Hey AI… A few months ago we did the filming for DSPORT Magazines S2K Challenge and New Car Review at a local California racetrack. I was summoned to do all the test driving for the road course segments for these two articles. It finally hit newsstands this week and the September issue features extensive coverage and an hour long DVD! You won’t want to miss this issue, its the best one yet. Check it out!

View the DVD Trailer:

For more info, visit www.dsportmag.com.

- ROBBIE

It was a busy day driving. I piloted six S2K that were supercharged or turbocharged, one with just our spec suspension setup, and a stock car for comparison. We got great data and should be an exciting feature for an upcoming issue of DSPORT Magazine and their DVD’s.

Stay tuned!

This season, Lateral D is back with a bang! Sicker than ever with sick cars, sick track layouts and with more crazy drivers! LOL! Every year, Burnt Rubber Productions makes Lateral D bigger and bigger. I remember, when the events were held at CCP with only a few sponsors and now it’s hella crazy that a lot of companies are trying to get into the bandwagon. It’s really great to be part of history seeing this sport grow.

my s15 all taped up

The 1st round is over, however, I would just like to share that it was one for the books for me as a competitor. April 25, 2009 is the date that I won 2nd place and my 2nd time to step into the podium. This was the highest position I was able attain in my drifting career, what an unforgettable experience! Though, it was something I wasn’t even expecting. Earlier that day, I was already having problems with the car and my driving style. Qualifying for the top 16 was already a problem for me knowing that I’m still having a hard time adjusting to the new car and having to deal with a sliding clutch. My 1st run was not pretty at all! Under-steer on the first turn but luckily I was able to finish that run. Good thing I was able to get a conservative yet not so great 2nd and 3rd run. I thought my day was over knowing the fact that I was wasn’t driving a 100%. I was already losing hope of actually getting into the top 8 if this continues through out the day…. Surprisingly, my name was called as one of the top 16 drivers! I was actually happy I made it past the first eliminations…

As the eliminations for the top 8 spots began, the same problems I had during the previous eliminations happened again for my 1st run! I made sure that gave the crowd and the judges a good solid 2nd and 3rd run which I actually did with style and a broken bumper. I was praying that those runs were good enough to get me into the top 8! Luckily, my prayers were answered! I made it into the top against top qualifier Lt. Dan Javier. Dan was driving like a mad man earlier that day sticking the rear of his car to the barriers and clipping every point with speed and great angle. 1st run I was in front and Dan had the advantage, I know Dan is one of those very unpredictable drivers not knowing if he’s going to do. I made sure that I would make him get near me as possible during that run. 2nd run, I have the advantage but unluckily I spun out at the first turn. Score tied at 1-1, we both know that we have to give this our best for us to advance. 3rd run, it was a tight battle but Dan under-steered at the 1st turn committing the same mistake I did during the 2nd run giving me the win.

me and jason during practice. Who knew that it would be me and him figting it out for the win that day

Top 4, it was Me vs Kevin tayao and Yellow Cab’s Alex Perez vs AI’s Jason Choachuy. The battle between Jason and Alex was really tight but Jason got the win upsetting the champ Alex Perez who would later win 3rd place that day. Next in line was me against Kevin. Kevin is one of those drivers that I really looked up too in this sport and it was really crazy that I would go head to head with him. 1st run I was able to get the win with my balls in my throat cause I was really nervous during this time. 2nd run, I felt more relaxed after getting that point during the 1st run. As the 2nd run began, Kevin was in front we were really close going towards the first turn, we initiated almost the same time making it really close but Kevin clipped the tire barrier which flew into my line which caused me to stop and losing the point to Kevin. Scored tied once again, its do or die for me. 3rd run was to close to call that the judges had to call one more time. 4th run Kevin in front, we were close approaching the first turn. I wasn’t expecting that the unexpected would happen, Kevin spinning out. I was thinking “Is this what I think it is?” truly enough, I heard the announcer say “Mr Revilla!!! You are going to the finals!!” I don’t know what I was feeling but for sure I was really happy to be there in the finals going head to head with my teammate!

it really doesn’t matter if I win or lose but come to think of it, it was a damn hard to get into the finals and I’m not going to give up with out a fight. Now or never, it was my first time to be in the finals. 1st run and 2nd run both drivers were given one point each. 3rd run, it was hella close! It was hella disappointing spinning out towards the end of the course! With that mistake, Jason got the win making him the champion for the 1st round! Like I said win or lose it didn’t matter, I was just happy to be there competing head to head with Dan, Kevin and Jason. That day, I realized that I burnt my clutch and I pretty much lost my bumper..

before

and after

Next round will be another story but till then, see you guys on round 2 this Saturday May 23, 2009!! Same time same place!

I WOULD LIKE TO THANK MY SPONSORS DMF DRIFT, PR AUTOSPORT, AUTOLINE, STAGE 21 BODYKITS, VISUAL SPEED AUTO DESIGN, AGR EXHAUSTS, MAXXIS TIRES, AUTOINDUSTRIYA AND MY WONDERFUL PARENTS!!

See you guys on round 2!!

-Bryan Revilla

I got my start in racing in 2000 when I took a 3-Day Racing School at Skip Barber, driving their Formula cars around Laguna Seca. I got hooked and immediately looked for ways to go racing. We chose to utilize Skip Barber’s ladder system to help get me into the high levels of racing through scholarships and affordable racing. I competed a few seasons in the Formula Dodge Western series and took the championship in 2002 with 8 wins and 9 pole positions. I moved up to the next step and competed in the Formula Dodge National Championship against drivers like Scott Speed (Nascar via F1), AJ Allmendinger (Nascar via Champ Car), and many other future stars. In 2003, I won a scholarship from the prestigious Barber-Champ Car Runoff to race a limited schedule in the Barber Dodge Pro Series.

From then on I’ve competed in several series including Star Mazda, Formula BMW USA, and NASA. For 2009, we are working hard to race in the Indy Lights series or Grand-Am Rolex sports car series.

As for the Tuner industry, I’ve been heavily involved in this market for the past decade in the states. I started off working for a tuner shop called Area 51 Fabrications, building SEMA cars and project cars for OE manufactures. After I got hired by the IDRC organization to oversee the marketing for their import drag race series (IDRC) and two new publications (DRAG Sport and Tuner Performance Reports). Once we saw the drag racing trend start to die, we changed the name of the magazine to DSPORT. This allowed us to include drifting, high performance driving, road racing, and still keep drag racing. We built many project cars, hosted huge national motorsports events, including the first D1GP competition, and just had a lot of fun! I now do marketing consultation for companies looking for a specialist in motorsports and/or the youth-oriented tuner industry.

And if all that wasn’t enough, I’m also a professional driver coach. I’ve been coaching for the Skip Barber school for nearly 6 years now and also do a lot of private coaching with aspiring racecar drivers (including Mark and Michele Bumgarner, Gaby dela Merced). I also work with a lot of exotic and sports car owners, helping them build a solid foundation of driving fundamentals to understand how to drive their cars to its potential. I love coaching because it allows me to help others learn the craft and to see them succeed is self-fulfilling.

So stay tuned as I try to bring you interesting content from the States! In the meantime, feel free to check out my website at www.montinola.com.