Tuesday, August 30, 2005

MME melee

According to eyewitnesses at the Sepang paddock, about eight to 10 members of ST Power raided Team Rueben's hospitality room and assaulted team owner Mr James Wong and four of his crew, after locking them in. The Malaysians were assaulted for about 20 minutes in front of their horrified wives and girlfriends. Witnesses said the Singaporeans hit Mr Wong on the head with a coffee table

Link

Sunday, August 28, 2005

Camouflaged speed cameras in Malaysia...

If you live in Malaysia you may want to kick it down a notch because the authorities could be watching you from speed cameras embedded in the road. New cameras that are mounted inside the reflective pavement markers, called Botts Dots, can measure speed and photograph license plates at speeds up to 150 mph.

The Newspaper Link
NST Link

Thursday, August 25, 2005

Big project? Conversations with a Haltech tuner

11:19:28 AM haltech tuner: yo u got my msn msg yesterday?
11:19:53 AM me: what about?
11:24:26 AM haltech tuner: the fic injectors
11:24:33 AM haltech tuner: which bk using
11:24:50 AM haltech tuner: do u know the lagtime, voltage, ohms?
11:26:16 AM me: nope
11:26:21 AM me: just plug in some generic values
11:26:25 AM me: the ECU handles the rest
11:27:44 AM haltech tuner: generic?
11:27:48 AM haltech tuner: what abt dead band?
11:27:53 AM me: doesn't matter
11:27:57 AM haltech tuner: hmmm
11:28:04 AM haltech tuner: what do u have to key in for motec?
11:28:21 AM me: nothing at all, just set the resistance to 16 ohms that's it
11:28:26 AM me: same as stock
11:28:33 AM haltech tuner: i see
11:28:38 AM haltech tuner: operation voltage?
11:28:43 AM haltech tuner: do u know for stock?
11:29:35 AM me: no clue
11:30:01 AM haltech tuner: ok
11:30:12 AM haltech tuner: motec calculates the lagtime and voltage?
11:30:30 AM me: automatic
11:34:54 AM haltech tuner: does it show after it calculates?
11:34:57 AM haltech tuner: as in show teh values?
11:38:52 AM me: nope
11:42:37 AM haltech tuner: k
11:42:37 AM haltech tuner: thks

4:41:36 PM me: u there?
4:43:00 PM haltech tuner: yup
4:43:23 PM me: i have no idea what u just sent me
4:45:37 PM haltech tuner: i mean injectors
4:45:41 PM haltech tuner: not pump
4:45:45 PM haltech tuner: impedance. voltage
4:46:04 PM me: impedance is resistance, not voltage. what's the question?
4:46:34 PM haltech tuner: both
4:46:41 PM haltech tuner: i need to key in voltage for haltech
4:46:56 PM haltech tuner: someone told me to use lag time to calculate voltage
4:47:16 PM me: i dunno man... u bought it from sam? ask him lah
4:47:30 PM haltech tuner: he doesnt know
4:48:25 PM me: can't u just use a generic number
4:48:34 PM me: like for a similar 950cc
4:48:36 PM me: what they're usign
4:49:10 PM haltech tuner: no
4:49:50 PM haltech tuner: it prompts for staged injectors mode: primary hold or common
4:49:54 PM haltech tuner: staging bar
4:49:54 PM haltech tuner: peak/hold voltage
4:51:26 PM haltech tuner: choice of peak/hold is a. 2amp/0.5 b. 3amp/0.8 c. 5 amp/1.2 d. 8 amp/sat
4:58:25 PM me: check your manual what does it advise

5:02:17 PM haltech tuner: it doesnt say
5:02:19 PM haltech tuner: it depends on yr injectors
5:06:33 PM me: so mah fun
5:07:59 PM haltech tuner: kekeke
5:08:00 PM haltech tuner: so i need fic info
5:08:07 PM haltech tuner: tot u did bk's car
5:08:11 PM me: can't help u there really
5:08:11 PM haltech tuner: so i tot u know
5:08:16 PM me: cos i don't need to know
5:08:23 PM me: it just sets amp = 0
5:08:32 PM me: everything else handled by software
5:08:34 PM haltech tuner: like power fc also need to key in lagtime
5:08:48 PM haltech tuner: amp=0??
5:08:51 PM me: yep
5:08:53 PM haltech tuner: how is that possible?
5:08:54 PM me: that's what it says
5:09:06 PM me: Note: For 12 and 16 ohm injectors the current should be set to 0
5:09:12 PM me: set it to 0 lor
5:09:18 PM me: end of story
5:10:18 PM haltech tuner: hmmm

The next day....

1:23:41 PM haltech tuner: are our ignitors smart or dumb?
1:24:31 PM haltech tuner: constant duty or constant charge?
1:24:48 PM me: dunno man
1:24:53 PM me: why so cheem
1:30:17 PM haltech tuner: tryin to check something
1:31:09 PM haltech tuner: in motec u use ignition dwell time and ignition delay time
1:31:13 PM haltech tuner: what u set for our cars?
1:32:46 PM haltech tuner: for sensor setup u use hall effects for our trigger?
1:34:55 PM me: hahaha
1:34:58 PM me: oei u testing me ah?
1:35:06 PM haltech tuner: no la
1:35:09 PM haltech tuner: i asking u
1:35:10 PM me: then?
1:35:12 PM haltech tuner: cos i not sure
1:35:27 PM haltech tuner: i am running a check thru
1:35:31 PM haltech tuner: can share?
1:35:37 PM me: u can compare with your old files mah
1:35:42 PM me: otherwise how your car start?
1:35:47 PM haltech tuner: can
1:35:56 PM haltech tuner: but just to be sure kekeke
1:36:17 PM haltech tuner: so what u put for ignition dwell time and ignition delay time
1:36:29 PM haltech tuner: delay time = charge time?
1:36:40 PM me: should be
1:36:44 PM me: it's different terminology for motec
1:36:52 PM me: anyway it's all handled by the software i dun have to bother with it
1:37:08 PM haltech tuner: i know
1:37:19 PM haltech tuner: but just asking what values your motec show
1:37:51 PM me: what's there to check? if it's correct, it works liao mah
1:38:19 PM me: so whatever values u have, just keep them
1:38:26 PM me: no point comparing here and there
1:38:30 PM haltech tuner: can work even if you change
1:38:39 PM haltech tuner: matter of efficiency eg for charge time
1:39:12 PM haltech tuner: but if it is trade secrets then its ok i undersatnd
1:39:13 PM me: what difference does it make? can it be measured?
1:39:26 PM haltech tuner: it can be set
1:39:30 PM me: i know it can be set
1:39:31 PM haltech tuner: so i guess it can be measured
1:39:34 PM me: but can it be measured?
1:39:35 PM me: how?
1:39:42 PM me: what is considered "good" vs "bad"?
1:39:48 PM haltech tuner: need high tech equipment i guess kekeke
1:40:01 PM haltech tuner: so just checking what is motec's recomended figures
1:40:28 PM me: there are no "recommended" motec figures
1:40:49 PM haltech tuner: do u know if u using hall effects
1:40:59 PM haltech tuner: or reluctor
1:41:05 PM me: none of the above
1:41:28 PM haltech tuner: in motec u use either hall, magnetic or logic
1:41:35 PM haltech tuner: under sensor setup
1:42:01 PM me: haha u seem to know the motec software better than me
1:42:08 PM me: do u see any "recommended" numbers? no right?
1:42:27 PM haltech tuner: that one is not numbers
1:42:31 PM haltech tuner: ut sensor type
1:42:33 PM haltech tuner: but
1:42:50 PM haltech tuner: which one is yrs set at?
1:43:08 PM haltech tuner: u can see once u plug in ma
1:44:04 PM me: it doesn't matter because mitsu is using a different trigger setup
1:44:50 PM haltech tuner: what does it show under sensor setup then
1:45:01 PM me: like i said, it doesn't matter. pick any.
1:45:02 PM haltech tuner: REF sensor type
1:45:08 PM haltech tuner: huh
1:45:09 PM haltech tuner: any?
1:45:11 PM me: yep
1:45:21 PM haltech tuner: but they r different
1:45:31 PM haltech tuner: all can work?
1:45:31 PM me: u ask me, i tell u oredi
1:45:38 PM me: what else u want me to do?
1:46:03 PM haltech tuner: kekeke
1:46:10 PM haltech tunerme: sorry dun understand so ask

DEu offered this quip....

hall effects? hall effects are the sound effects on a home hifi system.

Google and world domination

Google already has search, mail, maps, blogs, photos and now instant messaging. What's next? How about the last bastion of "community building", forum software? It already owns the USENET archives after all.

Electric Evo

It’s called the Lanver Evolution MIEV, which stands for Mitsubishi In-wheel Electric Vehicle. Like its name indicates, the EVO MIEV has four electric motors located in the wheels packaged neatly with the brake assemblies and steering hardware.

Link

Monday, August 22, 2005

Bad weekend

Spent Friday and Saturday at Sepang and this is the takeaway.

First lesson: the ugly Singaporean is alive and well. In fact their numbers are larger than ever, and are not just plaguing the North South highway, they're now populating SIC as well.

Two examples:
1) Black M3 cab... I'm sorry dude, but you have to yield to traffic that's faster than you. There was plenty of time for you to move aside, but you had to make me overtake at T3, on the outside. Overtaking me on the inside of T9 on my cooldown was just not cool, and for your own health, don't let the red mist get to you. It's just not physically possible to brake beyond the 100m mark from 180 km/h and still make the turn at T15 for a heavy car such as yours.

2) Mr GTA... nice try at blocking me at various turns. FYI... going very wide at T5, if I didn't go off throttle to let you back in, you would've been toast cos there's no way a street car that deep and off the line can get back in line for T6.

Second lesson:
It is easy to judge a person's character by the kind of statements he makes. The following conversation was a weak attempt by a lamer to extract more information from me about an accident on Sepang the day prior.

Lamer: "I saw XXX's car in ABC garage. Wahhh.... quite bad."
Me: "Really? What time did you see it?"
Lamer: "Yesterday, around 5 to 6 pm"
Me: "... I'll be sure to convey your well-wishes to the owner"

What makes this person particularly lame is that the owner of the car involved in the accident actually helped him out by selling him a bumper when said lamer himself was involved in another accident just last month.

And whatever happened to basic human decency like asking about the condition of the driver?

Not only that, what he said is an insult to anyone of intelligence. I left Sepang at 2.30 pm and the tow truck hadn't even arrived. I only managed to get into KL city itself at 5 pm, a distance of about 120 km. If the tow truck can ferry the accident car a distance of 360 km, clear customs and still have enough time to make it up a hoist by 6 pm, DHL, UPS, FedEx, whatever parcel service can stop operations and hire the tow truck driver or at least offer to buy up his tow truck.

Wednesday, August 17, 2005

About drag timings

UPDATE 17/08/05:
A few more sample points were added, and one of the outliers removed (driver missed a gear). R-squared is now 0.99. The table formatting has also been replaced with Excel screenshots, allowing most browsers to render the page faster.


Decided to investigate the relationship between 1000ft and 1/4 mile timings based on a discussion with Shaun.

To tackle this problem I turned to Google for actual reported time slips as well as Gtech timings. I've also included some samples from my own database of Gtech runs. Drag strip, street surface, FWD, RWD, 4WD, automatic, manual, slicks, street tires, NA, turbocharged, nitrous'ed, even sports bikes were included in the data. About 80 sample points in total.

The data was then entered into an Excel spreadsheet and linear regression analysis using the least squares method was performed.

Here are the results (click on the images to get a higher resolution picture):






In summary, the following equation can be used to predict 1/4 mile timings (for vehicles running between 10 and 14 sec 1000 ft times):

Predicted 1/4 mile timing = 1.144 * 1000 ft ET + 0.617

Stephen asked about the validity of the equation for very powerful vehicles. As can be seen from the residual plots, the samples are doing between low 10s to 14s 1000 ft numbers. It has been observed that the gradient would hold but the intercept would need to be altered to reflect this. For vehicles in the 8s category, the intercept would be 0.3, instead of 0.6. Here are some real life examples:

1. Sport Compact class
http://www.nhrasportcompact.com/2005/events/race05/results/hr.html

Saturday for Ron Lumnus
1000 ft: 6.617
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 6.617 + 0.3 = 7.883
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 6.617 + 0.3 = 7.869
Actual 1/4 ET: 7.837
Previous error: 0.046
Error: 0.032

Sunday for Ron Lumnus
1000 ft: 6.652
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 6.652 + 0.3 = 7.923
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 6.652 + 0.3 = 7.91
Actual 1/4 ET: 7.864
Previous error: 0.059
Error: 0.046

2. Pro-stock class
http://www.nhra.com/2005/events/race06/results/ps.html

Kurt Johnson
1000 ft: 5.716
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 5.716 + 0.3 = 6.850
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 5.716 + 0.3 = 6.839
Actual 1/4 ET: 6.837
Previous error: 0.013
Error: 0.002

Jeg Coughlin
1000 ft: 5.719
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 5.719 + 0.3 = 6.854
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 5.719 + 0.3 = 6.843
Actual 1/4 ET: 6.839
Previous error: 0.015
Error: 0.004

Warren Johnson
1000 ft: 5.719
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 5.719 + 0.3 = 6.854
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 5.719 + 0.3 = 6.843
Actual 1/4 ET: 6.834
Previous error: 0.02
Error: 0.009

Dave Connolly
1000 ft: 5.698
Previous predicted 1/4 ET: 1.146 * 5.698 + 0.3 = 6.829
Predicted 1/4 ET: 1.144 * 5.698 + 0.3 = 6.819
Actual 1/4 ET: 6.814
Previous error: 0.015
Error: 0.004

Conclusion: with sufficient data it would be trivial to accurately predict 1/4 mile timings based on 1000 ft ET's. :)

Ouch

The photographer is standing on what remains of an Evo 8 after it met a tree sideways at 100 mph. The car was a LHD, and yes the driver survived albeit with serious injuries.

Be careful out there.

Link

Tuesday, August 16, 2005

More Windows annoyances

I prefer to work on my iBook because Adium is just a much better multi-messenger client than practically anything else out there. Obviously it's running on AIM, MSN, ICQ, Yahoo etc.

I get kicked off MSN whenever my Windows laptop comes online, because "I've signed in from another location". Problem is that "Run Windows Messenger when Windows starts" option has already been unchecked on my Windows laptop! Even "Allow Windows Messenger to run in the background" is unchecked! So what the fuck is going on? Anyone know how to fix this, please post in the comments.

Just the other day, I wasted two hours trying to hook up the HP laptop to a HP print server connected to a HP Laserjet 3030. Had to download the stupid device driver and everything. And when I set up my iBook to do the same it works on the first try, in all of two minutes. A 120:1 ratio in time savings!

My advice for people just getting into computers: Buy a Mac unless you consider troubleshooting PCs to be an enriching experience and you're feeling particularly masochistic.

True power

Did you know...

… that the nitromethane-powered engines of NHRA Top Fuel dragsters and Funny Cars produce approximately 8,000 horsepower, about 43 times that of the average street car?

… that one cylinder of the eight cylinders of a Top Fuel dragster or a Funny Car produces 750 horsepower, equaling the entire horsepower output of a NASCAR engine?

… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster accelerates from 0 to 100 mph in less than .8-second, almost 11 seconds quicker than it takes a production Porsche 911 Turbo to reach the same speed?

… that an NHRA Top Fuel dragster leaves the starting line with a force nearly five times that of gravity, the same force of the space shuttle when it leaves the launching pad at Cape Canaveral?

… that NHRA Top Fuel dragsters can exceed 280 mph in just 660 feet?


Link

Adversity Builds Character (But I Prefer the View from the Top)

It's a familiar scenario to me, because one night at 3am, when I was more than $9 billion in debt, I was summoned to Citibank for a conference call with a bevy of international bankers to whom I owed money. It was pouring rain and I couldn't get a cab, so I had to walk to the bank, 15 blocks from Trump Tower. By the time I got there I was soaked. I felt then like I had reached my lowest point. But we worked things out, and the rest, as they say is history. They also say it's darkest before the dawn. You know what I say: Never ever give up.


So blogs The Donald.

Sunday, August 14, 2005

Turbo lag

In an episode of Top Gear, Jeremy Clarkson explains that the biggest problem about the Mitsubishi Evolution VIII MR FQ-400, is the turbo lag. To illustrate his point, a race was arranged between the car and some station wagon in top gear. The Evo was getting left behind and never caught up because it ran out of runway.

And so now the millions of people believe that lag is a problem inherent in all turbo cars, especially in any Evo.

Thanks for mis-educating the public, Jeremy.

The fact is that JC was NOT demonstrating turbo lag, but boost threshold. A rolling start at low RPMs in the wrong gear is a test that's calculated to make turbo cars look bad because a turbo car typically has lower static compression ratios as well. That is to say, if you were to take an equivalent normally aspirated car with the exact same gear ratios, same weight etc, put it in top gear from a slow roll, it will only be marginally faster than the turbocharged version until the boost comes in.

Modern day turbo cars have practically no turbo lag. A turbo has an efficiency range at which it's designed to start producing power, and this is dependent on RPM, A/R, center housing rotating assembly construction, compressor/turbine design/material, and other factors.

Here's the datalog from my car.

I'm near 2000 RPM, with the throttle at around 52%, and the car is already starting to make boost. This is in 4th gear. Max boost in this segment is 1.2 bar; observe how manifold pressure smoothly tracks throttle position.

About corner exit speeds and illusions

People just getting into performance driving are almost entirely focused on getting the big horsepower numbers. They fail to understand that in the real world and on a road course, it takes a lot of horsepower to make up for the lack of real driving ability. That means being able to sustain high speeds in corners, not just in a straight line.

Richard Shelquist has written a nice article explaining the importance of corner exit speed:

As you can see, Car number 2 is at a distinct disadvantage due to only a 2 mph difference in corner exit speed. At the end of 1000 ft from the corner exit, car number 2, which had the slower corner exit, is 0.103 seconds behind car number 1. At their speed of 94 mph, that will be a distance of about 14 feet.


He also has some interesting observations:

Now, imagine that you accelerate exactly the same as the car ahead, and that you exit with exactly the same cornering speed, keeping exactly 0.34 seconds behind the other car. As you accelerate down the straight, keeping always exactly 0.34 seconds behind, the distance between the two cars increases. For example, if you stay behind by exactly 0.34 seconds, when you reach 4500 rpm in fifth gear, about 110 mph, the cars will be travelling 161 feet per second, and your separation will become 54 feet. It looks like you need a new motor, but its just an illusion, you were a constant 0.34 sec behind.


Link

Saturday, August 13, 2005

What Animal Am I?

By way of zeenie




You're a Cobra!

With front teeth just a little longer than average and a strange way of bobbing your head back and forth, you've always seemed a tiny bit menacing to others. You can't help these minor physical trends, but you do have this nasty habit of sneaking up on people and scaring the stuffing out of them as well. You've always been fascinated by India and feel like people would appreciate you more there. On the plus side, you do everything you can to help maintain others' health insurance benefits.


Take the Animal Quiz
at the Blue Pyramid.

Friday, August 12, 2005

Which Book Am I?



You're Adventures of Huckleberry Finn!

by Mark Twain
With an affinity for floating down the river, you see things in black and white. The world is strange and new to you and the more you learn about it, the less it makes sense. You probably speak with an accent and others have a hard time understanding you and an even harder time taking you seriously. Nevertheless, your adventurous spirit is admirable. You really like straw hats.
Take the Book Quiz at the Blue Pyramid.

Speed camera fines in doubt

As reported by Slashdot...

"The integrity of all speed camera offences has been thrown into serious doubt and it appears that the RTA is unable to prove any contested speed camera matter because of a lack of admissible evidence," Mr Miralis said.

The case revolved around the integrity of a mathematical MD5 algorithm published on each picture and used as a security measure to prove pictures have not been doctored after they have been taken.

Mr Miralis argued that the RTA had to prove the algorithm it used was accurate and could not be tampered with. He said: "It is our understanding that since speed cameras were introduced approximately 15 years ago on NSW roads, not one single speed camera photograph has been capable of proving an offence."


MD5 is a message digest algorithm that is widely used to generate unique identifiers for any kind of file. Basically a file undergoes a mathematical process and the output is a string of numbers that is equivalent to the file's fingerprints. Only problem is like real fingerprints, there's a chance, however remote, that 2 persons may share the same fingerprints. When this happens, a hash collision is said to exist.

Due to increased computing power, it is now feasible for a malicious person to generate identical MD5 hash checksums for 2 completely different files.

Here's an example:

Lockheed Martin test page
Boeing test page

Two companies in direct competition with each other. But sharing the same MD5 hash checksums.

If you're running Mac OS X, you can verify this for yourself by entering the following commands.

$curl -sS "http://www.doxpara.com/t1.html" | openssl md5
$curl -sS "http://www.doxpara.com/t2.html" | openssl md5


This is the MD5 hash checksum of both files:

c0f3adb824590b40944614268e627421


The astute observer will say it's apparent that the CONTENTS of the files are different, which is true. However, the lawyer's case rests on the fact that the speed cameras themselves lack authentication and non-repudiation facilities, which means that there is no mechanism to be absolutely certain the pictures came from the camera and haven't been doctored before the hash was applied.

Link

AutoDrag 2K5 Class 7 final standings

Class 7
Pos.Comp Entrant (if any)DriverNatCar1st rd2nd rd3rd rd FTBest Time
192Amprex Motor Sports Masatomo NomuraJPNNissan Skyline GTSJUMP8.627.927.92
23Teh Kian BoonSINProton Satria Turbo8.70DNS8.278.27
391Amprex Motor Sports Naohisa TazawaJPNMitsubishi Lancer EvoJUMP9.118.848.84
439Poh Kang HuanSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 49.2110.139.149.14
531Lester WongSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 7JUMP9.529.209.20
622Donald Chong Wee HerSINSubaru Impreza WRX9.389.689.919.38
718Desmond SohSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 89.889.699.889.69
858Ang Soo MengSINSubaru Impreza WRX STI9.82JUMP10.749.82
971Low Soon YeeSINMazda RX7 Turbo10.2410.01JUMP10.01
102Cheng Wing KitSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 810.85JUMP10.1610.16
1138Goh Duo TzerSINSubaru Impreza WRX GDA11.4510.4411.2410.44
1298Marcus Goh Eng Kieng(LTM)SINSubaru Impreza WRX10.8510.4810.9410.48
1336Simon Chai Meng KhengSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 711.59JUMP10.7610.76
1411Calvin Ong Choon PohSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR11.17DNSDNS11.17
1533Benny NgSINMitsubishi Lancer EvoJUMP11.53JUMP11.53
1628Tan Chee Wee, DannySINSubaru Impreza WRX12.5912.6311.7211.72
13-Benjamin Teo Kim MingSINNissan Skyline R34JUMPDISQ--

AutoDrag 2K5 Class 6 final standings

Class 6
Pos.Comp Entrant (if any)DriverNatCar1st rd2nd rd3rd rd FTBest time
129Lim Lean TiekSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6TM9.15JUMPJUMP9.15
232Francis TanSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 610.109.659.639.63
35Tan Ding ShangSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR9.9310.409.709.70
459Kenneth LinSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 79.9110.169.759.75
565Allan Chua Thiam BengSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 810.9010.0010.0110.00
610Darren Ong Wai KwongSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 610.2510.0710.3110.07
782Gerald Teo Bee YeongSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR10.1710.1610.5910.16
873Yeung Hock Peng, LeonardSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 8 MR10.32JUMP10.8210.32
99Melvin Ong Wee SenSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 810.51JUMP10.4610.46
1017Wong Wei MinhSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6RS210.5510.71DNS10.55
1126Lee Boon Chong, WinstonSINSubaru Impreza WRX10.6913.2110.9310.69
126Matthew Teo Kah YeowSINMitsubishi Lancer Evo 6JUMP10.7611.0810.76
1388Wong Teck YewSINMitsubishi Evo 8MR RS10.8510.8010.8910.80
1456Ricky YeoSINSubaru Impreza WRXJUMP11.2111.4611.21
1584Neo Bing Hao, ColinSINSubaru Impreza WRX12.3211.8011.2311.23
1686Fan Tai Sai, JeffreySINMitsubishi Lancer12.3911.8411.5211.52
90-Hong Hon JouMYProton Satria GTIDNSDNSDNSDNS

the hamster link

the hamster talks about her recent jungle trekking adventure as well as her field report on the SG Evo club trackday. Permalink by the sidebar on the right as well.

Thursday, August 11, 2005

What D&D Character Am I?

I Am A: Lawful Good Half-Elf Ranger Fighter


Alignment:
Lawful Good characters are the epitome of all that is just and good. They believe in order and governments that work for the benefit of all, and generally do not mind doing direct work to further their beliefs.


Race:
Half-Elves are a cross between a human and an elf. They are smaller, like their elven ancestors, but have a much shorter lifespan. They are sometimes looked down upon as half-breeds, but this is rare. They have both the curious drive of humans and the patience of elves.


Primary Class:
Rangers are the defenders of nature and the elements. They are in tune with the Earth, and work to keep it safe and healthy.


Secondary Class:
Fighters are the warriors. They use weapons to accomplish their goals. This isn't to say that they aren't intelligent, but that they do, in fact, believe that violence is frequently the answer.


Deity:
Mielikki is the Neutral Good goddess of the forest and autumn. She is also known as the Lady of the Forest, and is the Patron of Rangers. Her followers are devoted to nature, and believe in the positive and outreaching elements of it. They use light armor, and a variety of weapons suitable for hunting, which they are quite skilled at. Mielikki's symbol is a unicorn head.


Find out What D&D Character Are You?, courtesy ofNeppyMan (e-mail)

Which country am I?



You're China!

Big and powerful, you have a long history behind you with more good and bad than you care to remember, or are really capable of remembering.  Lately, in older age, you've gotten sort of crochety and even mean-spirited.  There is still a lot that's beautiful about you, but most of the focus people have when they think about you is how hard it is to work with you.  There's hope that you might start opening up to people, but lots of people have bumper stickers about how much you should change.
Take the Country Quiz at the Blue Pyramid

Tuesday, August 09, 2005

My old man

My dad is the archetypal 老福健 (Lao Fu Jian); someone who looks down on Japanese cars, thinking they're trash. The only worthy rides are "Continental" makes, preferably a huge ass Mercedes Benz. The funny thing is that whenever I'm home he'd come up with all sorts of excuses to take my car out. I guess that's one Japanese car he doesn't mind driving hehehe :p

No surprises where my car is now that there's a rumor of an island-wide 40% petrol discount in celebration of our nation's 40th year of independence.

So if you see my car darting in and out of traffic and generally pissing the hell out of people, it could very well be my father at the wheel. He may be old school but the feelings of pure joy when in complete control of a vehicle are universal. After all, he used to drive a succession of Alfa Romeos to work in Malaysia every day, for at least 15 years, way before the North South highway was built. I recall him driving us up to Terengganu and back, in 1 day. That's an estimated 1000+ km roundtrip journey.

I also have recollections of him overtaking up to 20 vehicles at a time, upslope, around a blind bend.

That's how I learned to count.

So to all the OG*-wannabes... suck it. :)

*Orchard Gudang, a play of words of Orchard Road and Pasir Gudang (a poorly maintained road course in Johor, Malaysia). On the eve of major holidays such as National Day and the New Year, groups of car owners in their underpowered and ricey rides will provoke one another into racing illegally on the streets of Orchard Road and other areas of high human/tourist traffic.

Monday, August 08, 2005

Which fantasy/sci-fi character am I?

Data

With props to Ben.

A controlled personality with a vast range of skills and behavior, you are often intrigued by the people and places surrounding you.

In the strictest sense, I did not win -- I busted him up.

Data is a character in the Star Trek universe. A biography is at STARTREK.COM.


Which fantasy/sci-fi character are you?

Saturday, August 06, 2005

Lame post

Came across this amusing post in one of the forums:

First off, I'd like to say that this isn't by any means an excuse for my performance in the Class 1 catagory for the MArina South drag race.

My car is the only WRX in the class, the rest being Evos and one 2.5 Impreza.

I'd love to give it my all for that event to show that WRXs are good cars. However, my car has started to have problems since Wednesday where my turbo refuses to spool normally and boost comes in really late.

Again, this isn't an excuse. All I'm saying is, if I beat the Evo 9 that I'm running with, I beat the Evo using a 'broken' car. Won't that be swell for scooby fans

Cheers all, and good luck to all those that are running in the different classes.


In a separate post in the same thread:

Yeah in class 1 it doesn't matter about bhp. However, I'm facing the ONLY female (please don't take me for an MCP) driving an Evo. And I'm the only wrx/sti in that class. I guess it's a matter of pride at this point.


Lame, lame post.

Who gives a damn if your turbo is not spooling, you had an argument with the girlfriend the night before, the dog ate your homework etc. A loss is a loss is a loss. If the female driver of the Evo 9 loses, she could just easily say her car is totally stock, it's her first time driving a manual, she had visions of a long departed relative advising her not to win the race and a multitude of other shoulda-woulda-coulda reasons.

Run what you brung, and put up or shut up. Be charitable in victory, and graceful in defeat. That's true sportsmanship.

Thursday, August 04, 2005

Ford owns Ferrari. Again!

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

In-gear acceleration

2nd gear3rd gear
30-50 mph1.71s2.61s
40-60 mph1.694s2.25s
50-70 mph-2.29s
40-80 kmh2.35s3.61s
60-100 kmh1.99s2.83s
80-120 kmh-2.922s


Tests were the average of 2 runs in each gear, full tank of gas.

Monday, August 01, 2005

SG Evo Club Trackday Sepang 29 July 05

Man what a weekend!

Looking forward to the trip, I only managed to get to bed at 12.30 am on Thursday night. So I woke up at 3 am and proceeded to meet the convoy past the border. Only problem is that when I arrived at the Secret Location I was the only person there!

Quick call revealed that the actual meeting time was 4 am. Damn.

After some waiting around the convoy finally managed to form up and proceeded to drive up to Sepang... on the way we encountered very heavy rain which reduced visibility immensely. Progress was slow as some of us were on semi-slicks and were hydroplaning. Fortunately when finally we arrived at SIC the track was dry.

After the orientation laps I began to concentrate on trying to improve my driving.

The first two laps were disastrous. On the first lap I was at WOT coming to T4. Two cars were ahead, one of them saw me coming and allowed me to pass. The other car ran very wide, past the 50m braking point. I thought he let me pass so I made for the apex. All of a sudden he made a sharp turn towards the apex as well. Fortunately he saw me in the mirror at the last moment and kept to his original line. Whew!

Next lap wasn't any better. Coming out of the bus stop I was WOT heading into T9, the hairpin. At this point speeds are above 160 km/h. Car ahead saw me coming but was wavering and couldn't decide to keep left or right. I was reacting to his steering inputs and he was reacting to mine. Eventually I had to go off throttle a little and overtake him on the outside. Close shave #2.

I completed another lap to cool the car down and pitted in. I know both drivers so I approached them to clear up the misunderstandings and listened to their perspective of the events.

While in the pits we received word that Dan and Eric had gone farming at T8*. Fortunately the car was OK. At around the same time reports came in that another car went past the gravel and crashed into the barriers at T12. The damage was limited to the hood, bumper and intercooler, but driver was unscathed.

Later in the morning an STI also went farming but the damage this time was limited to the lower lip.

On the bright side the rest of the day was relatively incident-free, and I did manage to get in 2 consecutive hot laps.

Ending the day were the friendly drag races; Shireen went head-to-head with Jenny (a mother of two!) and it was really entertaining.

Next we headed to the workshops in the Sunway area then rested for a while at the Dorsett Hotel in downtown KL. After dinner we set off for Singapore and I didn't get home till about 2.30 am. I had been driving for a good part of 15 hours and covered more than 1100 km.

*Dan later said that the the cause of his off-roading was that he wasn't used to the car's new level of power.

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