Stochastic Shots - Where are the Brits?

So far, we could easily observe that most of the crazy and absurd supercars that roam our streets comes from Italy. From the Ferrari line of 360 Modena, F430, 458 Italia, to the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Murcielago, they became the favorite choice of most of the richies in Malaysia.

But what about Aston Martin? Bentley? Or even Jaguar? Are they not crazy or absurd enough? To me, I don't think so. They have the much more "tamer" look of a supercar, maintaining elegance and at the same time, keeping a ferocious monster under the bonnet. Maybe looks are the first thing after all. Since you're getting a supercar, why not go crazy all the way? Having the sleek aerodynamic look of the Ferrari or the aggressive lines of the Lamborghini.

An Aston Martin DB9 alongside a Ferrari California

Lamborghini Gallardo Superleggera LP 570-4

What do you think of the wing fitted on this Ferrari F430?

Boys' toys.

 

Stochastic Shots - Around KL in 30 minutes

I gotta say, it is very, agonizingly boring to be stuck somewhere indoors, alone in a fine Saturday. Getting terribly bored, I grabbed my camera and started to wander around the KL area..

Did stumbled upon a few exotics, but the common exotics, not the "Exotic" exotics, if you know what I mean. The common ones like this red (yet again) F430...

Well, at least it has a black, soft top. That's a start of being different.

...a silver non-carbon bladed R8...

Somehow the color silver does not appeal on supercars. They should bear attention-grabbing coats like the Lamborghini, with the Verde-whatchamacallit and so on.

...and this zooming Hummer H3.

A gas-guzzling American in action.

But I somehow love the view of the Twin Towers at a clear-sky night. Those two colossal, pointed structures gives the impression as if it is piercing the skies while being bathed by countless spotlights all over.

Being underneath it gives us the idea of how small humans are, and how big their achievement could be if they try.

Has not been lucky with exotic spotting so far. Maybe next time, hopefully.

FXOpen Drift Series 2011

Speed City KL... Try to tell that to any cab driver and they would not even have a clue of where that is. And not even that, they do not even have a clue of where/what "Selangor Turf Club" is! Only a small number (actually only one) of them finally understood what it was when they asked "Itu tempat lumba kuda ka?", which I said yes, and we were on the way. And I am on my way to my first drift event, the FXOpen Drift Series 2011.

Though I missed both the 1st and 2nd day of the competition, I was determined not to miss this one. Been missing too much events before, and that must come to a halt once and for all. Upon reaching the venue, my ears were greeted by the unmistakable noise of both high-revving rear-wheelers and screaming tyres. Not wasting any seconds (since I arrived quite late, somewhere around 3pm), I immediately got myself the RM15 ticket and forcefully surrendered both my unopened bottle of 100 Plus and another mineral water before entering, as they say it was "procedure". Procedure my ass.

So as I got there, a tsuiso was commencing between whom, I was not so sure. One thing about competitive drifting is that I could only recall or recognize a few names, faces and cars that are widely publicized, like the definitely famous Prince of Drift or a.k.a. the Tandem Assassin, Tengku Djan Ley, Leona Chin, Kiki (Thai drifter), and also Ah Fai. Well, maybe there are a few more names that I could put out, but as I had yet start to follow the drift scene a little bit seriously, I could say that I know almost nothing. Hopefully with this one, atleast I'll recognize some of the faces that is trying hardly to make the drifting scene more lively in Malaysia.

Back to the event, as I reached the scene, immediately my instinct tells me to go to the grandstand, hoping to get a good view. Well, the view was great from there, especially for those who wanted to relax and spectate the cars shredding their tyres, from afar. But I think I wanted more than that. I wanted to get closer to the action. Despite the superbly blistering heat, I decided to go where I could get closer to it, legally though; the barriers. And since this spot gives a clearer view of the drifting action, I managed to capture the moments where the cars are taking their first corner.

You gotta have big, brass balls to drift your car that close to the walls!

Goodyear's Cefiro doing his thing.

Same make, same look, same aim; defeat the opponent.

It was a very good idea to put myself here instead of the grandstand. Seeing the drifters lock their rear wheels on the 1st corner with such spectacle really amuses me. And as the drifters pass by and the smoke approaches, the strong smell of burnt rubber filled the air and at the same time rained bits of pieces of rubber towards the barrier-loving spectators. But somehow, what I thought of a "good idea" was not so good after all. It was actually VERY risky. In the round where Hashiguti Anderson vs Along (got these names from zerotohundred.com, thanks for the details guys!), somehow Along understeered his bright orange A31 Cefiro and went on crashing to the barriers.

Hashiguti (Yellow-red 180SX) vs Along (Orange A31)

1st corner looking good...

But on the second corner...

...understeered and CRASH!

The driver walking away as if nothing had happened.

Luckily though, the damage was not so extensive and the drifter managed to crawl out from the wreckage without any major injuries.

4 barrels were killed in this incident. Unfortunately, they did not have enough white cloth to cover them all...

So as the red flag was flagged and the competition was halted for a while, I took the opportunity to stroll to the booths, checking out what they had in store for the visitors. Put aside the usual booths that sells shirts, foods and drinks, there were also some booths that displays some exotic supercars! We're talking about F430, Gallardo, and one of the most unexpected, an LP 670-4 SV!!

I'd have the orange one, please...

F-22 Raptor on the road!!

Superleggera under the same hood with the 599.

Anyways, as the action resumed, I went back to the barriers, only a different location. And this new location enables me to get a view of the cars taking the second corner clearly. Although the heat was getting a little bit intense, none of the drift fans seemed to be complaining. So why should I?

The Hachiroku leaving the 180SX behind...

But since their run was good, an OMT was called...and...

...the spectators got some ass-kissing action..

Goodyear's 86 battling out with Federal's Cefiro.

And after the Top 8 (I think), they took a time-out, giving the drifters some time to cool down before giving on all they got to claim the RM100,000 prize. And during that time-off, an autograph session was held at one of the booths, so I wasted no time and dashed to the booth, and got myself some sideways maniac autographs, and got myself a free t-shirt too.

Was hot and humid, but they braved on and pleased the crowd, both on and off the tracks.

After getting a little bit up close but not personal with the drifters, the action resumed and I went on surrendering myself to be rained with bits of rubber...

Djan with an 86 wagon??

In case you are wondering, no, the 86 did not overtake Djan, this is just the second run..

Just look at that smoke trail!

I just realized just how long this post is going to be, so maybe a Part 2 will be appropriate... So more sideways and rubber burning action on Part 2!!

Stochastic Shots - Lotus Evora

When we talk about famous car manufacturers, the definite countries that'll pop out of most heads are those like Japan, Korea (South, of course), and The States. This goes the same towards performance vehicles, minus the Koreans, where most of their cars are made for the masses. But little known from the general view, the British also has a huge arsenal of great cars coming from the Land of The Queen. The Aston Martin, Jaguar, Bentley, and not to forget the astonishing McLaren. And another one, which has gone bankrupt and bought by the Malaysians, is the legendary Lotus.

Lotus has a long line or automotive racing heritage, and I could say that all of its cars are absolutely stunning. Beautiful. Sleek and elegant. And these characteristics are passed on to its new model, the beautiful, sleek and elegant Lotus Evora.

See that shy F430 peeking its red ass at the back..

And while some might think that "Evora" has some kind of meaning in Spanish or Italian, well, you're wrong. The name is actually derived from Evolution, Vogue and Aura. A unique way of naming a car if you ask me. I wonder what the Exige stands for...

Hey, another me!

But anyways, this sleek looking car is also sleek in action. Lotus cars are known for not having a rocket acceleration, but a butterfly's floating capability. It swerves down a curve like it is born to do so, and this should be thanked to its lightweight body. And since this Evora's engine is in the middle, it will help more in the weight distribution, increasing the stability.

When you're running on Pirellis, you know its going to be serious.

And to be noted, this is the only Lotus with a 2 + 2 configuration. So, hey, bring your kids and wife to your next track day and I'm telling you, you won't ever have to drive them to school or to the mall ever again.

Ello' Brits!

The classic Black and Gold Lotus livery. Still looks gorgeous today..

I looked through those grills on the hood and found nothing in it. Is that the boot? Surely the cargo will be drenched if it rains, which it will.

I got to say though, since Proton owns Lotus, they should use the technology and experience in motorsport performance that Lotus has into good use. I mean, are Malaysians born to be stuck inside a front-wheeled, front-engined, cheaply-made but expensively-labeled rebadged cars? Start making cars like these and we'll be more than happy to buy national cars! (Not because we have to due to the absurd price of imports)....