Well, there comes a time in a man’s life when he’s gotta get up and grown up…..

Check her out, shes a beauty aint she?

And this is the livingroom as viewed from the stairs..

and the kitchen is amazing….it has an imported countertop of some sort…I dunno.

The rooms are cool too.

And the backyard.

and it has a detached 2-car garage of course.

enough with the boring house crap…….

I tell ya what, I never thought I would actually make it to the bigTime….the show….I mean, Ive worked so hard these past two years and to end up making it through the ProAm with a FD license…..I aint gunna lie, it feels good.

My new co-worker AND drifting partner James Robinson in the Honda Element also made it through and ended up with an FD license as well.  Now the plan for next year is in the works.  It pains me to keep my big mouth shut about what we are working on for next year but Im serious….I cant say a thing….UGGGGGG.  BUT, I promise, as soon as I can tell ya I will, It will be released here on my blog first. So check back often…..probably after the new year though.

Oh yeah, for those who dont know, I have accepted a position with Honda R&D and am now living in Columbus Ohio.

———–Below is the write-up about the ProAm on LookOutDrift.com.————-

Just wanted to say thanks to all the drivers and spectators who made the trek out to the event, it was the most fun I think I’ve had at an event all year. The talent was awesome and so was everyone’s attitude as well as throwing down every night starting on Thursday. Met a lot of people from all over the place and I was amazed at how helpful everyone was when someone needed a part or a hand. Thanks to Ernie, JR, and Mike for judging (glad they drew those unlucky straws); Collins and Dan for making up the rest of the 4 man show; Ben, Nick, and Simba for filling in here and there when we needed them; as well as Kevin, Jimmy, and Phil for getting tons of footage. If I left you off I apologize now, I’m still recovering! Also like to thank VIR, GTLive, and Mazda for the boxed lunches and helping make the event happen. Should have qualifying, tandem results, etc… on here later today.

2008 Formula Drift PRO/AM East Divisional Championship presented by Mazda
held in conjunction with GTLive 7 and the KONI Challenge Finals.
October 3-5, 2008 – VIRginia International Raceway, Alton, VA

10 Drivers Awarded 2009 Formula Drift Professional Series Licenses:
Brian Wilkerson
John Wagner
Nathan Brasz
Dan Savage
Dennis Mertzanis
Matt Waldin
Ron Ewerth
Ali Aljibouri
Stewart Leask
James Robinson

PRO/AM Final Event Results:
1. Brian Wilkerson
2. John Wagner
3. Nathan Brasz
4. Dan Savage
5. Dennis Mertzanis
6. Matt Waldin
7. Ron Ewerth
8. Ali Aljibouri
9. Stewart Leask
10. Russell Walker
11. Gary Simmons
12. Dan Willie
13. Greg Blair
14. Mike Pollard
15. Rod Campos
16. James Robinson

Tandem Bracket:

Finals:
Brian Wilkerson v. John Wagner
Wilkerson leading Wagner:
Wagner goes wide into turn 2 and slides through clip zone 1 and 2 and ends up going off course.
Wagner leading Wilkerson:
Both drivers have solid runs, Wilkerson closes gap some between turns 2 and 3.
Wilkerson wins.

Consolation:
Nathan Brasz v. Dan Savage
Brasz leading Savage:
Brasz solid run, Savage off in turns 2 and 3
Savage leading Brasz:
Decent sized gap entering into turn 1, Brasz closes in between turns 2 and 3.
Brasz wins.

Top 4:
John Wagner v. Dan Savage
Wagner leading Savage:
Wagner is off line in turn 1 and both drivers have shallow lines on outside clip zone.
Savage leading Wagner:
Decent gap throughout the run, Wagner has better lines throughout course.
One more time.
John Wagner v. Dan Savage
Wagner leading Savage:
Savage straightens between turn 1 and turn 2 and goes off line for outside clip zone, and then turn 2.
Savage leading Wagner:
Savage is shallow on outside clip zone, whereas Wagner is all over them, Savage off course in turn 3.
Wagner advances.

Nathan Brasz v. Brian Wilkerson
Brasz leading Wilkerson:
Wilkerson is all over outside clip zone with one tire in the dirt and closes in on Brasz at turn 2.
Wilkerson leading Brasz:
Both drivers have solid runs, however, the gap between both is never closed by Brasz.
Wilkerson advances.

Top 8:
Matt Waldin v. Dan Savage
Waldin leading Savage:
Savage slightly off line in turns 1 and 2.
Savage leading Waldin:
Waldin is shallow on outside clip zone, then slides over the turn 3 clipping point.
Savage advances.

Ali Aljibouri v. John Wagner
Wagner leading Aljibouri:
Aljibouri straightens at outside clip zone, then goes off course in turn 3. Wagner has solid run.
Aljibouri leading Wagner:
Both drivers straighten at outside clip zone.
Wagner advances.

Brian Wilkerson v. Dennis Mertzanis
Wilkerson leading Mertzanis:
Dennis runs shallow on outside clip zone, goes off in turn 3. Wilkerson lots of angle.
Mertzanis leading Wilkerson:
Wilkerson puts down a solid run, Mertzanis is shallow again on outside clip zone.
Wilkerson advances.

Nathan Brasz v. Ron Ewerth
Brasz leading Ewerth:
Brasz enters with lots of angle, Ewerth has shallow line entering.
Ewerth leading Brasz:
Brasz straightens in turn 1, Ewerth runs shallow at outside clip zone.
Brasz advances.

Top 16:
Stewart Leask v. Dan Savage
Leask leading Savage:
Leask on point entering turn 1, but by turn 3 car is coasting.
Upon inspection, passenger side axle is broken. Car is towed to paddock, 5 minute timer is started to allow driver to resolve issue. Axle isn’t replaced in 5 minute window…however, only took 8 minutes.
Savage advances.

Matt Waldin v. Greg Blair
Blair leading Waldin:
Waldin spins out on the straight between turns 1 and 2. Blair straightens at turn 3.
Waldin leading Blair:
Blair has lots of angle entering turn 1, but straightens at outside clip zone and into turn 2.
Waldin advances.

Russell Walker v. Ali Aljibouri
Walker leading Aljibouri:
Aljibouri has solid run on line, Walker decent run.
Aljibouri leading Walker:
Walker enters turn 1 too fast, has to correct and straightens to avoid collision, and still gets back on it.
Aljibouri advances.

Dennis Mertzanis v. Mike Pollard
Pollard leading Mertzanis:
Big gap throughout run, Mertzanis has more solid run on line.
Mertzanis leading Pollard:
Mertzanis is shallow on clip zone and Pollard closes gap, however, slides over turn 3 clipping point.
One more time.
Pollard leading Mertzanis:
Mertzanis closes gap by turn 2, Pollard goes over turn 3 clipping point again.
Mertzanis leading Pollard:
Pollard is all over Mertzanis, but ends up spinning out on turn 3.
Mertzanis advances.

Brian Wilkerson v. Rod Campos
Wilkerson leading Campos:
Wilkerson has huge angle in turn 1. Campos enters late and wide on straightaway and into turn 2.
Campos leading Wilkerson:
Big gap in turn 1, Campos goes off line and Wilkerson closes gap between turns 2 and 3.
Wilkerson advances.

Dan Willie v. Ron Ewerth
Willie leading Ewerth:
Willie enters with too much angle and spins out, Ewerth doesn’t complete rest of course.
Ewerth leading Willie:
Willie off line in turn 1 and too many corrections rest of run.
Ewerth advances.

Nate Brasz v. James Robinson
Brasz leading Robinson:
Solid run for both drivers, Robinson closes gap by turn 3.
Robinson leading Brasz:
Brasz has too much angle in turn 1 and corrects. Robinson straightens between turns 2 and 3.
One more time.
Brasz leading Robinson:
Robinson has to correct for outside clip zone, then goes off course in turn 2.
Robinson leading Brasz:
Robinson shallow line for outside clip zone and goes across clipping point in turn 2.
Brasz advances.

Qualifying Results: (name/score/speed)
1. Stewart Leask (95.67) 66mph
2. Nathan Brasz (95.67) 65mph
3. Brian Wilkerson (95.00) 66mph
4. Russell Walker (94.67) 69mph
5. Gary Simmons (94.00) 66mph
6. Dennis Mertzanis (93.67) 64mph
7. Dan Willie (89.00) 64mph
8. Matt Waldin (88.67) 57mph
9. Greg Blair (87.00) 61mph
10. Ron Ewerth (85.33) 57mph
11. Mike Pollard (84.67) 57mph
12. John Wagner (84.67) 55mph
13. Ali Aljibouri (84.33) 57mph
14. Rod Campos (84.00) 61mph
15. James Robinson (83.67) 59mph
16. Dan Savage (82.67) 63mph
17. Marc Rozzo (82.67) 53mph
18. Chris Orsini (80.67) 61mph
19. Clinton Florczyk (80.67) 53mph
20. Jodin Lejeune (79.67) 58mph
21. Jayitr “Sammy” Sritongkham (78.67) 57mph
22. Zoltan Hajdu (78.67) 54mph
23. Kiely Mackey (78.00) 53mph
24. Zachary Catlin (75.33) 52mph
T-25. Lee Alexander (0.00)
T-25. Doug Artus (0.00)
T-25. William “Bill” Cook (0.00)
T-25. Jose Duarte (0.00)
T-25. Rob Fallowes (0.00)
T-25. Mike Feiock (0.00)
T-25. Max Hellstern (0.00)
T-25. James Lauther (0.00)
T-25. Doug Van Den Brink (0.00)
T-25. Jonathan Voskinarian (0.00)
T-35. Ryan Clemens (DNQ)
T-35. James Evans (DNQ)

So I was playing a game with my best buddy, Buddy..  I haul butt in the yard on my mountain bike and he chases me trying to pass me before the turn near the front door.  He is so fast that I have to trick him to get in front and block him so he cant pass.  Its a lot of fun actually.  Well, I circled around until I caught him of guard.  I took off down the driveway to get him.  Dazed, cause I got the best of him, he takes off too.  Just then I hear a loud thud and then he yelped.  I guess his hind leg slipped and hit a rock, then he was limping.

I hop off my bike and check him out, his leg is bleeding and there is a nickel sized hole in his leg.  Off to the vet we go…….380 dollars later and we are as good as new, well not quite.  Here he is after the stitches…all drugged up, and check out the dish…I wonder what radio stations he’s picking up?

Here he is after a day of recovery time. Still has the goofy satellite dish around his neck….hence the name Bud-Nik.

And the moment everyone has been waiting for…the damage.

Its better, he’s doing great.  Hes a tough little guy.  All this drama while I’m packing my house getting ready for the big move……..AHHHH the big move, I haven’t blogged about that yet, MUHAHAHA…Honda R&D here I come.

Dennis

Top 16 Competition Video

Top 8 Competition Video

So, we started our day drifting at the E-town clinic and finished it hangin back stage with the boys from Tony Hawk’s Boom Boom Huck Jam tour.

The moto guys got a chance to drift and really showed there skill with machinery……It was great.

Next stop is moto guys jumping the vert ramp while cars are drifting around it.

It was an amazing day.

The view from back stage………………..right next to the moto ramp where they were doing supermans almost over our heads.

July 26th 2008. US Drift Round 3 PRO/AM Competition at VIR

I will just post the writeup from lookout drift and drift411 on the event. It was a great event from my perspective because I qualified 1st and ended up with the win.

I am not sure what has changed with my drifting, but I’m feeling extremely confident in the car. I really wish I could figure out what has changed so I could help others progress like I have over the past few months. My first guess would be the Dunlop tires I’m using, those things are fantastic. So much grip as well as consistent tire wear.

Misc:
During practice, Dan Savage (VA) and Max Hellstern (DE) ended up hitting at the front wall, preventing both driver’s cars from competing.
Eugene Kretschmer (VA) ending up tagging the front wall on two different occasions and managed to drive away with only cosmetic damages each time.

Top 16 Qualifying:
1. Dennis Mertzanis (PA) - Nissan
2. James Evans (MD) - Nissan
3. Zachary Catlin (VA) - Chevrolet
4. Robert Fallowes (NC) - Nissan
5. Doug Van Den Brink (NC) - Ford
6. Marc Rozzo (PA) - Nissan
7. Clinton Florczyk (IN) - Mazda
8. Nathan Brasz (VA) - Nissan
9. Greg Blair (NC) - Nissan
10. Ali Aljibouri (VA) - Pontiac
11. Dado Carvalho (MD) - BMW
12. Steven Angerman (NJ) - Nissan
13. Dustin Prater (NC) - Toyota
14. Rodrigo Campos (NJ) - Nissan
15. Eugene Ktretschmer (VA) - Nissan
16. James Lauther (VA) - Nissan

Top 16:
Dennis Mertzanis v. James Lauther:
Lauther leading Mertzanis:
Lauther spins entering turn 10, Mertzanis passes by and finished the run. Advantage Metzanis.
Mertzanis leading Lauther:
Mertzanis enters 10 with tons of speed and puts down a solid run. Lauther spins at front wall.
Mertzanis wins.

Nathan Brasz v. Greg Blair:
Brasz leading Blair:
Both cars are fast and exhibit good angle, Brasz little more however. Slight advantage Brasz.
Blair leading Brasz:
Again, both drivers very close, slightly more angle for Blair this time.
One More Time.
Brasz leading Blair:
Blair straightens in 10 and a little bobble in 9. Advantage Brasz.
Blair leading Brasz:
Blair straightens in 9, Brasz spins in 8.
Blair wins.

Doug Van Den Brink v. Steven Angerman:
Van Den Brink leading Angerman:
VanDen Brink has lots of speed throughout the course. Angerman enters turn 9 too fast and as a result goes wide and off track. Advantage Van Den Brink.
Angerman leading Van Den Brink:
Both drivers put down average runs.
Van Den Brink wins.

Robert Fallowes v. Dustin Prater:
Fallowes leading Prater:
Prater comes close to the front wall and is off track in turn 8. Advantage Fallowes.
Prater leading Fallowes:
Prater sets up out of turn 10 off line and as a result straightens at the front wall. Both drivers off line in turns 9 and 8.
Fallowes wins.

Marc Rozzo v. Dado Carvalho:
Rozzo leading Carvalho:
Both drivers have sloppy runs. Tie.
Carvalho leading Rozzo:
Carvalho is right on the front wall and enters turn 9 too fast and goes off track.
Rozzo wins.

Zachary Catlin v. Rodrigo Campos:
Catlin leading Campos:
Campos straightens in turn 9. Advantage Catlin.
Campos leading Catlin:
Both drivers have average runs.
Catlin wins.

Clinton Florczyk v. Ali Aljibouri:
Florczyk leading Aljibouri:
Aljibouri straightens in turn 9. Advantage Florczyk.
Aljibouri leading Florczyk:
Aljibouri straightens in turn 9 again.
Florczyk wins.

James Evans v. Eugene Kretschmer:
Evans leading Kretschmer:
Kretschmer is too fast and spins off course in turn 9. Advantage Evans.
Kretschmer leading Evans:
Kretschmer goes wide entering 9 and goes off track in turn 8.
Evans wins.

Top 8:
Dennis Mertzanis v. Greg Blair:
Blair leading Mertzanis:
Blair has lots of speed and both drivers have similar angle. Blair maintains distance. Advantage Blair.
Mertzanis leading Blair:
Blair goes wide and off course in turn 9.
Mertzanis wins.

Robert Fallowes v. Doug Van Den Brink:
Fallowes leading Van Den Brink:
Van Den Brink is fast into 10, has to back off Fallowes. Van Den Brink picks speed back up again and is back on Fallowes bumper. Advantage Van Den Brink.
Van Den Brink leading Fallowes:
Fallowes has an average run. Van Den Brink makes a slight mistake in turns 10 and 7. Advantage Fallowes
One More Time.
Fallowes leading Van Den Brink:
Van Den Brink is off line in turn 10. Fallowes is off line in turn 9. Tie.
Van Den Brink leading Fallowes:
Van Den Brink has shallow entry in turn 10.
Fallowes wins.

Zachary Catlin v. Marc Rozzo:
Catlin leading Rozzo:
Rozzo goes wide in turn 9. Advantage Catlin.
Rozzo leading Catlin:
Rozzo pushes in turn 9, Catlin is on point.
Catlin wins.

James Evans v. Clinton Florczyk:
Evans leading Florczyk:
Evans spins in turn 9. Advantage Florczyk.
Florczyk leading Evans:
Evans has lots of speed and is all over the bumper of Florczyk. Evans spins in turn 8.
Florczyk wins.

Top 4:
Dennis Mertzanis v. Robert Fallowes:
Fallowes leading Mertzanis:
Fallowes is off line in turn 8. Advantage Mertzanis.
Mertzanis leading Fallowes:
Mertzanis enters turn 10 with lots of speed and angle.
Mertzanis wins.

Zachary Catlin v. Clinton Florczyk:
Catlin leading Florczyk:
Catlin off line in turn 8, Florczyk maintains correct line. Advantage Florczyk.
Florczyk leading Catlin:
Catlin straightens between turns 9 and 8.
Florczyk wins.

Finals:
Dennis Mertzanis v. Clinton Florczyk:
Florczyk leading Mertzanis:
Florczyk is right on line, both drivers good speed and angle. Very slight advantage Florczyk.
Mertzanis leading Florczyk:
Mertzanis enters with lots of angle. Florczyk off in turn 9.
Mertzanis wins.

Consolation:
Zachary Catlin v. Robert Fallowes:
Catlin leading Fallowes:
Catlin straightens in turns 9 and 8. Fallowes is faster and just off line on the rumble strip in turn 9. Slight advantage Fallowes.
Fallowes leading Catlin:
catlin straightens again in turns 9 and 8. Fallowes is off line in turns 8 and 7.
Fallowes wins.

Final Results:
1. Dennis Mertzanis (PA) - Nissan
2. Clinton Florczyk (IN) - Mazda
3. Robert Fallowes (NC) - Nissan
4. Zachary Catlin (VA) - Chevrolet
5. James Evans (MD) - Nissan
6. Doug Van Den Brink (NC) - Ford
7. Marc Rozzo (PA) - Nissan
8. Greg Blair (NC) - Nissan
9. Nathan Brasz (VA) - Nissan
10. Ali Aljibouri (VA) - Pontiac
11. Dado Carvalho (MD) - BMW
12. Steven Angerman (NJ) - Nissan
13. Dustin Prater (NC) - Toyota
14. Rodrigo Campos (NJ) - Nissan
15. Eugene Ktretschmer (VA) - Nissan
16. James Lauther (VA) - Nissan

PRO/AM:
The top 8 drivers from this event earned invites to the PRO/AM Championship Event held at GTLive on October 3-5, 2008 at VIRginia International Raceway, in Alton, VA.
After just 3 events, this brings the current number of East Coast Divisional invitees to 15.

Dan Savage (VA) - Mazda
Lee Alexander (MD) - Nissan
Jedd Fahnestock (VA) - Nissan
Mike Swartz (PA) - Dodge
Nathan Brasz (VA) - Nissan
Brian Wilkerson (MD) - Nissan
James Evans (MD) - Nissan
Matt Waldin (PA) - Nissan
Kiely Mackey (SC) - Nissan
Marc Rozzo (PA) - Nissan
Greg Blair (NC) - Nissan
Dennis Mertzanis (PA) Nissan
Clinton Florczyk (IN) Mazda
Robert Fallowes (NC) Nissan
Zachary Catlin (VA) Chevrolet

June 7, 2008
Let me start by saying, it was HOT. Something like 90-94 degrees with humidity to a maximum. As far as tires go, I was running the new Dunlop Z1 StarSpecs in a size 245. Up to now, I’d been running the DZ101s in a 255 but I used them all up in Erie. I go out for practice and soon realize I have way too much tire under this car. The Z1s are so grippy. I am fighting the car just to stay sideways. It was awful. I didn’t get one clean run all day Saturday. Also, I was still on the same two rear tires I started with. It seemed the track did not wear out tires at all. I got maybe 10 to 12 runs and the tires were still pretty good. Not even close to Erie, where after 4 runs the tires were wasted. I even broke a TC rod on Saturday. Thanks to the efforts of Ray, Tony and Damien, I was lucky enough to weld it back together for Sunday using the welder at the track’s shop. This shop was crazy, we were instructed to make sure everything was back in its place afterwards and told not to make a mess. OMG, this place was a wreck, there were engines lying around all disassembled. The tables were layered with parts and tools. I have no idea how anyone can function in that place. It took 5 minutes just to find a hammer and when we were finished with it we ever-so-gingerly slide it back into its pile.

Talking with Matt Petty about the day, he told me he didn’t know what happened but I sucked! I was pretty upset, not by the comment but because it was true! That night, a friend of ours, Civi, made the comment that I would be fine. He could tell I was trying to learn each turn one-by-one and by Sunday, I would have no issues linking the entire course together and be able to qualify. I guess I never realized I did that…It was a very astute observation.

June 8, 2008
They gave us one practice run before we had to qualify. I did not have high hopes at all; I was resigned to the fact I probably wasn’t going to qualify. Since there were only 21 or 22 drivers, I was secretly optimistic. I did my practice run and it was not very good. I lined up to do my first qualifying run and was ready to go 100%. My saying to get me pumped is, “Go BIG or go home!” I went out and laid it down, not a great run, but a decent one. I knew it was good, because my buddy Damien came flying down the bleachers to meet me at my car. He told me it was an awesome run. I was very happy…..maybe I made it. I went for my second run and tried to go bigger, it didn’t work. I got sloppy. However, I did qualify. During the announcements for top 16, my buddy Matt Waldin of Import Intelligence and I were dead even on score. They used entry speed and we were also dead even. They had to factor in our second run to decide who the higher qualifier was, and Matt won. He had a cleaner 2nd run that I did. He qualified 14th and I qualified 15th.

Qualifying Order
1. Bill Sherman (Nissan 350z)
2. Justin Pawlak (Mazda Rx-7)
3. Forest Wang (Nissan 240sx S14)
4. Jeremy Lowe (Mazda Rx-7)
5. James Robinson (Honda Element)
6.Sammy Tiger (Nissan 240sx S13)
7. Gary Lang (Nissan 240sx S13)
8.Kenji Yaminaka (Nissan 204sx S15)
9. Nick Thomas (Nissan 240sx)
10. Nate Brasz (Nissan 240sx S13) currently 1st in points
11. Aaron Losey (Nissan 240sx S13)
12. Stewart L. (Nissan 240sx S14)
13. John Wagner (Nissan 240sx S13)
14. Matt Waldin (Nissan 240sx S14)
15.Dennis Mertzanis. (Nissan 240sx S14)
16.Brian Wilkerson (Nissan 240sx S13)

For Tandem, I was to battle Justin Pawlak in the RX7 in the first round. Not an easy task for sure. He’s a great driver! His engine was not performing well, but well enough to get him qualified 2nd. After our first tandem battle, the result was a one-more-time. Wow! It’s weird how I keep getting one-more-times against some of the top drivers in this series. We go again and somehow, by luck and/or skill I pull out the win. My tires were worn, but the car was actually drifting the way it was supposed to, so I left them on.

Next, I was up against Gary Lang. He was doing very well this weekend. He had gone up against Nate Brasz, the overall points leader, in the first round and beat him. This battle was surrounded by controversy. I couldn’t believe it myself. Anyhow, after the first run, Gary was up 6 to 4. I led the tandem and had a good clean run. The starter gave me thumbs up, so I moved on. Gary lost the win due to a few mistakes - one being that he ran off course, dropping 2 tires.

My next opponent was Aaron Losey. Good driver, fast car. I’m on worn out tires, STILL THE SAME TWO, these things are dead, showing cords and coming apart. He pretty much killed me….I had a clean run, I did my best, but he killed me.

James Robinson (Ohio local driving the RWD Honda Element) lost to Bill Sherman in the Braille 350z, so it was me against James for 3rd. I had to change tires for the 3rd place battle because after the Losey run, my tires were about to explode. It was the first run on the new tires and I was struggling again to keep the car drifting. Somehow I ended up with a 9 to 1 advantage after the first run, not sure how. My run felt weak. We go again, and this time I’m leading. I go in and just throw the car sideways as hard as I could. The car drifted up to the wall and stayed there….it was a great run, I knew 3rd place was mine.

Final Order
1. Bill Sherman (Nissan 350z)
2. Aaron Losey (Nissan 240sx S13)
3. Dennis Mertzanis (Nissan 240sx S14)

It was a great weekend.

And the man that makes it all happen………………..

NOPI DRIFT ERIE

Friday, May 30, 2008 I took off about 9.30 in the morning to head to Erie, PA for round 4 of the NOPI Drift series. It took nearly 7 hours to get to the track on Friday. I show up and Matt Petty is there goofing off as usual…that boy be crazy. I just wanna caress his long beautiful locks…..haha. Anyway, he asked if I want to unload the car and do some testing. Hell yea, not gonna pass that up. Here I go to hit the first bank I have ever driven on. The course was a left hander on the bank to a transition on the straight, then left turn hugging the flat infield. IT WAS AWESOME. It was also my first time on the Dunlop Z1 star specs….these tires seemed much grippier than the DZ101s I have been running.

I basically burn up a set of tires and call it a night. My boys, Damien from Drift Brigade and Matt from Import Intelligence, show up about an hour later.

Also, we got to hear the interview between my boy Jason Ellis and JR on Jason’s Sirius radio show, Faction channel 28. It was a good plug for the Drift Alliance DVD that just came out. JR’s a cool dude, and so is Jason. It was a cool interview.

The hotel gave us some coupons for the casino located just down the road. We decided to use our $5 off for the buffet at the local casino and gamble a bit with the $5 they gave us. I ended up hitting a slot machine and won $200, it was great mainly because I didn’t have any cash. So much for needing an ATM, huh.

Saturday, May 31, 2008 was the start of the event and in the early morning it was raining. The course was actually even more fun in the wet than in the dry, but the cars came out really nasty dirty. I noticed half of the field did not drive in the morning session. Not sure why.

We all got in a lot of runs throughout the day, and the weather cleared up by 12 or 1. The boys from Texas (Stewart and Aaron) and Brian from MA Motorsports showed up at 3 or 4 pm, missing the whole day. Apparently, they went out and just got obliterated and couldn’t get up. Sammy also showed up late, he was busy building a new car from scratch.

Sunday, June 1, 2008 was a much nicer day than Saturday, but it was windier and a bit colder. The cold weather really changed the track conditions and made my car want to push on the entry to the bank. Qualifying was a bit scary because the car would push straight at the wall during my clutch-kick entry. I ended up qualifying 9th , this paired me up with Brian from MA Motorsports.

Qualifying Order
1. Kenji Yamanaka
2. Ali Aljibouri
3. Nate Brasz
4. Forest Wang
5. Gary Simmons
6. James Robinson
7. Aaron Losey
8. Brian Wilkerson
9. Dennis Mertzanis
10. Rod Campos
11. Gary Lang
12. Nick Thomas
13. John Wagner
14. Matt Waldin
15. Sammy Tiger
16. Chelsea Denofa

Brian and I lined up for tandem and something happened to Brian’s car. The judges wanted to exercise the 5 minute rule, so if he didn’t have his car up and running 5 min from the time we were supposed to run, Brian would be disqualified and I would move on. I told the starting line guy to tell the judges that Brian and I could move to the end of the tandem line to give Brian some time to get his car straight. After 15 minutes, he got it up and running and we lined up to face off.

My first run, I was following Brian when the car pushed hard into the first turn AGAIN…..I had a great run after that, but it gave Brian a 9 to 1 advantage. I was furious at my driving, so I sat in the car and said, “I’m going big, or I’m going home”. I went out and killed the best run I have ever done. I stepped the car out a little more than I ever have and just laid on the smoke-a-tron. Smoking him out was my only chance along with a flawless run.

IT WORKED. He made a few mistakes so the judges wanted to see us run again….ONE-MORE-TIME. Again, I followed for the first run. It was a good run and I was not too close, but I was there. As we blazed into the tight lefthander into the infield, Brian started to spin….I saw it and grabbed the e-brake and we performed the always cool synchronized spinning routine. I was up 10 to 0. My next run was clean and I smoked him out again. I didn’t make any major mistakes, so I moved on.

So, on to my next opponent, Top qualifier Kenji Yamanaka in his freshly painted S15, that he says he painted himself. I lined up next to Kenji’s beautiful S15. It was my turn to follow. I made a decent run behind Kenji, not too close or too far away. Kenji ends up with the advantage 7 to 3. It’s my turn to lead and I know I have to lay it down or pack up and go home. We take off; I run a great run, easily one of my best. I look at Bear, our NOPI pit official and he motions me to line up again, a one-more-time against one of the best in my opinion.

We run again, this time Kenji is up 8 to 2. I sit at the starting line knowing I have to really work to pull this off. We take off, I’m a car length away as we initiate and enter the first turn. I start to creep up on Kenji…Im holding the throttle down to the floor, watching his car get closer and closer to mine…….I let off the gas for a split second to pull back from him………It throws me to the inside line and now I’m heading straight at Kenji’s rear quarter panel and the clipping cone. I e-brake to get around the cone, slipping my car in right behind Kenji’s.

I finished strong but the throttle lift killed me and Kenji moved on. Overall, I finished 6th.

During the finals, Forest was all over Nate during the tandem runs fighting for first. I think Forest would have pulled out the win had he not hit the clipping point, aka the barrel, during the transition, exploding his bumper. Knowing he was out, Forest gave us all a great smoke show as he took an extra turn around the last sweeper.

Final Results
1. Nate Brasz
2. Forest Wang
3. Aaron Losey
4. Kenji Yamanaka
5. Ali Aljibouri
6. Dennis Mertzanis
7. Gary Lang
8. Nick Thomas
9. Gary Simmons
10. James Robinson
11. Brian Wilkerson
12. Rod Campos
13. John Wagner
14. Matt Waldin
15. Sammy Tiger
16. Chelsea Denofa

I loaded up the truck and headed out for grueling 7 hour drive home. It was a great weekend.

Check out all the pictures on wrecked magazine.

http://www.wreckedmagazine.com/gallery/thumbnails.php?album=34

Well, its that time again, time to load up the rig and head out to yet another NOPI Drift event.  I really do love to drift…but competitions can sure get a little stressful.

By the way, thats my awesome dog in the lower left corner.  His name is Buddy, he is freakin smart and so sweet.  Hes my favorite person, haha.

 I think I have enough tires…..naaaaaaa

But, I did get my new Drift411 shirt from Syn, its pretty cool.

Full updates on the event at a later date.

Hello everyone, just want to start by saying thanks to the staff at Wrecked Mag for hooking me up with this blog space.  I will try to stay out of trouble…….but as you know, it always seems to find me.