Bad news. Our car project has hit a big rock, in the form of the bureacratic administration of Inti. I'm pretty pissed because my Head of Program is very supportive of this project and was going to give us the go-ahead but his deputy, on the other hand, wasn't so keen cause he had his doubts. I have a feeling that he is a more cost-benefit person, but not a good one.
He asked us whether this project would benefit Inti. I replied that the Engineering Department could use this project as advertisement of the quality of students produced by Inti. Then he shot back, saying we had nothing to prove yet and Inti will or will not benefit from this project. I was thinking, "What the F*ck!" We didn't even ask you people to give a single cent, just some space to put our materials. Inti has ten thousand plus sq-meters and I'm only asking for a 10x10ft space. If he was smart enough, he would have let us through cause it's a win-win situation. If we didn't succeed, they won't have to give a single cent. If we succeed, they won't have to give a single cent for huge publicity. Very unwise indeed.
Then, he said he will have to answer to his superiors. So? You think the president of Inti College is going to question your decision, you who have a PHD in engineering and is far more knowledgable in your department than him? They will probably give him a slap in the back for bringing in free advertisement for Inti. No, serious. Inti has absolutely nothing to lose in this venture. Final year project students have constructed more radical inventions in the workshop. And the president won't have so much time as to give a flying f*ck about what each of the 5000 students in Inti is doing.
Then, the most ridiculous part. He said the security guards would be suspicious of materials coming in and out of Inti. Cummon, it's not like we're building a nuclear bomb in the workshop! It's just a harmless car. Heard of memos? Just submit one to the security office and they will let us transport our materials into the workshop. Looks like this guy doesn't know how things work in Inti. Sad.
When we said we would register the car with the Road and Transport Department, he said we were dealing with government officials and that's a no-no. What the f*ck! We're not asking YOU to register our car for us. Hell no, we can do it ourselves. He kept saying, "You're involving government officials...blah blah...involving government officials....Inti get in trouble...". The funniest thing is that he said if we get into accident, Inti would be in trouble. Let me ask you, if you crash your car, who will be in deep sh!t: You or your CAR MANUFACTURER? If course it's you dumba$$ who doesn't know how to drive. Unless your car manufacturer installs a device that causes the car to crash automatically. Why the hell would Inti get any trouble?! I think he just says all these cause he's too lazy to do the paperwork.
He also questioned our ability to build a car. During the whole project until now, this is the most INSULTING thing I've ever heard. Even some forum members of ZTH were supportive and gave advice but this was too much. He asked us what semester we are in. Semester 4 I told him. Then he said, "Semester 4 hmmmm....". It would be less insulting if he had said, "Semester 4 only ma...who do you think you are?" What an egoistic bastard, underestimating people like that. You think that I'm in a Diploma course, I'm not good enough for you is it? F*cking looking down on us like that. We did lots of research on this project which I assume he was too ignorant to ask. We didn't cook up this idea yesterday you know. We had to make sure that everything was possible until we approach you, dumba$$! I bet he thought we came up with the idea while passing his office and just popped in to ask him.
And he said it's not in our syllabus. So what? We are taking an INITIATIVE to improve ourselves in our respective fields and you're going to stop that? Sex education is not in the syllabus too. So does that mean we shouldn't at least try to understand what sex is all about? I hate people who do things by the book. Too predictable. With all these bureaucratic red tapes, it's no wonder we haven't invented the time machine or hyperdrives yet. Imagine this guy trying to build a time machine but people say sorry it's not in the syllabus so we can't help you. Or sorry I would like to keep my job so I better stay out of trouble. Or sorry I have all the resources to help you but I can't cause I have to answer to my superiors.
There are alternatives to this problem but its going to delay the project. If I ever build this car, I'll say Inti was very very unsupportive and don't ever think of using our car as advertisement or I'll sue you for a few milion. Inti's motto: Think Employability, Think Inti. YEAH RIGHT. See how students with little pratical skills can survive in the real world suckers!
Damn pissed right now!
Wednesday, May 31, 2006
Bureaucracy sucks!
Ladies of KLIMS
Here's a compilation of the hot models of KLIMS. For a bigger version, click on the link below.
Ladies of KLIMS
Tuesday, May 30, 2006
Kuala Lumpur International MotorShow 2006
56K WARNING!!!!! Over 50 pics in this post (all pics taken using my W800i).
For the whole of this week, Putra World Trade Centre will play host to hundreds of automobiles with a total combined estimated cost of around 1 billion. So, as an avid fan of cars, I'm sure hell not going to miss this event. Afiq, Kok Hoe and I drove down to PWTC yesterday using my brother's new Toyota Corolla. This car is extremely fuel efficient but also extremely fast. Although we weren't familiar with the place, we were able to get there thanks to my map, my good navigation skills and some luck.
If each person in PWTC paid only 1 ringgit for the entrance fee, I would be able to buy a new car using cash by the end of the week-long show. That's how many people who went there, ON A MONDAY! It was packed! The parking spaces were full and we had to wade through a sea of people to get from one place to another.
A 2005 Ferrari F1 car.
Lotus 340. Only 340 of these were built and only 5 is currently in Malaysia.
Lotus Exige.
Gen 2 with ZeroKit. Looks good actually.
Lotus Europa. Sleek design and agile. At the Lotus booth, the three of us entered a contest where we were required to answer some questions and write a slogan. 6 lucky winners will get to drive exotic race cars including the Lotus Elise at the Sepang Circuit! Damn hope I win!
Nissan Sentra Nismo. With nicer leather interior and bodykit. RM89000.
The new Hyundai Coupe. Looks a lot better than the old one. Cute models not included.
Honda S2000.
Nissan 350Z convertible.
Nissan 350Z S-tune.
Sometimes people came for these shows mainly because of the leng luis that are around the cars, not the cars themselves. See where this guy's camera is aiming at. He's definately not interested in the car, which is a Ford Escape by the way.
McLaren-Mercedes SLR. Cost a lot of money.
The Ford Focus ST. Sportier version of the Ford Focus.
Even Honda's humanoid robot, Asimo, made it to the show. No big deal here, just like Honda's VTEC, over-rated.
This truck won the Dakar Rally. The screen to the right of the pic shows some video footage of the truck hurtling at 100kph over the desert. Just look at the sheer size of it.
Mazda's Renesis rotary engine.
Even Brabus made it to the show.
The car that won the Merdeka Endurance Race last year, the Lotus 300RR.
Lamborghini Gallardo. Stunning.
This is the 1st time I've even seen a Porsche Carrera GT with my own eyes. It's one of the fastest cars around with an exhaust note that can make even hard-core car enthusiasts drool.
A Ferrari Enzo. This one will make grown men cry......if you crash it.
This one is a gem, a Porsche Cayman S. It's the prize for a charity lucky draw and it's worth over RM700,000. For just RM50, you can be in the running for this beauty. Naturally, I parted with my money for charity causes....and the car of course. Fingers crossed now......
Enjoy the next few pictures:
Most people say that this year's Volvo's models are the best. By models I mean the girls la. So feel free to scroll up and prove this statement right.
A Toyota concept car.
Another Toyota concept car. Toyota came up with the most concept cars this time around.
TRD Toyota Wish with nice sidemirror ornament.
This car was made famous in the older James Bond movies, or was the movie made famous because of this car?
Toyota Sportivo concept car.
Mazda MX5. The best handling road car that most of us mere mortals can buy.
Cute.
Peugeot 407 coupe. This car is big and looks sporty.
Ralliart Evolution 9
This car was easily the most popular among the crowd, helped by it's legendary status and the stunning models parading around it.
This one is too good an oppportunity to miss.
Mivy Sport. Why can't Proton come up with models like this?
Cute cowboy chick. That's Afiq by the way.
Mazda RX-8. Strangely, this car was missing from the Mazda booth.
Lamborghini Murcielago.
Brand ambassador for Kia Motors.
What you shouldn't do in a sports car....or even in a normal car. Note the one-hand steering favoured by most rally drivers. No seatbelts - RM300. Using handphone while driving - RM300. No licence plates - RM300. Excessive speeding - RM300. Total fines - RM10. Only in Malaysia! Malaysia Boleh!
My favourite of all:
And one last one for the album:
I will be going back to KLIMS this Saturday cause I won RM450 worth of vouchers in an sms contest today. I'll also be in the running to buy a Toyota Vios for RM571 cause that's the amount I bade for the car. In this first-of-it's-kind contest, the lowest unique bid wins. Fingers crossed again....
Sunday, May 28, 2006
Goodbye public transport!
From today onwards, my reliance on public transport has greatly decreased due to the fact that Tzy Wen got a car in KL! I was really disgusted on Saturday when a trip to Satapak (around 40 minutes by car from Nilai) took me nearly 3 hours! I waited for the bus for 30 minutes, waited for the train for 30 minutes and waited for the light rail transport for another 10 minutes. Almost an hour of waiting! So, it's a good idea to own a car.
And even better, a fast car.
This is Tzy Wen's car, a 1995 Toyota Corolla SEG. Slightly moded on the outside but it's the inside that matters.
A 1.6-liter 20V engine. Called blacktop by tuners because of it's black valve cover. It is the most powerful of the 4G series of engines. Some of the cars powered by the 4G series include the AE86 (of Initial D) Toyota Trueno.
Looks great from the outside. The paint is in excellent condition with little or no scratches on the outside. And this is the ONLY car I've ever driven where the exhaust is quieter than the engine!
The interior is in immaculate condition. However, there's one slight problem: It's notoriously hard to get into 1st and 2nd gear. This is due to the fact that the gear-shifter is an short-shift version (means you don't have to move your hands too much to get into gear - faster shifts basically) and the clutch play is a bit limited. We suspect that the clutch is not fully disengaged from the engine when the pedal is depressed. Tzy Wen will rectify the problem once he gets the car checked in a few weeks time. Other than that, everything's good. The steering is solid and, frankly, the acceleration is insane! I dare not floor the pedal during 1st and 2nd gear because it's just too fast.
I just got back to Nilai from Subang Jaya using this car and it took me under 40 minutes. Overtaking on the highway is a breeze. Even in 5th gear, the acceleration can still be felt! I didn't drive too fast cause the tyres are worn out but I bet the car can top 200kph. Well, let's leave that attempt to another day....
Friday, May 26, 2006
Woohoo!
Woohoo! is an understatement.
3 of us from the car project team went to ask permission from our HOP (Head Of Programme) to build a car "on Inti's premises" and store our materials there. At first, he thought we were doing our final project (all diploma students are required to complete a project during their final semester) and he was in for a big surprise.
We told him that we are building a car.
"A small car?"
"No, a full-sized one."
"So, you all are going to build a car in the workshop?"
"Yeah."
"What will you do with it after you've finished building it?"
"Er...drive it? Get it registered with the Road Transport Department so we can drive it on public roads basically."
"Ok...."
Then, we discussed about the materials.
"We're going to store an engine in the workshop."
"A car engine?"
"Actually, the whole halfcut."
"Ok...."
The rest of the conversation revolved around the security of the materials, how much space we need and how much time we need. He ended by saying that he "applaud" what we were doing and that it has "never been done in Inti before". I wish I was making this up but I'm not. However, we still need to send in an official letter but, unofficially, we have passed our last hurdle and secured a workplace.
Also, he added that this project could be considered our final project too but he need to discuss with his staff first (because most final projects are completed in the final semester). Doing our final semester project now? And not having to think up of some mechanical problems to solve in my final project? Game on, man!
The pressure is on! Wish us luck!
Actually my brothers and I are no strangers to projects such as these. Growing up in a male-dominated environment and with some influences from the Internet and Discovery channel, it's only natural that we try building some "boys' toys". I remember during Primary 6 or earlier, we succeeded in building a helicopter that can hover...only. But that was like conquering the world to us then!
Then, there was a lapse of about a few years before we completed the coilgun. This simple device with no moving parts (except the bullets duh) can punch through 2 tin cans at it's peak. Now, it's undergoing upgrades by Tzy Wen and it may be stronger than before. I still remember the times where we would make photo-developing studios promise to keep one-use cameras for us cause we needed the capacitors inside. And we would go collecting them every Saturday until there were enough capacitors to start building. This took a few months I think. Lol we intended to make it into a sniper rifle but didn't succeed cause it was too bulky.
Again, there was a lapse of a year or more while we concentrated on our studies (PMR ma....you want us to die issit?) before we did another big project. This time, it was more like an on-going research project rather than a big project. The development of neons for automotive purposes. We went through a lot of designs before we finally found one reliable enough after a year into the project. These neons are comparable to Streetglows and give the maximum coverage to the area under the car. The overall cost of installing a complete set of these neons is less than RM200 as compared to Streetglows or other commercial neons which may cost up to RM50 for one tube! Judge yourself la:
After our SPM, we did some minor mods on our car due to financial constraints. At college, there was virtually no chance of building some projects save for some of Tzy Wen's electronic projects that have blinking lights and...does nothing! Actually some electrons are moving inside the wires but its not like we can see them right?
With all these past projects, it's no surprise that I chose engineering as my field of study. And now that I'm building a car, it should also be no surprise where the future will take me. Actually, I have plans for a small-scale jet engine that could be built using my school's workshop tools but, what the heck, let's finish the car first. The first of our "big boys' toys".
Hint: People at MAS have built and flown homemade aircraft so don't count Tzy Wen and his mad friends out of building one!
Thursday, May 25, 2006
Instead of the "Please aim properly" sign found on Malaysian toilets, here's an interesting one:
For this whole week, Adventure Club of ICM is running a big scale event called "The Amazing Maze" (a reference to the Amazing Maze maybe?). They converted the whole Multi-Purpose Hall into a giant maze with walls 3 meters high and an area of approx. 30 x 30 meters squared. It may seem small but believe me, it's HUGE! I was there helping to set up the maze. These pictures will show the sheer size of the maze.
Hanging ropes. Sheets of newspapers are stuck onto the strings to create the wall.
Half of the hall.
The other half.
I've played the maze and I can tell you that it's not easy. There are many paths to be taken and each path you take may lead you farther and farther away from the finish. I don't have any pictures of the finished maze but I will try and get it and post it here. It's a magnificient piece of engineering and hard work!
One more day to go!
Yesterday we had our Mind Games Club gathering night. For this semester, we had a barbecue. As a few of us had barbecued before, we had no trouble setting up the pit and barbecuing our chicken wings to perfection.
However, some of the new members haven't the chance of barbecuing before. One guy put like a POUND of butter on his hotdogs. You know butter is made of hydrocarbons and if the butter drips down to the glownig coals below a huge flame will shoot up, incinerating everything and burning your food to a black, smouldering crisp. So, he removed the butter slightly and sure enough, the fire burnt all the food in his half black.
Then, some wiseguy started saying something like the fire helps to cook the food. WRONG! It's the heat that does the cooking. I told him that but he say "still need fire le." Dumbass, do you see fire coming out of your toaster or microwave????? Please, if you don't know anything, listen to others. But nooooooo, that wiseguy proceeded to increase his chance of getting cancer by burning all his food. Pretty smart huh? Some people never learn.
Tuesday, May 23, 2006
Hyperbolic Discounting
Hyperbolic Discounting
This irrational affliction is ubiquitous in humanity, though most of the time the risks are not so immediate as death. Consider the oft-used example of monetary rewards. If someone were to offer you the choice between $50 right now or $100 tomorrow, the latter would seem the clear choice. But as the delay gap widens, the importance of the extra $50 quickly diminishes for most people, despite the fact that its actual value is constant. For instance, confronted with a choice between $50 today or $100 one year from now, would you still wait for the $100? Statistically speaking, the vast majority will take the $50. But the pattern follows a hyperbola, so once a certain time threshold is crossed, the devaluing effect of time diminishes; for example, most will opt to take $100 in ten years over $50 in nine years. But the time difference is still one year!
Most of us will take smaller short-term rewards rather than bigger long term rewards. It's human nature. It's the same as your life. Would you have a spanking good time now, partying away, wasting all your time, neglecting your studies and be really f*cked up later in life when you regret not building a strong foundation while you were young? Or would you rather spend some time now, sacrificing some of the finer things in life and be happy (and rich) later on? Sure most people would choose the latter but choosing is one thing, doing it is another. Think about it.
One piece
Here's some scenes from the manga One Piece. I don't consider myself a crazy manga fan who worship everything Japanese and who wants to live in Japan and who wants to speak Japanese but this manga is really funny.
These people are pirates in pursuit of a another ship. In front of then, there's an abandoned carriage with their enemy in it.
If they do not avoid the carriage, they will crash into it.
So, the leader, Monkey D Luffy, orders his right-hand man, a master swordsman, to "cut it". So, he sliced the carriage in half as seen in the scene above.
In the top half of the above scene, you can see the passengers of the pirates' "sea train", even though they are hard-core pirates themselves, sticking their tongues out in disbelief. Even the zebra who's pulling one of the ships had the tongue out! And the enemy in the cut carriage also had their tongues out (although you can't see it here).
Then somebody said, "Could you at least warn us before you do that kinda thing!" and Monkey D Luffy just answered, "I did say 'cut it'...." LOL
Update: The Fto 6A12 MIVEC manual engine was sold off today and there was no more stock available. So, I've decided to use another engine, from Toyota this time, the 4AGE 20V blacktop NA engine producing 165HP. Did some research and found a website with virtually everything I needed to know about this engine. This guy had transplanted his engine into another car and had provided full documentation on how to do it! Down to the last screw and wiring! And this engine's cheap at RM 3000 compared to RM 4500 for the Fto's engine. Hey, I have to keep to my budget here!
Sunday, May 21, 2006
Fun weekends
It's the weekends again and this time, 2 friends (Kok Hoe and Afiq) and I went to the outskirts of KL to scoure the chopshops for suitable engines and parts for our DIY car. We didn't find any suitable engine yet but we have found parts for our wishbones. We also found out that we needed to use 4WD suspension parts as most 4WDs use double wishbone suspension.
Here's an example:
4WD parts should be tough enough for our car. They take no crap from no one. We haven't bought anything yet but we do have an idea on how to build our car from spare parts! Afiq had a friend who brought us around the chopshops. At one shop, the guy there asked him what we were doing with the engine. When he said we were building a car, the guy looked at us like we were some crazy people. Well, most people will think that way. But, I'm sure that by the end of the year or early next year, we could get a prototype up and running.
A few changes though: Seems like the 4G92 MIVEC is in short supply in KL so we may be switching to another Mitsubishi engine, namely the 6A12 MIVEC 2.0-liter. This is a V6 engine producing over 200HP and can be found on the FTO. Moreover, it's cheaper than the 4g92 MIVEC (probably because no one wants it) with a price tag of RM4500 compared to RM6900.
And it produces more hp! Less is indeed more!
Using this map:
we were able to navigate the whole of KL without much difficulty. This map shows even the smallest of roads and every "lorong" or street is easily findable. With it, who needs GPS?
Then, during our journey back from KL, we saw this truck transporting an old-school BMW M3 and, suddenly, I remembered that the Sepang Drag Battle was tonight! So, naturally, we went. The entrance fee was only RM10 and we got some free magazines so it was worth it.
Lots of supporters at the pits.
More people at the grandstands.
There were lots of local cars running plus a few Hondas Civics, some old school cars and even the new 2006 Subaru Impreza and a 300ZX Fairlady! Sadly, no Skylines or Supras took part. The cars were divided into a few groups and the slowest group (Kancils and some other K-cars) managed an average of 13 secs down the quarter-mile while the unlimited group (cars with no restriction on its displacement) ran close to 10 secs! Most were turbocharged and some even ran nitrous oxide! No unfortunate accidents this time, fortunately.
A few of the FF cars had their rear ends chopped off and a new (low friction) rear axle was installed. This means that the rear wheels was just a piece of shaft and...wheels!
Tuesday, May 16, 2006
Simplicity
Seriously, you have to marvel at the simplicity of the Ariel Atom in this picture. The hardest parts are the suspension, where the wishbones join at the body and the driveshafts. And the engine mounts. The rest is just plug and play.
We haven't come up with a deadline of the project yet as we want to keep things flexible. This Saturday, we will be going down to a chopshop in KL to survey the equipment and materials we need and maybe draw up a detailed budget.
Sunday, May 14, 2006
What A Weekend!
It all started an Friday, which is a public holiday here in Malaysia. I took the train down to Subang Jaya to meet up with my brother and his friend Tan.
An incredibly rare sight, ladies and gentlemen. A Civic without spoilers!
That night, we went to play snooker at some place and the rate (RM 4 /hr) there made the snooker centre here at Nilai look like money lending companies. Here, we have to pay RM10 for every hour! After that, we went to Asia Cafe, near Taylors College, to look at hot college chicks and have supper. Sadly, very few were present. That night, we tested Tan's car using the 0-100 test. His car made it in 9+ seconds with 3 people in the car. Not bad for a 1.3!
On Saturday, we went ice-skating. I've heard the horror of people falling head first into the ice, people becoming disabled and people who DIED while ice-skating. Ok, I made the last 2 up but it's dangerous becuase on the ice, you can't just stop when you want to stop. It's very very slippery, like an FR on icy roads. That's how slippery it is. And there's no room for error. One slip and you could have a sore ass for the next few days!
So, we got our equipment and started skating. Tan and my bro had skated before and they were like pros whereas I was a total noob. It took me a few rounds of the rink to really balance without falling and another hour before I could let go of the railing and go solo. Now, I'm still a bit shakey, unbalanced and without brakes. Even TW and Tan haven't mastered the art of braking yet.
Here's the 350Z in my college I was talking about. Some rich kid.
By the end of the session, my legs were killing me and after a quick lunch (or dinner) of Bak Kut Teh, we went back and I slept from 5 to 9 pm.
Then after that, I watched a movie titled, "The Butterfly Effect". It is said that the flutter of a butterfly's wings can cause hurricanes halfway around the world. This movie isn't exactly about a killer butterfly or giant waves but about a boy with a traumatised childhood who discovered that he could go back in time by reading his dairies and correct the past. But, as he discovered, changing the past can have an irreversible effect on the future. Throughout the movie, I saw his future change a few times, sometimes for the better, sometimes for the worst but, in every case, there is a compromise. For example, he and a few friends tried to blow up a mailbox but the owner got blown up instead when she went to check the mail. So, the boy, now an adult, returned to the past to try and save her. As a result, he lost his arms due to the explosion. Then, he tried to go further back into his childhood to track the point in time when the downward spiral began.
Have you ever wished you were never born? The boy tried every timeline in his life but he could not alter his future for the better. Everytime he changed his past, one of his close friends was affected. So, he concluded that if he didn't exist in the first place, none of this would have happened. So, he went back in time and strangled himself with his umblical cord before he was even born! This is one is the most outrageous scenes I've seen in a movie but it works. Every thing turned out for the better. But he had to sacrifice himself. Very touching.
Then at about 1pm, someone had this wild idea of driving down to my college and rest before we head to Sepang for the Asian Festival Of Speed. We were afraid of getting caught in the jam so after some debate we were off! At 1pm, the roads were empty. We kept wishing that we had a Supra so we can blast down the highway at over 200+ kph! Jokes aside, since it was the 1st time we were going down to Nilai without using public transport, we had to rely on a map. And we did manage to reach my college without getting lost once.
To be continued......
Wednesday, May 10, 2006
RM 15k car project launched!
Today, we had the 1st official meeting to discuss how we are going to build an RM 15k car. A recap for you guys who are in the dark: I came up with this wild idea of building a car similar to the Ariel Atom (below).
It's ridiculously simple yet very very fast. So, I called a few of my friends to evaluate whether it's possible to build one. I've got positive responses so far but we are still in the go/no-go stage. If we succeed, we'll be damn famous.
Meet the crew:
Tzy Shih
Post: Project manager/Engine and transmission
Realising that it would be cheaper to build a car than buy one, he drew up plans for a car that can be built under RM 15k. A lot of people are doubting whether he can pull it off but let's see who has the last laugh. Like to say: U think kenot meh? Can one! Currently in charge of engine and transmission.
Kok Hoe
Post: Accessories department
Coursemate with Tzy Shih. Likes cars and spends time reading up articles on cars. Very careful in his actions and calculations - vital in this project as one mistake may be fatal. Currently in charge of linking clutches, brakes, throttle and other misc stuff that makes the car run.
Afiq
Post: Suspension
Also taking Mechanical Engineering, he likes bikes, especially superbikes, and stuff that moves fast. Very pratical and reliable and a good problem solver too. His creative ideas can get the job done. Has contacts with chopshops and can get car parts at a discounted rate. Currently in charge of the suspension of the car.
Carl (right)
Post: Internal affairs/Chassis
The most senior in our team, he knows his way around Inti and can get clearance for us to proceed with this project. He's also looking for sponsors for our project. He is the only one who knows how to weld and shape metals and use various tools in the workshop. Currently, he's in charge of modifying the chassis.
As you can see, no one in this team is dispensable. Without one of them, the project would ground to a halt. It's really hard to find dedicated people nowadays with same interests.
Our plan is to design the chassis around the engine instead of designing the chassis and fitting the enigne in. It would be easier that way because once we had the engine in, the rest would be easy.
Wish us luck!
Recently and in the near future, this blog has been and will be inudated by lots and lots of car pics from autoshows. So, I feel that
it's about time I put in some pics of the 10 Celebrities that I consider HOT at the moment.
cover of all the men's mags and who makes all the sexiest lists. Until she made the jump to the hot nighttime soap, the Texas-born Eva
was a daytime soap queen, starring in several shows, most recently, "The Young and the Restless." Eva's high-profile "Housewives" job
has opened the door to Hollywood. She'll play a secret service agent in "The Sentinel" opposite Michael Douglas, Kiefer Sutherland and
Kim Basinger and has just signed for the indie film "Harsh Times" with Christian Bale, the newest Batman. On the show, Eva's Gabrielle
has been cheating on her husband with the sexy teenage gardener. In real life, Eva's personal life has been just as interesting. She's
been quite outspoken about her sexuality, dating *NSYNC singer JC Chasez and NBA star Tony Parker, possibly at the same time.
bachelor of science degree in kinesiology.
briefly changed her name to Eva Longoria Christopher while she was married.
#9 Nicole Kidman
Strangely, given what most people know of her, Nicole is not a fair dinkum Aussie at all, actually being born on Honolulu, Hawaii (on
the 20th of June, 1967), and holding dual US and Australian citizenship. Her father, Anthony, a biochemist and clinical psychologist,
had moved to the island with his wife Janelle to work on a research project. Almost as soon as Nicole appeared (she'd be closely
followed by sister, Antonia), Anthony's work with breast cancer took the family to Washington DC for three years. It was only then that
the girl who would be known as one of Australia's prime exports began life on Antipodean soil, when the Kidmans moved back to the posh
Longueville district of Sydney (coincidentally, one of Nicole's most renowned relatives was also named Sydney - he was a cattle baron).
Nicole was an active, artistic child, and focused from an absurdly young age. She began taking ballet lessons at 3, moving onto mime at
8 and drama at 10. Her first public role was at 6, as a loud sheep in her elementary school's Christmas pageant. She grew up fast.
Janelle was an active feminist and Anthony a labour advocate, both of them discussing the issues of the day with their kids over dinner
and having them hand out pamphlets on the street.
#8 Lindsay Lohan
got her squeaky-clean start with Disney in movies like "The Parent Trap" and "Freaky Friday." She's more famous, after all, for her
tabloid headlines ranging from hard partying to boyfriends, an estranged father and her alleged tantrums on the set. But the sexy
redhead returns to the big screen this summer in yet another Disney vehicle. This time it's a VW Beetle in a remake of the classic
caper, "Herbie: Fully Loaded." Although Lindsay's behavior was anything but positive during the movie's filming (if you believe the
tabloids, that is) the movie is rated G, as Disney hopes to make Lindsay's movie return a wholesome family experience. In the meantime,
Lindsay's personal life is still the focus of gossip including ex-boyfriend Wilmer Valderrama and various other men to whom she's
temporarily linked.
Movie Award show and the first host to win an award.
Kids (A&F Kids) and Calvin Klein Kids.
Street analyst.
#7 Sarah Michelle Gellar
slayer Buffy, a role she embraced for seven successful years on television. Along the way she dabbled in movies, sharing some laughs
with hubby Freddie Prinze Jr. in the quasi-animated "Scooby-Doo" comedies. But Gellar quickly became the movies' favorite scream queen
in terror flicks such as "Scream 2" and "I Know What You Did Last Summer." Last year, she went outside the teen scream genre and tackled
adult horror instead in "The Grudge," playing a nurse exposed to a supernatural curse. The movie did so well that Gellar is currently in
talks to appear in a horrific sequel. She has a couple others movies in the works, including a romantic comedy and a film about a video
game based on the story of Alice in Wonderland. She also hasn't ruled out a big-screen "Buffy."
Jerry O'Connell and Macaulay Culkin.
Knicks.
#6 Jennifer Lopez
the celebrity. She was a little-known actress whose most high-profile gig was as a dancer on TV's "In Living Color" when she was cast to
play murdered Tejano superstar "Selena" on the big screen. Not long after, she launched a singing career and somehow became queen of the
tabloids. Maybe it was her high-profile romances (P. Diddy and Ben Affleck), the outrageous stories (that her rear end was insured for
$1 billion) or the outrageous outfits, but J-Lo's celebrity status began to far outweigh her success in record stores or the box office.
Jennifer is allegedly the only Latina actress ever to earn a $1 million per movie salary. These days, she's married to husband number
three, singer Marc Anthony, and calls her movie career "her day job."
P. Diddy Combs and Ben Affleck.
studio where she was practicing.
Calif.
#5 Jessics Alba
Despite a few earlier minor television and movie roles, Jessica Alba first made headlines as the lead in the sci-fi TV series, "Dark
Angel." Following that, her first big-screen star vehicle was "Honey," a dance romance. Earlier this year, she turned to some dance
moves of a different sort, playing a stripper in the gritty "Sin City" with Bruce Willis, Clive Owen and Elijah Wood. Her big film this
summer is "Fantastic Four," the movie version of the long-running comic book where Jessica plays the Invisible Girl opposite Michael
Chiklis. She has two more movies on tap including an action/adventure film and a drama. Jessica, who has been romantically linked with
Mark Wahlberg, her former "Dark Angel" co-star Michael Weatherly and New York Yankee Derek Jeter, is now allegedly hot and heavy with
producer Cash Warren. She is a regular on most men's magazine's sexiest women and hot babe lists.
#4 Reese Witherspoon
She was born Laura Jean Reese Witherspoon in New Orleans on the 22nd of March, 1976. She'd spend the first four years of her life in
Wiesbaden, Germany where her father, John, was a lieutenant colonel in the US Army reserves, there to fulfil his Vietnam draft
obligation. After this, the family - John, wife Betty, first child John Jr and little Laura Jean - would return to America to settle in
Nashville.
This was a predictable move for the Witherspoons, being deeply rooted in the South. Their earliest American ancestor, another John, had
crossed the pond from Scotland, becoming President of the prestigious Princeton University. Such was his standing that he was asked to
sign the original Declaration of Independence. Eventually the family would migrate to the southern states, where they'd be a paragon of
the region's genteel aristocracy.
Many decades later, John, who'd graduate top of his class at Yale, would meet Betty while the pair were studying at the University of
Tennessee. They'd marry, but their studies would continue, John becoming a surgeon specialising in the ear, nose and throat, while
Betty, who'd earn five separate degrees, would become a Ph.D in pediatric nursing, winding up as a professor of nursing at Vanderbilt
University.
#3 Britney Spears
Besides her music video gyrations and her high-profile romance to singer Justin Timberlake, Britney really captured the salacious gossip
spotlight when she locked lips with Madonna on live TV. But Britney's tabloid quotient skyrocketed when she had a quickie Vegas wedding
to an old high school friend that ended up lasting a mere 55 hours. Hoping to do it right the second time around, Britney rebounded to
marry scruffy backup dancer Kevin Federline, whose girlfriend was pregnant with their second child at the time. Britney is currently the
tabloid queen, battling the gossip rags for spreading rumors about her pregnancy or maybe even adultery in the Spears/Federline
household. Combating those nasty rumors, the lovebirds have announced plans to star in their own reality TV show. Move over, Nick and
Jessica.
down an offer to pose nude for a PETA anti-fur campaign ad.
Village, Manhattan for her brother Bryan.
#2 Jennifer Gardner
Having suffered a series of false starts and painful cancellations, she would finally break through in 2001 in the cult TV show Alias as
hard-hitting Agent Sydney Bristow, a college student caught up in a sinister world of counter espionage, a mistress of disguise and
sudden violence. This was no Scully, usually terrified and pulling a pistol when the going got rough. Bristow was the real action deal,
a blistering update of Luc Besson's Nikita, her every body-part a lethal weapon. When Garner then won the part of Elektra in Daredevil
and was so successful she spawned her own spin-off, her muscle was undeniable. That she also carried the comedy 13 Going On 30 meant
that an impressive new talent had arrived.
She was born on the 17th of April, 1972, in Houston, Texas, the second of three girls, Melissa being older and Suzannah younger. In
1975, when Jennifer was three, her father, Bill, moved the family to Charleston, West Virginia, where he would work as a chemical
engineer for Union Carbide and the children's mother Pat would teach English at a local college. Charleston was state capital but, with
an urban population of just 53,000, was still a small town isolated in the hills west of the Allegheny Mountains. The Garners lived in a
middle class area but, Pat would claim later, due to her babysitting exploits Jennifer would be well-known by half the town's
population.
#1 Kristen Kreuk
teenager in the Canadian TV series "Edgemont." The producers called her Vancouver high school looking for an exotic looking girl to play
a part in their series. Kreuk got the role. Until that time, Kreuk had plans to go to college to major in forensic science. Those plans
immediately went on hold. The next year, Kreuk earned the role of a young Clark Kent's first love, Lana Lang, in The WB network's
"Smallville," the story of Superman before he knew who he was. Kent is played by hot new star, Tom Welling. In between, she played Snow
White in a television movie. Kreuk owes her exotic good looks to the genes from her Dutch father and Chinese mother. In addition to her
two television jobs, Kreuk is a celebrity spokesmodel for Neutrogena.
footsteps.
Columbia's Simon Fraser University.
never wants to move to Hollywood.
Sunday, May 07, 2006
Metropolitan College's Auto Fiesta V2
Saturday was indeed a great day. Woke up at 1pm and went down to Subang Jaya to meet up with my bro and his friend, Tan. If you don't know who Tan is, this is him.
His car can do wheelspins at 3rd gear so I guess it's pretty powerful. Anyways, after buying some stuff at Carrefour, we went go-karting.
A go-kart. With lawnmower engine.
Ventilated disc brakes! Even my car doesn't have these!
Radiator
Chain-driven. Notice the gear-ratio. Definately not geared towards speed. Less strain on the engine I think.
This experience was totally mind-blowing. Now I understand the phrase "braking at the limit". These carts, although slow, seems very fast when you're in the driver's seat. And when a corner is coming up fast, your only instinct is to brake and turn the corner slowly but in racing, you will lose if you do that. So, after a few warm-up laps, we raced around for a few laps. Everytime a corner was approaching, I tried to brake at the last possible moment. As the laps went on, I found myself braking later and later into the corner. This required "balls of steel" which, fortunately, I have. During cornering, G-forces were trying to unseat me and my helmet kept bobbing about to the extent that I have blurred vision. I will definately be back for more next time.
Tan commented that the carts were slow and I agreed. The acceleration was terrible and you have to go full speed into corners else you will be slower than Michael Schumacher on a lawnmower when you come out of it. Tan also said that there are carts that can go 160kph and can beat a Ferarri around a track!
After carting, we went to get some burgers and proceeded to Metropolitan College. The place was already crawling with people by 7.30pm. While we were walking in, we saw this drift car coming in with an exhaust 10 times louder than my exhaust!
At the car show, there were numerous high-powered Japanses Sports cars and even a Ferarri 355! ZeroToHundred.com was there. Drift.com.my was there. Lots of college chicks were there.
Ferarri 355. The star of the show....for now...
...until this came along! A Nissan Skyline GTR R34. You need to have RM330k in your bank account to own one of these.
MR2 engine bay.
Real carbon fiber la....not painted one!
Nissan Skyline GT-Ts. Drift spec. These cars will be drifting at AFOS next weekend.
AE86. Looks like Takumi doesn't have to send tofu tonight.
Honda Jazz with scissor doors. Tan and I might do a DIY scissor door soon. Can you believe scissor doors cost up to RM3000??? For some simple brackets and hinges??? Ridiculous!!!
Ad Resort. Tricked out with subs and speakers.
And a new engine.
And a giant gearlever. Some men seriously need to stop associating cars with their self-image.
Rally-spec Subaru Impreza.
More of the drift-spec Skylines.
Rare shot of a Skyline without spoiler.
Speakers, anyone?
Yeah, with all that speakers, you'll need all that batteries.
Bands playing at the opening ceremony.
Nissan Skyline GTR R33 of Racecraft.
Nissan Cefiro drift car
Honda S2000. A very good handling car. This is one Honda I wouldn't mind having.
Nice interior.
S2k from the side.
RX-7 with adjustable wing.
Wednesday, May 03, 2006
Good start to a Good semester
Yesterday, when I landed at KLIA, 2 of my check-in luggages did not arrive. Although there wasn't anything important in those luggages, I lodged a report with the MAS authorities. As a testimony to their efficiency, the 2 luggages arrived this afternoon at my college. However, I had to throw away the siobee, midin and kolo mee that I tapaued for my bro cause they were going bad.
Things started to change for the better when I got my results today. I managed a C+ in a subject I thought I was going to fail and other 4 I got As. Then, I found out that my average for the whole course up to now is between 79-81. That C+ (53-56) really pulled my average down. I calculated that to get an 85% average at the end of my course, I would have to have a course mark of 90 and above for every subject from now on. Well, I could aim lower hahahah.
Another good news is that Afiq got friends who are in the automotive repair/modding business and we might get some technical assistance and supplies from them. If it's possible, we might ditch the 4G92 MIVEC engine and dump in a Supra engine (300hp) but that's still on the drawing board. An FF engine would be easier to handle though. And the Supra engine is not a featherweight either.
A rare shot of a Supra engine not scaring the shit out of Ferrari drivers
This Saturday, a few friends and I will be heading down to Metropolitan College to visit a car show organised by a car club of the college. There will be over 50 cars exhibited and it's free and there are hot college chicks around so I don't see the reason for not joining! Expect lots of coverage of this event next week. Also, people from zerotohundred.com and drift.com.my are going to be there too and I just got to know one of the members who is staying 7 doors down in my hostel block! What a small world lol!
At the end of this month also there will be a bigger event the Kuala Lumpur International Motorshow at Putra World Trade Center. A lot of the latest tuners and aftermarket suppliers will be there and it costs just RM 5 to enter!
Even later in the semester, around June, the Japanese GT Championship will be held at Sepang, which is a mere 30 mins drive from my college. A lot of high powered cars will also be exhibited at the circuit, not to mention the gorgeous JGTC race queens.
So, this semester doesn't look bleak at all. Who says studying can't be fun? Maybe, if you're actually studying hahahaha.
Monday, May 01, 2006
Flash animation
My brother, TW, seriously doubted that I could come up with a good flash design. He thought I know nuts about flash design. Well, think again! Here's one I made of Jessica Alba with some cool sound effects using, not Macromedia Flash but using SoThink's SWF Quicker. It's a simplified version of Macromedia Flash but with equally powerful editing tools. Beat that!
Click here for the flash
An eye candy for the guys!
