Been 6 months since I posted here. Life has been pretty busy, and not much time to update on the blog. Beginning of the year was the season opener race at MSRH. I do my track prep, but its last minute sometimes. This year, I find out my O2 sensor failed. Thankfully I was able to get a replacement at Autozone. Easy fix. During race weekend, we had a wet practice, and that was fun driving on Hoosier slicks.

You can race in slicks on a wet track, as long as there is no standing water. I do like wet races because its the great equalizer.

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During the races, the track did dry up a bit, and I managed 2nd place! I never tried Hoosier before yet alone used ones with unknown heat cycles. The grip is a bit more then Toyo RR. I did have to move to 15″ wheel to run my Hoosier sm7.5. I don’t really like the look of 15″, but it does open more tire choices.

The last race I did go off track, and ended up destroying my front bumper. I didn’t know it till the end of the race though hahaha.

I traveled to the Philippines, and Japan in Feb and March. I went with my wife for vacation. I love to travel and it always better when you are with the ones you love to share the experience. We fly with United often and was able to get business class tickets last minute at a super discounted price!

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During our stay in the Philippines, we meet up with friends, and family. We ate good, went to spas, and did some shopping. Always a great time in the Philippines.

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Philippines is a place I plan to retire. Cost of living is relatively cheap, except the houses and condos in the city of Manila. It’s about the same price you would pay in Houston.

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In Japan we wanted to check out the onsens, and country side. We have been to Japan before, and always a new experience even if its familiar places.

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We met up with my good friend Robert, and partied till the early morning before having to catch our flight back to Manila.

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Since I was in Manila/Japan I missed the 2nd race of the season. That’s okay because in April I had a race at Eagles Canyon Raceway.

Things where all good till the last race of the weekend. I went off avoiding another car. My car died, and I wasn’t able to to get it started again. The starter was heat soaked, and I was in a bad spot. Thankfully I was pulled to paddock safely.

Since I was the only one racing in my class I got my automatic first place. A shallow victory, but Ill take it.

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The month of May didn’t have any races scheduled. I took the time to rebuild my front brakes. They got too hot at Eagles Canyon and caused a medium size tear on my seal. This is why you always do inspections pre and post race weekends.

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I check my spares and had pair of seals for the front calipers. I didn’t have to wait, and had non leaky working brakes in no time. The hard part getting another spare, because Toyota was out of stock with unknown wait time. I do have a buddy in the parts department, and I was able to get a set.

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June was my race at Hallet. The most fun track event of the season in my opinion. Everyone camps, and parties after the races. Also the track itself is very similar to the Monaco GP, because its a very hard track to make a pass.

Practice and quali was great. I manage to place 2nd in qualifying. But the race was a different story.

I had a bad start and fell to last place by the 2nd corner, then I went off track. Totally messed it up, but I kept on driving till I caught up to the 3rd place car. Very good wheel to wheel battle, but then I lost oil pressure and had to call it a day. I didn’t see obvious leaks or damage. The motor turns over, and no weird noses. I suspected its the oil pump that failed, but its a part that is tedious to get to, and I didn’t bring a spare.

My weekend was done at least for racing. It wasn’t a total losbs because I partied with my racer friends, had midnight ribs, and the best part was wining the slip n slide championship.

Even though i didn’t get a trophy racing, I got one for the slip n slide with my teammates.

Currently the motor in the 86 is pulled out, and I found the issue that caused the low oil pressure. Ill post the progress in another time. For now that is it, and currently prepping to race in Sept at NOLA. Too hot to race in the summer. Till next time!