My car life is highly influenced by others. It sucks that all of those others aren’t located anywhere near me. The city of Rockford is a giant dud when it comes to cars, car style, and overall car life. The city is dominated with stupid SRT-4’s and Hondas that run around acting all boss. It drives me nuts to be surrounded by these morons and a handful of cars that I would even drive.
The only types of cars that are cool around here are the big boy luxury cars with giant wheels. My buddy Oscar has a blacked out Charger sitting on 24’s, among a handful of friends that have other big cars with massive rollers. The thing is sick. Black on black, black 24’s, a roof wing, tints, and a Batman logo. Ballin’.
It is weird to be such a diamond in the rough. My car fits in with other rides in the city of Chicago and I consider these guys my influences more than anything around here. I do my best to get in there every so often and get some critical type to hang with the boys. They all have great car style and know how to make a stuff look rad. Although most of them are much more beat up than my car, it is still nice to ride with some guys that know what a cool car looks and drives like. They drive hard, roll deep, and most of all know what is really up.
Friday
Tuesday
Broadfield
http://broadfield.wordpress.com
Toby Broadfield has quite possibly the cleanest OEM styled s13 on the planet. This thing is the definition of the word DETAIL. Everything, and I mean everything, has been brushed over with a fine toothed comb. If it isnt perfect, it is scrapped for a replacement part that looks cooler and performs better. Literally every little minute detail has been painstakingly analyzed and improved upon. It is borderline gross. Its almost too clean.
Toby knows his stuff. Whether he is banging out some wiring on a vehicle for his shop or rebuilding a complete motorset, Toby is a person that does everything the RIGHT way. He is somebody you should get to know if you want to build things correctly. Do it right, do it right, do it right. Do not take shortcuts. Spend a little bit extra money/time/resources the first time. Take your time, and have fun doing what youre doing. These are all things I have picked up working around Toby. He is a good influence and a true testament to the assumption that there are still good people out there. His business is built on his good word and trust, two thing that lack in the automotive world.
He takes everything he does seriously but still enjoys life. His blog is no different. Its cool, interesting, and detailed. He explains small thing very well and takes his time when he posts. Every post is more than just a picture and a word or two. Check it out, you will surely enjoy.
http://broadfield.wordpress.com
Toby Broadfield has quite possibly the cleanest OEM styled s13 on the planet. This thing is the definition of the word DETAIL. Everything, and I mean everything, has been brushed over with a fine toothed comb. If it isnt perfect, it is scrapped for a replacement part that looks cooler and performs better. Literally every little minute detail has been painstakingly analyzed and improved upon. It is borderline gross. Its almost too clean.
Toby knows his stuff. Whether he is banging out some wiring on a vehicle for his shop or rebuilding a complete motorset, Toby is a person that does everything the RIGHT way. He is somebody you should get to know if you want to build things correctly. Do it right, do it right, do it right. Do not take shortcuts. Spend a little bit extra money/time/resources the first time. Take your time, and have fun doing what youre doing. These are all things I have picked up working around Toby. He is a good influence and a true testament to the assumption that there are still good people out there. His business is built on his good word and trust, two thing that lack in the automotive world.
He takes everything he does seriously but still enjoys life. His blog is no different. Its cool, interesting, and detailed. He explains small thing very well and takes his time when he posts. Every post is more than just a picture and a word or two. Check it out, you will surely enjoy.
http://broadfield.wordpress.com
Friday
thank God for sliding
Thank god it’s Friday. It has been one of those weeks that just take a toll on a person. Long hours at work, late nights up doing random things like moving and cleaning, and all the while I am trying to balance my life. Sometimes I feel like I take on a lot of challenges, but there are certain things in life that make me forget all of the madness that occurs daily
One of those things is hoppin’ in the whip and going out for a “spirited” drive. By spirited I mean downright crazy. I love getting in the driver seat. At this moment nothing exists in my life other than a suede steering wheel, a perfect Nismo shift knob, and some pedals. To be honest it’s probably the only time I really feel natural. Life is sort of awkward for me at times, but when I am behind the wheel I feel like I actually belong there. It’s my niche.
When I get off work today (probably skip out a little early) I am going to do just that. Go pull the beast out of the garage, go for a leisurely cruise to get my nerves settled, and then go burn some tires off. The feeling of sliding, the smell of the rubber, the nervousness I get from jumping spot to spot, all makes my life seem perfect. Again, it’s like I was born to do this. It’s weird. When I’m sideways at 40+ miles per hour, milliseconds and millimeters from disaster, my ridiculously fast-paced life slows down. I feel calm, I feel in control, I feel perfect. They say that great athletes can slow down the game and take things at their own pace. So can great drivers.
I’m getting chills just thinking about it. No joke.
Thursday
Singin' in the Rain
The other night it was raining out and I went and had my adult version of a field day. I got the car out, got my driving shoes one, and went and did some old fashioned street drifting. Sliding on the streets is so much fun, but its pretty risky at the same time. I have to worry about all of the hazards that are present on the streets, as well as a million other things such as cops, pedestrians, and annoying people who think they are cops.
But it is so much fun. It is even better in the rain because I can slide at much lower speeds which helps reduce some of the hazards. I can save tires and reduce the wear and tear on my car. Plus the slick surfaces makes it that much easier to hang out some rad angle and get close to certain clipping points that I like to stay away from in the dry. I have more control because I am going a bit slower, but can still take the wild fast lines that I love to take when the roads are dry.
So that got me thinking, it is also a lot less dangerous in other aspects. I know that there aren’t going to be people out at my spots, whether riding bikes or walking their dogs. I also know that cops don’t really like the rain and would rather stay dry in their squad cars at some other location. I guess its sort of a package deal, I have more control over my surroundings and the things that I can’t control are less abundant. Sliding in the rain is awesome in many ways.
Enjoy this perfect example of a fellow 180 just dancing through the puddles.
But it is so much fun. It is even better in the rain because I can slide at much lower speeds which helps reduce some of the hazards. I can save tires and reduce the wear and tear on my car. Plus the slick surfaces makes it that much easier to hang out some rad angle and get close to certain clipping points that I like to stay away from in the dry. I have more control because I am going a bit slower, but can still take the wild fast lines that I love to take when the roads are dry.
So that got me thinking, it is also a lot less dangerous in other aspects. I know that there aren’t going to be people out at my spots, whether riding bikes or walking their dogs. I also know that cops don’t really like the rain and would rather stay dry in their squad cars at some other location. I guess its sort of a package deal, I have more control over my surroundings and the things that I can’t control are less abundant. Sliding in the rain is awesome in many ways.
Enjoy this perfect example of a fellow 180 just dancing through the puddles.
Wednesday
pro am
A few of my buddies just got done with Formula Drift Pro Am. Brian, commonly known on the forums as Nackers, is a cool dude from the Rockford area that has a 350z. He has been sliding it on the track for a little over two years now and has improved his skills tremendously in a very short period of time. It’s cool to watch somebody like that get pretty damn good in such a quick manner. The car is a fairly basic drift setup, a 350z with a Stillen supercharger and a lot of suspension and chassis work. A nice car for sure, but nothing wild and crazy in terms of professional drifting.
He made a name for himself in the Midwest Cup around here, and qualified to head out to California for the Formula D Pro Am. Although he didn’t quite get a professional license, he did take a cool ass trip and got the opportunity to drive an amazing track and experience a taste of professional drifting. I know he was pretty bummed out not to qualify for a license, but I have no doubt that he will come out swinging harder than ever next year. I just wanted to take this time out to give him a little shout out, and recognize his accomplishments.
Dude is cool, on a super limited budget (especially to make it out to Cali and back), and has a pretty gnarly car that definitely deserves some attention. I hope he can take this as another step in the endless pursuit of simply getting better.
Heres a cool little video of his trip.
He made a name for himself in the Midwest Cup around here, and qualified to head out to California for the Formula D Pro Am. Although he didn’t quite get a professional license, he did take a cool ass trip and got the opportunity to drive an amazing track and experience a taste of professional drifting. I know he was pretty bummed out not to qualify for a license, but I have no doubt that he will come out swinging harder than ever next year. I just wanted to take this time out to give him a little shout out, and recognize his accomplishments.
Dude is cool, on a super limited budget (especially to make it out to Cali and back), and has a pretty gnarly car that definitely deserves some attention. I hope he can take this as another step in the endless pursuit of simply getting better.
Heres a cool little video of his trip.
California 2010 Honeymoon and sweet drifting from Brian Vrchoticky on Vimeo.
Tuesday
reunited
I havent driven the 240 for a few days now. I have been too wrapped up in my new Passat to really care. Its been a busy few days cleaning it up, getting things to my liking, and overall just enjoying the new car. I hate to say it, but I really like the thing. The 240 has been sort of neglected sitting there on the street.
After driving something so comfortable and nice, it was sort of an odd switch to hop back in the metal contraption that is the 240. It is loud, to say the least, but I definately missed it. I went out tonight and drove it back to work to call out for the night and it felt great. Fast and responsive like it always is, but it feels different after I am so used to a luxury wagon.
Its going to be tough going forth. Should I drive the beast and put up with the crap? Or should I hop in the Passat and live a life of lux. I feel spoiled, having two entirely different cars to drive. I might just have to get used to it. All I can say is that both cars have their strengths and weaknesses. Its nice to be in this situation. Should I let the 240 get REALLY crazy now that I have a back up plan? Or should I just let the Passat get on the 240's level? It is a hard decision to make hwhen I have money laying around. Wehere should I spend it?
Which child gets the love? Its tough being a parent.
After driving something so comfortable and nice, it was sort of an odd switch to hop back in the metal contraption that is the 240. It is loud, to say the least, but I definately missed it. I went out tonight and drove it back to work to call out for the night and it felt great. Fast and responsive like it always is, but it feels different after I am so used to a luxury wagon.
Its going to be tough going forth. Should I drive the beast and put up with the crap? Or should I hop in the Passat and live a life of lux. I feel spoiled, having two entirely different cars to drive. I might just have to get used to it. All I can say is that both cars have their strengths and weaknesses. Its nice to be in this situation. Should I let the 240 get REALLY crazy now that I have a back up plan? Or should I just let the Passat get on the 240's level? It is a hard decision to make hwhen I have money laying around. Wehere should I spend it?
Which child gets the love? Its tough being a parent.
Thursday
not your momma's wagon
Well, it’s been an interesting week. I’ve been swamped at work, had perfect weather outside, and endless amount of things to do. I feel like my list keeps growing. Welcome to the big leagues. With that comes change, and with change comes new cars.
Tomorrow I am going to pick up my second car, a 2002 Volkswagen Passat Station Wagon. This thing is perfect, mint exterior and super clean leather interior. Fully loaded with a sunroof, premium sound, and a 1.8 liter turbo engine. It is supposed to be my second car, something reliable and ready for everyday use. That means no modifications and no money is allowed to be spent on it. Yeah…..right.
Before I even have the car in my name I am researching what wheels I want to buy. I cannot leave anything alone, and love putting my personal touch on anything and everything that I buy. It wouldn’t be normal for me to leave good enough alone. My plans are pretty basic for the car, but obviously that’s always how everything starts. First and foremost I need to source a few things for the interior. Some summer floor-mats are needed since it has rubber winter mats with it, and I also need to find some rear headrests. After that, I want to tint the windows with a light, probably 35%, all the way around. I will probably leave it like that for winter.
Next spring comes coilovers and wheels. I want it to be low, not super low because it will be my daily, but I cant ride at stock height. With low comes wheels. Maybe some Audi s4 stockers or a set of BBS LM’s. Here my inspiration, a super clean W8 wagon.
Tomorrow I am going to pick up my second car, a 2002 Volkswagen Passat Station Wagon. This thing is perfect, mint exterior and super clean leather interior. Fully loaded with a sunroof, premium sound, and a 1.8 liter turbo engine. It is supposed to be my second car, something reliable and ready for everyday use. That means no modifications and no money is allowed to be spent on it. Yeah…..right.
Before I even have the car in my name I am researching what wheels I want to buy. I cannot leave anything alone, and love putting my personal touch on anything and everything that I buy. It wouldn’t be normal for me to leave good enough alone. My plans are pretty basic for the car, but obviously that’s always how everything starts. First and foremost I need to source a few things for the interior. Some summer floor-mats are needed since it has rubber winter mats with it, and I also need to find some rear headrests. After that, I want to tint the windows with a light, probably 35%, all the way around. I will probably leave it like that for winter.
Next spring comes coilovers and wheels. I want it to be low, not super low because it will be my daily, but I cant ride at stock height. With low comes wheels. Maybe some Audi s4 stockers or a set of BBS LM’s. Here my inspiration, a super clean W8 wagon.
Friday
take two
At what point does an object become unusable for its intended purpose? This thought, among others, has been running through my head like a marathon. As winter quickly approaches, so does terrible weather and even worse driving conditions. I always put my car in storage for the cold months and say goodbye to my cherished friend. With that comes a tear of sadness, days of loneliness, and an empty feeling in my heart. I always miss you, little guy.
Now this year is different. I am on my own and have to start thinking about a winter car. When I start thinking about cars, I often cross reference those thought with life. I start thinking about how useful my car is day to day and worry about its direction. Has it gone too far? Should I put the interior back in and make it more civilized for daily use? Or is it perfectly good enough, fast and loud and annoying. After all, that’s how I choose to live my life.
Then comes the thought, what do I buy next. I really want a Volkswagen to drive in the winter and use for daily drives and such. Throw a nice roof rack on it, slam it to the ground on some great fitting wheels, and call it a day. Unfortunately I am not good at “calling it a day” and it would probably just turn in to another project with no foreseeable end. Another endless money pit, just what I need.
Now this year is different. I am on my own and have to start thinking about a winter car. When I start thinking about cars, I often cross reference those thought with life. I start thinking about how useful my car is day to day and worry about its direction. Has it gone too far? Should I put the interior back in and make it more civilized for daily use? Or is it perfectly good enough, fast and loud and annoying. After all, that’s how I choose to live my life.
Then comes the thought, what do I buy next. I really want a Volkswagen to drive in the winter and use for daily drives and such. Throw a nice roof rack on it, slam it to the ground on some great fitting wheels, and call it a day. Unfortunately I am not good at “calling it a day” and it would probably just turn in to another project with no foreseeable end. Another endless money pit, just what I need.
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