Ebisu Driftland, a distant paradise

AFG Motorsports arranged a track day at Ebisu Drift Circuit so I shared the cost of going up with a new friend, by hitching a ride in his van 5 seconds after meeting him ^^;

It looked like it was going to rain at first, but the day cleared up and it was a full day packed with left turns and getting smoked on the hill before the back straight.

We stayed at a lodge owned by Scottish (if I remember correctly) professional drift racers, and wake up to a simple breakfast and a 2 minute drive to the track.

I grabbed a couple crappy videos while the fast guys were out riding.

There was a professional photographer there who got sweet pictures of us, so I got my first legit, hi-res picture to show just how far my knee is from the ground on this turn. T_T

During lunch we headed over to the Zoo part of the drift paradise (wtf....right?!) and hung out with the lions and tigers, oh my! ...some of which looked a little too unhealthy and a bit depressing.

I wasn't the slowest out there but I was pretty damn close.... I'll get better! just you wait and see...

ドレッドロックのはじめの洗い

ロックを始まる後の最初の洗い。ロックしてもらった人は蜜蝋とロッキングジェルを使ってたから、いっぱいネバネバしたものが入った。兄弟達の言った通りで熱いシャーワーでちゃんと洗って、ながせるものをながした。

マコがツイストとドライの手伝いしてくれたから、早く出来た。すぐなれるといいね。

ポケット撮影

アメリカに帰って、なぜかサンフランシスコのどこかでポケットの撮影が起こってた。これは「偶然アート」です。別々の写真は全部ユニークですてきなアートだね　（笑）

ドレッドロック再ツイスト

今週末は日本に帰るから、一週間しかたってないのに再ツイストしにいった。

まだそんないきれいじゃないけど、たのしみにしてる〜　
（大変になるってわかるけど　泣）

ドレッドロック開始！

僕の兄と姉が二人何年間前にドレッドロックあったけど、二人も切っちゃった。僕も何年間ぐらいドレッドロックするかどうか迷ってて、できなかった。

メンテナンスがめんどくさいし、すごく痒くなるし、においもやばくなるときが増えてくるから、しないかなと思ったけど、今まで紙の毛を結べなかったからちょっとだけでもしたかった。

だから、三年間ぐらい紙をのばしてしてみたけど、無理みたかったからやっとドレッドロックすることにした！

サンフランシスコに二週間ぐらい帰ったので、日本で始まるのが出来る人をみつかるのがむずかしいかもしれないから、そのときにドレッドロックをはじまるのタイミングがいいと思って。African hair braiding salon にいった〜

Survival reactions

I learned first hand about Keith Code's survival reactions on my trip to the Izu Peninsula.

Survival reactions encountered : entering a turn whose radius was sharper than expected.  Misjudging my speed as 'too fast', looking a little towards to edge of the road panicking about gravel (which wasn't actual gravel but just a different color road), and giving the brakes a light squeeze.

Was out on Nishi Izu Skyline and hit the brakes lightly while leaned over pretty far.  Felt the front stutter and slide a bit, but was able to remember all the advice I've read and seen videos about.

So I let go of the brakes, looked further into the turn, leaned over more, and gave it throttle.  You'll be surprised what a bike can do.

A scary moment, but learning safe riding even while off the road has really paid off in helping my decision making.

Yamanshi Sly and late night brake maintenance

Before heading to the track I stopped my Pete's place and he showed me how to:

Clean the brake callipers and pistons
Bleed the brake fluid
Change the brake pads

We were there until about 3am, when I finally finished in time to get a bit of rest before the next day's track sessions.

I was really able to improve my speed and get my knee down a couple more times. Only the right knee though since my left side is still a bit lacking and there is only one real left turn on the course.

I got tons of advice from Kawaguchi-san, Sam, Keith, and Pete.

A really fun weekend, and I learned a lot.

[Video coming soon]

I was really tired but took the long way home rather than the highway and hit up the mountain twisties in the dark.  Not the smartest idea and I sure did regret it a little bit when I got home exhausted.