Adventures in the Automotive World

New Blog

2010-05-15T16:38:00.001Z

Its time to move onto wordpress with more focus on Sportscar and Racing stuff - check out my new site - http://edfahey.wordpress.com

Video - Super GT Round 2 Okayama review

2010-04-10T17:47:00.002Z

After Hondas less than perfect debut for the HSV-010 in GT500, how will they get on in Round 2? Also will GT300 ever be a dull race? Watch the video and find out, preferably in full screen/HD mode

ITCC Round 1 - Mondello

2010-04-08T18:54:00.002Z

Round 1 of the Irish Touring Car Championship took part recently at Mondello Park

On pole was the former J's Racing CRX, now run by Tuning Factory

Second on the grid was Martin Tracey in the Westward Engineering RS500 Sierra Cosworth

Third was Tomas O'Rourkes Astra

and fourth was Brian Sextons Urban Per4mance Honda Integra

Onto the race and a storming start from O'Rourke saw him jump into the lead...

...chased down by the pack

But it didnt take long for Martin Tracey to take the lead and a sizeable one at that, he was soon lapping the field

but with a few tight battles going on midfield

and more than 1 case of doorhandling going on!

But Tracey was not to be caught and victory was his!

Round 2 is at Kirkistown on April 24th

ITCC

2010-03-30T09:35:00.004Z

A new direction for me in 2010 is the newly formed Irish Touring Car Championship
This new series has developed out of both Irish Time Attack and the need to have a decent Saloon car series in Ireland.

The class is open to any make and model of saloon or hatch back car. The openness of the rules means the first race will boast a grid consisting of BMW, Peugeot, Mazda, Honda, MINI, Volkswagen, Mitsubishi, Subaru, Ford, Renault and other well known marques.

I am now the official photographer for this series so regular coverage will be found here

The B-Racing K20 Civic doing some testing, with a best lap for now of 1.02, expect more from this car

Round 1 is at Mondello Park, this weekend - April 4th

Video: Super GT Round 1 Suzuka review

2010-03-24T10:08:00.004Z

Round 1 from Suzuka, best viewed in fullscreen/HD mode. Few surprises in store!

If only F1 was exciting as this!

All change

2010-03-21T13:05:00.002Z

2010 brings a few changes ,mainly no more coverage of the UK Time Attack series for me as the current economic climate means that I just cant afford to do the rounds in 2010. Ill be concentrating on the new Irish ITCC series and a few other local series, but a few overseas Sportscar trips are lined up, among them the FIA GT1 and the Le Mans 24H race

Onwards and Upwards as they say

Video: Super GT Testing at Suzuka

2010-03-01T23:12:00.003Z

A video of recent Super GT testing at Suzuka Circuit in Japan. All 3 cars in the GT500 class can be seen here; Nissan GTR, Lexus SC430, and the new Honda HSV-010. GT300 cars are the Ferrari 430, Lamborghini Murcielago/Gallardo and Mooncraft-Shiden (click the link). Some of the cars are still in plain test liveries, but others including the orange ARTA HSV-010 are in full 2010 livery.

The season starts soon, should be interesting as always

Honda HSV-010 GT

2010-02-08T20:16:00.020Z

From 1997 until 2009 the Honda NSX was a front runner in the JGTC and later Super GT series, winning 37 races out of 106 and 50 pole positions, but a rule change for the GT500 category for the 2010 season outlawed the car as only front engined, rear wheel drive cars will be allowed to compete. The NSX is no longer in production, so in a special ruling, Honda were allowed to race with the NSX's still born sucessor, - the HSV-010 GT, even though it has yet to make it to production

HSV stands for Honda Sports Velocity and test versions had been spotted on the Nurburgring and elsewhere, before the project was cancelled (for now at least). So onto the racing version..

There is a saying in motorsport that if a car looks right at first glance, then it generally turns out OK. That is the case I think with the HSV-010, combining a carbon-fibre shell with a sleek functional and aggressive design.

A purpose built racer, with very little ground clearance. Underneath the carbon lurks a spaceframed front/rear end

But unlike other GT series, carbon brakes are not permitted so fairly substantial steel discs are in place

Plenty of ducting to help cool both the engine and the brakes

and more carbon

The heart of the beast,the Honda HR10EG a 3.4 litre,32V normally aspirated V8, this is a similar engine to those found in both Formula Nippon and Acura LMP2 cars

So how does it compare to the NSX? Taller with a longer wheelbase, but with the same overhangs. Handling will probably be similar though with the engine mounted low and all of the racecar chassis work making this a pure racecar rather than a roadcar converted to racer

Aguri Suzuki, owner of the ARTA team during the press launch of the car, where most of the photos Ive used on this post came from, indroducing his drivers for the HSV-010 GT in 2010,Takuya Izawa and Irish driver, Ralph Firman

And some fantasy liveries that the car may be seen in during 2010, all based on the NSX liveries on the first photo in this post.

And finally a testing video of the car, probably where most people became aware of this new car

5 weeks to go until its racing debut, should be good and hopefully competitive

Another loss - Atsushi Kuroi RIP

2010-02-02T23:21:00.004Z

Atsushi Kuroi - he might not look much but this is what he was capable of - and in this very video I was in the mesmerised crowd. It was the very 1st bit of D1GP action I witnessed in Japan:

The true qualifying run master - 1969 - 2010 RIP

Autosport International 2010 - Part 3

2010-01-31T00:06:00.015Z

Time to round up coverage of Autosport International with another tiny selection of what can be seen, above the Fiat 500 Abarth, which will form a 1 make racing series this year

Surprisingly the only Group C/GTP car at the show, the Nissan NPTI

A treat for the ears in the Le Mans Series in 2010 - the JMW Motorsport Aston Martin Vantage GT2

Not as common here as in America but the new Camaros look great

Standing still rather than trying to pan it at high speed - the 2008/9 Time Attack winning Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza - The Gobstopper

A pair of classic rallying Lancias - 037 and Delta Intergrale

Group B Metro 6R4

Peugeot 205 T16

and former works Imprezas of the much missed Colin McRae and Richard Burns

The Ginetta-Zytek LMP1 car of Beechdean-Mansell Motorsport - to be driven by Nigel Mansell and his sons in 2010

The Drayson Racing Lola-Judd LMP1 car, to be raced in the American Le Mans series in 2010

This wraps up coverage of Autosport International, but there is a lot more to come, even though the season is quiet

Autosport International 2010 - Part 2

2010-01-24T01:07:00.003Z

Part 2 of Autosport and we arrive in easily the highlight for many of the show - the Live Action Arena. 1 entire hall is transformed into an indoor racetrack for racing and demonstration runs, so tight racing and very noisy! The Fiesta racing was the 1st racing demo out

Followed by the European Drift Championship drifters - Mark Luney, Paul Conlan and Pete Barber

and some close dirtbike racing

Then 5th Gear presenters Tiff Needell and Vicki Butler Henderson doing some semi drifting - Tiff struggled to do competitive drifting way back in 2006 so he might be better next time he fancies a proper go - or not, particularly when he claimed not to be able to turn the traction control off on the Jaguar he is seen driving above.... Vicki was a bit better in her Porsche though!

Then we have the Autograss specials - purpose built chassis, usually motorcycle engine powered so a very high power to weight ratio - so wheelies and the ability to drift almost the entire arena easier than the drift cars almost, although I think the wheelies were more for show, still good to see though!

And close racing, Id love to see these on their natural surface - grass and mud

The Formula Palmer Audi single seaters were good too, plenty of flames, although this,again, might have been done for the show with the cars adjusted to overfuel slightly, but looked good in the dark!

The cars were being driven by the finalists of the McLaren Autosport BRDC Award

Pat (on the right, Fiesta) and Liam (on the left,Citroen C4) Doran about to do a rallycross demo - but given these cars are ideal for the slippery surface of the arena (4wd and 600bhp) the show they put on was a little tame compared to what Ive seen them do before, but then again with 17 shows to do over the 4 days of the show and practice sessions, you have to make the cars last

F1 stockcars - big, heavy, fast - and loud with their unsilenced Chevy V8's - always a favourite of mine - you dont just hear them, you feel them

Being RWD with low grip meant they too, were easy to drift around the arena and are full contact racing, so bumping,nudging and pushing is allowed

An original (not a replica) Lancia Stratos, sounded lovely with its raspy Ferrari V6

An original Audi Sport Quattro - driven here by none other than Stig Blomqvist - the original Stig!

And to end, figure of 8 banger racing, the previously made comment regarding 17 shows applies here too, Id say the last show on Sunday was entertaining!

Part 3 soon

Autosport International 2010 - Part 1

2010-01-20T18:50:00.020Z

Well the new decade of 2010 has arrived, no Tokyo Auto Salon for me (which Ill admit Im not too disappointed over), so instead I went to the big show in the UK which takes place at the same time as TAS - Autosport International. This is Europes biggest motorsport show and there is plenty to see from grassroots stuff to F1 and everything inbetween so plenty of sportscars to see too, along with supercars, and none better or rarer than the new Lexus LFA above...

and below. I like it, very aggressive and underneath it is nothing short of amazing with its 560bhp, 4.8L V10 engine, carbon fibre/aluminium bodywork,6 speed sequential gearbox and multi-link suspension.

Alas the price puts most off - €580,000 in Ireland, with a vetting procedure also (Lexus wont sell this car to just anyone) and a rumoured 2 year compulsory lease on the car too..

Almost makes the £120,000GBP Nissan GTR SpecV look cheap....

Maybe modify the 'normal' R35 by spraying it midnight purple (note the reg)

Probably the biggest news at the show for me though was the annoucement that Sumo Power / JR Motorsport in partnership with Nismo will be running a pair of R35 GT1's in the new FIA GT1 World Championship in 2010

But will it visit Le Mans this year and race with the 2009 winning Peugeot 908 HDi FAP? Ill be there in June so will find out...

Also on display was the Bloodhound SSC - aiming to raise the land speed record to 1000mph....

with help of a hybrid jet/rocket engine from a Eurofighter Typhoon jet, which has an F1 engine onboard the car as the fuel pump.....

The Brawn BGP001 certainly drew the crowds..

as did 2009 Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button

and I think the BGP001 will go down in history as 1 of the great F1 cars, like this classic Maserati 250F

Part 2 coming soon

Photo of the year - and my inspiration

2009-12-31T00:17:00.004Z

For my photo of the year of 2009 it was not a tough choice for a change, so its back to July and the start of the 1st Group C race of the Silverstone Classic. I had this shot well planned out, had my space reserved for an hour beforehand and shot 45 frames as the cars approached, but its the 1 below that came out best

And the image I had in my head that I wanted to recreate, somewhere I have this on VHS, bit grainy now but still magic. It was filmed from the first corner at Fuji Speedway in Japan, but the cars appearing from the heat haze is amazing

And onto a new decade, and more events!

2009.... What I enjoyed the most...

2009-12-21T14:02:00.002Z

TITAN MOVIE NURBURGRING from Clashproduction on Vimeo.

Heres to a great Christmas and 2010. NEC Autosport show is first on the list

Red Mist.........

2009-11-07T15:49:00.001Z

Keep watching until the end, for once the American commentary is welcomed and necessary!

Oh dear

2009-11-03T17:23:00.006Z

What happens when you can afford a R34 GTT but not quite stretch to a R35 GTR.........

Time Attack 2009 Round 5 - Snetterton - The Final

2009-10-20T21:54:00.008Z

The final of the 2009 Time Attack Series took place at Snetterton

Pro/Club Pro/Prototype/Openwheel Class

First in Pro was Phil Glew in the Zen Performane Impreza, setting a time of 1.11.03 which was rain affected but had earlier set the fastest time of the day with 1.09.7

The sole prototype entry, Andy Gallachers AG Motorsport Ford Focus - 4wd, Cosworth engined and almost 700bhp with a partially spaceframed chassis to boot. He set a faster time than Glew in the Superbattle final with 1.10.3 but the car is inegible for points in 2009. Hopefully a few more prototype cars will enter in 2010 to give Andy some competition and the rest of the grid a scare

Second in Pro with 1.11.8 and sealing second in the Pro championship for 2009 was Steve Gugliemi in his Gugliemi Motorsport Elise

Third overall and first in ClubPro was James Nicholls in the Car Planet Racing Evo 6 with a time of 1.11.8, sealing him the ClubPro championship for 2009

Fourth overall was Gareth Lloyd in the second CPR Evo with a time of 1.12.5

Fifth overall was Adrian Smith in the Fensport Celica - 1.14.9

Club Class

First in club class was Russ Paton in the Wallace Performance Evo 6, 1.14.3

Duncan Graham sealed the Club championship with 2nd place, 1.14.9 in his Race Dynamix Impreza. Club Pro promotion for next year hopefully

Third in class, Marcus Webster in his Nissan Skyline R32 GTR

And a few randoms...

Middlehurst R35 GTR - UK built and authorised NISMO Club Sport Package

Richard Jones -Evo 8- Club 4WD - 1.18.2 - 13th overall

David Ward, BMW Mini -Club FF, 1.22.4, 21st overall

Not much info on this Porsche 933 GT3 on the timing sheets :(

Simon Deaton - Evo 8,Club 4WD 1.15.7 - 4th overall

Never mind 'precision driving and stunts' a 5 ton racing truck going around the track is the ultimate half time show

Steve Linton - Supra, Club RWD 1.20.01,16th overall, 3rd in class

Jamie Reynolds,Lotus Elise - Club RWD,1.16.1, 5th overall, 1st in class

So once again its Roger Clark Motorsport that take the overall title in 2009, but not as smoothly as in 2008. Will the opposition finally outclass them in 2010? Who knows.....

Its coming......

2009-10-09T15:02:00.005Z

The 2009 Time Attack Final at Snetterton

Motorsport can be dangerous

2009-10-04T22:06:00.006Z

A big crash from the FIA GT3 Championship held at Circuit Paul Ricard in France - its a testament to the safety standards that nobody was seriously hurt.

The accident was caused by a bit of rain on small 1 part of the circuit which meant little grip, as the cars were running on dry slick tyres and not intermediates or wet tyres:

And the aftermath with a replay from a different angle which shows how violent the crash was.Look at the damaged armco barrier at the start of this video, after both the Corvette and Audi R8 had hit it very hard, takes a lot of force to cause this amount of damage, to both the cars and the barrier.

The race was abandoned due to the damaged barriers which were replaced for the following days racing

The final of the FIA GT and GT3 championship is on October 25/26 at Zolder in Belgium and whats more you can watch all the qualifying and racing LIVE on the series websites - FIA GT / FIA GT3

Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 2

2009-09-28T00:50:00.016Z

Part 2 and its onto the 1000km race. A big thanks to Sportscarpros for sorting media access to this 1 for me. The race would last for just over 5 hours and 30mins, plenty of time to visit almost every part of the track and for experimenting with my photos. Here are some observations from the day, far too much to cover, could easily put 4/5 parts to this event

The Kolles Audi R10 TDi at the start, leads the petrol powered chase. The TDi is a clue that this car is diesel powered, yet was still very competitive - Diesel power having several wins at Le Mans now

The race marked the swansong of the GT1 class in the Le Mans Series, but only 3 cars competed,the Larbre Saleen S7-R

The Luc Alphand Corvette C6R -easily the loudest car on track with its rumbling V8

and the Gigawave Aston Martin DBR9, the Aston won this round but the Corvette took the series

Henri Pescarolo looks a bit apprehensive before the start, he should be - his car will be starting at the back, but overtake everyone to lead, then slide down the order with a gearbox problem...

Tomas Enge looks a bit happier, he is on the front row and will end up 3rd

Probably the best known driver in the race today , none other than 1992 F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell, but he is pictured here waiting to go back out on track during the race, as his Ginetta Zytek LMP1 car was in its garage, having a wishbone replaced

The second loudest car after the Corvette, the Drayson Racing GT2 Aston Martin V8 Vantage

The Lola-Aston Martin B09/60, the 007 car is leading the championship and is favourite to win

The Saleen makes a pitstop

and the #007 Aston, typically 5-8 pitstops are needed during the course of the race, more if the car is giving problems. This car finished 3rd overall, but enough to seal the LMP1 championship

The Speedy Racing Sebah Lola Aston Martin LMP1, 2nd overall
008 Aston, 12rd overall

The Team WFR Embassy-Zytek LMP2 car, eventually finishing 14th
The laps tick down, but its not over til its over

The Ibanez - Courage C75 LMP2 car, which placed 17th

The Felbermayr-Proton Porsche 997, 7th in GT2 but enuogh to win the GT2 championship

And the winner overall was the LMP1 Team Oreca Matmut - AIM - completing 195laps - or 1000km in just over 5 hours 30mins.

Ive really enjoyed the 3 sportscar events Ive attended in 2009 and Ill be going to a few more in 2010, bigger and arguably better than the events Ive covered mostly until now!

Le Mans Series 1000km of Silverstone - Part 1

2009-09-21T22:24:00.023Z

Back to Silverstone and more sportscar racing in the form of the 6th and final round of the Le Mans Series , covering the event for Sportscarpros

Once again its a big event compared to the events that I normally attend

With a busy press centre hosting well attended press conferences

Not to mention a 'tyre war' of sorts

But all expensive and proper equipment, no knockoffs in evidence here

Another attraction was the main support race - the Classic Endurance Racing championship, with a scene from the 1970's as the former Mario Andretti Ferrari 712, driven by Paul Knapfield has a small lead at the end of the Hangar Straight, leading into Stowe corner

Unlike the March 75S which expired on the next lap......

and passed by this stunning Porsche 936

Porsche 911 RSR - still the definition of what a racing Porsche is for many people

BMW M1

Porsche 935

Gulf-Mirage GR7

Lola T294-BMW

Matra 670C, this car and its previous versions won Le Mans overall in 1972, 1973, and 1974,and won the World Sportscar Champion in 1973/4. Sounded immense.....

a bit like this infact

But it retired after leading, after the 712 had led also

The gas turbine powered Howmet TX certainly the most distinctive car on the grid. Click on the wikipedia link, and watch the video below

But there had to be a winner and it was Bobby Rahal in his own Lola T290, a car he drove earlier in his career and now personally owns

More soon

Coming Soon.....

2009-09-15T21:46:00.001Z

The 4th visit to Silverstone in 2009 - Le Mans Series 1000km

Random Pic...

2009-08-26T23:02:00.006Z

Taken at Round 5 of the Irish Time Attack series at Mondello Park, Martin Tracy in the Westward Evo 4, ahead of Brian Sexton in the JOMO Evo 6

Silverstone Classic 2009

2009-08-16T19:03:00.004Z

After last year, it was only natural that I would return to the 2009 running of the Silverstone Classic, with the massive mixture of everything from pre war sportscars to SuperTouring, but my main reason for returning was once again - Group C. This time however I was armed with a media pass, as I am now covering events for Sports Car Pros so no standing on tippytoes or dodging bits of fence...

Ive somehow managed to narrow my selection down from over 1500 to just 20, so here goes.

The start of the second Group C race, the opening shot is the start of the first. Quite a feeling to have thousands of horsepower heading straight towards you as you both feel excited at the sight of them and try and fit them all into the frame at the same time!

Its back, the Sauber C9 except this time it was not damaged at the first corner! A stunning car to see aswell as to hear, this vid will give you an idea, not the same car (its a C11 in the video) but they sound alike, with the thundering 5 litre, twin turbo V8

Another big, loud fast V8 - Aston Martin AMR-1, could be heard well before it appeared!

The first Jaguar Group C car, the XJR-5 and the Nissan R88-C

Nissan R91CK, winner of Sundays 30 min sprint race

Onto the World Sportscar Masters and 2 rather dramatic shots from the 90 minute race, above a Ferrari 512s leads a Lola T70 a scene that reminds me of the film Le Mans...

and a flaming Chevron B8

Masters ‘Gentleman Drivers’ GT & Sports Endurance Cars (Pre 66) had this beautiful Corvette Stingray - each car in the race could tell a story and deserved its own photo

Grand Prix Masters (1966 – 1973 GP Cars) - fast and very loud!

Pre 1963 GT Cars, multi million dollar grid, probably the most valuble of the weekend
Ferrari 250 GT SWB Drogo aka The Breadvan

Aston Martin Le Mans Project DP 212
Ferrari 250 SWB
Corvette and Lotus Elite
Under 2 litre touring cars, throwback to the 60's, Lotus Cortinas, BMW 1800's,Alfa Romeo Giulias and Minis. Close and exciting racing, even now

Then onto the 90's, SuperTouring revival

or is it the 70's again? as the Cologne Capri battles the BMW CSL Batmobile

While up the front a more 90's battle goes on!

A great event, think Ill go back in 2010

Meanwhile in Japan......

2009-07-19T23:03:00.001Z

Some friends are on TV showing some typical Americans what drifting is - Go Shino!!

Time Attack 2009 Round 4 - Brands Hatch

2009-07-14T17:38:00.000Z

It was off to Brands Hatch for Round 4 of Time Attack

And for the first time ever it was Steve Gugliemi in the Gugliemi Motorsport Lotus Elise taking the win with a 48.6 second lap

Second was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza with 50.1

Third place to Chris Ward in the RSE Motorsport Evo 7 with 50.2

4th place for the best looking car on the grid, Robin Duxburys Evo 8 - 50.4

Still the fastest N/A car is Jeff Milehams TVR Tuscan with a 53.9, overtaking James Nicholls 5th overall Car Planet Racing Evo 6 - 50.8

A better result for Duncan Cowper in the F1 turbo Hayabusa powered Dax Rush - 52.06, 6th overall

John Stevensons Impreza - ClubPro 52.96

Ben James Rx7 makes its yearly return

Paul Hughes Buddy Club Dc5 - 54.2, Club FF N/A winner

Duncan Graham in the RaceDynamix Impreza now effectively has the club class title in the bag since the 'promotion' of Shane Smith to ClubPro, a move that not many are happy about including myself

Mark Pollards 6R4 on BBS LM's, tasty. Im not a 'wheel whore' but BBS LM's do it for me on almost any car

Julian Westwood in the first Evo X to compete in the series

But Zen Peformance ran out of luck with their Impreza suffering a fiery exit

The final is at Snetterton as part of the Modified Live show on October 11th

When Touring Cars were the best thing ever.......

2009-06-21T07:16:00.002Z

A video I found on octane.ie - All the technology banned from 1990's F1 and more - 4 wheel drive,4 wheel steering,ABS, active suspension, extensive use of lightweight components like carbon fibre and titanium, not to mention F1 style engines, 2.5 litre V6's that revved to 11,000rpm+ Which led to close,exciting racing, not to mention a crash or 2....

Time Attack 2009 - Round 3 - Silverstone

2009-06-14T19:38:00.011Z

Silverstone was the venue for Rd3 of Time Attack, where Olly Clark was in supreme form in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza and took victory with a sublime time of 57.9

Second was Matt Allison in the Zen Performance Impreza with 58.8

Third was Steve Gugliemi in the Gugliemi Motorsport Elise with a 59.1 laptime

Fourth for Gareth Lloyd in the Car Planet Racing Evo with 59.6

Club Class once again goes to Shane Smith in the Abbey Motorsport / CAT Driver Training with a 1.02.9, which moves him into ClubPro class for the next round

Its not racing its Time Attack!!!

Next Round - Brands Hatch - June 28th

Getting Closer.....

2009-06-05T14:11:00.000Z

Time Attack 2009 - Round 2 - Knockhill

2009-05-28T21:46:00.003Z

Sunny Scotland for Round 2 of Time Attack at Knockhill.....

But it was not sunny the day before as the rain poured down....

Made for some slightly different photos though...

Pro/Club Pro Class

Taking its second win of the season was the RSE Motorsport Evo 7, with Rory Butcher driving to a 51.6 second laptime

2nd was Steve Gugliemi in the Gugliemi Motorsport Elise with a 51.7

If it had been eligible for points Andrew Gallachers AG Motorsport Focus would have been 3rd with a 51.8

3rd place for Tom Ferrier in the Zen Performance Impreza with a 52.0

4th for Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza with 52.2

5th went to Robin Duxbury in the Redbrick Racing Evo VIII with 53.4

Flying high Russell Humphrey in the Interceptor Racing Evo 5 didnt finist, but I couldnt resist including this kerb hopping pic

Club Class

Another win for Shane Smith in the Abbey Motorsport / CAT Driver training R32 GTR

But the top club car for many is Mark Pollards 6R4.com MG Metro 6R4

Round 3 is at Silverstone on May 31st

Video - FIA GT Championship

2009-05-14T17:33:00.004Z

Found this video to give you an idea of how fast and loud these cars are. All the GT1 cars are V8's, including the Nissan GTR, with the exception of the Maserati MC12 which is a V12

Suggested Volume Setting = 11

Sound like Thunder, go like Lightning - FIA GT Championship

2009-05-12T11:11:00.001Z

Drifting and Time Attack are good, but the odd time a good old fashioned race can be better, so what could be better than exotic sportscar racing and the FIA GT championship at Silverstone

Nothing like a multi million dollar grid, this is the GT3 cup

Or a multi million dollar pit area, no jeeps pulling trailers here, but plenty of trucks, hospitality areas and motorhomes
And all the action, covered on the big screen

Onto the action and the main race, the RAC Tourist Trophy, won by the K plus K motorsport Saleen S7R

Second was the VitaPhone Racing Maserati MC12

Third was the SRT Corvette C6R

There will be new rules for the GT1 category and there were 2 new cars running to these rules, firstly the awesome Ford GT, build by Matech Racing

and the eagerly awaited Nissan R35 GTR, run by Gigawave Motorsport and Nismo. The GTR retired, but the Fords managed 8th and 10th

The winner in GT2 was the ProSpeed Porsche 997 GT3 RS, seen here behind another rumbling GT1 Corvette. GT2 was Porsche 997 vs Ferrari F430, with a sole Aston Martin

on the grid

and behind the Wiesmann GT MF5 safety car

Also on the bill for the weekend was the FIA European GT3 Championship, both races won by the distinctive Morgan Aero 8 GT3, seen here overtaking a Ferrari F430 Scuderia

The GT3 had the biggest and most varied grid though, aswell as the Morgan and Ferrari it featured:

Lamborghini Gallardo GT3

Audi R8 LMS

Porsche 911 GT3 Cup S

Jaguar XKR-S

Ford GT

BMW Alpina B6 GT3

Viper Competition Coupe

Corvette Z06R GT3

Aston Martin DBRS9

But the main attraction was still the GT1 cars for most, late on Saturday evening you could have a good look around them as they left scrutineering

But they belong on the track, making you feel your ear drums vibrate and your stomach rumbling.....

Tsukuba Circuit

2009-05-06T17:38:00.002Z

One of my last Japan post before the next trip, whenever it will be and a return to Tsukuba Circuit for a small time attack event, quite a busy one too. Tsukuba is quite poor for places to shoot from so this set is similar to the last time I was here. Cheers to Mike Garrett of Auto-Otaku for the lift and hanging with us for the day

This very tidy Nismo kitted 350Z was zooming around

And a nice FD2 Honda Civic type R

Nice Suzuki Swift Sport, I love these

And a very cool and fast....

Honda Fit (aka Jazz) with a J's Racing bodykit, and Id say a few J's bits underneath too

Only in Japan would you find a Ford Ka running on RS watanabe wheels and at a trackday too...

You cant escape, AE86's are still everywhere

And much rarer stuff like this Z31 300ZX

Most R35's I have seen so far have been parked up, or being wafted gently around - but not this 1, the first time Ive seen a R35 get some proper right foot action, and this 1 had a rear wing, different wheels, a Cobb accessport ECU and a centre exit exhaust among other things

Needless to say it tore up the track, overtaking everything and proved to me that the GTR is a fast car, and one that is even faster with some tuning applied

Time Attack 2009 - Round 1

2009-05-01T19:31:00.001Z

Time for another 5 rounds of Time Attack, 1st stop Oulton Park for an interesting day

Pro/Club Pro/Prototype/Openwheel Class
For the first time since June 2007 it was not a Subaru Impreza on the top step - it was a Mitsubishi Lancer Evloution! Chris Ward in the RSE Motorsport Evo 7 took top honours with a 1.26.8 lap and was in the top 3 times all day

But the Imprezas were never far behind, Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza, managed a very close second with a 1.27.1 fastest lap

Another Evo in third, perhaps the tide is turning! Gareth Lloyd in the Car Planet Racing Evo 5 with a 1.29.3

Fourth for Russell Humphrey in the Interceptor Racing Evo 5 with a 1.30.8 - but running in the new ClubPro class, for the not so fast cars, but still more developed than club class cars

Fifth for James Nicholls also in ClubPro with 1.31.8 in the second Car Planet Racing Evo 6. Prior to today, this was the last Evo to have won a Time Attack round overall

But this was the car that had everyone talking. The sole Prototype class car, the AG Motorsport Ford Focus Cosworth of Andrew Gallacher, which had topped 2 of the 4 sessions with a fastest time of 1.27.1, which he no doubt would have beaten if only for a blown diff in final qualifying

When time attack started properly in 2006, these little openwheel cars were the ones to beat - but in 2009 they are having to fight for it. Duncan Cowper in the Dax Rush, with a Suzuki Hayabusa engine with a 1980's F1 turbo, good for 7th over all with a laptime of 1.32.4

Finally Simon Norris could debut Version 2.0 of the Norris Designs Evo 9 SWB 'Bogey' but he had differential carrier failure, but will return

2007 champions Zen Performance were back with pro-driver Tom Ferrier but a few teething problems kept them out of the serious running, but will be onces to watch

Best looker for now, Robin Duxburys Evo 8....

Club Class

An overdue win for Shane Smith in the Abbey Motorsport / CAT Driver training R32 GTR with 1.35.1

2nd for Marcus Webster with a 1.36.8

3rd for Duncan Graham in the RaceDynamix Impreza with 1.37.1

Round 2 will be at Knockhill on May 17th

J's Racing

2009-03-17T00:01:00.013Z

Kansai is one of my favourite regions of Japan, much more laid back, easy going, bit more off the wall and home to both Toyota and Honda, so we find ourselves at J's Racing, 1 of the better known Honda tuners in Japan. We had passed here in 2008 but being a Wednesday it was closed, but today its not

The crazyness of Kansai explains much of J's philosophy - extreme tuning and n/a only, their motto is 'The Xtreme Honda ride'

Loads of parts and brochures, nearly every Japanese tuner I have visited has a counter like this

Outside customers S2000, Accord Euro-R and Super Taikyu Civic Type R

A closer look at the Accord, J's make their own bodykits aswell as tuning parts, shame Accords are overpriced at home, I do like them

And the reason I visited - to see their Honda S2000 10th anniversary car and winner of the Most Outstanding Performance Award at Tokyo Auto Salon 2009

Even without the graphics J's have made the car look evil and no doubt perform just as well

From every angle its menacing and agressive, and no doubt on the tight and twisty touge roads around Osaka be unbeatable!

Impulse AE86 shop

2009-03-14T23:59:00.005Z

Well following on from this AE86 at Auto Salon,my good friend Chris was most insistent on seeing the shop that created it, so once again it was off on 1 of those jaunts where you went with an open mind and came away satisfied, so in the suburbs of Kobe, Japan we set off with the aid of some scary looking taxi drivers to Impulse

As always some nice cars for sale outside, but aswell as sales they are known for their restoration projects

Like this, I had a good look underneath it, not 1 bit of rust - anywhere!
20V engine conversion

Bareshell rebuild

N2 racecar, along with even more shells for restoration

And immaculate cars for sale, as much as the AE86 is popular globally, its true home is still Japan

Mobara Circuit

2009-03-01T22:51:00.019Z

After the excitement and hatred of Auto Salon it was off to Mobara Circuit in Chiba for a SR drift day, which meant mostly Silvias but a few other cars too

A 180SX 'Missile' drift car, I wonder is this the same 1 from the last time I was here?

T&E's S14 Silvia, the day before this had been on T&E's stand at AutoSalon. Not long before I took this picture Mr Ueno himself was asleep in the car, not allowing himself a day off after the madness leading up to Autosalon where he was a busy man

Japan boasts plenty of girl drifters and some of them are really good and would put many others to shame

This 1 was very aggressive in her C33 Laurel

but with a slightly unaggressive interior and helmet, are girls allowed gearknobs like that....

Too fast into the first bend and you get stung....

and off into the gravel

and then hide in shame behind the dust cloud

I love Japan

If you managed to move on from the previous pic there were a few non Nissans there too like this SR equipped Mazda RX-7

On the apex of the 1st corner

Then later a few reverse runs around the track

Including G-Corporations amazing 180SX

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Part 3

2009-02-16T20:59:00.002Z

Time to wrap up Tokyo Auto Salon with some randoms...

A B310 Nissan Sunny, I remember these on the road as a kid, but until recently I didnt know they were a popular racing car in Japan

An Aston Martin/Maserati influenced Nissan 350Z. With the R35 and 370Z, the old 350Z was a bit overlooked at this years show

A Mazda Biante van, shame vans have not really caught on outside of Japan

Its not Japan without Engrish

Nice parts on display, these are HKS Kansai parts. I could easily post thousands of part photos, its what Autosalon is all about

Under the bonnet of Power Enterprises twincharged R35, with 2 superchargers supplementing the turbos. This car won the modified car of the show award

The Calsonic Super GT R35

and a very pleasant surprise just outside my hotel in Yokohama after the last day, a Hakasuka Skyline GTR, not sure if it was genuine but it sounded great as it pulled away.

Thats it for this years Autosalon coverage, but more from Japan to come

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Part 2

2009-02-14T02:59:00.022Z

A new for 2009 feature was Import Auto Salon, for import cars, but mainly German and American

'Ed if you could have ONE car tomorrow what would it be?' Ive only 1 answer - BMW M5!

The new Dodge Challenger, even though this 1 had air suspension it was nice
A 1960's Chevy Camaro, with a blown V8, very tidy

A white Maybach Limo, girls in long white dresses, whats not to like

Very cool anime graphics on this Super GT BMW Z4

Not sure if bolt on arches work on the Golf GTi

Back to the Auto Salon....

Top Secret had NOTHING of note, same cars as last year with the exception of a Toyota Celsior, same parts as everyone else, maybe the pinch is starting to affect them. The V12 Supra still attracts the crowds though, even though they failed to crack the 400km/h barrier when the car was shipped to Nardo in Italy last year

Yet another D1GP S15

And another R35, this 1 is from Hasemi Sport, but with nice subtle mods
unlike the awful Branew bodykit design

The Looking Mazda RX-7 , very cool!

Classic Toyota 2000GT - with a RB26, actually it is a 240Z based replica

One of the better of the current crop of different D1 cars,Masayoshi Tokitas Goodyear/Bee*R Toyota Crown, packing a 2JZ transplant for over 650bhp

Amuse R35, one of the most powerful in Japan with over 650 bhp

Alongside some of the other most powerful R35's in Japan

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009 Part 1

2009-02-13T14:15:00.027Z

Well with the global car market currently in freefall, its good to see that tuning is still very much alive. Instead of long drawn out paragraphs Im going to let the pictures do the talking... This is only a tiny oveview of what you can see as TAS

Drifting is still big in Japan and one of the 1st cars you saw on walking in the door was Daigo Saitos 2008 D1GP Championship winning Toyota Mark II...

...along with his 2009 D1GP car, a Ford Mustang, will it be as competitive or as consistant as the Toyota? A supercharger should keep the power up anyway

Another all new D1 car and another import - Takahiro Uenos T&E / TP Checker BMW335i, Id been following the build of this car on Uenos blog, an amazing build but Im not madly impressed with the colour, looks a bit too WTCC for my liking, but as anyone in motorsport will tell you, keeping the sponsors happy is vital

But under the (carbon unsurprisingly) bonnet lies a Toyota 2JZ engine with a HKS T51R turbo, good for 650bhp. Many people have said Uenos driving was held back by the big heavy Soarer he used to drive, lets see how he does in the slightly more lightweight BMW...

Apart from import mania, the return of A'Pexi was big news. With HKS and Trust/Greddy giving the show a miss, A'Pexi picked a good time to relaunch themselves onto the market. A good sign considering the company were rumoured to be on the verge of closing a few years ago and are now back, stronger than ever

Moving on...... (its DAD-Co's crystal clad Mercedes SL, worth $1million)

Evil graphics on J's Racing Honda S2000, a week after AutoSalon I visited J's so a few more photos of this car will be seen

Any Best Motoring DVD fans will know this car, MCR R34 GTR. With the overload of R35's there were not many older GTR's to be seen

The bodykit designs are getting worse it would seem, with this URAS R34 GTT

Or are they? Origin Labs OneVia

Wasnt just new stuff either, this immaculate C110 Kenmari Skyline drew many glances

As did Impulses spotless AE86. Subtle carbon, every nut and bolt replaced, toomuch to mention

Zele 370Z, not many 370Z's at the show but this was probably the best 1 there

Rauh-Welt 's Porsche 930. A lot been done to this 1 as it is the boss's own car ie the testbed. Personally I feel Porsche tuners like RuF, Gemballa,Cargraphic and Techarts stuff is overlooked unfairly in favour of Rauh-Welt. Maybe if Rauh Welt were not Japanese....

Sticking with the Porsche theme, RE-Amemiya had this Porsche nosed Rx-7

and this High Speed Lotus Exige themed example which won car of the show for RE-Amemiya for the second year in a row

TM-Squares pair of Suzuki Swift Sportd, I adore these cars

D1GP demo outside

R35 GTR on the Nismo stand, where the stupidly overpriced R35 V-Spec was announced

And finally for now, my personal car of the show, Mugen NSX RR-Concept

New Year,new adventures

2009-02-11T16:37:00.009Z

Yet another trip to Japan, heres what to expect over the next short while....

More to come

Time Attack Round 6 - The Final

2008-12-09T20:51:00.003Z

Seems I never have the time to update this blog, even though Im always promising I will!!

The final of Time Attack 2008 took place at Snetterton circuit

A morning fog held up proceedings for 2 hours so 1 less session and a lot less photos taken, oh well at least it wasnt raining

Pro Class

Well someone had to win and today for the 4th time in the season and sealing the 2008 Time Attack championship was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Subaru Impreza 'Gobstopper' with an amazing 1.09.8 - 2 seconds faster than the BTCC lap record

2nd was Steve Gugliemi in the Gugliemi Motorsport Lotus Elise 'Batmobile' with 1.10.4

An extremely committed drive from Jamie Stanley in the RC Developments Evo 6 getting 3rd with a 1.12.2. Not long after this event, RC Developments ceased trading

Simon Norris in the Norris Designs Evo 9GT was 4th with 1.14.2

Fifth was former BTCC driver James Kaye in the Auto Ergonomics Evo 8 with 1.14.4

Club Class
2007 Club Champion Kev Atkins in the MA Developments Evo 6 had his first win of the year with a 1.14.7

Second was Andy Forrest in the Lateral Perfomance Impreza with a 1.15.8

Third was Sam Kerr in the Performance Subaru Impreza with a 1.16.0

Fourth was Craig Winstaley in his Chevy V8 power Mazda RX7, with 1.16.5 which was also the top normally aspirated time

So a rather comprehensive overall win for the Roger Clark team, 4 wins, and 2 podiums, the team have raised the bar in both terms of performance and car preparation, and it will be interesting to see if anyone can equal or better their results in 2009

And the winner is:

2008-11-01T14:24:00.001Z

Roger Clark Motorsport Time Attack PRO Winner 2008 from Clashproduction on Vimeo.

Roger Clark Motorsport have won the 2008 Time Attack Championship. Full Round 6 review and final thoughts soon....

Crash......

2008-09-27T01:44:00.002Z

It was going to happen sooner or later and it did at EDC Round 5 at Silverstone :( Thankfully there were no injuries

BIG DRIFT CRASH
Uploaded by darkandier

Time Attack 2008 Round 5 - Brands Hatch

2008-09-27T01:41:00.000Z

Back to probably my favourite circuit of 2007 - Brands Hatch in Kent for Round 5 of Time Attack. Perfect weather made for perfect conditions

Club Class
Its that man again! Kev Horsley in the Scoobyclinic supported Impreza secured the forced induction championship with his 5th sucessive win out of 5 rounds, an impressive acheivement! His 52.24 lap was good considering the car was on borrowed time, expecting his engine to blow

Jeff Mileham in the quiet but quick TVR Tuscan took the normally aspirated class with a 54.06 lap 54.061

Gordon Wright trued his 'weekend driver' C5 Corvette instead of the GTS Skyline he normally uses, it looked sweet ontrack

Barrie Rycroft in the DCY Evo 7 took 2nd in club forced induction with 52.53

You will never keep the GTR's away from Time Attack!

Sam Kerr and the Performance Subaru Impreza took 3rd place in club forced induction with a time of 53.03

Pro Class

Taking its first win of the 2008 season was the Impreza of Zen Performance, driven by Phil Glew, running on biofuel, beating its 2007 time and also the BTCC lap record with a 48.90 lap

Second place was the Elise 'Batmobile' of Gugliemi Motorsport, driven by Steve Gugliemi with a 49.25 second lap

All the way down in third place was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Subaru Impreza with a 49.81 lap. Olly more or less has the 2008 championship in the bag

The RSE Motorsport Evo 7 driven by Chris Ward was the second fastest in the morning warmup but sadly retired after it, a shame as the car was quick until its retirement

Bob Parker in the GBH Motorsport Nissan S14.5 has been improving the entire season with a true 'never say die' approach to Time Attack

Crazy Jamie Stanley brought more red mist behind the wheel of the orange RC Developments Evo who got 5th with a 52.008...
but for once was outclassed by Clive Seddon in the yellow RC car who got 4th with 51.76, here seen overtaking Ron Kiddel in the RK Tuning R32 GTR, who got 6th with 53.34

The final will be at Snetterton as part of the Modified Live! show on October 12th

Silverstone Classic

2008-08-23T22:37:00.003Z

Im not purely interested in tuned cars or Time Attack and Drift events. I was always was and will be a motorsport fan and every now and again the chance arises to take in some proper motorsport, in this case the Silverstone Classic event

The main reason I went was to see the Group C Sportscar racing. Ive been a big fan of Group C since the mid 1980's, and despite having seen many of the cars on display and doing demonstration runs, Id never seen them race, so with 2 races over the weekend, finally I was given the oppurtunity to see them ontrack together

A few more Group C pit photos:
Sauber Mercedes C9, 1989 Le Mans winner, 1989 World Sportscar Championship winner with 5 wins and racing land speed world speed record of 407Km/h (252mph) at Le Mans during the same year,a record that still stands today. Unfortunatley this car was invlved in an accident during the first Group C race of the weekend and would compete no further. Such is racing!

Porsche 962C, 1988 Le Mans Porsche works team. This car was on display and did not race

Nissan RC90-CK, 1993 All Japan Sports Racing Prototype Championship car, 1 of the fastest and most developed Group C cars ever. It finished 3rd in the sprint race, and 4th in the feature race and recorded the fastest lap of the feature

Nissan VRH35Z, twin turbo 3.5 litre V8 with a magnesium block. The car still runs on DOS for its engine management, the maps are switched by changing circuit boards as opposed to flicking a switch on more modern engine management, 800bhp race map or 1200bhp qualifying map. More Group C later...

Got Ferrari? 6 F40's,a F50 and an Enzo, there were over 150 Ferraris grouped together!

A rallying tradition - a sideways Mk2 Escort

Group B Audi Quattro S1 launching.....

and rebounding after landing,

Audi Sport Quattro S1 flaming away

and did I mention the noise of the Audis, 5 cylinder turbo heaven. Certainly not the best Group B car there ever was but the most evil looking and sounding, that means more to some people including myself.

Ford RS200, probably the best looking Group B rallycar
and the Peugeot 205 T16, probably the most sucessful Group B rallycar ever with 2 world titles, 1985 and 1986

Historic F1 cars competing both for the FIA Historic F1 championship and for the James Hunt Memorial trophy. I could easily talk about these cars for a long time, but late 1960's-early 1980's F1 cars are easily the loudest and among the fastest racing cars Ive experianced in my life. Its rare to feel your inner eardrums vibrating!

World Sportscar Masters 1963-1975 Sportscars racing for the Denny Hulme memorial trophy, Lola T210 leads Lola T70 and Ford F3L

Lola T70,Chevron B16 x 3

Going back now to the Group C cars, and the crash that claimed the Sauber, such a shame, but the car will return. This video gives you an idea of how fast these cars are:

An amazing spectacle, one that I had waited a long time to see, a reminder of most of the 1980's and early 90's Le Mans and the World Sportscar Championship, for many years Le Mans was a round of the WSC and other racing such as IMSA in America and the All Japan Sports Prototype Championship. Cars from all 3 series took part in the weekends racing

The sound of the 7 litre V12 engined Silk Cut Jaguars was amazing, the Nissan R90 was quiet but very fast

The Chevrolet V8 powered Spice SE GTP which won the The ACO Plate Trophy race, a 30 min sprint race

The Nissan RC90-CK ontrack, not much of a V8 roar from it, more the whistle off the turbos

For many though, myself included the quintessential Group C car is still the Porsche 962, 2 are seen on the left in the 2nd Group C race, the David Leslie Memorial trophy, in memory of David a well known Group C driver who was tragically killed in an air accident earlier this year

The most distinctive sounding car on the Group C grid, Mazda 757 with N/A 20B triple rotor engine, which generates a lot of flames

Another video

1990 Silk Cut Jaguar XJR-11

and the winner of the David Leslie memorial trophy race, Nissan R90-CK. A shallower photo angle will be used next time! Hopefully I will visit another historic motorsport meeting this year, these are so laid and relaxed back compared to more modern events!

European Drift Championship Round 4 - Santa Pod

2008-08-02T21:02:00.007Z

Santa Pod was the venue for Round 4 of the European Drift Championship, where Phil Morrison in the Driftworks 2JZ powered S15 Silvia was definatley smoking things up!

This was the second of 2 rounds that Team Orange from Japan attended with their RWD converted Imprezas. After a strong competition it was Nobushige Kumakubo (on the right of the photo) that came 1st, and his friend and team mate, Katzuhiro Tanaka (left) that placed 2nd
But it was not all plain sailing from Team Orange, when Tanaka spun during the final, then again Kumakubo spun on the previous run, it took 6 runs for Kumakubo to win

Not so much luck for Chris 'Paz' Parry in his S2000 powered AE86, suffering this bad crash during qualifying, but the damage is not as bad as it looks and the car will return

Mark 'Sidewaysbuff' Luney takes the Santa Pod R32 GTS-T out for a few demo runs, and gave me a passenger run in 1 of them, Cheers Buff!!

The next day there was a team comp, Team Orange took a well fought victory, practicing with the other drivers, above and below but even though they are regarded as the best in the world they still faced good opposition

Team Green will be more impressive next time round after making a big improvement

Team Driftworks fielded the only 3 car team

Time Attack 2008 Round 4 - Oulton Park

2008-07-29T15:58:00.001Z

Sorry for the lack of activity recently, but hopefully the recent events I have attended will be uploaded quicker from now on, anyway onto Time Attack
Round 4 of Time Attack and Oulton Park was the venue, where the Pro Class cars had come to hunt down and kill the BTCC lap record of 1.28.8......

The cars swarm around the cameras, ready to attack the lap record

Pro Class

First up to the kill was Phil Bennett in the Autosportif / TEIN Impreza with 1.28.545

Then Steve Gugliemi in the Gugliemi Motorsport Elise did a 1.28.031 to secure 3rd place

Tom Ferrier in the Zen Performance Impreza claims 2nd with 1.27.2

There had to be a winner - and for the 3rd time this year it was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza with a quite amazing 1.25.9 lap, faster than both the BTCC race and qualifying lap records

Still the top Skyline GTR in Pro is Ron Kiddell in the RK Tuning R32 GTR with 8th place and a 1.32 lap

Top 'privateer' runner in Pro so far this year is Lee Broadhurst in the NR Autosport/Edgehill Evo 9

Top RWD is the same as 2007 Darren Robinson in the WhifBitz Mazda RX7. The car was very fast at Brands in 2007 so should have a good result there at the next round - Brands Hatch

Club Class

The future? RC Developments had their new R35 GTR running in club class with a top 20 finish, 6 seconds off the pace, which shows how fast the club challenge cars can be!

John Begley in the torrential rain which made the morning sessions interesting

More rain, Marco Haig in the Fiat Coupe, 1 of the more distinctive cars in club

The next round of Time Attack will be at Brands Hatch on August 10th as part of the Autotuner show

Time Attack 2008 Round 3 - Silverstone

2008-06-15T19:03:00.017Z

Round 3 of Time Attack at Silverstone, grey, overcast but no rain and perfect conditions for some very quick times to be set

Pro Class
The pro class was won by Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza with an amazing time of 58.877, nearly 3 seconds faster than the previous lap record on the track and faster than the BTCC lap record!
Second was Steve Guglielmi in the Guglielmi Motorsport Lotus Elise, with 58.911

Third was Tom Ferrier in the ZEN Performance Impreza with a 59.068

Legendary Japanese Time Attack driver Tarzan Yamada came over especially for the event and drove the RK Tuning R32 GTR

Ross Juniper in the Dragon Performance Mazda RX7, still on a development curve, but will be one to watch soon

Back after its Donington crash was Gary Hayward in the APT Evo 7

Reshelled since Round 1 following a crash at Castle Combe was Simon Norris in the Norris Designs Evo 9, Tarzan Yamada also drove this car during the day

Club Class

Kev Horsley once again took Club Class forced induction honours in his ScoobyClinic Impreza with a time of 1.01.689

Jeff Mileham won the club class normally aspirated class with a 1.04.256 lap in his TVR Tuscan
Barrie Rycroft in the DCY Evo 7 digs up the gravel

and to end, another photogenic car, John Begleys R32 GTR in replica STP/Taisan livery from the 1990's Japanese Touring Car Championship

Round 4 of Time Attack takes place at Oulton Park on the 5th of July

Time Attack 2008 Round 2 - Knockhill

2008-05-28T10:52:00.020Z

I have a love/hate realtionship with Scotland, its a nice place, nice people, but it always rains, but at Time Attack Round 2 at Knockhill it didnt, glorious weather all day with glorious performance to match!

Pro Class

There had to be a winner and finally after over a year of trying it was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Impreza with an amazing 52.186, which is faster than a BTCC time around the track..

2nd place was Rory Butcher in the Autosportif / TEIN Impreza with a time of 52.254

3rd was Chris Ward in the RSE Motorsport Evo 7 with 52.565, the top 6 all got into the 52's

A bad day for Guy Harrington in the Auto Ergonomics Evo 8, despite a very commited drive, with terminal engine failure

'Crazy' Jamie Stanley put in another red mist fuelled drive in the RC Developments Evo 6, eventually finishing 5th overall, maybe if the rear wing struts had not collasped, resulting in the loss of a lot of downforce, he would have been faster again

Lee Broadhurst in the Edgehill / NR Autosport Evo 9 leads Andy Harvey in the Scoobyclinic Impreza

Earlier Harvey attacking Duffus Dip

A more sucessful run for the ZEN Impreza with Tom Ferrier driving to 5th place overall with 52.879

Club Class
Kev Horsley again took the F/I win with a 54.073 lap in his Scoobyclinic supported Impreza

And Craig Winstanley took the N/A win in his Chevy V8 powered RX-7 witth a 56.418 lap
Kev Atkins in the MA Developments Evo 6 attacking Duffus Dip

Barrie Rycroft in the DCY Evo 7, a flaming good car

And finally Tim Chandler in the best sounding car on track, Porsche 911 GT3 RS

The next round is at Silverstone, as part of the Japanese Tuning Show, featuring a visitor or two from Japan....

New project for 2008

2008-05-16T15:12:00.003Z

On the shelves now is the June 2008 issue of Banzai Magazine. I am now contributing Time Attack and European Drift Championship articles and photos, aswell as my own column page, which despite its flattering name outlines a very serious issue for both modifiers,tuners and consumers alike. Check it out

What is Tokyo like?

2008-05-07T16:24:00.003Z

A few people have asked me what is Tokyo like? This film will give you a good idea. Click the Vimeo logo on the bottom right of the screen for full screen

Alone in Tokyo HD from Philip Bloom on Vimeo.

Filmed and edited by Philip Bloom

Premier 4509 - New Styling by VeilSide

2008-04-29T22:52:00.018Z

When I visited VeilSide in January there was a car in the corner having a new bodykit developed for it. It was a Lamborghini Murcielago, but at the time I respected a request not to publish photographs of it....

Until now:

and the resulting aero kit:
The range is called Premier 4509 and like most of their newer kits the 'combat' style has been done away with in favour of smooth lines to compliment the car and look almost as if it was designed like this originally. White is certainly the new Black

The kits consist of front/rear bumpers, sideskirts and the carbon rear wing. The wheels and exhaust are available separately also
There is also a kit for the smaller Lamborghini Gallardo, the front design is identical to the Murcielago
And the third design is for the Bentley Continental GT. Like the Lamborghini kits, the design is clean and subtle and only 10cm wider than the standard GT
And the rear. Once again the creative artistic genius that is Hirano Yokomaku has created a stylish and purposeful design. One of the true automotive artists, as he moulds the design himself using foam and clay and does not sketch the design on paper.

Some people might argue that why should you personalise your very expensive and exclusive Bentley or Lamborghini? Why not would be Yokomakus answer. Not everyone can afford to own such cars and since some people can, they can choose to personalise their car even more, as opposed to just a personalised number plate!

The Bentley will feature in Fast and Furious 4, unsure yet whether it will be a major role or just in the background! VeilSide are creating other cars for the film too, which is in pre production at present

The next generation of VeilSide has arrived. It is going to be an interesting journey

Time Attack 2008 Round 1 - Donington

2008-04-22T12:03:00.021Z

Its back!! Time Attack 2008 will be bigger and better. More tracks, more entries and much more interest all round! An interesting weekend, for Round 1 at Donington Park: dry,windy, rain and then snow, it had it all!

Pro Class
The day was eventually won by Duncan Tappy in the Autosportif/TEIN Subaru Impreza with a time of 1.20.550 in the damp but had earlier set a time of 1.12.758, the fastest of the day overall

Not far behind was Olly Clark in the Roger Clark Motorsport Subaru Impreza, with 1.22.691 in the final, easily the loudest car of the entire weekend with its side exit exhaust, visible just infront of the real wheel

Third was Jamie Stanley in the RC Developments Evo 6, with some great drifting at times even though its Time Attack! His final time was 1.23.114

One of the most improved cars in round 1 was the Scoobyclinic Impreza, driven by Andy Harvey, with a strong 6th place in the final
Not long back from its trip to Japan and Tsukuba was Fensports Celica running a new sequential gearbox, eventually finishing 9th

Stanley and Darren Robinson in the Whifbitz RX7, in the snow

Club Class
1st in the Forced Induction class was Kev Horsley in the Scooby Clinic supported car with 1.28.569

1st in the Normally Aspirated class was Paul Hughes in the Buddy Club UK Honda Integra Type R with a 1.36.185

Fastest overall club class lap was 1.18.286 set by Barrie Rycroft in the Distinctive Cars York Mitsubishi Evo 7

Not every day you see a Renault Clio (briefly) leading a R34 GTR

A few offs and crashes but this is the only 1 I caught on camera

And to end this overdue update, 2 of the more interesting cars running in club class:

Craig Winstanley's Mazda FD3S Rx7 -with a Chevy v8 transplant

and the Apex Performance Skyline R33 GTS - also with a Chevy V8

Ready....

2008-04-04T10:01:00.005Z

For Round 1 of the Japaneseusedcars.com European Drift Championship / Time Attack series

Ive invested in some new photographic equipment for this year too...

A Nikon D300 Digital SLR, I bought this in Japan and saved over €700 compared to what the ripoff camera shops here want for it! If you cant get to Japan, theres always ebay! Ill be using this for the majority of my photos this year

And this Canon Ixus 75 digital compact. Cheap but good value and it takes some great photos, and far more discreet than the big Nikon, perfect for snapshots. Sometimes its far easier just to let the camera do all the work, or if you want to take things easy, as it clips onto my belt, and does not need a rucksack to hold everything belonging to it. A lot of my recent photos from Japan were taken with this camera, but for action shots or when you want to do what you want as opposed to what the camera wants, the Nikon is king

Prodrift Licencing

2008-03-20T14:59:00.017Z

Recently Prodrift held their licencing weekend at Rosegreen, for semi pro drivers to attain their pro licences, provided they were good enough

A sad occasion as due to a recent court ruling over noise issues, this was the 2nd last drift event to be held at Rosegreen

Former BN-Sports Nissan PS13 SilviaEx Koguchi Power / Falken D1GP Toyota JZX100 Chaser

The wall of death...

Claims another victim
My favouite photo from the day, E30 M3

Random Japan Overload

2008-03-15T16:05:00.016Z

Kinda getting bored of going on about Japan now, save it til next time I go, so to wrap things up heres a whole load of Random Things to see in Japan.

A curved escalator
That is not allowed have any friends....
A western style toilet, a Japanese style toilet is little more than a hole in the floor...
Kit Kat!!! I was in shock!! Chocolate is rare in Japan, they are far more into sweets and candy, might explain many peoples rotten teeth!!
And I did buy it in Japan, not just snook over from home
Ladies only railway carraiges, sadly 'groping' is a big problem in Japan, unlike the rest of the world

Another McDonalds or this? I know what I would prefer, cheap and tasty too, not to mention healthier!!
Ah well, 14 days has passed too quickly, time to go home

The last photo I took in Japan
At least the flight home was comfortable, it was empty! I could have slept across 4 seats if I liked

Till 2009 anyway, me and Chris had fun in Japan

VeilSide - The Return visit

2008-03-12T10:35:00.015Z

On the way back from Tsukuba circuit and contrary to popular belief it was further away than we thought, but we had to drop by our friends at VeilSide. Unlike the last time, the shop was quiet and things were being re-arranged. Mr Yokomaku was away in America arranging for VeilSides involvement in the next Fast and Furious film, and far less cars were in the showroom, some of them had been moved to VeilSides new showroom in Nagoya, but there were a few new ones too, including their latest kit in development for a European car

Which will be revealed soon, it is for an Italian car

It helps to have a rich boyfriend, and one who modifys cars at that. This is Yokomaku sans girlfriends car, in pink, with lovehearts. Very girly! Not for me but the work deserves respect

Also here was a recently completed Fortune RX-7. This clearly shows how wide the kit is. Every panel apart from the roof and windscreen has been replaced
VeilSides transporter was parked outside, better known as the greenhouse. There are curtains which can be drawn to show or hide whats inside

Evil!!

Chris shows how big a fortune kit is, the white boxes are for a fortune kit for the NSX

The Real Deal, not copied 50% fibreglass 25% chicken wire 25% newspaper rubbish, this is real and genuine, it will fit the car like a glove, wont need ages sanding and filling in the bodyshop and wont warp when its painted, not to mention an easy repair should it be damaged and not a replacement, unlike copies which tend to explode

Still 1 of my favourite cars, the R32 GTR Evolution R-III, well over 860bhp and 1 of the GTR's that really pushed the Japanese tuning scene foward,with both style and performance

Random Japan Part 5 - The Japanese truly love Carbon Fibre, as they make benches in train stations out of it, and not just lightweight parts for cars
And its real carbon, not just 1 layer on top of fibreglass

Tsukuba Circuit

2008-03-11T12:30:00.020Z

After missing out in December I finally got the chance to see the home of Time Attack, Tsukuba Circuit, in Ibaraki, Japan. There was an Option Time Attack on today, but there was not any serious Time Attack cars there, moreso just people driving their (fast) road cars with a transponder attached, not much commentary needed on these photos, was like watching the intro movie from Gran Turismo, and yes the Nissan Marches (Micras) were quick! Gave the Porsche and Ferrari some competition

The Real Tokyo Drift

2008-03-06T20:18:00.015Z

So been in Japan for 11 days and have not seen any decent track again - until now, and its off to Mobara circuit on the outskirts of Tokyo. The last time I was here, I was 'spoiled' a bit as there was a very good lineup of drivers and nice weather, but today was a bit colder, but far more civilised, mostly local drivers and less extreme cars, mostly driven to the track too. Myself and Chris were the only non Japanese there, so were easily spotted by Tada san, the owner and manager of the circuit, who tried out his English on us. He said it was rare for people to visit on these quiet practice days

At most drift days there is always 1/2 drivers that stand out and today was no exception, this SR20 powered C33 Laurel was great to watch

and this AE86, driven in a very committed fashion, the only way to drive an AE86

JZX100 Chaser just about to lose it

Most cars were dented with chipped bumpers,dented wings etc but this 180Sx Sil80 really took 'well used drift car' to another level, every panel dented, Sil80 front end conversion and mismatched panels

Very fast JZX110 Mark II

The skill level was fairly low today, so no D1 spec driving, but its still fun to watch.

Back to Kanto

2008-03-01T14:10:00.020Z

Well as much fun as Kansai in West Japan is, it was time to head back to the Kanto region in the East,Yokohama,Tokyo,etc, so after an early start Chris and I were on our way

Its the 1st thing many people think of when they think of Japan - Mount Fuji, also the countries highest mountain at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). Passed it on the Shinkansen on the way back to Yokohama. The plan was to meet our friend Shino and hang with her for the day. We 1st met Shino on our 1st trip in 2006 and she is the only person we have met all 3 times, she leads an easy life, mechanic by day and drifter when she is not working, not bad. Big U2 fan, she does not like the fact I dont live too far away from them either!

Random Japan Part 4 - free tissues. You will see this a lot outside train stations in Japan, someone handing out small packets of hankercheifs. Not for blowing your nose, which is seen as very bad manners in Japan but for when you go to a public toilet and there is no toilet paper,as many public toilets wont have any. Saw them being handed out a lot, but this girl was making a big effort to hand out as many as possible, not to mention the fact that I thought her coat was cool. She didnt give me or Chris any though!

Outside Shinos garage, called Amazement

Shinos very cool circuit spec AE86, with a side exit exhaust. The last time I visted Japan Shino brought us to a drift day at Nikko Circuit

A targa top Datsun 260Z,FC and FD RX7's,a S14 Silvia and 2 AE86's outside the garage

Later and to my shock there were slippers that fitted me!! Unlike the Hotel in Osaka

Later after a fine meal it was once again time to engage in that greatest of all Japanese social activities - Karaoke

In some Japanese karaoke places you can sneak in drinks, so I brought in Chu-hi, which is a Shochu mixer, strong stuff!! Well its well known that too much alcohol makes people show off a bit, particularly me........

The Karaoke machine in this place gives you a score out of 100......

Chris just picks up the microphone and makes some singing type noises, scores 78

Wow aswell as being a mechanic,drifter and general nutcase Shino can sing really well, she scores 92...... So I had to go for it

And I did with that well known rock tune Black Dog by legends Led Zeppelin, not good enough, I only got 89. Ah well, if you dont enter you cant lose

The next day, back in Shinos old traditional Japanese house, almost entirely made from wood, and its not a camera trick, the doorframe is quite low, got a nice bruise on my forehead when I forgot to duck.. Not to mention the very narrow steps leading upstairs, oh well I got used to kids staring up at me lol

Ja Ne Shino, see you soon!!

Travelling, again

2008-02-24T16:09:00.004Z

1 thing in particular thats amazing about Japan is transportation and in particular the railway system. I have always been interested in railways, not an obsession just a keen interest so on the trip to and from Sunline Racing, I photographed some Shinkansen trains

A Series 700 Sanyo Shinkansen at Shin Osaka station

100 Series Kodama at Okayama Station

Series 700 Nozomi - Nozomi is ltd express

1 of the latest N700 Series

And to finish, a very rare sight, an original 0 Series from 1964......

Since it was the last day in the Kansai region, time to finish it by catching up with some friends, Saki and Mari, for a meal and a few drinks. I tell good jokes on nights out.....

Mari thinks so

Saki does too

Not to mention Chris

Normal service will now be resumed

Time Attack 2008

2008-02-23T01:40:00.004Z

Its back and bigger than ever. Time Attack 2008
Over 100 cars from a Renault Clio to a AC Cobra and all the Japanese machinery inbetween, plenty of Evos and Imprezas, not to mention Skylines and RX7's. Should be good! It starts at Donington Park on April 5th/6th as part of the International Styling and Tuning Show

I will be covering this series again throughout 2008 as the official series photographer

Architecture

2008-02-19T10:33:00.002Z

Japan is well known for its amazing architecture, more people and less space leads to some tall buildings, and who says they have to be dull? Take the Umeda Skybuilding for example....

How amazing does this look? The 2 lines coming from the cirlce in the middle are escalators leading to the observation deck, giving a 360 degree panoramic view of Osaka

Random Japan Part 3 - hospitality. The Japanese are known for their hospitality and want to make you feel right at home, so in a Japanese home that means wearing slippers indoors and most hotel rooms have a pair for you to wear, not in my case....

Ive size 13 feet (thats 14 in the USA and 31.5 in Japan) so wearing these slippers wasnt possible..

So I just wore my Vans skateshoes instead, bit more comfortable

Sunline Auto

2008-02-15T18:24:00.003Z

Its rarely a dull day in Japan. Onto the Shinkansen and further west to Okayama to see Sunline Racing. We had 1st met them at TAS and before we had left Ireland, I had been in contact regarding a visit. Now its time!! I met Piers from the GTR register and he was kind enough to give us a lift there aswell as acting as translator. The 1st thing you see when arriving is their new R35 GTR parked alongside 1 of several Fairlady (350)z's.

Which allows a comparison between the 2, the Z looks tiny beside it.

The latest evolution of their S15, now with a sequential gearbox among other things

The Suzuki Swift GTi from TAS. I really like this car, Sunline make a lot of both styling and performance parts for them. I may consider buying 1 some day and tune it a bit like this, maybe using all of Sunlines parts also

Apparantley its rare for Sato San, the owner of Sunline to speak to or even acknowledge visitors, being the workoholic that he is but he took 20 mins of his time to talk with myself and Chris about the new R35 GTR and the tuning scene in general. He has a good philosophy,and an amazing attention to detail - always offer the best available and dont cut corners as failures will occur aswell as creating a bad image. If it means paying for a good quality part so be it. Whats the point of saving €200 when it will cost €2000 to fix what your cost cutting caused....

Quality is important too, take the 350Z to the left, the TAS demo car...

The front bumper is a prototype, made to Sunlines design by C-West. The fit was amazing, like a glove, almost a factory fit, but Sato san was not happy with it and wanted it better again. I was amazed and he was too , maybe if he saw Irish roads he might know why!

Regarding the R35 GTR, he feels that Nissan have deliberatley made it harder to modify compared to the R32/33/34 GTR's or 350Z, but given time most tuners will highly modify them. His main job for the day we visited on was to create a titanium exhaust system for the R35, his handmade design will be used as a master copy for the production versions

Piers own car - a R34 GTR with a full carbon widebody conversion! Amazing. This is probably the best known of Sunlines cars outside of Japan. It was also used as a CWest demo car as the bodykit was made by them, again designed by Sunline

It is currently fitted with a N1 version of the RB26 engine with a big Trust T88 turbo, along with a Hollinger sequential gearbox, good for around 750bhp, aswell as many of Sunlines own custom parts, far too many to mention. It is primarily a trackcar but Piers does take it out on the road from time to time

Even their Hino double deck transporter is kept in immaculate condition. 31 is Satos lucky number, as nearly all his cars and the transporter have '31' in their reg somewhere

Thanks to Taiyo Sato and Piers Dowding for their help and hospitality

TRIAL

2008-02-10T23:16:00.000Z

Most tuning companies in Japan are a little bigger than ones you would find in the UK and Ireland but there are a few which are huge and the biggest in Japan is TRIAL in Osaka. Think of a premises the size of a large main dealer except its purely for tuning and modifying cars and your getting close. After a quick meeting with the company founder/director Makihara san, then being smitten with cheif racequeen Chihiro it was time to take it all in, and there was a lot

Heres a shot of a small part of the car park, most of these are customers cars. I love the palm trees

10 work bays, an inhouse engine dyno, a set of rollers and a dynapack, almost everything is done inhouse, all thats missing is a circuit. Not to mention the massive showroom

Im standing just inside the doors here and the 1st thing you see is this smart NSX, also for sale, bit too much for me at the moment!

Also you can see some of the extensive parts displays in the background

Most tuners/garages probably have just a small kettle or its a case of go to the shops for refreshment, but TRIAL have their own bar, and thanks to me and Chris, theres some proper Irish whiskey behind the bar now too!!

In the corner of the showroom, 1 of TRIAL's original R32 GTR's is on display

While outside their PS13 Silvia track car and a R34 GTR for sale can be found

Aswell as some of the latest TRIAL demo/development cars, a FD2 Honda Civic Type R and a MY2008 Subaru Impreza STi

A 350Z convertable on the ramps getting alignment work done

TRIAL will tune any car, from a Suzuki Kei car to a R34 GTR

or 2......

Getting ready to lock up for the evening, or maybe a spot of racing around the kanjo highway.......

Extra special thanks to Yuichi Ikegami and Keisuke san for their help and hospitality, not to mention Chris for his amazing organising skills

Kids Heart

2008-02-07T23:43:00.000Z

A morning with little planned led us via the Shinkansen to Nagoya and then a short local train journey to Kids Heart, a drift car garage/dealership. The garage manager is D1GP driver Tsuyoshi Tezuka. Kids Heart also made the 'factory' Nissan SilEightys in limited numbers

I really liked this 'Zenki' (early) S14 Silvia

Still not sure if I like Toyota JZX110 Verossas or not

Toyota JZX100 Mark II, they like chrome wheels at Kids Heart, well they have good roads for them so why not

Not only do Kids Heart sell drift cars, they also buy in cars and prepare them for drifting

As seen by these subframes....

and a ER34 4 door up on the ramp, pity the staff were all in the roasting hot office watching drift DVD's and drinking coffee, its an easy life working in a drift car garage in Japan, well apart from the nice girl slaving away in the office

But they still find time to make some lovely cars, this PS13 Silvia being a good example

The main reason I came to Kids Heart and to Japan!! Tezukas D1 JZX81 Mark II, which is my favourite D1GP car, ever! Under the pink paintwork there is a 600bhp 2JZ-GTE with a Trust T78 turbo, Kei Office suspension and plenty of other drift mods. This car is pure evil in my eyes, it should really be kept in a cage!! Tezuka now drives the Bee*Racing B324R Skyline in D1GP but he still finds time to bring this car out for practice days and Kids Hearts own drift series. Look closely in the background and you will see Chris and Tezuka having a chat. A very nice guy like everyone we met in Japan, he remembered me from Silverstone in 2006! Small world. Check out Tezukas blog to the right to see what he gets up to as a lot of what goes on at Kids Heart and in D1 is mentioned

Heres a video of the car in action:

Buying a car??

2008-02-06T18:10:00.000Z

Back home, most car dealerships have 1, if not 2 high performance models on display, but not in Japan where they tend to be more common...

While on the way back from Signal Auto with Chris we saw this used car dealership called GT Net, so the rather inviting looking forecourt led us in for a closer look

The forecourt was jammed, cars everywhere, making it hard to get a clear shot, here are some Imprezas...

And some Fairlady Z's (or 350Z's) along with some Mitsubishi Evos, a Honda NSX and S2000

A small line up of R32 and R33 Skyline GTR's, Skylines were the most common car there

A pair of R34 GTR's

And my favourite car there, a factory red R32 GTR

Random Japan Part 2. The Japanese police are a bit like their American counterparts as this police station not far from GT Net conveniently has a Mister Donut shop right across the road aswell as the obligatory Toyota Crown patrol car parked outside.....