Author Archives: Garth Ivers

DeadPirate x Tommy Suell’s AE86

August 3, 2009 in Videos by

Just a quick video from me today. Apologies for the late posting, had far too much fun on the slopes this weekend on my snowboard and completely KO’d before I could write up a blog. Enjoy this tasty morsel of drift action from DeadPirateProductions for now, and we are back to normal programming tomorrow!

15×9 Minus 25? Yes Please!

July 30, 2009 in Random by

minus25

Our friends in the Czech Republic over @ 86ers.org have this fine hahciroku specimen for you. What else can i say, just look at the photo! Oh lordy! As the Cipher Garage saying goes ‘Offset is Everything!’ and this case, we have to agree! Are you in the super-wide club? Let us know how crazy you guys are getting in the comments!

Drift Attack @ Taupo

July 28, 2009 in Events by

taupo

Keisuke is at it again with another drift event in the land of the long white cloud.

This Event was the well known Driftopia Expression days held to cover everyone who wants to attend a track and drift, wether it be a complete beginner to top D1NZ drivers.

NZ is really coming into it’s prime within the global drifting fraternity. Check out the pretty sharp set of photos in the gallery over @ 86 Fighters blog.

Hybrid Hachiroku?

July 27, 2009 in Events by

hybrid

A somewhat odd piece of news today, but Dino @ Speedhunters blog has caught some images of a very interesting Levin that was present at the recent Tuning Powers show in Tokyo last week.

I present to you the hachiroku of the future. There is no 4AG powering this Levin…it has been replaced with an electric motor by the guys at the Chiba Automobile University CATS. Not sure how it would drive, but there is a good chance it will have more torque than those asthmatic 4AG’s! Hehe

While Dino shares no love for the venerable 4A, it’s still worth a look so head over to Speedhunters for the other pics as well as a sexy shot of the Prime Garage 5AG… yummeh!

Hot Hot Heat @ FormulaD Vegas

July 23, 2009 in Events by

mm_vegas

Long time die-hard AE86 addict and friend of HR Blog, Antonio Alvendia is again behind the lens, this time shooting the USA’s latest drifting events. From the latest round of FormulaD last weekend he brings us this tasty morsel of hachiroku lovin’.

Back on the grid, Vegas native Tommy Suell had to cool his SR-powered AE86 down quickly in between tandem drifting runs with Apex’i driver Ryuji Miki. We’re not sure if everyone realizes it, but Tommy’s AE86 is actually right hand drive. Tommy grew up in Japan and can speak fluent Japanese. Hopefully he is comfortable  enough to cuss Miki out in Japanese for beating him in tandem! Props to Tommy and his crew for all their hard work! Notice the Vegas number on Tommy’s door? 777 spin em!

While RHD ’86s are the norm for us here Down Under, it’s a pretty rare thing to see in the ‘States. Check out the rest of the set over @ MotorMavens!

Mixed Bag Battle!

July 22, 2009 in Videos by

What happens when you pit a handful of AE86s against a Civic Type-R, CRX, Celica, Cappuccino and an MX-5? Find out with parts 2, 3 & 4 here!

Take A Trip Back In Time

July 21, 2009 in Events by

oldschool

From the Osaka Auto Messe in fairly recent 2005 to the Suzuka Motorsports Festival way back in 1992, this Japanese page has some real killer galleries of the cars of yesteryear (not to mention the fairly shocking umbrella girls too…) so spend a good few hours reminicing, or if you’re too young just stare in awe!

HACHiRoCK! 2009

July 20, 2009 in Events by

hacxhirock fes

HACHiRoCK! festa is upon us again for 2009 and in typical Japanese fashion, 250 ‘hachiroku mania’ got their entries in super-early to secure all the available spots for this years event. Last years event was massive with an awesome display of AE86’s and hachiroku related fun being had for pretty much anyone who dared enter the frenzy that was the Sagamiko Resort parking area.

As the trend went in 2008, this years event will see KMS, RunFree, Speed1166, TEC-ART’S, Impulse and CBY and a huge list of other powerhouse AE86 garages bringing along exhibition parts and their killer demo cars for everyone to check out and enjoy (and if your global financial crisis budget allows, maybe buy some too!)

Check out their site (Japanese Only) for the full list of info and companies attending the event and we will keep you updated on photos as they come!

086A To Debut @ Tokyo Motorshow

July 16, 2009 in Random by
With news that a lot of foreign makers will not be attending this years Tokyo Motor Show, the limelight will definitely be on local makers and what new toys they have to offer. One of the most hotly anticipated and debated JDM vehicles in recent months has been the Toyota Subaru ‘Toyobaru’ FR Sports coupe and things are now looking to get a whole lot more exciting at TMS with Toyota staff leaking news that the coupe will go on show this October!
086A Toyota to Debut at Tokyo Motor Show
Rumored as the successor to the AE86, Toyota has been aiming to introduce a cheap entry level sports car to their line up and bring sports car fun back to the masses. It seems though that keeping the price down has been a bit of a difficult job and staff close to the project say that the original two million yen mark might be difficult to achieve. New estimates have been set and the the final price will creep close to the two and a half million mark. With Tokyo Motor Show just three months away this is very exciting news for JDM fans and we will be waiting to see what Toyota and other makers bring to the table come Ocotober.
Words: Peter Horniak
Image: Best Car

086a-lfa

7TUNE again with news from Japan about the 086A, this time about when we will see this elusive and somewhat widely regarded ‘I’ll believe it when i see it’ car.  Peter from 7TUNE writes:

One of the most hotly anticipated and debated JDM vehicles in recent months has been the Toyota Subaru ‘Toyobaru’ FR Sports coupe and things are now looking to get a whole lot more exciting at TMS with Toyota staff leaking news that the coupe will go on show this October!

With Tokyo Motor Show just three months away this is very exciting news for JDM fans and we will be waiting to see what Toyota and other makers bring to the table come October.

Read the rest about the 086A over at 7TUNE.

DTCC One Make Race

July 15, 2009 in Videos by

dtcc

The DTCC is an AE86 one-make series from Japan which has a very strict set of rules to ensure what they call ‘close battle’ racing.  The only engine allowed is an NA 4A-GE with bore modifications permitted but the stroke must remain the same. The block MUST be a 4A block, both 16v and 20v are allowed for entry and all other mods are open.

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