Author Archives: Garth Ivers

HachiRockin’ The Super GP

November 1, 2009 in Events by

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Diehard drift addict & HR Member Sam Holz was once again ripping up the taxpayers tarmac at this years Super GP! The four days of Super GP were said to be almost dreamlike: drifting the main streets of the Gold Coast with the cops waving at you to speed up – not slow down!

After taking some time out to recover from the post-race ‘celebrations’, we caught up with Sam for a little insight into his weekend:

The car was fitted with a matt black BN body kit from Ant @ Kaizen Garage. It had to be fitted to participate in the on track demos at the Super GP and also for thee Friday night competition (where the pics are from). Basic stickers were added to ‘spice’ the car up a bit too. New diff gears were also added two weeks before the event due to damaging the old ones. With only limited choice of a solitary diff centre, I had to go with a somewhat odd 4.8 ratio which was a big step from the 3.9 I’ve been running for what seems forever. All in all, the car held up well and with high temps on track, a water cooling setup was added at the last minute. In typical 86 fashion, we just moved the windscreen sprayer lines to the front to cool the oil cooler and radiator. It was budget but it worked – and well!  The throttle was sticking on full throttle all night at the comp and making things interesting but that was fixed for the GP with some backyard spacing and adding a large return spring to the throttle.

We’re you there to see it? If not, the boys should be at it again next year, so keep and eye on the Super GP website.  Hit the jump for more pics!

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MotorDriven x HR AE86 Annual

October 29, 2009 in Community, Events by

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Local AE86 owner and gun lensman Matt Mead certainly gets around the motorsport traps here in Australia, but he took time out last weekend to join us on the 2009 HR AE86 Annual.  Check out his shots over at his blog MotorDriven.

Pimp My 4A-G!

October 19, 2009 in Parts & Accessories by

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Remember these? Well they are now available to buy!

If you’re engine bay is running trick bits but you’re upset no one can see ’em, hit up Zaklee Corp and get your bling on! Woot!

Brandon Leung’s AE86 Trueno

October 16, 2009 in Videos by

After recently seeing this amazing car again for the first time in a while, I thought it was only fair we shared it with everyone who might never have seen it. Originally a JTUNED project, this little hachiroku went through a few guises before coming out looking a million bucks as you see it in the video. I must admit, my monochrome Trueno project takes a few styling tips from this awesome streetcar! Check out Brandon’s super cool streetwear (and Honda Ruckus) shop (as featured in the video) @ Bowls LA!

Ireland Annual Meet ’09

October 15, 2009 in Events by

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Over 80 (was it 86 exactly?) AE86’s and retro Toyotas were in attendance at the Irish Annual meet held in Kilkenny, Ireland on the 19th of September.  The crew (mostly hailing from AE86IRL.com) came from far and wide across the emerald isle to attend the meet, which included drifting and diffin’ at a local boot sale yard.  I dream of the day where we can see 80 AE86’s all in unison at one event here in Australia! Nice work lads and lasses!

Check out the photos from the event here and here.

Photo: Sean Mullery

More FT-86 Details!

October 12, 2009 in General by

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7TUNE has more saliva inducing details on the gorgeous new FT-86 (Future Toyota 86), and by the looks of things, Toyota designers may have gone a little crazy with the carbon fibre! The attention to detail on this car, coupled with Toyota’s apparent (and somewhat surprising) enthusiasm towards it, make me believe this is one concept we just might see on showroom floors! My sentiments on this car are summed up pretty damn accurately in this quote from the article:

After looking at these pics for the best part of an hour, I really do feel like I am looking at an AE86. They have taken the lines, soul, and concept behind the AE86, thrown it in a blender with a 2011 calendar and this is the result.

The car may not scream ‘I’m a neo-retro remake!!’ like GM’s new Camaro and so many other recent ‘retro’ models do, but it does however give you that subtle feeling of familiarity and attitude that you are really looking at the next-generation of thinking and design that made the original ’86 so damn good. I think this concept really does try to push boundaries with both exterior design and what most people consider ‘normal’ in terms of in-cabin equipment (for example the capacitive touch CD player controls and hexagonal airconditioning vents) but all without getting absolutely outragous or gaudy in the process.

Whatever the outcome of this concept, at the least I hope it gives Toyota a re-invigorated passion to make exciting and groundbreaking sportscars, as well all know it’s been a long time coming for something this radical from the automaker who has brought us so many iconic machines of yesteryear.

Image: Toyota / Car@Nifty

New Hachiroku Shirt @ IB

October 11, 2009 in Parts & Accessories by

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Our friends over at Import Bible have a brand new series of shirts out and this time ’86 owners are lucky enough to have one designed featuring our most favorite car.  Not only does the shirt come with a delicious kouki Trueno on the back, but on the front is written ‘Old School’ with a few of the letters sustituted with somethings I think you might all recognise.

So head on over to Import Bible and check it out and get your orders moving.

086A Update: The FT-86 Concept

October 6, 2009 in General by

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Just one look at this image over at TMR and I knew, at that very moment, I wanted one. TMR writes:

Offering the best look yet at Toyota’s plans for its upcoming entry-level rear-wheel-drive sportscar, the Japanese carmaker has revealed the FT-86 concept ahead of its Tokyo Motor Show debut.

Borrowing styling cues from both the FT-HS concept and the upcoming Lexus LF-A, the FT-86 is likely powered by the same Subaru-sourced 2.0 litre four-cylinder boxer engine expected to power the upcoming ‘O86A’.

Seriously, if the 086A comes out looking identical to this, I’ll have no problems with scooting down to the showroom and driving away in Toyota’s re-emergence into the world of sporty passenger vehicles. Even the super-experimental gundam-esque interior trimmings get the tick of approval in my opinion – zips and all!

Read the rest (including specs!!) over at The Motor Report. Oh, and make sure to make your desires known to Toyota – it’s up to enthusiasts like us to get this project off the ‘maybe’ list and into showrooms!

Heres a quick chop done by HR Blogger (and legit graphic designer) Harley. It looks so awesome with its 18″ Watanabes and ‘panda bumpers’!

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The Top Step

October 4, 2009 in Community, Events by

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Just like Sebastian Vettel at this weekends Japanese Grand Prix, Mark Rogers stood atop the winners podium having taken out the win at the fourth round of the Specialised Performance Garage Tasmanian Drift Series. Everyone here at HR congratulates you Mark, and are super proud to see that distinctive icon adorn the bonnet of your 3S-powered beast!

Only The Best

October 2, 2009 in Feature Cars by

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Complete bare metal restoration with a rebuild from mostly new genuine parts!  Not only that but an AE111 20 valve swap and enough Cusco and Greddy suspension parts to send you broke three times over!

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