Tsukuba Attack: Battle Evome Kick Off

It was a tough choice, but seeing Sean, Mike and I had already spent two full days walking the halls of the Makuhari Messe, we decided to spread out the other Sunday and hit some other events to maximize our JDM coverage. So while Mike headed off to Yokohama to cover the Mania Cruise, Sean and I jumped in our sparkly orange BMW M6 and let the silky smooth twin turbo V8 power us through the Shuto-ko expressway and on towards Tsukuba Circuit.

Not even extreme sleep depravation and a serious case of sore feet was going to keep us from checking out the first round…

…of the Battle Evome soukoukai series, an event that over the years has come to define what the Japanese time attack grassroots scene is all about. Only four of these two hour sessions are held each year, two in January and two in February…

…and what makes it all so special is the cars that participate. On top of the famed regulars there is always plenty of awesome new and unseen machinery in attendance, all extremely tuned, prepped…

…and read to go.

So to kick off the coverage I though I go through what I spotted in the paddock, starting with this S15 Silvia wearing T&E Vertex aero along with smoothly flared rear fenders attempting to contain the aggressive offset of the TE37SLs it was sitting on.

All wheel drive beasts like the Lancer Evolution…

…and the Skyline GT-R are still big favorites by privateers and quite the contrast compared to what tuners are now running in the Super Battle event we saw last month.

And while on the subject of GT-Rs there was one very special “guest” at the event, a car we saw back in November in the Wacky Mate shop tour, well its chassis at least.

I am talking about this maroon BNR32 customer car that has just been completed, rebuilt using an all-new fully prepped, spot welded and roll-caged chassis. Peter from Modified Magazine, who came up to Tsukuba with us, was also very impressed.

How about this for something completely different! This BG5 Legacy wagon, built by Auto Service Mori in Atsugi, was probably the most unusual choice for a time attack machine, but don’t think its station wagon shape hinders it in any way, this thing was recording 1-minute flat laps over and over again. And just like more than half of the cars there, after the event was over the owner stuck the front plate back on and drove it home.

Ibaraki-based drift & drag shop Tex Modify are responsible for putting this mean kouki S14 together…

…sporting some pretty wild front and rear aerodynamic additions.

The car managed a best of 59.674 sec, that rear wing helping to keep the rear S-tires firmly on the ground.

The “Yume-koubou” or Dream Works FD was one of three RX-7s present at this first 2013 event and recorded a 59.273 sec lap, landing it in 19th place out of the 27 cars present.

It was really cool to see the Auto Bahn Soarer doing the rounds this time attack season. After its outing at the Super Battle in December it was back at Tsukuba…

…to unleash all the power its HKS T51R blown 2JZ develops. Best lap of the day was a 58.939 sec.

As ever the Wood Village S30 provides a very welcome vintage balance to the paddock’s line up…

…its stroked L28 offering nothing short of aural bliss at full rpm.

Don’t think this thing is slow however, it might not have 600 + HP and bucket loads of torque but it still managed sub minute laps, its best on the day a 59.674 sec!

Kagotani-san of Garage Kagotani was at the event with two of his customers, offering support to the both of them, one running this Lancer Evolution 9…

…recognizable via those MIVEC 4G63 head covers…

…as well as this GDB, a blisteringly quick car, which did great with a 58.645 sec lap.

Pick your S-chassis, RPS13 or S15?

Of course everyone’s favorite time attackers were present, and from the Scorch Racing camp we had the mighty Under Suzuki, the current record holder at Tsukuba who was back out to see if a few modifications to the aero of his car had any positive effects.

He cut out a rectangular section from each of the front fenders and added a sort of spoiler to smooth airflow over them.

However, after the first outing he decided to close them both up as they probably didn’t have any benefits. I just find it so cool how he just keeps working, changing and developing each aspect of his S15. I wonder if by the last Battle Evome session next month he will be able to break his 52.649 sec. Best he got on this first try was a 53.342 sec.

Horikoshi-san of Exceed Moat fame was at the event too of course, and it looks like he was busy during the New Year festivities…

…cutting up and modifying the front fenders on his S14. He was right behind Suzuki-san with the second fastest time of the day, a 55.378 sec.

It was all wastegate screams and big RB26 backfires for this Auto Gallery Yokohama built BNR34…

…and this red Out Trash san-yon, both 58-second monsters.

Sean was running around shooting from every possible angle of the track.

You can expect a post from him talking you through his experience of visiting the legendary Tsukuba for the first time.

I’ll be concentrating on the trackside action next so make sure you check back tomorrow for more time attack awesomeness form everyone’s favorite grassroots grip event!

-Dino Dalle Carbonare

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1

Sub 1-minute lap on a grassroot Tsukuba time attack event? wow! the privateers are really stepping it up now.

2
speedhunters_dino

@AmirIzham Yeah and out of 27 cars entered only 5 were above a min! "Slowest" was a 1:02:224

3

Wow please tell me you got feature on the s30 that thing smoked my head.

4

ugh i want to go Japan sooo badly!!!

5

One day I'd really like to attend this kind of event. Thanks for the coverage !

6

did Under Suzuki really just cut a carbon fiber fender and tape it back like that? Damn... that is not gonna be cheap to repair! But do you have a picture of his so called "fender wings/spoilers" or whatever it was?

7

I love it when Tsukuba is under attack!

8

nikon represent!

9

More pics of the yellow mugen front s2000 please!!!!!!!!!

10

More pics of the yellow mugen front s2000 please!!!!!!!!!

11

More pics of the yellow mugen front s2000 please!!!!!!!!!

12

More pics of the yellow mugen front s2000 please!!!!!!!!!

13

More pics of the yellow mugen front s2000 please!!!!!!!!!

14

This my friends is what we call car porn.

15

This my friends is what we call car porn.

16

This my friends is what we call car porn.

17

This my friends is what we call car porn.

18

This my friends is what we call car porn.

19

Love that Wood Village s30. Sub minute time on a N/A L series is nothing short of amazing. We need video!

20

Love that Wood Village s30. Sub minute time on a N/A L series is nothing short of amazing. We need video!

21

Love that Wood Village s30. Sub minute time on a N/A L series is nothing short of amazing. We need video!

22

Love that Wood Village s30. Sub minute time on a N/A L series is nothing short of amazing. We need video!

23

Love that Wood Village s30. Sub minute time on a N/A L series is nothing short of amazing. We need video!

29

Could really do with some scooby love here. There's a distinct lack off it recently (though im sure there's a good reason)

30

Could really do with some scooby love here. There's a distinct lack off it recently (though im sure there's a good reason)

31

Could really do with some scooby love here. There's a distinct lack off it recently (though im sure there's a good reason)

32

Could really do with some scooby love here. There's a distinct lack off it recently (though im sure there's a good reason)

33

Could really do with some scooby love here. There's a distinct lack off it recently (though im sure there's a good reason)

34

I'm just curious, but is Sean in any way a hockey fan? I've seen him rock a Sharks snapback a while back, and a Kings one here.

35

I'm just curious, but is Sean in any way a hockey fan? I've seen him rock a Sharks snapback a while back, and a Kings one here.

36

I'm just curious, but is Sean in any way a hockey fan? I've seen him rock a Sharks snapback a while back, and a Kings one here.

37

I'm just curious, but is Sean in any way a hockey fan? I've seen him rock a Sharks snapback a while back, and a Kings one here.

38

I'm just curious, but is Sean in any way a hockey fan? I've seen him rock a Sharks snapback a while back, and a Kings one here.

39

Swooning over that S30, yummmmmmmmmy!

40

Swooning over that S30, yummmmmmmmmy!

41

Swooning over that S30, yummmmmmmmmy!

42

Swooning over that S30, yummmmmmmmmy!

43

Swooning over that S30, yummmmmmmmmy!

44

that R32 on jackstands has got to be the nicest R32 i've seen in a long time, that Legacy wagon is on a whole other level of coolness though god that thing looks sick.

45

That wagon is hot hot hot. Makes me want to trick mine out for racing now.

46

That wagon is hot hot hot. Makes me want to trick mine out for racing now.

47

That wagon is hot hot hot. Makes me want to trick mine out for racing now.

48
speedhunters_dino

@Muzaffar Musa Yep he did, Takemura said they can make more lol.  The spoilers are actually more like deflectors now that I think about it more.  Wrote this in the middle of the night so brain half a sleep. You can see them literally taped on the fender right in front of the cut outs

49
speedhunters_dino

@Muzaffar Musa Yep he did, Takemura said they can make more lol.  The spoilers are actually more like deflectors now that I think about it more.  Wrote this in the middle of the night so brain half a sleep. You can see them literally taped on the fender right in front of the cut outs

50
speedhunters_dino

You mean the happy car LOL

51
speedhunters_dino

You mean the happy car LOL

52
speedhunters_dino

@grandtouring Awesome find. This car really does deserve a feature

53
speedhunters_dino

@grandtouring Awesome find. This car really does deserve a feature

54
speedhunters_dino

@roeby You know, you are right! We might have to fix that!

55
speedhunters_dino

@roeby You know, you are right! We might have to fix that!

56
speedhunters_dino

@Larry Chen Haha I knew your would like that!

57
speedhunters_dino

@Larry Chen Haha I knew your would like that!

58

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring

59

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring

60

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
I was just reminiscing that this was one of the first speedhunters features i ever saw. 
I even got a warm tingly feeling.
Am I tripping?!!

61

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
I was just reminiscing that this was one of the first speedhunters features i ever saw. 
I even got a warm tingly feeling.
Am I tripping?!!

62

@speedhunters_dino
 that pic really deserves a word balloon sayin
F**k YeaH!

63

@speedhunters_dino
 that pic really deserves a word balloon sayin
F**k YeaH!

64

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
 nope
http://www.speedhunters.com/2010/02/car_spotlight_gt_gt_woodvillage_s30/
i knew i wasnt that high!haha

65

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
 nope
http://www.speedhunters.com/2010/02/car_spotlight_gt_gt_woodvillage_s30/
i knew i wasnt that high!haha

66
speedhunters_dino

@vroomtothetomb  @grandtouring Yeah I did a quick spotlight on it, but I was thinking something more detailed!

67
speedhunters_dino

@vroomtothetomb  @grandtouring Yeah I did a quick spotlight on it, but I was thinking something more detailed!

68

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
 yes please!!
and thank you speedhunters!

69

@speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring
 yes please!!
and thank you speedhunters!

70

@vroomtothetomb  @speedhunters_dino  @grandtouring Yeah Vroom I remember seeing this car spotlight a long time ago. Ive been following its for a long time. The machine work he did to the N42 head is pretty intensive. And yes this car has needed a detailed feature for a long time, especially since he cracked the sub minute barrier. We leave this to your very capable hand Dino.
 
Also check out Spirit Garage's and City Auto's s30's too

71

These are so sick! That mugen s2k is right on point! I want to see more Honda features. Mabey even a few race events?

72
speedhunters_dino

@Brad_S You are in luck as Sean and I were at Spoon the other day;)

73
speedhunters_dino

Few more detailed pix of it coming up in the next post, don't miss it!

74

Dino,
 
Any more info on or images of the Spa Yellow AP1? it was at the BE event you covered last year.

75

@speedhunters_dino  So was I! I wish I ran into you, so I could shake your hand! LOL

76

Man the fd is the cougar of the bunch. Still such a beautiful design.

77

@TarranSanders Disappointingly, no, I'm just a fan of the hats lol. People ask me that kind of stuff all the time, then they're very let down when I tell them I don't even watch hockey.

78

That grey R32 on jackstands have been seen on a couple of tsukuba coverege before a speedhunters......maybe it´s time for a feature? : )

79

That grey R32 on jackstands have been seen on a couple of tsukuba coverege before a speedhunters......maybe it´s time for a feature? : )

80

@grandtouring
Very nice!
That's not simply driving,
that's a driver putting in work!
Awesome!

81

The maroon BNR32 customer car looks impressive. Its quite a build!
http://4wheelonline.com/towing/Reese.177038

82

The maroon BNR32 customer car looks impressive. Its quite a build!
http://4wheelonline.com/towing/Reese.177038

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