Damn straight.

CAR RANT

My first-born son and I made a hike from Auckland to Wellington and back in the days between Boxing Day and New Year's Day. Shale was given a test of a lifetime - it is a 700km trip to Wellington through country roads, one of them being the Desert Road...a bit of a frightening one I must say.

A tank of fuel down, a tank of fuel up...he's an expensive bastard to run but in the scheme of things...well...most Subarus would do it in TWO tanks each way. NA ftw...

Nothing broke, surprise surprise.

I have to say, the Wellington crew treated us wonderfully...there were jibes as to Shale's lack of a turbo for all of about five minutes...it all pretty much stopped completely after we indulged in an NZ-style variant of Initial D.

I must point out at this point that Wellington is mostly mountains. The suburbs of the Hutt valley are smattered through an impressive wall of mountains, the only thing dividing them being a motorway and thin slab of civilisation throughout the valley. Needless to say...NZ country roads...mountains...it is the making of something that makes Initial D look just like a Quarter Mile (which is, for those not in the know, 'drag racing' - 400m of straight, flat road).

Shale's current setup is unusual - he has an extensive rear bias in handling. The rear brakes are STi, front ones are stock. Rear swaybar is STi-RA, front is stock (swaybars connect the bottom half of the suspension/wheel setup so they don't slosh apart under heavy cornering). No LSD (limited-slip differential) and an even power curve...this forces the car, both under power, in neutral/throttle and under braking, to break the rear tyres out and oversteer dramatically before the fronts will lose traction.

While this sounds dangerous, it's actually a very good thing. Imagine you're chasing a similar car (which I was), and you have to keep up. Sharp left hand hairpin (tight 180 degree turn) ahead...you slam it into 1st gear and slam your foot on the gas as you turn into the apex.

If the car is an AWD and has neutral bias, the front and rear will break out evenly - if not, front-first. After all, forces want the car to go straight...not turn. This results in understeer...which translates to smacky-smacky into wall straight ahead.

If the car's got Shale's rear bias, put your foot down and turn, and the back wheels are going to light up. If you can imagine the rear is going around a lot faster than the front, the car's angle is going to veer sharply in towards the corner rather than out of it...

...as the front wheels scrabble to maintain traction and steer the car...you can see how this is a massive advantage eh.

So yes. I got my first taste of REAL touge. And tell you what...I'm a changed person by it. After all, there are two options when you taste it.

Either you scream, cry, freak out, demand to be let out, and never step foot in a car again, especially the wet, soiled seat you leave behind.

Alternatively, you've never felt so alive. You discover your purpose. You revel in the sweat, the shakes...it's heroin, only better.

I know what I choose.

PARTS RANT

Meanwhile, back up in Auckland, a parts pile due to become twice the value of my car is mounting in storage. A $4000 gearbox awaits installation (6 speed manual with a driver controlled centre differential), along with brand new Brembo brakes...all $2000 worth.

Awaiting the cash for a few more parts, then this conversion can get underway. Shorter gear ratios, shorter shifter, more power being put to the ground due to less power loss...it's looking good.

Time and money...time and money...

OTHER STUFF...lmao

Currently on a Pirates of the Caribbean buzz like I never thought would happen. 3rd movie...it's caught me with one epic fucking hook...

Will Turner and Elizabeth Swann should have died horrible, horrible deaths...and I'm pretty hacked off they survived. Possibly THE most annoying, THE most Disney characters ever created. DIE DIE DIE DIE FREAKING DIE. Oh, and Orlando Bloom has no penis

True to my form, my favourite character has to be Davy Jones. You know what I'm like...the cold, bitter, dark 'bad guy' is the one I am drawn to in almost every series. It's because something just seems to scream of their silent pain for me...there is a reason behind every dark character's ways, and so often it's abuse, rejection or hurt...

Perhaps it's the allure of a weakness in an otherwise staunch, immovable character.

Frick, I like him so much I'd happily play with his tentacles If he didn't decapitate me for trying. Lmao.

Sparrow and Jones...those two just cover all the bases don't they.

*interesting mental imagery*

ART RANT...finally

I'm going to get back in to painting...only this time it's going to be BIG canvases. I have some NZ scenery that must be painted...some epic photos of my car...and some pirates that need to meet my wall. Hurr.

Will be difficult as I've forgotten how to draw :/

Tis true. I currently suck ARSE.

Just as I wanted to get back into drawing my Romulans, goddamnit! T________T

Time for some practising.






Anyway...that should do it for now. Sleep-deprived rant over...

Happy new year, everyone