TRINBAGO’s RUFF & TUFF UNDERGROUND
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MOTION.LIFESTYLE MAGAZINE
Nov/ Dec 2016 + Jan/ Feb 2017 The prices are RECOMMENDED & do not reflect or include Shipping or Sales tax or Additional Charges: USD $3.50 | EC$10:00 | TT$20.00 | BDS $10.00. It’s only a rough guide people.
www.sixthspeed.com
MORE SENSE but we’re PRETTY SURE our ENGRISH & SPELING is still pretty APPALING
MOR MOBILES of MANIACAL MAYHEM: Daniel Persad’s Memorial CS3 Lancer Sean William’s Sneaky SF5 Ah Box Lancer under the 4G Mr. SYM’s Turbo DC5 Teggy One Purple Bacchanal ‘Busa
EMOTIONAL Tiida OWNERS
Three Times the Bacchanal
AH HEAR
een the News: The Tezza Shop Run x Dyno Lab has a
Launch x Carib Great Race 2016 x Kristain works over SCCA x Some Drag Racing Notables x CMRC 2016 x Wheel Wizard
This rongs the woman is:
Sue-Ann Lee-Wilcock Traffic TICKETS are EXTORTION They may tell you differently but really it’s all about the money.
RACERS
REMAPPED
AQUEEB
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#sixthspeed
THE ROTARY HEALING
When a project goes beyond just being about speed and crosses over into motivating someone wang back from the brink that’s something we hadda take note of.
SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
NUMBERS by
the SIXTH 25,000,000
Just ONE up in the air figures given on how much it had cost to renovate and resurface the circuit track up at Wallerfield in 2015.
577,000
T H E
S U M P
P A N
“Revolution comes when human beings set out to correct decadent institutions.” - H. Rap Brown The year almost dun so by the time you read this there’s going to be about 2 months left which kinda means that SixthSpeed is late - AGAIN. Ress and always remember that this magazine might never on schedule, but it’s definitely always on time - yes it have heights in that; thank you NAS. So muchachos, it’s here and this one was painful - honestly I don’t know if people getting lazy OR men out there hiding BUT there seems to be a shortage of cars out there to touch up. Don’t get me wrong the tuner scene is on the rise; with endless posers (nothing new) but it feels like EVERYBODY is doing the EXACT same project and the follow fashion ting is getting annoying. Personally, I am a firm believer in not reinventing the wheel but still; even a wheel has patterns and it would be nice to see men change things up just to add to the mix. Jes saying. However; I will say that one of the saving graces that helps brighten my gloomy car nights is seeing a lot of guys who are on the come up. To me it’s really inspiring; not wanting to sound starry eyed, watch men who just a while ago could do spit cuz they were lacking skill, embrace the challenge, get in the practice and make that full circle to now being able to hold their own - it’s crazy. Especially when you add in the lack of proper support and structured direction from the heads who continue to play games with motorsport and the youth. The day when I can see motor SPORT officially take over any public road like how cycling SPORT is doing then I would say this thing has reached somewhere but until then is endless tamarind sauce that sucking teeth. Anyhow long live the speed, long live the babagreen and long live the Sixth. Now go out there, build something and eff up the dance; on with the circus. Linzi
SIXTHSPEED PRIME PARTNERS
We got sponsors kids. Yay! Gotta love these folks who contribute so as to keep us blowing up the spot.
(Kevin De Leon) De Leon Construction Co Ltd.
# 121 Southern Main Rd, Curepe, Trinidad | (868) 662-4622 | deleonconstruct@gmail.com
Bin Stuntin Promotions & GTees (Apparel)
GTees - Branded Apparel/ T-Shirts/ Trincity Mall & Mobile Unit (POS) | (868) 724-6696
FGCL - Frank’s General Contracting Limited Abida Gardens, Bagna Trace| (868) 776-4957
Innovative Security Technologies Limited
126, Cipero Road, Victoria Village, San Fernando, Trinidad. | (868) 657-5826, 653 1412 www.innovativesecuritytech.com
In dollars that’s the amount of money the Government was able to pluck from the pockets of citizens in 6 weeks during May & June 2016 using the speed gun with the issuing of 577 tickets. That’s not bad considering that the majority of tickets were issued in the middle of the night.
2,000
The amount of kilos you have to rack up before a brand new GTR is properly broken in. Meaning you gotta make a Sando to Town at least 40 times and considering how much mileage GTR owners REALLY put down, that break period is liable to take forever.
350
that the LEAST amount of HP we recommend you should be hitting the babagreen with so as to ward of wandering canal jockeys looking to advantage.
14
The amount of days your average diesel owner boasts about going before needing a full up. Amazing how they quick to beat up about mileage but not the cost to maintain.
0
That’s how much people have any sort of confidence in Licencing Office and the ability to qualify good drivers.
PURE FAILMENTS Fitzroy Phillips
The alternate days to ease traffic idea During a traffic reduction consultation hosted by the Transport Ministry, this retired Superintendent of Police had the BRILLIANT utterance that to ease the traffic in T&T 50% of vehicles need to come off the road. His idea - to have alternate use depending on licence plate numbers - even plates today, odd plates tomorrow. Thank GOD this man no longer employed with the police cuz that says something about the police before, during, after and now. Not only was the notion outdated, impractical, unworkable, unfair and depressing, but it’s definitely going to cost MORE to ATTEMPT to implement. The way we see it, if that’s going to be the train let’s have turbo & non turbo days; why not male & female; hell, we could try local cars & foreign used.
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S I X T H S P E E D I N D E X G R E A S E P A R T N E R S the people mad enough to sell the magazine
UP in the NORTH Car Boutique (POS) Miniciti (Valpark) Auto Image (Valpark) Quickbits (Curepe)
1.868.622-8193 1.868.678-7430 1.868.662-1201 1.868.645-7297
DOWN in SOUTH
Sheriff’s Auto Supplies (San/Do) 1.868.657-1687 Specialist Muffler (Ste Madeline) 1.868.698-0009 1.868.657-1704 Mileage Mack Ltd. (San/Do) 1.868.647-6878 QWKWHP Co. Ltd. (Debe) 1.868.655-7633 Princestown Auto Supplies 1.868.653-0778 RONS Marketing (San/Do) 1.868.771-1478 Torry Hosein (Gulf City Mall) 1.868.655-6922 Parts Solution (Princestown) Pink Noise Audio (St. Madeline) 1.868.688-8679 1.868.783-5064 Maztune (Cocoyea) Ryan Performance (La Romain) 1.868.724-6493 Marty’s Barbershop (Mon Repos) 1.868.327-8996 Antix Car Care (La Brea) 1.868.295-1507 Lethal Auto Garage (P/ Fortin) Deserica Driving School (P/ Fortin) Unipet Gas Station (Marabella)
ACROSS in the EAST Street Customz (Arima) Kingston12 Garage (Pasea)
1.868.683-6065 1.868.784-6710
RIGHT there in CENTRAL
1.868.665-6803 Tuner Imports (Charlieville) 1.868.735-1086 XR Performance (Cunupia) Custom Sound & Security (Couva) 1.868.636-6997 Chris Performance (Munroe Rd.) 1.868.620-6306 Peak Performance (Munroe Rd.) 1.868.291-5444 1.868.636-0822 MAS Tuning Dyno (Esperanza) 1.868.290-6278 Realtime Imports
ACROSS in ‘BAGO Keep It Real Auto
1.868.741-8707
A D VE RT I S E R S
IN DE X
AutoNation (Honda Parts & Service) Blue Coral Racing (Performance Shop) Boodram & Sons Ltd. (Foreign Used Parts) Cleantec (Foreign Used Vehicles) Custom Sounds & Security (Automotive Security) D&D Tyres & Auto Parts Ltd. Daily Driven Taxi Service Imraj Brothers Muffler (Muffler Works) Kia Sales Representatives (New Car Sales) Kingston12 Performance (Mechanic Garage) Lethal Auto Garage (Mechanic Garage) Meguiar’s Car Care Nankang (Tire) Performance Coatings (Powder Coatings) Pink Noise (Car Audio & Auto Security) Quality Car Care (Auto Detailing & Suspension Works) Realtime Imports (Performance Shop) Reverse Concepts (Design & General Printing) SAS Racing (Performance Shop) Sheriff’s Auto Supplies (Car Parts) Street Concepts (Performance Shop) Total Lubricants Tuner Imports (Performance Shop) Tune Tech Performance (Bike Shop + Garage) VP Racing Fuel WCIS Limited (Industrial Supplies) XR Performance (Performance Shop)
T H E
F O R M A L I T I E S
#9 Ramnarine Ave., St. Margaret’s Vge. C/Bay, Trinbago W.I
Feel Free to Call or Email the Sixth
1.868.271-5251
mysixthspeed@gmail.com The Team: Marissa Wong Soo | Editorial Assist: Alex Ramirez, Brent Alleyne, Dwight Titus, C.T Bear, Kerwyn Johnson | Writers: Linzi Jeremiah, Jevon Emmanuel, 5FWD | Underground Radar: Nigel | Design & Layout: Sev7nth Interactive |the Accounting: Monique Jones The Editorials: We endorse individual expression and free speech but we can’t publish everything; so we reserve the right to use submitted material and editorials as we see fit. All credit will be given where applicable. Also the views expressed are those of the writers and NOT the magazine so don’t shoot the messenger. The Disclaimer: At Sixth Speed we try our best to gurantee that the information in these pages are correct but we will not be held responsible if you decide to try anything and ish goes wrong. Any damages to persons and property is not our fault; that burden of responsibility rests upon your shoulders pappy.
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SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
SixthSPEED
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THE NEWS SECTION IS SPONSORED in PART BY:
een the NEWS Ears to the ground and eyes on the boost guage; we’re having the REAL motion sports stuff that go fast people care about.
THE TEZZA SHOP
( JUNE ) If you own a Toyota Altezza, then you’d probably have heard about the Tezza shop. Beating out all things under the IS banner, the Tezza Shop had a small social spanning 2 days and it was sick. The list of crispy skinned Altezza’z in de dance was outstanding with all manner of modifications from mild to wildish with Beams, 1J, 2J, auto and manual. The goal of the snazz was to not only highlight the shop and the good works they do but also to have customers wang out together. The first part of the spice started with a visit at RaceTrac in Arouca then it was down to the Gilda Street in Couva Housing Scheme where the place was smelted with smoke and donuts despite some sprinkles. Sunday for those who couldn’t make it the Saturday was a cool and breeze Tong run. Assembling by Grand Bazaar like transformers, it was a slow cruise through the city to the foreshore for some pics and a lil’ video then back down the road again.
PACERUN
Snaps: Richard Henry
www.facebook.com/thealtezzashop | (868) 306-8365
DYNOLAB LAUNCH
Snaps: Richard Henry Photography
( MAY ) Trinbago has another dyno. Fresh off the boat as in BRAND new is a DynoJet 424X and Dynolab; located in Williamsville (that’s in South in case you wondering), manned by Nicholas Mooloo has taken the plunge to raise the bar on the local tuning scene. Officially kicking things off with the spec’d out 4WD power measuring and information delivering instrument that can support vehicles pushing 2000+ HP, they teamed with R Tune (Ryan Seepersad) to have a dyno day and chill out that was interesting to say the least. Power Pushers, Curious Comers, To be tuned Bantons, First Timers all came by the bucket load to either take a pull so as to get a baseline figure of how much power they are making or get a tune/ diagnostic from R Tune. With refinements to the software as well as the dyno itself, the 424X is the most modern in the Caribbean right now and that can only do well to inspire confidence in both tuners and car owners. Speaking of car owners, many turned their backs cuz the tension was too much sometimes; however it was all eyes on for some, including Pang’s 180SX that clocked the highest HP at 499.6. That was .4HP short of the 500 and meant the Challenge Trophy offered as a special prize for that achievement went nowhere. According to Nicholas all this is part of his love for car and the next phase is to further develop the place and bring in another Dyno, but for bikes only which we are sure will be much welcomed new to the two wheel crews. Special Thanks to: Deonarine Kalipersad, Dominic Kalipersad, Neil Remmy and Barry Soodeen.
FACEBOOK:
dynolab | (868) 756-6003 | dynolabtt@gmail.com
SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
TOP TEN
Moments that gives real car people a proper sense of achievement.
01. Doing a perfect parallel park 04. Beating Somebody Reversing done hard, so when you find a spot that you have to lock back into and do so in one go, you izza bawce.
02. Putting down a best drive
It’s sweeter when you yourself don’t know how you pull it off especially if iz under normal head or put one down and NOT write off yourself.
03. Pumping your own gas
QuoteTHIS in your muffler!
An expensive car will make you be the fastest but it won’t make you the fastest. James Harris Be safe out there everyone. Drive within your limits and NEVER underestimate a cars ability to find a place to crash or an odd thing to hit. *Conversation* Everything can be made fast with money.... *Conversation*
05. Saving money on Car Parts
07. Doing a perfect burnout
Starting slow going in with the thickest amount of smoke and coming out with a slow roast with the correct amount of cock it to the side.
08. Pouring in oil
Feels like you’ve outsmarted the system, spending without using a funnel and spillin’ yuh seed. less actually means spending more since the saved 09. Changing a tire money is going right BACK into more parts.
06. Actually fixing something 10. Cutting it close with a park Be it culburt, wall or next to another car; when you on your own mobile. can dive in with nothing but a millimeter of space Given the fact that you may not have had ANY idea what you are doing.
TWO FACE
Working ONLY for the first few times, it makes you feel wonderful figuring out how to work the pump on your own, by yourself; with no help.
Dealing out a sound cutass in ANY form always feels GREAT especially if is somebody you gunning for a long time now.
that says someting.
1993 Mazda 323F
we got:
The hatchback Mazda 323F aka the Fowl Bottom 323 in case you didn’t know the usual unfancy bells and boredom whistles such as air condition, power steering applied; BUT, hey there was a sunroof option and the 16-valve DOHC Mazda B6 pushing out less than a 100HP was good on gas. OH - OH - and there was auxillary driving lights or what ONLY the traditional trini refers to as fogs.
dem get: a NA iron jim boots known as the Mazda Lantis Coupe 2000 Type R. Representing pace this 2.0L, DOHC, V6 i.e the KF-ZE was highly tunable from the word under 5 speed manual V6. Moving brisk and carving corners with 181 bhp @ 7500 rpm and 135lb*tq @ 4500 rpm the car was incredible and got the goods; bigger brakes, sportier suspension and larger exhaust not to mention a factory Limited-Slip Differential. It also got a front lip spoiler, side skirts, floating rear spoiler and did we mention it was in Gran Turismo - Talk nah.
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SHORTShift
Owner: Daniel Persad Car: Mitsubishi Lancer Engine: 4G18-T 1600cc Power: 150hp @ 5200rpm x 156tq @ 5000rpm 7psi Build Time: 12 months. Overall Build: Brandon White: 325-9397 AEM FIC: Tuner Imports: 665-6803 Performance Parts: DRL Performance: 794-1677 Special Thanks to: Cindy Persad (wife) for supporting, Udaya Persad (father), David Persad (brother), Kayla Persad (sister), Neil Gopeesingh, Kevin Khan ,Devi Nath, Conrad Baird, Amir Hosein, Kristopher Lucky and all those who made the project possible especially Brandon for the time spent. Marion Persad (mom) who passed away suddenly on March 7th 2014, she always encouraged me to do what I love.
WHAT
ent miss yuh ent pass yuh and for Daniel Persad this was the scenario after he sold his Hyundai Accent. Looking for something to follow in his mom’s steps since she went from a C62A Lancer (PAY Series nah) to a CS3, the dream was Evo 7 - but - his wallet refused to open. That budget ties to the fact that manual was a must kept him in CS3 territory and after having looked at probably 20+ vehicles with his Dad; all of which had some sort of issue, they stumbled pon the one, nevermind it was blinged. Throwing away the chrome and suicide doors; the car was normal for about 2 years til’ the ACT clutch and slave release bearing gave out which he replace with a Stage 2 Competition Clutch kit and a new OEM bearing from Diamond Motors. Ting in tow, Daniel managed to get the rear brakes from a GDI turbo wagon that bolted right up, but those were 114 and the car was 100, so he rocked steelies in the back until he got the matching front which is something only a true speed man will do. From there it was an exhaust that took the car from 89hp all the way up to 85hp; but hey - at least it sounded healthy. But things got serious when a brethren; Conrad Baird,
checked him to go a Solodex event and ended up taking chain; jumped in to try his hand and from there it was nah bai - things hadda do. Making the push to do the car even more was his mom; who passed away suddenly on in 2014. Between work, study and as paper would allow Daniel started to collect ting and ress down for boost life. But first; handling was gamed with a lower rear sway bar grazed by polyurethane bushings; a set of Cusco Vacanza coilovers which the wife got him for Christmas and rear lower by upper front strut bar which he got from Conrad as a birthday gift. A few bits later, while talking to his dad about turbocharging, somewhere in the conversation came up the fact that the engine was burning a little oil. Not fond of conversions, pops did a rebuild before anything do and with that Daniel was back out, keeping up with putting down parts. This time was a Mitsubishi VR4 TD05H Turbo from a guy whose project was a bad ting; 27 x 7 x 2.5 intercooler, aluminum radiator, oil cooler with filter relocator and Hallman boost controller. What he couldn’t get new like the AEM FIC from Tuner Imports, was genuine used and with this car being a budget any deal he came across was scooped
up forthwith as in; HKS BOV, Aquamist Water Injection kit and 2 1/4” RSR catback exhaust. Twelve months later the time was ripe. Not being 100% mechanically inclined but wanting to be part of the transformation, Daniel linked with fellow DIY enthuasist Brandon White who had the know as he boosted his own Lancer. Since the car was a daily, Brandon only had weekends to werk beginning with a weld himself Custom Ram Horn Manifold, made with 1 1/2” Sch. 40 and removal of the secondary fan to install a GDI Big single as space was tight. He also ran an external wastegate screamer pipe and tapped the sump pan to run the oil drain pipe. Taking 6 weekends, start up went normelish with the only issue being the fan controller. After sorting that out it was off to the dyno where DRL Performance who installed the AEM as well as supply gauges, disc pads and Brembo fluid thumped out with 7 psi 150hp x 156tq using super and water-meth. This is nice figures to merciless the RT 17x8 in Maxxis 205/40/17 MAZ3 or Evo 3 OZ 15x6 rims coated in Yokohama AO48 or Maxxis Victra ZR9 for the track and no doubt the friskiness it’s gonna get WERSE when the 4G93T 390cc go in and they retune with 10 pong. MAD!
SIXTHSPEED
SHUTTERAZZI
At the sixth we celebrate creativity and many seem to have the eye. So here we showcase a few of the COOLEST shots fresh from the Trinbago Underground that have us saying Wheyyyyyy sah!
FEEL FREE to send in your BEST.
Photo: Conrad Baird Photo: Fahim Ali
o Imaging Photo: Jaffot
Photo: Gerrard Wilson
Photo: Matthew Downes
Photo: David Persad
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SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
WHENEVER
we come across something that looks a weee bit too good to be true we have to rock back like big stone and properly assess what really going orn. Take this Lancer owned by Avinash Samlal for instance. Straighter than a primary school child getting a dose of Guava whip, at first glance we were like - foreign shell ting - steupssss. But, oh how wrong we were. Inherited direct from his grandfather; Harry Surujbally, who was very different when it came to the pride and joy. Avinash is the 3rd owner of a car where before taking a swing to enter you HAD to dust off your foot no matter who you is. Original like ginseng, this car was in the family for 20 plus had the original 1200cc engine, 13in rims with 175 tires and was Avinash go to work mobile on and off, until one day it shutdown on the highway thereby leaving (2) options - overhaul the 1200 OR put een something else. Since he wasn’t too fond of keeping an engine that was old like lady sugar, Avinash went down the swap route of a Sirius 1800 that was dead no ass especially when he would have compared it to a K10 pacemaker from his past that beamed a T25 turbo, FPR, front mount and LSD transmission. Now, there was another K10 and a Civic but those were noisemakers - SixthSpeed nah ramp with de hard pong; ah peer pace we ah deal with. With the 1800 being a disappointment, Avinash ended linking with Ricky Dass who had a forged 2000 Sirius engine just sitting with JE forged +20 thou oversize pistons and ring kit, forged rods and balance shaft delete kit. Not wanting the 12 valve to waste Avi was prepared to go down this road, but it wasn’t about to go in just so. The single cam head was sold; a 1st gen Evo3 was bought and the plan was to do a simple twin cam frank using an Apex’i Neo and T3/T4. As we have learned, simple plans NEVER run simple and here’s why. Avinash may have had an Evo head, but finding an Evo harness to work the Neo was impossible, which led to him getting frustrated and we all know what man is do under frustration - start to take out ting and sell. The Neo was sold and in it’s place Avi got hold of a Megasquirt EMS, which when he walked in by Prentice was told eh - eh. Out the backdoor that went and Avinash was exiting Peak Performance with a Haltech Sprint and (4) Precision 780cc injectors. Back at the garage, the revised floor plan was NOW to make 700hp using the twin cam head on the Sirius 2000 block which he had gotten from Ricky self with a T3/T4 - but Ricky gave him the same look we would have. Doh mind that the block was capable; the rest of the car wasn’t and if 700hp was the goal then everything has to be done correct; suspension, brakes, fuel - EVERYTHING. Sound advice coming in; the turbo was sold since the goals had changed and the REAL ting start with Avinash being there upfront and present 100% from start to finish.
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A BOX FILLED WITH WHITE GOODNESS
All this newfound rear wheel drive power had Avinash very bummie to drive the car and who could blame him - fresh build, money spend - he didn’t want nothing to mash up.
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SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
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How did you start in SPEED?
You could pretty much say that for as long as I have known myself I have been in speed. My uncle used to put me on his lap in a Honda Integra, mash the pedals and tell me to drive; then my dad always had some sort of performance car either picking me up from school or going out on weekends. Also my dad & uncle use to race go karts so they would carry me and I would pretty much be in the fun karts driving around with Bridgette, Brandon and Ravi. As I got older it went to parking cars at Autonation and AS SOON as I got my license it was straight into Solodex.
What have been your machines of malignment?
If we talking actual projects that would be the circuit car which is an EK9 with a B20 frank setup. If we talking street, I have passed thru a few but the first was a B16A Honda Civic hatch that we built doing 185whp. Forged pistons & rods, stage 2 cams, Apex’I N1 Dampers, Toda headers, Tanabe exhaust, braces, sway bars - it had everything, even an open catch can setup which was the most HATED thing I ever did on that car. All you would smell was oil & gas even with the AC on. Then I went to a yellow Evo 5 that I had quite liked because it had something called Torque. Then I went to a 2008 FD Honda Civic Type R - from the first time I saw that car, it was one of those sky open and angels sing halo moment. With the FD I did everything in my power to keep it stock because when it comes to modification EVERYONE knows that my cars tend to get out of hand a bit plus I have a race car and for some strange reason they tend to suck all your time and money. So it’s just BC Racing coilovers w/ Swift Springs, K&N drop in filter and a set of 18x8 WORK Emotions CR5 rims. Oh and a set of WORK lug nuts that I spent way too much on.
What was your biggest accomplishment so far?
In my first ever circuit race, that was when TTASA got back permission to use wallerfield - it wasn’t paved or anything, just the original concrete track and in that event I won out the Group 1 class then came back out with the same 1600 Civic to pull off a 3rd and two 4th’s in the CMRC Group 2 class.
What aspects of speed have you done?
Racer s Remapped
AQEEBALI
Driving Style: Make it up as I go along. Sponsors: Autonation, Lubetech, Gator racing axles, M Factory, Fast Brakes, Fortune Auto, Ultimate Sport Tuning, Spann’s Auto Garage Special Thanks to: Mas Tuning, Ryan’s Auto Garage, DRL performance, Tuner Imports, Priest aka Rudy Beekee, Jerry aka Jeremiah Abdul and all those who have supported me over the years including my dad and gandpa.
Time Attack, Solodex, Drag and Wind, Circuit. I did try Drag Racing once but that’s not my cup of tea. Each one of the disciplines have things that I liked and things that I didn’t like. With Solodex I did enjoy the track constantly changing but it was hard trying to figure out where you going, focus on a line and making sure your go thru all gates since the course is laid out with cones as opposed to an actual track. Drag and Wind I liked more because it was a set track with the drag start option, so you could focus on entry/ exit and braking points. Drag Racing was pretty boring but I figure it was because I was running a pretty slow car. Circuit is by far my favorite because it combines elements of each.
Why do you stay in Motorsport?
The racing itself; the adrenaline rush, the risk. It’s one of the rare things you could ever do that requires your FULL concentration 100% of the time and like any addiction, once you start you really don’t want to get out of it. I don’t race for anybody else; I race for myself and for me it’s not so much so about winning, I am more focused on developing my skill and my driving; to me competition and winning is a by product of that.
What are the lessons you’ve learned in the life?
Profanity and Patience. Imagine you work basically non stop for days just trying to get a car to race; or you make 100+ something HP when you know you should be upwards two; or you buy a gearkit, it reach late and when you go to put it up you realize they send you the wrong thing. Also how to be more aware and just how badly something can go wrong fast.
Where was your squeeze bamsee moment?
That would be in Guyana for a CMRC race when I hit an oil patch going into a corner, went straight for the brakes and the car just kept on accelerating.
What would you do if you wasn’t into SPEED?
I really can’t see a reality without me being in motorsport. I don’t have the coordination for cricket or football, so I am HORRIBLE at both. Imagine I could back down 3 gears going into a corner but can’t even kick a ball.
What is a key thing to remember in racing?
One key thing is to understand that compromise in racing is a normal thing and alot of the time it has to do with budget. Sometimes you have to ask do you want to go faster on the straight OR do you want to corner better, also you have to think about tires, brakes, suspension - stuff like that. It’s tough really and you have to know your driving style and be able to tweak things to suit.
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SAYING SOMETING INTEGRAL
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ONCE IT COMES
t o his cars Sherwin Davis is Mr. SYM. Based on that silence we are sure you already asking; SYM? What the hell is that - who goes by the name S-Y-M. Don’t beat up we were puzzled in very much in the same way until it was revealed that SYM is the abbreviation for Spend Yuh Money and that is exactly what he does on his machines - spend coin to make sure that they are nothing short of babagreen burning bandania when they touch the people road. Mind you; it’s a good thing that SYM thing was cleared up early cuz we thought it meant either Skin yuh Moonah, Sink yuh Meat or Spread yuh Morocoy but we digress - as usual. In the game a while now his early o clocker was a white Honda Civic on matte gold Konigs that was considered properly wet by many and just like any car that saying ting; men was ALWAYS running him down to buy until he eventually got fedup and decided to sell a guy who was nothing short of pestilent over some weeks. After he and the guy went to the bank to sort out matters - Sherwin was left travelling home wondering what next to get. It so happened that he was introduced to a DC5 Honda Integra owned by Fyzool Madan; well, his wife Seeta actually and after sampling the machinery to get the vibe he wasn’t feeling it. Not that the car was shakey; it’s because he has had some bad experiences with Integras before and the name alone just throws him back. One of his project was a DA7 Honda Integra that he sank ample amounts of money outfitting into with plenty parts, but when time came to sell it was endless PRESSURE; which is really kinda expected since the DA is not what you would call a bess ting in our books; not even among diehard Honda men. With this aloe vera taste lingering on the buds years now, it was understood how come Sherwin wanted no part of Honda Integra ah tall - ah tall - ah tall. But Buddit’s cousin kept calling and insisting that this is the car for him despite it being parked under a mango tree out in the dew with a cracked windscreen and half on/ half off bumper. Still extremely hesitant with the amount of work that had to be put in, Sherwin had the ultimate change of heart when the words “Come and take it for a BESS PRICE” was mentioned and it was movements. Digging a horrors to carry the car home in the current condition as people were going to coast, especially those who knew what his standards are. The DC was driven around but it was done very far away from where he lived until the painter was ready a month later to lay on the fumes. While the car was down Davis did his first real mod with NEX coilovers to pull down the car. They were cheap and soon SYM realized, after getting back the car, they were crap especially in how they rode. Say wah, the car was on the road which he had to thank God for because the painter gave him greif. Finally being able to show his parents for the first time was a big thing and to give the car more pep, a 55 shot by Apex’i VAFC tuned under KES was bobolee’d onto the K20. That had the car pushing out north of 237hp which in all honesty Davis made the MOST of at every opportunity he got. Until, during a night on the town blazing de trail against a brethren, a drunk man came into the picture with his outta timing self as they always do and dealt the car a proper touch. To save weight in a DC everything is aluminum, so you could tell the panel damage was bad and since you can’t buff or pong out aluminum, what got damaged HAD to be changed. Down again, Sherwin began contemplating what next to do in order to jin-gay the flavouring and it came when he realized that although NOS was nice, the always having to refill part was very annoying - how about boost? With that thought he changed the clutch to an OMNI power and bought an Integra bolton
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A hybrid 24 under boost can at any moment tear a hole in a sphincter without batting a eye and just hearing it from a distance is a different kettle of fish which we at the magazine more than ready to help tote. C
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TUNING TECHNICA 43: Driver Series
VEHICLE MANAGEMENT By itself a car really can’t do anything; we don’t care how much the industry may want to say that a vehicle is smart. If it can’t bake sada, while washing wares and straddling a noodle no car is “smart”. Everything a car does is an extension of what the driver is telling it to do and it’s for that reasoning at the Sixth we will always put emphasis on getting drivers and by extension racers to think independently. You have a brain for a reason and as always if you don’t use it you WILL lose it. As is seldom understood, the only way to know if you are getting better is to take a seat and look back at how you are performing as a driver and make changes where necessary; no different from anything else in life. And the ONLY way to see whether or not what you are doing makes sense and whether or not the changes affects your driving for better or worse is to ask yourself questions. At the root of it all, the core purpose of looking at yourself and your driving performance is that it helps you overstand whether or not you are controlling the car in the most efficient way possible or whether you are just going thru the motions and acting out of learned bad habits that were formed from early in the game. Always remember and we are going to say it right thru this thing; if you keep on doing the wrong thing over and over, you will pretty much get very good at it eventually and it’s going to come back and bite you at the worse possible and usually unexpected time.
THIS SECTION IS SPONSORED in PART BY:
FGCL FRANK’S GENERAL
CONTRACTORS LIMITED
Don’t be Afraid; try SOMETHING NEW
Life is simple and trying new things as a driver allows you to expand your borders and raise the level on which you think by giving you the all important things that most people miss - OPTIONS. Having more options whether they are right or wrong gives you leverage and the ability to think on a wider scale. It doesn’t matter if the option works or not, all that matters is that you have other choices. The road is ever changing and sticking to one way all the time is counter productive. We are pretty sure you don’t stick to the hard and fast when it come to many activities in life, so why would you stick to one rigid way all the time when driving. Complementing the choice in options is the ability to be flexible in your thinking and being prepared to vary your technique accordingly to suit a particular scenario. One key thing to note and it’s something that we have always said at the magazine is that when driving to retain control; always focus on what you want the car to do and how the car feels vs. being overly consumed on whether or not you are consciously using the right technique; be loose enough to trust your mind and body to operate the controls of the car in the most natural way in order to produce the best result.
The only way to know if you are getting better is to take a sit down and look back at how you are performing as a driver and make changes where necessary.
Now you might be asking yourself; just like any other person who feel they know more than the Sixth why does all this matter ESPECIALLY if you have never gotten into an “accident”. Well; if you really look at it, being inefficient takes ALOT out of you and inefficient techniques saps energy, leads to premature fatigue AND it contributes to muscular tension - both of which are causes of stress. Mind you, this is just on a small scale eh - we can blow it up to show you how poor driving habits actually contribute to incremental health problems such as raising your blood pressure, bad eating habits and the list goes on. The whole objective in this particular Driver Series is to get you to take that step back, do a lil’ check pon yourself and by the end of the road help you to raise awareness on how you use your body to operate the car’s controls in order to affect the car’s behavior, and how your body and senses inform you of the car’s behavior from one moment to the next. By looking at it like this you can see that it’s a loop where you affect the car and the car in reverse affects you.
Raise YOUR AWARE
There are a number of checks that you gotta touch on to become better at allowing more information to come in the party and the key is not only identifying them but being smart enough to touch on them one at a time. Reason being, changing bad habits takes time and establishing proper ones takes even longer. No doubt when you begin on the road doing the opposite to what you have been doing wrong for a long period of time, you will feel odd as it out of your trained behavior. But if you devote the time to practicing the more efficient ways in the same way you did to the inefficient ways, it will become second nature in no time.
As THE driver; you are in control of the vehicle no matter what and anytime a car is driving you as opposed to you driving it, something is VERY wrong. Awareness begins with opening yuh eye and getting better means experimenting with 5 key areas that affect ANY and ALL drivers as far as inputs go. Remember what you put in is what you get out.
Steering | Acceleration & Deceleration | Braking | Gears | Cornering
STEERING: Turn the wheel nah.
When it come to steering the first question you should be asking yourself is does the car go where you want it when you turn the wheel. Steering is grounded on accuracy and there are many different techniques that you can use to achieve the same degree of accuracy. However, the ones that count is the ones that not only feel most natural but also the ones that makes the most efficient use of your energy reserves while providing the smoothest changes in direction - yep kids it’s about being fluid - like water. This is why steering feel and feedback is so important when choosing a car. Being able to get feedback is information your brain can process and allow you to make adjustments. Cars with numb steering or little feedback actually makes you prone to making more mistakes and in some cases overcompensating to certain changes in the road. Outside of the car itself another limit is the mind and steering is a pretty good example of how your mind can get in the way of letting the body move naturally. If you look at it, steering directly affects handling and overall performance; in fact, when next you drive take stock of the position of your hands and note whether or not it is placed in such a way so as to provide MAXIMUM stability. Some people tend to hold the top center of the steering wheel and adopting this position gives you less control and makes the car more susceptible to the effects of road inputs, especially if the road is bumpy. Excessive movement means you have to put MORE effort
SUE ANN LEE WILCOCK
Women of the Sixth
Just for the record is your fault this interview hadda do over twice eh. We would have gone thru the motions of thanking you but you giving trouble. How you end up in this thing? Don’t make it sound like that and it’s not my fault your equipment not working properly - LOL. Let’s see, I picked up manual from watching my father and uncle. Then I met my husband and he was into manual as well so you could say that I pretty much grew up in it. What was your experience like in terms of how and where you started in the life? I began like everybody else, by going to a regular driving school; but of course you know the lessons they give are not enough. So between my father and husband they taught me pretty much everything I know now. And no I did not buy my permit, I learned things the hard way with practice, practice and more practice.
“There is this thing where they think that if you drive you are automatically going to get into an accident. That is NOT true.”
Well they always say that life’s best lesson are always learned the hard way and you ent find women have it easy already; take a lil pain. What has been the biggest challenge in manual for you? Hills! Mastering hills was definitely a challenge especially after a rollback. Once I was coming out of Ellerslie Plaza, there was a car right up under me on an incline; balancing the clutch was a bit difficult at first, so I ended up rolling back and almost hit the person behind me. That was SCARY! Pshtt that’s normel- waking up in a world where there is no more MANUAL, now that is scary! How was the support for you when you were getting into it, was it positive vibez or level heaviness. Nah I had a lot of suppor t, especially from my husband and father. So when you out and about what is the usual average reaction from the masses? Most time when I stop at a traffic light people would look at me - look at the car; look at me - look at the car; look at me - then look at the car. And it’s usually with an “Is she really driving manual” look. Then it’s like can she really drive that. When the lights change and they see,
THE PURPLE PEOPLE BEATER
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NO MATTER
the place; no matter the time, when two or more bike men are gathered under the liquid you are going to find some ole talk. By itself, ole talk is just that - talk that’s stale like 2 week old hops. But sprinkle in the oral spice of whose bike faster than who, you then get generous helpings of cantankerous bacchanal that can make what was supposed to be a moment among brethren turn into a circle of comess that will eventually lead to pretty much one thing - a callout. Nobody and we repeat NOBODY likes that kinda sweat more than SixthSpeed and one classic case of such a scenario was when Johann Ferdinand pumped with a team and everybody end up by drinking hole. Things was normal and in no time talk start passing like a Pentecostal collection plate between conspirators Stretch, Neil & Davidson with Stretch leading the grand charge saying that there is no way that the 2008 Suzuki Hayabusa that Johann just bought could beat his 2012 ‘Busa. On the ropes and just absorbing the flavor with partner Mikey pouring the flames on his behalf, Johann wasn’t about to let this level of rinse slide jes so. We all know when a man bump gum and issue dat kinda challenge, you can’t back down - how it go look. Somebody hadda get put in their place.
Johann came to pick up ting and a quick blast around the block had him shaking this bike was scary fast. So different was this thing that he was genuinely scared as spit to ride it.
Knowing fully well that Stretch had the advantage of sheer experience and 20 plus more HP in his gen 2 Hayabusa, the only option Johann had to level the playing field was to forget the brushing cutlass and come out swinging with a proper wacker. That meant juicing the ‘ Busa up with the power needed to silence the lambs. So one time after talking to Mikey who himself has a built ‘ Busa (go read issue 12 if you have it) a call was put in to TuneTech to make things happen with the only stipulation being the bike had to be ready in 1 week. That’s right kids - the bike had one week in which to get ready as the button to dingolay was already touched, pressed and pounded.
SixthSpeed21 | www.sixthspeed.com
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In a day when it was considered taboo, the performance potential of the rotary was cried down by men who yam on nothing but parrot bottom.
TRINBAGONIANS
can be VERY deceitful by nature. You hadda watch dem properly because in public is one face but when they inside is a horse of a different color. We all know it’s a well established that everybody’s deep, dark, decadent desire is to own a rotors; so potent is the craving that many men are caught in a prolonged conflict between heart and perception of the mind. We at the Sixth have seen the GREATEST proclain to the highest about piston but when they reach home and close the doors, is endless parco water wasting like a ruptured WASA main over a car that is sexier than a promotional payslip BEFORE tax. Just like his dad and uncles who were born bred rotary men and properly lived the Wankle life with endless RE, RX2 and everything else eccentric come up the road between the 4 of them. The stick was passed to Vickash Nancoo himself passed thru all manner of car including another FD before landing this - a straight like a needle, bone stock, 1993 FD3S Mazda RX7 3rd Gen formally owned by a Licence office official. Once again, if you into performance car in this country you know what that means when driving thru roadblock - he ULTRA safe. Bought used from a car dealer in 2013, the foundation was to kit the car out so as to conform to the then up and coming stance scene. That meant throwing on some mandatory wide as you can get them 9.5 x 18 with stretched tyres, painting it in matte red and doing a few small ting. Forget it wasn’t that all that practical since the core of stance is aesthetics BUT say wah; it was the trend for the hour and just like all things living in the hour - time was up thus opening the window for Vickash to switch things back to the roots from whence he
FOR THE GOOD OF THE ROTOR
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Under new motivation and a different head to finish the burner, the project that was supposed to make men weep turned into one that would help pull a man thru the trenches when he was down.
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