So SEMA’s coming up, my badge was delivered yesterday, so now it’s to time figure out “what I am doing next season?” which brings me to my next topic, American Drifting.  What’s going on with American Drifting for 2009?  I’ve heard a few murmurs out there, but it looks like the only Professional American Drifting out there is FormulaD.  Now I have no problem with FormulaD or American Drifting, unlike some people these days, but I would like some place to compete in 2009. I just don’t “fit” into FormulaD, I don’t have the backing yet.  I have been reading up on the Canadian Drift Series, Drift Mania, and I think I will fit in there.  Ryan T-U-E-R-C-K (Thanks Tony) did VERY well up there a few seasons ago, and a few of my friends went up there this seasons for a few events and had a blast.  So, it  looks like I’ll be pushing DMCC while I’m at SEMA which brings me to my next point, Money.  I have none.  I like money.  So does drifting.  So does my car that’s not done yet.  So does Las Vegas.  Without money, I can’t go to SEMA to try to GET money to compete in DMCC.  My house likes money too.  They TV broke two weeks ago, and if you have to get a new TV you might as well upgrade soooooo, 52″ LCD it was.  There’s some SEMA money right there.  Speaking of my house, we’re remodeling the bathroom.  It’s going to be awesome, but awesome costs money.  And guess what?  The first payment to the contractor is due the day before SEMA starts.  doesn’t look too good.  Alright, alright enough of the sob story, I’ll figure something out.  You know how it is, everything is last minute.

Back to drifting.  GTLive & FormulaD Pro-Am is next weekend.  I’m running up there to check it out, I’ll post pics!

Here’s the TV: (Amercian Dad finished while I was writing this, so Family Guy is on)

House Stuff:  The bathroom sink and vanity

25:47.  Not bad, but lots of room for improvement.  Running by yourself is WAY different than running in a field of 15,000.  The first mile was spent bobbing and weaving around slower people, walkers, bums (yay ATL), and people just trying to cross the street.  That wastes your energy.  Also, this downtown ATL course was more hilly than my normal training loop.  But, I made it, no stops, no water stops, no injuries.  I had a blast and can’t wait for the next one, AND this time next year I want to be at least 3 minutes faster.  Thanks everyone for the support!

7PM Tonight.  I’ll post my finishing time tonight.  L8!

Since NOPI Drift has been canceled, I have slowly stepped away from cars for a bit.  Yes, I am still building my new car, and I will compete in ‘09, but it is kinda refreshing not spending all day and night doing car stuff.  I jumped back on the mountain bike and have been biking with Yancey and Greg (RayRay even comes out, but stops for smoke breaks), and I recently started running.  Sonja and I are training for a 5K run in Atlanta at the end of September.  I’ve never run just for the sake of running before.  It’s kinda boring; I’d rather be on my bike, but I really want to finish a 5K.  Once again the competetive side of me shows.  This past weekend we clocked 10miles running, and 25miles biking.  My best 5K time was 32mins.  Lots of room for improvement.

The race is 4 weeks away, I’ll keep everyone updated on my progress. Hopefully I won’t end up like this:

I think most people around here know, but for everyone else on the internets, here it goes.  I’m building a new car.  I know most of you have heard me say that I want to build a new car for years, but now it’s happening.  The Miata served us well, and she’ll still be around, but it’s time for something new. 

Here she is!

 I’ll be debuting her at ECASB or DriftMania in Canada.  Stay tuned for the build!

All Star Bash East!!! ***8/16/08*** Englishtown, NJ

This is going to be the greatest event ever held on the east coast!!!

***www. clubloose. com***
 

This is crazy!  NOPI was fun, as messed up as it was, and I will miss it.  Time to re-schedule!  I’m thinking Canada

July 16, 2008 It is with great regret that NOPI Motorsports, LLC has suspended operations for the summer and fall 2008. This will include NOPI Drag Racing Series, NOPI Drift Series and the NOPI NATIONALS Motorsports Supershow. The company is undergoing an organizational restructuring in light of severe adverse affects of a disappointing spring season. The economy and unfavorable weather resulted in underperformance of all spring events. Michael Meyers, president of NOPI Motorsports, reports that NOPI Motorsports is working with its clients and sponsors to minimize the uncertainty going forward. This is a reflection of the economic times in which we currently live. The countrywide economic and industry downturn has caused a slowdown and tightening of belts. This affects everyone and companies, at all levels, and NOPI Motorsports is no different.We understand the position this puts everyone in and we hope you can find in your heart to work with us through this terrible time. All of you are our friends and we have felt for many years that we were all a big family.

NOPI Motorsports hates this more than anyone as the many years of hard work, tradition and an industry we helped to shape would come to this.

Please watch nopi.com for future announcements.

So, it’s been awhile, but I will keep this blog alot more up to date.  So what’s been up?  Colombus was so-so, we had lots of issues with the car.  But I will assure you, we will NOT have those issues anymore.  Lots of changes ahead, so keep checking back.  I have some good news

Work is work.  Busy. Work. 

We just signed a contract to have one of our bathrooms in the house re-designed, it’s going to be awesome! 

You saw in an earlier blog post (I know you good people ALWAYS read my blogs ) that I had to drive my friend Struka’s drift car from Tennessee to St. Louis to a NOPI event because of an issue we had with a support vehicle. Well, we at DG Trials had an event in Nashville, Tennessee last weekend at Nashville SuperSpeedway. Yancey offered to trailer my friend Tyler’s S13 up there on his single car open trailer. Greg and I would ride in the truck with Yancey and meet Tyler up there. Well, in usual “drift event luck” we had an issue with the trailer (this time) and I had to drive Tyler’s car from Atlanta, to Nashville. The ride was ALOT better than Struka’s fully gutted beast, but every time I looked over at Yancey and Greg on the highway in their truck, IN THE AIR CONDITIONING, I swear a kitten died somewhere. We made it to Tennessee early Saturday night, and met up with some other drivers, got dinner, made a beer run, and hung out in the hotel parking drinking beer until 3am. So original I know! Marty drinking beer in a parking lot, who’d a known?! The conditions were perfect on Sunday for the event. It was a small event on a HUGE track, only 20 drivers or so. Everyone improved throughout the day, and we had nothing but awesome feedback from everyone. The infield at the SuperSpeedway is very fast and technical, a perfect training/shakedown course. Check for more events there from DG Trials soon!

Tyler’s Cockpit, the car I drove to TN:

Byron, followed by Yancey and Greg:

Byron. Built to Destroy!

A whole mess o’ White Castles!

Testing out the track in Struka’s car. I love driving S14’s.

Forrest from Memphis. GoGo Ls1 OK!!!!!!

Me working with Struka on his high-speed entries:

Tyler rockin’ it!

David Jones from Atlanta. He makes me want a Mustang everytime I see him drive.

Me low-ridin’ in Tyler’s car. His seat is bolted to the floor.

Today I received another awesome shipment of product from NOS. They have been great supporting me and my crew all season! Keep an eye out for some new products that are hitting the market too!

This is Thom, he helps out at the shop whenever he can. He is a great guy, and a huge Miata enthusiast. His car is ALWAYS spotless! He had to be the first one with a NOS sticker on his car at the shop (Notice the lanyard and coozie too, it made his day!)

That’s it for now everyone. Keep checking back for more updates. NOPI Columbus is right around the corner, and remember, if there’s a drift event coming up for you, just give me a call and I’ll give you a delivery quote