Blast from the past! I’ve been working with Drift Emporium over the past few months, well they’ve been doing more work than I have, on getting this car back on the track. I was so stoked when I found out this car was now in Georgia, and even more excited to drive it. Most of you should recognize it, and for those that don’t, this is the DRFT CWest Silvia!
This car was originially built in Japan by one of my favorite teams, Night-Zone, and driven by Uchi Utsumi. It was later shipped to the US and driven by Chris Forsberg and Tony Angelo.

First phase of the car:

Next phase, from Drift Tengoku:

Then the car was shipped to the States, Tony Angelo and Chris Forsberg drove it. Chris jumped into it at FD Sonoma 2004 and qualified 2nd.

Then it was switched to Sil-front, and painted:

The car arrived in Georgia, as a roller. DE put the SR from the S15 in it. It has some Tomei goodies along with an ARMS turbo, mated to a Nismo 6 Speed gearbox and an ATS Deftforce Diff.

How it sits now:

Pics from an event here in Atlanta last Saturday:

In-car video:

Found this on the Youtubes:

The car did very well for it’s first event in a long time. We had a few issues that you’d expect to have pulling a car right out of a shop, but we ran the whole day, and drove the car back on the rig. The front tires rubbed a little a full-lock, and the car could be a little lower all around. I’d like to thank everyone at Drift Emporium for letting me drive another piece of drifting history!

This past weekend, SouthEastDrift had a two day event at Turner Field here in Atlanta. The first day consisted of practice, and a Team Drift competition in the afternoon. Each team consisted of three cars. FD Drivers Ron Ewerth and Jodin LeJeune of Drift Emporium were out there along with Nick Thomas, a Tennessee driver. Halfway through practice, Nick blows his transmission and tears up his clutch and flywheel. He was done for the day. About thirty minutes later, John Vick from DE asks if I brought my helemt, and to take a few laps in Kenji’s car (his car was on the rig and not being used.) I sprinted to the car, grabbed my helmet, and ran back to the rig. I had enough time to take three runs before the competition started. HOLY CRAP that car is intense!! BFG 285’s out back, and the car had no problem spinning them. The torque and throttle response were spectacular. It was a very well balanced car. The guys at DE were happy, so on to the competition it was. I led, because I was terribly scared of running into someone, and long story short, we won! A VERY special thanks to Drift Emporium for letting me drive this car!

The car:

Titan V8 Power!!

The Team:

Practice Lap In action:

Together:

Team Tandem Kings of Atlanta!

AND VIDJA!

[12:25] HaterDan: I just yelled at petty now I’m yelling at you
[12:25] Me: ?
[12:25] HaterDan: Update your fucking blog
[12:25] Me: on wrecked?
[12:25] HaterDan: http://wreckedmagazine.com/mattpetty/
[12:25] HaterDan: Si

I know I’ve been lacking in the blog department over here, but all of my travels, etc have been over on http://www.teamrowdy.net/blog

I’ll be sure to start blogging over here as well.

So, with that being said…………… GO TO THIS EVENT!!!!!!

Check out www.clubloose.com for more info!

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

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.

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

We just booked our suite at Fort Rapids Indoor Waterpark Resort Fortrapids.com for our trip to Columbus for NOPI Drift Round 4. I really have a feeling someone is going to get banned from the park, or hurt. Good thing I didn’t tell Damien Bagley about it

The layout:

Teaser: