RECENT NEWS

June 29th:

I attended the Des Moines Valley Region Autocross event at Iowa Speedway in Newton. This was an amazing event and was by far the funnest course I 've been on yet. This location is the largest parking lot the Des Moines Valley Region has to offer. The course as it was set up was just over 1/2 mile long! the direction of the course was quite linear and it was not confusing at all, but there were so many turns and slaloms and boxes that it was amazingly fun!! there were 2 slaloms (one of which was curved) and there were 3 boxes! On the one wide sweeping turn, one of the rx8 drivers logged 60mph and 1.25g's!! I was preparing my car all day on saturday for this event because I knew it was going to be a fast and long course. I welded together some sway bar brackets to finally get my 14.7mm rear sway bar installed. I also swapped out my "monster truck" integra rear suspension for the stock hatch suspension to give the car back its stock ride height. (no more off-roading?) I tried it out a bit after checking in at Jared's house and the car seemed to respond better and turn nicer, but it was wet out. I wasn't too sure.

Sunday, after leaving for newton at 7:00 am and arriving at about 9:25 I was parked and started unloading the civic. Parking arrangements could have been better. They had us all in a single file line down one road parallel to the course. This meant about a 1/4 mile to run from my car to the registration/tech area. oh well, I need the exercise anyway. I walked the course twice and by then it was time for the driver's meeting (10:45). I managed to walk one more lap around the course. It was VERY TECHNICAL!! I chased cones for the first heat. There was some amazing cars that I got to see very close. I was working right in front of a box that transitioned some gates to a wide sweeping curve. Some of the rwd cars were having problems, some of the fwd cars were misjudging turns and understeering, plowing over cones. The awd cars were loving it! (except for both the Audis, they both seemed to turn in to fast and plow over cones). Most unusual of all was one of the later slaloms. On the second cone of the slalom, the gap closed causing everyone to overshoot it. I could tell this course was going to be amazing. There was a supercharged mk1 mr2 there that was oversteering all over the place. it spun out twice! The rx8s seemed to be out in force and all of them were doing really well. I had a few pointers for my runs since I was working so close to the cars in the first heat.

When it was time for my first run, I took off a bit cautiously and through the first slalom I could tell that these new tires were a LOT better then the Kineticas! I hit the first box and pressed the brakes to kill my speed like I normally would have-- the new sway bar sent me into a fishtail!! BEAUTIFUL!! this car is starting to become more and more balanced! Turning became so much easier! I finished my run with a not so impressive time and taking out one cone. Now I have to learn how to drive this car all over again!

My second run was quite a bit quicker but I found myself messing around with the gears too much. Shifting into second and trying to back down to first in the slower parts was not working for me. Maybe I need some different gears?

Third run I shifted into second through the first slalom and kept it in second until the slower parts again. My problem is that I shift back into first without revving up the engine, therefore I end up slowing down from downshifting and result in going too slow.

Fourth run I smoothed everything out. I was hitting the rev limiter in first during the beginning slalom and shifted into second and left it there the entire rest of the course. I used both hands to control the steering wheel and didnt touch the shifter. Quickest time yet! Fifth run I did more of the same, smoothing out my run and leaving it in second. I finished with my fifth run being quickest of all.

December 6th:

I got my CLI website put up today. I think it looks pretty fantastic. I am not really that good with web sites so if you like this, let me know.

I used my own engine bay for the image above and I think that turned out really nice. I do this kind of stuff at work all the time but it is nice to be able to make a website about something I can be passionate about.

If you like my site, send me a PM or email me. Thanks!

November 31st:

I finally got my own house. Well, I am renting one at least. I got moved in today. It is in Clear Lake, one of the nicest and most beautiful towns that I could ever hope to live in. I have lived in Clear Lake before, but this is a more long term stay than before.

My house is a 2 bedroom 1 bathroom single level house with a basement and a garage. It is a really neat design because the garage is underground underneath the house. The door out of the garage leads to my basement. That means the garage is always warm enough to turn wrenches in!

Anybody who wants to see my house, give me a call or PM me. I am more than eager to show off the place. Thanks!

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