Recap from Atlanta #2...

Yes, we were lagging about Atlanta Formula D thingy. I am sorry everyone!



Here is one of the Judges, Sexy Tony Angelo...He is a good entertainer here and there. hahaha

The Official FD Announcer, J-Rod, was saying Tony got a Pig-Flu thingy...hahaha



Before the qualify started, Taka was extremely tired since he was sick when we left home, in addition to the car issues that happened previous days. Being a privateer is really hard. Taka was a driver, mechanic, and so on by himself.

Anywayz, the qualify started...

The oil leak issue was somehow fixed by the time for the qualify, so he pulled the car into the line and ready to go for first qualified run. After the Formula Doug gave Taka sign to go, he started his car down the straight away... 1st gear...was OK, and 2nd gear...wasn't OK!!! The car shut down the engine by itself when Taka hit rev limiter @ 8500rpm. I was like, "OMG!! What happened?!?!" And the poor corolla came complete stopped @ entry of P section by gravity... haha

Luckily, by using down hill, he was able to start the car again w/out starter. Here was our conversation...

Taka: "Hmmmm....my engine stopped!"
Yoshie: "HA? What do you mean??"

Taka: "I mean...my engine stopped."
Yoshie: "Why??"

Taka: "I don't know..."
Yoshie: "...O..."


Now...he had 1 chance left. I was soooo worried. Even if his car had a problem, or he was sick...I didn't want to disappoint everyone who supported Taka to make it to Atlanta. So did Taka.

On the grid, Taka parked his AE86 next to his truck and went over every electric connections in the car. There is always people who are nice and kind to help others. Of course, in the middle of the grid of Road Atlanta...quite few people helped Taka to make him going.

Thank you very very much for your help!!

Mr. Motec: Nathan
Chris Forsburg Racing Crew: Kevin Wells
Team JTP (?) Crew: Brian Benson
Team Falken Crews: Scott & Gun Ho
Team BOSO Crews: Frank & Keigo
Team MA-Motorsports Crew: Ray

The AE86 somehow became drivable...haha But still had issues w/ higher RPM operations.


The second run, he didn't have the run that he could have cuz of the unknown car issue. The car didn't want to boost, but somehow he managed to complete the course. And he got 25th out 32!! It wasn't greatest, but at least, he could advance to the main day.

I was hoping that the issue would be fixed by the competition day. There was a practice after the qualify, but we spent all time to figuring out the issue. Around 1:30am-ish, we went back to the hotel to rest for next day. :(

The main day...still had issues. Well, we found the loose ground, but it didn't fix all the thingys. :(


Thank you very much for your help x 2!!!

Race Design: Mickey Andrade
Mr. Motec: Nathan

haha, I needed to go to the driver's meeting, so I let them stay w/ AE86 to check it out.


The main event started...

Taka went against JR...and it was most likely "a lion against a puppy" kinda thingy. haha

For the first run, JR was leading...Taka lost the power on the way back and straighten out...so advantage to JR. The second run, Taka was all over...I mean, to the dirt. hahaha
But it looked great! hahaha O well, Taka was done for the weekend.

Even though our pit was the farthest from the main area, we got a lot of people visited!!
J-Rod was nice enough to announce to, "Visit and see Taka's car w/ all contributed names on the roof & rear window!!" Thank you very much, J-Rod!!

It was kinda WOW...that all the people walked to see his car!!

Thank you everyone for your support!!

Till top 16 started, we got a lot of people walking to see Taka's car! And after that, we just relaxed...

---

And we left Atlanta on Sun...and we stopped by @ SouthEast Drift event. We stayed there for a couple of hours, but we got information that the T-storm was coming...so we left.

And...I am really sorry to the drivers who asked Taka to drive. We had to go before T-storm get too crazy... :(

Thank you very much for the invitation!! :)

O, here is one of the interesting cars we'd found @ the event... ;)


On the way go back...we got nice T-storm again. Whenever the T-storm was heavy, Taka was driving. (Or...whenever Taka was driving, T-storm was heavy??) Whenever I was driving, it was no heavy rain. hehe ;)


The result-wise, Taka might disappoint you all, but he will find the problem of the car @ Technosquare and definitely will come back! Will see what happens. ;)


Thank you very much again for your support!!


Yoshie