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)
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!
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.
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
Jeeze, OK, what have I been up to? Lots has gone on since my last update, so here’s a quick (or not) recap. I’ve been extremely busy working on the car and working on other projects here and there. Two weeks ago right before FormulaD ATL, we had the opportunity of going to the premiere of Drift Alliance’s new movie “Stay Hungry.” If you don’t have this yet, GO OUT AND BUY IT! This movie is awesome, the DA guys have definitely outdone themselves with this film. Have you bought it yet?!?! go to www.thedashop.com now!
Pictures from the premiere:
The DA crew
The dM crew!
Next up, was finishing John Marsh’s car before FormulaD to put in the Mazda booth. Yancey had built him a new motor that needed to go in. Marsh has a widebody Miata, if you were at FD you saw it, if you weren’t, there’s a few pictures below
Right after the motor went in, looking to make sure everything was running right:
After that, we decided to drop the wrenches and enjoy a good, relaxing weekend at the track. Well, as soon as I got to Road Atlanta on Saturday, Justin Pawlak comes up to me asking for a car. Long story short, he went to get his car tuned early that morning, and it blew up on the dyno. So after about 3 hours of making calls, and finding out that any car I could think of was being repaired from NOPI E-town, we tried to roll Struka’s car through tech. I knew it would fail on a couple of things, but I was just concerned with the cage. If the cage would pass, we could fix everything else, but the cage did not pass. So no ride for JTP.
The event was awesome! Great driving from everyone, and lots of close battles! It was nice to go to an event and just relax and watch some good drifting, but at the same time it pained me not being out there.
“Big guys in a little car……..” Patrick and Marlow in my street car:
Me and Carluch:
Shameless Plug
Forsberg was killing it all weekend, but lost first round to Takatori
That Sunday, Sonja and I were taking Jacob and Thao from EDRFT.com around the city when JTP calls again, looking for a place to leave his rig. So now, I have this lawn ornament for the next two weeks. I think I might take it for a spin
Race car talk! She got a new wiring harness. The old harness was a ‘96 which was OBDII, but had been re-wired for my OBDI LINK ECU. I put a ‘94 OBDI harness in to eliminate any wiring issues that may come up. The ECU was completely re-soldered to make sure all connections are good, the heater core was replaced, and my supercharger was completely rebuilt by Magnuson. The new motor is coming along really well, the head was just picked up from the machine shop, and all the bearings and rings will be here Tuesday. I’m hoping to have the motor complete by this weekend.
DJ James came by today and we put in a new soft top. This is the first time I’ve put a NA top in a NB and I like how it looks.
Tops:
Installed:
Greg changed the wheel bearings in his WRX:
Wiring harness, heater core, and A/C Delete pipe in:
Dash back in:
Well, I think that’s about it. I’ll try to keep this updated more.
There’s a good interview with Justin Pawlak on everythingdrift.com right now. I ran with him on the NOPI tour last year, and now he has graduated to running in FormulaD. He made Top16 in his first event at LBC, and is putting the buzz in a lot of people’s ears in the series.
NOPI just added these rules, effective immediately. I really don’t agree with the catch pan, but hey, what can you do. Just spreading the word for all NOPI Drift competitors. I’ll be missing E-Town, but we’ll be out in Columbus!
From nopi.com
08 NOPI DRIFT RULE REVISIONS PAGE
3.35> Engine Containment Device:
Catch Pan Device - Mandatory on all cars competing
3.31> Wheels:
Wheel Spacers - 1 spacer per wheel maximum, no size limit at this time
3.19> Restraint Systems:
Seatbelts - Valid for 3 years from the manufacturers stamped date
3.8> Exhaust:
Mufflers - Mandatory on all cars competing
Now since everyone is probably upset from the above idiocy, I give you this to brighten your day.
I got a good amount of work done this weekend, and also started making some good changes. Friday, I drove over to John Marsh’s house to pickup the racecar. We’re putting a new engine in the car before NOPI Round 3, rebuilding the supercharger, and making some other changes.
On the way to Marsh’s house: “Who all seen the leprechaun say Yaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!” <- You’re awesome if you get that
Friday night. The racecar and the street car home together.
Saturday we headed to the shop to drop off the car, and do some spring cleaning and organizing.
On the way…. PUNCHEM!
This is our shop, R-Speed. We are a full service Miata Boutique and mail order. Check out www.rspeed.net If something you want is not on the site, just call and ask us!
Front Entrance:
Showroom:
Office Area:
Sonja’s Office upstairs:
Kitchen:
Warehouse:
The bays. We have two lifts and plenty of space.
Well that’s the quick tour, if you’re ever in the area, stop by and check us out!
Sunday, I went to my friend Greg’s house to pickup a new bottom end and spare transmission for the racecar. This block is similar to last year’s setup, so we’ll be making good power again. After getting my haircut and being reminded of how bald I am getting , I installed a new Garage Vary lip on my street car. I had one on it before, but it shattered after years of abuse.
New block and spare tranny
New pistons. More compression!!!!!
New lip
And last but not least, I picked these up at Walgreen’s. It’s DEFINITELY time to do this.
(Notice the lanyard and coozie too, it made his day!)
, I installed a new Garage Vary lip on my street car. I had one on it before, but it shattered after years of abuse. 
