Project Kazumi Part 3

(Those fender mirrors have got to be replaced! It's on the list!)

Over the course of the week after I've dropped off Kazumi at Sushi Factory, I've gotten some updates from Jeiven. He was able to get his hands on some rear springs and coilover sleeves to replace the front suspension, this should bring the car back to a normal, driveable and uncontrollable bounce free state which is a huge relief and not to mention makes it safer to drive. I was also informed that the suspension bushings were shot so they needed to be replaced along with the tie rods. One front shock absorber has been found (It's really quite difficult to find them according to Jeiven.) and its partner is being chased in order to replace the worn out ones that were previously in place. Today (May 10), I decided to pay Kazumi a visit, see how everything was going and to take a look at the new parts. After snapping a few photos of the parts for documentation, Jeiven and I proceeded to have a long conversation spanning various topics, but there was one topic that we touched on that led me to redo certain parts of my modification plan that I mentioned in Part 1. We talked about the engine, I told him that I planned to put a 1UZ-FE engine in it and he immediately said "No, that's too much. If you go that route, everything we've just done will go to waste." and he was right. We touched on the weight of the engine, the power it generated and everything that was needed to support that weight and power, this would skyrocket my costs by a huge huge margin. So we talked about options like a 4A-GE Blacktop (20-valve), that seems a pretty sweet option. I also had thoughts about the 4A-GZE and 4E-FTE floating in my head but the Blacktop seems to be the best option. It changes up a lot of what I've laid out in Part 1 but hey, nothing is set in stone when it comes to these things but the general direction has been established which is important for any build. I'm currently in the process of reworking my Restoration and Modification Plan based on the feedback and inputs I've received today, it's really good to be able to get insights from others who share the same passion, it keeps you learning and grounded. I've also been working on some mock up designs for a custom gauge cluster and a custom gated shift boot. Stay tuned for further updates!

(Front Coilover Sleeves)

(Shock Absorber number 1)

(Old springs [Front], new springs [Behind])

(Gated Shift Boot designs)

(Gauge Cluster design.)

Project Kazumi Part 2

(Kazumi getting ready to roll out.)

The day has finally arrived (May 3), Kazumi is set to head out for her first shop job. I called in a few of my buddies (same ones I went with to get the Corona.) to come along for the journey, grabbed my toolkits and hopped into my daily driver and headed off to the warehouse where I left the Corona. First order of business, get the car running. I haven't started and warmed up the car for about a month so I was pretty sure it would have a hard time starting right off the bat. So I decided to give the carb a little clean with some carb cleaner, hooked the battery up to some jumper cables and started the car. It fired up but died shortly after, so I had to adjust the tension on the throttle cable and fired it up again and held the throttle down to a low RPM just to get the engine warmed up, after that, she ran and idled alright. The next step was to get the car off the jack stand because the left rear tire was flat, I bought a can of Mag1 Tire Inflator and Sealant and did as it instructed, got the car off the jack stand and we were off. For awhile now, I've been inquiring with various shops and asking about things I needed and wanted done, some said they could do it, some said they couldn't. The ones that said they could do it were located very far from me and not easily accessible. Except for one shop which I've mentioned in Part 1 of this series. The shop called Sushi Factory. I've heard a lot of great feedback and I've seen a lot of their impressive work. So that's where we were headed, location set on the GPS of the lead car where 2 of my friends were in and then it was me and my other friend in the Corona. Halfway through the scorching drive (It was a little past 12 noon and the Corona doesn't have any air conditioning.) my friend and I heard a loud pop. At first we thought it was just backfire until the following sound we heard was flapping, the left rear tire blew up. Literally.

(Exploded Tire.)

Luckily for us, we were near the shop already when the tire blew out. So we parked the car in a slot then headed into the shop. To give you an idea about the shop, it's a Car Wash/Car Restoration Garage, so naturally, there were some cars in the back which we made a beeline for. I finally got to see the famed Natsuki (a 1971 Toyota Celica ST) (Her photos are here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.316393681833388.1073741859.137794983026593&type=3) in the metal and wow is she gorgeous! I also got to see Makino the Mini Cooper (Photos here: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.315604848578938.1073741853.137794983026593&type=3) there. If you noticed, there are no photos of the cars because I felt like I was too sucked in by the whole atmosphere that I completely forgot to take photos, total brain cramp. Haha. We got to meet the owner, Jeiven Perez. He gave off really good vibes as soon as we shook hands. He gave us a quick tour of his shop and talked a little bit about Natsuki and Makino then we got down to the business end of the trip there which was to address the suspension issue and the rim fitment issue as well as assess the rest of the car and that was that, I left Kazumi in the capable, talented and passionate hands of Jeiven and his crew. Now, it truly begins. I'm pretty stoked and at the same time pretty scared about this! Stay tuned for updates!

Project Kazumi Part 1

It is said that humans are insatiable by nature, whether it is for knowledge, truth, power, possessions, love, hunger and whatever else. History has proven this to us time and again. But before I stray too far off topic, what I am deeming insatiable to me right now (apart from other things.) is my passion for cars and pretty much anything to do with them. Which leads me to another subtopic that will serve as a short introduction into my main topic, bear with me. On May 1, 2013, I bought myself my first car, a 2013 Mitsubishi Lancer EX GLX (1.6L),

(Orion.)

it was a big moment for me having accomplished something like that early in my life (I was 25 at the time.), I got all excited about what I wanted to do to it, what modifications I wanted to put in and all that. I got as far as installing a rubber lip to protect the front fender (after unfortunately scraping part of it on a steep incline due to miscalculation.) and installing a front upper strut bar. But being a passionate enthusiast, I wanted more, therein lay the conflict. I wanted to maintain the warranty of the car but at the same time, I wanted to modify the car to my liking. At one point, I decided to say "Screw the warranty. I'm going to do what I want!" and I was able to save up enough money to buy a new set of wheels, I inquired and was told that what I wanted was available but for some reason, the voice inside my head reminded me that I wasn't going to just stop at wheels. So I cancelled my order and searched online to see if I could find a project car without having to dip into my savings and investments, just for the heck of it, I didn't think I was going to find anything. But lo and behold, I found a bunch of cars that costed the same or less than the money I had set aside for new wheels. I did my research, made a number of phone calls, asked a number of people and then finally decided on one. A 1980 Toyota Corona Liftback. I called the owner, set a date (January 19, 2014) to view the car, found a mechanic that could come and view the car with me, invited a few buddies to come along and that was that. Test drove and inspected the car, negotiations were made, papers were signed and that was it, I had a project car. And this is where it all begins.

To be honest, the Corona a.k.a. "Kazumi" was in fairly decent overall shape when I got it. The 3T, 1.8L engine ran well except for a minor hiccup (We hit a dip and the throttle cable came loose causing the engine to die and not start up again.) which led to adjusting the idling and shortening the slack on the throttle cable. Now to get to the "fairly decent" parts a.k.a "Aspects In Need Of Improvement" of the car, first up is the suspension. The previous owner took the cheap and lazy way to lowering the car, he cut coils off the damn springs. Now riding, let alone driving the car (there is hardly any ground clearance, I can barely stick my whole foot under the car!) is like being one of those bobble head toys on a dashboard, in short it's a really rough ride. That’s pretty much the biggest issue with the car. The body is solid except for some rust issues and aesthetic issues. The interior needs to be reupholstered, the dashboard and other interior trims need to be fixed or replaced as well. The entire gauge cluster (except some indicators) is not functioning but it might be an electronics issue, the horn doesn't work either. There’s also a manual steering to power steering conversion that needs to be done as well. That’s pretty much it In terms of issues but I know, more are bound to pop up at one time or another, but I’ll cross those bridges when I get them.

(Kazumi.)

(Kazumi's current 3T Heart.)

I know it might be too early in the project but I do have a vision and a set of goals that I want to achieve in this RestoMod. Of course, I understand that if you break down those word RestoMod, the word Resto(ration) comes before Mod(ification) and rightly so but I believe that vision and direction is important when doing something like this, this will also serve as a reminder of the path I’m supposed to be on should I begin to deviate.

So here’s what I have planned:

The Exterior:

First off, I’m going to have to repaint the whole car, it’s currently flat brown of sorts, I plan to bring it back to blue (which was the color it was registered in.) but a flat shade of midnight blue. I also plan to put some fender flares on all four sides to give the car wider and aggressive look or perhaps have the fenders rolled to keep it clean looking. I intend to keep the fender mirrors to retain the classic look. For the wheels, I will most likely be going with gold BBS RS’ with a polished silver lip; they just seem to suit the car when I picture it in my head. But this is still a very changeable 

aspect.

The Interior:

For the interior, I’m planning to with a pair of bucket seats up front and then probably reupholstering the rear seats in some leather.  I also need to get the rear seatbelts to become functional. But the front buckets will most likely be using harnesses. For the dashboard, I plan on putting together a custom gauge cluster instead of restoring and maintaining the old one. I also plan on having a custom fabricated gated shifter just to give it that touch of class with a mix of function. I’m still debating if I’m going to put a stereo back into the car or not, I’ll also most likely have to have a custom console made for the air conditioning controls. For the steering wheel, I’m looking to go with something from Nardi, haven’t decided which one yet. I’ll also be incorporating central locking and power windows for that functional modern touch. That’s all I have in mind for now when it comes to the interior.

Suspension:

I initially tried to look for replacement suspension parts but for a car this old, it’s pretty difficult. I reached out to a shop (Sushi Factory: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sushi-Machine/137794983026593?ref=ts&fref=ts) that can do a custom suspension job (Among other amazing things they can do!) on it so there’s that. Though I’m willing to explore the possibilities of going with a full coilover setup for the front and rear though it might involve some metal fabrication work.

The Engine and Transmission:

Now for the fun and probably the most costly and challenging part, the engine. I am planning to go with a 1UZ-FE (Either from a Toyota or a Lexus, doesn't matter to me as long as the price is right. Haha!) engine and I plan to use a W58 five-speed transmission which seems to be the best transmission of choice when it comes to the 1UZ-FE based on what I’ve read and the people I’ve spoken to. Though I did have a passing thought of trying to get a sequential gearbox in there somehow, unless the price kills me first of course. I also plan to run it with individual throttle bodies with velocity stacks for each throttle body. I haven’t really put thought into the exhaust system yet though.

(Spark Plug #4.)

Now onto the present time, I mentioned earlier that the issue with the engine was the throttle cable but after getting the car to a warehouse (my best friend was kind enough to offer it to store Kazumi. They house, service and repair their delivery trucks there meaning it’s pretty much like a workshop, thankfully!) I decided to give the spark plugs a check and it turns out the real issue didn't lie solely with the throttle cable. Plug number 4 was pretty much blown

(Out with the old, in with the new.)

and the spark plug wires were also pretty shot. So I got my hands on a brand new set of spark plugs (4-pieces Bosch IR Fusion Iridium Spark Plugs to be exact.) and a set of NGK high tension wires plus an ignition coil wire. Swapped the old ones out and put the new ones in, cranked the engine and nothing, cranked it again then smoke started to emanate from the battery terminals, I took a closer look and the insulation was in pretty bad shape, so one of the warehouse mechanics and I took the terminals off and adjusted the clamps that house the wiring to make them tighter, reclamped the wires and re-insulated it by wrapping it with electrical tape. The car needed a little jump start but after, she ran so much smoother and without any more idling issues. The next step would be to clean the carb to make it even smoother. So that’s one issue down but onto another one, apart from the present issues I've mentioned and listed. I bought a set of 16x8 (front) and 16x9 (rear) BBS RS’ (Gold center, silver polished lip.)

(BBS RS + Attached Human.)

with a PCD of 114.3mm, I was really excited to try them on but unfortunately, they don’t fit. For some reason, the bolt spacing on the rear of the Corona measures 127mm which is really strange because prior research and inquiries say that the PCD of the Corona is 114mm, diagonally though, the bolt spacing matches up at 88.9mm for both the BBS’ and the Corona. So it’s both frustrating and confusing. Now I’m in search of wheel adapters that will help get the wheels to fit properly. I suppose it really does happen when doing projects, solve one problem only to discover a new one. 

Stay tuned for my next article on this awesome journey that I'm on!

Somewhere Between I Want It And I Got It

It’s six in the morning; the alarm clock on my mobile phone is going off until I shut it off. I stare up at the ceiling; rays of the morning sun lick my face through the glass panes of my window. “Am I alive? Or am I just breathing?” I think to myself. I take a deep breath and let it out. I’m actually a little bit of both. Somewhere between I want it and I got it. Perhaps everyone has come to that point at least once in their lives, that point wherein one feels like everything is going generally well in life but it still feels like something is missing. With furrowed brows, I take a look into my life. I have a wonderful, loving and caring family. I live a very comfortable and blessed life and I’m able to enjoy a significant amount of luxuries and privileges. I have all my senses intact and I’m in pretty good shape. I am in a good, stable and happy relationship with a wonderful woman. I was able to buy my own car and split an investment in a condominium with my father, I was also able to buy him a car with the help of my mom. I have a few side hustles that have not yet fully panned out but I think are getting there; I have significant investments and savings. I am really thankful for these blessings and I have a feeling of happiness, contentment and a sense of accomplishment when it comes to these aspects of life. But there is something missing. And deep inside, I know what it is. I know what is eating away at my overall happiness. It is the grind of my day job, the day job where a huge majority of my life is spent at. The same day job that provide me the money to fulfill my financial responsibilities, that provides me the money to buy things and experiences that bring me the happiness I seek, that can make up for the unhappiness and the lack of fulfillment that I feel where I am right now. The dead end cycle that I am in where I have to do what doesn’t make me happy in order to earn money to pay for things that do, to reach the goals I’ve set. Some will say that this is the sacrifice that needs to be made in order to build a good future; some will say that this is something that everyone needs to do in order to live a better life later on, to a certain extent, this is true. But I can’t fully accept that, I can’t fully accept that this is how life is supposed to be. I do believe that sacrifices need to be made and there is no substitute for hard work but what is it all for? For money? Yes, money is a huge factor and it is important in life, it is required but the way to make it is something that I believe is not fixed. A part of me is telling me to just say “Screw it. Leave your job.” But it isn’t that simple because of the financial responsibilities that I have which are covered by what I make at this job. I only have a few things going for me there, the fact that I get to see my girlfriend every day, the pay is more than decent and the location is very convenient. But other than that, I see it as a means to a few ends. But these ends (Fulfilling financial obligations, saving and investing) seem to be so shallow. There is no higher purpose for me here; I have no aspirations in this industry. Then that inner voice whispers to me, “Then go switch industries. Find another job.” I could do that but I am highly doubtful that there is another job out there that pays the same way that I need it to or if there is one, I have not found it yet and I am also doubtful that it will pay the way I need it to right off the bat, it took me 3 years to make what I’m making now and the financial obligations (both these obligations are necessities to me (My car and the Condo Investment) I need to fulfill have a long time horizon before they are complete. So you see, it’s like falling into a trap. But don’t get me wrong, I am very thankful for the job I have and what the salary does for my present and for my future. But I really can’t shake this feeling that’s eating away at the very core of my being. I often ask myself, is this all that life is cracked up to be? This can’t be it. There has to be more to it than this. There has to be more meaning than this. Then I stumbled upon this article on www.artofmanliness.com and it is a 5 part series (http://www.artofmanliness.com/2010/05/24/finding-your-calling-part-i-what-is-a-vocation/ is the link to Part 1 which has the links within it for Parts 2 to 5.) that talks about “Finding Your Calling” and reading through entire series really opened my eyes and some quotes hit home very squarely and moved me. I would like to take this time to share them with you and add a little bit of how I feel about them.

“A Job. Those who see their work as a job are those who belt out “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend” with great gusto. They live for breaks, for vacation. The job is simply a means to the end: a paycheck. They need to support their family/pay their rent, and this is the ticket they punch to do it. The job may not be terrible, but it offers the worker very little real satisfaction.” - This is where I am at right now.

“A Vocation/Calling. A vocation is work you do for its own sake; you almost feel like you’d do it even if you didn’t get paid. The rewards of wages and prestige are peripheral to getting to use one’s passion in a satisfying way. Those in a vocation feel that their work has an effect on the greater good and an impact beyond themselves. They believe that their work truly utilizes their unique gifts and talents. This is what they were meant to do.” - This is what I am searching for, this is what I am seeking. Although I already have a general idea as to what it is, it’s more the “how” that I am seeking, that I am hustling for.

“True, I know men, and I’m sure you do too, who are working in jobs that don’t fit them at all in order to make a living, and outwardly they put on a fairly happy face. But I often see an anger in these men emerge in less guarded moments-in road rage, heavy drinking, and resentment towards others. It can just eat at you inside, literally. More heart attacks occur on Monday morning than at any other time; men return to jobs they loathe and their blood pressure soars.”

“Find what you really love to do and then go after it-relentlessly. And don’t fret about the money. Because what you love to do is quite likely what you’re good at. And what you’re good at will likely bring you financial reward eventually. I’ve seen too many people who have plotted a career, and often what’s behind it is nothing other than a stack of dollar bills. You need to be happy in order to be good, and you need to be good to succeed. And when you succeed, there’s a good chance you’ll get paid.” - This is a very striking quote for me, it really hit home and made a whole lot of sense.

“Staying in a dead end job is often seen as the more practical choice, but there is an irresistible practicality to the idea of vocation as well. The man in the job he hates may sometimes make more money, but he also spends more money, trying to buy things and experiences that will make up for how miserable he is at work. He has to do what doesn’t make him happy to earn money to pay for things that do. In contrast, the man in a vocation is the truly frugal man. He’s not living for the next vacation; he doesn’t need a big screen TV to make him happy; he’s not paying a shrink and a doctor to tend to his diminishing mental and physical health. He doesn’t need much to get by and that’s true freedom.” This is another one that struck me very much because it is currently where I’m in right now, where a big chunk of my life and my time goes to. It’s hard to believe I’ve survived 3 years in this situation.

“The way to a larger opportunity is never meanly sneaking out from under the little duty of to-day, but climbing bravely through it and off the top; and then the better chance usually comes.” You may need to moonlight in a second job until you can quit your day job; you may need to find the expression of your talents in your avocation; you may simply need to find more opportunities in your current job that allow you to use your unique strengths. A determined man who knows how to hustle can find a responsible way to balance his duties and his passions.” - This is what I am hustling towards, what I am aspiring towards, although what I’m currently moonlighting in may not be my passion, it does bring a certain degree of satisfaction, but for me, it is not enough but it is also geared towards the freedom I so desire.

Faced with these set of questions from Part 4 of the series, this allowed me to really think about it, to really ponder on it, I will share these set of questions along with my answers as well.

·        As a boy, what did you love to do? Write? Read? Sports? Working on models? Playing with a chemistry set? Spending time outdoors? Pretending to be a solider or a spy? – As a kid, I liked to play with my toy cars and action figures or spending time outside riding my bike and playing with toy guns, building some out of my large Lego blocks too. I also enjoyed climbing trees and just being on the move outside.

·       During school group projects, what job did other students assign to you, or did you volunteer for? – Hmm, this is a tough one to recall but most of the time, I found myself reading the reports or presenting them.

·       What aspects of your current job do you love, which do you loathe? – I like the flexibility and leniency of the schedule and the fact that it pays well. I loathe the fact that it isn’t what I went to school for nor is it my passion, plus the fact that I am just at a cubicle all day.

·       What kinds of projects and jobs at work and at home do you get excited about? What kinds do you dread? – At work, there isn’t really much that excites me, I suppose the last thing I enjoyed was presenting something via WebEx. I dread or dislike the kinds of tasks that are boring and long and the ones that involve heavy math formulas. At home, I like to read a lot and view photos and if I have taken some photos of subjects that I really like or for a shoot, I enjoy doing post-processing on them and analyzing my work after to see where I can improve and make changes the next time around.

·       Have you ever talked to a friend about a topic, a dream, or an aspiration and everything just clicked inside of you, and you felt a surge of excitement throughout your body? – Yes, I have, quite a number of times.

·       What things do you see other people doing that make you ache with jealousy because you wish you were doing them? – For me, my friend Nicky Calanoc seems to have the ultimate dream job (He is a Deputy Editor at C! Magazine.) He gets to photograph cars, test drive them and write about them for a living, I think that’s pretty awesome, I’m sure this job has some mundane factors but to me, it’s pretty sweet overall. Or whenever I browse through the Speedhunters website or see the works of various car photographers, I always find myself saying “I could do that! I would love to do that!”

·       What issues get you really fired up? – Issues that involve cars and photography, also issues that come to investing and money.

·       What dream has nagged at you for as long as you can remember, the thing that always pops into your mind no matter how many times you dismiss it? – A dream that has nagged at me for as long as I can remember is wanting to become a professional racer or being a part of a racing team, to make a living doing what I am passionate about. The thing that always pops into my head is how can I make a living being a photographer of cars or how I can make a living by putting up a garage and tuning cars or making a living off that combination.

·       What fills your thoughts in the quiet moments when you’re riding the train or lying in bed? What do you think about incessantly, what captures your imagination? Politics? Spirituality? Relationships? –My loved ones, Cars, Porsche’s, Racing, Speed, Tuning Cars, Photography, Money, Ideas for businesses.

·       If time, money, education and any other obstacle was a non-issue, what kind of work would you choose to do? – I would probably be car photographer/car photo journalist of some sort for the day as well as a business owner.

·       What were you doing the last time you totally lost track of time? – Reading a stack of car magazines, browsing Tumblr and deviantART for photos of cars and various subjects that really capture my attention from the standpoint of a viewer and a photographer, writing short stories (I recall writing a short story back in the summer of 2003 that I never finished as well as writing my own version of Harry Potter Book V back in 2001 which I didn’t finish either and sadly can no longer find.)

“Levoy suggests thinking of yourself like a compass. You keep one of the points of the compass fixed, while the other one is free to draw circles. Keep part of your life stable, while part of your life seeks after your calling. Eventually, you’ll be able to put both feet into your vocation.” – This second to the last point is a key point, it’s a big key to being able to pursue and embrace your passion/vocation, after realizing all your fears and obstacles and deciding to face and work to overcome them, that doesn’t mean you jump into it right now, it won’t happen overnight that’s for sure, but as mentioned, if you take the steps and formulate a plan and stick to it, eventually, you will make it to where you want and need to be.

“Sometimes we imagine that doing what we’re meant to do will feel effortless. But it’s going to be hard work. Really hard work. There will still be plenty of “dead work.” You will still have days when you won’t feel like going to work, when you want to quit. Such is the nature of all work.

But it will not be work that feels done in vain. It will be work that expands instead of contracts your spirit, that leaves you feeling more, not less alive. It will be work that stretches you, grows you, and helps you reach your potential as a man. It will be work that fills not only your hunger, but a hunger in the world. Most of all, it will give you the insurpassable feeling that there is a reason and purpose for your being here, and that you have fulfilled that purpose. That you are where you are supposed to be, doing what you were meant to do.” – This parting piece is one to remember, it serves as a reminder that it won’t be easy, but it will definitely be worth it.

As much as this started out to be the ramblings of my unsettled mind and a part of it even sounding like a rant, but writing this out actually calmed my mind and helped answer some of the questions I had. Reminding me of what needs to be done.

Automobile Passion - Porsche Obsession

It all began at the tender age of 5 or 6, it was my birthday party and the clown asked me my birthday wish and I confidently exclaimed “Ferrari Testarossa!” and he looked at me with some sort of panicked look, I guess he was afraid to disappoint me so he passed the pressure to my dad by saying “Um, I think you should go ask your dad for that.” I knew I wasn't going to get one from the clown or my dad but it was really just the first thing that came to my mind. I suppose this marks the beginning of my passion for cars. From Matchbox cars to Maisto cars to Hot Wheels cars to any other toy cars I could get my hands on, this would be what I would spend countless hours playing with, from makeshift races, to car chase scenes (complete with crashes!) to just letting them roll across the room and watching them go, there was always something about cars that captivated me, be it how they looked, the way their engines sound when they start, idle, rev and are put under load, the colors they used, the feel of riding in one, the feeling of speed, watching them zoom by while staring out the window, cars always seem to put a smile on my face. Growing up, before going to school (I was about 9 or 10 years old.) or during weekend mornings, I would always find the time to sit in our car (It was a 94’ or ’95 Toyota Corolla GLI I think.) and practice shifting (handbrake engaged), pretending I was racing, familiarizing myself with the pedals. Then my dad decided to give me my first driving lesson when I was 15 in our 1996 Honda Civic VTI. It was a good experience, a mix of excitement and fear then when I got the hang of it, it was pure joy. I had to wait a year to get my Student’s Permit though, the legal age to get one here is 16. I would take every opportunity I could to get behind the wheel and drive, whether it was driving my mom to the grocery or driving for the family on Sundays to visit my grandparents or long drives out of town with the family, it didn't really matter, I just wanted to grab the chances to drive, even though the traffic gets insane at times and despite the few minor accidents I’ve been in, being able to drive it still something I really enjoy. When I turned 18 and got my regular driver’s license, that’s when the real enjoyment came because I no longer needed a licensed driver to accompany me when I drove. There is something peaceful and liberating about driving alone, despite the traffic, despite the crazy public vehicles or the occasional douchebag, being able to enjoy the open road, be it a short spirited drive or a lucky traffic free day, whether it’s cruising or speed hunting, it’s something I look forward to. I’m blessed and thankful to be able to enjoy this privilege and responsibility. I came across this phrase that Ben Chandler said while I was reading an entry from the Speedhunters website and I really like the way it relates cars and freedom which is how I feel about them as well, "Cars to me rhyme with freedom. The ability to go wherever you want – on your own or with a crew of friends – pretty much whenever you like, is awesome."

Going back to my childhood, there was one particular toy that I would always find myself playing with, it was a gray 1987 (Coincidentally my birth year.) Porsche 959, sadly, I can no longer find the toy, something about it always kept me occupied, we didn't have any Internet back then so I couldn't do any Google Searches to find out more about the car (not that Google even existed when I was 5 or 6 years old anyway.), all I knew was that growing up, the Porsche brand would be forever imprinted in my head. Fast forward to my firsthand experience with a 911, I was 9 years old, my family and I were fortunate enough to take a trip to Florida to visit a good friend of my mom whose husband happened to own a Porsche 911, I can’t exactly get the most accurate details but based on the information I was able to gather, I got the opportunity to take a ride in either a gun metal gray 1985 911 Carrera Convertible or a white 911 (993) Carrera Convertible (can’t pinpoint the exact year based on information gathered and racking my brain.). But what I can distinctly remember though is the experience. It was like being in a dream. Hearing that engine roar to life and then watching the top drop. For a 9 year old, that was pretty awesome stuff. Even though the drive was very short (just out of the driveway, a quick U-turn and then back into the driveway.) it was enough for me. It was happiness. Getting out of the car and just observing the lines, the details, the unique shape, just taking it all in. It was quite overwhelming to my 9 year old self. But I do believe it was that moment that solidified my passion for the Porsche 911. To this very day, despite the multitude of awesome cars out there (I appreciate a very vast majority of them regardless of make, model or age.) it is still the Porsche 911 that captivates me and holds my attention. It isn’t just one thing about the 911 that I like; it’s the 911 as a whole and across all model ranges. From the 901 up to the 991, but don’t get me wrong though, I appreciate all that Porsche has created, even the Cayenne and the Macan which at first I didn't really like from a design standpoint, but they kind of grow on you. But the 911 is truly my absolute favorite. I am quite partial to the 993 and the 964, although the 997 and the 991 are beauties in their own rights, the 993 and 964 to me seem to encapsulate the essence and retains the history of the Porsche 911 from a design perspective and especially because these were the last batch of the air-cooled Porsches before the radical external design changes (I don’t count the slant nose/flat nose/flachbau 930 an extreme change because it was brought about by competition to reduce drag and improve aerodynamics.) and engine changes (water-cooling) changes that the 996 brought about (I love the 996 GT2 and 996 GT3 though), after that the 911 was never the same. Although the 997 and 991 brought back some of the design changes of the models prior to the 996, they retained the water-cooling aspect that the 996 brought in 1998 to keep up with the times and the competition in terms of performance I suppose. Although, at this point in my life (I’m 25.) I don’t own a 911 yet (nor have I experienced driving one.) I am working towards buying a 2nd hand one. A brand new 911 is crazily out of my reach at the moment and I really am partial towards the 993 and the 964 so that’s what I’m working hard towards, either 993 or the 964 (Or both!). It’s a big dream, but I know I’m going hustle hard and I am going to reach it one way or another.

I’ve got a great passion for cars and an even greater obsession with the Porsche 911 so much so that before I even thought about doing corporate work, I sent my resume to PGA Cars Inc. (The Local distributors of Porsche, Audi, Bentley and Lamborghini here in the Philippines). To get paid to be around Porsche's all day seemed to be an awesome dream job at the time but sadly, I didn't receive a response regarding my application. I'm also currently finding a way to make time to take a 4-day Basic Car Maintenance technical short course or to learn how to tune cars (I know that it's very different when you read about cars and actually do some hands on work on them.), I just want to be able to tinker with cars, to learn more about them, to do some hands on work on them, just to simply be around them brings me joy. I am far from being an expert nor do I know everything about cars but I am open to gaining as much knowledge and experiences as I can. Others may not understand this fire that burns within and that is alright, I just wanted to share with the world what I consider to be a huge part of who I am through this seemingly thought scattered set of words that I've strung together.

Driver: San Francisco Video Game Review (PS3)

Driver: San Francisco

                So, my awesome super sweet girlfriend just bought me Driver: San Francisco for the PS3. :) I know, I haven't written a review in awhile so please excuse me if I'm a little rusty.

                Ah, the Driver video game series, being an avid car fan and racing game enthusiast, my gaming "career" would not be complete without this series. Making its debut in 1999 on the PlayStation, I was already hooked by the concept of the game which involved epic car chases, realistic damage physics (for its time), free roaming the city environment and a gripping storyline. Although it lacked a few things such as vehicle choices and the ability to get out of your car (which was later corrected in Driver 2, released in the following year). This game represents the 5th installment of this series (Driver, Driver 2, Driv3r, Driver: Parallel Lines and now, Driver: San Francisco). There has been a huge gap between the last game which was released in 2006 on the PlayStation 2. I have actually been waiting for them to make one for the PS3 and now that there is, after finding out the Ubisoft would be behind the game, I was excited to see what they have in store for us this time around on a new platform. And I am happy to say that I wasn't disappointed at all.

                First off, I would like to thank http://gametestlabs.com for posting if not all, at least the majority list of cars that would be available for use in the game. (I usually check what toys can be used before I play a racing game, adds to the pre-play excitement.) And boy did this list excite me! Names like Lamborghini, McLaren, Jaguar, RUF, Aston Martin, Audi, to name a few, will be available for use within the game, these are just a few out of the car list that was provided.

                Now, onto the game, don't worry, I hate spoilers, so there won't be any here. There are three new interesting additions to the game. First is the "Shift" or car-hopping principle of the game which allows a player to kind of "possess" other drivers, it's pretty much John Tanner's soul floating above the entire map, you focus on a car, any car and then BAM, possess the driver in it, I know it's kind of freaky. But that's a new twist that unfortunately replaces the concept of getting out of your car (you'll need to play the game and go through the story to find out why it's no longer possible to do so.) It has its ups and downs, the upside is, you get to "shift" without consequence pretty much possessing whatever the heck you like. The downside, for me is that this kind of takes out the thrill and excitement of having to get out of your car, run around the city in search of a new vehicle because you wrecked what you're currently using. But the reason for this new feature was justifiable enough for me to go along with it. I believe it adds a new element of fun into the game though, somewhat breaks the monotony and makes it kind of stand out. The second addition is the Garage concept, which for car fanatics such as myself is a nice addition because this allows to you to purchase garages, wherein you can buy cars, store cars and upgrade your driver abilities, you also get to access movie car chase scene remakes and other driving challenges from here too. Lastly, the addition of a multiplayer area of play which includes online play as well as split screen play which is a pretty sweet addition. I believe this gives the game a huge boost because online play is interactive and with various modes to choose from, the replay value of this game is quite high and to top it off, incorporated into the multiplayer is the "Shifting" principle which can be used to your advantage in order to succeed. It adds an element of challenge and unpredictable excitement because after all, you are going against other real people as opposed to AI.

                Upon starting the game, you will be treated to graphically pleasing cutscenes that switch in and out of you controlling it and watching it which is pretty exciting, the main idea of the story is immediately introduced so you won't be lost, then after the pleasantries are out of the way, the fun begins. Being a Ubisoft developed game, I can't help but see a little bit of Sam Fisher in John Tanner, but that's just me. Although the in game graphics are not as graphically jaw dropping compared to Need For Speed or Gran Turismo, it provides pretty decent detail and damage physics. And I must say, once you get used to the whole "shifting" idea, you discover endless possibilities and get to watch and control them through an out of body experience, no pun intended. I can't really go into detail about this because I promised no spoilers, so if you want know more about it, go grab yourself a copy of the game!

Ranking:

Story: 9/10- Very enjoyable and refreshing story concept and plot

Gameplay: 8/10- Just like the original driver, fun, fast paced, intense and exciting

Graphics: 9/10- Not exceptionally great, but pleasing enough to be appreciated

Soundtrack: 8/10

Cars: 9/10 - I'm very pleased with the wide range of makes and models available in this game

Gran Turismo 5 Video Game Review (PS3)

Gran Turismo 5: Limited Edition

                Being  a Gran Turismo franchise advocate since the very beginning, I suppose it's safe to use the cliché "good things come to those who wait" because after 5 years in the making, various release date delays and weeks of waiting and resisting the urge to buy the regular version have finally paid off, I finally found a store that had a few stocks left of the Limited Edition version of Gran Turismo 5! (Sadly, I didn't get to reserve or pre-order on time for the release so all the Collector's Edition copies were off the shelves faster than a chicken on fire!) What came with this edition aside from the game of course was the Apex: Ultimate Car Guide book (pretty awesome), a DLC Redeem Code (plus a neat holographic card of the car you get, I got the Nissan GT-R GT500), a Gran Turismo decal set (various sizes and designs) and a poster. Not bad, considering the regular version and the Limited Edition only differed by a few hundred bucks (Philippine Peso).

                 Now, we have one nagging question in mind, was this game really worth the wait? I will do my best to answer this question as this review goes on.

                So upon running the game, I was prompted for a software update, naturally, I'd accept it, thinking it would simply take a couple of minutes, little did I know that the update was 608MB worth! I stared at the progress bar that seemed hopelessly frozen, after 20 minutes, I couldn't stand it, I cancelled the update and ran the game without it. As expected, Polyphony Digital and the rest of the developers will treat you to a quite long and beautiful intro movie (except for the music that didn't seem to go with it), I will not go into detail, but I will say that one may encounter a graphical overdose (trust me, this is one overdose you'd love.). After the movie, you are led into a simple menu screen. I decided to choose the Arcade Mode first to see what beauties they had to offer. I was pleased to see some very sumptuous vehicle choices, from exotics, to muscles, to supercars to daily drivers, to classics, to rally, to F1 and more, way more, real world automobiles.

                Aside from the vast vehicular selection, the game also has some new features:

1. My Home- This is the "main menu" for your career as a racer, in this area you can prepare for races, join various events, access your garage, tune your vehicle, visit the used car lot, practice, acquire licenses, etc. In this screen, you can also customize your GT Profile which is pretty much who you are in the Gran Turismo world, I liked the fact that they made it highly customizable, you can change the theme, color, wallpaper, profile photo of your GT Dashboard screen. This is where it all starts.

2. Level Up Aspect- For anyone who has played a Gran Turismo game, you know that in order to participate in certain events or have access to certain vehicles and events, you need to acquire licenses. Gran Turismo 5 has now decided to use an "experience" system wherein a player can gain experience points to level up, these in turn allow you to participate in events or purchase cars based on your level.

3. A-Spec Events and B-Spec Events- This is a new addition, it's pretty much the main events of the game. By competing in either of these events, you will earn money and experience points. The A-Spec Races are your usual, straightforward, first place wins kind of race, from here, you work your way up until you unlock more events and vehicles as you level up. Now as for B-Spec events, this is a totally new concept, this pretty much a "hands free" event wherein you no longer have to drive the car. Here, you create/select a driver and then enter him in a race. You also earn money and experience points from these events. The drivers have certain types of "personalities" that bring with them various traits and abilities, these aspects will affect how the driver performs during a race. Once you have chosen your driver, you can now begin the race, the players only task here is to "coach" the driver with 4 commands that tell him to either lower his pace, maintain his pace, pick up his pace and overtake. Now this may seem simple enough, but there are things you need to consider, excessive commanding may cause your driver "lose focus" and end committing mistakes that may cost you the race.

3. Create A Race Track- Aside from just all out racing, the game has added a feature that allows players to create their own race track and upload it for the use of the gaming community. You can create the scenery of the track, the length, the sharpness of curves and turns and the weather of the track, this feature certainly adds to the replay value of the game.

4. Online Multiplayer- Now this is the first time this feature was included in the entire Gran Turismo franchise. The concept of multiplayer is quite simple, enter the Open Lobby on the My Home menu screen, find a room, look for a race (either Free Run or Shuffle Race) then hit the gas and enjoy! Another concept added to the online aspect of this game is being able to join the Community Area on the My Home menu, here players can view their online friends, post messages and give gifts (you can give away cars! O_o).

5. Special Events- Aside from the two main events mentioned above, this is another one where players can participate in, by earning experience points and leveling up, one will be granted access to various special events, such as NASCAR, Rally, Drifting Events and Go-Karting which is a pretty good add-in to the game.

6. The Concept of Vehicle Damage- This is one thing I've always thought was lacking from the Gran Turismo franchise, finally, they have added this feature, although it is nowhere near the damage modeling that Grid possesses, I'm very pleased that it has now been included. 

                Of course, with new features come the maintenance of the old ones, personally, I'm glad they maintained the License Test feature, this was one of the defining aspects of the entire franchise. For those who've never played any Gran Turismo game, the name of the feature speaks for itself, you go through a series of driving tests in order to earn a certain license, the degree of difficulty varies, it's quite challenging but still fun overall. Also, I liked that they maintained the Used Car Lot in the Career Mode because here lies the discovery of rare vehicles that are not offered in the Dealerships, always be on the lookout, you never know what you might find. O_o Also, the usual Arcade Mode, VS mode and Practice Mode has also been retained.

                Sadly, this game is not perfect and there are some things that did leave me quite disappointed. First off, the graphics aren't that amazing, for a game that was in development for five years, I was expecting a lot more. In all honesty, if you were to compare this game to Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit, graphically, Need For Speed would have a slight edge. But I'm not saying the graphics of this game aren't superb, because they are, all I'm saying is that given the amount of time it took to make, I think they could have done better. Another minor detail that I wish was worked on was the fact that Porsche isn't included in the car list, sure RUF is the closest you can get to it, but Porsche is Porsche, most car enthusiasts would share the same sentiments I suppose. Haha.

                Overall, I think that this game is a must-have for every car enthusiast and racing gamer alike. For die-hard Gran Turismo game players such as myself, this purchase was inevitable, because not getting this game would be as foolish as challenging a Bugatti Veyron using a Kia Pride. Hahaha.

Ranking:

Story: 8/10- Very enjoyable career mode

Gameplay: 8/10- Physics could use a little work, but you'll get used to it

Graphics: 9/10- Pure beauty, simply amazing. @_@

Soundtrack: 8/10

*CARS: Very vast selection, you will not be disappointed! @_@

Overall: 9/10, a very satisfying game with a high replay value, blessed with tantalizing graphics and an insane amount of vehicle choices.

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit Video Game Review (PS3)

Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit

                As a kid up until now, I've always loved cars, so it was already pre-determined that I would purchase a pre-ordered copy of the latest Need For Speed Franchise installment, which is Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit. The latest version of Hot Pursuit is simply a "remake" of the Need For Speed Hot Pursuit sub series which had versions for the 1st and 2nd Playstation, both were great by the way. But EA's partnering up with Criterion (developer of Burnout Paradise) has added an edge over the competition when it comes to an adrenaline pumping, high-speed, intense racing game.

                Right off the bat, you will already notice how simple the interface of the game is, it has a  very straightforward Career mode basically composed of various point-to-point races over a vast map and long stretches of road. You can blow past the whole career as either a cop or a racer and choosing either path will have no effect on anything as each side is independently progressive, plus if you feel like playing cop, you can take a break from being a racer and participate in a police event at any point your career. Being a cop or a racer offers a uniquely different experience with its own set of challenges, aside from the obvious reasons where as a cop you do what you can to stop racers and as a racer, you do what you can to finish a race without getting busted by the cops.

                When you start racing, you will notice very precise controls and response which is very important in a game like this where split-second decision need precise response in order to execute effectively. But aside from the dead-on controls and responsive system, NFS: Hot Pursuit is awesome because its core concept is so simple and yet so diverse. It's more than just escaping from the police as a racer and catching felons as the police, there's a certain uniqueness to each that even though you're driving on exactly the same roads, the same map, the two roles make things feel entirely different. Each location, which is linked into one big map that gives you varying scenery, from the desert countryside to snowy mountains, which are all graphically pleasing if I may add, not only do they and an element of size to the game, these locations also offer you various shortcuts and side roads that can be used to your advantage as either a cop or a racer.

                The game has opted not to use a currency system and has switched this out with "Bounty Points" which you earn by driving well (insane yet precise), winning races, busting bad guys, etc. which then boosts your rank as either a cop or a racer, which in turn, makes new vehicles, car classes, equipment (used for either catching or escaping from the cops which are exactly the same items except used differently depending on what role you choose.) as well as upgrades for these equipment.

                Another cool factor that I liked about this game is the new feature called "Autolog" system which is pretty much the heart of the game because your career progress directly affects your online gaming experience, what you unlock in the career can be used online, it also happens vice versa because the progress/bounty system is one and the same, this feature allows you to keep constant tabs on your friends' progress with regards to all the events they have accomplished, this boosts the replay value of the game because we all have competitive side right? Your friend beats yours event, you beat theirs, and it just goes on.  The Autolog system tracks events in real time (you need an internet connection of course, access to PSN and the Autolog network) meaning while you're playing in the career, you could get a prompt telling you that your friend just topped your score in another event, then by simply pressing R1, you load directly into that event and try to reclaim your title. Aside from this, you can also set challenges for your friends under the event suggestions tab, for example, you finished a race under a certain time, you can suggest it and see if your friends can beat it. There's also a message board function where messages and screenshots can be shared. This is where the game truly stands out in my opinion, the online experience. For one, I really enjoy the Hot Pursuit game mode (one of the various online modes), because it's pretty much a no holds barred cops-and-robbers/cat and mouse game that really involves a lot more strategy than most people think, bottom line is that it's a fun experience playing online.

                Last but not the least, I cannot forget about the CARS. @_@ I'm drooling as I type this (okay not really, but you get it.) I do not want to discuss this in detail because knowing me, this review might turn into a novel. So let me just give you the down-low, the cars are beautiful, graphically sexy and visually appealing, they all seem to be handcrafted by the automobile gods themselves. Excellent detailed.  And just to give a little overview, you will be seeing manufacturers such as Porsche, Lamborghini, Maserati, Bugatti, Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, McLaren, Chevrolet, Dodge, Aston Martin, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Pagani, Koenigsegg, Ford, Audi and Jaguar. (I think I said em' all?)

                So if you love cars, you enjoy speeding, you like challenges, you like running from cops, catching bad guys, making records and breaking records, doing it in style if I might add, then Need For Speed: Hot Pursuit is a game for you!

Rating:

Story: N/A

Gameplay: 8.5/10

Graphics: 8.5/10

Soundtrack: 8/10

*CARS: 9.5/10, could use the Gran Turismo lineup, but all is forgiven thanks to the vast selection of exotics. @_@

Overall: I believe this game deserves an 9/10, a very straightforward game with a very rewarding online experience, not to mention visually rewarding as well as a high replay value.