Tag Archives: FT86

Hachiroku Master: Tsuchiya & The New 86

July 24, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

All of us here at HR Blog have been long time fans of Irish motorsport photographer Paddy McGrath, but his latest works might just contain some of the most iconic images of the Drift King yet! However they didn’t come without a great deal of personal anguish from Paddy!

He writes:

Those of you with an interest in drifting will surely recognize the name Keiichi Tsuchyia, also known as the ‘Drift King’. Tsuchyia-san is the godfather of drifting, and without doubt one of the most important people in the history of the sport. CAR (magazine) wanted to celebrate his history whilst also exploring his involvement with Toyota’s new GT86. The brief I received illustrated clearly what CAR wanted from the shoot, and allowed me to plan in advance what equipment I would be relying on.

Unfortunately, on the day of the shoot my appendix decided it no longer wanted to be a part of me. Shooting in much discomfort and pain, I was limited in my movement and abilities. It was pretty upsetting, as this was something I wanted to deliver 110% but I just couldn’t. I pushed on as much as I could and once the shoot was over, made my way to a local hospital where I was admitted for surgery.

I knew beforehand that there was a tight deadline, so I started editing the images a couple of hours after surgery. It probably wasn’t a great idea editing them in a hospital ward (under fluorescent lights) and under the influence of many amazing drugs, but sometimes you have to push on. All things considered, I was happy with the product of the day’s work. I just can’t help but think what could have been though …

With a tenacious work ethic like that, it’s easy to see why Paddy has come so far in the world of motorsport photography in just a few short years!

Hit this link here to see the full set of amazing images and the whole story, and be sure to pick up the August issue of CAR magazine for the article!

New Zealand TRD Special Edition!

July 23, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

Those lucky Kiwi’s over the ditch always get the best stuff and now they have the best local ‘special edition’ of the 86 too!

Only 20 New Zealand TRD Special Editions will be built as part of the initial production run and each car will be numbered and supplied with certificate of authenticity. The car is a NZ ’86’ Spec (similar to our base model ‘GT’) with the TRD 18″ Black Forged aluminium wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport 3 225/40 tyres.

To go with the extra grip the Michelin’s provide, Toyota NZ are also fitting the TRD Special Edition with the now-infamous TRD Mono-block Brake Calliper Kit. The contents of which are: Front Mono-block Calliper (6-pot), Rear Mono-block Calliper (4 pot), 2-piece Front Brake Rotor (355mm), 2-piece Rear Brake Rotor (345mm), Stainless Steel Braided Brake Hose (Front / Rear) and Brake Pads (Front / Rear).

Obviously, the styling isn’t exactly standard either. This special 86 is fitted with the TRD Aero package containing a Front Bumper and Side Spoilers, Rear Spoilers,  Under Bumper (Diffuser) and Boot Spoilers.  The car also sounds the goods with the fitment of the TRD ‘quad-tip’ rear muffler too!

At NZ$63,486 (Roughly AUD$48,795 at time of writing) it’s not exactly cheap – an 86 (GT) spec car can be had for NZ$41,986 (AUD$32,269) – but you do get a hell of a lot for your money. A similarly priced TRD-Spec in Australia would cost roughly $46,000 – Would you pay the extra $16,000 for the TRD treatment? Hit the comments and let us know!

Check out the full details here and hit our flickr here for more wallpaper-sized images of the NZ TRD Special Edition.

Leaves me wondering though, why hasn’t Toyota Australia offered a similar limited-edition TRD version here in Australia? Surely at even 50 limited edition cars, they would be snapped up super-quick!

Toyota 86 ZN6 on the Nurburgring

July 22, 2012 in General by

Germany’s AUTOZEITUNG take a stock ZN6 Toyota 86 to the ‘Ring to do a lap of ‘the green hell’.

Speed? Hunted.

July 20, 2012 in Events by

In the middle of the Norwegian summer, Gatebil at Rudskogen sees more than 45000 car enthusiasts from all over Scandinavia, England and even Japan making their way across te world to make this event one of the biggest car festivals in Europe!

Rudskogen is located about 1.5 hours  drive south east of Oslo, close to the Swedish border, but that didn’t stop New Zealand’s MadMike Whiddett and Ireland’s Darren McNamara from joining their Norwegian squadmate Fredric Aasbo for the first group smackdown of the Speedhunters super-top-secret drift team.

Hit up the Speedhunters post HERE to see a close up profile of each of the cars and some of the trademark antics of the down-to-earth crew.

Fredric Aasbø & His 2JZ Toyota ’86-X’

July 20, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

86 or BRZ? It’s All About Driving Style

July 18, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

Take the Toyota and Subaru twins on back-to-back circuit runs and see exactly how each one differs in the real world. The result? Well you’ll just have to watch it!

GT86 vs AE86: “A Small Tiny Turismo”

July 8, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

Nino Karotta crosses Europe in a new GT86 to finally put it up against his race-spec AE86 on a racetrack… A must watch!

Toyota 86 Official Australian Presskit

June 5, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

While I write my review and impressions of the Toyota official launch day, here is the official presskit from yesterdays launch. Check it out after the jump.

(more…)

Get Retro! Panda Edition Scion FR-S

May 26, 2012 in 86 / FR-S News by

Five Axis has been busy! Inspired by the unique two-tone AE86 colour scheme known as ‘panda’ to hachiroku enthusiasts, Five Axis  has released some new ‘Retro Series’ designs for their own special release Scion FR-S (Toyota 86/Subaru BRZ) vehicles.

Japanese Nostalgic Car had the news:

The Retro Series will draw on the new car’s AE86 heritage with a color scheme reminiscent of the original’s trademark “panda” design. Each comes with a Five:AD aero kit, which has a natural line that creates a perfect break for the two-tone transition. It’ll be offered on two colors of the FR-S, Whiteout or Firestorm, which Five:AD is calling High Tech Two-Tone and High Flash Two-Tone, the official Toyota names for what fans have come to know as ”panda” and “red panda,” respectively.

These special edition FR-Ss will be available through select Toyota/Scion dealerships across the US in limited numbers, so if you want one keep up with Five Axis Design’s Facebook page for the latest news.

Here is an as-yet unavailable colour scheme I made based on the silver-black two-tone AE86 design. Let’s hope 5AD get it sorted too!

Which one is your favourite? Or you think Five Axis needs to go back to the drawing board on the panda style 86? Hit the comments and let us know!

2012 Toyota 86: HR Interviewed for Drive

April 28, 2012 in HR Originals by

We got a call late last year about an article Drive was putting together to put into The Age and the Sydney Morning Herald. They were writing an article on the new Toyota 86 being released in Australia and wanted the feeling from the AE86 enthusiast community about Toyota’s new car, so we happily obliged.  Drive Journalist, Matthew Campbell and I spent a while in a lengthy interview, so long that they cut a bunch of it out of the final article (pictured above), so here it is in it’s entirety.

Matthew Campbell: What made you get involved with AE86s?

Garth Ivers: They are a fun car with endless types of modification paths you can take. The guys and gals who buy them are usually very much into self-serve, DIY mechanics and fabrication and down to earth, great people.

(more…)