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 [...]
There are certain projects that are best left for a while before exploring, and the HKS 86 Racing Performer is one of them. Much like every 86/BRZ/FR-S/GT86 demo car around the world, it has all been put together in an impressively short space of time if you consider that the ZN6 and its Subaru counterpart [...]
In the last couple of decades there has been an overwhelming improvement on one area of a car’s performance that often gets overlooked. I am of course talking about tires. These curious black rings of rubber have gone through an impressive evolution that has allowed manufacturers of all types of vehicles to fine-tune and extract [...]
Front wheel drive is, wrong wheel drive. Bold statement, but technically speaking it just doesn’t make any sense. Why would you want to subject the front wheels of a car to so much abuse? They’re already trying to steer the car and in the process attempting to return some kind of feedback to the driver, [...]
It’s often hard to comprehend just how vast and deep automotive culture and passion spans in Japan. Last year I had the chance to help put together a program that attempted to show just this, looking at some of the biggest names out there. It was a pity it was only shown in Japan, but we all knew it wouldn’t be long before it was released online. It’s over forty minutes long so sit back and enjoy the show.
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Seeing this past Sunday was the final Battle Evome of the year that I will be covering, this will pretty much wrap up the first-half of the JDM time attack season coverage, at least at this sort of level. However, there will always be plenty more grip event at tracks like Tsukuba, Honjo and Sodegaura [...]
Moving swiftly along with the Battle Evome coverage from Sunday, I’ve put together a quick spotlight-o-rama of five vehicles that really stood out in the paddock. Now I know there are a lot of other cars you probably wanted to see, but I guess I will have to keep those for future events. To get [...]
It’s been a while since we’ve posted some unmistakably JDM-type videos. We happen to come across this little production highlighting the recent time attack trial of the “Bandoh Carbon Junkie ADVAN 86″ which back in December competed in the Rev Speed Super Battle. With Manabu Orido behind the wheel, the lightweight ZN6 became the fastest 86 to lap Tsukuba with an impressive 59.728. But according to Orido it’s got a lot more potential. Anyway, take a look for yourselves and check out the car in detail as well as the on-board of the record lap…
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
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It was yet another perfect day for time attacking at Tsukuba circuit yesterday and as ever the paddock at the Battle Evome series had a tantalizing mix of impressive amateur-owned cars. No matter how many of these events I attend, it’s always like it’s my first one. The excitement of seeing the same cars get [...]
I hear it all the time. Yes I’d love for you to shoot my car, could you wait until I finish up and fit so and so parts. We all do it, me included which is also why I’ve never really properly shot my own car. But as far as perpetual-projects go, nothing and nobody [...]
Much like Mike Garrett, I too recently spent a day in Japan that I wished would never end. For many of us, there is a tiny circuit just north of Tokyo which is more famous than any large GP circuit on the planet. This track is of course the birth place of time attack as [...]
Everything is so fast paced at a Battle Evome meet, there is literally no time to waste. With only two hours of shooting time available, you will just about manage to hit every major trackside spot, provided you keep moving. So with a few more moments available before the drivers went out on track for [...]
I’m still recovering from the wake of insanity that was my trip to Japan last week, but I figured this would be as good a time as any to quickly recap my recent adventures. The effort that Dino and I managed to pack into one week was incredible to say the least, and the result [...]
Tsukuba Circuit. The modest race track located in the countryside of Ibaraki Perfecture outside of Tokyo is a place of legend. All across the world Tsukuba is known as the proving ground for Japan’s tuners and as the birthplace of Time Attack. Besides all of the history that’s been made at the track, Tsukuba has [...]
Here is the video all you time attack fans have been waiting for, Under Suzuki’s record braking attempt seen through the eyes of Luke Huxham. There is very little point for me to elaborate on this further, just hit play, select full screen, turn the volume right up and let Suzuki-san show you how it’s done!
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
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