Wolf's European Attack

Its been about a week since I pulled the Lancer from the scrapyard. I had to order a complete Evo GSR body kit with new glass, fenders, quarter pannels , Evo BBS rally rims, and a new 4G63-T. And after that week of restoration, I'm pretty happy at how she turned out.



I decided to keep the manufacturer white, but I couldn't find white fog light covers so I used black ones. Also, to keep with the white, I plasti-dipped my rims white. Dropped it on springs and semi stripped it. Its fun to hoon around in, especially when my ass is sitting right next to a cliff



Just driving around, I saw some breath taking sights that I haven't seen since I've moved here. I don't know why it took me this long to explore Italy.



I'm definitely looking to just cruse with a few people later in the week. I'm going to check out a few meets later and try to meet a few new people!

So this past weekend, the King of Europe Drift Tour came through Castelletto. I saw some insane drift cars, everything from 500hp LS swapped 240s to 600hp M3 and 5s, and a few 1000hp 'Stangs. One that really stood out to me was a 700 horse LS S15.





Even when it started to rain a little bit, the S15 kept on like it was dry. I remember back a few months before i moved, I got bought a 1000hp Viper, and I remember taking the TCS off once, and damn near wrapped it on a light pole. The most we ever did in Colorado was drag race on the highway, so I never got to into drifting. Maybe I could try with that EVO in my Garage. I'll have to do some research on RWD swaps for Mitsubishi's. Well I just got paid so that might be a possibility in the next week

Yesterday, I talked to my co-worker at the shop, Jeff, about getting into drifting. He was a little dickish about it at first, laughing at the idea of me drifting, then be came a bit more supporting. He went and got the keys for the LSX swapped BMW we have at the shop.



He pulled it out of the garage and told me to get in. We were going somewhere in a 700hp Beamer
and he wouldn't tell me where. I'm assuming a place that has to do with drifting? He said it's not that far, just a few miles up the road. And when we were about halfway there, he asked me, "You wanna learn how to drift?" Ahh, thats what I thought we were going to do lol, but were was he taking us? I don't know anyplace that's open enough to teach someone how to drift. "We're here!"



Of course! the warehouse complex... Why didn't I think of this place? Wait, are we even supposed to be here? He said, "I don't see why not, this place is abandoned half the time." lol Fine with me! We pulled up to a warehouse with a open ledge that gave a good line to practice. He went first



He came in with such angle, I thought we were going to spin the entire time. But he held it without a problem, almost like he was one with the car. We came to a stop, and he got out and told me to try it, and I would be lying if I said I wasn't a little bit nervous, I have never been actual legit drifting, only either losing traction in the GT-R or peeling out in the Supra or Viper back in the States. So I went and gave it a try.
I came in at 45-50 in 3rd and gave it a flick with a dab of e-brake, then right back on the throttle with counter steer... Instantly I spun.



He said to just keep trying it, so again and again, trying different things, like less throttle or more clutch, or even different entries. Each time, oversteering into hell. I did try something, I don't remember what it was, but I got to the end of the line, and then spun, but it was the best run by far!



Again and Again I kept trying, eventually I got so frustrated, I came in too fast and carelessly and went too wide... I slammed the tail into a concrete pillar.. I just wrecked a $70,000 Drift car..



The only thing I could think at the time is, "My boss is going to kill me". I limped the car back to Jeff, to help me figure out what to do. It was bad.



When I got out of the car, he was smiling. What does he have up his sleeve? He popped the trunk, and there were a shit ton of parts in there, Control arms, Struts, Half shafts, and a lot of zip ties. so we got to work. In about 30 minutes, the Half shaft was put in with a replacement coilover, and we re-aligned it, and it was good as new... ish. Somehow the rim survived.



I gave it one last try, I came in, in 3rd, pulled the e-brake, and counter steered.
The back end come out and I felt in control for once.



That felt amazing! Jeff was happy for me, but in that impatient way. I wanted to go and celebrate, but drifting around took a few hours and we had to get back to the shop. On the way back I couldn't stop smiling. I cant wait to start drifting my Evo! I need that RWD swap fast!

So a few nights ago, I was doing some research online about RWD swaps and how well they handle the extra stress and pricing and I didn't like what I found. On top of that, I was also reading into EVO power outputs, and the engines are quite expensive to get any power out of, so I'm thinking of letting her go to fund my next project, but I haven't found one yet. Maybe I'll go look tomorrow.

~Next Day~
So my co-worker, Jeff, picked me up in his Ford Escort and we're going to go try to find a nice project. We started in Castelletto and went to Nice, to look in all the used dealerships. Unfortunaely, nothing. So we turned our eyes to the local car scene, expecting a few options but everyone was only selling Civics and Golfs. I did find someone who was selling a 98 Supra mk IV, but the price he wanted was way too much. So all of that was a bust, however, one of those guys said the best places to find projects, are in peoples back yards, and that Sisteron, all the way to San Giovanni we full of them. So with that, we left Nice and headed north. It was about 11 or so by the time we got into Sisteron. We started our search and immeadieatly we understood what they meant. Broken down car here, neglected car there. The only problem is, there wasn't anything good. after another hour or two of looking around, we found ourselves just outside of Sisteron and thats when I saw it, sitting in plain sight in a junkyard.



An old JDM Drift Missile! An S13 I think. We passed it so qick, I couldn't get too good of a look. I asked Jeff to turn around as quick as he could. We pulled up, and there it was, It was an American RPS13, or a 240sx.



After I took that Picture, I got my translator out in preperation that the owner doesn't speak any English. I went inside and the guy greeted me in French, I replied with the translator, but then he said "not to use that" in English. What a lucky break! I found a sweet car and the owner spoke english! So I advocated my interest and we started to talk about the car. Turns out this guy was a renowned Drifter in the states and this was his practice car that he exported with him. He had SR swapped it and put race-spec coils on it. It's beautiful. He said he doesn't drift anymore cause he has a family to take care of and needed to set priorities. So, he wants her to go to a good home, and not sit outside, unused anymore. After that heartfelt story, we made a deal any we went to go fire her up.



Amazing, after sitting for some odd years, she only needed a few turns to fire right up. I got in to get a feel for her. It's nice.



The height reminds me of the Supra I had back west, and the sound too. I got out and thanked the guy for this amazing car and he said, and I'll never forget this because I saw a little bit of a tear come to his eye, "take of the old girl, she's seen too much to life a short life." Of course! And I thanked him again and headed out with Jeff in front.



She drove like a dream, Incredably balanced and smooth. I can't wait to see where I will go with this car.
Today was an amazing day...
I think I'm going to name her...
Lily.