999 Ambulance

Recently spotted this 999 Ambulance in Taiwan during one of my Dragon Boat races.

The fastest looking ambulance I've ever seen.

Ventil Sauber

Lubro Moly/Liqui Moly Valve Clean (Ventil Sauber)

This stuff works.

Threw a can into my parent's 2002 BMW X5 3.0i before filling up at the usual gas station. After driving around for a couple days I can say for sure that the car feels like it runs smoother and perhaps maybe even peppier. I'd recommend it.

Formula One racer driven out by trash

My response to this recent article in the Calgary Herald:
Formula One racer driven out by trash By Paula Arab - July 27, 2011
Source: http://www.calgaryherald.com/sports/Arab+Formula+racer+driven+trash/5168649/story.html

Mark Lin - Photo by Kyle Ho

Well, Calgary is losing a race track, which is being replaced by a garbage dump, and Allen Berg along with his school despite Castrol Raceway being developed 2.5 hours north of Calgary. I guess with all the tough luck and poor conditions of our local track it made him feel like it was not worth while for his business to gamble on a track that wasn't built yet.

It really is too bad, as he is the only person to offer this kind of a driving program locally. Allen Berg was also one of the few Canadians to have raced in F1. He also competed alongside one of my heroes Ayrton Senna.

Allen Berg is relocating his school to Auto Club Speedway in Fontana, California. I'd like to wish him best of luck and maybe I'll drive in the future at Auto Club Speedway in one of his formula cars.

Flashback 2008

Looking back on old videos of when I first started tracking; all I can say is Wow my driving was bad.

The videos weren't any better either.

Flashback to July 30, 2008

Local Support for Motorsports

 I came across a thread (link) on Beyond.ca that talked about local Alderman support for a local motorsports facility and decided to write a letter to Alderman Shane Keating.  I sent the following message:

Alderman Shane Keating,

I read in a recent article from the Calgary Sun titled "Alderman puts motorsports strategy in gear" dated January 11, 2011

(http://www.calgarysun.com/news/alberta/2011/01/11/16849896.html)

I would just like to say that I really appreciate that several alderman such as yourself has taken interest in the motorsports sub-culture and see it as more than a group of speed-crazed reckless people.  I have been using the Race City facility for the past 6-7 years (since I was 16) and on average I am at Race City 14 times or more per year.  Motorsports is so important to me that not only do I use Race City's facility, but I have traveled to Edmonton, Red Deer, Saskatoon, Vancouver and even Seattle just to participate in motorsports.

I'm glad to see that there are those that don't currently participate in motorsports but see the importance and support a 'motorsports friendly' community.

Currently, I have moved out of Canada but upon coming back last week to visit, one of the first things I did was check the Calgary Sports Car Club website.  I noticed that there was an event for Sunday (Jan.16).  Although I moved and had no vehicle to participate in, a fellow member of the motorsports community whom I haven't even met actually offered to let me drive their car at the Sunday Rallycross event held at Race City.

I can also assure you I'm not the only person that has traveled from elsewhere, noticed that there were events in Calgary and found ways to participate.  I have friends from Edmonton that do come down to Calgary to participate in events at Race City multiple times during the summer so I would not be surprised if you receive comments from people outside of Calgary.

Motorsports is not only limited to people that race either, often there are many other people that participate in a variety of ways such as volunteering or working at the events and photographers.

Although I have temporarily moved away, I still keep a close eye on the motorsports community and support it from afar.  My hope is that eventually, everybody will be understanding of motorsports and know what it means to the individuals that participate; whether it be racing, participants in other aspects of the sport that make it successful and how it also supports to local businesses.

Thank you for your support,

Mark Lin

Website - http://www.marklinracing.com

Blog - http://marklinracing.blogspot.com

YouTube Channel - http://www.youtube.com/user/marklinracing

Facebook Page - http://www.facebook.com/MarkLinRacing

Motorsport - Every Second Counts

This is one of the best motorsports tribute I have ever seen.
'Antti' always seems to make some pretty good motorsports/racing tributes.

Motorsport - Every Second Counts Made by: antti

2010 CSCC Solo Sprint Championships - 3rd Place

I managed to place 3rd in Group C this year, which was not as good as much 1st in Group C last year for CSCC Solo Sprint Championships and 2nd last year in Speedway Performance Time Attack series but it was still podium.

Even though I did not reach my goal of breaking into 1:23s @ Race City Speedway I did manage a best of 1:24.3 which was 'close'.  Seeing as the race track is closing in Oct. 2011 and I've currently moved to Taiwan, I do not know if I'll ever get a chance to reach my goal.  Despite not having ran as many events as I would've liked this year, I was quite happy with my own personal improvement and performance.

I do believe I could've had 1st Place though if I had my power steering which seemed crucial for the smaller and tighter track; Stratotech Park.  My strong arm steering was not enough to combat the forces acting on the front drive/steering wheels.  The car felt impossible to drive... which prevented me from performing my best.

The awards and year-end party was held earlier this month but since I was in Taiwan I was unable to collect my trophy.  Hopefully I can pick it up next time I'm back in town to visit.