servicing, and Tax/MOT test! More blogging soon!

Jap Meet 2009...

It was that time again. Time for the annual big 'Jap Meet'. After a busy few months and crazy weekend before at Knockhill, it was a final rush to get the car prep'd and ready for the show! The TRIAL stand was very well represented and we did well at the show, check out the photos...I played about with the HDR for this cool shot of my AE86

Our nice lineup and selection represented well...

Our recently imported Highly Tuned AE86 2-door...

A few new GTR's popping up more and more here...

But thats not making the others disappear...mint R33

ECC showed up with their 2 demo Lancer Evo's!

I was loving this Turbo'd MX5, a well built project!

Jackson Supercharged EP3 was very well prepared...

My friends GF's awsome Blitz tuned Glanza...FAST car!

I'll leave you with this photo...Stunning engine shot!

The Legend lives on...

Remember this? I hope you do! Maybe one of the most influential Impreza's from the past tuning scene, our old TRIAL Try-R WRX. It lives on and is now residing in bonny Scotland. Video in action!


Cars and motorcycle videos

Snapped this photo at Knockhill, looking as good as ever!

Time Attack...

Aswell as European Drift Championship, Knockhill Scotland was host to Round 2 of the UK Time Attack series. There has been a small decrease in Pro cars I feel, but no decrease in Time Attack action. Knockhill is a VERY fast and challenging circuit, so it was definetly going to be interesting. Final results and times were so close!

Pro Class:

1 – PR4 Rory Butcher (Mitsubishi EVO 8)…51.666

2 – PRR Steve Guglielmi (Lotus Elise)…51.715

3 – PT4 Andy Gallagher (Ford Focus Cosworth)…51.800

4 – PR4 Tom Ferrier (Subaru Impreza)…52.053

5 – PR4 Olly Clark (Subaru Impreza)…52.263

Full report and info HERE...And my photos below

Robert Duxbury's Stunning Club Class Lancer Evo...

RC Developments EVO VI, another good performer!

A good variety of Time Attack cars, including 6R4 Metro

One of my favourites always, Abbey Motorsport R32.

EVO's seemed to be the car of choice for this year!

But representing Subaru, Zen Performance!

...and AWD Motorsport...check out that rear end!!!

Steve Gugliemi was VERY fast as ever in the Lotus, 2nd!

Winner was RSE Evo, driven by local Rory Butcher!

EDC Rd.2 - Knockhill

Was in Scotland again last weekend for Round 2 of the Need for Speed European Drift Championship (quite a mouthful, so lets call it NFS EDC for now). Was a great trip, even though I said I'm taking a backseat this year, it already seems to be more of a 'middle' seat...as I'm as busy as ever, and still involved. But I guess that's just how it is meant to be! The roadtrip with Ed rocked, the drifting was hot, and the Time Attack was FAST! Pretty much sums up Knockhill, apart from one thing...the weather!! In that weekedn alone I experienced all 4 seasons...Saturday was a washout and the track seemed more like Niagara Falls at times during practice! Soaked to the skin, back to hotel and out that night. Up early we made it to the track first thing for sign on. Sunday was the complete opposite...Sunburn, hot, sunhine...I guess only at Knockhill. Little did we know the whole drive home would be in pouring rain again haha, I have a real love/hate relationship with Scotland! Some photos...

Like I said, Saturday it rained...ALOT!!

But it didn't stop the practice, made for some fun drifting!

Dried up nicely overnight though, Sunday was sunny...

So it let the power be put down...V8 Monaro engined S15

Local Irish drivers were out in force battling in EDC...

Previous EDC champ Brett Castle battling his bogey track!

Driftworks Phil Morrison VS Mark BUFF Luney!

Local Irish driver Andy Cooper driving well all weekend!

But the eventual winner was Pete Barber in RX7...

Genki again...

Time for an update, mainly as things are seeming 'genki again' for another while atleast. Back to the start of the season, so things will be busy, even though I'm taking a 'back seat', which I prefer to call 'the scene from a different perspective'. So no doubt there'll be plenty of blogging along the way. Drift and Time Attack Season just got underway, so it's going to be an interesting few months from here on in. Aswell as our own projects and trying to enjoy time 'away' from the scene, if possible haha. For now here's some summer Sakura style photos of the '86. Next stop is Knockhill Circuit, Scotland for European Drift Championship and Time Attack, then back to do some more preparation when I can for the 'JapFest'...more coming soon!

I really like this photo, looking good on the SSR XR4's again...

Treated her to a another service with Plug/Oil & Filter change for summer too, only the best! Will keep her running perfect...

I'll leave you with this sneaky preview shot for now ;-)

Soon be Summer...

Soon be Summer time, so Im getting the car prepared, but not with a few set backs along the way! After enjoying plenty of use out of the Trust Manifold, I was driving home late one night and just knew something wasn't right. The car had got quieter haha, so I set about finding out where this blowout was that was causing it. Exhaust is 100%, and I just couldn't believe it was coming from the newest part, the Greddy 4-1 manifold/downpipe! No obvious signs, but deep within the flexi, somewhere a small crack had formed in the weld. VERY disappointed, and slightly pissed off as it's very unlike Trust, I contacted them at Trust Japan Headquarters. Shocked themselves, they immediately set about sorting the problem, and gave me the go ahead to repair this existing manifold in the meantime. So my welder friend set about carrying out a very VERY good repair, and new flexi, saving the rest of the system. Trust should employ him maybe!

So alongside Trust we're working close to see what caused this, and how it can be prevented. Being honest, I think it was just unlucky and a bad bad bump on a shit road that I have had to use lately, but at top money and products, all feedback helps! Here you can clearly see the problem inside the Flexi welds, it's not much, but enough, and wanting perfection, it gets fixed! I guess that's just my way!

In goes the new one for now while getting the replacement,. All sorted and perfect again, also note the Undersealing, VERY clean!

With the remainder of the perfectly intact flexi, it houses my Pens..

Next plan for the summer was some new tyres and the 15" SSR Longchamps back on! I really loved the look of the gold SSR mesh, but they'll be back again come the winter time. For summer its the Longchamps, all polished up and treated to new rubber! Dunlop Direzza sports on front again, and Yokohama Parada 2s on the rear, which are turning out to be an awsome tyre so far! More soon...