The Land of the Rising sun shakes

OK... Something that i didn't really intend on doing in this blog was talking about serious/ tragic issues or events but in this case its impossible not to as it means an awful lot to me.

Japan, home of  'Drift' and birthplace of all of my favourite cars was today at 05:46 GMT local time struck by a Magnitude 8.9 earthquake which Epicentre occurred off the coast in the middle of the sea. This unfortunately was still close enough to the main land to send shock waves for hundreds of miles including all the way to Tokyo 402km' from the Epicentre. As with any Earthquake after the main event aftershocks rocked the land. One of which registering as high as a 7 on the Richter scale.

Here is an imagine where you can see the tectonic plates that would have collided causing the huge earthquake.

Unfortunately Japans history is littered with major earthquakes the highest recorded of these was in Hokkaido and recorded an 8.2 on the Richter scale. In this case over 700 people were injured and there was only 1 reported death. Although that was the Biggest recorded it was not the most devastating. This occurred in 1923 when a huge earthquake hit the Kanto Plain around Tokyo killing over 100,000 people.

As of now the worst hit region was Sendai at the North East of the country, it was the first hit and possibly the worst hit. As of now the death toll here is reported at about 300 but judging by the video i shall post below it scares me to think what the number could be. Most of this destruction undoubtedly caused by the huge Tsunamis triggered by the Quake at sea.

Here is a video of the city of Sendai.

Sendai Earthquake

I know a hand full of people over there who through Facebook iv realised are safe and sound thank god but for totally different reasons I'm still sad as some of the 'Drift' worlds most famous teams and tracks have been left devastated. Ebisu being the track in question and Powervehicles and Team Orange the teams i know of now.

Again here are some of the pics of the devastation.

As of now i or anyone else doesn't know the full extent of the damage and it will probably be weeks if not months before we find out the toll all i can do is offer my best wishes and support to this great land.

最高の願いは、強力なご神にある可能性があります。

(i hope googletranslate got the above message correct)

I know Tidal waves are currently making there way towards Hawaii, California etc. and i shall be praying for you guys. Especially my good friend Broddah Jay in Hawaii, God be with you, your family and friends bro.

STAY STRONG JAPAN!

Tommy Fitz: A real life drift car driver :O :P

This past weekend Thomas Fitzgibbon entered his first drift competition in Portlaoise.

The competition was broke into 3 categories of Novice, Semi pro and Pro class drivers.

This journey all began months ago when Thomas purchased his 180sx with few mods but more then drift ready.

Here is how it looked upon purchase.

IMO a fairly nice example but deffo one that could be even nicer with a few euro and more importantly man hours spent.

But asthetics was the last thing on this mans mind, all he wanted was to drive it as it should be drove... HARD!

So drift days came and went and before long Tom was getting the hang of things.

Here he is in Mondello on 1 of those Saturdays out.

And the inevitable bumper losage! ( if thats even a word :) )

So after plenty of track time competition was finally upon us. The crew assembled at Damien Mulvey Motors on the Saturday morning at half 6 to load up and head off. The crew consisited of Tom, Damien, Ethan, Johnny and I.

We arrived at the track in plenty of time so a quick lick of wax ensured that at least the car looked minty fresh. After a long week of doing bits and pieces to the car it took on a new look and seeing as she was now clean i took the opportunity to take a few snaps before the inevitable dirt/ damage!

New wheels, Universal arches and a rocket bunny rear spoiler along with the customary cable ties to hold the bumper together and its now a very cool looking 180!

Anyways... Practise soon started and after many laps of NEARLY nailing it after a little advice from Damien soon Tom went round run after run without making a mistake and looking very impressive.

Late in the evening before the last practise session Tom developed an issue which seemed for all the world to be the fuel pump so a few phone calls later we had a fuel pump arriving the next morning.

So.. We tidied up our gear went back to the hotel for a swim and then hit the town. Unfortunately this part of the event will not be spoke of incase any law inforcement officers happen to stumble across this blog Lols.

Nothing short of an EPIC night :)

Sunday morning arrived and to be totally honest i had no interest in being at that track... The customary yet dreaded Sunday morning of a drift event hangover was in full swing :(

Damien and Tom got the fuel pump in and more uh ohs.... Still wasnt working. After plenty of head scratching Damien found the problem which was electrical and Tom was off for some more drifting...

Here he is during a practise run.

Absolutely clouded in tire smoke :) :P

This particular track is just a big slab basically used to hold containers and trucks 'NOT' specifically designed for a drift day. It has drains running straight through the middle of it which make it quiet bumpy... Tom hit 1 of these bumps wrong and it resulted in this...

Lower arm bent and split and day over?????

NAAAAAA... Lump hammer and a stranger with a welder and Tom was back out for qualifying.

Now here is where iv to admit myself and Ethan went to the pub. Big footy match on and beverage was required :) 

Whilst we wer away Tom qualified for the top 16 which he won tanx to 2 smooth runs.

In his top 8 battle the weld gave up and the arm bent again causing Tom to loose the run and end the weekend.

Hats off to the man he drove very well and we'r all on for another weekend away with team Tom and Fat Fingers Fitzgibbon soon!

To end heres a few pics robbed from DriftIreland of the weekend!

Peace out....

Shout out to Paddy Macken at Goodluggage for the photos!

Losing my blogging Virginity... EEEK!!!

Weeeelllll

This is a little weird considering im basically writing this for myself as id imagine it'l be a while before anyone sees this but aaaaaaaanywho :)

Basically right now Im Dan a 22 year old trainee Panel Basher from a land I love but one thats becoming harder and harder to love as days go by due to a corruption that could rival that of our fellow green, fun loving Mexican pals...

Iv set this up outta sheer boredom because of a little long term problem that iv finally decided to stop and try and get it fixed, Meaning 6 weeks of YAAAAAAAAWN! (ish)

What is this problem??? VVVVVVV

BOOOOOOM!!!! Torn Tendons for..... going on 3 years now :( FAIL!!!!

Anyways.... I like cars... (Panel basher) OBVIOUSLY!!!!!

Here is my current baby.... Imported 3 years ago i think as a very basic lookin 83 Hachi....

Its the 1 closest the camera (the other was also mine but has since moved on)

So.. AFter 2 years of doing nothing with it i decided to pull the finger out and a few months later produced this little gem with me own hands....

It has and will continue to see changes but il blog that some other time...

Ok what else is there... Ammmm my buddies (Pricks).... Your most likely to see me with 1 of these fine gentlemen...

Darren (DMac) McNamara

Ethan (Young fella of the Bowles') Bowles

Thomas (Blackflag) Fitzgibbon... Hes a real life DRIFTER!

Johnny (JK) Keating.... Seen here in his work clothes.

And... Damien (The Bandit) Mulvey

(Damien Mulvey likes this picture) :)

Well thats the main crew..... And im getting bored now so i bose il just finish with a picture of myself....

Lols ok ok...... im slightly better looking then him

Haha the liquid in my palms probably explains the rest :D

Anyways.... If ye like whats going on stay tuned for more of what i believ to be relevant....

Next post is a gonna be about a learner drifter preparing and participating in an event dis weekend!

Laterz Yaaallllll!