Ens Causa Sui

Petrol Head

2011-02-21T21:57:00.000-08:00

In addition to blogging and sourcing content for S12Silvia.com, I am have been preparing for taking High Performance Driving lessons, so there will be information on that in the future. And as always working on my Nissan S12. Just last month (February issue), Modified Magazine ran a feature on my car that I had been waiting nine months for. I was thrilled and it was far better than the S3 feature (S3 blog site). Sorry Jonathan, love S3 but Modified was my primary goal. I was not aware that S3 was going to feature me in their magazine last year, which is great, but is bittersweet for I feel that by talking to Jonathan that Modified was a bit out of luck. If I had realized this, I would have definitely asked to have waited until the first quarter magazine in S3 that would have been printed after the Modified feature. In the end, it is my fault for not realizing this, although, the Modified feature is by far the better of the two, so if you had to make a decision, go with Modified's article. The article will soon be made available for download in PDF on S12Silvia.com's blog covering Project S12/26. For now, the article is available from Modified's website. I want to thank Peter (editor of Modified), David (author of my feature), and Josh (photographer) for the whole experience was great and each one was top notch. I would love to work with them again.... A possibility since I have already worked with Peter twice and David was aware of my S12. I cannot say much more in praise of the three.

When first discussing a possible feature with a few editors, the editor of SuperStreet, Jon, was keen on running my car. He ran Henry's S12 in the June 2010 issue of SuperStreet and would make a great complimentary feature. However, since Peter from Modified had told me he would cover my car, Jon bowed out and said that since both magazines are owned by the same parent company, that he would be unable to run a feature on it. Despite that, in the March 2011 issue of SuperStreet they covered the Japanese Classic Car Show I attended last September in SoCal. As my shop owner said, looks like I did make it into SuperStreet after all.In addition to my S12, fellow S12 enthusiasts Andrew's (white coupe in picture) and Henry's (on page not shown) S12s made it in as well.

As in customary for my daily routine, I warm up either car for at least seven minutes. It really isnt the best when being in a hurry or late for work but considering my daily is Wankel-powered RX-7 and my 'toy'/back-up car is twin-turboed, it is necessary that both warm up. So, what is there for me to do during those minutes, usually freezing in the car as it warms up in this cold state of Washington where there is a distinct lack of warm sunlight: read. I am slowly getting into the habit of reading again. For years before college and fancying a social life, I used to read non-stop... almost to a detriment in some ways. Well unlike then when I read novels, my choice of reading material is automobile related. Surprise surprise. What may be surprising is that with the large variety of material I have to choose from, I am reading a British magazine. EVO, as it is called, is to date the best magazine I probably have ever read and the first one I have ever read cover to cover. The content is excellent not because of its flavour but because it is in-depth and informative in it's explanation and break down of the cars and the reviews that follow. Yes, a subscription is must and I will have mine soon. For now, I just pick it up at the local Borders. I highly recommend it. I only have a few issues but am looking to obtain a lot more in the future.

Always Busy

2011-02-21T20:17:00.000-08:00

Ever busy, I have neglected my personal blog in lieu of S12Silvia.com's blog. Not having much time remaining after work, school, and homework, all that I have left has been a serious effort to either not fall asleep or simply stare at the TV whilst Netflix is on. Then on the days off I have had every so often and the weather being quite lenient as of late, I am out during the day driving the S12 enjoying every moment of it. While out yesterday I had an opportunity that at one time would have been unique but has since become more common in the past couple of years. As my Facebook status said:

"There's nothing like blowing by a Smart car in a proper petrol-based car: An S12 that has an appetite for petrol and a love affair with a pair of turbos."

Not surprisingly, I received much interested from my fellow petrol heads and an informative explanation as to why current day Hybrids/EVs, for example the Prius, isn't as environment friendly as they seem. My only regret was driving solo and not getting a picture or a video of my 'fly-by', not that they appreciated it much.

About S12Silvia.com though, it has been a success. With eight blogs posted in January alone including coverage of Nikolay Konstantinov at Irwindale and Vaughn Gittin Jr, the site has garnered much interest as of late, gained praise, and has been linked to from other sites - even from Jr's blog. As was mentioned in the previous blog post, S12Silvia.com keeps me very much busy. As a moderator and committed content supplier, it is pretty relevant to much of Internet activity as of late. Please forgive the inability to read the text, but due to the fact that it details current blogs in progress, planned blogs, and blogs in research, it can be considered proprietary information for the site.

An Eclectic Collection of Interests

2011-02-06T00:55:00.000-08:00

For the most part, I dont hold much interest in doing too much concerning my birthday. I acknowledge it but really there is just too much I have to do these days. Between school, work, working on content for S12Silvia.com , and planning future content for both the aforementioned site and a couple others, I keep quite busy. Today I took a day out to enjoy myself. Spent the first bit of it with my bro and celebrated my nephew's bday. After that I ventured to Seattle with a couple of friends. Could have requested one more but unfortunately he is out of state due to work. Thanks to those three, I received a handful of gifts.

Yup, still on the Tron thing. Enjoyed the movie for what it was and looking forward to the third installment due out some time in the future. Sam came with his disc (on his back), his utility baton (on his right leg), and lights.

Then there is the printed material. A 2011 calendar of Dragons and such. Came with a 'Dragon Hunting' guide; now my nephew will be obsessed with having me teach him how to find dragons in his backyard. He did enjoy How to Train Your Dragon after all. Received the first combined volume of The Adventures of Tintin by Herge. It is one of seven compilations each of three adventures by Tintin, Snowy, and friends. I am also very much looking forward to the movie Tintin due out later this year. Then lastly I bought two mangas while in Seattle of a series I've been interested in for some time, Claymore.

All in all, it was a great day and I enjoyed it greatly. I feel that I need to take more days like this to just enjoy life, friends, and just to have fun. I do owe much gratitude for those who took their time out of their day to accommodate. Cheers!

Audere est Facere

2010-12-18T03:34:00.000-08:00

A couple of months back I got an email from a friend of mine whom I haven't heard from in a couple of years. Jonathan Wooley, editor of S3 magazine, hit me up after hearing that I had finished my latest swap in my S12 - an RB26DETT. After exchanging a couple of emails he was committed to putting me into the latest issue of S3 that was to come out within a couple of months. Come mid-October he gave me a call and we talked on the phone for quite a bit. It started out with him getting an idea of my build and how best he could write and me sending him information. It ended with me helping him with random advice and discussing other S12s that may fit his needs for future features. Giving me the information needed, I uploaded the image files to his hard drive and sent him an email with the information he was looking for. Interestingly now that I think back, the other cars on the hard drive were the ones that are currently in the latest volume of S3 (vol. 19). I was indeed a late addition but thankful that he was willing to do add me as a last minute addition on such short notice and with him leaving for Hawaii not a day after he called me. It was also a couple of days before I left for SoCal to assist Nikolay Konstantinov and his efforts at Formula D: Irwindale. Great fun that was as well.

The following are scans of feature. Also included in the magazine are: coverage of Import Alliance, an RB26 E30, a 500hp Civic, and an SR20 Datsun 620. Well worth the mag. If interested, I have a few spare copies and can be reached at: il.draconis.li@gmail.com or head over to S3 and pick up a copy there at: Current S3 issue, Vol. 19 (Dec. 2010)

Sounds of the Grid

2010-12-13T03:41:00.000-08:00

This Friday, epicness will happen. Tron: Legacy is released in theatres and it has been quite a wait. I remember reading about the movie a couple of years ago when there were only rumors exciting the many of us online. One of the exciting features of the movie was that Daft Punk was in charge of the entire soundtrack. I have always been a fan of Daft Punk since I first heard them over a decade ago. Just getting back into the Techno and Electro scene, especially that of the Euro scene, I had not heard much from the French duo in years. But hearing the bits on Youtube months ago got me amped up. I knew it was an album I had to have. It had been years since I last bought a cd.... at least five. And with the release of TRON: Legacy's OST, I knew I had to have it. So I purchased it and am quite pleased. The music is great and am very much in love with the Electro/orchestra mash-up done. I highly suggest it. A great way leading to the movie this weekend.

The CD came in a cardboard-like case instead of full plastic. The front has this finish that has a reflective metallic feel to it. The disc itself is quite interesting. On the onset, it looks like the printed side is just a light-disc but when turned over, it is entirely black. Then the booklet has some information on the history of Joseph Kosinski's collaboration with Daft Punk and some words by Steven Lisberger, the person in charge of the original TRON OST.

The above is the music video Derezzed, which is #13 on the soundtrack.

The Original TRON (1982) poster

TRON: Legacy (2010) poster

one of many made available by Disney

Misc. pictures of TRON: Legacy

Speedware Motorsports Car Show

2010-11-27T12:20:00.000-08:00

So come Thursday night (Nov. 4th), I am browsing and find that there is a car show being held up in Redmond by Speedware Motorsports. This caught me by surprise since I had never heard of the shop Speedware Motorsports and I had not heard about this event before nor heard of anyone discussing it. I submitted an email to register my car since I actually had a Saturday off for once and figured why not attend. Friday morning I woke up and found an email telling me that registration was closed. I didnt think much more of it until I was called at 8:30 later that night. Drew, one of the organizers and employees at Speedware Motorsports had opened my attached image and decided he wanted my car. He called me and told me that he had made room for my car and that my registration had been verified. I was surprised that I got a call back but happy for this made request #3 for my car to be in attendance. So, Saturday morning I woke early and left for Redmond. With little rain there, I made it without delays and proceeded to prep my car. I do have to say, the show did seem a bit longer than needed but there was quite a bit of interest and cool cars, even an R31 Skyline. I did not take any pictures for I forgot my camera at home in my rush. In the end though, I was awarded Best Engine Bay, which made trophy #5 for the year.

# 31257

2010-11-26T01:29:00.000-08:00

Yup, as of the 24th, Gran Turismo 5 was released. I had been waiting a long time for this day. Me and so many others were waiting with much anticipation. After six or seven years or so and about $60 million in the making, this game as of yet has proven its worth. It was half the reason I wanted a PS3, especially after not playing GT4.

Upon purchasing my PS3 and trading in several of the games that came with it months ago, I put a deposit on a Collector's Edition of Gran Turismo 5. Now that I have it in my hand, I am saddened that I am just awaiting my HD TV. I am still waiting to play the game in depth. Just a sneak preview was enough to wet my appetite, but I know that I wont be fully satisfied until I spend a considerable amount of time on it. I am glad that my one holiday from school is coming up within a month; thank goodness for Xmas. Neither my HD TV or my holiday from school can come soon enough... Bloody hell.

The contents of the Collector's Edition Gran Turismo 5

Die-cast Gran Turismo 5 Nissan R35 GTR.

Gran Tursimo 5 Key Fob

Certificate of Authenticity. I apparently own # 31257 of the Collector's Editions made. Hooray for me. Maybe this is to make us feel better for waiting a bit more for the game? Dont know, but I would have bought the game even if it didnt have it.

The game case and the Collector's Edition companion book. Not only does it detail both the cars and tracks that are in the game, but a decently comprehensive breakdown of a car and racing.

Snow, Snow, Snow Everywhere.... And its Bloody Cold

2010-11-22T22:16:00.000-08:00

So as some of those know, up here in W.Wa we are getting some aggressive winter weather. Thanks La Nina. I was looking forward to snow here in the lowlands. There is a reason why I go to the mountains to board. There is a difference just so you know. There is a reason why I like your brother El Nino better. He actually listens and is smarter of the two of you.

Not digressing too much though. Today was nuts. It got down to 20 degrees F, which felt like 6 degrees F due to the windchill. And when I say windchill, I mean seeing 'sheet's of snow going sideways or standing outside and feeling like I just went face first into a pile of snow after taking a spill on my board. I do have to say one thing go, it is very pretty.

Pictures from last night... Light snow came down that didnt stop me from driving to work this morning. Despite that, there was a lot more snow on her before heading to work. After work, left her at work. Too unsafe to drive home. My poor baby. Micah, she'll be ok and I'm picking her up tomorrow.

And here are some pictures of tonight, from my front door and at the house itself.

And a picture of how much snow was on my deck. I have heard it was deeper in other places in W.WA, but yeah, my entire exposed finger was covered by snow. I would say at least five centimeters

And here is a picture of my back yard. Sucks, the battery in my S12 is flat, so I need to get a trickle charger or take it to the shop and get it charged.

New Things

2010-11-21T13:52:00.000-08:00

During the summer I was lucky enough to grab a PlayStation 3. Thanks to my friend and roommate Kenny, he know a buddy who was selling both console and seven games for a ridiculously low price. I jumped on the opportunity knowing that I had been wanting one for so long in addition to preparation for Gran Turismo 5. I went through the games that were given and traded the majority of them in. After trading the games in with about $10 extra, I came out with Ghostbusters, Lair, Assassin's Creed, and Assassin's Creed 2.

On my way to JCCS in September, I stopped by Micah's and Leilani's place. On the way down to SoCal, I stayed the night and continued on. On the way back home, I stayed a couple of days to relax and catch up. There I met their cutest and newest edition to their family: Ryu. Ryu is a Shiba Inu and a pure white one at that. He is still quite young, but wonderful despite it all. I loved playing with him, which is not unusual since I adore almost all pups. The difference with Ryu is that he is the first Shiba I've had a chance to play with and I have to say, the are cool pups.

And Ryu sporting his dragon costume. Good costume choice indeed.

Before leaving, Micah and Leilani got me my first Blu Ray movies: SpeedRacer and Underworld. I have watched SpeedRacer only days after I got home and loved it. I am still looking forward to watching it after I finally get my HD TV. It is going to be nuts. As I describe it, the closest I can get to an acid trip without considering all those crazy lights and pace of action.

Then just in the past couple of days I broke down and bought a new printer. An HP Officejet J4580. My older HP Deskjet 565C was out of ink and I had to print out the shipping manifesto and shipping label for a package that is Australia bound. I had gone to buy more ink only to find that:

1. My ink was not carried - too old of a printer I guess... :p
2. Ink costs like $35 a cartridge and it would be more cost effective to buy a new printer
3. All printers now are multifunctional so they can double up as scanners and copiers. My scanner/copier has not been all that good in the past several months due to age so I was looking at replacing it eventually as well.

Installed and looking good, I can now print out the necessary bits to have the package sent to Australia. Inside contains two more S12 SE lip kits and various bits that Gerry (from Brisbane) has bought and sent to me for mass shipping.

California Dreamin'

2010-11-21T12:32:00.000-08:00

With august coming to a close, my summer was only beginning to slow. Seeing that my summer didn't really start until July with Formula D and the following events, I still had until October to call it an end.

In the past, I have visited California on a yearly basis, with the exception of last year. At times, I have visited California twice in a year. Unfortunately for me, this year it was not entirely for relaxation. I did however visit twice with a time span of one month. Both times I drove my '87 Nissan S12 down and to say the least, absolutely exhilarating - especially through the mountain passes. Both suspension and engine held through without issue. Flying through the passes in the middle of the night was the best time; the fact that there was virtually no traffic and the cool/cold atmosphere, the twin-turboed RB loved it.

Come September 9th, I left for Southern California. As usual when I travel to SoCal, I always stay at my best friends' place in Rocklin, CA. I have as much enjoyment from staying with them as I do any other destination. Not digressing too far from the original intent of my trip to SoCal, I was there to attend the nationally known Japanese Classic Car Show (JCCS) that is held annually. In addition to attending JCCS on Sunday the 12th, I went to a the local Silvia car show/meet that was held in Anaheim on the 11th. At the Silvia car show I received the trophy for Best S12 and at JCCS I received 1st place in the '80s Nissan/Datsun category.

For a full synopsis of the trip, the following links detail it all. JCCS part 1 and JCCS part 2.

Not a month later I was heading down to SoCal yet again (October 4th) to the Toyota Speedway in Irwindale, Ca. This time much more work oriented. I was participating as part of Nikolay Konstantinov's race crew. Nikolay is at the professional level of Formula D here in the States and is quite a capable driver. For a rookie, one of three 'true' rookies, and one that only practices 6 or 8 months out of the year depending on weather, he is exceptional.

All was going well until Friday (the 8th) night just after Nikolay had qualified in the top 32 competitors beating out over half the contendors (64 in total) placing 26th place (if I remember correctly). During a practice run, he followed Drift Emporium's supercharged Z33. Due to adjustments in the Zed's suspension, the car seemed shaky, so Niko gave more space between the two. Unfortunately with Randy's adjustment to Niko's rear suspension, Niko being drawn to the lower line of the bank on the track, and the Zed's lack of speed, a situation was bound to happen. Niko had excellent angle and speeds that when speed trapped were similar to Vaughn Gittin Jr, but when exiting the first corner, he came up too fast to the Zed. Being so low, the physics of a car drifting would force an arc outward instead of taking a higher line and angling low on the exit. Well coming up, Niko had two choices: hit the Zed or the wall. He decided for the latter, which caused a nearly totaled car. The entire front end, especially that of the right-hand side, met the engine itself. The car was unable to be driven and was towed to our spot in the pits. That was at 9:30pm. We had until 4pm the following day to fix the car to run a couple practice rounds then immediately compete. With out luck, we faced Gitten Jr, the leader in points and was bound to win for the season. We had a lot of help from many people both on the track and off the track. It was amazing to see so much activity and a car rebuilt in so little time.

Very much thanks to the Drift Emporium guys, Nikolay, and Randy, the car was able to run and passed tech. inspection. When Nikolay drove onto the track for his practice round there was a huge cry of exuberance and cheers from both the crowd and just about everyone in the hot pits. The night before, Nikolay's crash was well known online and was the most sought after video/discussion on Formula D's website. Come time for competition, Nikolay went against Gittin Jr. The first run, Gittin Jr pulled away as any 800hp NASCAR-rated motor in a Mustang would. However, Nikolay was able to keep enough speed, angle and style that he was able to prove enough of a challenge. Gittin Jr ended up tapping the wall under the judges booth on the second to last turn causing him to momentarily lose control only seen when watching his front wheels change direction, once counter to the drift and then back to save the drift. With that, Niko was favoured in the first run, which is something really hard not barring it was Gittin Jr but as a chaser, the odds are against. All it took was for the second run to be clean on Niko's part and we would have knocked Gittin Jr out of the running. Things were not good as Niko's RB25 overheated causing the ViPec standalone ecu to throw the whole system into safety mode, thus cutting all power. With that, Nikolay bowed out unable to continue to compete, thus Gittin Jr won both that round against Nikolay and the 2010 Formula D season. Despite the loss, the whole weekend not only tested Nikolay and our ability to recover, but it made not only our team stronger and closer, but it was the same with the entire professional Formula D entrants and fellow competitors and their corresponding technicians.

Catch Up of August Happenings

2010-09-22T02:48:00.000-07:00

So it's been quite a while since I last updated posted. A lot has gone on since then and I'll be attempting to catch up in chronological order.

August 14th, 2010

Well the first thing that happened in August of note was the Nissan of Olympia's Nissan & Mitsubishi Meet, on the 14th. Put on by Russell Moore, manager of Internet sales at Olympia of Nissan, and sponsored in part, amongst others, by S12Silvia.com. The turn out was much larger than expected and a total success. As part of my job as the representative of S12Silvia.com, I assisted after the meet where it was possible, donated a replica S12 Silvia bonnet badge, and donated a set lanyards to those who dropped by. The lanyards were the first out of the three batches to go, which was a good sign. The bonnet badge was won by a customer of U.P. Garage of all the people. He knew Randy, the tech. whom I've worked on for years on my S12, and was willing to trade the S12 bonnet badge for some random S13 parts that Randy had. In the end, it worked out great for the both of them. I walked away with a Nismo SR thermostat, which I can trade for an RB thermostat, and a Nismo key fob. Afterwards, I went out with U.P. Garage to the nearby Red Robin where the shop and all those associated do their traditional after event meal. Driving home was an event as I followed Randy and Doug. Doug knew that the freeway would be packed, so he took many back roads that were quite fun to drive though, seeing that much of it was through windy roads int he forests.

August 22nd, 2010

A week later on August 22nd I attended the Infiniti of Fife car show/meet. The showing was a bit poor, mostly due to the weather since it appeared that rain was virtually imminent. Thankfully, it did not rain at all. Despite the eighteen cars that showed and a plethora of trophies... something like nine total, it was pretty biased. I was not aware of the extent until after when I got back to U.P. Garage. There was a guy by the name of Jason, whom I had heard about before, in attendance. He brought out his show S13 that the only time it was ever seen was at show. I knew of the car for it was swapped years ago by Dave&Cody. Dave and Cody had lost their business years ago for attempting to import too much and unregulated to US laws and such. Those were very much back in the Pit Stop days... four years ago. Anyway, Jason had been featured in a magazine, which turns out that he carries it in his S13's glove box at all times. Jason's presentation was pretty dang good and of a higher caliber of mine. I knew he would win, which he did take home three trophies.

I figured I would win Best Engine Mods, but it went to a Z32 that only had bolt-ons and supposedly an engine rebuild. However, some people knew of the owner of the Z32 and filled me in that the engine wasnt as high caliber as it seemed to be by the owner's embellishment. Looking at the engine bay, it looked stock with some matching couplers and such. Other than that, the engine bay was not even detailed or looked like anything was really done of any seriousness. I was awarded Honourable Mention for I owned an S12 and the judges appreciated the fact that the chassis existed still. They made a point that they were not expecting an additional prize, therefore no trophy, but I was awarded a pair of Nismo number plate frames. I am thankful for them and appreciative that my car was recognized in some manner.

Now to explain a little on the bias judging. The judges by way were those who were employed by Infiniti of Fife, and the head judge was Shae. From what I was told, the year before, Doug had annoyed those from Infiniti with his line of cars and took home a fair amount of the trophies with his shop's car. In the past year, Doug changed his supplier from Infiniti of Fife to Nissan of Olympia partially due to the price and also due to the availability of parts in stock. The parts department of Infiniti made it clear to Doug that they were not happy with the turn of events. To make matters worse, Shae used to work at Nissan of Olympia. When Russell Moore was hired at Nissan of Olympia, he moved parts like no one's business; stock that was supposedly unable to be moved while Shae was in charge. Seeing that Russell was doing a better job put Shae on edge. Shortly after, Shae left Nissan of Olympia and was hired at Infiniti of Fife. Since then, Shae has not been on good terms with Olympia nor Russell while constantly complaining to Russell to raise his prices to match Infiniti's. In addition, he has made several attempts in obtaining Doug's business back and while I was at the show, Shae went out of his way to tell me all about the RB parts that were available and told me to contact him if I ever needed anything. Well knowing the position of the Infiniti dealership, I had two strikes against me: one for having U.P. Garage decals over my car and another for sporting Nissanparts.cc decals as well - Nissan of Olympia's parts website ran by Russell.

After the Infiniti of Fife Show, I ended up heading to Ruston way and Point Defiance with some other mates. Mike from U.P. Garage showed up in Doug's white R32 GTR, Manuel who came down to check things out, Raj came over from the M Meet in his red 97 M3, and Jason (previously mentioned). Driving down the 509 bridge from the Port of Tacoma to Downtown Tacoma, I decided to see what I could get out of my car. I took off leaving Raj in his M3 behind easy enough. Driving along Ruston way, there were several heads turned, especially when the tuners there recognized the R32. Due to the poor parking, we ended up hitting up Point Defiance where we settled on a parking spot near Fort Nisqually.

In the order from left to right:
Jason (S13), Mike (R32), Colin (S12), Manuel (S12), Raj (E46 M3)

NOS ForumFest 2010

2010-07-22T02:10:00.000-07:00

Only a week after Formula D and the One of One car show and I was already hitting up yet another car show. With the shows at a minimum this year up in Washington, I dont have the luxury of picking and choosing as I did several years ago. Despite that, a show that actively promoted to the entire Pacific NW and was as large as it was, it would be one of the few shows to definitely go to.

The event was not just aimed at a car show competition but included drag races and a drift competition. The venue opened at 9am and continued until 5pm. A very long day indeed. For those participating, 6-7am was arrival time; show cars, drift cars, and drag cars alike. With the exception of drag racers, all entrants had to be here at such an excruciating early hour. I for one am still surprised that I somehow made it through the day seeing that I woke up at 5:15am and arrived shortly after 6am. The best thing car shows are known for, hurry up and wait. So that's what I did early am in the morning when I'm never up. Waited until a bit after 7am until anyone was admitted. If I had known that, I would have slept in a bit longer, but at least they recognized that I was early and waiting and gave me a prime spot to park.

It was then a couple hours of the typical prepping of the car and setting up of the display. I took with me both my framed Reader's Rides, my Guest Blog that was hosted on SpeedHunters.com, and a mirror to highlight the engineering of the engine's mounting and the mandrel-bent aluminum dual downpipes from the twin turbos.

I met up with some older and former S12 owners in addition to forum members who have ceased to be active for various reasons. Many of them were impressed with my additional upgrades to my S12 since the last time they had seen it. Some were keen on starting their project up again after a year or more of dormancy. Then there were the several who never thought about owning or tinkering with an S12 who suddenly saw potential in the chassis and seriously considered giving it a go. One such person was a Mitsubishi guy who worked at a Mitsubishi dealership and would never have thought that such an older chassis could be adapted so well with that of the such modification procedures the S13s and S14s have.

In the end, it was quite a surprise. To date in the States, an S12 had never won a trophy or much official recognition at a car show. There is the usual surprise at seeing the chassis at a show and being so clean and for me personally the expected "Oh my God" reaction; however, despite being a crowd teaser, when it comes to the judging, the S12 has never seem to have gotten much love. It was last Sunday that this changed. A first for me and a first for the S12 in the States that I am aware of in the past decade or possibly more, an S12 won. I ended up with two trophies amazingly. I won "Best Performance Engineering with Dyno" and "Best Sleeper Build." The first award goes fully to U.P. Garage USA. It was their work that engineering the final stage of my car. I give them full credit. I did not do anything this time with the actual mechanics of the car.

For NWMotiv's coverage and pictures, visit: ForumFest.
NWMotiv was a sponsor and the official website hosting pictures in collaboration with NOS drink.

Or for more information, please visit: NOS - energy drink

Formula D 2010: Seattle

2010-07-17T20:33:00.000-07:00

The past weekend was one of greater length than would seem. Saturday July 10th was Formula D here in Monroe, Washington with HellaFlush hosting the car show. After waiting quite a while for the day to come, the day seemed to be much longer than expected.

As required, I had to submit my car for evaluation before it was allowed in. Knowing Hella Flush and the current import style, I had my doubts as to whether it would be accepted. After talking with Shawn McManus shortly after submitting my car, I was less worried and more curious about if it would still be accepted. Shawn McManus is a photographer who works with the shop I frequent, U.P. Garage, amongst other shops. He also happened to know some of the guys at Fat Lace/Hella Flush. He was correct that at the end of the day, they were all automotive enthusiasts.

My car was reviewed and accepted for the One of One show, which I was quite thrilled with. It had been quite a while since I was last at a car show, and with my S12 finished as of late, I was ready to hit the show scene. What better way to start out the limited show season up here in Washington than with probably the most publicized one.

Getting up early to avoid traffic and construction, I made it to the track with time to spare. Like all shows, it is a hurry and wait situation. Slowly the line of cars shuffled in and were set up. It was obvious that the Hella Flush staff was grouping the cars by likeness. Mine being an odd one out, it ended up more towards the back with the other miscellaneous cars.

I went about prepping my car when one of the Hella Flush staff walking over. We started talking for he recognized my car as an S12 and mentioned that his friend in the Bay area had one. I immediately knew he was talking about Henry Nguyen and told him I had been talking with Henry for a bit and was just online with him the night before.

We continued to talk random stuff and observations about cars, the car scene up here in Washington, the laws/regulations of Washington compared to California, and the upcoming JCCS show. Towards the end of it, he looked at my engine bay and showed interest. I asked him if I could possibly be able to move up the show at the end of the line where the other GTRs were. he looked over and said that it would be a great idea. Ten minutes later, he had the spot ready for me to park my S12 at the end of the line of GTRs showcasing the Godzilla of Nissan motors. As Henry had mentioned the night before, Kenny was a really cool and chill guy who was enthusiastic about what it is we all do.

Throughout the day, my S12 garnered much attention. It was the best turnout the car had ever received. Showcasing the S12, it inspired several people to build their S12s they seemed a loss for and a few were caught to be saying that they would seriously consider finding one to toy with. There were still a few who thought it was an AE86 and even one thought it was a Celica-Supra. Despite the mistaken identity, the majority of those attending knew it was an S12. Then there were those who did not have the slightest clue. It was obvious by the way they looked at the car. They looked over the entire car perplexed and each one walked to the rear of hte car in an attempt to find the traditional name badge that had been removed when swapping to the Euro taillight setup. Many of those who were confused were only more so by way of the Australian plates the car hosted. Those who asked to what the car was were given a brief summary of the S12 and its place amongst the other better known Silvias.

Despite the fact that I own the car, I made sure to give credit to U.P. Garage as it was their craftsmanship that shaped the swap from beyond just a concept in my head. While the styling and interior were of my past work, if it wasn't for Doug, Erik, and Randy collaborating with me, it would never have been the final product it is today.

At the end of the show as everyone filtered out to watch the final 16 drifters, I ran into a Brit who had moved over recently. He was walking the show when he saw my S12 and made a bee-line for it. He knew instantly that it was a Silvia and told me that he had a soft spot for it since many years past. Apparently when he was quite young, his mum owned one and used to drive it quite often. We talked about England, Australia and the import scene in both countries compared to that of the States. Not surprising, he was also the only one who seemed to fully appreciate the Euro spec. headlamp guards and the Euro spec. taillight setup.

With the success of being able to showcase the S12, that was only half the thrill of the day. It was not until after the drift competition in the pits when the fun truly start. It can be argued that the true fun of the entire event was back in the pits. I for one who have been in the pits a few years back can agree with this. There is nothing more exciting than watching the car be prepped, fixed, go out and return from runs. During the aftermath of the event, I was able to talk with Adam Burgess, who I met earlier that day along with his wife Sarah. Adam and Sarah are Australians how moved to California a couple of years ago to pursue their goals. What makes him so interesting is not what he appears to know, but the breadth of his knowledge as well as whom he knows. Adam Burgess was the lead tech for the 4-rotor BMI/Snap-On RX8. While talking with him, Randy found out that not only does Adam Burgess knows heaps about Nissans, but his wife Sarah fancied S12s a fair amount and was keen on taking a gander at mine Adam and Sarah Burgess/BMI Racing

With much of the spectators gone and those left mainly who took part in the event, I drove my car back to the pits. There Adam Burgess had a chance to talk more with Randy about the technicalities of the RB comparing both mine and Nikolay's swaps in addition to small tricks that can be done to increase the potential, performance, and reliability of the RB. Not just that, he knew an extensive amount of information on the FJ specifically. That was invaluable in addition to the contacts he gave us for when we finally build Randy's FJ20 for his hatch S12; one such individual he mentioned of specific importance was Mark Ashford. It was one of the most intelligent and educating conversations I have ever had with a technician. It did not just focus on RBs, FJs, S13s and S12s, but ranged to 4G63s, SRs, AE86s, DR30s, the politics of Formula D, Domestics and their efforts to pursue the advantage Imports have, Rhys Millen, and Ben D. Adam Burgess had a shop in Brisbane, Australia for a while and at the time knew well of Ben D. That was very much part of what prompted his interest in talking with Randy and I about our S12s. Not only giving us some interesting commentary on both Ben D. and his FJ S12, there has been a bit of history between him and Rhys, all of which greatly increased my respect for both, especially Rhys. Towards the end, I was able to grab a moment of Rhys Millen's time, who was willing to banter with Randy and I in addition to Adam Burgess.

As Rhys walked over, Adam joked:
"Hey Rhys, how's it going mate?"
"Not bad mate, you?"
"Fine. You signing too? You should know what this is. You're from New Zealand after all."
"yeah, been a while." a short laugh, "Where would you like it again?"

In the end, I was able to obtain both the signatures of Adam Burgess and Rhys Millen on the underside of my bonnet along with some of the best conversations I've had concerning the automotive world. I was extremely thankful to the two of them and look forward to having more chances to talk with Adam Burgess in the future.

However, it was not just about my car and the S12 chassis. I was there representing a few other organizations as well. S12Silvia.com, Olympia Nissan, and U.P. Garage were the other groups I was pitching for in an effort to hold up my part of the sponsorship each had offered me after seeing the efforts I had put towards my car. Although last on the list, the day belonged to U.P. Garage and its owner Doug Smith. One of Doug's sponsored cars driven by Nikolay Konstantinov participated in the actual drift competition. With Nikolay's skill and Randy's/U.P. Garage's work on the S13 with Type X aero, Nikolay succeeded in pulling off what no one had done in the Pacific Northwest before: qualify for the Formula D comopetition and then proceeded to the top 16. A huge congratulations to Nikolay and U.P. Garage for all their hard work. As I drove my S12 to the pits, people were congratulating me on my S12 and U.P. Garage's success on the track. It was made apparent by hearing the spectators as I drove by that they recognized my car as U.P. Garage's show car and of top notch quality along side Nikolay's S13 as U.P. Garage's drift car, also of exceptional quality. I felt really happy for Doug. He has been at this for quite a while and with all his hard work, in addition to both Erik and Randy, it seems to be paying off.

For more information and pictures, visit the following sites:
S12Silvia.com blog
S12Silvia.com Community: Discussion thread and pics of the show

The Shuttle has been Grounded

2010-07-15T01:48:00.000-07:00

An era has ended. The Space Shuttle programme has drawn to a close. Such an achievement of human technology dating back several decades ago, it is certainly a sad sight to see the Space Shuttles be grounded and decommissioned. It is a testimate to the Space Shuttles that they have lasted for so long and endured so many flights. Seeing as they have been out dated for quite some time, they have been quite reliable.

There have been plans for quite a while for a replacement Shuttle, but I have not heard nor seen of anything that indicates that it ever truly went beyond planning, estimates of financing and all the ground work of getting such a project going. From my understanding, the issue at hand were that of finances. Seems that most things in this world has an Achilles heel when it comes to finances.

The picture above is of the Space Shuttle Atlantis as it took its final flight on May 14th, 2010 from Kennedy Space Center, Florida. An Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle is shown patrolling the airspace before, during, and after the Shuttle's launch.

News of the eventual end to the Space Shuttle programme was not just heard within the US, but made news across the pond. In Denmark, those at Lego decided to create a Space Shuttle set to commemorate the Space Shuttle. For so long, Lego has seemed to have had a love affair with the Space Shuttle. I for one do not blame them. I still remember when I was a kid and I was given the Space Shuttle Launch set 1682 that was released in 1990. It was one of my favourite sets of all time. I very much still wish I had it today. I may even have to purchase it.

Below is the picture of the Space Shuttle Launch set 1682. 20 years later with the Space Shuttle Adventure set 10213, it's amazing how much Lego has changed and yet remained the same.

With the debut of the Space Shuttle Launch set 1682 in 1990, Lego has released 9 sets. Below are a list to those that were sold in the years past.

1990 - Space Shuttle Launch (1682)
1992 - Shuttle Launching Crew (6346)
1995 - Shuttle Launch Pad (6339)
1995 - Shuttle Transcon 2 (6544)
1996 - Space Shuttle Technic (8480)
1999 - Mission Control (6456l)
2003 - Space Shuttle Discovery STS-31 (7470)
2003 - International Space Station (7467)
2010 - Shuttle Adventure (10213)

I am aware that my skills as a Lego builder have declined since I was quite young... easily a decade and a half since I last seriously played with them. But seriously, I was not aware at how long it would take to build such something of that caliber. The kit contained 1204 pieces, easily the largest kit I've ever built. I'm used to building just about everything in under an hour and this kit took hours. Granted I was watching movies at the same time, so somewhat distracted, but still a bit longer than first anticipated. All in all, it was well worth the effort.

The pictures below are a collection of the shuttle finished in its glory. The cost was a bit high for many, especially considering that it is after all a Lego set to many, it was well worth it and I have no complaints.

And a final picture of such simplicity and beauty of just how small humankind is even within such creation as the Space Shuttle when compared to Earth and the vast void of space.

The Website is Down

2010-07-03T13:39:00.000-07:00

Yet another video from of those I bookmarked. I do remember being introduced to this video by an Aussie I talk to. Watching the video not only brings back memories of playing Halo (the first one) and watching Red vs. Blue (when it first came out) with my best friend Micah, but of all those times I've helped people with their computer problems. And yes, anyone who is aware IT support, whether the problem was simple or as setup as the one in the video, knows the pains that come with it. I am far from an IT support expert nor should be trusted with another's computer, but I do know enough, have helped enough people, and have heard stories from IT support personnel to know the pain and suffering to some extent.

The below is the video I saw. Apparently the creators have made three more videos, all of which I have yet to watch.

Project S12/26: Aesthetics

2010-06-15T01:02:00.000-07:00

As with all projects, there comes a time when it draws to a close. At the time of fulfillment, the feeling of accomplishment and confusion coincide. It may seem odd to someone that the feeling of confusion would accompany the culmination of such a large project. The issue with a project that spans so much time, is that with the amount of effort, constant thinking, and planning that it takes, it virtually becomes a part of the individual. They have lived and breathed it to the point that it becomes a part of their daily life. Without it, a void is left.

A project that has been so paramount in my life the past four years has been my 1987 Nissan. I have had two goals with it. One of which was to fulfill the particular image that was in my head while the other was partially glimpsed and has only been accomplished recently.

Not surprising to those who know me nor those who knew of very particular image in mind, even with my swap finished and the S12 running exceptionally, there were still a few loose ends that were to be dealt with. A couple of those details came to light in the past several weeks: S12 RS-X grill and S12 Euro spec. headlamp guards.

Since I am both MKII and have a US spec. S12, some modifications had to be done to compensate for the parts being either MKI or Euro spec. But with some effort and tinkering, both were installed.

The grill was shipped from Japan as the headlamp guards from England.

Goooooooooooooooal!

2010-06-12T01:47:00.000-07:00

Yes, it is that time world. A celebration of the world's sport: Football/Futball, or Soccer as we call it here in the states.

Ever since participating in the AYSO (American Youth Soccer Organization), I have been permanently hooked on the game. I enjoyed it before, but out of all the sports I did, football was the only sport I have had an particular affinity for.

However, playing soccer as a youth is nothing when comparing to the full on World Cup. Once every four years there is a championship played by all the world. This coveted game of games lead to show the world which nation is the most skilled and able in the world of football. For the year 2010, the games started on June 11th and will culminate with a finale on July 11th and is hosted in South Africa. Yes, a full month of great football games hosting the world's finest players.

In addition to watching the world's finest players, the games are held at some of the finest venues seen. The following are just a sample of the stadiums that are used.

For the official website for the 2010 FIFA World Cup: South Africa, click here.
For the World Cup game schedule.
In addition, there are multiple places one can view the games online live:
ESPN3 (US based), iTV (UK based), BBC Sport (UK based), CBC Sports (Canada based)

For pictures of each stadium and site with links to each match live, click here. Disclaimer: I have yet to test out this site concerning the live feeds

List of nations represented:

Algeria
Argentina
Australia
Brazil
Cameroon
Chile
Coite d'Ivoire
Denmark
England
France
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Honduras
ItalyJapan
Korea Republic
Korea DPR
Paraguay
Mexico
Netherlands
New Zealand
Portugal
Serbia
Slovakia
Slovenia
South Africa
Spain
Switzerland
United States
Uruguay

Enter Slam Van

2010-06-07T01:24:00.000-07:00

The import scene. Usually coupled with those cars imported from Japan. At the moment, I am decently involved with it since I have a Nissan, which has had a decent influence in particular spheres.

The shop I frequent is known as U.P. Garage USA or Fairlady Z. The owner is Doug Smith and is a very capable individual. Not only does he have a solid foundation of knowledge concerning modification, fabrication, mechanics, and tuning, he is an avid racer. He has raced on many platforms of vehicles ranging from jet skis, motorcycles, and cars. Despite owing a busy and successful shop, he remains active in track events.

A breakdown of some of the modifications to date as supplied by Doug Smith.

Chassis: 1995 Eagle Summit AWD, 5spd
Engine: 1995 EVOIII from Japan
Upcoming Power FC for tuning
EVO III FMIC
Stock Airbox
Stock Summit exh.
Status bucket seat
Functioning AC and Cruise Control
Functioning stock full power package
Euro spec "Space Wagon" clear corners

Suspension:
Front S13, Cusco with modified brackets
Rear:is R32 with modified mounts to allow suspension travel at the given ride height.
Stock sway bars
Custom U.P. Garage USA bump steer adjuster roll centre on spindles

Brakes are:
Front EVOIII/ Carbotech XP10
Rear Ver V STI Carbotech XP8

Soon to be added: Evo III clutch type differential

Marc at U.P. Garage USA named the vehicle the Slam Van in jest one afternoon during an inspection of the van. The moment the nickname was coined, it stuck and is still used to everyone's amusement.

Doug takes time off every so often and takes to the tracks. He has traveled a bit in his pursuit of enjoying the road and enjoying the challenge of multiple cars on multiple tracks with different drivers.

On this particular day, June 1st 2010, Doug faced a host of other cars ranging from a Porsche, Lotus and Ariel.

Doug not only was out there for a good time, but was testing the car itself. His expectations were met along with his suspicions of needed upgrades and tuning.

The video below is one of three. Other videos are available on YouTube under my channel. Due to video length limitations, the videos were shortened to meet the requirements.

All pictures are of the ownership of "xqsme photography"
- xqsmephotography.com
Pictures used are only for promoting Doug Smith, Doug Smith's shop U.P. Garage USA, and his vehicle that was used.
The video was taken by Doug Smith and is used with his consent.

End of the World

2010-06-06T01:48:00.000-07:00

In life, most things are temporary. It is sad to think that with the given law of relativity, everything is temporary. However, that does not mean some aspects make such an impression that despite their age or being temporary pedestrians in life that their influence is forgotten.

In the current age of information and the Internet, the extent in which one can influence others has become exponentially greater than before. One such item of note has been of a simple flash animation made years ago. I do not remember where it was when I first saw it nor who showed it to me, but it has obviously been important enough for me to have bookmarked the website all these years later. And by chance, one idle moment while at work, something triggered the memory of the video.

Without much more prolonging, a video recollected from memories and an Internet classic
The End of the World

Stuck in a Rut

2010-06-03T00:18:00.000-07:00

As with most people, if someone is able to own a car, they tend to own multiples. I can testify to this. Since purchasing my first car in 2004, I've had many cars since then. Granted, it's been an excessive 19 to date ranging from 1984 to 1991. However, the first car I bought thankfully I still have. It has been my most audacious project and one that took a lot of effort on part of many people.

They also say a car tells a lot about the owner. Well that must be true with me. I currently own 3 cars, all of which share one large commonality: design. I currently own a 1984 Porsche 944, a 1987 Nissan S12, and a 1991 Mazda RX-7.

As stated earlier, they all have the same design. From the pictures posted, it is quite apparent. Many people I know have been slightly confused. School, work, or other, they all know that whichever one I drive, it's my car.

I was recently told by a classmate that she knew it was my car because it looked like the car I drove the previous week until she got up close and realized it was different. A coworker told me that he knew which car I drove to work because despite it being different, it fit my personality. He knew it was not the same car i drove the day before, but knew which car was mine without prior knowledge of me obtaining a new car. It seems that anyone who has a decent feel for who I am, can easily pick out what car it is that I would most likely be driving in a parking lot. It is kinda humorous.

In short, I must be predictable in my mannerisms concerning cars. As is obvious, all three cars are black. They are all RWD, fastbacks/hatchbacks, have sunroofs, pop-up headlamps, long bonnets, and are all with a sports bias.

In the Press

2010-05-28T01:48:00.000-07:00

I own an 1987 Nissan 200sx as it is known in the US. Around the world it has gone under several names: Silvia, Gazelle, 200sx and 180zx. The term S12 refers to the chassis name for the car made by Nissan. As of late, there has been a resurgence for recognizing this forgotten chassis. It has been very much been overshadowed by its descendants: the S13, S14 and S15. However, with this resurgence, there have been several in print in the past several years and from the years before. To recognize all those who have made their car into something great, the following lists the individuals along with links to access their articles in pdf format.
*Links are of each individual's name. Sorry, I do not have the pdf files for all the below, so redirected to web pages that do.

SpeedHunters Blog
- I submitted my blog and it was chosen to showcase that the S12 as a chassis was not a lost cause had had an appeal to this day, 26 years since it's debut, both domestically and internationally.

Ben D
- A legend in the world of S12s. Hails from Australia. His fastest time for the quarter mile was down in the 8.x second range.

Keith L
- Located in the US. He is the earliest known private owner of an S12 to have made it to the press.

Colin M
- Located in the Pacific NW in the US. After Keith, the S12 remained silent and in the background of imports. In April and May of '07, the S12 was featured again and brought much attention back to the S12. Featured in both Turbo and Modified, respective months above.

Markus M
- Hailing from Finland, this man holds the title of THE best S12 in the world since Ben D in my eyes. Not only is it built extensively, it performs well and is taken to the track where Markus drives actively in spec. races. Featured in a Finnish magazine in '09.

Henry N
- A tuner from NorCal who seeks function over form. Knows the styling trends and loves track days, this car and owner has garnered quite a following. Featured in SuperStreet, June '10.

Pictures, Lanayrds, and S12Silvia.com

2010-05-26T23:12:00.000-07:00

One of my mates in Adelaide made S12Silvia.com. The owner and creator of the site is one talented and chill guy: Matt Castle. I was a great admirer of Matt with is work on S12s for quite a while and have talked to him the past couple of years as subjects allowed. Earlier this year, I approached Matt and inquired if I could lend my abilities to help his site, either with promotional or content needs. Matt was quite accepting and willing to work with me and the many ideas I had. Some of which have been implemented since then and some that have yet to be expressed. S12Silvia has only one direction foreseeable and that is to grow.

One of the concepts I had was to help expand Matt's current line of products. He only had the replica S12 Silvia bonnet badge available. I do know I'll have to purchase one of these by end of year. For more information: Bonnet Badge.

Well my first contribution was to add a lanyard to the line. If one is interested they can be purchased at $6 USD shipped internationally, Paypal: s12silvia.com@gmail.com. Multiple purchases inquiries, please email s12silvia.com@gmail.com

However, after receiving these, I took several pictures, some for testing and some for actual promotional use. I am quite impressed with how they came out. I have been interested in photography for quite a while but only recently decided to delve into what there is to know about it. The pictures throughout this entry were ones I took within a span of 30 minutes. These are just a few examples. Beyond the obvious lanyard used, a Nissan Skyline GTS-T key, Nissan S12 Silvia and Gazelle bonnet badge were all used.

Project S12/26

2010-04-18T23:45:00.000-07:00

There are many aspects that make up who one is. No single trait can fully describe them. As with hobbies and interests, they are all a piece of who the individual is. To date I can count five or six dominating hobbies I've been dedicated to with much single minded passion.

The current interest for the past four years has been with a single item. A 1987 Nissan S12, also known as a Nissan Silvia, Gazelle, 200SX, and 180ZX. I have named it several things as each stage evolved and grew into its own. To date, it is very possibly the single coolest thing I've accomplished and yet probably the greatest financial folly. Despite that, the best things and higher valued possessions always seem to take some extra effort.

It goes by the name of Project S12/26. It is my momentary hegemony into the world. I have met many people around the US and the world through this project. I've learned a lot about people, the world, and the obvious cars. I have made friends whom I more than likely would never have had the chance to know in any other fashion. I shall not bore with endless posts of an entire build or technical details.

But for some links containing information, there are a couple:
S12Silvia.com - Under Project S12/26
CarDomain - Pre-Project S12/26

Prelude

2010-04-08T02:18:00.000-07:00

As it exists in a world that is known yet faded from view, what is it just beyond perception. Intricacies seemingly infinite yet finite. Duality a paradox. Possibilities endless. The vantage point, an innate core burning, the singularity creates the stand alone complex.

Ens Causa Sui

Ever thinking and observing. There exists no end. As this piece progresses with each sustaining movement encompassing its interlude, a single purpose and desire lacks. Self-sustaining as a flow of consciousness, its evolution takes on meaning and become of its own accord. A journey unmapped and the view obscured by mists unknown. Time relative, ever present and without bias. If not now, the chance may be lost as the window of opportunity ceases. A journey within, without and around. A journey to where the wild things are. Not to waste, it is the moment to grasp the tangible and step forward.