Side Ways Action

Yes motorsport in particular rally is the "Highest thrill per second"(If that exists) sport in the world. Now while it can be said that the entire experience is an adrenaline rush one element stands out for me; I like to call it going side ways, side ways action or drifting.

What i am talking about is not exactly drifting because that should technically be sustained sideways motion of the car. It more like controlled oversteer.

Imagine 100 meters to a 90 degree corner you are going at about 150Kph, down shift and enter the corner at 90Kph, you lose the back of the car, clip the apex, counter steer and power out. For a few seconds the car will be in equilibrium and you will be going sideways.

I had that experience a couple of times and it was memorable - All i could see at the front was sugar canes but the car was going side ways then i saw the open road. Of course being able to do this meant i spun a couple of times achieving full 360 spins.

Oh yeah and another funny thing i seem to have trouble taking right hand corners. left handers are pretty easy.

Fast forward to the present day - I drive a 1985 Diahatsu rocky with a very high center of gravity BUT it rear wheel drive the perfect car set up to achieve side ways action. And yes i have tried and succeeded, of course with the help of a rainy day and a little water on the road or gravel. Its amazing and dangerous. Almost rolled it on 2 occasions.

I even tried in a front wheel drive using the infamous hand break turn - failed

Disclaimer: Side ways action is possible but dangerous do not try unless you have car insurance, personal accident insurance, if you care about your car, If you dont have a wide area to try it our or if if you cant really drive. Oh yeah & DO NOT TRY THIS AT HOME

Almost Back

Its been about six months since i last took Emily out for a spin. I am suddenly engulfed by strong nostalgic feelings.

Figured i'd dash to the hospital - read garage and check her out. The proceedure seems more complex that open heart surgery. she's been pulled apart her heart ripped out and her legs pulled apart. This however is the neccesary evil, she will live again, roar with life and pace that will get my blood boiling.

In two weeks she should alive again and the adventure will restart.

Alas i fear i may have to let her go again, into the arms of another. I still will hold her close and look forward to the day i will reunite with one like - He elder, bolder stronger sister.

the pics

Stupid passion

This blog follows my story trying to carry out my motorsport passion in Uganda. It is expensive, very expoenzie & honestly i have no idea why do - It is stupid passion.

I began Rallying in November last year, when for some reason i felt like i had to get into motorsport, the same week i bought the car - We shall call her Emily - The 1994 Subaru Impreza WRX STI custom built in Uganda by Race mart. The car is a championship winning car driven by a number of people, most notably Ponsiano - Ok enough about Emily.

So the same week i bought the car some kid crashed it during practice, messing the suspension. I was able to fix it and i participated in my very 1st sprint event. I did fairly well on my 1st round for a beginner but the toll of the crash a few day before came back to haunt me as my back suspension gave way - The jumps and sideways motion began to take their toll.

I got the car ready for my 1st rally, The recce was memorable, breaking our recce car somewhere on the route and got lost.

The first rally showed our glaring inexperience, we were the first car on the road and a late call from Mark the navigator saw us enter a bank on the road side. Well if i were experience i would never have tried to take a medium left on a rainy day at 100KPH on a narrow road. I should have breaked.

What followed is the most inspirational story, we fixed the car in three hrs, replacing the engine pulley system, pulling the chasis and tying the entire cooling system with ropes, tape, cable ties and anything we could use. At some point we stretched the car using a tree and another car - with Emily in the middle being pulled.

I began day 2 with the ugliest car on the road and the worst possible set up. I was still a rookie driving in the rally without any real practice save for days of reading about how to drive fast online.

I did a couple of stages, spun 3 times, car over heated and broke 3 radiators but the best experience was going sideways and i also realised whenever i crushed i found it very funny - I actually laughed.

Well as you guessed i never did finish that event, the crush the day before broke our sump guard and i drove without it - on entering the service park after stage 12 my oil was leaking.

I drove the car to Kampala and sent it to apparently the best mechanic in Kampala. He cheated me. After 3 months i got the car back into Kampala.

My first event was a sprint in the very fast Lubiri track. I did ok, the car was still misbehaving, however i finished.

This may sound really stupid but i crushed on my way home.

I am currently working on getting the car ready for the next event. I dont think it will be ready for Pearl of Africa, but hey I am just starting this - Stupid passion.