BensonHsu.com

So I was super happy to find out that my buddy Dai Yoshihara has joined teams with Rhys Millen for 2008. He’s going to be the pilot of the Pontiac GTO! This is really big news because Dai has been a part of the Pacific Rim Drift Team since he came to the USA and he’s always driven an S chassis – which in ways has made him the underdog because while other drivers were being factory sponsored with brand new 500+hp cars, Dai always stuck with the old school – the Nissan Silvia. It’s kind of bittersweet, because I loved watching Dai, Pac Rim, and the Silvia make huge successes together… but finding a title sponsor for 2008 was getting pretty tough for Dai and I’m so glad that instead of finding a sponsor while barely getting by, he finds a sponsor that can possibly take him to a #1 overall finish in 2008. Not that he needs a 550hp Pontiac GTO to do it… I think he’s an awesome driver and one of the best. It will just make it easier for him.

Good luck this year Dai. Give ’em hell!

It doesn’t mean homoesexual drifting… it means…. well, I guess just watch the videos.

Chari Dori

Estima Dori

Here are some more specs on the Mazaspeed 3:

• It has a 2.3L 4-cylinder turbocharged engine producing 263hp @ 15.6psi
• It comes with a factory LSD
• They all come with a manual 6-speed transmission
• To reduce torque steer, there is a Powertrain Control Module (PCM) that releases excess boost pressure in 1st and 2nd gear
• The hood is slightly raised compared to the regular Mazda 3 due to the air ducting running through the hood to cool the top mounted intercooler.
• The front fenders are 20mm wider than the regular Mazda 3
• Has rain sensing windshield wipers
• It has additional chassis reinforcements over the regular Mazda 3
• It has a sports muffler
• Red stitching lines every seat in the car as well as the shift boot and steering wheel
• Sports seats with larger side supports (ours is in leather)
• Mazdaspeed logo stitched into the seats and floormats, and also appears on the aluminum door sill plate
• Rear spoiler
• 18″ wheels

Here are some of my impressions so far:

• I don’t feel any boost lag
• I don’t hear the turbo
• I don’t hear the blow off valve
• There is always usable power, no matter your speed or your gear… very nice
• The muffler is a little loud, but totally fine if you’re used to a really loud drift car
• The car handles REALLY well – very surprising
• The auxilary input for my pink ipod is highly used
• Auto climate control
• Our premium Bose sound system isn’t as nice as the sound system in the G35, but thank God for the factory sub woofer (in the GT models only), or else I’d be dying
• Gas mileage is excellent! But the gas tank is a bit small (24mpg in a 14gal. tank).
• E-brake slides do not work unless the traction control is off