New decals

I went over to Tommax Stickers after my morning touge session and a good bath. He was lazing around and designing a few decals for kicks.

He got inspired when I arrived and he designed a "Support Touge" sticker for my Silver Banana. He based his design on the "In Support of AIDS" ribbons that have been around. He drew up the ribbon and letterings then decided on a color scheme... Which he was to make in Orange.

I thought it blew and we had a debacle on what color scheme to cut the decal out in. Finally, both of us agreed on black on chrome to make it all formal and stylish! *bah*

Here's Tommy cleaning up my "super clean" rear :P And prepping for the install.

Positioning is crucial to the final outlook.
Here's how the decal looks with the chrome letterings looking all splendid and shiny.
Then I saw these cute little couple in Apple Green! Aren't they just cute?!?!?! Fuel-sippers... Have to love them :P

Mamak & Eggs

I took in an early Friday night and was feeling much better the next morning. I woke up super early, so I went for a freezing swim (my nuts came out looking like raisins :P) and a little weight-lifting and some cardio (who'd thought eh?).

I was done by 8a.m. and very worn out but with my heart pumping, I couldn't lay to rest so I thought I'd make breakfast. As I opened the fridge, I found that I'd no more eggs (which I should've bought last week).

I grabbed the keys to my Silver Banana (my trusty steed) and since I'd missed out on weeks of touge action, I couldn't resist!

I headed straight up Jalan Tun Sardon (since I live at the base of the hill) and headed for the Balik Pulau Market. I couldn't resist to stop by mid-way (which was the peak) to take a few pics and a morning puff.

View from the peak.

Scav's Silver Banana... Backdrop were some early morning commuters being perturbed by the early morning touge driver :P
Whaddya know... There's a new Kassim Mustafa just next to the new Balik Pulau bus station. I guess we can TT here after a good session of burning hydrocarbons.
The new (and massive) Balik Pulau market. I can't imagine it's developed soooo much in the past 5 years.
A view of the vegetable stalls.

Retired men having their TT session :P
Fish mongers... Dang sell-fish la... (couldn't resist the pun.. intended of course)
Dry ingredients traders selling a multitude of seasonings and spices. *yum*
I bought me bag-o-eggs. Now where can I store/hang them so that I can still touge my way back?
So smart of me to keep a readily stocked glove compartment full of tobacco, documents and driving gloves (for the sweaty times). Packed in the 10 eggs "chun chun".

I successfully touge'd my way back home and even had time to experiment with higher gears in a few corners, and STILL had eggs left for breakfast.

Breathing troubles

Tommy was still facing some induction woes and the engine felt a little choked up. After some self-tuning (Tommy's quite the brains now), screwing around (literally) and testing, it was concluded that his throttle body (TB) was farked!

As usual, Chris was the mech to look for in times of automotive plight. We sought his advise and Tommy had decided to go for modification instead of the replacement route... HUGE TB will be installed in place of the little choker!

New TB installed and ready to go.

Lookit' the difference in the TB diameters... Phwoar!
New TB gleaming in all its glory :)

With the new TB installed and running, we decided to give the Wira SE a test run and try out the breadth of it's new breath.

Surprisingly, there is much better throttle response and acceleration was much smoother with a broader torque band. Sweet!

Fuel sipper turn racer

Vios' are beaut little economical buggers to run around.. But many "racers" have their rides "modified" (at bodykit or fibre workshops) and apply wild paint schemes mainly seen on race tracks. This is done for the sole purpose of getting the racer look and feel that fuel sippers cannot provide.

I saw this fellow at Gurney, it was in a shocking yellow-lime flourescent paint that just stood out of the crowd. But I gotta admit, I respect the driver for being seen in it. However, to each their own... One man's pleasure is another man's poison and all that... I'll just bring on the pics then eh?

Nicely painted calipers...

R-E-S-T-E-C-P y'all!!!

Touge-less-ness!!! *wtf*

Hungry ghost festival is almost over now... *waiting in anticipation* And my vow of pausing touge action is almost at an end! My "touge-less-ness" is coming to an end... The cure is just a few days away!!!

For the fervent readers of my blog, you'll also know that I somewhat broke that vow in a Wira GSR 1st week into the month *blek* :P

I'm gonna be going day after day after day after... You get what I mean :P

So who's up for a run? Anyone?

Down but not out... Yet!

Hi all! I'm sorry for the lack of posts the past week.. I've been down (but not out) with massive flu and am still coughing up loads of phlegm... Not many activities to attend since its rainy season and I can't afford getting caught in it.

I lost my beautiful *ahem* voice on Tuesday and by Wednesday my throat felt as if Vanessa Mae was playing on it with a hacksaw.

I hope all will be better this weekend or next week so I can get up and run about again.

See you guys next post ;)

Water bane and soggy pistons

In these times of erratic weather, I'm glad that our fair land is blessed with a monsoon season every third quarter. There are those however that dread this season of heavenly cool and shower. One such person is Tommy of Tommax stickers.

You see, Tommy had mounted a direct cold air intake from his throttle body right down to the bumper. So you can imagine the catastrophe when monsoon comes and he runs over a puddle! This exact scenario was enacted last Tuesday and Tommy had successfully blown/drowned his 4G15 :(
However, not one to be discouraged, he gave the thumbs-up for a rebuild by Wednesday and work commenced throughout the weekend with much sweat and grime.
Yesterday was the unveiling of his new, improved and super clean engine. Chris (Fer Fer) as usual, did some final adjustments to the tappets (rocker arms for you automotive types out there) and we were ready to rumble... But it poured on us, so we went for a slow drive and eventual dinner.

Check out his super-duper clean engine, the engine oil had been running in (whilst testing) for 2 days and it still looks crystal clear!
Close-up pic of the rocker arms.

Congrats Tommy on the great rebuild and we'll see you at the touge soon ;)

p.s. Readers : Chinese 7th month almost over liao! Can't bear my excitement~!!!

Love is in the... Front and rear?!?!?!

I know... The title sounds suggestive, but heck... Check out what I saw at a shopping mall carpark just a little while ago :P

There is a HUGE pink heart planted on the front bumper.

There's one out back as well...And the piece-de-resistance...
There are heart shapes cut out from the rims! *wtf*?!?!?!
This fellow is obviously obsessed with hearts or a massive case of queen control!

Why would anyone defile a properly cute, albeit fuel-sipping, car with such atrocities? Anyone got any clue... Just drop me a comment ^_^

Virgin encounter - Premiere Class!

Ben and I went for lunch at 600cc in Gurney last Saturday... We didn't have much planned for the afternoon so we thought we'd catch a movie. As the escalator moved up, we came in full view of the Saturday afternoon mass trying to get a good seat at the next show. We queued up and (im)patiently waited for our turn... Our shifty eyes sighted "The Clone Wars" showing in Premiere class and there was NO QUEUE! We hurried over to purchase our tickets and thus attained full access to the Premiere class lounge :P
It was my first time being in there and the weird murals were fairly interesting. Take a closer look and you'll see Ben lazing on the far right.
There were "stars" on the roof on our way in. I love the lens flare, although done unintentionally :P
Beaut Premiere Class signange on the wall and super big and comfy seats... Reclinable too!
"Shut off handphones" ad came on... And that's exactly what I did... So no more pics :(
The Clone Wars was a great movie and brought out the child in me. I thoroughly enjoyed the movie experience in Premiere Class, it was also a first for Ben and I to have beer and stout in the cinema.

6 Japs and 2 M'sians

I got a very interesting invitation from my pal Johnson (EP3) to go touge with the Type-R's of Penang... And who was I to refuse :P

I met up with Johnson (EP3), Timmy (DC5), Faidzal (DC5), Uncle Martin (DC5), NOSkill (Celica-almost-GT4), an-unknown-to-me dude (but really friendly - Gen.2 supercharged), and Victor (FC). We were waiting for another EP3 from Seberang (or BM as he prefers) but sadly, he could not make it due to logistics issues.

We proceeded to Tg. Tokong Caltex station to refuel and check our tire pressures, self-relieving rituals and etc. before making our way up to the TB Dam. It was requested of me to take the lead car as I'm more familiar with the route, so I humbly accepted *devillish grin*

We blasted through the Vale of Tempe (Chui Di Lor) and Batu Feringghi, all the way through Teluk Bahang till we arrived at the dam. Slowing down for traffic and populated areas, especially where there are junctions (we are pemandu "berhemat" ma :P)... Needless to say, peering eyes could not be avoided, with so many beaut machines (excluding mine) on the road.

We parked our cars and had a photo op... Chilling for a while, took in some nicotine and decided to take the Teluk Bahang to Balik Pulau route home. I was again asked to take lead through the tightest twisties in Penang... Fun!

Fighter's jet... Powah powaaaah!!!
Our dedicated photographers (Vic & Zechs) :*sorry for the terribly dark pics, taken with my HP*

I was just wreaking havoc on my Kumho Solus tires that night (my shoulder blocks are shiny clean now) and I'm sorry if I was a bad lead car. I'd like to apologize to the entire convoy that night. Please forgive me, I was just too exhilirated with the adrenaline... It's been a long time since I'd drove like that.

I'd like to thank the Integras and Type-R's for the night of fun and laughter, great drive and especially getting to know you guys.