RE-Xtreme Logos

New Logo. The idea is to reflect the image of a street and mountain pass in the logo.

I recently updated my helmet with some block stickers and it gave me some inspiration to create something more.

I think it works well with Mazda style fonts. There is a bit of Wipeout Fusion. a bit of flower and a bit of lollipop. all good things.

During my design of a street I ended up with something a bit retro. Anyone guess the influence. I may be putting these in production.

Then things got carried away as usual.

Russ.

Developing a Fortune

Here is a bit of insight into something special. The Development of the Fortune FD3s.

In 2004, I visited Veilside's Tsukuba development area during the build of the Fortune FD3s. Yokomaku-san ran us through the build and his intentions.

Although the front of the car was striking, The first thing that grabbed me was the rear of the car. It was soooooooo wide I couldn't believe it was an FD.

Built on an early Combat Evolution kitted FD3s You could easily see how much of the original body remains. Basically the roof and half of the doors. The vented fronts were amazing.

Yokomaku's vision for the car was based off a Samurai's Armor. He explained that the lines would become studded and riveted armour. At this stage the car was only set for the Tokyo Auto Salon, but with some help it eventually made it's way onto the big screen.

The armour lines were still in the imagination at this stage of the plan.

Yokomaku-san states "I never draw concepts on paper before I start to shape.

The ideas and inspiration are all here in my head. I can shape and create a design directly by hand as a 3D full sized design. Really, I find I work best like this - and this is how I've shaped all my designs from the beginning. The process for making a design starts with foam - like this, which is used to make the initial shape. By shaving it, I can get a clear shape.

Next, I cover the foam shapes in glass fibre, which gives the shape rigidity. You can see some glass fibre here.. - which is like putting a bandage over one's skin. Once the glass fibre's hardened, I apply clay - and this allows me to shape to exactly how I want the car to be. Then, once that stage is completed, I spray the bodywork with primer, so I can check and completely erradicate any minor imperfections.

Upon completion of the design, I use the 3 dimensional plotter to log the complete shape of the design to within 0.1mm. With this data, I can re-create the work by reversal of the operation.I can also use the 3 dimensional plotter to enable me to get exact symmetry between each side of the design and so get a perfect design as I complete it."

These days CG takes a big role, but it's the hands on design that made Veilside a legend. His designs may not be the most pretty, but they were definately the most distinctive.

Russ.

Summer Drift Matsuri - Preview.

This weeks event schedule for me includes a bit of a trip to Ebisu Circuit to catch up with some friends. I'll be up at the Summer Drift Festival taking in the influence of Andy's FD3s. Expect a bit of a feature on this car and sights and sounds from others around the event.

Visit http://www.powervehicles.com/ for more of the grassroots G1gp.

Unfortunately, Andy is still prepping the FD, but lots of other Drift coverage here.
http://re-xtreme-extra.blogspot.com/2010/08/ebisu-summer-matsuri-videos.html
http://re-xtreme-extra.blogspot.com/2010/08/g1gp-ebisu-videos.html

Russ.

Mach 5 Concept

Speed Racer and the Mach 5 was always a favourite.

I remember when I was a kid.... go speed go! Now all we need is the Jump System!

I was playing around with the Knight Sports Type 4 on my other blog and I thought this might be cool. I haven't done a concept for a while.

Russ.

7's Day - Tsukuba - Brad's Perspective

Having another lens and another camera at an event always provides another perspective. Even get some shots of me.

Brad Trenwith from Australia, is a Time Attack freak with his matt black machine circulating at TA events based in South Australia.
Seen here having fun with Bomber from Option's Drift Tengoku vids.

Early in the morning, we met up for some directions then he managed to find his way to Tsukuba in the Rental machine.

Brad says, "Here are a few of the pics I took at 7's day. These are not edited at all either, so apologise if the cropping or colour is not 100%.

There were some incredible cars. The panspeed car was up on stands and they let me get under it and take as many pics as I wanted, but, they are for the private collection, sorry. "
 
He also accompanied me to Daikoku and Umi Hoteru then went on to tour Japan. There is more to come.
 

I'll just add some captions.
Some of the tuning shops around tsukuba and full of wrecked GT-Rs, Civics etc all probably track day victims.

Obviously keen to see some FDs. This one at the shops.

And in the car park.

Sometimes I forget the cool things being in Japan. Get to the Win!!! Japlish at it's best?

So I'll keep this post a bit human. 2 FD models on the dash.

I also let Brad take care of the Details as his camerawork is pretty good and owning a time attack FD himself, he was keen to look in around and under.

4 Rotor.

Count em

R-Magic engine bay.

Revolution from a distance

Winglets are getting out of control

Dori king in the background.

Turbo in the foreground

Garage 31 work is impeccable.

Circuit tune.

Cage

Dash and interior.

This emblem means RS Pantera 3 rotor.

So do these cutouts for drag reduction.. You rearely see twin pipes on an FD these days.

And the engine bay.

And the Carbon and black exterior complete with rusty bon-pins.

He hunted under here for ideas.

And met some stars.

Is it an FD.

These are Family Wagon rear lights.

Enjoy the race...

New and Old.

Re-Amemiya Drift Rear Brakes... Big.

3 Rotors

If you can see them... count em.

I'll count these... 2 of those, 4 of those, 2 of those, 4 of those... hmmm.

Me in the way of a good shot. Now you can see what I mean about bad equipment.
Gotta get another DSLR again one day.

Pit in, Thumbs Up

Off again.

Chased by Revolution

Ta-1.. Still can't believe this is a street car.

Chasing, or being chased. rear angle is awesome on the Super Touge Monster  9Kyu ko.

I've seen Ama-san so many times, I forget to take shots of him these days. Brad spied the ledgend.

He headed over to the other side of the track and captured the Pan Speed car in Action.

Checked out the regular guys.

These are the regular guys, no pit crew. Self funded pilots like most of us.

I think anything Black catches Brad's eye.

There's plenty to look at up close too.

And from behind. 1/2 MS-GTC, old style finisher, and diffuser..

Here is Andrew and I talking about something car related... Probably my love for the

Super Greddy 3. Another shot, just in case you missed it before....did you?

And here he is doing a lap of the car park with his show bags. T-shirts, caps, towels, etc etc etc.

We were exhausted in the heat, so headed out. And took these shot's as we left.

There is something smoother about the red on red lights than the silver car from Koseki at Scoot.

Semi- Central exhaust port and diffuser.

Another one of me in the background... I'll tell myself to get out of the way... "Get out of the way or make a stupid gesture."

Brad is posting on the  Australian FD Owners Forum, Join the Dingos, Drongos, Yobbos and good people.

I'll leave you with the stupid gesture"... No.1 Baby! Thanks Brad!

Russ.