Ask ALEX PFEIFFER Something!

[AlexPfeiffer]

This weekend went really well. The Vette ran great and I was able to start moving back up the rankings in Formula D. It was interesting how FD shared the track with the IRL, made the schedule spread out over 3 days.

Thursday we had practice and qualifying. I havent driven at sonoma for 4 years so the first few laps of practice I was all over the place. Luckily we had 2 hours of practice that day and by the end we where looking good. In qualifying, we scored pretty well and was able to get 5th with the highest entry speed.

That set us up to run against Cody Parkhouse in his S13 on friday for top 32. First lap I was leading and I just ran it clean. Second lap and following Cody, I just initiated right behind him. Noticed he was starting to go wide, to the point he was going off line a bit and starting to get into the soft stuff on the track. Then when it was clear that he was going too wide I started to go back on the regular line and passed him by and got the win.

We where excited going into Sat and got paired up to go against Tanner Foust in the scion TC for top 16. It was a good match up since we both had really fast entry speeds. I was leading the first lap and Tanner was able to stick to me threw the whole coarse. Jake Tanaka (the owners son and my spotter) comes over the radio and says "good run, he was on you though." My responce was "wait till you see this." Its my turn now to follow Tanner. I get right on him on the initiation and stick to everything he does keeping a tight distance. He starts left foot brakeing by the apex as I notice some smoke coming off his front tire. I slow down just a touch and he lets the brake go, now he got a little momentum getting off the apex. I lay into the throttle, maybe a little too much. Tires start smoking and I'm just not gaining enough speed. He was able to pull away a couple car lengths by the end of the run and take the win.

Yeah, I was disapointed that we lost that round but I wasnt unhappy at all. We did great and showed everyone that Team Tanaka is moving up. I've only been driving the car a few events and the improvements to both my driving and the car have been significant.

[AlexPfeiffer]

First things first, you need to learn to be a good driver before you can learn how to drift. Dont worry too much about what you need for the car, you can take anything to the track and still have a good time driving it and learn alot while doing it.

[tougekids]

Thanks for the advice!

Do you know any good tracks to go to I live in LA, California?

How did you first learn?

[AlexPfeiffer]

I was originally from hawaii so we only had one race track and even then, only one event that you could take your car to maybe every couple months. Here in LA, you have willow springs with multiple tracks on it, also button willow is good to go to as well. Pretty much every weekend there is a track event. You have events like Nasa Hpde, speedtrial, speed ventures, just drift, drift day, thursday night drift at adams, inland drift, scca, and others.

[driftmonkey503]

Last time I saw you drift was in tha rs*r car. It's good to see you drivind again. Anyway my question is, is the vette going to be the same car your going to run next season. Do you still manufacture your own parts?

[AlexPfeiffer]

Yes I still make my own parts (www.battleversion.com). I'm not sure whats going to happen for next year. They havent talked to me about it yet.

[driftmonkey503]

Can I crash on your floor in the off season and have you teach me to drift better? It can be that whole mr miyagi thing. Just for a weekend. A Hawaiian and a black dude drifting together, sounds like a bad buddy movie or TNT style cop drama!!

[5150 Cruiser]

How do oyu like driving the Vette compared to the other cars you've driven in FD? I know that Dai said after driving Rhys GTO, he now prefers the torque of a V8. Do you like having a V8 vs. 4 cyl turbo?

[AlexPfeiffer]

Yeah, the v8 is nice but its alot of car to toss around. I'm more used to the smaller cars but im starting to do alot better with the vette.

Sorry for not updating this thread in a while. I've just been doing small things to the car and I haven't taken it out drifting yet.

Switched out the fuel filter for something alot better. Now the pump seems to be happy. I was having problems with 1st gear popping out and it sucked, so I pulled the trans out.




Then took it apart...





And replaced the first gear syncro, the slider, and the fork. Also when it was appart decided to upgrade the shim to the marlin crowler peice from driftmotion.




Had to add some mirrors to the car to pass tech





Sent the valve covers out to get powder coated the same as the chassis, not sure if I like it now. Maybe the cover peice needs to be changed now.




Just got to work on the decals now and redo all the sponsor stuff so it matches and look right. Going to try and take it to irwindale, not to drive but to show it in the pits.

[courantcom]

A hooker is always at your service. ;-)

[tougekids]

Saw that 240sx of your parked at Formula D Irwindale! Soooo Nice! I was rooting for you at formula d!!! Do you anyone who can give me some drifting lessons! Before you said that I had to learn how to be a great driver first! I am now! I wanna start drifting now so in the future maybe I can go up agaist you guys! I really really pasionet fir drifting but, don't have much money to do it? Is there anybody you now who can teach me, give me lessons, help me out? I'm gonna be 17! I'm not just a kid saying I want to drift it's more than that! I love it! Seeing it is great but, it does not satisfy me at all! There's a big junk in my heart that I feel is missing! I just don't wanna see drifting I wanna do it! Please help me out!!! Thanks!

[AlexPfeiffer]

All I can tell you is to get a good job so you can afford to go drifting every once in a while. There are so many events in so cal that you can run and most of them are pretty affordable. Just ask anyone there for help, there are always people willing to help teach you stuff. You just have to beable to afford to run the events first.

[OldSkool510]

Since you've taken over for Tanaka Racing as their driver, that red CORVETTE is getting fun to watch again. Keep up the good work.

[tougekids]

I'll do that! Thanks Alot!

[Shadowhuntr]

Great seeing that Corvette lookin like it's back in the game. It was great to see your car mostly done(been following the build for a while) and to meet ya in person. Got your tanaka racing poster sitting right above my work pc. Watch out for me comin up in your rearview at a track near you soon.

[AlexPfeiffer]

Thanks guys for the compliments. That vette is a beast.

[Cavi Mike]

Are you hiding something from us?

[AlexPfeiffer]

Think your looking at pictures of long beach before I was driving the car.

[tougekids]

Ive been wondering? Do you and the other pro. Formula D drivers make any money when you win or lose?

[AlexPfeiffer]

Right now I dont currently make anything for driving in FD. Some of the other drivers are getting payed by their sponsors to be in FD. I never asked what they are making so I dont really know. FD does pay out for the winners and that money usually goes to the drivers but its still something that you have to work out with your sponsor as to how much the driver recives.

[Jonny Fonseca]

so what are your plans for the off-season with the soarer?

[AlexPfeiffer]

I had to move all my stuff into my garage since G-dimensions moved to a smaller place. The car is in my garage as well and I dont have a trailer anymore to barrow. For now I'm just redoing all the stickers and get the car shot for some mags. We will see after that. With no way of getting it around and not making much money right now, not sure if I can afford to take it out all that much.

[socalwrench]

I sent you a PM about the trailer.

[AlexPfeiffer]

So I havent updated my post in a long time, Let me catch everyone back up. Did the final round of FD at Irwindale with the vette but brought the lexy and the guys at BC where nice enough to have it in thier booth. WIth the vette, we did good, made top 16, people where saying its the best they have seen the vette run yet. Most of the compliments on the lexy where just how clean it was. Then again I didnt have a chance to really drive it at that point.

G-dimensions, the shop in which I've been working with and built the car at, well they havent been making enough money laitly so they needed to move to a smaller shop. So right after FD irwindale, I had to move all my equipment and the lexy home. I live in a town house with a 2 car garage. You cant even walk in the door now its got so much stuff in it. So I havent been able to do any work really ether.

But I was able to finally make the rear sub frame spacers and have a few sets that I need to tests. I'm hoping that they will also fit the mkiv's, if someone has a rear subframe laying around socal, I'd love to test fit it.

At FD irwindale, I also had a chance to talk to the nitto guys (they sponsor tires for the vette) and was able to convince them to also help out with the lexy. That was huge for me, tires were the last thing I needed to take the lexy out. I also had a chance to talk with Import Tuner and they wanted to shoot the car. Picked up some NT 05's from nitto and stuck them on the car. I really like those tires and if you look them up, they are very well priced so if your looking for some grippy street tires, dont hessitate to give them a shot.

Every year FD has a Pro Am event which is the licenceing event for new drivers and those who didnt have enough points durring the year to keep thier licences. This year they did it at irwindale and it was this past weekend. FD was nice enough to let me bring the car out on friday for the test day and use the infield before practice to shoot the car (thanks Andy, Jim, Ryan!). Then I got to take it out for a few laps durring practice. We were in a real rush to get the decals done, thanks to Naoki at Drift Day for cutting out the vinyl, and Bill Diggs for the roof logo and FD logos. Also Greg for volunteering his time to be an extra set of hands.

Remember this is the first time I had a chance to really drive the car. By the time we finished the shoot, everyone was already practicing. Got suited up and got in line. First lap out and drifted the full coarse. We havent had a chance to stick the car back on the dyno since everything had to move at the shop, but even with the 630hp or so that its making right now at 20 something boost, it was more then enough. After a few laps, she was nice and high around the bank and down low against the bottom wall.

I havent been so happy in a long time. The lexy ran great, didnt have any problems, and she just wanted more. Everyone was complimenting the build and how well the car looked and did. Being able to finally drive this car was trully sick. Unfortunatly I have been sick since then and have been in bed with the flu since sat. I cant wait to take the car back out again. You can see some pics from this weekend at http://www.driftfotos.com/.

[DV19]

Saw pics of the car Alex and it looks great! Nicely done Buddy...
Get well soon.... And don't cough on anybody!