What an awesome series of drift events! The guys at Queensland Raceway have seriously put on an awesome show for us. For now if I only show you one car I want it to be this one; Buckna’s tagged up R33. This car has been at the last two rounds as you can see here, but with a very different livery. Every time this car gets a new paint job it just looks more and more awesome. Well done buddy!

Many more photos and the final results coming in the next few days!

E!CM

BE THERE!

E!CM

What a weekend at the first round of ADGP at Symmons Plains Raceway 2012. What seemed to be a horrible morning with all the rain, turned out to be an exciting and intense day with Luke Fink taking another round win. Even with engine troubles Luke still managed to pull though with some wild angles, including a reverse entry in his solo qualifying lap.

With the track dampened by the rain, it took quite a few victims and most either spun out or ended up in the gravel. As soon as the track dried up everyone was sliding like they were glued to the track and were throwing in some fast entries; Ben Purtell was clocked at around 150kms into the first corner, while shortly after Rob Whyte entering at around 162kms.

Ben Purtell showing the crowd why Tasmania has some of the best drivers.

Rob Whyte in his Monster energy drink 350z.

Even the privateer class drivers were picking some sweet lines, Including Josh How in his 4agte ke70 going from privateer class and moving into pro class.

Insane Drifters made the trip down.

This is one super clean s13.

Ben Purtell as always making a smoke screen in his sr20 180sx.

Brodie moore back on the track after killing his motor and having a little accident at Powercruise 2012.

The battle of two friends, Josh How the CEO of Near Miss and Ed Archer.

Most of you would of seen this 1uz powered ke70 floating about, owned by Lloyd Smith.

Simon Michelmore was one of the few that made the trip down by driving his S14.

Matt Russell sliding with style in his sr20det ae86.

Podium for round 1:

1st-Luke Fink
2nd-Rob Whyte
3rd-Ben Purtell

With round 1 gone be ready to stay tuned for round 2 coverage.

-Sean.

I’m really enjoying what the guys are doing over at GTchannel with all the coverage of Dai Yoshihara. This episode covers the tandems at the opening round of Formula D at Long Beach. Check out Episode 3 of “Behind the Smoke“!

E!CM

It’s been pretty rare for all of us Midnight Mechanics to make it to a drifting event at the same time, but even if we can’t bring our own cars we do come up to support our fellow team mates. A few Friday nights ago, after a two year hiatus, Jason Sherring brought his 4agte Ae86 up to Queensland Raceway to get some much needed wet weather practice in.
I couldn’t resist getting the GoPro inside the car for a couple of laps to help boost his ego for next time.

Make sure you hit the HD button for maximum awesome.

E!CM

Usually after most Morning Sessions at Queensland Raceway there is some sort of practice session on for some other category. Typically it is not something you would stop to look twice at. This week however I was very surprised to see this Ferrari 458 GT3 as well as the Porsche GT3 owned by VIP petfoods Co-Director, Tony Quinn.

The Porsche was amazing to look at in its own right.

I would love to see either of these cars battling it out on the track.

The Ferrari was the best looking in my eyes however. Just look at that thing.

E!CM

This Wednesday just passed as you may already know was another famous monthly Queensland Raceway Morning Session.

Normally if you mentioned big chrome wheels and s13 in the same sentence people might give you some funny looks. Put those into a big mixing bowl with a supermade kit and 2 tablespoons of midnight purple and you get this delicious thing.

Being one of the prettiest cars out on track you might be surprised to know he was one of few to actually tandem throughout the day.

Nick Russell on the other hand was on key all morning; I love watching this s13 work its way down the straight.

I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve ever been to Queensland Raceway and ended up shooting photos in the same old places. This time I spent a lot of my day on corners 1, 2 and 3 which I have hardly ever explored.

One man I know who was very excited to be out and about was Paul Perry in is newly acquired JZX100.

I was even lucky enough to ride shotgun and feel the 1J power for the first time!

On my way back to the pits I caught this poor 32 just as it hit the kitty litter which occurred from a bad case of understeer.

Josh

Late Thursday night I met up with some of the Stadium Drift guys to see them off before their long drive all the way down to Wakefield. With the actual event staring on Saturday, leaving late on Thursday gave them enough time to get down to the track by about Midday Friday and rest up for the big event the following day.

Dan Rasell gave me the heads up that they will be meeting up at Yatala so I grabbed the camera and shot up to meet the guys after work.

David Bledig was the first person to turn up with his rather trim looking 1J S14. It was quite some time before the rest of the guys turned up. As I’m sure many of you know there is much to prepare when it comes to towing cars to a track, so things don’t always run on time.

Chubbs and Callum, who were towing Simon Mercer’s S13 down to the track, were the next guys to turn up.

Nick Coulson and the rest of the team were the final guys to turn up.

How often have you felt you don’t have enough room when packing the car for the track? I must say it is pretty hand for these guys to be using a ute as a track car. Misko was also hanging out with these guys, so you will be seeing some photos from today’s event very soon!

E!CM

You might remember this Ae86 from a few months back which was picked up by my friend Aaron. Long story short the Ae86 build was not to be and was passed on to one of our other friends, Beau, who probably has more experience than both Aaron and myself put together with building Corollas.

He’s been slaving away at this car since he swapped it with Aaron. Since then engine, body work as well as suspension has been address. When I was taking these photos Beau was in the process of replacing most of the steering components.

The prize part of this Ae86 for now is the motor; a fairly worked N/A 4age 16v. I’m a bit sketchy on the details but my understanding is it has some very special gear in both the bottom and top end. Something worth pointing out would be the individual coil packs, the 5zigen 4-2-1 extractors and a very purple lightweight harmonic balancer.

I’ll bring more on this car for you guys as it progresses on!

E!CM

I didn’t get any photos for you guys today at the Queensland Raceway Morning session as I was way too busy driving, but Josh Dobrik was also present and will have hopefully have some very cool shots coming up for guys in the next few days!

E!CM