The BitterSweet Years of 2003-2004: Euphoria of the car-fates

"Cruelty, thy name is woman..." 
- A Shakespeare quote modified by me


Back in 2003, it was my 3rd year in college and it was my first year of owning and driving a 240sx: A bone stock, "super-black" 1991 SE model coupe that was clean inside and out. Definite upgrade from my previous ride which was an old, faded silver 1985 200sx hatchback (still loved nonetheless since it was my first car). I was not actually racing at that point because I didn't really know there were driving events such as autocross or track days along with the new sport of drifting that was blowing up here in the U.S. at the time.

Things seemed like they were going in a good direction: College life, fun/debaucherous roommates and a new-used car that happened to be a 240sx. Only thing that was missing to complete the whole thing: The girl. 

- My first S13 back in 2003-

And that girl did come along in the spring of 03' and when she did, I thought things were actually going to be complete for once- Finally had a smart, beautiful girl riding shotgun with me in my car plus she liked it too.   But alas, it was not meant to be as she only came into my life for but a brief moment and then was gone. And I really, really liked this girl...I even uttered the 4-letter terrible, deathly, got-you-by-the-ballsack word to her too. Geez, did I ever fall on my sword for her...

So like any good romance novel that's remembered, there was no happy ending unfortunately: I ended up being the one with the broken heart and a 240sx to show for it. Victory? Actually not- later that December I ended up totaling that black 240sx SO, talk about insult to my already injured heart.. Scroll down below to see the aftermath (WARNING: may cause excessive cringing and twisting of the face)...

- Heartbreak.-

- Head-on collision with a Maxima...thank god we both survived -

Now I bet most guys have this same story of how they got into which hobby, occupation, whatevers but I think few would actually openly admit it, much less talk about it at length which I am doing right now.  

SO when I look back at the many years I've been grip racing and drifting, I sometimes wonder and think about how exactly I got into it....Was it because of some other friend who was doing it or a flyer I happened to see or online posting/announcement or peer induced ridicule?

It was none of those. When I think back, it was because of that certain girl AND it was not because of her but because of what she did:  She broke my heart for the very first time.

First-time heartbreak just plain SUCKS. This one for me was like I was "kicked-to-the-curb" and left for dead...didn't want to feel bad but couldn't help it. The scar she left cut deep- so deep that it will stay with me for the rest of my life.  I can always forgive her but I can never forget what she did.

Maybe if she didn't break my heart, I would have been with her and would have never gotten into racing cars, much less doing it with my 240sx. So those of you who do know me personally, you can thank her for helping me get into racing/drifting.

But enough of my philosophical and sappy love talk. As much as this is a blog about my activities racing cars and its relation to life, love is linked in with all of this. So instead of having the possible love of my life with a girl, I ended up having one love of my life with racing cars.  That other thing concerning a "special lady" still has yet to be fulfilled.

Hey guys and gals, it's all relative.

At least there was some redemption:

- 2004: My 2nd and current 240sx AND first year of autocross and racing -

This 240sx/S13 was the "Sweet" to the "Bitter" that happened in the years of 2003-2004.  

I will never forget it.

AutoX July 21-22nd Vid: All systems GO GO GO!!!

Latest vid of my car in the last autox practice: 

As you can see, she's running GREAT after the rebuild!

AutoX Super Regional June 2012: Blown.

I'll skip the first day and go to the 2nd day which was more interesting: 

The 2nd day started off good. got my course walk in, felt good that I could win the whole 2-day event after sitting in 2nd place after the 1st day. I had turned up the boost in my car by about 1-1.5psi (from a base of 6-7psi, so 8psi total after change) because it was suggested by my "AutoX Sensei" to do so.

As I strapped into my car, put my helmet on, and sat and waited for my turn to come up to the the line for my first run, my thought was: "I'm gonna blitz this course and run f*ckin' faster than anyone today..."

And then the first run came....car was flying through the corners...felt in good rhythm with the course and my car....and then the run was over.

And so was the engine.  

- Puff of oil smoke: Foreshadowing of destruction to come -

After I crossed the line and got my time slip, I started smelling oil and then came the billowing bluish-white smoke out of the back of my car.  It was at that point that in my mind I thought: "OH CRAP."  I drove back to my pit spot where I was greeted by a bunch of my fellow competitors asking: "What happened???" and "I saw the smoke, is your car OK?" 

The writing was on the wall at this point: My car's engine was done and I was basically done for that weekend.  My former co-driver had the big heart to let me drive his S2000 (thanks SO MUCH Mike!) for my last 2 runs but at that point, my mind was elsewhere and not thinking about racing at all.

Final result was 4th place, small consolation for my efforts that weekend but I'll take it. 

More stuff to follow...

- She'll be back...-

COLAB Drift Event @ HTM Vid Clip

Fave Drift S13 and Drifter, Enjoy.

What is Autocross? Watch the "Sea of Cones" below...

The RACECAR vs the GIRLFRIEND: Can the two Co-Exist?

The Girlfriend?

The Racecar OR...

This has probably played out for some of you guys out there:

Girl: "Why the heck do you race your car anyways?"
Guy: "............." *silence*

Girl: "You know what, I think it's just a total waste of time and money! It's stupid."
Guy: "Ummm well, I never criticized any of your hobbies you do or spend time on you know..."

Girl: "............................." *Utter Silence*
Guy: "And, I wouldn't knock on it unless you've tried it you know?"

Ah, what a downer.

In my years of racing, there is bound to be times when you're flying solo or you have a wing-lady/better-half/kill-joy with you at events...you get the idea if you've been there. 

WELL, this Racecar vs. Girlfriend subject has been brewing in the recesses of my brain for some time and now it's come to the surface. Throughout the years of doing motorsports events, I have either had a girlfriend or was in between girlfriends (mostly dating, no dice) and I can't count the number of times I've seen, witnessed, and have been the actual guy who ends up either dragging their girlfriend out to a driving event (with heels dug in my side) OR surprised the girl actually wanted to go and ended up liking it (which is very, and I mean VERY-UBER rare).

Racing your own car or having a girlfriend COSTS MONEY and if you have or "do" both (pun intended), then it unfortunately costs MORE MONEY which brings up the question: Can you just have only one OR both at the same time?  My answer to that is: Mostly NO but in some cases, YES.

Funny thing is that you use the car to attract the girl and basically shell out money to do just that BUT the  screwed-up part is that sometimes in the end, your hard-earned dough goes towards the girl. Some guys are ok with this because it means "mission accomplished" but for others, it means that the car goes by the wayside and is not a priority anymore.  Strange how things change like that...

And the even more sad part is that the media has sold us car guys on the idea that with a nice car, we will get this type of girl:

Yep, drive a nice car and you'll get her...IN YOUR WET DREAMS DUDE!

Sorry guys but most of you (notice I said "most" because I know some jackhole will think otherwise) won't be getting a girl like that model in the pic above UNLESS you're either filthy rich, overtly hung somehow (insert Tommy Lee joke here), or just a plain ol' douchebag.  But us car guys will keep on chasing this idea that the media has had us buy into and we'll happily spend dollars trying to accomplish it which makes the car manufacturers and the aftermarket parts guys even happier.  Some guys are lucky and accomplish the feat (hats off to them) while the rest of us just don't.

Anyways, most of the racers at events come "Han-Solo" alone while a very small portion actual have their girlfriend or wife with them.  And in some cases, the girl will race their own car (lucky bastards)!  How to accomplish that is somewhat beyond me because personally, I have never had a girlfriend who approved of and/or liked my racing hobby, not to mention one who encouraged it.

When I did have a girlfriend come with me, it seemed as if I couldn't enjoy my time out at the track like I normally do and instead, I could feel this sort of negative, unspoken "I don't want to be here..." vibe the whole time she was there.  Unfortunately to this day, I still have yet to have a positive experience with a girlfriend coming with me to the track.

Don't ya wish all girls love cars OR actually do car stuff?  Even drift???!

Anyways, here's a few equations I've come up with...maybe they'll help figure things out:

You + Your Car Racing hobby = No girlfriend UNLESS you're a lucky bastard.

You + Girlfriend who DOES NOT like cars and racing = No Racing or Race Car at all! =*(

You + Girlfriend who DOES like cars and racing = Race Car with benefits (RCB)!

You + Girlfriend who actually does track events and races = CAR-VANA, Heaven, priceless. CONGRATULATIONS you SPAZ, you have a chick that wants to drive! =D


SO, what's the point of having a girlfriend if she doesn't like your car, your racing hobby, or both?  They say love conquers all but when it comes to choosing between the love of a girlfriend and the love of racing cars, I think most guys would choose burning rubber racing the car instead of burning rubber with the girl.  But in some cases, I'm probably wrong.

Here's my advice if you want to keep doing the Race-Car thing: STAY SINGLE!

How to have both the Race Car and Girlfriend Co-Exist: 

Find yourself a lady who can relate to your racing hobby/love of cars- one who you're not afraid of sharing it with. 

I think that's what most of us car guys just really want anyway.

Good Hunting.