SMF RACING

Performance & Motorsport Division: BRANDS WE CARRY

2011-12-12T21:50:00.003+08:00

Performance & Motorsport Division (davetires)

We carry huge sizes that tire shops normally don't.. Do drop us an email if you need a quote!

Cheers,
Nigel aka Dave Jr

SMF to the RESCUE!!

2011-11-13T14:00:00.000+08:00

Pebbles & Smurf helped a friend of mine with his final year project...... and the teaser is out......

FAST LANE (teaser) PART I

MORE TO COME!!!!

The End Result of My Brake Ducting and New Bumper

2011-09-11T21:59:00.000+08:00

All done... love the look and it works!!! 8 laps and no fade... I'm happy...

More Updates on the Repair Job

2011-09-06T14:21:00.000+08:00

Went down this morning to check out on the car. The car has now been sent to the panel repair guy for the actual bending and painting to occur. As previously assessed only the pieces identified at MB earlier needed repair and the fender needs to be pushed in and marginally re aligned.

But its amazing how many parts need to come out of the car in order to get this basic repair done!

None of the other brace/peripheral pieces were damaged thankfully.

Fender distortion is absolutely negligible and can only be seen when all the pieces are together. Realignment will only be done once all the rest of the car parts are back on the car.

One eyed jack.

The new RSC bumper being prepped for the black paint that will be added to the bumper. A hole will also be cut in between the two front intakes just below where the number plate will be mounted. This will then feed the brake discs with cool air, much needed after the brake fade I experienced at the last track day.

My Car Journey

2011-09-06T07:19:00.000+08:00

A recent posting about aspiring got me thinking. I would love to share with you all the list of cars that I have worked through in my journey thus far to sample what the automobile world has to offer...

So here goes....

1984 Nissan Patrol 4wd diesel. I learnt to drive in this car, it was the family car at the time. I used to love changing gears in that thing. I learnt to drive in '87 and in those days cars were were something to get me from a to b in. My dad never officially gave me the car but whenever it was not being used by my grand dad I was allowed to use it.

1989 Honda Civic. Amy older sisters car but I got about 20 percent usage out of it whenever she was bust being chaperoned around by her boy friends at the time.

1991 Honda Integra. This was a car that my sister and I shared through university. It was actually more her car but I chose it for her. Automatic, white. It wad Stormtrooper version one. I remember putting a little Alpine stereo in that thing from Alberts hi fi in Perth Australia. All my savings went into that thing. And I drove it into a stationary car... Sorry sis...

1993 Mazda MX5 Clubsport: my first car of my own. Got it after working a few years in Singapore and returning to Perth Australia. It was brand new. And I really loved that thing. It cost me AUD38,000 and I was financing it to the max. Slapped a set of Borbet 17 inch rims on it. Silver in color, I absolutely loved it as it was my first car. Drove it into a stationary car... Notice a trend here?

1991 Mazda MX5 automatic: on returning to Singapore for work sometime in 1995 if I remembermber right, I bought this second hand. It was crazy spending money on cars in Singapore but given I really loved cars this was an expense I don't regret. Bought from a lovely doctor, e roof of that thing leaked all the time. Had a beautiful body kit and chrome roll hoops with a full leather interior and custom merc green metallic paint, this car is still running around Singapore with the guy I sold it to... Who also has a stunning original Mini Cooper S.

1984 Porsche 911 3.2 Carrera: bought around 1998, this was my first brush with European engineering. The car scared me. Khan actually drove the car home for me on the first day as I was just too intimidated by it. I really wanted a 964 but just couldn't afford the extra... This car coat me SGD75k back then, and I remember I was looking at a red Carreras 4 964 at the time which was selling for SGD143k... Double the money.

1990 porsche 964 Carreras 4: sold the 3.2 Carrera to a second hand dealer in Ubi automobile megamart, and then found a polar silver 964 Carrera 4 with blue interior at another dealership in Sin Ming. I think I picked this car up in 1999. Just over a year after entering the Porache family. Subsequently found out that the car was the only diamond blue metallic 964 brought into Singapore so had a full bare metal respray done. Sold it to a lovely Aussie who unfortunately crashed it a few years later. Saw it some years back going into Raffles City. Wearing some weird custom front end.

1994 Porsche 993 Carrera: this one was meant to be. Saw it with Khan some time earlier at Stuttgard it was a mint condition one owner super low mileage car. Wanted to pick it up at the time but couldn't sell my 964 in time. So it ended up in the hands of my mate Eddie Keng. When he decided to sell it sometime in 2002 he buzzed me. Luckily I managed to sell the 964 earlier and pounced on it. Picked it up with still ridiculously low mileage. This car was a time capsule and the best of it's kind. Until I drove it into a tree outside Suntec. Bought it for SGD175k, added COE to it, I know it still gets serviced at Flatsix by my mate Andy Tatlow.

1990 Ferrari 348ts: my first brush with Italian machinery, bought from Hong Seh contacts, I was actually looking for a 355 but there were non for sale. Got the red 348 from Alan sometime in 2005 I think. Sprayed it yellow and kept it a year. It almost caught fire but was still an enjoyable car to drive. Sold it to QBH's father in law.

2000 Porache 996tt: continuing my yellow fetish, picked up MPs old flame and redid the whole thing with a Protomotive engine kit PE700 specs, and a full genuine Techart body kit. Had a grey interior. After 8 months in the workshop, and a week getting it fully sorted to perfection, I traded it for a 997....

2008 Porache 997 GT3RS: the car that really started my car tracking fetish. Picked this up in 2009. Had 15,000km on the clock when I sold it, and it only had 5,350 km when I picked it up. I loved that car...

All the rest of the cars are already documented on this blog... So I won't bother recapping....

So thats my car journey so far.... I kinda feel it's coming to an end though as I am having to concentrate more on my retirement and the kids education. Let's see where it takes us...

I wish it had happened in a more glorious way

2011-09-05T20:26:00.001+08:00

Well, the Stormtrooper has experienced its first incident on a recent drive on the NS. I wish I could say it had happened on Sepang, or at some high speed run along the NS Highway.

But no. Unfortunately it all happened at 5kmh.

In a petrol station.

Basically, on the way up last week, Smurf decided to hit a toilet break at the 209 marker. As smart as I am I decided to squeeze through two cars at the petrol stop and in the process of making sure I did not hit either of the cars next to me I failed to realise there was a freaking car directly in front of me!

Whammo! I nail the poor lady on front of me. Metaphorically speaking of course.

Anyway, settling her damage first, I then go to inspect the Stormtrooper. Nothing a bit of gaffa tape wouldn't fix. But of more worry was whether there would be any frame damage or anything else. But given that the car was already practically up in KL, I still decided on hitting Sepang.

Forget the track day stories. Times sucked as usual (still don't have the guts to go all out in the trooper). But one thing that did rear its ugly head was a massive case of brake fluid overboil. Something that Dataface had actually told me to expect unless I did some proper brake duct cooling.

Well, I guess everything happens for a reason. So I've now settled on an RSC front bumper as it actually has a vent at the centre bottom of the bumper that can be used for brake duct cooling purposes. What will be done is my heroes at MB Motorsport will be creating ducting that will go through the luggage compartment (will have to drill some holes for the cooling piping and lose some luggage space in the process) and hit the front discs directly. The rear will get cooling from the exiting air out the back of the radiators at the front of the rear wheels.

Amazing what damage can be done with a little bump... and I mean a real little bump!

But nothing a bit of tape can't resolve!

The car hits my heroes at MB to get the car assessed for damage.

Front modular bumper piece needs to be bent back out as it was compressed in the impact. I will probably purchase a new piece to replace the existing piece as its a pure bolt on piece.

Part number 7... just over USD1k

Unfortunately in the impact, the headlight cleaner jet piece was broken, as was one of the front headlamp mounting points. The mounting point forms part of the headlight, and as such the whole headlamp would ultimately need to be replaced. I will be looking for a new headlamp off the internet. The headlamp jet mount/front fender mount piece was also damaged in the accident and I will need this replaced. The fender itself is pushed out slightly but can be pushed back in with no painting needed thankfully!

The front left light bracket is broken but at least there is still one more mount point so I don't really need to change the light if I don't want to.

Washer plate mount 3 at about USD80 bucks and the washer pump 5 at over USD100 also need to be replaced.

You can see the front bumper piece that has bent back and had the paint crack on it.

I will show the repairs as well as the new bumper and brake cooling mods once they are done. Keith and the boys should have the repairs done by Wednesday.

Joining abroad SMF Racing

2011-09-04T22:34:00.001+08:00

Hi all, i'd firstly like to thank Pebbles to allow me to contribute to SMF Racing. Let me reward those who went to Sepang with BMW-SG on 3rd Sept with a group photo!

Here are the few shots i've managed to capture during my adventurous drive out to other Turns..

Turn 4, 5 and 6..

As always, Pebbles being the kanchiong spider waiting to conquer Sepang!!

Smurf in T6

On the back-straight

and conquering T5

Ken's wondering if he's the KING!!

That's all for this Track Day, hopefully i'll be able to shoot more SMFs again next time round!!

The Grocery Getter is having a fix of steroids

2011-08-30T16:27:00.000+08:00

The track day confirmed one thing. Well two actually, but let's just settle one at a time.

The first is that the car could do with more power... After all you can never get enough of a good thing. Trawling the various forums l decided that I was not going for any extreme mods. But would rather head down the route of just an ecu remap. After all remaps are one of the easiest ways that one can get power out of a turbo charged car.

But finding the right tuner is always a bit of a tricky situation. And verifiable gains are a bit of a hit and miss. So after a bit of research I decided on going with either the evomsit ecu upgrade or the softronic upgrade. In the end I decided on the softronic route. The reasons were primarily based on practicality. I did not want any down time with the Cayenne as it's the primary source of travel during the week. And the fact that the Cayenne was not under any dealer warranty meant that I was not concerned with multiple re burns of the ecu.

So I've already placed the order for the ecu upgrade from Softronic. I anticipate that I should get the cables by the end of the week and be able to read the ecu info to softronic by early next week as I will be stuck in KL on a double track day weekend. With that I reckon that I will have the remapped program sent to my mail and installed by end of next week latest. Will do some runs with the Pbox before and after to see if I can quantify the performance gains and update you all accordingly.

Whats the point of going fast if you cant stop??

2011-08-29T18:28:00.002+08:00

Ok, so my Mitsughini didn't come with the fancy schmanshy ceramics that many other high end cars come with (yeah mines a cheap knock off).

In order to rectify some of these wrongs, one of the key areas that needed attention were the brakes of the car. As mentioned previously, some high temp brake fluid had already been injected into the brake system. But next on the list was a set of proper high temp pads.

My trusty Endless Brakes supplier managed to score me a set of their ME20 high temp pads. These blue pads are supposed to have massive bite- Fabio told me so!!! But I have also been told on good authority that they eat through rotors like I like to eat through pussy (well again that was Fabio's comment).

Anyway it was a quick 30 minute job and a bit of bedding in that was required. I am now waiting to see how they will haul the SL to a stop at my next track day next weekend, and see if they can push the Hoosiers to the limit at the end of the straights... Lets see and I will update you all next week hopefully!

My favorite part!!! Opening the packages!!

Sweet, all gift wrapped!

An absolute breeze to install.

Casey working his ass off on the front pads.

Damn that blue looks swwweeettt.

The Grocery Getter hits the track

2011-08-28T17:13:00.001+08:00

It was only a matter of time.

The Cayenne had to hit the track. I had heard so much about how the Cayenne had been built and handled like a sedan. And all the people on the forums keep on going on and on about how good it is compared to other SUV's. But quite frankly, for me, one never knows how good a car (or tank in this case) is unless it is brought onto the track and pushed to its limits.

But for me it had to be brought onto the track where I go for all my track days in my other cars so that I could run a direct comparison. I needed to find a track day at my usual haunt, the Sepang International Circuit, where for all intentis and purposes I wouldn't have to pay a cent... because I didn't intend on doing a whole lot of laps on the family car, I didn't want to have to pay for a full track day only to run a couple of laps.

The Porsche Carrera Cup Asia weekend event was a perfect opportunity as there was a free three hour track session where I could throw a couple of laps under the Cayennes belt.

As far as track days go, this was a bit of a wash out as the rains opened up less than 20 minutes into the track day. Sensing the weather was not gonna get any better than a foam party during the rainy season, I made sure that I was the third car out on the track.

The truck did not disappoint. Not knowing the handling of this car at all at the limits after the warm up lap I still managed to pull two 2.49s before the rains came down. This was running the car on full auto mode and with the aircon on and listening to Wang Chung Dance Hall Days at full blast. Woah I love the 90s!

Sure, you can really feel the weight of this thing- transition from turn to turn leaves you in no doubt as to the heft of the car, but the tires hold well breaking grip very gradually. Talking of braking, the brakes held up very well. I was running a brand new set of OEM pads, tied to Goodrich stainless brake hoses and Castrol SRF fluid. Body roll was entirely acceptable for an SUV, and power was good though not astounding. I was disappointed in the top speed at the end of the back and front straight as I only managed around 190 odd kmh based on a glance at the speedo- checking my data from the P-box later will validate the actual numbers (I will post a full analysis of the laps in a separate posting), but this was no doubt due to my exit speeds out of turns 14 and 15 as well as the fact that I was still figuring out the brake strength on the truck.

Sadly, on the way back from Sepang to the hotel, a bloody motorcyle decided to bounce off the rear right passenger door as he swerved into the car whilst avoiding a truck on his right. Bloody fucking idiot left a deep gash and a small dent on the passenger door. I will get the car touched up this week. What a fuckwit.

The damage courtesy of a fucking retarded Malaysian scooter rider.

But other than that, a fun weekend. And a truly awesome SUV.... the Cayenne is one hell of a family car.... and worth every penny.

Just outside of Singapore, I bumped into the Lambo Singapore club as they were making their way back from their morning breakfast drive. No issues at all in keeping up with these guys as we climbed to around 250-260kmh... well within the top speed of the Cayenne..... again.... I love this machine no end.

Have a couple of mods planned for the car over the coming year... and will keep you all posted of the developments...

The truck after the 3 laps taking a well deserved break...

This car to me just looks so much more masculine than the latest generation Cayenne.... maybe its just because I can't afford the newer model though!

Only two in Singapore of this facelifted model.... the other is still not registered and awaiting a lucky owner at Autoinc...

Control centre! What a comfortable place to be in! Especially on the N-S highway.

Our tire boys car... never took a picture of it before...

The pits cordoned off for the Carrera Cup race...

Young, but boy can he freaking drive!!

Smurfs car braving the wet weather...

All the Cup cars lined up in the bits getting ready for the afternoon race session.

Yuey's car...

Emperor Weng... how this bad boy can party and race is amazing... pity about the flat tire that screwed his race on Saturday.

He freaking always makes sure our tires are sorted for the track. Speaking of the track, look at how bloody wet it is! Fabio in the back doing his usual gay shit.

More of Smurf.

You got it! Pebbles scored a pic with Darryl O'Young!!!!

Then the rest of the SMF crew decided to try and jump on the band wagon with Darryl!

The Grocery Getter

2011-08-28T16:40:00.001+08:00

It took time. Finding that poerfect mix of practicality, performance, looks and above all else, price.

But the tides of change were among the SMF Group. First the General with his Cayenne. Then Fabio jumping in with his silver Cayenne S. When Smurf decided that it was time to jump and buy another of Porsche's SUV wunderwagens, I realized that there must be more to this SUV than the hype had dictated.

It also turned out that the BMW was beginning to get on my nerves for its genuine lack of power, especially after a PML/BMW group drive up to Pangkor Laut, where the car maxed out at a not so heady 200kmh.

So the search was on to find a suitable Cayenne. Firstly, because of price, it was pretty much decided up front that no new generation model would be finding its way into the garage. rather the search focused on the 2008-2009 era Cayennes. A couple of really sweet GTS models had caught the eye. One, a brown GTS with beige interior, and the other a limited edition Porsche Design model with a panorama roof. Unfortunately both were at the high end of the budget and still didn't quite hit the emotions versus dollar equation. Though the grey limited edition was very close to being ours....

A 2007 turbo was found at Stuttgart's second hand car division. It was being offered at a pretty reasonable opening price, but a test drive kinda confirmed why- its interior was utterly disgusting in grey (well used would be an understatement as to the interior condition), the power was lack lustre compared to the X5M that had been tested the week before. So that car was ruled out instantly.

The heart kept on crawling back to the two GTS models at Motorway that had been visited the week before and especially the grey limited edition shown above.

But then whilst trawling through the SGCarmart website, I spotted a second hand 2008 Turbo S for sale.... and this was the picture on the add.

The add that caught my eye, and stole the dollars away from the GTS

The key for me was that it had to be the two tone brown and black interior that I had seen on the various websites, and not the grey and black option- how bloody boring that would have been- plus the brown kinda makes me feel like I'm sitting in a living room somewhere in England. Well, a quick call to the dealer confirmed that it was the right spec.... so a visit was planned that lunchtime. Well, one test drove confirmed the smile effect that the acceleration provided and that interior... mmmmm....

As always, and given the impulsive streak within the Pebbles household, an offer was made, and subsequently accepted that evening... resulting in a Turbo S addition to the family. Car has been great so far... and has already done a few trips to KL at upward of 250kmh on the highways with zero issues. This is one autobahn eater.... I love it!!!

The grocery getter breathes better... And makes some noise

2011-08-24T07:29:00.000+08:00

The Cayenne is a pretty fast machine.

And for an SUV it looks pretty darn intimidating too. Kinda like Darth Vaders helmet skimming on the road. But it lacked the roar that you would expect from a big old V8. Think of all those AMG modified German kubelwagens.

The guys at Sharkwerks have an elegant set up but the lead time to get their secondary cat by pass pipes in together with the SGD1k price tag had me searching for a local solution.

A trip to Jeep Chee Trading (a local exhaust specialist) had a set of mandrel bent pipes sorted and stuffed into my car in a matter of hours. And all for around SGD800 bucks.

No resonance or drone within the cabin, but boy what a great sound from outside of the car. Pure V8 symphony. Highly recommended to any owners of the V8 SUV.

Fully custom fabricated pipes, mandrel bent and utilising factory style flange.

Hangers being added to the pipes utilising original mounting points from the factory

Pipes complete with the hangers utilising the factory mount points of the original cats.

Pipes before the hangers went on.

So I Have Finally Had a Taste of the Good Life

2011-08-22T07:37:00.002+08:00

I was gradually falling asleep yesterday afternoon in front of the TV when I began to hear weird things. At first I thought it was something coming from the show I was watching, but the TV wasn't on that loud.

Then the thought crossed my mind, was it Smurf dropping something off at my house in his Smurf mobile. So I rushed downstairs, but as I got to the garage, the sound was definitely not that of a flat six, but something a little bigger.... like maybe even a lot bigger.

Turns out it was James from Eurosport's used car division. The guy knows my impulsiveness. And he knows how to spot a sucker ie: me.... all he needs to do is bring a car to my place, offer to leave it and take my car in part exchange (if its something that tickles my fancy), and more often than not I end up a shit load poorer.

So this time, he has a trade in on a Phantom, and it just happens to be a car in a colour that I rather like... white. Sure the red interior makes the car look like its a used tampon, but hey thats how SMF rolls.

James does the only honorable thing that a car sales man with a mission knows how to do. He throws all he can at the deer staring helplessly into the car head lights. Cue, a full tank of fuel, a set of keys and asking me to go for a spin... yeah and he decides to go have a smoke and chill at my place while he leaves me alone with this baby.

A trip up to to Changi airport, then down Parkway Parade and everywhere in between (plus a full pack of cigarettes for James whilst he waits), and the grin on my face just gets wider and wider. Jeez. Who would have ever thought that a Murci would be this easy to drive. Visibility. Check. Steering lightness. Check. Gear change better than my SL. Check. Everyone staring at the car. Check. GTR trying to race me. Check. Use of the Rogain. Check.

This car draws attention better than if I was walking down Orchard Road in the complete and utter nude. Its awesome. It gets chics faster than a one thousand dollar bill could score a hooker.

So back at the house I get out and unfortunately reality begins to set in. This aint no track car. This is pure howlianness. Its gorgeous. Its perfect. Its too expensive. And Khan gave his up, and I only wanna be Khan when I grow up. So with that I snap a couple of shots. James offers to take my SL back and leave the LP640 in my garage. I'm smart. And poor. And refuse.

Damn. What a car.

Brand new tampon on the outide, all the good stuff soaked onto the inside.

Looks a bit plain from the rear until the two side vents pop up. Then it looks positively feral.

Honestly, it would look great if the leather bits were all alcantara instead, including the red.

This thing is wide, and I mean WIDE. Lucky for the winged doors or there would be very little chance of fitting this thing anywhere.

I actually still prefer the front of my G!

Some Recent Mods to the Storm Trooper

2011-08-04T18:32:00.000+08:00

Was getting the urge to modernise the car mildly without actually resorting to body kit replicating the 560/570 front end as I just don't conceptually like such wanna be cars. But to me, nothing is wrong with a bit of a sticker job. So in line with this decided that I would try a little of the front bumper bi colour look that has been so well executed by the designers at Lambo on the 570 front end.

After less than 2 hours at Genconcept (well known automotive sticker specialists), and some matt black sticker on the front end of the original SL front bumper, and I am really pleased with the new look. Total cost.... SGD180. Priceless....

Whilst at it I also finally got around to installing my two way radio that was pulled off my 997 GT3RS- needed for all my North South drives with the SMF boys so that we always know who needs to pee or poo and when. Perry did a stunning install as usual.

Sepang In the Lambo

2011-08-04T07:43:00.000+08:00

You know how it is....sometimes the God's don't seem to be on your side.

I'd already been having a serious head ache over finding track wheels for my SL that could fit the Hoosiers, when it turned out that my spare LP560 rims basically could do the trick all along. So finally after months of delays and umming and ahhhing the 560 rims finally made their way to Sepang just in time for the Eurosport and BMWSG track sessions.

With cracking hot weather on the drive up, I was expecting a stunning first outing for my Lambo on the Hoosiers. How wrong would I be. The drive up to the track was so bloody dark at 8am in the morning with huge clouds and massive rain that I saw a car roll into a ditch on the NS.

And it didn't get any better when I reached the track. Can anyone say WASHOUT??? Best of all Dataface (aka Shaun of Ascendant) was meeting me to go through a crash course in driving....

Well, as they say, every cloud has a silver lining. Because going against all my beliefs of never going out on a wet track and never using street tires on a track, I decided to go out with Shaun... in the wet.

OK, so first few laps had me scratching my head as Shaun tried to tell me what I should and should not be doing on the lines (I did not bother with speed or braking points, and to hell with the correct gear to be in). This was driving 101. Frustrating at the start because I wasn't going at speeds I was used to on the track, and being totally confused by what lines I should be taking, Shaun suggested he take the wheel and guide me through the track.

That had to be the best bloody 40 odd minutes I have ever spend at Sepang. I sat in the passenger seat and listened to Shaun's commentary as I gradually memorised his lines lap after lap. After that I took to the wheel and he sat shot gun. Gradually I began stringing together the lines and things started feeling a whole lot better. Indeed things started to MAKE SENSE! I actually felt that there was some method in the mayhem- something I never had before. Awesome is all I can say.

So the BMW session comes, and of course the track is again still wet, with drizzle. I manage only two laps on my Hoosiers (well at least I managed two!) before the track washed itself out again.

Rather than waste the opportunity and after confidence building from the previous wet session with Shaun, I decide to go out on the track with road tires. Pushing the car a bit, but always keeping an eye on my lines, I have what must be some of the best fun I've ever had on the track. My times were enough to have some SMF'er suggest that I should start a driving school called Descendant Motorsport hahaha. But all I can say is no matter the time, my driving has actually improved as far as I am concerned. Sometimes you gotta go slow again before you go fast.

I can't wait for the next session where I hopefully will get more seat time on the Hoosiers to set some proper reference laps but if not- heck I am all for a wet track day as well!!! Thanks Shaun. The best money I have ever spent on modding besides the Hoosiers ;)

I got 2 warm up laps out of my Hoosiers (Smurf reckons I was not really warming up the tires) before it decid

Lotus group and Fabiola

Should I resticker the car Descendant?

Dirt from the track in the wet.

To all those who doubter- Hoosier R6's on LP560 rims fit my Superleggera!!!

Rockstar!!! Suck cock!!!!

This is the super serious shit. Forget R6!!!

Team SMF

My new lid courtesy of Dicky.

We are all proud to be associated with this uber bar.... it may be a gay hang out... but thats how we roll baby. hahaha. Kidding. Its an awesome chill joint, and the official SMF club house.

Khan ran over a VRD guy on the way into the pits.

Toto and his beast. Nice legs bro.

Couple More Pics at Conrad, our Final Destination this Morning

2011-07-24T13:58:00.000+08:00

GT3 and GT2 side by side, Smurf and Tomato

Jon, think you need to check alignment of right rear quarter panel now...

Nice hang out area, Daniel... your hair so beautiful.

Jon wtf are you thinking.... hello??? Anybody home??

Dammit I cant get enough of this car!!!

I mean, just look at this thing!!! The only prettier car still in existence is the Mclaren F1! And they are from the same bleeding era!

Welcome of the Devil

2011-07-24T13:37:00.000+08:00

I'm tired.

Like really, really tired. Got up this morning for my usual run at 5am. Usually after a run I will shower and crawl back into bed for some more shut eye.

But not today. Because I had an important meeting that I couldn't be late for and you couldn't stand up. Cos no one ever is late for an appointment with the devil, let alone stands him up.

We are talking about Jon's recent acquisition. That once in a life time brush with fame.

A 2000 Diablo SV. The one and only remaining one in Singapore. And boy, it didn't disappoint. This thing may drive like a 20 year old bus but it is absolute sex on wheels. To see one rolling on the streets is seriously to be lucky enough to bump into J Lo, grinding all the way down Orchard Road. It just doesn't happen to us mere mortals. Unless you happened to be one of the lucky sods this morning.

So enough banter.... let the pictures begin....

Audi looking suspiciously excited as we have someone bend over in front of him.

And what did you say the road tax is again after 10 years???

Bat Man would be proud of this car.

Smurf analysing the drag coefficient of Mike's Cali with the roof down versus up. And confirms with deep data face thought that the car is still incapable of 2.30.

But then ponders if it would pull chics better than his Smurf Mobile.

Speaking of which...

Jon smiling like he has just had his first lay. Well it is his first Diablo...

Mike on the side and Lionel in the rear view.

Neh, I don't have a yearning for THOSE rims anymore.

Fong's GT2 on the right, Howards 996 GT3 in the front.

Fucking traffic.

Fong's RS and Tim's gorgeous CS in the rear view mirror.

The Devil on the move!!!

Even the Devil obeys Singapore's traffic light laws!!!! Singapore can do no wrong!!!

Daniel's yellow 599 popping out. Desmond's gorgeous DBS hiding.

Ahhh those curves Des!!!

Devil versus Bond

Volvo outraces Diablo...

Des, this is cream worthy.... special cream worthy....

Gorgeous condition 308!!!!

Audi's hawt 355.... the best ever modern Ferrari.

Yeah Jon, it is that special....

My OZ's... the cheapo rims I've grown to love

2011-07-23T19:43:00.001+08:00

Ok, so these are the rims that I have decided will be my el permanento street rims. Painted matt black, these babies look the part. And it helps that these are bloody lightweight and not too expensive. Sorry if the pics aren't too clear.... but will get more up tomorrow as there will be a drive around Singapore.

Note that the offset is slightly more aggressive than the stock rims so they fill out the arches. The downside is you can't use oversized tires on the front as they will rub at even partial lock given the minimal clearance of the front inner arches. In fact I used 225 up front to ensure zero rub... Though 235 will also just fit. The fact is I don't push the car on the roads so the 225s don't keep me awake at night but a bit of scrub does. Go figure. When I hit the track I use the LP560 rims and original offset ie: spacers are a big no no, with ultra sticky 235/295 Hoosier R6s which give very little scrub at significant lock, but clear after a couple of laps of wear. Actual sizing given the wider sizing of Hoosiers equates to at least 1cm more up front and out the back.

Water all around me and yet I can't drink a drop

2011-07-23T12:28:00.002+08:00

Yes, the title came from Toto.

But what is it referring to? Well, in order to understand, you have to know one thing. The ex owner of my Gallardo took the original Scorpius rims off the car and placed them on his newly acquired LP560. In turn, he was nice enough to place his LP560 rims on the Superleggera and sell the car in that state to the car dealer where I bought the Superleggera from.

Musical chairs. And to make matters worse, there are freaking Scorpius rims all over the place when I see all the cars sitting around Singapore that came with them. All the SLs, all the Singapore editions. But I can't get anyone to sell them ((and rightfully so)!

Well, all would have been fine if the next owner of the Superleggera was as much of a blur head as the dealer that agreed to let go of SGD35k rims that are original spec on the car. But nope, instead the car was sold to me, and I'm a stickler for originality. So over the course of the last few months, with the assistance of first Keith at MB, and then his customer Dennis and then a number of other greet guys, the original rims of the car were found.

Deal done!

Well no. Because in the process of life nothing is simple. Turned out unfortunately that the current owner of the rims had decided to add spacers to his car and as part of the mod, actually reamed out the mounting face of the rims. Basically meaning that unless I used the rims with the spacers, the rims were destroyed. And that basically means that the rims set up with the spacers gives me a spacky offsetttyst I already have on my OZ Ultraleggeras, and in the process has added a Ton of weight to the rims.

So rims destroyed, I am now finally accepting of the fact that the car will never be completely back to original. And as such I have now agreed to use the OZ rims for the road given the wider stance and inability to allow the car to clear Hoosiers (plus they look pretty darn similar to the original rims), and use the bling LP560 rims for the track with my hooters.

Actually, with the OZ sprayed Matt black, the rims now look pretty darn good on the car and I am contented.....

Sunday morning extended family gathering.

2011-05-22T18:13:00.004+08:00

Was great to see the variety increase although sadly I missed closely inspecting Eyedoc's latest acquisition- a gorgeously loud Fiat Abarth- where the heck does he dig these things up from! Unfortunately he arrived just as I was leaving!!! Yeah, talk about bad timing. I really hope Trewyn got some pics for me!

Great to meet the BMWSG and VASG guys that turned up too! Sorry that I didn't get to talk longer with you all but I wanted to snap the occasion for my blog. Next time guys!

Super aggressive Wald kit and HKS 680bhp kit in this baby.

Daniel's pimped ride with 21 inch Hamman rims!!!!

Fongsters R34. All his other cars are in the workshop!!!

I really have something for the design of the Scirocco... awesome and freaking sexy!!

Racebred, can you just wash the car or polish it, like, once?

Mokngbrd's immaculately kept ride.

Now that's a brand I haven't seen in a long time!

My ex-ex-ex-ex ride!!!

Wheels... I love these wheels. I need my original set back!!!!

Couple of gorgeous GTI's... the white one belongs to my colleague and a new convert to track days.

Stevo's GT2

Trewyn (Plankers) ride

More gorgeous Scirocconess.

Hornets super rare RR

Raj Jr learning fast from Dad

Trewyn demonstrating to us what planking is....

Ok Loo Loo you gotta put on some weight mate.

LOC Exhaust

2011-05-15T11:41:00.003+08:00

For those wondering about the LOC exhaust that I recently installed in my car... this is it....

Sunday Morning Meet Up

2011-05-15T10:36:00.002+08:00

Another great meet up amongst fellow car enthusiasts. And a huge thankyou to all those guys who woke up early and needed more sleep.... Lets do this every Sunday!

God of Fchat, thankyou for gracing us with your presence, even if it was only fleeting (as is so often the case with God's).

Enjoy the pictures!

Toto's backside. I likey.

Audi's gorgeous 355 spyder.

SBBB's Techart frankenfine.

Mafiapete's ride, though we gotta say we preferred his other ride more ;)

Toto's RS inspired Singapore Edition. Hope Smoothie doesn't crash it this week.

Thomas's GTR. I love this machine!!!

Thomas's Lambo inspired ride. Yep its an actual Lambo colour!

Ian's new pick up, an amazing one owner 355B!

Alex waiting for the nose job on his G to be completed. Should be completed Monday.

Bro, U wanna swap rims?

CK's 570. Can't wait to see this baby on the track!

Wei's classic 930 that is getting some serious exercise under his ownership.

Another angle of CK's beast.

Gotta still love those curves after all these years!!!

Music to my ears

2011-05-14T07:39:00.002+08:00

It always starts with a phone call.

Innocently enough. I was driving home last week when Fabster of SMF fame called me. Popping the phone to speaker, I picked up the call. Along with numerous other colourful topics discussed, Fabster finally asked if I was driving the Lambo home. Errrrr.... yes. Why? Turns out it was super quiet and he coudn't believe there was no engine or exhaust sounds eminating from the big V10.

Something needed to be done about this. Of course, Keith (MB Motorsport) is always at hand. It seems that the only car he wont do anything for is a car that isn't owned by me. Turns out Keith had stock of the LOC Exhaust system for the Gallardo. Why does he always keep stock of stuff that interests me! Sure there is Kriessieg, Larini, Tubi and the like. But I am always one for something a bit different... and cheap.

So I dropped down to MB Motorsport yesterday and Keith and his gang of awesome merry men get to work on the car. Its unimaginable to think that Lamborghini is owned by German's now. Why you ask? Well, there is nothing well thought out or practical about a car that needs half its rear end taken off in order to just change a bloody exhaust. Luckily for me MB have done a fair few of these cars and in the process have become rather good at it. So the install was pretty much done in four hours. I can tell you that the way these guys learn cars, I will be doing all my car stuff with them for a very very long time.

Here are some pics of the install...

The LOC exhaust. Lighter than the stock system by miles, ceramic coated to reduce heat too!

Included in the set up is a tranny heat shield.

Whole bloody rear end comes off to put an exhaust on the car. Italian engineering at its most practical.

So what are the general conclusions thus far?

HOLY SHIT!!!

Idle up to around 3000rpm is a low growl.... perfect for impressing all the street walkers as you do that stupid cruise thing down Orchard or in front of a club that so many Lambo owners seem intent on doing. Pull full throttle and above 5500rpm the pitch gets higher and at around 7500rpm to red line I swear it sounds exactly like a banshee out of hell screaming as hairs get plucked out of her nether regions. We are talking F1 screaming here.

BUT the best bit. At cruising RPM of around 3500 to 4000rpm it is absolutely no louder than the stock exhaust!!! Meaning no drone. I'm not sure if I am kidding myself as only a true North South blast will confirm this... but I am pretty sure of it.

So the conclusion is.... this could well be the most perfect exhaust ever made for any car. And it aint super expensive like Kriessieg!!! Amazing stuff. Keith thanks for making me waste money in a very enjoyable way again....

Original Stickers back on!!!

2011-05-11T20:46:00.001+08:00

The car freaking looked like a storm trooper rolling on rubbers after I took all the stickers off. A quick call to Eurosport confirmed my worst nightmares.... the original SL stickers would set me back a testicle shrinking SGD1,200.

So off I went to Genconcept. Exact replica stickers were plastered on... all for SGD820. And this is the end product....

Here they are hard at work in 37 degree celsius heat. Note the hi tech equipment.... ie hair dryer.

Now to get rid of those nasty rims. Anyone know where the original SL rims went???

Some of the SMF Crew

2011-05-08T14:44:00.006+08:00

Gratuitous shot of some of the SMF'ers at Pat's showroom open house...

Hornet (Pat), Fabio the village bicycle (aka Ron), Phil (Phil- yeah his nic's gotta change) and yours sincerely.... PEBBLES aka Potong King!

And some pics of my garage from a few weeks ago when Rock and Smoothballs visited SMF Head Quarters (ie: my place)... and I still had the GTR and GT3RS at the time...

Rocks and Smothbums rides at my place back when I had two beasts in the garage... damn I miss that GTR...

BMWSG Trackday. Some Pics of the Lexus LFA that was there

2011-05-08T14:17:00.001+08:00

The track was closed from 9am till 12pm for a super wealthy Hong Kong business man who was shaking down his LFA. Here are some pics for you.... it was amazing to behold a super expensive Toyota screaming down the front straight of Sepang...

The Cup Car that was running with the LFA.

Smufoothies blue car.

Lungster (aka God of Fchat) trying out the Hoosiers for the first time ever on his 458.

The 458 with the Hooters...

Andy's Exige that was spitting coolant all over the road.

Pretty impressive to see this Lambo at the track. Rarely do we see these running on the track and this was a brand new machine.

Gerald's track beast. The way he shuffles and hustles this machine is awesome.

Lungster waiting to get out on the track.

My Most Irrational Moment Yet

2011-05-08T13:47:00.002+08:00

Yeah, we think we have all had those crazy ass moments. Insanity, irrationality and plain stupidity. Like why the heck didn't I use that rubber on that Angolan hooker?!

But once in a while a course of action takes place that trumps all the other stupid moments added together. We are talking Max Tucker moment amplified over a bull horn.

A week and a half ago I was seriously in love with my fully modified GTR (heck I still am). I was really looking forward to tracking the car, having gone the full 9 and a half yards on that baby to ensure it was track worthy, even securing a set of slicks for the GTR (apparently made of Unobtanium given the cost).

Then a package reached my grubby little hands. It was a part of a number of parcels shipped from various E-Bay sellers over the last few weeks all related to the GTR (I get obsessive about anything).

This was a Best Motoring DVD on the GTR. One of the sections had a clip of the GTR going head to head against a Porsche GT3 (ridiculously slow but great around the twisties), Honda NSX-R (bloody ridiculously slow but again a great handler), a 997 Turbo (fast on the straights but a Merc around the corners), and a Superleggera. Yup, the GTR handed all the cars a positive caning around Tsukuba race circuit, with the exception of the Lambo. No matter, I had the GTR and I had a GT3RS. Two all time greats. And the fully modified GTR would hand the Superleggera a proper serve of ass whooping.

So all was still cool.

Till last Sunday, when Toto, that bastion of Bull licking enthusiasm made a casual mention of why I had not considered a Superleggera to replace my GT3....

Well, as things go, I remembered that there was a white 2008 sitting at Motorway that had been bastardised with a shocking sticker set up and a rather tasty front bumper- nothing that could not be set right very easily. And white. Yeah, one of only two genuine white cars in Singapore. And one of only 10-50 white Superleggera's ever produced worldwide (numbers vary depending on who you trust).

I had to have it.

So after lunch, I headed to Motorway. Grabbed a look at the car and confirmed that the only real screw up was the changed front bumper and rims (yeah the rims really suck)...

The car had two previous owners and had never been tracked. Unfortunately the sticker job was a bit dumb (but I did like the black roof and black accents at the rear), but all was easily reversible as Toto had a spare original bumper from his ex white Superleggera (yeah the OTHER white car in Singapore). So a deal was struck, and the car found its way to my house by Wednesday. The garage was in the process emptied very drastically as the GT3RS and the GTR (yep, the GTR that I love and had only graced my presence for a month) had been traded for the Superleg.

So there you have it.... a totally stupid and irrational move that has left me with one less car.

This was the car on the day of pick up. I ripped off the fake light stickers but decided to live with the aftermarket bumper for a while...

At Motorway. Got them to pull the stickers covering the lights off as the fake LP560 sticker look was just off.

But a couple days later, Toto confirmed to me that he still had his original bumper and so I could get the car back to original (sans the bloody rims). So off to KBS I went a couple days later to get the bumper changed back to original (had also taken off all the stripes from the car by this time.... geez it was starting to look more and more like a plain jane old car... but originality was more important to me...

Car at KBS. Stripes have already been removed at this stage.

The aftermarket front bumper that was being replaced. I have decided to sticker the original front bumpers lower half to emulate this look. I decided whilst I want the original bumper, I am all for enhancing the look of the original bumper :)

Original bumper on the car now.

Perfect colour match still!!!

Oh yeah, and the aircon of the Superleg has already stopped working.... kinda like the GTR except in reverse... cos this baby blows hot air. The GTR only blew cold air. What is it with me and freaking aircons???

Anyway, car has already been cleaned up of all the stickers and the aftermarket bumper. Only thing left to fix is the aircon and the rims- I have ordered some new rims for the road from Leong Seng and will post pics when they arrive in a couple of weeks. The rims currently on the car will be shod with the Hooters and will be bound for Sepang.

Here are some pics of the car as it stands today.... it has collected a fair few stone chips already :)

Car as it is today... almost completely back to original except for the side SL stripe and the rims...

Whilst I am a sucker for originality I will be putting black stickers on the front bumper to vaguely imitate the look of the bumper that the car came with. In addition I will be putting the original Superleggera stickers in black on the sides of the car again. The new rims that will be used will be in black.... and the are these... very lightweight OZ Ultraleggera's... cant wait to complete the car....

Lots and Lots to update, but grab a look at the video

2011-05-07T20:48:00.000+08:00

Freak I missed the bandwagon on this one...

2011-04-24T07:51:00.001+08:00

Check out these HAWT BBS LM limited edition wheels that were made for the GTR.

Wheels were only available for a period of time in 2008 from what I understand and were selling only in Japan. Obviously quite a few made their way out with a few sets even finding their way to Singapore (see pics).

100 sets were made world wide, and sold for around USD7k per set.... nice if you have a money tree growing in your back yard I guess....

Whether I missed the bandwagon on this I aint sure... I sure as heck wouldn't pay USD7k for a set of rims... in my old age I am getting tight ass with my money. Thats for sure. Plus I'm saving for a tranny rebuild sometime this year.... or when the tranny blows up. Besides, as Keith at MB knows, I seem to have some damn fetish for the original Rays rims for the GTR. They are just so perfect for the car in my eyes. And I always love to keep a car stock... on the outside.

Some Amazing Artillery

2011-04-19T21:59:00.000+08:00

Welcome to the gun show boys.... check out these amazing chunks of weaponry that were photographed recently by a young group in Canada...

Yes boys and girls.... gracing the occasion was a Reventon. Just look how young the owner of the Reventon is!!! The sweet scent of success.... a battleship with a couple of wheels slapped on for good measure.

SMF Sunday morning car gathering

2011-04-10T20:36:00.000+08:00

Yeah, a REAL Dino....

Immaculate 3.2 Carrera

Billy's latest addition

Toto's latest, colour scheme looks familiar.... :)

Wilson is back on the car scene with some serious BLING!!!

Justin's SL

The Smurf!!!

Some Nice 997s! Smoothie check out the C4S...

2011-04-03T10:14:00.000+08:00

More GTR love.This time from Chris Harris...

2011-03-31T13:22:00.001+08:00

MB Motorsport Does it Again

2011-03-31T07:36:00.001+08:00

Get this, my seat belt latch jams when I reach home. This is at around 6pm on a weekday. One SMS to one of the heroes at MB Motorsport, and a return call from one of their top class guys comes back within minutes.

They arrange to be over at my house within 20 minutes of the call. You heard me. A freaking house call!!! These guys just never cease to amaze me... I can't get enough of MB, they are just amazing!!!!

Oh yeah.... they fixed the latch on the spot... in 2 minutes. But I guess that was a forgone conclusion...

GTR at Paul Ricard circuit versus a ton of Porsches...

2011-03-30T07:01:00.004+08:00

New Shoes for Godzilla

2011-03-29T21:28:00.000+08:00

Well, as part of getting my rims and tires sorted for tomorrow, I removed the Pirelli's from the GTR and picked up a set of RE070R's to put on the stock rims.

Whilst these rims will be my daily use rims, I will also use them occasionally for the track, especially as my Hoosiers will not be ready for the BMWSG track day that is coming up. The Pirelli's will in turn be put on the Rays Racing rims that I am picking up tomorrow and be used exclusively for driving around in Singapore.

Smurf your ride!!

2011-03-29T21:21:00.001+08:00

For those of you not in the know, Smoothster decided on a whim to change the colour of his speed yellow GT3. SWent down to SWC today with Smoothster to check it out. Its freaking sweet!!! And SWC did a great job... everything is done and not a milimeter of yellow is left on this machine. Can't wait to see it all together...

And New Seats for the Lizard!!!

2011-03-27T22:36:00.000+08:00

Also courtesy of Reuben... the Bride Japan Stradia in Alcantara. Limited Edition seats (only 100 pieces worldwide). These will save a ton of weight and help me at the track as I positively hate sliding around in my car. The only question is whether I install them for daily use or keep them only for the track. I ended up buying both from Reuben so that I can install them and they will look quite OEM....

TE37 G2 Coming to a Lizard Near You

2011-03-27T22:19:00.001+08:00

I'm pretty stoked that Reuben is dumping his ride because that means I get to pick up some stuff at good discounts to list price. The key thing that I am waiting on right now are the Rays G2's that are currently on his ride. Wednesday will be D Day for collection of the wheels and I will definitely be posting pics.

But in the meantime some pics pulled off the web for you (or is that me) to enjoy....

SMF's Sunday morning meetup

2011-03-27T17:26:00.001+08:00

Well, a few of the regular SMF'ers were missing across the border as they were doing the PCS breakfast drive, so the group shifted its focus with my new attention to the GTR. A couple of my new GTR buddies (and Reuben) popped by to buffer up the SMF numbers.

Even SBBB made a comeback after his mother (yes he actually has one- he is a human!) flew back to Australia after one of her extended visits to clear all the hookers out of his apartment.

Some classic air cooled awesomeness.

On its own the 930 looks wide and mean, but the minute its put next to the giant lizzard it looks positively diminutive. Amazing how ridiculously huge the Ghekko is.

Mafias absolutely gorgeous sleeper of a machine!

MPs SL, Fong's 993 RS and JS's 930.

Andy turned up in the tangerine beauty again.

Fabio and Hornet

MP and SBBB

Mengster

The infiltration of the GTRs!!!

Bought these rims off Reuben. They should be off his car this Wednesday and on mine the same time!!! But I may just keep the rims in storage first so I have things to gradually look forward to in changing my car... I now have 3 sets of rims, and by the time my TE37SLs arrive I will have four sets for the GTR!!!

Also bought these seats from Reuben.... absolutely gorgeous seats. Will keep them specifically for track days though as I want to keep the GTR really soft and gooey with the original seats for cruising around Singapore.

These are the rims that I have taken off Reuben. Will probably remove the Nismo stickers though.

More detail of Mafia's gorgeous sleeper...

A Veyron Beater????

2011-03-27T16:32:00.001+08:00

This a beast from Brunei that our dear buddies at MB Motorsport have been working on... its a freaking massive HP drag machine- full tranny, engine block etc all done. Hp figures don't mean squat as far as I am concerned... but this machine reportedly has more hp to the wheels than the Veyron has to its flywheel!!!!

And its got a gorgeous Tommy Kaira kit on it to match the crazy grunt.... let the pics speak for themselves....

MB Motorsport.... GTR heaven... and a pit to suck every last cent out of your bank account

2011-03-27T15:26:00.001+08:00

Keith and the gang at MB Motorsport are pretty much acknowledged by many to be a great bunch of guys, all the more so when it comes to fixing and doing up your GTR.

Whilst this is not to say there aren't other good workshops out there (ST Powered, Garage R etc), my direct experience with MB has confirmed that I will be sending the GTR almost exclusively to them- not only do they know their stuff, they are a really friendly bunch of guys, have good stocks of parts for the GTR, and most important, view long term relationships as the most important thing- they aren't in the business for the short haul.

Oh yeah, it helps that he is my neighbour and his workshop is freaking close to my house.

So if any of you guys buys a GTR in Singapore- please do consider Keith and MB Motorsport. You will not be disappointed!!!!

Keith (owner of MB) is making sure people know where to go for the GTR by plastering his company logo on his personal R35 GTR.

Keiths other GTR, an R34 sitting outside his workshop with a number of other GTRs waiting for work to be done to their car.

Welcome to the candy shop. This is one dangerous place, as he keeps a ton of stock of stuff ready and waiting to be bolted onto your car (so long as its an R35 GTR)

Freaking awesome brake kit from Endless but at over SGD20k per set its gonna have to wait for my next bonus!!

Tommy Kaira bodykit on another car Keith is working on. This is a really nice kit!

Batmobile???

Keith's personal ride.

The Big Ghekko Getting a bit of TLC

2011-03-27T14:41:00.003+08:00

The good news is (I think!) I've pretty much decided on a course of action for the big scary one.

First and foremost, the big Ghekko needs to maintain a high degree of road civility ie: no loud exhausts, stripped out interiors etc. It's gotta stay soft and spongy for road use and feel like a cheap arse Conti GT with a bit more power and handling.

Second, it needs to not hugely disappoint me at the track. I mean, I don't expect it to handle in the same razor sharp manner as my Evo 9 did, but conversely, it better not feel like a brontasaurus on ice skates. I am being told a 2.27 should not be hard on this machine given a number of GTRs have done 2.23 out of MB Motorsport. But they were running a fair bit of horsies under the hood.

Third I am still going for the all stock stealth look- ie: no bling rims (though I have bought a set of rims from Reuben off his GTR, no body kits etc. Form over function. Thats the key.

Most important is the fact that I am going to gradually develop this car. I am not doing the same full upgrade type strategy that I did on the Evo 9. That left me with an awesome car, but very little in the way of long term enjoyment, and hence the reason the car left my garage in under 1 year. This time round I am going to very slowly upgrade the car bit by bit to ensure I appreciate each and every modification done to the car in isolation.

So what has been done so far? Well basic handling 101 was the key- and this meant dialling out understeer and ensuring maximum grip. So to date I have done the following:

Sun Line Racing lower rear linkage set up for increased adjustability in the rear

Moonface anti sway bar endlinks (front shown but fronts and rears installed).

Dodson fully adjustable A arms. (adjustable for camber, castor)

AP Racing J Hooks... no more cracked holes... man that sounds sleazy.

Dodson A arms installed.

The Gurus at MB Motorsport installing the Moon Face rod ends

Moon Face rear rod ends installed and Whiteline Racing adjustable anti sway bars.

Sun Racing lower links installed in the rear.

Whiteline Racing front anti sway bar. Check out the original piece oh shit non ajustable Nissan rod end (that was replaced with the Moon Racing item)

A set of extra light weight Works TE37SLs in 19 inch for the track (courtesy of Leong Seng);
Going with the rims will be a set of crack (ie: Hoosier R6s courtesy of Dave);
Whiteline fully adjustable front and rear anti sway bars (softer front, harder rear to dial out the understeer and assist in increasing front end grip;
Much more aggressive alignment. This meant dialling in more front end negative camber and a bit less extreme rear end camber. In order to not chew away at the road tires though, settings were to be slightly less aggressive than on my GT3 RS due to the weight and the power which apparently shreds tires within months (and the freaking 20 inch rims). To achieve this new front upper A arms from Dodson had to be installed (can wind in huge degree of negative camber with this), but were an absolute pain in the ass to set up first time. In the back, to improve adjustability Sun lower linkages were utilised.
Brakes were sorted with AP Racing J Hooks and 600 degree pads as well as increased tolerance brake fluid.

The TE37 Super Laps that I have ordered for Sepang track days. This set is on Keith's R34 GTR. Mine should be arriving in June depending on what happens in Japan.

Installing the Dodson A arms was easy. But setting them up first time around was a royal pain in the ass!!!

The original A arms from Nissan. WTF???? No adjustability at all from the upper side.

All of these mods are purely to ensure that I can get maximum adjustability out of the stock suspension of the GTR so that in stock form the car will handle sharper than with the factory geometry settings which appear very neutral.

I will only at a later stage consider a suspension upgrade once I have really begun to explore how exactly I will be using this car. Will keep you all posted as to the development of Ghekko.... will it become track monster or end up being my cheapskate version of a Bentley Conti GT....

Usual Sunday Morning Breakfast

2011-03-20T10:24:00.002+08:00

Had the usual Sunday morning breakfast session but was joined by a couple of other old timers that are not part of SMF. Seems that Big Splash is definitely becoming the place of choice for car gatherings...

Enjoy the pics... apologies but they were taken with my iPhone...

Ken (not SBBB but the ultra fit triathalete who also owns Phils ex 993) Volkswagen convertible dub, Steven's GT2, Phils Techart TT, Fongsters red GT2, my GTR, Hock Ming's 930 (he also has a 993TT, 964 convertible and Fong's ex 914), and Fabios 997 TT.

Eyedocs 356 (well one of them anyway)

Roberto (he of Garibaldi ownership and the Top Gun at the recent Mt Cotton) silver 997 with a gorgeous customised interior, Ben's TT and Billy's 356.

The early birds

Phils TT, Fongsters GT2, and my new acquisition Godzilla.

But the GTR is still awesome..

2011-03-19T21:29:00.000+08:00

With all the bad news about the GTR, I still need my dose of affirmation, and this video goes some way to make me feel good about my recent purchase.

GTR and Hitler

2011-03-19T21:08:00.000+08:00

This is pretty old but I decided to dig it up anyway as its pretty funny.... until my own tranny goes...

The Transformation.... Smoothie gets blue balls

2011-03-17T21:07:00.000+08:00

As usual a picture speaks a thousand words... and here we have Smoothsters car changing colors. No doubt in an attempt to confuse all those hookers that are coming after him for services rendered....

Two ECOTY's Sitting in my Garage!!!

2011-03-16T21:04:00.000+08:00

It suddenly hit me.

As of today I have two (yeah read it and weep), two Evo Magazine Cars of the Year. From 2007, the venerable (as opposed to veneral) Porsche 997 GT3RS, and from 2008, the car equivalent of Megatron- the Nissan R35 GTR.

Analog versus digital.

Talk about opposites.

Here I have Doctor Jekyl and Mr Hyde resting side by side in my garage. Variety is the spice of life.

And both these babies are black, as dark as a freaking bad dream!!!! Once you go black, you can never go back.... oh yeah baby....

But thats the nice side of the story. And there are always two sides to a coin. And the flip side is... the GTR quality wise is a piece of shite. Get this.. my GTR's blower fan has already blown itself (pun intended)... and is going full blast at the moment.

This means that with the aircon on, and in recirculation mode, I freeze. And with the air con on, but injecting fresh air, I get hit with doses of carbon monoxide that would put any genocidal maniac a hard on. So what can one do, but order a new blower fan. Yeah, and the cost? SGD1100. Thats bloody ridiculous. And to top it off, my freaking boot has stopped working.... as in stopped opening. May be something to do with my trusty mech fiddling with the fuses this morning whilst trying to fix the bleeding blower fan.

I can't decide whether its pretty, or ugly, or pretty ugly...

The Beauty and the Beast. Or the gay little Porker and Godzilla. Its really amazing how peevy the Porsche looks compared to the GTR.

The myth that is the GTR.

SBBB asked if the rims were twentys or ninteens. Its amazing just how big this thing is that it makes twentys look small!!!

The Bento Has Moved On....

2011-03-13T20:33:00.004+08:00

I knew it was only a matter of time.

Whilst I love the Evo and it is an absolute scalpel on Sepang... I had to experience the R35 GTR first hand for myself.

Pictures and real life first hand experiences of the actual machine that has since replaced my beloved and totally thrashed Evo 9 will be posted in the months to come, but in the meantime grab a look at the above videos to understand why I decided I just had to own one.

Yes, all the horror stories on the transmission have been researched thoroughly and it is clear to me that the car has to be treated with a large degree of kid gloves. Gone are the days of the 15 laps per session runs at Sepang, and I will actually have to start monitoring lots of silly dials whilst at the track and at best maybe do 3 to 5 laps per outing. But oh man, just look at the videos to understand that in stock form the GTR is by all accounts an amazing machine and something that I absolutely need to say that I have owned and run just once in my life.

If the car turns out to be relatively acceptable and not break down on its first visit with me to Sepang then I may start modifying it for the track. Or I may just leave it stock. But the immediate game plan is to actually remain in my "not so into tracking" mode for a year, and at best do the occassional track day, and in the process enjoy the GTR more as a daily driver. After a year of abstinence of modding (ie: at my next bonus) then I may consider modifying the car for the track. This will also possibly tie in nicely with a reignited interest in tracking hard.

Only time will tell....

Gerald Tan and Smoothie do an Epic Play session

2011-03-06T22:33:00.000+08:00

The BMWSG track day was one of those typical BMW track days- great mix of cars, great mix of people (SMF even brought some race queens of their own!), and great weather. The track session actually followed on from the Porsche Club Singapore track day the previous day (yeah I didn't attend that track day either as I am well and truly burnt out) and so the SMF representation was strong (rather than it being just me which has happened at a fair few track days in recent history- think TCC and Nova (yeah I don't really dig those 80 over car sessions either- kinda like herpes really.

Anyway, I was forced to get out on the track for the BMW session as Rockstar had sprung a coolant leak the day before at PCS (-- I told you so!!) and hence I couldn't hand ball the session to him. Yes I really am that cheap- I just won't ever let a track fee go down the tube. The track day itself was... well a typical track session- I went out maybe a total of 10 laps or so. Followed a really pretty matt metallic grey M3 too- and it was bloody quick on the straights as my Evo couldn't pull on it on the straights- but braked way to early and the car just couldn't quite compose itself around the twisty bits unfortunately.

But the highlight for me had to be Gerald Tan (MME racer and recent Dubai 24 hr participant and team winner and overall nice guy) when he offered to take me for a run in his recently acquired S2000. Man can this dude drive. But we kinda knew that already I guess. But what was really great fun was when we spotted a certain yellow GT3 on the track. The car belonged to no other than our very own Smoothster. And he happened to be giving another passenger a ride as well.

As things go, Gerald decided to poke Smoothie a bit. Turns out (as expected) the S2000 (which is bog stock except for suspension) just doesn't have a hope in hell of keeping up with the GT3. BUT, come end of the big straights at turn 9, 15 and turn 1, and damn, Gerald can make up all the distance that he lost on the straights (or at least a good portion of it). We are talking about braking at 100m on the front straight... on semi slicks!!! Not Hooters or anything else.

And freaking turn 7 and 8 are just ridiculous. I mean Gerald was all over Smoothies yellow ass like a really freaking bad rash, and actually had to lift off and slow down in order to not mate his S2000 to the rear of Smoothie! But as usual, Smoothie does not give in and continues to close the door on Gerald (admittedly Gerald was running at 7/10ths in terms of aggression mode apparently), but man, my balls were in my mouth a couple of times. I swear there was no more than half a foot between the cars at times. Freaking amazing.

Anyway, enough of that.... some pics from the PCS and BMWSG track day...

Phil's new ride reborn with the Techart kit. Imagine, just a couple days out from Ahlong and its already making its way to the track.

Phil decided to redo the lights as well to the updated Mk2 LEDs... they looked great as I was following him to KL.

Kinda like the 996 GT2 inlets. Definitely good for shoving healthy doses of air into the intake.

My trusty Evo and Phils new ride getting their fill at the 209 marker.

Really nice Fabspeed tail pipes Phil.

Weng's brand new ride.... FIA approved!!

Italian technician working on a German car, whose dream ride is the Skyline GTR. Go figure.

Mao's cup car.

Weng's ride getting prepped for the shakedown at the PCS track day.

OK?? WTF? Noise emissions? Yeah right.

Another angle of Mao's ride.

Maestro Weng checking out his ride before he dons the race suit and thashes the bejeebies out of the beast. And we are not talking about his schlong.

Mao chilling before he brings his cup car out.

Yuey's PR ride (jointly owned by Ben).

Mushroom aka Fabster signing his life away... literally...

The usual suspects?

So what colour do you like?

PCS safety briefing.

Howie (thumbs up to you too bro!) and Freddie (Yeah he of Marie France beauty fame... though he aint no beauty)

Weng doing errr.... his stretchies before he stretches the legs of his latest infatuation (until his Ferrari 458 challenge arrives which is a couple of months away).

Smoothie chilling. Rennster just hovering to the right.

Weng getting ready to get out.

Yeah my helmet... but that aint me!!! Check the co drivers errr air bags....

Wengs beast leaving the pits.... that baby sounds utterly awesome going down the straight!!! And its ass is stunning. This is how the GT2RS should have always looked. Porsche... get your act together you marketing tools!!!

Rockstar after taking a ride with Phil.

Fong... nice baby.... nice...

Check out our new umbrella queen.... yeah... Fabio....

GMG 997 Mk1 GT2 Project Car

2011-02-26T21:37:00.000+08:00

Here are a couple of pics that I managed to pull off the web on GMG's ongoing extreme 997 GT2 track biased street car. I am still trying to get more details on this car and will compile and post it as and when I can get it.

Some Additional Air Cooled Coolness

2011-02-26T21:34:00.000+08:00

That most mythical of 993s in Singapore, the 993 based RUF, the only one left in Singapore....

Some Pics from the Breaking Point ie: the Nova Racing Day

2011-02-26T16:01:00.000+08:00

On my way to Sepang. Think this must have been around 7am... nice and deserted on the NS.

Arriving at the Sepang petrol station around 11.30... talk about an early starter/eager beaver!!!

My mate Derek turned up after a long abstinence of tracking to clear some carbon.

Bengster finally brought the Evo X after holding back for so long.... after the track day we realised why he usually tracks his Evo IX and GT3RS.... the Evo X was rather unreliable inspite of him not pushing it at all..

The big man himself.... Derek... amazingly the Spider did not break down... though he was driving more sedately than normal.

Derek's new carbon discs were amazing.... braking at 100m mark.

Bengster's Evo X.... what rubbish.

A very nice M3 that kinda slowed me down around the track... think he was surprised I could take him on the straights....

Bengster before the Evo X decided to dump its clutch fluid and leave him stranded at turn 1, and seriously he was driving like a grandmother so I am amazed as to how fragile the Evo X is.

Awesome ST Powered Civic MME race car getting the shake down.

Beautiful Focus RS

Our good mate who decided to bring the Lotus up for a change.

Derek's all red pimp mobile that can shuffle it around Sepang pretty well for a pussy car.

Bengster in a rage after the X broke down.

Hornets RR on its way back to Singapore. He and I did the drive back together. Nice easy drive inspite of a Hyundai wanting to tail me part of the way back... with his wing mirrors folded in for errr... aero gain... hahaha

My bento box...

Hornets ride taking a well deserved break before entering Singapore.

Nova Racing Trackday- I've Hit the Wall

2011-02-22T09:44:00.001+08:00

Burn out. And not in a fun, exciting kind of tire burning way.

We are talking bored as shit, can't be bothered to think about it, think I would rather watch grass grow kind of way.

What am I referring to? Well my close buddies will know that when I get excitied about something, it's pretty much an all or nothing exercise. I will immerse myself in something till I puke from it- pretty much like the way I drink. And that is exactly what I did to my tracking. I did a run down. And would you believe that in 2010 I did 17 track days. Yeah talk about overload.

Anyway, to cut a long story short....I think I am going to cut back on my tracking. Not only will that give my battered bank account some much needed R&R, but it will give me a chance to get back my inspiration to start aspiring towards Stigness again.

What transpired?

Well I was bloody excited to attend the Nova Racing track day. It would have been the last chance that I would face to bring the Evo out for a couple of months and a chance to muck around with any manner of car on the track- Nova typically has a great variety of cars, and the organiser, Steve, is a great guy. This would be a self imposed exile from the Evo as I was due to enlist Sean from Ascendant to then get me really doing the right thing in my Porsche.

So the track day is due to start at 1pm, and I am lined up at the front of the pits with the lights still red at 12.40. I am the second car on the grid. There is one Civic Type R in front of me, Bengster is behind me in the Evo X, and behind that Derek in his 430 Spider.

Lights go green at 1pm sharp and I actually go around the Type R which is in front of me and hit the track first. Big open track.... ready for some stunning laps.... then it all falls apart. The mental block sets in. Picture it.... out of pit lane, floor it, first-second-third... brake for entry into turn one...but as I am on the right of the track as I turn in I cant keep a tight line on the right side of turn 1, so I push wide into turn 2 and stay too far to the right and floor out.... ok now I am on the right side of turn 3 drifting wide... yeah. What apex of 3?? I'm just pushing wide all the way. in my frustration I just plough on... excessively early apex into 4 and I ride the outside of turn 4 almost going off the track... lift off the throttle and the car unsettles itself momentarily.... Catastrophe after catastrophe until turn 7 when the tires are starting to get a (little) warmer and I begin to find some rhythm... or so I think. Turn 9 comes up and the damn gearbox won't engage second. Ok maybe its just me.... no such luck as 2nd continues to mess with my mind lap after lap till I finally pull in. Deciding not to risk destroying my gearbox, I call it quits after only 7 or 8 laps.

Then I sit it out in the pits and during that time the revelation hits me.... I don't want to go out on the track again... like... ever....

Yup, smacks me right in the face... I am sick of tracking. Maybe it was the huge amount of traffic on track (would be banked up behind more than 5 cars at a time at some corners), and there were quite a few slower cars there that day that exaggerated the irritation of the day and made me feel even more negative towards tracking.

Reality was I actually enjoyed the drive back to Singapore with Hornet much more than I did the track day itself. Is this permanent? Don't know. But I know that I need to take a brake from the track. Recollect my thoughts about whats next. And regain my zest for hitting the laps. I should have followed the SMF elders.... tracking less regularly-- quality over quantity.

But then, I have always been a bloody greedy bugger. But I aint out for the count. I know I will be back, but I need to come back after a sabattical. Maybe 6 months will do it. But this time when I come back it will have to be different. No more bull shit mucking around. Instead my first session will be with Ascendant by my side. So I sort of start with a clean slate.... hopefully that will invogorate me again...

Anycase... was great to meet Roy, aka Vtec on the Evo forum.... and nice running with you too mate!

Karaoke For the Illiterate (ie: all SMF'ers)

2011-02-17T11:24:00.000+08:00

Yep, admit it... you sang along didn't you!

Nurburgring Vid...

2011-02-16T22:14:00.000+08:00

Check this video out.... wow.... I want the full video!!!

Chris Harris rant on Ferrari

2011-02-16T15:31:00.001+08:00

Found this on the Jalopnik website. Chris Harris writes for Evo mag and a number of other car magazines. This is his posting on his views of Ferrari as an establishment today. Note that he has also been known to be partial to Porsche's (he used to own a right hand drive Porsche 993 GT2) although he has owned more than a few Ferrari's as well. Think at the end of the day Ferari should be allowed to adjust their cars so long as any publicly owned car can be adjusted the same without any additional purchase of parts- the issue is the way in which Ferrari controls the writing of articles by journalists.... any case this is a fun read...

How Ferrari spins

By Chris Harris

Feb 15, 2011 03:00 PM

I told the blokes here at Jalopnik I was pissed at Ferrari and wanted to tell a few people. They said I could do it here. Stay with me, this might take a while.
I think it started in 2007 when I heard that Ferrari wanted to know which test track we were going to use for Autocar's 599 GTB road test, but in reality the rot had set in many years earlier. Why would it want to know that? "Because," said the man from the Autocar office, "The factory now has to send a test team to the circuit we chose so that they can optimize the car to get the best performance from it." They duly went to the track, tested for a day, crashed the car, went back to the factory to mend the car, returned, tested and then invited us to drive this "standard" 599. They must have been having a laugh.
Sad to say it, but the ecstasy of driving a new Ferrari is now almost always eradicated by the pain of dealing with the organization. Why am I bothering to tell you this? Because I'm pissed with the whole thing now. It's gotten out of control; to the point that it will soon be pointless believing anything you read about its cars through the usual channels, because the only way you get access is playing by its rules.
Like anyone with half a brain, I've been willing to cut Ferrari some slack because it is, well, Ferrari –- the most famous fast car brand of all and the maker of cars that everyone wants to know about. Bang out a video of yourself drifting a new Jag XKR on YouTube and 17 people watch it; do the same in a 430 Scuderia and the audience is 500,000 strong. As a journalist, those numbers make you willing to accommodate truck-loads of bullshit, but I've had enough now. I couldn't care if I never drive a new Ferrari again, if it means I never have to deal with the insane communication machine and continue lying about the lengths to which Ferrari will bend any rule to get what it wants. Which is just as well, because I don't think I'm going to be invited back to Maranello any time soon. Shame, the food's bloody marvelous.
How bad has it been? I honestly don't know where to start. Perhaps the 360 Modena press car that was two seconds faster to 100mph than the customer car we also tested. You allow some leeway for "factory fresh" machines, but this thing was ludicrously quick and sounded more like Schumacher's weekend wheels than a street car. Ferrari will never admit that its press cars are tuned, but has the gall to turn up at any of the big European magazines' end-of-year-shindig-tests with two cars. One for straight line work, the other for handling exercises. Because that's what happens when you buy a 458: they deliver two for just those eventualities. The whole thing stinks. In any other industry it wouldn't be allowed to happen. It's dishonest, but all the mags take it between the cheeks because they're too scared of not being invited to drive the next new Ferrari.

Remember the awesome 430 Scuderia? What a car that was, and still is. One English magazine went along with all the cheating-bullshit because the cars did seem to be representative of what a customer might get to drive, but then during the dyno session, the "standard" tires stuck themselves to the rollers.
And this is the nub: how fucking paranoid do you have to be to put even stickier rubber on a Scuderia? It's like John Holmes having an extra two inches grafted onto his dick. I mean it's not as if, according to your own communication, you're not a clear market leader and maker of the best sports cars in the world now, is it?

What Ferrari plainly cannot see is that its strategy to win every test at any cost is completely counter-productive. First, it completely undermines the amazing work of its own engineers. What does it say about a 458 if the only way its maker is willing to loan it to a magazine is if a laptop can be plugged in after every journey and a dedicated team needs to spend several days at the chosen test track to set-up the car? It says they're completely nuts –- behavior that looks even worse when rival brands just hand over their car with nothing more than a polite suggestion that you should avoid crashing it too heavily, and then return a week later.

Point two: the internet is good for three things: free porn, Jalopnik and spreading information. Fifteen years ago, if your 355 wasn't as fast as the maker claimed you could give the supplying dealer a headache, whine at the local owners club and not much besides. Nowadays you spray your message around the globe and every bugger knows about it in minutes. So, when we used an owner's 430 Scud because Ferrari wouldn't lend us the test car, it was obliterated in a straight line by a GT2 and a Lambo LP 560-4, despite all the "official" road test figures suggesting it was faster than Halley's Comet. The forums went nuts and some Scud owners rightly felt they hadn't been delivered the car they'd read about in all the buff books. Talk about karma slapping you in the face.
It's the level of control that's so profoundly irritating and I think damaging to the brand. Once you know that it takes a full support crew and two 458s to supply those amazing stats, it then takes the shine off the car. The simple message from Ferrari is that unless you play exactly by the laws they lay down, you're off the list.
What are those laws? Apart from the laughable track test stuff, as a journalist you are expressly forbidden from driving any current Ferrari road car without permission from the factory. So if I want to drive my mate's 458 tomorrow, I have to ask the factory. Will it allow me to drive the car? No: because it is of "unknown provenance," i.e. not tuned. I'm almost tempted to buy a 458, just for the joy of phoning Maranello every morning and asking if its OK if I take my kid to school.
Where I've personally run into trouble is by using owners' cars for comparison tests. Ferrari absolutely hates this; even if you say unremittingly nice things about its cars, it goes ape shit. But you want to see a 458 against a GT3 RS so I'm going to deliver that story and that video. Likewise the 599 GTO and the GT2 RS. Ferrari honestly believes it can control every aspect of the media — it has actively intervened several times when I've asked to borrow owners' cars.
The control freakery is getting worse: for the FF launch in March journalists have to say which outlets they are writing it for and those have to be approved by Maranello. Honestly, we're perilously close to having the words and verdicts vetted by the Ferrari press office before they're released, which of course has always been the way in some markets.
Should I give a shit about this stuff? Probably not. It's not like it's a life-and-death situation; supercars are pretty unserious tackle. But the best thing about car nuts is that they let you drive their cars, and Ferrari has absolutely no chance stopping people like me driving what they want to drive. Of course their attempts to stop me makes it an even better sport and merely hardens my resolve, but the sad thing is its cars are so good it doesn't need all this shite. I'll repeat that for the benefit of any vestige of a chance I might have of ever driving a Ferrari press car ever again (which is virtually none). "Its cars are so good it doesn't need this shite."
None of this will make any difference to Ferrari. I'm just an irrelevant Limey who doesn't really matter. But I've had enough of concealing what goes on, to the point that I no longer want to be a Ferrari owner, a de-facto member of its bullshit-control-edifice. I sold my 575 before Christmas. As pathetic protests go, you have to agree it's high quality.
Jesus, this is now sounding like a properly depressing rant. I'll leave it there. Just remember all this stuff then next time you read a magazine group test with a prancing stallion in it.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Chris Harris is a UK-based freelance car writer who once bought a 1995 512 TR but sold it when his mates called him Tubbs and put Jan Hammer on his iPod.

What Would Jesus Do?

2011-02-14T00:27:00.008+08:00

Its been an interesting week, full of moral dilemma and tests of character which go to core of what is right or wrong.. yes, cometh the hour, cometh the man.. and im glad to say that I passed those tests with my moral compass pointing true north - just kidding!

Its been an awesome week where dreams have come true – but only if you have the same depraved dreams as me (which I know you do)...

So picture this, I get a sms from an old friend asking for a favour.. now I should set the scene, this old friend was and is my smoking hot unfinished business – seven years ago I was a plucky go-getter straight off the plane and I met her, 19 years old, body of a Sports Illustrated swimsuit model, dances like only hot chicks who are the centre of attention can (ie nasty!), and my first taste of Singapore... we hook up once way back, she leaves a wet spot the size of Michelin cup sports in the bed and I’m hooked.. we spend the next month dating, dinners at whatever, hanging out at Pasir Ris beach until 5am in the morning...

... and I chase for months after, trying to go the next level and another taste of Nirvana, but to no avail, in between the lies it turns out she has got a boy friend and I aint getting any of the good stuff anymore... seven long years ago with occasional come backs as our paths intersect every now & then with brief bursts of intensity but always falling short...

So back to the sms from her.. it goes exactly like this “Dude…Do u wanna sleep wif me?? I have a deal 4 u… I spend a nite wif u 2nite…I can mit u tis evening…u can do wat u want…but u have to pay mi 1k…I noe tis may come as a surprise... but im seriously in nid of $$.. etc” and then another one “its 4 $$ sake so pls dun ask me bout my bf… thks 4 e consideration.. U may treat me like im a whore or wateva 4 tat day”

Now I’m in a dilemma, imagine the love of your life, the one that got away, slipped through your fingers like water, has come back into your life… but this time you can treat her like a piece of meat.. yeah bro, I know what you are thinking and you are right – I’ll meet you by the water cooler in hell!.. There’s a legend in the trading world (immortalized by Michael Lewis in his book Liar’s Poker) that back in the day Salomon Brothers chairman John Gutfreund challenged the biggest swinging dick on the floor John Meriwether for one game of liar’s poker (kinda like dice but played with serial numbers on a dollar bill) – One hand. One million dollars. No tears (ie no complaints win or lose). To which Meriwether said, “No John, if we gonna play then we play for real money. Ten million dollars. No tears.”

Now that’s what she is basically asking me – $1,000. No questions. No regrets… how can I refuse? Granted she is no longer a teenage prodigy but to finally grab that brass ring.. and destroy it!.. oh yeah there gonna be no tears, except for my tears of joy!

In the meantime while I’m planning my invasion of Normandy on her ass, I get another call from a female friend whom I’ve know since back home in the old country. This one was never really on the hit list but hey since I’m in a morality week, bring it on! (plus I have a weakness for blondes or brunettes or black hair or even no hair – shaven haven indeed!) Turns out this one has found her true love in London... the only kicker is that she has a husband and 2 kids giving her a bit of baggage!

Naturally over a counseling session at Heli where I’m off my head, I provide her solace and comfort, spiritually asking her what does she want out of all this... then asking what does he want to do to her, what would she let him do to her, what’s the most shameful thing she has ever done, is that a brazilian or landing strip going on, is the backdoor really cheating or just a great loophole etc... after a few more drinks and some Jedi mind tricks from Rockstar, I’m thinking this mama is ready to rock...

So I stagger out with her and in the short trip down from 5^th floor to ground floor while I got my hand on her ass trying to get the bowling ball grip in play, I have an epiphany – what am I doing? This is not right, I’m not a grass cutter, this one has a family and I may be bad but I’m not that bad!

In a moment of clarity I unplug my hand and bungle her into a cab by herself, while giving her a traditional peck of the cheek and squeeze of a nork – it would be rude not to!

And then I go back to planning my invasion of Normandy… yeah I am that bad, just like you mother fucker!

Sierra Sierra Evo VII.... Is this the fastest track Evo/Time Attack Car in the World?

2011-02-13T22:01:00.001+08:00

A great write up on the Evo of the moment (and possibly the fastest Time Attack Car currently in existence).

Article on Sierra Sierra Evo VII

Toto is getting new wheels

2011-02-11T23:25:00.000+08:00

Whilst some of us SMF'ers are content with aiming at a set of new rims for our cars, others are hitting up for a full make over. And we ain't talking about a new body kit (oh yeah, we will get the scoop on Phil's turbo later), but Toto has dumped his time attack exotic (the Superleg) for something a bit simpler....

Will update with pics in due course.... stay tuned!

Air Cooled is cool!!

2011-02-11T23:22:00.000+08:00

Just when you think that there are no interesting air cooled 911's left in Singapore.....

The sad part is that the interior is horrible, with black leather trimmed with yellow inserts. Not sure as to what the exact car is but looking at the interior dash dates the car back to the pre large air vents in the dashboard ie: pre 1986.

Will try and unearth more on this car...

Here I go again...

2011-02-11T23:11:00.000+08:00

Ok, back to cars.... for the moment...

I have an itch... and that itch pertains to my RS. Everytime I think that I am ready to keep the RS stock, the thought goes back to changing out the rims to something different. And ever since I got myself the OZs in black for the track, I have been thinking of getting a set of blacks for the road as well..

Enter what many perceive to be the best wheels money can buy for the Porsche, and they ain't unreasonably priced to match....

Advanced Structural Alloys based out of the US makes the Tech1-110 Forged Alloy.

These wheels weigh in at 7.2kg per wheel up front and 8.95kg per wheel up back for 12j 19 inch sizing for my RS, which essentially saves up to 30lbs of unsprung weight and are TUV approved. Wheels have been tested and rated for 400kmh and 950bhp at the wheel.

Pricing comes in at a relatively nifty USD4,695 for the full set of 4 finished in either black anodized or spray painted. Shipping to Singapore is a reasonable USD550.

Some pictures of the wheels mounted to 997's....

Well, just waiting on the bonus declaration now as Smoothie has fed me some horror stories about bonus payouts this year from some other banks before committing to these wheels.... will let you all know if I finally take the plunge.... and if I do you can rest assured there will be some pictures to follow....