Falling Back in Love: DRIFTING



Pictures are from MAP's Nos DDYK round 2 @ Elko Speedway 6.11.2011

Hearing the echo of tires screeching throughout a race track has to be one of the sweetest sounds ever.  The whistle of a turbo whining in sync with the roar of a drift car flying around the banks at Elko Speedway can always bring a smile to any drifter fans’ face.  This was how I spent my first two Saturdays of June and I wouldn’t have it any other way.  The more I attended these drift events the more I start to relive some of my pre-teen dreams of sliding through corners with ease as I remembered from watching clips that I had downloaded from Kazaa and other downloading sites (before youtube).  Growing up with people that bled Honda and FWD cars, it was always hard to get into the world of RWD and drifting.  But as soon as I earned my driver’s license I started taking the route that was around me instead of seeking the dream I dreamt as a 14 year old watching underground drifting videos.

Drifting to me has always been the art of losing control, but maintaining control of your car.  It contradicts everything known to a road racer as when one should slow down before turning, a drifter goes head on with no fear into a turn.  Some may see it as a totally useless, but as I remembered somewhere I read someone said “drifting may not be the fastest way around a corner, but it sure is the most fun”.  I believe there is some truth to it as the art of drifting circles more about style and technique rather then the traditional “I want to be faster then everyone”.  I think it’s a unique way of looking at it and as in life as well, since most people are too caught up in the bullshit rather then just taking time to enjoy the smaller things.

So…I couldn’t write something about drifting and not mention anything about the epic Japanese anime series Initial D.  I remember as a teenager sitting for 2 days straight with my brother watching back to back of the series on burnt VCDs.  To be honest if it wasn’t for the series I probably would still be talking shit about older model cars.  Even though it was just a cartoon the theories behind some of the lessoned being learn by the main character was relevant to real life racing.  Just everything about the series could inspire you to learn something about racing (at least for me it did) rather then just watching The Fast and the Furious and expecting to run 9’s.  There are many things I could mention about Initial D, but by then I would just be explaining everything that went down in every episode.  To the Initial D fans, tell me after watching the series you didn’t want to own an AE86 or any other car that was in the anime, if not then you weren’t watching the show.

okay…

The drifting scene that is happening in the Midwest, especially in Minnesota is starting to bloom with exceptional drivers that are starting to become local favorites.  These guys like most people have a daily 9 to 5’er but are out there on the tracks throwing their own personal cars around for the applause of fans.  That alone should show that these drivers are doing it not for the money (obviously) but just solely because they enjoy this sport.  It’s these guys that I have hoped that will make Minnesota drifters a force to be reckoned with.  I like where the scene in Minnesota is going and hope for bigger and better events in the future.

P.S: This will not be the last thing I write about Drifting, but follow my journey as I fall back in love with the art of Drifting.

_vulocity

(now for the picture dumps, enjoy)

HONDA vs. NISSAN! Who is KING of VTEC?

In the Honda community the most common words that goes hand to hand with the brand has to be the famous V-TEC.  If you don’t know what it is then go “google” it because I will not be explaining what it is today.  (waits while you go google V-TEC) Okay? So, since VTEC seemed to be the rage for its economic gas saving purpose and being able to produce power out of smaller displacement engines, it must have gotten attention from other Makers (Ford, Chevy, Toyota, etc…) because they started using the technology in their models(even though the technology has been around for years).  But from my many countless reading on their version I just didn’t think any of them compare to Honda’s VTEC.  That was true until I finally sat down and read about a Nissan’s SR16ve and SR20ve motors.

K-series in CRX

(This is coming from an All-motor aspect)

So, from what I have read about i-VTEC (Honda’s new version of VTEC) is that the engine control module (ECM) can control timing degree in the intake camshaft to set when it should engage VTEC unlike the traditional system where it engages at a certain RPM that has been set by the ECM.  Now, thinking that the ECM is smart enough to be able to tell the engine when it’s the right time (by different variation of engine load) to have it shifted to the higher cam lobe is great right? Especially, helping the engine gain those needed lower-end torque, but what it lacks to the Nissan’s NEO VVL (name of Nissan’s version of VTEC) is that it can only control the timing of the “INTAKE” camshaft.  Remember that, because when I talk about the NEO VVL it might make you want to scratch your head and wonder why Honda left us with their half ass work.  See…in the NEO VVL system not only can the ECM control the timing in INTAKE but also the EXHAUST!  So, now you’re wondering why would that matter, then the old saying of “two is better to one” pops up and it leaves you wondering…why?  It gives the engine a even more depth into controlling your engine, in simple terms you gain more torque and power especially in low-end.  But I don’t know why Honda only did it to the only one side, but thinking if the Honda K-series carried this same type of control, they would reign supreme, but since they didn’t it just leaves me and fellow Honda fans scratching their head.

I should mention that I am a diehard Honda fan but after reading about the NEO VVL it gives me chills on what I could do with that motor.  There are local guys (SER GUYS known to some) that has these NEO VVL engines and are making great numbers, times and beating odds that are against them.  I know there’s probably a Honda guy out there saying that their K-series or H-series is superior but from what I have seen on the track, these NEO VVL motor are holding it’s own.  I do love these two engines, Honda’s i-VTEC and Nissan’s NEO VVL, but picking which one is better is souly based on your personal preference and to as far as how deep your loyalty runs.  But when talking about the world of “VTEC”, Honda players should not forget to mention about NEO VVL because maybe the next time they line up to a SE-R that isn’t boosting you might think twice even if you’re k-swapped.

so what do you think has the better "VTEC"?

(These views are just my opinions and my own comparison of the engines in my own crappy words)

SR20VE in Sentra Se-R

It has to start somewhere

Tha REAL Vulocity...
So...I decided to make a blog to fill it with bunch of my car photos and my random thoughts about cars(and anything I want).  I also have another blog where I dispose my poetry @writtenscriptz.blogspot.com, so feel free to follow that blog as well.  I guess I can start on this first post on telling you people out there who I am.  I'm just your typical car enthusiast that circle most of my passion around the world of sport compact cars.  Don't get me wrong I do have love for any make and model, but my roots will always go back to where it started, my love for Hondas and FWD drag racing.

but...to start off on this picture viewing slums, i will start off with some shots i took at the Modern Automotive Performance (MAP) Nos "DIFT DON'T YA' KNOW" round 1 difting event @ Elko Speedway (Elko, Minnesota) that was held on 6.04.2011



_vulocity