Way back in the 1980s…. Sorry Clone High. Couldn’t resist.
Back in the day, somewhere around the year 2000, my little brother, Roger, was looking for a car. What he wanted was a 1989 Toyota MR2 (AW11). We had a neighbour, Levio, who owned a repair shop in town (Milton, Ontario), who also had a dealer license, and we also had the Toronto Auto Auctions location just on the edge of town. While Levio did go looking, he advised Roger that getting an AW11 would, in a word or two, kill him.
This isn’t exactly inaccurate – Rog had a heavy, heavy foot (as we’ll see later), and a rear-engine, short-wheelbase turbo was potentially trouble. So. What Levio found, and what Roger bought, eventually was a 1991 Mazda MX6 GT Turbo.
During Roger’s ownership, I always got the impression he loved it. One of these days, I’ll get him on the podcast (he’s not quite as huge a car fan as I am, but he definitely is one) and the question du jour will be “What’s your favourite car that you’ve owned, and why is it the Mazda MX6 GT Turbo?”. It was good enough, I think that his next car was the more sedate Mazda Protege5 (wagon).
Ok, it’s been a while, but I like putting this stuff “on the record” and then seeing how wrong I am. I wasn’t ENTIRELY wrong when I talked about what Acura needed to be in the future (this was back in 2014) (I really keep coming back to that piece), but I wasn’t entirely right, either. Chevy’s apparently bringing the Camaro back in 2027/28.
So, why did this turn into a post? Because I found this out by watching Throttle House’s video on the Yuzu Edition GR86. It’s a great car, but irritating – I get a special edition has to be somewhat limited (and should be) but 30 units of a $40k car? That… just seems dumb. A couple hundred at least? Although I love the yellow. You know what? Just watch the video.
So, how does this lead to predicting what Acura should be, and beyond?
Well, it’s the “beyond” that’s fun. Sadly, Acura has very little to do with this conversation.
Man, it’s January 2026, and I suddenly realized, while I processed all my pictures from Oblivion 2025 (I think I have a roll of film that still needs to get taken in though), I never posted anything or talked about it.
So, here we are, reminiscing, as the case may be.
To begin with, Oblivion, if you aren’t aware, is Ontario’s answer to the Radwood style of car event. I don’t know if Radwood goes this far into the culture side of things, but Oblivion is officially an “80s and 90s Cars and Culture show”, and they aren’t kidding. If you’ve not experienced it, I highly recommend it, whether that’s as a participant (you register and bring your car from the era) or just as a guest. It always hits at the beginning of August, and 2025 was year six, with a theme of “Drive-In movie”. Oh, yeah, that’s right, there’s always a theme.
Honestly, this one is pretty simple. the TL:DR is “buy the winter tires, use them”.
If we’re going to get a little deeper, gain a little more nuance to the conversation, yes, you can use “all-weather” and, the big one here in North America, the “Three-peak Severe Snow Rated” All-Terrain. Under specific large scale conditions.
As always, Tyre Reviews has the data, so watch the video:
The take away?
If you live in a climate where it gets cold(ish), but you see very little precipitation – you get light snow occasionally, and you don’t get rain that then freezes to ice on the roads? These are actually a good choice.
In the same vein, if you use these types of “winter” A/T tires as three-season tires, they’ll keep you going, and safe, if you get that early (or late) snow fall or winter blast in either November (like we just got here in Ottawa!) or in April.
However. A used dedicated winter tire did significantly, dramatically better in snow/ice conditions, over any of the A/T “three peak” tires. The kind of dramatic difference that is the difference between having an accident, or not having the accident. Feet, or metres, whatever your preference. And that difference grows the faster you’re going (obviously?).
If you get regular cold weather, with heavy precipitation, and freeze/thaw cycles? There is NO choice for you 4000+lb bullet. You buy the winter tires, or you’re not safe on the road. It’s that simple.
I was watching Sarah’n’Tuned’s review of the Mitsubishi Outlander, which, honestly, is worth a watch. The interesting thing was, as she was talkign about handling (and it does have some, but more that it apparently seems to communicate that the chassis would like to do more but can’t, with the suspension that’s there) I was thinking about the Mitsubishi EVO (aka Lancer Evolution for those not in the know). If you watch the video, she suggests the awesome, older Pajero Evo but I wondered, as she did, could there be an Evo XI?
I’ve had issues with the exhaust on the Merkur for a while – long enough I’ve built (badly) my first exhaust. I put a new catalytic converter on it, because yes, catalytics are important, and the power gained from not having a modern catalytic is negligible (if you’re going to argue, go argue with Steve Dinan. Yes, THAT Steve Dinan. He lost 16hp on a 926hp Audi. That means my car with a catalytic probably loses a single horse power) but I continued to melt the catalytic.
First, the name. Luxury 1 is just “package 1 of the luxury trim”. Luxury trim, rather than sport, is “more chrome”. Sport is more blacked out and/or body colour. No Sunroof, but a HUUUUGE (I’d say 6 foot) glass roof, single piece, fixed, with an auto shade. Really nice.
I only drove it for half an hour, BUT, credit to Surgenor Cadillac, sales dude asked me immediately “do you want me to come along, or do you want to just go by yourselves?” I appreciate that – I don’t need a chaparone for a test drive, and having someone who often knows less than I do babbling the brochure in my ear sucks.
This last weekend was kinda good. I rolled down to Dad’s and we spent a ton of time going through unorganized pictures – boxes of them.
But this is a car story.
A long long time ago, I had finished my first year of school… you know, I’m now mixed up on this timeline. Huh. How wierd is that?
So, my thing on it was that, well, I finished my first year, and came home for the summer. Hung out at lunch one day with my brother, Roger and his friends, and spent my last twenty bucks on lunch and some bits and pieces. With five bucks left, I went to the smoke shop across the food court, and bought a drink, and a scratch’n’win BINGO ticket. I won five grand, and one of the things I did was buy a car.
But that doesn’t actually work. And that’s the story I’ve had in my head for two, three decades now. But it doesn’t work. Because the first AND second year I was at Carleton, I was at Barb’s place on Marco Lane, and the third year, I was on Chesterton with Max & Pils in the apartment. I didn’t have a car those years. The summer I bought the car, I drove back up to Ottawa in the fall and parked in the driveway at SKEENA – and I was dating Sharon* by then.
Well, here we are! I finally did it. I sold the Genesis Coupe, and bought a project car. Lets see how this goes.
I also managed to make the longest possible title for this. You’re welcome.
We’re going to try somethings with both current projects (Mine, and Colton’s ’81 RX7) – I’m definitely going to be documenting mine in text and pictures, but we’re also going to try video as we work, as well. Do not expect quality (or family friendly) programming. I think we’ll be rating work on a “how many beers to do the job” level. Let the hilarity ensue.
As for me, I should introduce the project car, shouldn’t I?
I bought a very, very clean (but not perfect) 1987 Merkur XR4Ti. While it’s not EXACTLY a Ford Sierra Cosworth it’s close enough for me at this time.
But you want to SEE it, right?
Very briefly, I had it, and my old Genesis, in the driveway together:
That’s a glorious sight, eh?
Well, here’s the gallery over at The Drunken Wrench’s Flickr (until we get better hosting set up). But here’s a selection of shots so you can get the idea. The Gallery will likely hold the minutia.
So, what’s on the agenda?
Well, first things first, I need to get it on the road. That means “safety”. There’s a couple of leaks that shouldn’t be a ton of trouble to deal with (in order of difficulty – oil leak, transmission leak, power steering leak – more on those individually later), and tires.
The oil leak appears to be due to a bad seal where the aftermarket oil pressure gauge is tapped in, so pulling it and adding some seal to the threads (teflon tape if it’s not a “hot” location, something else if it is) should do the job.
The Transmission leak appears to be from the speedometer cable at the transmission. That’s likely an o-ring. It’s a $7 o-ring, and the difficulty appears to be sourcing one locally (for a T5 transmission). I’m not paying $20 shipping from the US for a friggin’ o-ring in an envelope. That’s bullshit, CJPonyParts. I know damn well that shipping doesn’t cost that on that part.
The power steering will be more involved. It is the rack that’s leaking, on the passenger side. Upside, the previous owner had bought a seal kit, and is giving it to me. Note the tense on that. He had hoped to pick it up when he was at Carlisle at the end of May, but it wasn’t in in time. So, he’s mailing it to me when it arrives at his place. It’s not arrived yet, however, so I’m waiting on that. In terms of difficulty, this is an ”I’ve never done this before” job. So… that should be interesting. Stay tuned.
There’s also an exhaust leak which is questionably located: A generous safety would pass me anyway. A serious and involved one likely would not:
I’ve already ordered, and received, a new Driveshaft Center Support Bearing. This looks like it’s a “muscle” job, rather than being particularly difficult. I may need a new piece of pipe though….
I had originally planned on putting OEM 195/60R15’s on, getting saftied, and running the car this summer. However, the summer is half gone, and I have zero time, so, I’ve decided that she’ll hit the road first thing in the spring. I may have her saftied in the fall, just before I start doing work on it, BUT, we’ll see what’ll happen.
Why don’t I just do the wheels and tires I want and giv’r? well:
That’s because there is NO ROOM for other wheel/tire combo’s. We actually had a hard time getting the straps for the trailer between the wheel/tire and strut. It’s really tight in there. So, while I want to go with a wider wheel/tire, it’s gotta wait for some suspension upgrades.
And I think I’ll talk about them separately, because I’m still learning about what’s involved there. Needless to say, like everything with the XR4Ti, it’s “non standard”. But, from what I’ve read, it’ll buy me a couple things.
A] much, much better handling
B] a bunch of room inside the front wheel-well to make room for a wider wheel and tire
C] slightly lower ride-height
More details later, because there’s actually more suspension material gonna happen.
So, that’s the basics of the new project. I’d really like it on the road this summer, but with a lot of family stuff going on, AND a major renovation happening late summer/early fall, AND work, and, you know, parenthood, it may not happen. That’d be a shame, but I don’t think I’ll hate it, either. I can live one summer without the toy, and just do a lot of photography.
I guess I should talk a little about “goals” for the car. It’s always important to have a plan, and mine is already evolving. First and foremost, I want to take care of it. It’s a hell of a survivor – effectively a one family car – and it’s got original paint, and just shy of 200,000km on it as I start to make it Mine. There’s some mild modifications already (the previous owner, Rick, had done the T5 transmission swap, and KYB struts/shocks). Otherwise, it’s pretty stock. It’s had some surface rust repaired, and there’s some dents. Those are likely to stay for a little while.
The goal is driving it though. I want it to be reliable and fun. As always, my preference is to sharp handling – I do love me some corners. I want to be able to go to the track for an afternoon, and not have issues. I want to be able to do a thousand kilometer roundtrip to various breweries, or the cottage. She’s gotta go to the Tail of the Dragon. I’m told that I have to go to Carlisle at some point for the Merkur meet-up. Autocross is DEFINITELY on the table.
In other words, I’m gonna put some miles on her, and they’re not all gonna be easy ones. But that’s ok.
What it means, though is that suspension is the first thing on my mind, tightening everything up that’s become loose over the last thirty two years, and that’s not limited to shocks, struts, and springs. Good rubber is a must have. I want to widen the stance/track of the car – again, for cornering stability. I would like to see a little more power, and there’s a path to that, too. There’s definitely a road-rally look in my head for the car.
And I’ve already gotten my first response to some parts help from <a href=http://www.mc2racing.comMC2Racing. The community surrounding the car is pretty interesting. I mean, I do have the Basterds to fall back on, but there’s two distinct, car-specific communities: The Merkur Club of America, and TurboFord (due to the shared drivetrain between the XR4Ti, Mustang SVO, and Thunderbird TurboCoupe.
So, I plan to learn a lot. I’m going to do a ton in the first year, and then ease into some additional work (like power) after that.
Well, holy! That was a WAAAAAAAAAY better race for me.
I’m getting ahead of myself, though.
We had a nearly three week break between Laguna Seca and Sunday night’s Nurburgring GP. Despite that, I got less practice time on the track than any track so far this year. That’s really surprising and I don’t really know how that happened. Oh. I do. Civilization VI got into my blood again. Also, a nineteen hour roadtrip to look at a potential project car.
So, Nurburgring!
As you can imagine, with that kind of lack of practice, I was somewhat worried. I’ve run this course a lot in other games – it’s a staple of the Forza franchise – but I’ve not run it with these cars, or in Assetto Corsa. So colour me surprised when I started turning out practice laps in the 1m50-1m51 range. Colour me even more surprised when I hopped on the server and found that the fast guys were running 1m45-1m48!
As always, it’s hosted by Simwerks, and we have colour commentary from The Greasy Fix. You can see the full race and commentary here on twitch.
Race time. Qualifying had gone reasonably – I don’t generally worry much about it. I know I’m not going to be running clean up front, and being able to judge the temperament into turn one is always beneficial for me. So, I qualified fourteenth, of twenty or so. Not bad. First, the video of the race, and then, the play-by-play.
The race was exciting. It was actually a really good race. Like, really good, with one or two shadows on it.
With a new set of headphones solving my voice/game sound/discord issues[1], and my position on the track, Race 1 began really well. I got a good jump on the mid-pack guys on green, and got a good line down the inside, as well. Came hard (heh heh) into turn one, and picked up twelfth place. There were some big incidents early on, up front, with the fast guys getting hard into it (and I need to rewatch that and see what happened) but it meant that some of us slower guys got into the top ten (yes, I did!) for a while.
The craziest was this one – someone got turned around on the first lap, and someone else came off a corner, went wide and… well, you can see the action in my rearview as they went head-to-head:
Things settled a bit for me then, and I got into a groove. I was chasing Maxime, Eric, and Dylan most of the race (or they were chasing me). Things got seriously dicey about half-way into the race when Eric spun heading into NGK Chicane. It all happened very quickly. I was following the two of them and Eric went deep on the inside, maybe a little too fast, but maybe not bad.
They came together, and spun, but because it’s a super slow corner (first or second gear, depending on your gearing and aggression) they didn’t fly off it. That’s bad for me, as I was only about forty feet behind them, waiting to see what happened on the exit, to see if I could pick up a better run out, and maybe get one of ‘em by cutting tight into Coca-Cola before the front straight.
Unfortunately, Eric stopped in the middle of the corner. I tried to figure out in a couple of tenths of a second where he might end up, and I chose wrong – he backed into the space I expected to drive through.
Fortunately, I was under 30km/h/15mph by then, so the impact wasn’t bad, but it put me off track, and trying to get out of the way of oncoming traffic. Also, no major damage (and I don’t think any from me to (Eric) either. I hope). I could feel some mild downforce loss from the front wing, but within two laps I had that sorted into the feel of the car.
Unfortunately, I lost a bunch of spots, and ended up back on the track, but in sixteenth. Fortunately again, I fought my way back up (mostly by being consistent, and letting other people make mistakes) gathered up Maxime again, and fought with both Eric, and Dylan to the end of the race.
I finished 13th, which is bloody fantastic. It did put me middle of the pack for the start of Race 2, and everyone had an idea what to expect going into the first corner.
I Lost a few spots early on, but some of those were to fast guys who’d had issues and started at the back. And, a couple of braking-too-early incidents for me. Fortunately, a couple of contacts and offs by other people left me still in thirteenth on the second lap, and fighting with Dylan.
In previous posts, I’ve noted that I’m too generous in traffic – I give spots away too easily, to prevent possible racing incidents. I got more aggressive today, and it paid off: See 32m13s in the race video, and my first fight with Dylan. We ran side-by-side through Dunlop-Kehre, and I actually got the line, and held it going into Michelin-Kurve.
Third lap, and another incident in the first corner put me into tenth (first incident I saw with the guy I discuss later on, too). At this point, I was chasing Maxime again (for 9th!) and coming up through Michelin, he spun, and FAST. Too fast, in fact,a nd then stopped immediately in the middle of the track. I clipped the back of him, ended up in the grass, but no major damage and I got back on the track and kept going. Lost a couple of spots again though – Zach and Colin managed to get by on the inside with some very smart driving.
There was at least one new player in the field this week. From watching the simwerks/greasy fix broadcast, and going back through mine, and talking to some of the guys, this one player had at LEAST four major incidents (he/she drove into the side of me at turn one, making a pass on an angle that would have cut the racing line in two places, even if braking from that speed was even possible. You can see it at (time) in the race video). Based on my (on racing line) entry position to the turn, it was physically impossible for the driver to do anything other than a] hit me or b] go off track and hit me. So, that’s what he did.
That’s just what I saw. For a new player to do that is absolutely bullshit. For any player to do that is absolutely bullshit. This isn’t Burnout or Need for Speed – this is a simulator, and that’s NOT how race drivers drive. Not for long, anyway. This is the moment I saw – unfortunately, I don’t have it from outside the car.
He spun in the same place the next lap, too. So, I got my position back. But, I’d have been some pissed if he’d put me out of the race.
I know at least one of the guys gave up a spot to this driver, simply because they didn’t want their race completely ruined by getting hit by someone. I’m mildly bitter that without this guy careening around, I MIGHT have placed tenth in the second race, which would have been my top finish so far. Beyond that, if they’re a dilettante, and don’t show up again (kinda hope they don’t) they’ve taken points from people who’re racing all year, and throwing a one-time wrench in the works. And yeah, it’s JUST a game, it really is. But we’re investing a ton of time in it, and effort, and working to get better at it while keeping things fun. And this is a significant detraction from that fun.
Thing is, he has no need to drive like that. He’s actually fast as fuck, and if he was slightly less aggressive, he’d probably be faster still, because he’d spend less time spinning, in the grass, or breaking his, and others, cars. Probably have more fun, too.
I should probably record from within assetto corsa, as well, but I haven’t really thought about that so far, just been concentrating on on twitch broadcast, and not embarrassing myself. 😀
The rest of the race was solid. I got back into a pack that was fighting with each other, and got into seriously well with Dylan again, and Eric, and Tayler.
Unfortunately “that player” “loiic”? was back (like I said, they’re really fast), and Dylan gave way to him (going into that first corner at speed, to avoid an incident. He (loiic) got me pretty fairly (when you watch it) going into Michellin – but I gave space because with 3 minutes left to go, I was looking at my best finish, and I’d have been pissed if someone diving up the inside for a questionable pass took me out. As a cyclist, I know damn well that “dead and right” is still dead.
Second last lap, and I got a place back (into 11th) because Marc-Andre had hardware problems with his Occulus, and dumped out of first all the way back through he pack. That’s a crap way to drop off, and seems to be a chronic problem with Occulus, hope they get that fixed with the next generation.
It looks like I’ve found something regarding saving video in game – Assetto Corsa offers a “replay” based on your ram size. Menu option max’s at 500meg, but apparently you can edit documents/assetto corsa/cfg/replay.ini and change “MAX_SIZE_MB” to 500+. I’d like to get the whole event, not just qualifying, or one race. Have to play with that. I should be able to give it at least a gig, and if that’ll give me an hour, hour and a quarter, that might do it, and my videos may get A LOT better. As may my editing skills[2].
Bit more play-by-play this post – let me know what you think. My video is getting better too, I think, so I’ll keep refining that, as well.
All in all, much, much better race day for me this weekend! Next week (we’re back to nearly weekly until the end of the season) is Paul Ricard. Difficulty rating: I’ve never run a lap in any game or simulator, here, ever. So. This should be fun. Sounds like I’m not the only one though. Which may make it even more fun.
See you next week!
~mark.
[1] I know I’ve mentioned this in other posts, but I finally found out what the issue was. It’s a problem with the way Windows utilizes Bluetooth. It’s a known issue with Discord, and the fix turns out to be “don’t use Bluetooth”. That really means, use either a wired set of headphones, or a different wireless protocol. In my case, that meant I went out and got a 2.4ghz SteelSeries Arctis 7 headet. Problem solved.
[2] I’m learning Vegas Pro 15 which I picked up in a HumbleBundle a few months back.
The Drunken Wrench 