I’m warning y’all from the start, this… will be a longgggg one. With lots of pictures as well!

This might be my favorite BM issue I have (so far), and it’s one that took me a decent amount of time to get. I was looking for it for a specific feature, and this is the only one I’ve come across for sale yet. It’s not in perfect condition, unfortunately, so I’d definitely like to get another in better condition at some point.

Let’s get into it!

CluBmanS

In this Club Man’s feature, BM interviewed the team and included the conversation. They seem to be talking with a pretty heavy accent, and the way the conversion is laid out gave me lots of trouble trying to translate it lol.

Some stuff made sense but I felt it was missing some context, and other stuff I just couldn’t make any meaning of.

The gist I was able to understand is what follows.

The team was made by Harguchi and Murakami. They named it club Man’s because both of their first names are Mitsuru. A few of the members work at Active Auto. And they aim to win many competitions this year.

The conversation had a lot of team bickering between them, which is funny but also made it difficult to understand. If anyone can help translate it feel free to message me and I could edit it in later.

What is easy to understand, thankfully, is the cars’ spec lists.

Murakami’s AE86:

Exterior: Garage BB front bumper, Aero king side skirts, Hiko Spe muffler.

Footwork: GR-B tires (195/50/R15) AE92 front suspension, Custom rear shocks.

Engine:AE101 with Toda 82mm pistons, AE111 Conrods, Toda 288° IN and 272° EX cams, polished valves and ports, 0.8mm head gasket, FCR carbs.

Interior: roll cage and additional gauges.

Haruguchi’s FC RX7:

Exterior: full R-Magic aero kit, GT wing.

Footwork: Grand Slam RG coilovers (F8k, R6k), Work Equip (17x10j+10, 18×11.5j+18) Advan Neova (215/40/R17, 235/40/R18)

Engine: FD RX7 Apex Seals, Side port, K27-3070G Turbo, R33 intercooler, R33 fuel pump, Trust 16 row oil cooler, Night Sports radiator etc…

Interior: dual Bride Brix seats, 350mm Nardi, extra monitoring gauges, 5 point roll cage.

Honshu’s Popular 180SX Forces Land in Hokkaido

“This year, the 180SX has been incredibly popular in the drift scene. The late model oem aero look especially has been very trendy. And this seems to have further fueled the 180SX craze. Today, Seven of these 180SXs, driven by central figures in the drift scene, are heading to Hokkaido. Their destination? A meeting with Hokkaido’s 180SX drivers at the Tokachi International Speedway Jr. Course. They loaded their beloved cars onto the ferry and set off!!”

180sx…the best automobile ever made?! I’m sure everyone reading this already knows my opposition with 180s, especially Tohoku styled 180s, especially a specific red 180 from Tokoku.

So much so, that I have a dedicated Instagram page for that said 180, I’m of course talking about Akinori Ito’s red 180sx. I run the IG page @Break.Ito180_archive. The idea was heavily inspired by my friend who started the @Itai.180sx_archive (if you’ve been living under a rock, go check it out)

I’ve covered this article/event on the IG page but i kept it brief and only focused on Ito’s car. Here though I’m free to be as thorough as possible, so I’m going to do exactly that.

Takayuki Kikuchi, the photographer of these pictures and probably the editor. Went along with our team of 180 enthusiasts across Japan’s main island Honshu, all the way to catch a ferry to reach Hokkaido.

The result would undoubtedly be some of the most iconic 180sx pictures online, I have seen so many of these circulating online forms for years. Only to find that they all came from the same source.

They’d take pictures along the way at rest stops, and eventually when getting the cars loaded on to the ferry. Each one of these is more iconic than the last. I truly cannot imagine how it must have felt to be rolling 5 cars deep, with some of the coolest 180s of all time.

Koguchi leading the pack in his freshly built, mid engine 180sx!

With Ito behind also in his new build. Must have been mesmerizing to see these cars drive by!

Throughout the journey, Kikuchi from BM would ask the 180 drivers some questions, particularly why they all decided that the 180sx was the car for them.

What gives the 180sx its appeal?

“Since this event gathered some of the best 180SX drivers in the drift world, we asked them, ‘what gives the 180sx its appeal?’ ‘Why do they drive the 180SX?’

Their answers mostly consisted of that the design is simply cool, and that the model had a wide parts selection. Of course, another influential element is that over the years, many champions in drift competitions have been 180SX drivers. Which inspires a lot of people to get to the top in using a 180SX as well.

Other popular models for drifting include the Silvia and Hachiroku. The Silvia seems like the car for everyone, but the Hachiroku and 180SX seem to require a much stronger sense of commitment. They say that Hachiroku drivers have a stubborn artisan mentality, while 180SX drivers have a fashionable one. These two cars each exude a hardcore and refined attitudes respectively. That’s why they continue to be so beloved even now that they’ve been discontinued.”

The Drift History of the 180SX

“Now, let’s briefly explain the history of drifting with the 180SX. When the CA18 model was released, the Silvia was a huge hit, but there weren’t many 180SX drivers. In fact, you could say the 180SX didn’t sell as well back then. However, amidst the Silvia boom, 180SX drivers like the Dangerous Trio, Jimmy, Debunabe, and Rapid began winning major drift contests one after another in their 180SXs, establishing themselves as drift stars. This period marks the 180SX’s first major breakthrough.

Later, when the 180SX was launched with the new SR engine, we saw FNR crew members like Nomuken and Miyazaki break through with it. Furthermore, with the emergence of the KING Koguchi, drifting and the 180SX became inseparable.”

Why the Kouki (late model) aero?

“Since last year, the Kouki aero boom has been on the rise. So, have the number of Kouki 180s increased to this much?

It used to be that the Chuki (middle model) front bumper with a Zanki (early model) lip the go to combo for 180sx drivers.

But when lowering the cars to extremely low ride heights became the trend, it became quite trouble some. the lip would often scrape against the road, and so with this combination the cars could not be as low. However, the currently popular specification, of using the Kouki bumper and lip has the appeal of being able to lower the car height a lot more without sacrificing damage to the front of the car; as it has more clearance from the road than the previous styles. What’s more, the bumper lights on the Kouki bumper also look cool. The factory version only has position lights, but if you replace the single position light blub with a dual purpose one (and modfiy the wiring) you can make it a position light and turn signal, at the same time. it looks even cooler!

As for the Taillights, it seems that the reason was that people were tired of the Zanki taillights, and when looking at them at night, the Kouki ones looked cooler. This opinion spread throughout the country, and they quickly became popular.

As for the rear wing, at first the Zanki tails and spoiler combination was cool, but the later Kouki spoiler was a fresh look. After all, at one time rear spoilers were almost completely removed. But as time goes on, change needs to happen, and recently the number of drift cars with spoilers has increased again. Another factor is that there are a lot more cool aero parts available now that can be paired with a spoiler. It seems that low rider drivers generally like spoilers.”

What are the setups of these famous 180sx drivers?

“When it comes to suspension, many famous drifters have fine tuned their suspension to suit their own individual driving style. In today’s drifting scene, speed is an absolute necessity, so suspension that emphasizes maneuverability is required. As for alignment, each person has their own preferred settings, so it’s difficult to say what’s best.

After adjusting the vehicle height to your liking, you can align the four wheels to improve the overall balance, and then use full pillow ball joints to make the car move more precisely. You can also adjust the roll center to improve suspension geometry. That way even if you lower the vehicle, you can correct the lower arm’s position and make it straight again.

When it comes camber, the focus is on quick inputs and predictability. From what I’ve seen, most run around -2°, which feels comfortable for street driving. Or up to -3° for track use.

The use of R32 Brembos which fit under 17in wheels has also become common place. That improves the braking performance significantly. Recently, not only turbos have been upgraded, but also the engine itself has been modified. Famous drifters always pay attention to the overall balance when building their engines.

The suspension has to handle the power of the engine, and the body has to accommodate the suspension’s workload. It’s an act of total balance. They build machines while considering whether they can be used to their full potential or not.

17in wheels also have become mainstream. They seem to be the wheel of choice because they are compatible with a wide range of cars, from those with simple boost up tunes or those with fully built engines. However, the important thing is the balance between engine power and tire grip, and I think drifting will be more fun if you choose a wheel size that suits the car and the stage you are driving on, rather than choosing 17in wheels just because they look good.”

“It can be said that choosing a tire & wheel size and practicing with a consistent setup helps to improve quickly. in the past, stretching tires was popular in some parts, as it made it easier to lose traction.

But now, high grip setups have become the mainstream. There are many brands of tires, all are different in some way, but the preferences are as follows. Koguchi’s is the Falken RS TUNE II, Ito Kun’a is the G Grid, Ijima Kun’s is anything from Yokohama, and Shigihara Kun’s is the Dunlop 901 tire.

I also got some more feedback on tires. The RE711 is good but expensive, BS Firestone is OK for drifting, some say the Dunlop 901 has a soft sidewall and can’t keep up with the quick movements of drifting, the RS Tune II is good in both rain and dry conditions and is also good value for money. Running 16in wheels make the car easy to handle, but the 17s have better handling and appearance, 18s look best but are expensive. I learned about their impressions of various tires and wheel sizes.

In any case, the 180SX is a car that has all three qualities: it’s great to drive, looks good, and is even better for drifting.” -Takayuki Kikuchi

Seems like the trends just change overtime and in 2000, it was the era of 17in/18in wheels and oem aero. This style would continue to be timeless in my opinion but in a drift scene where everyone wanted to have the best, new, trend setting part. The 180 style would continue to evolve. Now onto the cars themselves, starting off the Emperor.

King Koguchi’s new 180sx unveiled in Hokkaido!

“The new Koguchi 180SX, a project that took two years to build. Continues to evolve based on one concept: being a car that suits Koguchi’s driving style at all times. This 180SX, rather than looking like a drift car, has the aura of a race car. Both in the exterior appearance and chassis design. Since it’s not completely finished yet, you’ll have to stay tuned to see the drifting it will deliver when fully completed!!”

SPEC LIST:

Tires: F•225/35/R18 R•245/40/R18
Wheels: Blitz Z2 F• 18×8.5j+38 R•18×9.5+38
Suspension: FR• Ikeya Formula STC Coilovers (F•8K R•6K)
Arms: full pillow ball bushings
Engine: Pulsar Pistons, Tomei 264 IN/EX cams, Tomei 1.2mm head gasket, custom fitted Pulsar quad throttle intake manifold, Trust intercooler with custom piping, 3 layer Ikeya Formula radiator, HKS 550cc injectors, Dog box transmission.

“The engine has been repositioned rearward to optimize weight distribution. This is a major modification of this new build.”

“The rear features an original custom made dual muffler with kouki tails and spoiler. Giving the rear end a ‘nice’ look”

“The body, a known weakness of the 180SX, has been reinforced with bracing bars and lots of spot welds.”

“The interior is simple yet sporty. One aftermarket gauge cluster keeps things neat and all in one place.”

“The wheels are everyone’s favorite, Blitz on the front and rear.”

Iijima Mutsumi’s 180SX

“A 180sx as close as possible to Koguchi’s spec, but in genuine Mercedes-Benz brown paint!!! Koguchi World’s very own Iijima Mutsumi, he drifts faster and with more angle than anyone else he claims, and his car has a refined and elegant look. With the essence of the Koguchi spec 180sx style.”

SPEC LIST:

Tires: F•215/40/R17 R•235/40/R17
Wheels: F• 17×8.5j+31 R•17×9.5+24
Suspension: FR• Ikeya Formula STC Coilovers (F•8K R•6K)
Engine: Pulsar Turbo, Trust intercooler, HKS 550cc injectors, Tomei 256 cams, Hot Road exhaust manifold and muffler, Yashio Factory radiator, Oil cool.
Aero: Full genuine Kouki aero, Racing Service MAX vented hood.

“A Racing Service MAX hood has been installed.”

“Like Koguchi’s 180sx, this one has been fitted with Tomei cams and a Pulsar turbo.”

“The dual tip muffler is from Hot Road.”

“The interior features a Bride bucket seat, a Nardi steering wheel, and additional gauges.”

“The rear fender has also been beautifully modified.”

Akinori Ito’s 180sx

“This is Break Ito’s new 180sx!!!”

“Ito’s 180SX is just plain clean and cool. The rear quarter fender flares are subtle yet stylish, you might not even notice them at first glance. The engine bay is also beautifully put together. The interior, like the exterior, is beautifully coordinated with red as the base color. It is absolutely flawless. Ito-kun is a rare kind of drifter. He’d take the car to the body shop for even the slightest scratch. What’s more, this 180SX isn’t just a kouki aero kitted car; it’s a genuine 1997 model. That’s how particular Ito-kun is.”

SPEC LIST:

Tires: F•215/40/R17 R•225/40/R18
Wheels: F•17×9+15 R•18×9.5+12
Suspension: Coilovers (F•10k R•8K)
Engine: S15 SpecR engine, TD06 turbo, Trust intercooler, APEXi Power FC, I/S Engineering muffler.
Aero: full genuine kouki aero, Racing Service MAX vented hood.

“An elaborate new specification, an S15 engine paired with a TD06 turbo”

“Rear end of a real Kouki 180sx, with an I/S Engineering muffler.”

“The interior is just as beautiful as the exterior, a show to Ito-Kun’s commitment to style.”

“The brakes are R33 Brembos.”

“The additional gauges are hidden in the glove compartment, isn’t that neat?”

When I met Ito-San, he told me how the car was done just in time for this event! And how he planed on it being unveiled there. They worked throughout the night to have it ready and drove with no sleep to catch the ferry.

Shigihara’s 180sx

“He aims for beautiful and fast drifts!”

“Low ride height, silver body, and gleaming aluminum wheels. Shigihara’s 180SX amplifies his beautiful driving style. His goal is fast, clean drifting. Just like the 180S✕ style, his commitment to drifting is about executing flawless runs every time. That’s the Shigihara way.”

SPEC LIST

Tires F•215/40-R17 R•235/40-R17
Wheels F•17x9J+32 R• 17x10J+32
Suspension:FR DEED coilovers (F10k R•8k)
Engine: Nismo 550cc injectors, Trust intake manifold, Trust intercooler, T5172 turbocharger, aluminum radiator, air bleed tank, Tomei cams, Hot Road Ext manifold and muffler, Trust OVT LET, rocker arm stoppers.
Aero: Genuine Kouki aero, Racing Service MAX vented hood.

“T517Z Turbo, with Tomei (Drift) camshafts.”

“Racing Service MAX vented hood.”

“Hot Road dual tip muffler with genuine Kouki rear end.”

“MOMO steering wheel, and neatly arranged additional gauges built into the dashboard.”

“His favorite aluminum wheels made by Blitz.”

Shigihara’s 180sx is such a beautiful example of a simple 180, it really doesn’t take much to make one of these look good. It comes down to the execution and overall vibe more than changing and adding in as much parts as possible. This is a truly iconic 180sx in my eyes.

Kanazawa Takuya 180SX

“Mr. Takuya, representative of Hot Road, switched from a Cefiro to a 180SX. The styling is pure Koguchi spec. The Midnight Purple color is beautiful, and the finish is excellent.

SPEC LIST:
Tires:F•M7R 215/40/R17 R•M7R 235/40/R17
Wheels:F•8J R•9J
Suspension:FR•JIC FLT Coilovers (F8k R6k)
Engine:HKS Camshaft, Tomei 1.2mm head gasket, High response turbo, Valve Springs, decked head, Hot Road SPL ECU
Aero:genuine Kouki aero.

“A response focused engine setup, HKS cams and a high response turbo.”

“Dual tip Hot Road muffler”

“Ducted hood.”

“Nardi steering wheel and additional gauges.”

K-Style’s Sil80 Pick Up

“Ever since its debut at this year’s Auto Salon, this Pickup 180SX has been dominating the conversation, it’s called the K-Tora. And it’s a car that’s been meticulously customized with a sleek, stylish look. The driver for the day was, of course, this man: K-STYLE’s Hiraoka. When talking about the 180SX, you can’t leave out this guy. He showed up in the K-Tora instead of his beloved Blue Metallic 180SX.”

“The engine compartment, finished to perfection as if to say, ‘How about that?!’”

This in my opinion, is the only tastefully done S chassis “pick up” now that doesn’t mean that I like it. But I don’t mind it. It was a 180 at some point after all.

T&E’s 180sx

“T&E’s pride and joy, the 180SX with their signature rear quarter panels!”

“The T&E 180SX as featured in the September issue of BM also cruises along swiftly. This Ueno spec 180SX has a truly impressive rear quarter panel. It was custom-made by a friend who runs a body shop. The rear emd has a really muscular feel that has a sense of power.”

“This race car inspired cluster is also quite appealing. Though Representative Ueno usually drives a Soarer, he built this 180SX with considerable passion.”

That wraps it for the 180sx extravaganza! I love 180s, and this short article has undoubtedly influenced me in more ways than I could explain. Koguchi’s black 180 with the Z2s, Shigihara’s 180 with the 03s, and of course Ito’s fresh build. That red car sparked my obsession with 180s and 180 styling in general. This feature mostly mention the incredible fender work and engine bay. But there is so much cool/custom stuff on that car that I love and obsess over.

I talk about that car so much more on the @Break.Ito180sx_archive page, I recommend checking it out if you’re a 180 manic like me.

Sexy Style ad

A very early Sexy Style ad, Sexy Style is an aero and parts brand closely associated with the team Sexy knights.

This is a very early ad when they only offered two kits under the Intercept aero line. They offered a kit for JZX81 Mark II, and of course the legendary FC RX7 kit. The FC is what everyone thinks of when they think of Sexy Style/Knights, made famous by the teams leader Tomoya and the designer Miura!

They also offer some smaller parts such as tension rods, floor panels, and bucket seats.

Track driving rules presented by NOB

“Drifting is accessible and easy for anyone to get into, but as a motorsport, I want people to follow the rules when driving on the circuit.” -Tanaguchi

“Recently, drifting on circuits has become commonplace. It would have been unthinkable in the past, but I think it is a very good thing. However, there is one thing that concerns me. That is the drivers’ attitude towards safety on the circuit.

Certainly, drifting is a street ‘sport’ born from racing, but if you’re driving on a circuit, you need to take proper safety precautions, otherwise not only will you get hurt, but you could also lose the freedom of circuit driving that you’ve worked so hard to achieve. So before people start saying ‘drifters have bad manners,’ I want you to think about a few things.

When driving on a circuit, you need a helmet that meets the JIS standards. A full-face helmet is best, but a jet-type helmet that meets the standards is also OK. However, to protect yourself, you want to wear a full-face helmet. A half-cap, or even no helmet at all, is out of the question. Remember that protecting your head is protecting yourself.

Next, the windows. Even if it’s a mini circuit, the driver’s side should be closed. When I asked people who have rolled over while drifting on a circuit, they said that they put their hands out to protect themselves. Even if they know in their mind that it’s dangerous to put their hands out. Your hands will reach out in the direction of the fall. If that happens, and the window is open, there is a very high chance that you will reach out and get caught when the window side is facing downwards. This is extremely dangerous. That’s why it’s important to keep the windows fully closed when driving.

Lastly, the seat belts. There are people who don’t wear these sometimes. At worst, a standard three-point seat belt is better than nothing, but in the future, four-point seat belts will be required for drifting as well. Four-point seat belts are a must, especially in serious competitions. As the level of drifting improves, so does the speed. Therefore, if you don’t pay attention to the minimum safety precautions, it could lead to a serious accident. Please follow these rules so that you can continue to enjoy drifting.”

NOB would go on to show the correct way to install seat harnesses, and explain other essential rules for circuit driving.

NOB was an early advocate for circuit driving and professional racing, so it makes perfect sense that he essentially became the new face of drifting after Tsuchiya.

Tokachi Drift Festival in Hokkaido!

“The Tokachi Thanksgiving Festival, held at the Tokachi National Speedway in Hokkaido on the day before the last Sunday of August, was an open event for all regular drivers. They could drive for an unlimited time for just 4,000 yen.

The following day was the BM Cup.

Approximately 80 drifters gathered for the well priced driving event.

This year, a significant number of renowned drifters from Honshu traveled to the region to showcase their exceptional drifting skills. The sky was adorned with a light drizzle.

The event was quite exciting. Drifters from Hokkaido and Honshu engaged in lively conversations in the pit, exchanging questions and discussing Tokachi driving techniques. Even a female drifter from Hokkaido and her family joined in on the fun.

Kamei of Tokachi Speedway explained, ‘We opened the venue to the public at a low price so that everyone could enjoy the event. We hope that when we do it again, people from Honshu will come and experience the same fun.’”’

Next year’s Hokkaido BM Cup Tour will attract not only celebrities but also many more Honshu drifters to Hokkaido. Let’s embark on thrilling high speed drifting adventures on the vast circuits of this beautiful land, and have a fantastic time in Hokkaido as well!”

New VS Old School Drift Tuning

Yuki Izumida aka Dart izumi (RIP) and Shuji Kaneko JZXs

Both traveled to Hokkaido for the thanksgiving festival.

“Nowadays, even though we can simply say “drift spec,” there are many different kinds of cars and drift setups available. Everyone is striving to achieve the ultimate setup, and are constantly evolving their cars and techniques. Even famous drifters are always trying to improve their cars into and tune them in pursuit of even greater drifting. Let’s take a look at these two machines and discover what the drift setups of the future will be!”

“The duo who performed incredible and powerful drift at the Tokachi International Speedway course in Hokkaido were the familiar “King of Destruction,” Izumida Hiroki and the president of GOOD LINE, Kaneko Shuji. Apparently they set the standard for twin drifts at the BM Cup Hokkaido tournament, Izumida had purchased a JZX100 to match Kaneko’s GOOD LINE car, and even had it painted the same gold color. According to Izumida, he bought and painted the car just to compete in the BM Cup, so it’s amazing how proactive he was.

What was even more surprising was their driving. It goes without saying that they caught the eyes of the Hokkaido drifters, but their driving was so fast that it was heart pounding just to watch. The power of these two drivers was truly intimidating.”

“I asked President Kaneko about the secret of the the Twin Drift. As he was driving in front of the others, he said, ‘Dart (Izumida, of course) was coming at me from behind with a ferocious look on his face, so I just ran away desperately.’ The driver behind closed the distance by adjusting to the movements of the driver in front, but that sense of distance shows that the driver in front was also keeping a close eye on his back. He just wants to ‘excite the spectators and win!’ That’s all he thinks about. Is that why he went to the trouble of building a whole car just for that purpose?

Well, it’s not easy for the average person to imitate such feat, but to impress everyone, they may match their cars, use the same color, or even drive cars that are completely opposite of each other, but perhaps we are now in an age where such things are required of twin drifters. More importantly than matching cars, is the movements of the two cars. A good twin drift must be well synchronized.”

Koichi with he’s newly finished S14 and Kazama in his s15!

“The S15 has been seen more and more in drifting recently. It’s easy to drive and well-balanced, but it’s also said that this balance makes it difficult to drift. However, that’s not the case. In fact, many famous drifters drive this car, and the power of its drifting is well-known. Even so, we’d like to take a look at the Kazama S15, which has been tuned with the overall balance of driving in mind.

The concept of the Kazama S15 is to make the S15, which is said to be difficult to drift without spending money, easy to drift without tinkering with the engine. So I’m sure it will be a useful specification for everyone. as most of you are probably wondering what has been refined and to what extent.

Cams (IN256 EX256), head gasket, and valves are all Tomei Powered products. The computer is matched to the actual car setup, and the boost is 1.0k (1/J, airflow meter) fuel pump is stock . It’s fitted with a Trust intercooler, East exhaust manifold (3mm), Dart Izumi radiator, Trust oil cooler, HKS reinforced actuator, BOSS manifold outlet and air bleed tank, Uras engine mounts and transmission mount, GP Sports Spec R muffler, and front pipe.”

“Champ, or Yamashita-kun, says he’s actually wanted to build an S14 for a while. Yamashita-kun is well known for driving a Hachiroku, but he’s also driven an S14 before, so he understands the state of the S14. So, this time he’s finished building an S14 as a demo car for the body shop GOOD LINE where he works. The specifications of this S14 are what Yamashita-kun had been thinking about for a while.

The turbine that Yamashita-kun chose was the GT2835R. This turbine is suitable for generating power. However, after installing it and actually driving, Yamashita-kun’s impression was that “it may be a little too big for drifting.

For Koichi, The question was how far they could go with just upgrading the turbine, without modifying the engine itself. So the first challenge was to see how far we could go with a big turbine. As a result, they concluded that this big turbine would be suitable for large circuits like Tsukuba Circuit and Tokachi International Speedway in Hokkaido, but not for the mini circuits that are the main stage for drifting. ‘The GT2540 that was attached to the S14 I used to drive might be suitable for drifting, but to be honest I would like to try out various turbines.’

The further evolution of this S14, which is being perfected by Champ Yamashita with total balance in mind, seems to be promising.”

“The engine is equipped with a GT2835R turbine, cams (IN 256° EX 264°), gaskets, air cleaner, valve springs, regulator, intercooler, twin clutch, HKS oil cooler, Power Enterprise 550cc injectors, JIC exhaust manifold, etc. The computer is an Apex Power FC Drag specification.”

Kumakubo’s R32 Type M and Hiraoka’s 180sx!

“A car model that has become popular this year is the Skyline Type M. The R32 Type M in particular has a low used car market price, which seems to have fueled its recent popularity. Since last year, Kumakubo, the manager of Ebisu Circuit and representative of K-STYLE, has been saying, ‘Next, I’ll finish the Type M.’ And now, the Type M is finished. The original green coloring is topped off with a K-STYLE front bumper.

The style with a lowered height and blister fenders at the rear gives the Type M a new image.

This style is truly impressive for drifting, and looks cool from both the front and the back. The engine remains stock, with only K-STYLE’s original computer installed. ‘Even this Type M with an unmodified engine is enough to compete in drift competitions’ says Manager Kumakubo, but the bottom line is that it’s all about skill.”

“The Hiraoka RPS13, finished with budget-friendly repurposed parts, now sports K-STYLE’s NEW front bumper for the 180SX.

The appeal of this front bumper lies in its low profile. True to Hiraoka-kun’s dedication to the car’s style, the theme is low and cool. With the engine that broke during the BM&BBM Festa replaced and new aero parts installed, the Hiraoka 180SX is back in the spotlight, running sharper than ever!”

K-Style front bumper and side skirts.

“The engine system includes a K-STYLE original CPU (¥130,000), a genuine S15 turbine, 550cc injectors, a Z32 airflow meter, and an oil pan guard (¥8,800).”

“K-Style’s secret weapon?! A great part that emits sparks when running!”

Sexy Knights FC RX7s!

“Recently, Miura-kun of SEXY KNIGHTS, who has been rapidly demonstrating his skills, has collaborated with Interceptor to create an aero kit. It’s called ‘SEXY STYLE.’ Naturally, it will be sold as a full aero kit as designed by Miura-kun himself.

Currently, only the front bumper is available, but the side steps and rear bumper will be released soon. Miura-kun is head over heels for the FC3S, captivated by its stylish looks, sound, and handling.

Team leader Suzuki-kun also drives an FC3S. They exchange advice and thoroughly enjoy drifting in their FCs.

First, Miura-kun recommends the Circus ENG high-flow turbo installed on FCs. Then, smoothing doors. Door handles get in the way of making the car look beautiful, so he smoothed them out and made pop-out doors. Of course, he also recommends the aero parts he designed himself. ‘Anyone with the same sensibility as me will absolutely want this aero,’ he says with full confidence. He also loves his unique style, perfectly matching the ride height to the fenders. ‘I’ll do whatever it takes to compete in the BM Cup Championship!’ Miura-kun is passionate not just about building cars, but about racing too.

Now, let’s check out Leader Suzuki-kun’s FC3S. He says the FC3S is best with the rotary’s wastegate wide open! The turbine is a TO4E. He’s swapped out the blades for smaller ones, giving it solid low-end torque too. ‘I’ve always loved gunmetal black wheels. The R33 stock wheels I’m running now, painted gunmetal, are my go-to,’ he boasts. With door handles smoothing and a full R Magic aero kit, he’s enjoying drifting his FC3S.”

“Tires are M7R front and rear (F: 215/40-17, R: 215/45-17), with genuine R33 wheels front and rear (FR: 9J +30). This setup is a real favorite. Suspension is JIC FLT (FR7k) with Mazda Speed LSD and OS twin clutch. Final drive ratio is stock.”

“Front bumper: R Magic model selected. GP Sports muffler. The rear bumper is from R Magic.”

“Engine components include inner parts & late-model FC housing, rotor overhaul, TO4E turbocharger, Trust intercooler, unknown radiator, HKS exhaust manifold, HKS FCON & AIC CPU, etc.”

“Tires: Front/Rear FM901 (F: 215/40-17, R: 235/45-17), Wheels: Front/Rear Panasport (F: 9JR, R: 9.5J), Suspension: JIC FLT (F: 8k, R: 6k), Winmax Brake Pads, Karts 1.5-Way LSD, OS Twin Clutch, Final Drive: Stock. The side steps currently installed are R Magic.”

“This is the front bumper spoiler designed by Miura-kun. It will be released under the brand name “SEXY STYLE” from Interceptor. The side steps and rear bumper are also scheduled to be completed soon.”

“Engine System: Circus ENG High-Flow Turbocharger, Earls Oil Cooler, One-Fin Cooler, Aluminum Triple-Layer Radiator, Circus ENG CPU.”

FC RX7s are very close to my heart, when I was growing up it was definitely a difficult decision picking a favorite between FCs and 180s, they still hold a special place as one of my favorite cars and definitely something I’d love to get into one day.

Trader’s Sil80s

Trader’s is a used car dealer/shop that specializes in S chassis, they sell drift ready cars or can build your car if you bring it to them. Here they got two Sil80s built by them.

Cruise S14

Cruise is another speciality shop famous for their pink demo cars, they can build you a whole car from the ground up to your specifications.

They make lots of their own products, including what’s showcased here. An adjustable steering boss spacer.

Winds Auto 86s

The 86 fanatics Winds Auto! As mentioned in my previous post, Juicebox had a pretty good video on them. In this feature we get to see a few of their 86s!

“If you want to win with a Hachiroku, you need to hone your drifting techniques first and foremost. Technique is the greatest weapon in winning with a Hachiroku. To achieve this, you want your car to be setup so that it can always perform at its full potential. Your Hachiroku’s setup is a tool to support your drifting technique!”

“Of all the drifting cars, the Hachiroku stands out with its extensive tuning options. From naturally aspirated to supercharged and turbocharged setups, and even engines capable of five-valve conversion, the possibilities are endless. Moreover, the availability of a wide range of new and used parts makes it an attractive choice for enthusiasts on a budget. However, it’s important to note that the number of good Hachiroku cars is dwindling, so proper maintenance is crucial for preserving these iconic vehicles.

The Hachiroku is still active at the forefront of the BM Cup. One team that is famous nationwide for its Hachiroku drifting is Guntama Racing. Led by Masayuki Aoyagi, the team is full of strong drivers. Wins Auto supports their aggressive driving. Representative Kimihiro Obata is a Hachiroku driver himself and acts as a friendly advisor to Guntama Racing.”

“Even when it comes to drift specs, the 86 is a car where technique comes first. First hone your drifting skills, and then find the setup that lets you make use of that technique fully. That seems to be the winning formula for the 86.

‘People who drive a lot improve faster and get quicker. First, just put in the miles. And for those stuck in a rut with their Hachiroku, it might be worth revisiting things like camber, toe, and caster adjustments. Sometimes adjusting these little things cause a breakthrough. Regardless, drifting causes your suspension settings to change often, so keep a close eye on them,’ he commented.

The key points of Hachiroku tuning is to keep it simple. It’s low risk as they don’t cost much. So instead, put that money toward tires and gas to hone your skills! That’s the conclusion.”

More Winds Auto 86s & MASA ad

Hiromi Obata’s 86

MASA Motorsports Master Card $$$

BN Sports full spread ad

Here we can see BN’s S15 and FD RX7 kits that had just come out at the time. A lot more akin to what we expect of them now. By the late 2000s, BN was shifting their design philosophy towards the low and wide style with their new lineup of aero kits.

Bihoku BM Cup

“Murakami, renowned for his exceptional skill, finally secured the podium through sheer determination. Prior to this tournament, he had embarked on a series of expeditions, consistently competing on away courses instead of his home track. Despite facing challenges such as machine troubles and bad luck, he had persevered through these setbacks. His victory over his teammate, Mitsuru Haruguchi, in the final event at Bihoku Circuit must have significantly boosted his confidence. His competitive spirit and driving style are expected to infuse the championship tournament with renewed energy and excitement.”

1st Place Winner: Mitsuru Murakami

“Murakami was riding well on this day. He was riding so well that even those watching could feel his enthusiasm……. He was able to show the ideal line that I have been talking about.

Making the decision to repeatedly chase the perfect line is no easy feat. To pull it off in the finals is precisely how you win the high level Bihoku event.

Approaching the limit is frightening. Without fear, yet without overstepping. From there, you execute a hard braking faint without losing composure. Enter in a way that makes the judges wonder for a moment, ‘Can he actually turn at that speed without flying off?’ That’s the kind of driving that makes the entire audience and everyone watching go ‘Whoa!’. That is what makes him powerful.” -Nobuteru Tanaguchi

“Haruguchi is a man who can drive any car. This time, he was able to compete in the Bihoku BM Cup with his own car. This alone shows how much he is betting on this competition. His driving on this day was brilliant. His machine, swung out over the full width of the course. it was very impressive. His driving had the attention of all the spectators glued to him.”

2nd Place Runner Up: Mitsuru Haruguchi

“You wouldn’t guess it but Haruguchi is quite the talented driver. His ability to react swiftly to the car’s behavior is truly remarkable.

Even when he’s driving someone else’s car, he can effortlessly jump in and take the wheel. He enters corners at the absolute limit, throwing the car sideways. Then, at angles that would be impossible to recover from, even for an RX-7, he slams on the brakes and manages to clear the corner without spinning out. Sure, he does spin out occasionally when pushing to the limit, but when it truly matters, he demonstrates exceptional control. That unwavering focus is crucial.

In the final battle, he managed to tie for first place, but during the tiebreaker run, he went off course. Even when faced with a sudden death battle, he didn’t play it safe. Instead, he went for the full 100 points with an aggressive run, showcasing his remarkable skill and determination, It was impressive.” -Nobuteru Tanaguchi

3rd Place Finisher: Katsuhiro Ueo

“Ueo came all the way from Kyushu to Bihoku to compete. He took home 3rd which is amazing. He certainly wasn’t used to this course… In the past, Ueo said, ‘I just want to have fun!’ and insisted on doing reverse entries , only to be frustrated when he didn’t place highly. It’s true that Ueo’s reverse entry is cool. As a reverse entry technique, it probably scores 100 points. However, if there was someone in the competition who could do a 100 point run with a long faint and no e brake, that person would win.

For example, if there were two Ueo’s, one with 100 point reverse entry. And the other with 100 point long faint. The long faint Ueo would win. I gave this advice to Ueo last time. He is a very talented driver, so if he knows what he needs to do to win, he can do it right away. He was running well on this day, and his first run in the finals was at the 100 point level same as in practice, but in the second run he was at the 90 point level, it left a bit on the table. That is the reason why we gave him 3rd this time. It was a shame, because he could have won.” – Nobuteru Tanaguchi

In the team twin drift competition, team NA.Works took the podium.

With D-Side Trick in 2nd.

The beginner class winners/competitors.

NOB’s Thoughts

“The BM Cup at Bihoku Circuit was intense as ever. Among all the BM Cups happening everywhere, this event feels like it’s on a whole different level. Drivers carry speed through the final corner and go full throttle onto the straight. You can feel their raw desire to squeeze out every last bit of straight line speed, throwing the car sideways right at the edge of the entry zone before going back on the gas again. It’s incredibly cool!

Being able to go wide open right up to the entry zone, snapping the car sideways, and then smashing the brakes to reach full angle. That’s what you’d call fast, skilled, and sick looking driving, using top level advanced techniques.

No matter how wide the angle, or where you start from, if your entry is late, it’s no good! Only when all conditions align does it flow perfectly. But that’s difficult. It’s precisely because it’s difficult that it’s fascinating and cool.” – Nobuteru Tanaguchi

The Judges

-Nobuteru Tanaguchi
-Isaku Kakui
-Ryota Yuasa
-Kunihiro Tanakita

Ikeya Formula RPS13 180SX “The 180SX, with the low stance and aggressive aura.”

Ikeya Formula!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

“When it comes to shops popular with drifters right now, it’s got to be Ikeya Formula. Shop owner Mr. Ikeya confidently states they have quite the obsession when it comes to a cars’ suspension.

This 180SX was unveiled by Ikeya Formula at the 1999 Auto Salon. Even today, the striking low stance of the body is likely due to the roof being chopped. The reason for cutting the roof and lowering it was, ‘After tuning the 180SX for so long, couldn’t we make it look even cooler? Couldn’t we showcase the shop’s originality?’ The concept was to shape the chopped roof to resemble an airplane canopy, with the image being NASCAR. To match the roof shape, new interior trim was created, and the windows were custom made to fit the pillars. Significant modifications were made, including adding bracing to ensure structural rigidity.”

“They did everything they could. For instance, adjustable stabilizers and a sequential shifter are examples. Although they were removed for this shoot, they will go back on the car. The aftermarket sequential shifter is equipped as a plug-and-play upgrade. Ikeya products are developed with plug-and-play installation as the fundamental premise. They are designed to be installed without cutting the body or modifying anything. This is a key point of the Ikeya Formula philosophy.

The adjustable stabilizer bar can be adjusted even while driving,
and its effectiveness is quite good. Both front and rear offer four stages of variable adjustment.

The sequential shifter is planned to release for under ¥100,000. It features a sequencer display and is compatible with nearly all models from 20-30 years ago. It works on any vehicle with an H-pattern shifter. Only the shift action changes from H-pattern to sequential. As long as the shift pattern follows the standard sequence, it can be easily bolted onto the stock shifter. A truly groundbreaking item.

Now, let’s examine the intriguing suspension setup. This 180SX employs a pushrod suspension system. It of course, passes inspection. While this unique suspension offers a wider range of tuning possibilities, it doesn’t provide an all purpose solution for every driving scenario. The driving characteristics are determined by the position of the pushrod and the suspension pivot point. It operates on the principle of a lever, allowing the position of the pushrod and suspension pivot points to be changed. Currently, they are exploring where to place this pivot points.”

“The rear of this pushrod suspension system is a key feature. It seems to absorb upward forces by adding one large valve to the suspension. Even the smallest gaps activate the suspension, ensuring a comfortable ride is prioritized even on machines capable of aggressive driving.

Furthermore, the Ikeya made ball joint style lower arm plays a crucial role in ensuring the suspension movement adapts to the lowered ride height. This lower arm ball joint is designed to correct the roll center of the lower arm. Bringing it closer to the ideal angle.

While the S15 Silvia is fine, the 180SX has large body openings, resulting in weaker body rigidity. We developed the Ikeya STC shock, thinking we could somehow compensate for this through the suspension. But wanting to do more, we conceived the pushrod suspension. This allows the suspension to compensate for the body’s lack of rigidity. Through the 180SX, you can glimpse the essence of Ikeya Formula tuning.”

In this pic, the chopped roof and custom windshield can be seen, giving the car a super low and wide look you’d never see elsewhere!!

Under it we got a pic of the engine bay, Ikyea claims a power figure of 350ps. This SR20 has lots of special parts bolted to it. Including a custom Radiator and custom intake manifold. An HKS2540R Turbo, HKS cams, and more. In the interior pictures you can see the handles for the adjustable sway bars in the center console!

Ikeya had planed to bring push rod suspension to the market for consumers, that might have been a difficult goal as I never saw it come to fruition. But it’s cool to see on their demo car nonetheless.

“I always tell beginners to invest in reasonably priced suspension components and to definitely install a performance differential,” says Mr. Ikeya, representative of IKEYA FORMULA. Ikeya’s bread and butter is control arms, they make the highest quality arms that pass the Japanese road inspection and are renowned for their durability.

So coooool!!

Calendar Car for NOV 2000

Hokkaido BM Cup

“The annual summer Hokkaido tournament was held again this year! Many drifters from Hokkaido and even Honshu participated, making it more exciting than ever. Approximately 160 cars participated. This year again, the drifting was held on the spacious circuit of Tokachi International Speedway (Jr. Course), only five people were able to secure a spot in the national competition!”

1st place winner: Akira Takayanagi [Cover Car]

“Takayanagi was able to make the entry and clipping zones perfectly. At the judging corner, many drivers had a good entry but were deceived and followed the wrong line, leaving them unable to get to the inside zone. Takayanagi properly slowed down to the appropriate speed, took the inside and then flew out the corner.

On this day, there were many drivers who were just going fast, but very few were using the brakes correctly (to slow down after entry), so they didn’t hit all the zones. That’s how a majority of the runs went, over shooting the corner was a common occurrence. Takayanagi however was able to figure out how to take the correct line and attack early on, which is why he was able to win.” – Nobuteru Tanaguchi

With the event taking place in Hokkaido, team Wilder would obviously make an appearance! Shoutout @G_growlogy

The runner up and 3rd place for the expert class are Hirofumi Takada and Masatoshi Asamoto.

Lots of the cars mentioned early on in this issue make another appearance here, so please enjoy the pictures.

Team Over 30 consisting of Izumida and Kaneko in matching gold JZXs won 1st place in the twin drift comp.

They had a heated battle with the K-Style drivers who also came from the mainland to compete. The battle could have gone either way, but the JZX drivers didn’t hold back and managed to win over them in the rematch. The 2nd and 3rd place winners were locals from team Selfish and Wilder. The two teams competed with pride but were simply no match for the mainland legends.

They held their own against all other competitors and managed to reach the finals after all.

Team Wilder got 3rd place after making a critical error in the 2nd place deciding battle. Giving Selfish the runner-up title.

NOB’s Thoughts

“This course is a high speed course unlike any other. Currently, drifting is done on short courses, but this is a full scale circuit. The speeds are high, and it’s mainly run in 3rd gear instead of 2nd, in some sections you can even reach 4th.

Tsukuba might be the only other track where 3rd is required. What’s more, there are open fields and safety zones that make it less damaging to go off track. So even if you make a mistake, it wont be as consequential. So in a sense you can enjoy driving without fear of damaging your car. Even from our perspective, it looks like a fun course that makes you want to try it.

The circuit is well equipped. It is worth noting that Hokkaido is surprisingly large, and it can be difficult for some people to get here, but it’s still an enjoyable circuit. There are no low speed corners or complexes, but the high speed course is appealing.

However, because it’s so wide, there’s a tendency for people to do large reverse entries. That’s not a bad thing, if you can do one and still nail the clipping zone, then thats a truly impressive skill. It will be more difficult for sure. It’s not just fun, but it’s also good practice of how to run in a competition.” – Nobuteru Tanaguchi

The Judges

-Ebisu Circuit Manager Kumakubo
-Kasahara Danzaburou.
-local drifter Masaru Fujine

Last page of the BM Cup coverage and an East Bear ad

East Bear was at the forefront of Aero manufacturing and are definitely influential in that field.

I don’t know this for a fact, but I’d guess they’re one of the first brands to come up with their own original Aero Mirror, which would continue to be a popular part till today. They made numerous parts though not just aero as we can see in this ad.

Up Garage ad & the up monthly up coming events schedule

This Up Garage ad would have to be a super early one, when they only had 3 branches nationwide! How many do they have know?!

I looked it up and it seems only one of these Up Garages is in the same spot. Cool to see how they were able to succeed and grow as the years went on.

On the second page I felt it would be mildly interesting to take a look at the event schedule (for any time travels to the year 2000) and see what sorta stuff was happening back then.

The Kougchi Driving school was what caught my eye. At The SS highlands circuit, on Sunday OCT 22nd. The cost is 13k yen (lunch included) and limited to only 30 participants.

“If you think it’s still too early to attend a driving event yet, then this is the school for you.”

Pretty cool of Koguchi to hold beginner level days to get new people into the sport, and for 13k only. Which isn’t that much in my opinion even today.

Lots of other events were held by teams and known brands alike. Rough World, GP Sports, Hot Road and more.

GoodLine Fill Spread ad

Running free supporter and drifter Kaneko Shuji. President of Good Line!

Incredibly well known among 86 enthusiasts for their cool aero, but they made parts for other cars as well. Most notably their s14 kit which is a one of a kind for sure, no other brand has gone as wild with their aero styling like this since. I’d say it didn’t become as popular as they might have hoped, but I definitely appreciate the out of the box approach and unique result.

Car Make T&E aka Vertex Full Spread ad

Car Make T&E, or more commonly know as Vertex, was found by Takahiro Ueno in ‘96.

The fire to open a shop was fueled by the lack of aftermarket support for the car he drove in he’s early days. The JZZ30 Soarer, starting out with a rear bumper for it, and slowly snowballing into all different aero kits for different cars and more.

You can found a decent amount of info on Vertex thanks to this SpeedHunters article written by Dino Carbonare.

https://www.speedhunters.com/2009/10/car_builder_gt_gt_ueno_and_t_amp_e/

An aero kit for the Toyota Vitz is quite the hilarious idea.

GT Works & G-Grow ads

In this G-Grow ad we see the addition of a few more parts under the “Ideal” aero lineup.

The rear valance and rear spoiler, the spoiler is a simple reproduction of the oem one in frp, the valance however, is a totally original design by G-Grow, made to fit the lower side skirts of the kouki 180. Many might not know but what is commonly referred to as the “type x/kouki valence” was actually an optional part since the chuki (middle trim) restyle for the 180sx. And is a part not exclusive for the late 96-98 180s. G-Grow took the design elements from the late side skirts and implemented them to the valence so that it better matches the rest of the car. It’s a part I like, but I do tend to prefer the oem still all these years later.

Another cool addition to the catalog is the overalls/suspenders. If anyone sees some pop up on yahoo please let me know! I’m a sucker for cool mechanic wear from these old shops haha.

GT Works I am not as familiar with to be honest, but I have seen their sticker ran on lots of 86s from that era. Definitely a 86 focused shop, but offering some S chassis parts as well. The car on the advertisement looks cool as hell so I had to include them.

K-Style & Ebisu Circuit ads

As mentioned before, K-Style and Ebisu were two important parts of the drift scene in the Kanto region. Wish I could head to Ebisu and buy all the team stickers they had back in the day haha.

On the K-Style ad, we got a few cool new parts advertised, starting off with new front bumpers for the 180 and R32, the 180sx one named “Ver3” would become a very iconic look since it was ran by K-Style’s employee and Rapid team member Hiraoka!

The bumper might seem like a normal zenki one with an r32 lip, but it’s actually made entirely from one piece. The lip is integrated into the bumper, and the intercooler opening is slightly enlarged. The turn singles have been spaced out as well to give the bumper a slightly more modern look. This bumper is very rare nowadays and clean examples are almost impossible to find.

K-Style has offered a number of S13 and S14 bumpers, their Ver1 and Ver2 180 bumpers were also very popular. They were ran by people such as Takahashi from Group Doraku. It’s a very cool mix of the kouki style bumper with zenki style turn singles.

Another new part they were offering is this oil pan guard, I have one of these I’m looking forward to using, I hope it keeps my oil pan safe from all the Shakotan activities I plan on taking part in!

Meihan Amateur Level BM cup

After hearing the drivers feedback, BM decided to hold an amateur level event, where every participant had to have not won any previous events. The winner of this amateur level event would earn a spot at the national level championship later that same year.

As you’d expect most of the drivers in this event are pretty unknown, the winner was Takao Shimada. 2nd was Ichiro Horiba with his cool 180sx.

You can get a sense of what cars newer drivers would own and how they looked. The field consisted mostly of 86s, with the second most popular car being the S13. Very few S14s and not a single S15 as those were still expensive and new at the time. At high level comps you don’t see as many wild cards driving NA roadsters, or AA64 Corollas either.

I really enjoyed looking at all the different 86s in here and how unique each one looked.

A beginner class bracket was also held, it seems like the 2nd place winner was ahead of the curve on the missile car trend haha

Good 180 style can be found even at the armature level.

The judges

-Yoichi Imamura
-Yasuyuki Kazama

“I think everyone was able to give it their all, and many ladies participated, including Yagi-san. I think she was running really hard. Regardless of the class, it was a close match at their respective level. It was quite the close call for the amateur level. There was a moment where, however showed the most courage, was able to grasp the victory.” -The Judges

Advert for the final BM Cup of the year at Nakayama Circuit

“Well, the moment has come again this year! This is the biggest drift competition of the century, to decide the best drifter in Japan for the year 2000.

This year, drifters who have won regional competitions across the country will gather together to compete in a fierce drift battle. Just like last year, the event will be recorded on video and will be available for purchase at the end of the year.

We decided to hold the event on a holiday so that everyone could see it person, so we hope everyone will make the most of this national tournament. The more spectators there are, the better the participants will be able to perform. Drifting is all about having everyone watch. And everyone who enters the tournament on the day of the event will receive a limited edition BM Cup Champion Tournament BM sticker.

See you at Nakayama Circuit in Okayama Prefecture on November 28th!”

Now if I was making this post a few years ago, or a few months, or just a few weeks, I’d tell you that the video mentioned beforehand would be impossible to find.

But……. @Auto.Culture.Excite blessed us all recently, and has begun ripping his collection of BM videos and uploading them for us all to enjoy for freeeeee. I really appreciate you, Justin! Doing God’s work out there.

GO WATCH ITT!!!!!!! (After finishing reading this!!)

A few more big events would be advertised, this pic looked cool so I included it.

Kansai’s #1 Competition

We’re almost done… this is the last event coverage in this issue, it’s not a BM Cup, but a local Kansai competition at Meihan. It was held on the new course that just opened up back then. And hosted by “Drive Shop Freak” a local shop on the area.

I’ll skip the details and just show the cool cars, a few Tinker members would make an appearance so it’s worth showcasing!

The 3rd place winner in this event is the same 2nd place winner in the previous one. The car might look beat but the driving seems to be up to par.

The judges for this event were: Itai from N.O.L.S.D, Tokoura from Freak, and Kazama!

An ae86 coupe and R30 skyline, both looking pretty ordinary.

But under the hood, they’re powered by non other than GOD’s Holy Motor!!!

The swaps were done by each owner themselves, which is very impressive for the time. Got to remember, back then they didn’t have engine swap kits or harnesses that are plug and play. And definitely no YouTube tutorials.

Street Machine Check!!

Each issue, BM would feature some readers’ rides, this month, a few of the cars seem to have quite the unique theme going.

.A very Kawaii themed 180sx.

Owner: “This is my 2nd 180sx. It’s pearl white and pink, even more Hello Kitty-chan themed than my previous one, and it’s been a big hit around town! If you see it somewhere, I’m sure it’ll make you smile!!”

BM editor: “The interior has been given a very Hello Kitty inspired design. The previous 180SX was featured in the December 1999 issue of BM, so it might be a good idea to compare them. You can’t tell from this photos, but the interior has a fish tank which adds a nice touch.”

Yeahhhhhb….. lol

On the other page we got a team submission, the theme seems to be what many would refer to now as S#X Spec, or like the 2005 Import Tuner look. So when you think about. These guys were way ahead of the trend lol.

We got 3 sports cars decked out with aero, sounds systems, shiny wheels and all the swag you’d need to drop them panties on the street. (…)

The team name was Free Nights, here is what the owner of the GTO had to say.

Owner: “I’m Aoki, the chairman of Free Night’s. Because of a recent loss of the BEST STREETER title, I decided to completely revamp the interior, exterior, and driving performance. Reviving the GTO and bringing it back to life. So please enjoy.”

Editor: “The double decker spoiler is really cool. I like the interior and exterior revamp. But I’m curious to see how the running performance has been changed.”

The other two members’ car are also just as special, the FD RX7 features a very flamboyant interior, and the MR2, a striking Veilside body kit.

These guys definitely knew how to party!

And just like that, we are done. Man that was a long one, 10 freakin thousand words!! I’m sorry to everyone that actually read through all that.

Things kinda get less exciting as you go through these magazines and reach the last quarter, I wonder if should rearrange the articles, or move all the advertisements to the end. Or anything of that sorts to make the reading experience a bit more enjoyable. Any feedback regarding that is welcomed of course.

Anyways, till next time!

-Malek