Battle of the imports 2010, Woodburn Oregon, we went! :)

If you've never been to a major import event, you're really missing out. It's so nice to be at an event and be with people that are doing similar things. We're practically "normal" and not the side show like we are locally when we hit the drag strip. Everybody was super fun and super kind. Lot of young folks doing their best and putting up some great times.

BATTLE OF THE IMPORTS

What a fiasco.... after 80+ hours of driving, nearly 4300 miles.

our red, pump gas, EG. I was STOKED to make a decent pass with the new transmission and tune... Blew the clutch and who knows what else IN THE WATER BOX... never even got to make a pass with it. Pre-loaded, put the gas to the floor let out the clutch and that was that. Car made 450 on 91 octane pump gas at 17psi. VERY disappointing I didn't get to make a pass. It happens.

Hot rod car. Ran it in Pro-import. I cannot tell you how excited I was to run it with the new setup. We dyno'd it at 15psi and it went 630. That's what I was going to do my first passes with to see how it all held together, then we'd throw more at it. All new fuel system, mani, turbo, differential etc. we bumped it to 27psi for the first pass, figuring "what the hell, this is the big show". I'm gonna guess it was near 750. MAN, that's some shite you got to get used to. everything about that kind of power compared to the 550-600 I'd been running it at was WAY different. The way it burned out, what tire pressure, everything was different. Gotta learn it all over and find out what the car wants to see. It's the same shell, it's not the same car, at all.

I'm the first guy to run in the left lane after an oil down... LOVELY... with a junk 1.8 sixty foot, missed 3rd twice, fell completely off boost by the time I got it back in, and was ALL OVER the top end of the track loose bouncing the limiter, side to side almost crossed the center line, it ran a 10.2@150. Would have been a solid mid nine near 160.. MAN... what a bummer. even with spinning so bad, missing 3rd for so long and falling off boost, the 1/8th time was still 6.8@112. I can't even imagine what it would have been with traction, good shifts, and staying on boost. and that was on 25 inch M&H tires. If I dog box it (which I have to now), I'm going to 26's. If I front half the car this winter I'm gonna dump the 26's run 28's. shoulda, woulda, coulda.... it's going to be a long winter, wondering "WHAT IF"?????

Got loose as crap in the shut down and I smoked the rear tires and got a bit sideways (didn't toss the chute, maybe should have). I think I'm going to pull the rear brakes off completely for safety in the shut down. More guys doing that. just use them for staging. I've driven some rat rod cars around town with only front brakes. if I didn't tell you, you wouldn't even know it.

James (Speedfactory tuner and transmission guy) comes over to me after the first pass and asks, "did you shift as soon as the shift light came on?", I said "Dude, the shift light was on THE WHOLE PASS... it never went out, I just guessed and shifted." ...lol...

Second pass. We lower the tire pressure and take some timing outta first so it doesn't blow the tires off so bad. I shell the transmission on the 1-2 shift, and that was the end of the weekend.

all that work, all that time... I didn't run a 9 to help make the long winter that much shorter. In the last 7 passes, I've had 3 trans failures. cracked a diff, cracked a case, blew gears out and broke a 5.9 axle. It's true what they say, Stock tranny is really about done at 700whp. Let that be your guide.

I've been trying to stay about 1 year behind Kevin Kempfs car on technology to let them iron out the "bleeding edge" technology and I'd learn what to do with less "fail" involved. I was hoping to get through most of next season learning the new setup before I had to go to a dog box. I think that schedule has been pushed up a bit.

Got to watch the Sipes brothers all motor EG hatch run a 10.58. They are REALLY close to a national record, nobody is in the 10.3's yet in ALL MOTOR. CRAZY POWER! Several Pro-import guys running in the 8's. MAN, that's some cool stuff. garage 808 and Kaizenspeed putting up some numbers!!. Speedfactory Outlaw car pushed a head gasket and they were out. They're trying to get ready for Englishtown this weekend in NEW JERSEY!!! now THAT is a tow. They want to see if they can put up a decent showing for the pacific northwest out on the Eastcoast. Be awesome to watch Miller and Tony and a bunch of those super fast guys in person. I'd love to see that event. Can you imagine making a pass in our beloved little imports and seeing full grandstands on each side of the track? with people that actually want to see import racing. MAN, that would be cool.

It's just so cool to be at an event where we're Normal, and not the "dumbass" import guys. It's neat to be around so many cars that look like our cars. Rows of modded EF's, EG's, EK's, Rex's, Supras, Subbies, all of them giving big respect to each other. I think there were 5 or 6 V8 dudes there doing some time onlys. it was neat to be the norm, rather than the oddity for a change.

I like that event. Strong sense of community, no egos, and everybody there helping everybody do their best. We all break stuff and know what the other guys are up against. I'm really impressed with all the young guns I see out there. Good people, helping other good people do whatever it took so you could get your best pass in. It's not so much about winning or losing. It's truly more about everybody getting together to help each other get their best pass. Very good community spirit.

Me in the staging lanes.


In the tech line. I got failed first time through for belt expiration (1 month off), had to pull them out of the other car (1 month to the good). Silly to be so hard core, but I do understand the idea behind it.

I cant wait to hit up some events next season!! Been to couple, years ago when NHRA did it..Man were they a blast

wow that is way awesome love the set up .. i been to import nights before its way fun i wish the import scene was as big as it is on the coast an all

Maybe next year more than one guy from MT will go represent for us...haha...How cool would it be to see a couple MT people at events like this!!!

dyno76 wrote:

Maybe next year more than one guy from MT will go represent for us...haha...How cool would it be to see a couple MT people at events like this!!!

Be really cool.

I think we should start by representing at home more often as well.

Not sure what the stigma is about getting a guys junk to the track. Just go and have a good time. Beats flogging it on the streets and risking a reckless ticket. ...lol...

wow looks like tons of fun. sick civc. i really like that set up it looks ( . )( . )s

vectorsolid wrote:

dyno76 wrote:

Maybe next year more than one guy from MT will go represent for us...haha...How cool would it be to see a couple MT people at events like this!!!

Be really cool.

I think we should start by representing at home more often as well.

Not sure what the stigma is about getting a guys junk to the track. Just go and have a good time. Beats flogging it on the streets and risking a reckless ticket. ...lol...

Well if we have a track next year to represent at I hope my goal is to be out there..Just gotta get all my parts together!!!!

Sure there are couple others that have the same goal..Time will tell

just be fun to see more of "our" kinda cars out there.

Funnest car we race is that silly "EF-bomb" at 13.60 to 14.00. Not sure why, but that car puts a smile on my face.

idk why ppl put imports down i love all types of cars i jus prefer honda but ppl are titled to there own opinion
but yes definitly we need to rep more from mt but if we have a track is the question keep are fingers crossed

Woodburn drag strip is sick, been there once when i was like 12 lol. Didn't see a lot of imports though. Looks like a good time.