well, as you can see I drove it last night, after almost 9 months.

I didnt get to run til almost dark, and since I dont have the headlights in yet it was a short few shakedown passes.

I had to do a bunch of things to get the car ready to run last night before I could drive it, and my work schedule hasnt been very kind to building the car lately...soooo... I did it all on the trailer at the track.

Tho I really shouldnt have, but I ran with no exhaust last night for a few laps. And I mean no exhaust.. no downpipes.. LOOOUUUDD. Exiting right from the turbo downturns (about 12" long and pointing at the ground. But on boost (which came pretty quick with the new setup) it sounded SO GOOD.

The car is so tight now after the bracing I did in the front end and stitching the body. When I say turn, it is already there. I cant wait to see what it is like with the cage.

I drove a few parade laps on the oval to get situated again, and just swerving from side to side I could feel a major difference in the chassis. It was then that I decided.. heck with it, I'll just do an auto-x lap on the infield track. Hehehe.. that lasted a minute. All vitals were showing good.. now is the time. Hop in with me.

Drop back into first, give it the loud pedal and run the straight that begins the course. Try to initiate with the relocated ebrake but it needs some more tweaking and didnt grab, so I drop back into first to enter the turn. On the gas and up comes the boost. Quick. It gets really loud and the tires start singing.. smoke is inside the car (no spare tire well.. just an empty gaping hole right now) I have the no way to open the windows so i'm just enjoying the hell out of this whole sensory overload.. exhaust gas, tire smoke.. beautiful 2jz music accompanied by the German twins.. So, I'm in the first turn, a decreasing radius right hander that you have to swing wide coming out of to transition make the clipping point midway down the straight on the left. I upshift to second coming out of the sweeper.. the back end swings very flat and predictably.. wow this new Sparco Evo seat is awesome.. holds me like a glove. A++++. Flip the wheel, timing when to grab it as it slips thru my fingers, and point the nose to the left and snap back to the right again, and down to first to make the hairpin right hander.. the Momo wheel spins as it slides thru my fingers. On the gas, keep your nose to the cones.. swing out wide left and upshift to second.. really boiling the back end now.. getting dark out and the car is filling with smoke. I'm loving every second of it. Swing the tail back right just in time to turn in for the left hand semicircle. Back into first..man this car feels so different.. The turn in is so sharp now. No flex at all.. and I havent even done an alignment yet to really set it up.... Nose straight to the cones and the car comes out of the circle still hanging full lock to the right, snap her back to the left to make the last clipping point and swing right to make the exit and she boils the tires all the way to the finish.

1st run. Linked the course. God I love this f@#$in car.

 

damn man,that sounded bad ***.now wheres the video?car sounds like a whole different beast!makes me wanna go drift this weekend.no,not the GS.

 

it was getting dark and most people had left by the time i drove. going back out today to do a few things more to the car (exhaust..guages..etc) and then set it up.

 

Man Jeff, I read that whole post with a big smile on my face, if drifting doesnt work out for you, you could always write a book, haha.
Cant wait to see and hear some video of this refreshed beast!

 

spent all day at the track yesterday. Working on the car and then burning down six rear tires. Its good to be back.

Unfortunately I was all by myself so no one to get vid.

 

Sounds awesome! cant wait to see some vids.