Running In

After installation of the new Short Ram air filter kit, I never actually posted a review of the new performance. This is due to the lack of occasion to really test the response and only during the night when I roam the streets with CCM members I can push my Celica to perform. There has been 2 occasions where I was given such opportunity to test it out.

The first occasion was during my way back home after a drink with my members. While I was cruising down the highway I saw a light coming close on me from behind and I let the person pass me. It was a BMW E90 3 series and I totally went in the pursuit mode. I prefer to tail a person rather than trying to overtake a person. So, I stayed close on the BMW's tail and we went for quite a distance. At the end I manage to keep up with it and draw a conclusion that it is slow.

The second occasion was during my way to fetch a friend to go out drinking. His office was far so I was speeding all my way and I met a Mazda RX-8. I have always wanted to try a Celica against a RX-8 and thought this is my chance. So I tailgated the RX-8 but the owner was looking to drag with me and slowed down. I do not like to drag so I just followed his tail but when I was doing a corner outcome a BMW E60 5-series from my left which is a tight space. It scared me and I full-throttled but I could not catch up with the BMW (must be a high capacity model). I turned back to the RX-8 and again it was waiting for me to drag. Unfortunately there was a car in between de lane. So, we did a rolling start and still I can keep up until he left the highway. In my thought, that RX-8 should be an automatic like mine and I got to admit torque is a little higher from it but speed is still not a problem to me.

The new open pod really does have its pro and con especially during street races. One major pro I can feel is the faster response in my 3rd and 4th gear (I only have 4 gears in total) making my daily drive more faster and easier at the high gears. However, the open pod really cost me big time in drag races as my rev climbing becomes slow in my 1st gear. It feels like a lag where it takes 2-3 seconds to respond and climbs to my lift point at 6,200 rpms. Once I reach my first lift, I regain my power. This proves that the new amount of air going in the engine is overwhelming and my tuning is off. I need to retune my camcon to compensate with the current situation but I will only tune it after I finish modding for the year. Just have to bear with it for a while.

(Pictures are not exact cars but exact color)

Super GT 2012

Super GT came and passed just like that. It was a hot day and I went home with burned hands, red nose and v-neck. It was an enjoyable day with the Biggest Car Gathering like last year, car exhibits where many new cars had their launching and the GT300/GT500 race. The most fun part for me is non other than having my lap in the circuit with hard acceleration, hard braking and heavy cornering. Absolutely awesome.

This year's exhibits was larger than last year's and I saw the new cars such as Mazda CX5, Porsche 911, Hyundai Veloster, Subaru WRX STI sedan, Toyota 86 and many more. Besides the cars and race, who could forget about the hot GT queens and models. Every photographer was on a photo frenzy. I took some photos but was mainly focusing on cars more than girls. I hope you enjoy the photos I took this year. I noticed some cars were taken on both years.

European Brands:

Japanese Brands:

GT related:

Others: