DRIFTSQUID Hits Tectaloy International DRIFT COMP!!!!

Hey Guys and Girls,

If you came from the previous blog you will know Crew member 'Bones' and I have been fairly busy getting things ready. We are now into the main event and we are pumped!!!!

FRIDAY 4th August 2011,

Lee Boehm rolled in to Sydney last night who is also part of the crew and now we only had Marc and Luke to arrive today so all was going to be fine. As the event was based on Time attack our drifting was in the late afternoon/night time. We had all day to check over the car and go over the whole event, not that I can say I did as I was too busy running around on a forklift haha.

We had the car on display all day for the people to check out. I must say the new Hi Octane Performance Coating is unreal!! What do you think of the new engine bay????

We were then told that a couple of us drivers could do some demo runs during the afternoon. Without hesitation the crew put some second hand rubber on ready for some skidzzzz

I hadn't been on eastern creek raceway since 2008 where WheelWorx helping me out for a Super Drift round. That was in my old sil80 (200rwkw) and I didn't get many runs at all. Was a bummer but I'm here now and I couldn't wait to mix it up with the new setup and power my car has.

The track layout is fairly simple. Flat out all the way up to 4th and then a right hand corner into two lefts which you should be able to link up into one big left hander. Here goes!!!

So the first corner is 4th gear flat out and in the first sessions I was just finding my feet.

Then coming out of the first corner into the second you have to pop it back to 3rd and lose a lot of pace. The sounds of going over ripple strips should make you aware your killing it ;-)

Then linking the first left corner with the second requires a heavy right foot haha... Hug the inside for a little.........

Then exit the 2nd left corner wide onto the ripple strip for the perfect run. Runs over haha!!

Quick wave on exit :P

Madmike, Beau and myself thought we would try fitting in a quick tandem run. I slowed down for them to all catch up so we could all rip it up for the final run!!!

THICK NEOVA SMOKE!!!

Chalking all the way up the rise on the final corner!!!

Yeeeeeeewww!!!

After that fun we went back in the pits and we had people flocking around the cars. Mainly due to Mikes 4 rota crazy town FD but still we had a huge amount of people checking the cars out. It was awesome!!!

So Luke quickly got the posters which I signed away like crazy haha

After the demos we had a fair amount of time to relax and do a few interviews. Alexi here from japan who also runs the website NORIYARO came and asked a few questions. After a couple takes we got it hahahaha


We now had time to check the car over again and get ready for the nights practice and qualifying runs. We also got slightly distracted by a few things :O

O_O

We were chilling back having a good old time hahaha

Back to the car haha, it wasn't long before we had to hit the track but just before we did Ian Baker came over with a full headset kit. One thing I have never run is a radio so I could keep in contact with the crew. Now I can say its the BEST thing ever. Makes life so much easier and honestly think its the reason I got used to the track so quickly.

It was now time to qualify and this has been my strong point recently. I was keen on doing a few practice runs and then hitting a qualifying lap later but I never ever do that. I usually just jump straight into the Qualifying line and get 1 over and done with haha... This time was a little different but I quickly jumped into the Qualifying lane while it was empty and got ready.

"Never lift and treat it like nothing can possibly break"

Entry was crazy quick with the ADVAN Neovas gripping up like nothing I've ever been on before. Slight tap of hand-brake and Straight to Opposite lock. Foot flat and don't lift!!!!!!!

Back off and make the switch happen hard and fast!! Cog the PPG gearbox back to 3rd and once you hear the rear end hit the ripple strips Hold that right foot through the floor!!!

Hold it just about flat the whole way round till you exit the second right hander with the ripple strips shaking the heck out of the car you know you've done well!!! Wooooooooooop I was pumped with that first one! (Marc on Radio - "Squid you just bumped up to top spot on the qualifying list but don't get too happy, you're the 3 person to go hahaha")

It was now time to go all out all just give it everything I had as I had nothing to lose. So I didn't even go up for a practice lap, I went straight into the line up for a qualifying run again. But this time the line up was huge, I would have waited for around 10 to 15 Min's for I got up to do the second run.

I had the same intention to just go completely all out this time and try beat the first one. Entry was even quicker and the transition was super quick. Smashing the ripple strips and then on the switch to the first left hander with full power well before the apex made it so much quicker through to the final corner.

Having the huge speed into the last corner allowed me to just keep it on the gas. With the Neovas on their last legs I started pushing wide but didn't mind as the run off was only dirt. But I was wrong!!! haha after all the dirt drops the run off just before the last ripple strip was a big drop. I hit it hard and only dropped the 1 wheel off to finish the run. Marc went nuts on the radio and I was stoaked haha

Coming back to the pits with nothing but a stupidly big smile on my face. I was fairly happy with the run and knew I would be in the top 16.

It was then announced and I recieved the paper with my name up the top on the list. Jake Jones #1 yeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeew!!!!

After the guys got back to the pits we got the car all ready for the morning and couldn't wait for Saturday to hurry up haha. Beers were on now!!!

SATURDAY 5th August 2011,

After a nights thought we decided to change a couple things on the car so after we did that

we cleaned the car and got it ready to rumble and seeing we didn't have anything happening till demos during the afternoon it was back on display.

Damn I love the new look!!

While we had time Luke and I went over to see old mate Nigel Petrie. Everyone knows Nigel and his Awesome hilux build (CLICK HERE TOO SEE MORE - ITS INSANE!!) . Nigel has been a good mate of mine since back in the day and I actually have the first ever set of Knuckles Nigel made. As soon as I got them I made a name for Nigel "NP Wonder Knuckles" and its stuck since that day. If you are ever in need of motivation check out the kids site... it helps me ;-) Love ya work Nigel!!

We came back after a quick scout to get ready for the demo's

Good mate and also Team mate for the weekend MADMIKE WHIDDETT yo!!!!!! We suited up and posed for a while hahaha

Mikes an awesome bloke but when his car is just idling next to mine it drives me mad hahaha... I cant even hear mine and always think its not running!!! Love that damn 4 rota!!!



Just about to head out for the last demos and I was pumped!!!

Just love the exit of Eastern creeks layout. Full tap'd throttle and bake what ever gear you want :P haha

The demos were over and ADVAN put on a signing session for the Team ADVAN which was Mike and Myself. I was thinking it was going to be full on but not this full on!!! O_o

Mike has done this many times before and had his scribble down pat and damn quick haha... I was lacking behind!!

MadMike Whiddett and Jake Driftsquid Jones!

Yeeeew!!!"back to work squid"

Picture please!!!!

 I was having a ball haha. As full on as it was it was so surreal to experience a full on signing session. Mike was saying what its like in the US and I thought this was crazy :S

The people started to slow down and lucky as we almost ran out of posters haha. Now that would suck!!!

Lucky me even got a pic with the Famous SAMMY STEVENS!!!!!

Photographer "Squid, Pictures with Promo girls"
Jake "yes please"
Photographer "No I mean they are waiting"
Jake "Sweeeeeet haha, yo cromey jump in!!!"

haha

ADVAN Australia really don't do things by halfs!!!

The people who make it possible for me to Drift!!! From left to right.... Luke Bing, Jason BONES Baker, Lee Boehm, Marc Guyatt and Squid!

The coolest TEAM ever!!! Like this photo alot and seriously have so much time for all the dudes in this pic!!

Team ADVAN yoooo!!!



It was now time to get back to the pits and get ready for the big comp tonight!!!

As I was suiting up Mozza the maniac came over for a qucik chat with MeZ the camera master. Miss these guys alot and was good to have a yarn!!

Right time to put on game face. It now the night time and everyone was ready to get crack'n. New batteries on the radios and all haha

Suited up , clown shoes on and wild hair!! ready to rumble haha

First up we had the top qualifier presentation. As I was #1 I was out first.

Had a quick chat to Racing Jason and as I get back in he says "As you leave....". We all know what that means right haha....

Select 3rd gear, Limiter, Release clutch and hang on!!!!

It was now time to form up and get ready to battle. As I came bakc in they sent me to the top of the line as my battle was up first. The official said it will be a small wait mate so shut it down, I told the guys on the radio ill have a quick nap as a joke. Sure enough I was that exhausted after the huge lead up to this point and I was woken up by the official yelling "your up mate". Time to rumble!!

I was up against Luke Broadbent who had just battled his way through the bottom 16 to make the top 16. Congrats to the fellow SA'ian and I was pumped to battle him. As I qualified 1st I would lead first and the hands went down!!!

I went in as quick as I normally was, well at least I thought I did but before I could make the switch into the left hand corner I over cooked it and spun out. I had a huge gap on Broadbent as by the time I spun out I could see him coming towards me at a quick rate and not slowing down haha... We came CM's to each other and just missed a prang. So it was 10-0 his way.

Mine turn to follow and knowing I had nothing to lose I went flat out. After taking off the line and realising this was the first person I got to follow in the whole weekend I had no idea where I should be behind him. So I went with my normal line and his was heaps different. He ran wide and I ran down the middle. It was a messy chase lap and sure wasn't even close to making up for it so I was now Officially out of the comp.

I felt bad for the sponsors and crew as we put so much into this event and to come out on the first battle really was a bummer. But congrats to Luke and we will be back next year bigger and better!!!

Huge thanks to all my supporters and sponsors.

ADVAN AUSTRALIA
HI OCTANE RACING
HI OCTANE DIRECT
HELPS METALWORKS
PPG GEARBOXES
EMPIRE AERO
MCA SUSPENSION
DRIFTSQUID INDUSTRIES
LUKE BING SIGNS
ICON HELMETS

My awesome Family and Friends... expecially Bones, Luke, Marc, Lee and Dad for coming to Sydney.

You guys make it all happen and without you I would be here behind my computer dreaming like I was last year hahaha.

Whats next for me???? The sky is the limit ;-) Bring on the future!!!

Peace out
-Squid!!!

Read more about Mad Mike Whiddett on Drifted.