Copyright: Team Japan Auto
Gutta krutt driver på slag i slag for tia. Why? Natt til tirsdag (23 mars) drar Fredric og Steffen til USA for å gjøre klar bilen i USA for løpet i Long Beach i påsken. Men før de drar over dammen er det viktig at supraen her i Norge gjøres så å si ferdig slik at den er klar for første runde på Eikås med Powerdrift 8 mai. Jeg har virkelig trua på gutta, så på mandag skal jeg mest sannsynlig en tur til Ås videregående skole for å ta noen bilder av de hjelpsomme vesnene på Ås, som har lakkert bilen. Samt at Erik Gjermundsen skal komme med folie og dekor. Dette blir “hur bra som helst” ! 
Her på Toyota Speedway i Irwindale !
After qualifying in the middle of the 40 car field at Irwindale Speedway, Fredric Aasbo and Team Japan Auto went up against Formula DRIFT senior and two times series champion Samuel Hübinette. For the first time in Formula DRIFT history two competitors of Nordic origin were to face each other in what was referred to as “the Battle of the Vikings” amongst the packed crowd at “the House of Drift”. After two very close battles where the impact judge voted for a one more time due to the full-throttle runs from both drivers, Samuel Hübinette eventually got through.
- Samuel Hübinette is probably the most experienced Formula DRIFT driver out there, and I have a ton of respect for him and his driving – going up against Sam was a dream come true for me, Fredric said. Although we didn’t get through we gave him a run for his money, and he hit the wall a little too hard and nearly straightened out chasing us, but in true Sam style he recovered and put on a great run. On our hand, we had one of our very best runs when we were leading against him. We have proved that Team Japan Auto is a force to be reckoned with, and I am extremely proud of the efforts and commitment put into this event by the whole Japan Auto Crew!
The Red Japan Auto Supra has been transformed since last years Red Bull Drifting World Championship, now utilizing the full potential of the mechanically stock engine and drivetrain setup. Fredric attacked the high speed bank in fifth gear, and rubbed the wall while smoking up super sticky 275 wide Falken Azenis RT615 tires.
Er det noe annet enn et smil på disse gutta? Nei!
- You are maximising this cars potential!, Andy Yen, speed judge of Formula DRIFT, said to Fredric after the finals. However, the Supra is a great platform – dial in more speed and you are there!
The Team has already started digging into the options for releasing the car’s and Fredric’s potential for the season to come. The team is now in for a single turbo setup adding important top end power, as well as focusing hard on adjusting the driving itself to the Formula DRIFT judging criteria.
- We have made awesome experiences and very good friends through our stateside ventures, and we are now going forward aiming at further Formula DRIFT participation in 2010. Formula DRIFT is super competitive and the community backing the series is super awesome, Fredric says. – we really want to be a part of it!
Ønsker gutta krutt i Team Japan Auto lykke til på Toyota Speedway i dag! Det er jo i og for seg nesten 9 (?) timer forskjell, så gutta ligger enten å skrur eller inntar siste timer med nattessøvn før alt skal gjøres klart til treningen og ikke minst kvalifiseringen som går kl. 20-21 i Irwindale. Dette blir da rundt kl.2 for oss Nordmenn, og dere skal ikke se bort i fra at det er en rekke mennesker som sitter oppe for å holde seg oppdatert på nettet her hjemme. For dette skjer ikke hver dag!
TIDSPLANEN FOR HELGEN :
Friday October 16, 2009 (No Video Permitted w/o Approval)
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM – Will Call (Will Call)
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM – VENUE OPEN (Credential Holders Only) (Venue)
10:00 AM – 12:00 PM – Set-Up: Vendors/Sponsors/Teams (Venue)
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – GATES OPEN TO PUBLIC (Venue)
2:00 PM – 2:30 PM – FD: Driver’s Meeting (Driver’s Tent)
2:30 PM – 3:00 PM – Media: Mandatory Meeting for All Photo Credentials (Media Tent)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – FD: OPEN PRACTICE #1 (Track)
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM – FD: OPEN PRACTICE #2 (Track)
5:00 PM – 7:30 PM – FD: Qualifying (Track)
7:30 PM – 7:40 PM – Famous Stars and Strap Stunt Bike Demo (Track)
7:45 PM – 8:00 PM – FD: All Driver’s Meeting / Qualifying Results (Driver’s Tent)
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – Pro-AM: Qualifying (Track)
8:00 PM – 9:00 PM – FD: Driver Autograph Session (Paddock)
9:00 PM – 9:30 PM – Pro-AM: Driver’s Meeting / Qualifying Results (Driver’s Tent)
9:00 PM – 10:00 PM – FD: Open Practice – Top 32 (Track)
Saturday October 17, 2009 – Main Event (No Video Permitted w/o Approval)
10:00 AM – 8:00 PM – Will Call (Will Call)
10:00 AM – 10:00 PM – VENUE OPEN (Venue)
1:00 PM – 1:30 PM – FD: Top 32 Driver’s Meeting (Driver’s Tent)
1:30 PM – 2:00 PM – Media: Mandatory Meeting for All Photo Credentials (Media Tent)
2:00 PM – 10:00 PM – GATES OPEN TO PUBLIC (Venue)
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM – Open Practice – Top 32 (Track)
3:00 PM – 4:00 PM – Pro-AM: Top 8 Competition (Track)
4:00 PM – 6:00 PM – FD: MAIN COMPETITION – Round of 32 (Track)
6:00 PM – 6:10 PM – Famous Stars and Straps Stunt Bike Demo (Track)
6:15 PM – 7:30 PM – Half-Time Break (Venue)
6:00 PM – 6:50 PM – Need for Speed: Shift Contest (Podium)
6:20 PM – 6:50 PM – Jtuned Auto Gallery Awards Ceremony Cooper (Stage)
6:50 PM – 7:20 PM – Far East Movement Performance Cooper (Stage)
7:30 PM – 8:00 PM – Opening Ceremonies / National Anthem (Track)
8:00 PM – FD: MAIN COMPETITION: Round of 16 to Finals (Track)
10:00 PM – FD: Trophy Ceremony (Podium)
Herren selv (Mr. Aasbø) er en flittig skribent, og sender jevnt og trutt ut oppdateringer til sponsorer, presse og bekjente! Her er ihvertfall brevet jeg fikk pr. e-post:
After arriving in Los Angeles, California late September, Fredric Aasbo and his Team Japan Auto Crew has had two hectic weeks of preparation in the Los Angeles sun.
- The Japan Auto Supra has been transformed with an all new engine management, drivetrain and suspension geometry setup. At the same time, the Supra has received a cosmetic facelift involving both interior and exterior details. The whole process has been a demanding task for sure, but the guys have done an awesome job getting what was basically a new build up and running!
After focusing on North European events throughout the 09′ season, Fredric is happy to be back in Los Angeles soaking up the SoCal drift atmosphere.
- Through our preparations out here we have met a bunch of the players in this industry over the last two weeks, and we have received nothing but help and support everywhere we go. We have become even more fond of the Southern California drift scene and the people involved in it, and we start to feel we really want to be a part of this family!
The Japan Auto crew and Fredric is in the middle an intensive week culminating at the Formula Drift 2009 final at Irwindale on October 16th-17th.
- We will be testing the car at Willow Springs all of Tuesday. On Thursday we will be heading out to Irwindale for actual track testing. The event is called Judgment Day and that certainly fits the bill – we can’t wait to take on the upcoming weekend!
Gutta krutt in US and A
Nå er det bare èn uke igjen til Aasbø legger blårøyk over Toyota Speedway ! Hold dere oppdatert på hjemmesiden til Team heckschlaude !