twinturboch
08-11-2005, 13:43
Right, well that was an absolutely cracking event. :cool:
Everything was arranged at the last minute after Buttsy invited me along to compete. I wasnt looking forward to the long journey but I had Lee (Liberal123) along to keep me company so I wouldn't be bored.
I left work at 3pm on Friday afternoon, went home, picked up Lee, loaded the car and left London for Fishguard in South Wlaes to catch the boat. We left at 7pm in case the traffic was bad but still only got to Fishguard at 1:30 as we had decided to stop at Pizza hut on the way.
Anyway, we were loaded onto the boat at 2am and met up with Brett Castle with his other half Jen, who were taking Bretts S14a, and Bon Bon and Driftbolox, who were in Bon's M3 sleeper. Anyway, we all proceeded to get drunk in the bar as the boat was empty and it's a three and a half hour journey. Bon Bon made the mistake of falling asleep, so Driftybolox, Brett, Lee and myself decided in our less than sober state to torment him. There folowed much ice on crotch to simulate incontinance and much felt tip pen drawing on the face. This last fete also befell Driftbolox, who later fell asleep himself and ended up looking like the Italian flag :D :p :cool:
Anyway, we arrived on Ross Lare on the south coast of Ireland at around 6:30am all feeling thoroughly sobered up, but a little tired. We decided it would be best if we thrashed it to the hotel since it was 250kms away and we wanted to check in a get a couple of hours sleep before the afternoon practice. Unfortunately, Driftybolox and Lee wanted to get some photos for Driftworks, so we stopped on a country lane, let them out and then Bon and I proceeded to 'demonstrate' some 'techniques' on this little country lane. :wack: All good fun, unles you oject to cars bouncing off the rev limiter at 7am on a saturday :D After much frolicking, we carried on. Upon arriving at the hotel we all de-bussed and attempted to check in, only to be told that we couldn't until midday, so, some furious blagging ensued on the part of Driftybolox, and we were offered our rooms early. Nice.
So, Brett, Jen and driftybolox went to their rooms and went to sleep, saying they couldn't be bothered to go to practice, 'WEAKSAUCE' I said. Fortunately, Lee, Bon Bon and I bumped into Declan from Conedodgers and Nick from DME who were just about to leave for the track. So we knocked the idea of sleep on the head and followed the guys down to the circuit.
Another 120km to the circuit and when we got there the Irish were already in full swing doing the qualifying for the following day. I must confess, I have never seen so much carnage at a drift event. We went out and had a few practice runs immmediately, but at about 3:30 things started to go a little wrong. Apart from the usual gentle scrapes, Nick had an unfortunate incident with the wall on the outside of turn one and had to replace the toe arm on the front left overnight. Miguel Marini's front left wheel decided to part company from the rest of the S15 it was attached to (due to loose wheel nuts). Martin French was having a tsuisou practice with Darren Mac and decided that he had to make contact with the wall tipping his car up on its side and reversing Darren into the wall. At this point the organizers decided to end the practice day an hour early so that they would at least have some car left for the competition on the Sunday LOL :wack:
So, we packed up and headed back to the hotel. After freshening up, a few of us went for a nice chinese and then headed off to join the others (about 40 irish lads and lasses) at the pub next to our hotel. At 1am, many Vodka and Red bulls later, and still lacking in any form of sleep, we were kicked out of the pub and all stumbled accross to the nightclub opposite, which was conveniently located directly under our hotel. :thumbs:
So, much more drink and larking about later, we left the club and all head off to bed at around 3am.
Sunday morning, up at 6:30, feeling SHIT! Down to breakfast and the fry-up does us no good at all. We pack up and check out and all do the 120kms back to the circuit again. We don't have much to do in the morning as the 30 Irish drivers are to b knocked down to 16, these will then Tsuisou down to the best 8 and then these 8 were due to face us.
At 1pm the Irish best 16 started and the tension was high, all the guys clearly wanted a chance to beat us english pigs back down and it showed. There was contact in almost every single run, most just cosmetic, but some rather serious. Darren Mac managed to go head-on with a skyline that spun in front of him resulting in some rather severe front end damage for both cars, Johnny Power managed to roll Mark Coyle's S14, Frenchy seemed to be a magnet for contact seemingly attached to the car he was up against, the list goes on.
So the Irish guys finish their runs and we learn which of the irish will be facing us. Buttsy, the organizer and all round LEGEND comes walking over and says, 'nothing personal......but you're up against Darren' :eek: :wack: OK me thinks, someone (me) who has NEVER tsuisou'd before up against someone who made into best 8 at the D1 exhibition match :smash: So, I'm fcuked then LOL. To make things even more interesting, Darren comes over, wraps his arms around mine and says 'we're gonna have a good laugh out there, you and me' Oooops.
I start bricking it, but I have a while to wait as we are going out 6th pair of 8, and I'm sure in that time I went through a whole packet of B&H.
The time comes. I pull up next to Mac at the start line. Glance accross at him, he's not even concerning himself with me, he just gazes blankly into the area just in front of his bonnet, concentrating intensly. We get the flag, I dump the clutch and try to control the wheelspin. I manage to keep up to the first corner but don't carry quite enough speed on entry, he start to pull away. Now I'm on the back foot, I need to catch hima nd fast. I pile on the speed coming out of the corner but it seems to fail to get traction. Th gap remains. I hit the limiter half way down the straight and immediately grab a big handful of handbrake. The car slews sideways and I get the the lock stops immediately. Using the footbrake to slow the car down, I gain a vital car length on him. Out of the corner and into the transition and he is slow, I gain maybe two car lengths on him and try to tuck up the inside into the hairpin. The entry is fine and I get cocky, ramping the car straight up to the limiter.....and spun. :annoyed: I was soooo unimpressed with myself that I felt like punching myself. How stupid. Never mind I think, there is another leg yet, I just have to do my best.
Back at the start line. I am to go first this time. I drop the clutch, again, controlling the wheelspin to try and get traction, attempting to put soem space between me and Darren. Into the first corner and he's closer than I would like. I hunt for the grip on the outside and manage to find it, laying the power down and pulling half a car length on him at the exit. I'm extatic that I've pulled anything at all. However this was my second mistake, I did the same as the previous lap, I hit the limiter and went on the handbrake, the car went to the lock stops just like last time, but I was too busy worried about Darren gaining, and I left my foot braking too late meaning I ran slightly wide and scubbed off too much speed. Firstly, I thought I was going to hit the wall, by the time I had rescued it, my brain still hadn't made the connection, then suddenly it did 'SHIT, where's Darren' in all the faffing trying to rescue the drift, I hadn't bothered thinking about Mac, so I glance right, he's about a foot away from my door handle. CRAP. I nail the pwoer and try to hold on around the outside, somehow I manage it and as we get to the transition I chop accross infront of him and fly up to the hairpin. This time there is no mistake, I carry parfect speed through and out of the corner, then onto the final bend and all is good. At the finish line I've managed to pull around three car lengths on him and, although beaten, I am one seriously happy bunny.
We watched the rest of the comp, which Darren eventually went on to win and the carnage level dropped as the skill level went up.
We left the circuit at 6 and headed back to Ross Lare, got the ferry and then drove home. We eventually got home at 6:30am on Monday morning having had a total of 6 hours sleep since Friday and having to go straight to work. :sleep: Pukka. I WILL be going back :nod:
Here some vids of the nastyness.
Miguel's wheel: http://www.savefile.com/files/7107160
Frenchy tips on his side: http://www.savefile.com/files/1485639
Johnny P rolls it: http://www.savefile.com/files/7775298
And finally, here is my battle with Darren, he beat me fair and square but I am more than happy with my performance on the day. http://www.savefile.com/files/6579133
Everything was arranged at the last minute after Buttsy invited me along to compete. I wasnt looking forward to the long journey but I had Lee (Liberal123) along to keep me company so I wouldn't be bored.
I left work at 3pm on Friday afternoon, went home, picked up Lee, loaded the car and left London for Fishguard in South Wlaes to catch the boat. We left at 7pm in case the traffic was bad but still only got to Fishguard at 1:30 as we had decided to stop at Pizza hut on the way.
Anyway, we were loaded onto the boat at 2am and met up with Brett Castle with his other half Jen, who were taking Bretts S14a, and Bon Bon and Driftbolox, who were in Bon's M3 sleeper. Anyway, we all proceeded to get drunk in the bar as the boat was empty and it's a three and a half hour journey. Bon Bon made the mistake of falling asleep, so Driftybolox, Brett, Lee and myself decided in our less than sober state to torment him. There folowed much ice on crotch to simulate incontinance and much felt tip pen drawing on the face. This last fete also befell Driftbolox, who later fell asleep himself and ended up looking like the Italian flag :D :p :cool:
Anyway, we arrived on Ross Lare on the south coast of Ireland at around 6:30am all feeling thoroughly sobered up, but a little tired. We decided it would be best if we thrashed it to the hotel since it was 250kms away and we wanted to check in a get a couple of hours sleep before the afternoon practice. Unfortunately, Driftybolox and Lee wanted to get some photos for Driftworks, so we stopped on a country lane, let them out and then Bon and I proceeded to 'demonstrate' some 'techniques' on this little country lane. :wack: All good fun, unles you oject to cars bouncing off the rev limiter at 7am on a saturday :D After much frolicking, we carried on. Upon arriving at the hotel we all de-bussed and attempted to check in, only to be told that we couldn't until midday, so, some furious blagging ensued on the part of Driftybolox, and we were offered our rooms early. Nice.
So, Brett, Jen and driftybolox went to their rooms and went to sleep, saying they couldn't be bothered to go to practice, 'WEAKSAUCE' I said. Fortunately, Lee, Bon Bon and I bumped into Declan from Conedodgers and Nick from DME who were just about to leave for the track. So we knocked the idea of sleep on the head and followed the guys down to the circuit.
Another 120km to the circuit and when we got there the Irish were already in full swing doing the qualifying for the following day. I must confess, I have never seen so much carnage at a drift event. We went out and had a few practice runs immmediately, but at about 3:30 things started to go a little wrong. Apart from the usual gentle scrapes, Nick had an unfortunate incident with the wall on the outside of turn one and had to replace the toe arm on the front left overnight. Miguel Marini's front left wheel decided to part company from the rest of the S15 it was attached to (due to loose wheel nuts). Martin French was having a tsuisou practice with Darren Mac and decided that he had to make contact with the wall tipping his car up on its side and reversing Darren into the wall. At this point the organizers decided to end the practice day an hour early so that they would at least have some car left for the competition on the Sunday LOL :wack:
So, we packed up and headed back to the hotel. After freshening up, a few of us went for a nice chinese and then headed off to join the others (about 40 irish lads and lasses) at the pub next to our hotel. At 1am, many Vodka and Red bulls later, and still lacking in any form of sleep, we were kicked out of the pub and all stumbled accross to the nightclub opposite, which was conveniently located directly under our hotel. :thumbs:
So, much more drink and larking about later, we left the club and all head off to bed at around 3am.
Sunday morning, up at 6:30, feeling SHIT! Down to breakfast and the fry-up does us no good at all. We pack up and check out and all do the 120kms back to the circuit again. We don't have much to do in the morning as the 30 Irish drivers are to b knocked down to 16, these will then Tsuisou down to the best 8 and then these 8 were due to face us.
At 1pm the Irish best 16 started and the tension was high, all the guys clearly wanted a chance to beat us english pigs back down and it showed. There was contact in almost every single run, most just cosmetic, but some rather serious. Darren Mac managed to go head-on with a skyline that spun in front of him resulting in some rather severe front end damage for both cars, Johnny Power managed to roll Mark Coyle's S14, Frenchy seemed to be a magnet for contact seemingly attached to the car he was up against, the list goes on.
So the Irish guys finish their runs and we learn which of the irish will be facing us. Buttsy, the organizer and all round LEGEND comes walking over and says, 'nothing personal......but you're up against Darren' :eek: :wack: OK me thinks, someone (me) who has NEVER tsuisou'd before up against someone who made into best 8 at the D1 exhibition match :smash: So, I'm fcuked then LOL. To make things even more interesting, Darren comes over, wraps his arms around mine and says 'we're gonna have a good laugh out there, you and me' Oooops.
I start bricking it, but I have a while to wait as we are going out 6th pair of 8, and I'm sure in that time I went through a whole packet of B&H.
The time comes. I pull up next to Mac at the start line. Glance accross at him, he's not even concerning himself with me, he just gazes blankly into the area just in front of his bonnet, concentrating intensly. We get the flag, I dump the clutch and try to control the wheelspin. I manage to keep up to the first corner but don't carry quite enough speed on entry, he start to pull away. Now I'm on the back foot, I need to catch hima nd fast. I pile on the speed coming out of the corner but it seems to fail to get traction. Th gap remains. I hit the limiter half way down the straight and immediately grab a big handful of handbrake. The car slews sideways and I get the the lock stops immediately. Using the footbrake to slow the car down, I gain a vital car length on him. Out of the corner and into the transition and he is slow, I gain maybe two car lengths on him and try to tuck up the inside into the hairpin. The entry is fine and I get cocky, ramping the car straight up to the limiter.....and spun. :annoyed: I was soooo unimpressed with myself that I felt like punching myself. How stupid. Never mind I think, there is another leg yet, I just have to do my best.
Back at the start line. I am to go first this time. I drop the clutch, again, controlling the wheelspin to try and get traction, attempting to put soem space between me and Darren. Into the first corner and he's closer than I would like. I hunt for the grip on the outside and manage to find it, laying the power down and pulling half a car length on him at the exit. I'm extatic that I've pulled anything at all. However this was my second mistake, I did the same as the previous lap, I hit the limiter and went on the handbrake, the car went to the lock stops just like last time, but I was too busy worried about Darren gaining, and I left my foot braking too late meaning I ran slightly wide and scubbed off too much speed. Firstly, I thought I was going to hit the wall, by the time I had rescued it, my brain still hadn't made the connection, then suddenly it did 'SHIT, where's Darren' in all the faffing trying to rescue the drift, I hadn't bothered thinking about Mac, so I glance right, he's about a foot away from my door handle. CRAP. I nail the pwoer and try to hold on around the outside, somehow I manage it and as we get to the transition I chop accross infront of him and fly up to the hairpin. This time there is no mistake, I carry parfect speed through and out of the corner, then onto the final bend and all is good. At the finish line I've managed to pull around three car lengths on him and, although beaten, I am one seriously happy bunny.
We watched the rest of the comp, which Darren eventually went on to win and the carnage level dropped as the skill level went up.
We left the circuit at 6 and headed back to Ross Lare, got the ferry and then drove home. We eventually got home at 6:30am on Monday morning having had a total of 6 hours sleep since Friday and having to go straight to work. :sleep: Pukka. I WILL be going back :nod:
Here some vids of the nastyness.
Miguel's wheel: http://www.savefile.com/files/7107160
Frenchy tips on his side: http://www.savefile.com/files/1485639
Johnny P rolls it: http://www.savefile.com/files/7775298
And finally, here is my battle with Darren, he beat me fair and square but I am more than happy with my performance on the day. http://www.savefile.com/files/6579133