GR Corolla Track Day Impressions: Great to Drive, Until It Wasn’t
My first GR Corolla track day at Gingerman revealed an easy, confidence-inspiring car—until AWD overheating interrupted the laps and raised questions about its track potential.
Saying Goodbye to the FR-S
After nearly six years and more than 50 track days, I say goodbye to my 2013 Scion FR-S, reflecting on driver development, reliability, a simple setup, and personal-best lap times.
bringing back the shine
A long-overdue detail for my FR-S, from washing and clay-bar decontamination to compounding, polishing, and sealing the paint for a deeper gloss.
Experiencing GridLife Midwest festival 2024
GridLife Midwest 2024 delivered impressive cars and nonstop racing—and a reality check about the commitment needed to compete in ClubTR alongside a young family.
GR Corolla: Daily Driving Impressions
After breaking in the GR Corolla, I share what works—and what falls short—as a daily driver, from its responsive turbo engine and manual gearbox to steering feel, seating position, and cargo space compared with my FR-S.
Something New – 2024 Toyota GR Corolla
A new chapter after five years with the Scion FR-S. Why I chose the 2024 Toyota GR Corolla, what I hoped it would deliver, and my first impressions of bringing it home.
Back on Track – Gingerman Raceway
Back behind the wheel of my FR-S after more than a year away, I visit Gingerman Raceway for SCCA Track Night in America—learning a new circuit, putting simulator preparation into practice, and rediscovering the joy of driving.
Racing at Mid-Ohio
Toyota R&D Racing heads to Mid-Ohio with the A90 Supra for TT, Super Touring, and a four-hour TREC enduro—where practiced pit stops and reliability help deliver an overall win.
Preparing for the First Race
From after-hours preparation and NASA class rules to official dyno certification, follow Toyota R&D Racing as the A90 Supra gets ready for its first race—and wins all three classes at NCM Motorsports Park.
Intro to endurance racing
A new motorsports opportunity, right at work. I’m joining Team Toyota R&D Racing as we bring an A90 GR Supra endurance race car to Michigan, assemble a new team, and prepare for the 2023 season.
simulator build
Follow my journey building a custom racing sim rig — from designing it in CAD to sourcing all the parts, with lessons learned and recommendations for beginners looking to get started.
Hitting Pause for Big Life Updates
Big changes ahead — a move, a promotion, and a new family member on the way! I’ll be taking a short break but will be back soon with more motorsports adventures.
Last Laps in SoCal: A Farewell at Autoclub Speedway
One last blast around Autoclub Speedway before moving back to Michigan. A laid-back track day with the 86 crew that reminded me what it’s all about—good cars, good people, and the love of driving.
recap: 24hrs of lemons - days of thunderhill
Join me on my hilarious, brake-scorching first dive into endurance racing at the 2022 24 Hours of Lemons at Thunderhill Raceway — featuring a screaming-chicken-liveried Prius, real race carnage, and the wild camaraderie that only Lemons delivers.
recap: trd series r3 - first troubles
Round 3 of TRD Series was back to Streets of Willow going counter-clockwise configuration. Nothing has changed in the car since GridLife, heck, even the tires weren’t even rotated. So I was expecting another care-free track day, however that was not the case.
Sim Setup: Budget-Friendly Dive into Sim Racing
From a living room setup with rice bags and water jugs to a full-fledged racing sim, I share the story of how I started my sim racing journey with budget-friendly Fanatec gear and a DIY setup.
recap: #gridlife streets of willow
My time attack experience thus far have been limited to the local events organized by TRD Series and 86 Cup. However, in the back of my mind was always the goal to participate in some of the larger events held across the country such as Global Time Attack, Super Lap Battle, and GridLife. I would get my chance.
recap: trd series r2 - Close wall.
Round 2 of TRD Series took us to Auto Club Speedway (ACS), home of NASCAR Cup Series racing in SoCal, and a local favorite to all of the high horsepower guys/gals. This day brought in a lot of V8 muscle. Not the American variant, but of Lexus F cars wanting to stretch their legs on the high speed oval portion of the ROVAL Sports Car configuration.
recap: trd series r1.
TRD Series kicked off the 2022 season at Buttonwillow Raceway Park on January 30th, but instead of the popular CW13, round 1 would run the unfamiliar CCW13. And unlike the fog bowl of the final round in 2021, we had clear skies and perfect 65°F weather.
what’s new for 22’.
So what’s new for 2022? ……..Sadly, not a new car.
Although it was quite tempting to hop in line for a new GR86, I decided that there was still more to learn with the current car, and to just stay patient.