Michael’s Blog

Its finally Friday! I’ve been looking forward to today all week. Scott is coming over tonight and we’re changing his exhaust on his 2006 GSXR. Its probably going to sound pretty aggressive now. That little street legal race bike is going to scream.

I am a bit worried though. Exhaust parts have never been kind to me. They’re under such intense heat, and then cool down to whatever the temperature outside is. That continual change in temperature usually makes the bolts very difficult to remove.

Once we’re done with that I hope to wash the xB. The poor little guy is filthy thanks the the winds last week and the rain the week before.

After that, we’re off to the LA Autoshow early Saturday morning. Its something I look forward to every year. I’m hoping that if we get there early, I can sit in all the cars I like without some jerkoff thinking its his turn already. Some people are asshats. And those are the people I close the door on and sit touching stuff in the car for an extended amount of time. I adjust the seats, play with the steering wheel, push all the buttons, adjust the mirrors, adjust the seat again, play with the pedals. They love it.

I ate lunch with Bill today at Wahoos. It was pretty fun. I drove the girl who took my order nuts because I couldn’t remember what burrito I usually order. It was also the first time in a long time someone asked what was new in my life. Not that many people do, and it took me by surprise. I actually had to recount whats going on before I could respond.  Bill was also cool enough to drive.  I’m starting to resent having animals.  The wifey drags so much cat hair into our cars it drives me nuts how often I have to vacuum and detail the dash.

Ah well, that aside, I’m looking forward to this evening and tomorrow.

Ah, I love the new Charley and the Chocoloate Factory. Who would have thought they could make Willey Wonka any stranger.

Anyway, here again at work. I read some of Bill’s blog, and yes, it is REALLY odd that he IMs with perfect punctuation and grammar. In fact, it rubs off on me, and makes me want to respond properly aswell.

I’ve been driving the xboc more (the xB) lately. I feel less guilty rotting in traffic in the box than in the Evo. Plus, it has a handy dandy glove box that fits my 7″ DVD player. Playing movies when I’m stuck in rush hour really takes the edge off the stress. I don’t feel quite as zombi-like when I get home lately.

Last night Tara and I watched Biggest Loser. The first hour the trainers visited 2 highschools and helped some of the kids lose weight. They visited the school’s cafeteria, and all that was available to the kids was fried food and pizza. It was ridiculous. One of the facts they mentioned, was that for the first time ever, the life expectancy of parents was longer than that of their children due to obesity and obesity related illness. Crazy stuff.

I felt so bad watching those kids trying to run a mile under 9 minutes. I have such a sick sense of humor, that I laughed at them at the same time my eyes welled up with tears. In highschool I took my physical health for granted. I could run a mile under 6 minutes no sweat, and I could eat as much food as I wanted without gaining a pound, and these kids were running around in little fat suits that were their bodies. One of the cafeteria ladies laughingly responded “we have to make money” when asked about donuts being offered as a breakfast. I wanted to smash her head into the hot tater tots and ask her how funny she thinks that is. The trainer had to hold his tongue, but I could tell he reacted the same way I did.

Well well well, my first blog entry ever, and I’m doing it at work.  Haha.

I’ve wanted to keep one of these since I was 20.  It never happened. So I thought I’ll definitely start one when I’m 25.  Now that I’m 26… I’m finally writing this thing.

A little about me.  I was born September 23rd, 1980, in the city of Orange CA.  I was born 2 weeks early, and I was a little guy.  5 lbs, 10 ounces, but I ate like there was no tomorrow.  At 8 months I was running and walking.  None of that crawling business for me.

I had a normal childhood.  Nothing supremely bad happened to me.

Now that I’m all grown up, I’m easily enamored by any type of 4 wheeled machine, especially those of the exotic variety.

I’ve found that I have nitro methane in my veins, and the sound of a tuned import, V8, V10, or V12 turns my head faster than any naked super model flaunting herself down the street.  In fact, if both were to happen down the same road at the same time, I’d courteously ask the women to step aside so I could admire the true beauty behind her.

Being 26, I can’t exactly afford a Ferrari F430 as my daily driver, or even the more practical Corvette Z06 for that matter.  And I’d have to say, I’d take the Z06 over the Ferrari any day, and take the extra 70k to the bank along with any other Ferrari’s pink slip that wanted to flex its muscle.  Except for the Enzo of course.  In 2005 my wife and I bought ourselves a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution.  Being a fan of the underdog, I liked the understated demeanor of this car.  By all means, a 2.0L 4 door All Wheel Drive sedan should never strike fear in the heart of any high dollar sports car owner, but I think the Evo with its buldging fender flares, snooty humungo wing, and ferocious front facia says a little more than a Toyota Camry.

It may be a 2.0L, but its a Turbocharged 2.0L that puts out 276 horspower, and 289 lb.ft. of torque.  Thats almost 150 horsepower per liter.  Talk about effecient use of materials.  The 2.0L propels the car to 60 in 4.8 seconds.  Thats .1 faster than the new GT500 with 500 horsepower, and I can seat 5 comfortably.  The Ferrari F430 and standard Corvette do 0-60 in about 4.0 flat, but the Corvette is almost 20 grand more, and the Ferrari is $130k more.  Do I enjoy the bang for the buck, lets me think.

Its been a fun car to own, and I’ve gotten some interesting comments from people on it.   One friend got out of the car swearing to the heavens that its quicker than a Porsche Carerra.  And considering a recent comparison test to the new Porsche Cayman, a $60,000 machine faster than the Carrera in some tests, I’d say he was onto something.

Top Gear and Fifth Gear have also found some love for the ugly Evolution.  At one point they put a 400 horsepower variation called the FQ400 up against a Lamborghini Murcialago and the little 4 door kept up quite well.  In fact, its performance numbers for a 400 horsepower car are astounding.  0-60 in 3.5 seconds and a top speed of 175.  That kind of power is Carerra GT, Ferrari Enzo and Pagani Zonda territory, at a fraction of the price with a 3 year warranty.

Evo ownership does come at a cost though.  Tires will run you $1000 easily.  And if you drive the car like you stole it, you’ll be paying Mr. Yokohama at least once a year.  People are drawn to the mystique of the car aswell, and not always with good intentions.

My car has been scratched, pelted with dirt and spit on on different occasions.  Too many people want to see what the cars got, and not in the most legal places either.  I like do like the misjudgement made by some people. They see the huge wing and clear tail lights and assume its just like any other Honda out there.  The Evos not appearce on US soil in 2003 has contributed to that benefit.  Some people I’ve met have never seen one before.

Many younger inexperienced drivers have gotten behind the wheel of this car, their rich parents assuming its a cheap $30,000 car.  By all means, its 4 doors with All Wheel Drive, it must be safe!  Many evos have been wrecked street racing.  The lack of respect for the power and privilege to drive on California roads period, is saddening.

I have yet to race an BMW M3, Audi S4 or Subaru WRX STi.  These cars are right up the Evo’s alley.  And at a $20,000 difference to the M3 I’ll be happy to keep up, or better yet win.

I think I’ll end it here for today.  Ha, my first blog and all I did was talk about cars, go figure huh?  That’ll learn ya.