If someone was to ask you to think of a Japanese wheel – any wheel – chances are the Volk Racing TE37 would pop into your mind. There is no doubt that this particular six-spoke, one-piece forged rim has come to be a defining detail in the JDM aftermarket scene. Its ageless design has stood [...]
After checking out the 5Zigen time attack FD2 last week during our special “FF” theme, I thought it would be interesting to take a little tour of their main factory and HQ in Osaka. 5Zigen – pronounced go-jigen in Japanese (meaning “fifth dimension”) – was founded back in 1987 and quickly became one of the [...]
As a Speedhunter it’s quite literally our job to go around and stare at mind blowing cars day after day, a very tough job no doubt. I won’t bore you with tales of becoming increasingly unsatisfied with cars, but I will say that when I visited TYPE ONE last month I was expecting to see [...]
For years I have been watching Best Motoring and Video Option DVDs, so I have always been a huge fan of Japanese racing culture. I got familiar with drivers like Keiichi Tsuchiya, Manabu Orido,Tarzan Yamada and Nobuteru Taniguchi. Every one of these personalities had a huge impact on bringing Japanese racing culture to America. In 2001 Nobuteru Taniguchi became the [...]
I checked the weather forecast for Round 6 of Super Taikyu a week ahead of time, and it clearly stated that it was going to rain. All the teams knew it and the fans knew it too, but come race-day there were still hundreds upon hundreds of cars packed with fans waiting to get in. They didn’t [...]
Super Taikyu is Japan’s second largest endurance racing series after Super GT. However, where Super GT only has two classes, Super Taikyu has six classes: from ST5, which is mostly comprised of Toyota Yaris’, to GT3, which this year has been dominated by the twin Petronas Syntium Mercedes SLS machines. Lucky for me the Petronas team are big fans [...]
Well fellow Speedhunters, I made the trip out to Fuji Speedway on Sunday ostensibly for the launch of the S Tai-spec GT-R (GT-R RC), but there was a lot to see besides, like this highly intoxicating illustration of FOUR WHEEL DRIVE! Things were all very serious in the NISSAN pit; and with so many members [...]
Here at last: the first of what is expected to be many customer cars from NISSAN. The all-new GT-R RS. Many expect the GT-R RC to become the flagship car of the Super Taikyu series – and why not! Weather had been pretty dismal since the previous day, and the start of the timed four-hour [...]
For the opening round of this year’s Super Taikyu Series I ventured up to a very blustery Motegi; and as expected, it didn’t disappoint. Super Taikyu (Taikyu means endurance in Japanese) is in its 20th season this year, and although less well-known than its high-flyin’ sibling SUPER GT, the series produces great races with lots [...]
One of the things I regret from my time in Japan is never getting the chance to go to a Super Taikyu race. Super Taikyu might not be as glamorous as Super GT and its OEM participation, but I love the fact that Super Taikyu cars strongly resemble their street-going counterparts. The current Super Taikyu [...]
Thought I would continue on with the "eco" theme and post this photo of the Lexus GS450 Hybrid race car from last summer's Super Taikyu 24hr race. This car finished fourth in class despite a large weight disadvantage. The GS also happens to look really cool in race car form with the TE37's etc. Photo [...]
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In Japan, race queens are much more than just eye candy for race goers. They are a whole phenomena in themselves. There are magazines and photo books dedicated just to these trackside beauties, and there are even race queen figurines that are a perfect match for your scale model car collection. As I have mentioned [...]
