Author Archives: Garth Ivers

AE86: An In-Depth Look at A Legend

April 24, 2008 in AE86 History, HR Originals by

Ever wonder what the origins of the AE86 were? or what the hell those model names mean? or even still what the differences were between all those models, body styles or trim specs? Well pull up a chair, slap on your readin’ glasses and get yourself a nice strong coffee, you’re about to be schooled in a little history – AE86 Style.

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When You Are Toshiki Yoshioka, It’s This Easy!

April 22, 2008 in Feature Cars by

For the average Joe, a motor transplant usually turns into a six month rebuild sucking endless wads of cash from your wallet in the process. However, if you are Toshiki Yoshioka, Japanese AE86 drifter extraordinare, you just make one simple phone call and few days later you have brand new top spec 4A-GE sitting in front of you – fresh from Japan no less.

Courtesy of auto-lifestyle blog OG-Made, we bring you some sweet pics of Yoshioka’s new US drift machine (he is currently drifting a Lexus SC430 in D1GP Japan) in the build. He will be using this new iteration of his old blue DRoo-P Trueno to slide in both US D1GP events and also in Formula D for 2008.

Check the jump for more pics!

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Massive AE86 Meet: Irish Style!

April 21, 2008 in Events by

Irish AE86 Meet

Our AE86-crazy friends over in Ireland really know how to run an event! This is a meet held at a private yard in Tullow (County Carlow for the non-locals). In a warehouse with ample clear space outside, crazy paddy’s got their revs on with a show-off inside and then circle work outside. We love it (and to be honest are hella jealous of their warehouse)!

Word on the street is the next meet is at the rally of the lakes in Killarney in early May, and then the organisers are planning on going back to the Carlow venue after that for more of the same, so if your keen on attending, contact the hachiroku fella’s over at AE86IRL.com to get the inside info!

More pics plus a video after the jump.

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Cheers to Kultivate Weblog!

April 19, 2008 in Random by

Jeroen from Kultivate Weblog has kindly featured our site on his massively popular auto blog. it’s not every day you have someone so humble as to post your brand new blog on their’s (highly regarded throughout the world with over 3000 unique views everyday too).

So don’t delay, head on over to his site and see some top-notch tuner-auto coverage!

Cheers Jeroen!

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REVIEW: Greddy Type S Suspension

April 15, 2008 in Parts & Accessories by

Greddy Type S Suspension System

Possibly the most crucial question that faces any AE86 driver and owner out there is:

What suspension should I get?

It’s a difficult question to answer as the response depends heavily on a drivers personal needs. Do you want just to use your car for track only, or drift, maybe street driving is your thing? The most likely reply is that it’s a combination of 1 or more these things.

Until recently most suspension setups for the AE86 have been a bit of a mix and match affair, with the most common setups using KYB, TRD TOKICO shocks and a various array of springs. Macpherson-Style coilover fronts are generally the norm and are handmade at a local suspension workshop or in the garage. While we’re not saying that this is necessarily a bad thing we are saying it can be a difficult and costly exercise to get right.

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A True Visonary Passes On

April 14, 2008 in Community by

Sakurai\'s Creation: The TRD N2 Hot Version

On March 16th, Early morning Japan Time, Sakurai-San of TRD Toyota Technocraft passed away.

Most of you will be quite familiar with Sakurai-San as he was a prominent feature in Best Motoring’s “AE86 Club” series as the creator of Keiichi Tsuchiya’s Street AE86 and the infamous N2 Battle TRD AE86.

Previous to fame via DVD’s worldwide, he enjoyed a long career with the TRD family in both racing and street car development. Sakurai-San was the ‘hand of god’ at designing and producing winning N2 AE86 designs throughout the 80’s and having had much to do overall with almost all of Toyota’s race and sports cars, he was indeed one of the greatest assets to Toyota’s motorsports programs.

Also, with rumors and ongoing preparation for AE86’s successor within a few years, it is unfortunate that he did not see or lead the project for the return of the new iteration of his ‘heart and soul’ car to the Toyota product line.

Today we must mourn of a loss of a great hero, who brought the AE86 to glory…

So to you Mr.Sakurai, we honor your dedication to our beloved hachiroku and hope you may forever Rest in Peace.

Source: Club4AG
Image: Hot Version

Is This The Inspiration for the AE86’s Successor?

April 14, 2008 in Feature Cars by

RSR Scion tC

Scion today announced it will drift a new RWD RS*R Scion tC in Formula Drift events this year. The RS*R Scion tC features a 3SGE Beams motor, HKS GT3037 turbo and intercooler, Blitz Dual SBC boost controller, and AEM EMS engine management system that outputs more than 400 horsepower, compared to the stock 161 horsepower. A G-Force five-speed sequential transmission, Tilton triple carbon clutch, Project Mu brakes, RS-R coilovers, Sparco Corsa seats and a custom concept wide body kit are also fitted. The tC is rollong on Enkei RPF1 wheels and Toyo Proxes® R1R™ tires.

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Matt’s Levin Coupe

April 9, 2008 in Feature Cars, HR Originals by

Matt\'s Levin Coupe

Now that’s some seriously hot coupe! Hit up Matt’s members rides thread on the forums or his Flickr to check out more hot pics!