I errantly placed this in the wrong forum...thanks to WINDING Master for saving the info for me to repost!
Hello everyone!
I've been into racing since about 1999, so I'm still fairly new, although I do alot of studying into the art & physics of racing. I was into road racing for about two years, going to Willow Springs, Thunder Hill with my car groups and wherever else I could get it (A closing AFB makes a GREAT place to learn to drive, can you say RUNWAY? )
But the 2000 Celica GT-S that I had could only get me so far, because it was just so un-supported in the industry at that time. Around early 2001 I started getting into Options videos and BMI, etc, and started watching drifting and Initial D. It was interesting at the time, but I didn't think I could do anything like that with a FF (something that's been proven that you CAN!). I just wanted something with a bit more power on the road course, and RWD so that I could finally experience a true sports car. I thought about a Supra at first, realized it's way too expensive, and then in Nov 02, I settled on a car I had never even considered....a 1993 Mazda RX7 TT(lower payments, woohoo!). So I picked up one for cheap, ran it quite a few times at the track, but realized that if I wanted to race confidantly, I'd need to rebuild the aging "98,000 miles on it" motor and chassis.
I did ALOT of upgrades on it, money that I would have put into buying the Supra I spent in getting the chassis back in shape, I did everything from rebuilding and treating the engine and tranny, to redoing the complete tired suspension (bushings are a BIATCH) and brake system. The car was running finally again by May-ish...I drove it slow, because it hadn't been dyno-tuned yet with the new PFC, until about the end of May. Got it tuned, and then...I had to ship it out over to England. The car is just waiting for a bigger intercooler so I can up the boost.
It arrived on Aug 22 03....but that veru day I was going to pick it up, I ended up going to the hospital with appendicitis. During the operation, the doctor screwed up, and cut my external iliac artery and vein, forcing me to have compartment syndrome in my lower right leg from the blood loss (9 units of blood!). I almost died on the table. But anyways..I had to get a faciotomy, then three surgeries to remove and debride the dead muscle in my leg. A final surgery stitched me up, and left me with a foot that doesn't work anymore, and no feeling at all from my knee to my toes.
Now...sorry to bothereveryone with all this graphic stuff...but I'm getting better finally, I'm regaining some sensation in my leg, and I'm able to walk now...not great, and I can't run or jump or do anything that I used to do..no sports or anything, because I can barely walk as it is. But I'm getting stronger...I was always very proud of my legs, I used to be very strong, squatting over 420, and leg pressing close to 700 when I was a bit younger.
I'm trying to get back in shape, and work out the movement and kinks. It's tough, because I have no electricity going on in my leg at the moment, so the little remaining muscle is frozen. I also suffer from dropfoot. If the nerves come back, I should be able to build up the little bit of gastrocnemius that i have left, enabling me to press down with my toes, finally.
The thing is, I've spent alotta blood, sweat, and tears on my car....and the passion for racing, and now..possibly drifting is there. I want to get better, so that I can drive again, and compete again.
I'm coming to Hawaii soon, most likely if I get discharged(most likely), and I'll be bringing my WRX and RX7 with me. The thing is, do you think I'd have a chance learning how to drift?
My wife talked me into it, so I ordered a nice, and REALISTIC set of pedals with a clutch, and a shifter with a FF steering wheel for my computer, and I've been practicing on the little GT Force that I have currently, trying to get my foot movements down again. I've been working really hard at practicing. I can drive my WRX now, and launch like I used to, except I still have problems with foot placement due to the loss of sensation. It's sorta done by "Muscle memory" I guess from driving all these years. I can drive a stickshift much better than an automatic, that's for sure.
I plan to run at Raceway Park as much as I can...If I get a good bit of disability, my wife said I don't have to work or anything, immediately cuz I need to relax a bit. I know it's kinda weird, and it's a question from straight outta nowhere, but alot of you already KNOW how to drift, so I figured I'd ask you. I've got so much energy, man..when I'm in the car, I feel great, it's like I've got my motion back, ya know? I'm just as fast as everyone else, when I'm in it...I'm not..well..handicapped. I dunno...maybe I just wanted to see what a drifter thinks...what some of you would think about someone like me, trying to learn. I don't want to embarass myself in front of the locals...ya know?
My wife is a local girl from Kalihi, she went to Farrington, and I lived in Hawaii for 4 years, kinda growing up there from 18 to 21 years...my wife's family lives there, and that's why we're going back, so that we'll have some emotional support. My wife is taking care of me at the moment, and she's doing a good job, too.
I just wanted to see what everyone thought. Hey, sorry for rambling, just wanted to say Hi...and introduce myself. Take care everyone, and Happy New Year!
-Mike AKA "AAK"
Hello everyone!
I've been into racing since about 1999, so I'm still fairly new, although I do alot of studying into the art & physics of racing. I was into road racing for about two years, going to Willow Springs, Thunder Hill with my car groups and wherever else I could get it (A closing AFB makes a GREAT place to learn to drive, can you say RUNWAY? )
But the 2000 Celica GT-S that I had could only get me so far, because it was just so un-supported in the industry at that time. Around early 2001 I started getting into Options videos and BMI, etc, and started watching drifting and Initial D. It was interesting at the time, but I didn't think I could do anything like that with a FF (something that's been proven that you CAN!). I just wanted something with a bit more power on the road course, and RWD so that I could finally experience a true sports car. I thought about a Supra at first, realized it's way too expensive, and then in Nov 02, I settled on a car I had never even considered....a 1993 Mazda RX7 TT(lower payments, woohoo!). So I picked up one for cheap, ran it quite a few times at the track, but realized that if I wanted to race confidantly, I'd need to rebuild the aging "98,000 miles on it" motor and chassis.
I did ALOT of upgrades on it, money that I would have put into buying the Supra I spent in getting the chassis back in shape, I did everything from rebuilding and treating the engine and tranny, to redoing the complete tired suspension (bushings are a BIATCH) and brake system. The car was running finally again by May-ish...I drove it slow, because it hadn't been dyno-tuned yet with the new PFC, until about the end of May. Got it tuned, and then...I had to ship it out over to England. The car is just waiting for a bigger intercooler so I can up the boost.
It arrived on Aug 22 03....but that veru day I was going to pick it up, I ended up going to the hospital with appendicitis. During the operation, the doctor screwed up, and cut my external iliac artery and vein, forcing me to have compartment syndrome in my lower right leg from the blood loss (9 units of blood!). I almost died on the table. But anyways..I had to get a faciotomy, then three surgeries to remove and debride the dead muscle in my leg. A final surgery stitched me up, and left me with a foot that doesn't work anymore, and no feeling at all from my knee to my toes.
Now...sorry to bothereveryone with all this graphic stuff...but I'm getting better finally, I'm regaining some sensation in my leg, and I'm able to walk now...not great, and I can't run or jump or do anything that I used to do..no sports or anything, because I can barely walk as it is. But I'm getting stronger...I was always very proud of my legs, I used to be very strong, squatting over 420, and leg pressing close to 700 when I was a bit younger.
I'm trying to get back in shape, and work out the movement and kinks. It's tough, because I have no electricity going on in my leg at the moment, so the little remaining muscle is frozen. I also suffer from dropfoot. If the nerves come back, I should be able to build up the little bit of gastrocnemius that i have left, enabling me to press down with my toes, finally.
The thing is, I've spent alotta blood, sweat, and tears on my car....and the passion for racing, and now..possibly drifting is there. I want to get better, so that I can drive again, and compete again.
I'm coming to Hawaii soon, most likely if I get discharged(most likely), and I'll be bringing my WRX and RX7 with me. The thing is, do you think I'd have a chance learning how to drift?
My wife talked me into it, so I ordered a nice, and REALISTIC set of pedals with a clutch, and a shifter with a FF steering wheel for my computer, and I've been practicing on the little GT Force that I have currently, trying to get my foot movements down again. I've been working really hard at practicing. I can drive my WRX now, and launch like I used to, except I still have problems with foot placement due to the loss of sensation. It's sorta done by "Muscle memory" I guess from driving all these years. I can drive a stickshift much better than an automatic, that's for sure.
I plan to run at Raceway Park as much as I can...If I get a good bit of disability, my wife said I don't have to work or anything, immediately cuz I need to relax a bit. I know it's kinda weird, and it's a question from straight outta nowhere, but alot of you already KNOW how to drift, so I figured I'd ask you. I've got so much energy, man..when I'm in the car, I feel great, it's like I've got my motion back, ya know? I'm just as fast as everyone else, when I'm in it...I'm not..well..handicapped. I dunno...maybe I just wanted to see what a drifter thinks...what some of you would think about someone like me, trying to learn. I don't want to embarass myself in front of the locals...ya know?
My wife is a local girl from Kalihi, she went to Farrington, and I lived in Hawaii for 4 years, kinda growing up there from 18 to 21 years...my wife's family lives there, and that's why we're going back, so that we'll have some emotional support. My wife is taking care of me at the moment, and she's doing a good job, too.
I just wanted to see what everyone thought. Hey, sorry for rambling, just wanted to say Hi...and introduce myself. Take care everyone, and Happy New Year!
-Mike AKA "AAK"
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