Update...

Just a quick update. VERY busy times recently, and I really have not had the chance to 'blog' to now. But I really thought an update was long over-due. Brought the AE86 to A.I Autosport today for some work. Was pretty good chat about the car, and catching up on some old/new times. I find it very very different here, compared to Japan and anywhere else, I have alot of thoughts on that, but will mention them another time. I find it very hard to trust anyone here with my cars, which is why I do alot of the work myself. But A.I Autosport are the guys I trust with my cars. Always top class service and quality work. Here's some pics from today...check out A.I Autosport website

The 86 in amongst the 'Giants' above, including Phil's TVR...

Oh did I mention the A.I Autosport Mitsubishi Lancer Evo X? Just thought I would grab you all a quick photo...more about this car soon!

Back...to the Future!

Sorry about the lag in updates recently. I have been VERY busy! Where do I start? ALOT has been going on in the Tuning World. Alot of huge news, but more on that soon. First is a quick update on whats going on in my own life. Busy yes, but also enjoying. Car has changed once again, as you maybe read in previous posts. Now it is unveilved. With the whole economy in Europe in a poor state, it was time to make a big decision. Sure I can buy/drive any car, but could I justify the cost of it all? Short answer...NO! So I made the decision to buy this new car. It is easy to run, parts are cheap, easy to tune and work on by myself. But the main factor; it is just as much fun, if not more, than all the other previous cars I have had/got to drive.

Step up 'AE-Hachi-Roku'. This car needs no introduction, so I will let the photos do the talking. Built to 'Masuda Street Drift' spec in Kansai, Japan, it really is an awsome car. It has been a while since I enjoyed driving so much, so lets hope that can continue. With the whole economy factor do we have to go Back, to get to the Future?

HDR

Well I finally got round to trying some HDR Photos, well one! This is my first time using the HDR software, and I just used the Skyline for a practice shot, It turned out pretty well, but I want to try more!

ProDrift Round 3...

This weekend I managed to break free and go relax for a day. Round 3 of Pro Drift was right on my doorstep at Nutts Corner Oval, and with the beautiful sunshine it would be a shame not to go. I really needed to just chill, and what better way to do it for me than with drift cars. So I went for the short drive with some close friends and left the camera at home. No shooting at this event or anything, I just wanted to kick back and enjoy some great driving. That's exactly what I got, some VERY agressive drifting, serious smoke, and plenty of high speed tsuiso action. It really was good to catch up with friends, and enjoy a 'grassroots' atmosphere drift event again!

Here are my only photos I felt like taking all day, I absolutely love this SR20 Nexen Tire sponsored AE86, ex-D1GP car from Japan...

4th - Glen Maher SR20 AE86
3rd - Damien McBride JZX90 MkII
2nd - Dennis Healy SR20 AE86
The overall winner was Eric O'Sullivan, Rockstar AE86...

Classic show...

Last week I was lucky enough to catch the Waringstown Classic show in the evening. After a week of solid rain, the sun seemed to appear from nowhere for this event. The one night when the little village is closed and a few mile long straight road becomes the catwalk for classics and vintage cars. Here are some photos from the evening.

Rally MkII Escorts followed by AE86...

ALOT of old school FORD's owner clubs...

Half way through the 5-0 showed up, LAPD style...haha

Plenty of retro Japanese too, MR2's, AE86, Datsuns etc...

STUNNING E30 BMW M3...car of show for me!

I liked the retro classic vibe this year, more than vintage...

I'm still alive...

It's been a difficult and busy few weeks lately, with alot going on, I really have not had time to sit at the computer to browse, nevermind write my blog, but I'm still alive and now it is catch up time, so I will write about what's going through my mind at the minute.

When it comes to cars there are two types of people: those who see a car as a convenient mode of transportation from point A to point B and won't understand me so can stop reading if they wish, and there are the rest of us who are reading this right now. We spend the majority of our time (and money) trying to decide how to get from point A to point B faster, more stylish, and a little differently than the next guy. Unfortunatly for those of us who fall into that second category, that puts us into a bit of a dilemma...

Basically we dream up our perfect spec of a tuned or modified car, and the majority of us will set about building it, eventually, and finishing it (at some stage) no matter what the cost. But lately that is playing a big factor for everyone in the tuning world...cost!

Now everyone knows the rising cost of motoring, it is nothing new, but lately it has hit an all time high. The price of fuel, tax, insurance, maintenance, tolls etc just to name a few are all hitting alot of us car lovers hard...in the wallet! Now I know there is always the 'higher class' who can take out their checkbook. go out and buy any car they want, and then do whatever they want to it, that is life! But for the majority of the 'Average Joe' tuner in this world, we are feeling it. Of course, I have owned and drove MANY fast, big horsepower, heavily tuned cars, and I loved every bit of it, but I think now it is all changing...QUICKLY! If you asked most car tuners, what car would you like to own? The majority will say 'Skyline, Evo, Impreza, etc', and rhyme of the list of modifications they would like to do, before stopping suddenly, and realising what I just have...Of course we want to own these cars, always will, but right now, with all these costs at an all time high, it is just not realistic or practical anymore to own and tune one of these cars to the spec that we would want to. So if we can't do it fully, then why do it at all. Which leads me on to...

Old cars! So many more people are going back to older cars! It is happening very quickly in Japan, USA, and now Europe. Of course it is not a new thing to own, build and tune older cars, but it is certainly becoming much more popular again. With new car sales dropping significantly, it certainly is interesting more people buying older used cars. There are MANY reasons why. Most will say, its older, cooler, drives better, more fun, and tunable. For me, it is also a cost thing, actually that for me is the main reason for going back to 'old school'. Maybe the tuning world is just entering a 'Nostalgic' phase, or maybe its just me and a small majority? Whatever it is, it's growing fast and getting more and more cool. It's cheaper to buy these old cars such as EF civics, AE86, Silvia, etc, cheaper to run, years of history, tuning, and a distinct presence on the road. Maybe it has all been pushed upon by the rising costs? It is much cheaper to buy and tune an old car for 15k budget, and have ALOT of fun, compared to buying a car at 20k, and spending 30k on it.

Who knows where it will go, of course this 'phase' has its downsides, older cars need maintenance, parts are getting harder to find, but I think the car scene has lost that fun factor, that can only be redeemed by stepping into an older car and having a fat wallet again! I miss that feeling when I'm excited to get into a car, walking around it admiring before I even step inside, smiling when I sit in it, start it up and wait as I hear the tuned engine idle. It is a feeling I would love to enjoy with many cars, but right now the cost is leading factor, so if I can't get this feeling out of the new, modern cars then I will go back to my roots. You will see my big change soon enough...watch this space! I predict the next year will see a big rise in the older 'classic' cars, as more and more people are driving less, they want to make that short driving experience as much FUN as possible! Which may include a blast from the past car crusing down memory lane...

EDC Round 3...

Silverstone Circuit was host to Round 3 of the European Drift Championship last weekend. I have just been so busy since coming back, that I'm only getting round to sorting photos etc now, for a quick blog entry. It was a great weekend, packed with non stop action. Team Orange were over from Japan to compete which was always going to be exciting, aswell as a big challenge for the local drifters, but little did we know the outcome would be a European Drifter on top of the podium...I'll let the pictures do the talking!

Polody was flying the Poland flag...cool

Ireland's Mark 'Buff' Luney battling it out with Kumakubo

Unfortunatly Kuma's Transmission ended up busted after qualifying, had this been the full D1 car his event would have been over, however, with the help of ZEN Performance a stock Impreza box was on hand to replace it. Kuma was explaining to me about it just before i took this photo. Saying how it just wouldnt select any gears and how he was very disappointed for everyone, so he really wanted to fix it. After a quick smoke, he set about getting his hands dirty to help

Really like this pic, there was so much tension in the pits...

Meanwhile Kazuhiro Tanaka battled on with his Impreza...

Only to be defeated by Alan 'Chubby' McCord, though it was Bon Bon who progressed to the semi final, to claim Third place...

In the final was Kumakubo Nobushige and Brett Castle. Both had drove amazingly all day, and this really was the well hard earned final. Brett just tipped it though and stole the win...Awsome stuff!

Now we know the how high the standard of European drifting is...

A really great event! Roll on Santa Pod for Round 4...

Life...

I took this photo when driving back home along the coast of Scotland, from Knockhill Circuit after EDC/TA (below), just had to stop and admire...If only everything in the world was this simple eh! ^_^v

Time Attack!

Aswell as EDC, Knockhill was host to Round 2 of the TIME ATTACK series. I have not really reported much on Time Attack, mainly as I have not been there so much, but now it's closely ran with EDC, it's none stop action on the track, and I was truly shocked just how big Time Attack has become! With a huge number of cars entered into both PRO and CLUB classes, there is something for everyone at Time Attack. The standard of cars is top class, and it really is being taken to a very high, professional level. Round 2 at Knockhill was certainly an exciting one, with its fast sweeping banks and corners it really is an exciting track for both drivers and spectators! Pro results below..

1st Place: Roger Clark Impreza (Car No.2) - Dr: Olly Clark

2nd Place: Autosportif / TEIN Impreza (Car No.6) - Dr: Rory Butcher

3rd Place: RSE Motorsport Evo (Car No.11) - Dr: Chris Ward

Here is a selection of photos from the day, I really enjoyed photographing the Time Attack, (usually I photograph drifting only) aswell as following it closely all day. Next stop is Silverstone Circuit for Round 3, I will be there for sure! Be sure to check out the Time Attack website for more updates and information, aswell as the full Gallery and report. A really big thanks to Ed for lending me his back up camera after my fatal battery incident - Really appreciated dude, oh and thanks for sorting the weekend's Media too, easy, please take note everyone else, this is how to do it!

EDC Round 2...

This weekend I was in Knockhill, Scotland, for Round 2 of the European Drift Championship, and Time Attack Series. After very little sleep the night before, up at 4am to catch the ferry, then drive over 3 hours, myself and Time Attack snapper Ed were just a tad exhausted. But there is something about tuned drift/time attack cars that wakes us up! Straight to the track to sign on, and start taking photos, as saturday was the practice session. After this it was off to the hotel for some late night socialising and up early for the main event next day... European Drift Championship Round.2!

EDC 2007 champion Brett Castle in action...

Pete Barber's Triple Rotor powered RX7...that NOISE!!

TrampDrift spec BMW moved up the ranks from BDC series...

The two Irish drivers, battle it out in Tsuiso round!

BonBon in the Driftworks Chaser made it to the final...

To face Tim Marshall in the Apex Performance V8 R33 Skyline...

Tim was the overall winner, after a great final battle...

Smile for the camera...Well done Tim! First EDC win

Spring Clean...

Having a few free hours in the evening time, with some great weather at the minute, I thought it was time for a little Spring Clean. So the 180sx got the beauty treatment...Here's some pics!

Looking great...but im off to Scotland, Knockhill Circuit for EDC Rd.2 and Time Attack so I wont be around to drive it. But more soon!

Local meet...

Every month the local club RMS has its monthly meet. We usually choose a different town/area, all meet up for photos, chat, food etc. The last few months I've missed the meet, so I was lucky to be in town for this one. We all drove up to Gosford Forest Park, parked up to enjoy the sunshine and chat. BBQ was fired up too. Hopefully it's the first of many for this summer! I didn't take many pics...just relaxed after Vienna! Though you can see the 180sx in this one. Next stop is Knockhill, Scotland for European Drift Championship Rd 2.

Vienna...by night

One of the best things I found about Vienna was the opportunity for night photos. It really was great fun and challenge for some nice pics. As good as the buildings and sights were at day light, they really are even better by night. So armed with tripod and cameras, we abused the amazing transport system to check out everything all over again in the dark hours, aswell as sunset over the Danube! Enjoy...

Sunset over the River Danube...

Modern part of Vienna, reminds me of Yokohama.

Stunning views by night time too, makes for great pics!

It really would be a shame not to re-visit at night...

Transport rocks in Vienna...we need this everywhere!