Car Stuff
 

OK. I had to rename this page because I sold my last Impreza a few months ago. The little black WRX wagon that was the first to be delivered on Norcal is now living a rough 'n ready life on a gold mine in the far northern reaches of California.

My current ride is a 1991 Toyota Sera, a somewhat unpopular car from the early 90's Japanese bubble economy days. It's got gull-wing doors and an all-glass canopy, making the experience similar to driving a convertible, except without the annoying wind and bugs.

It's front wheel drive, with a 1.5L engine and the same mechanical bits as a Toyota Starlet. Surprisingly, the car is quite nimble due to the minimialistic body (imagine a shrunk-down MX3/Precidia). After driving this car, I'm absolutely convinced that weight makes a massive difference (pardon the pun). Today's new cars seem just too big and heavy by comparison.

Still, though, my heart remains with the engineering elegance of the Subaru. I'm hoping to return to the wheel of an Impreza when I return from Japan.

It's difficult to explain my fascination with that car. It must be a Zen experience -- driving the Impreza, I reach a point of intuitive connection with its every mechanical bit, and piloting the car becomes so fluid and natural that the boundary between will and movement vanishes...

Information & Misc

Modifications / Howto's

Club Stuff

Photo gallery

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My 1991 Toyota Sera
Interior shot of the Sera
Engine compartment of the Sera. Standard 1.5-litre four-banger shared with the Toyota Starlet (gets great gas mileage though!)
Montebello Road, Cupertino
Page Mill Road, Palo Alto

Page Mill Road -- what's this? Looks like somebody else went for a joyride, too...
Hunpin's car, UnlimitedLaps Thunderhil Track day Dec-01
Did I just pass him, or is he about to pass me?
Sign at the entrance to Thunderhill Raceway.
Hunpin instructs at the track day. It's a driver's education event, so I'm fortunate to have been asked to instruct as well.

Fellow instructor Joe Cheng measures his exhaust manifold temperature at the Thunderhill Track Day.
A shot of the pits at Thunderhill Raceway.
A simple movie of me taking student Cliff Szu around T-Hill's turn 5, and then pitting. (ISMA MPEG-4)
A shot of Ron's spoiler, Seattle Meet 2001.
West Coast Rally Assoc. Rallycross, Merritt, BC

Darren drifts around a corner.
They're a team -- Colleen and Clif Kosterman prepare to run the rallycross in Merritt, BC.
Ken, Sunny, Jamie, and Victor keep a close eye on the race.
For all your ploughing and tilling needs, call Joe!
Everybody thought I broke a wheel bearing -- turned out to be pebbles stuck in my molten tires! (T-Hill Track Day Jul 01)

Bill on the way to Thunderhill.
Did *I* do that??? (it was a hot day at Thunderhill, temperature 102F / 39C.)
Autocrossing in my '97 L
Bay Area i-Club guys - Daniel, Chris, me, and Bill
I forgot to bring a stove to a barbeque, so I had to fry the onions on the turbocharger. (they turned out yummy, by the way!)

Cupertino Paul next to his car -- ask a Cantonese speaking person what the license plate means!
A typical bubble tea meet in Vancouver - Ken, Kent, Ken (no kidding!), Bruno, Di, and me.
Stage start, rallycross in Jean, Nevada
Rallycrossing in Jean, Nevada
Rallying with Stephen in Canada.

In a haze from motion sickness medicine, somehow I managed to navigate the rally course for Stephen.
Going for a drive in the Fraser Canyon, British Columbia
A blast from the past -- Al Gainey teaches me how to replace suspension. (thanks Al!)

 

1999 West Coast Subaru Meet

 

Rallycross in Jean, Nevada, 1999