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In the event you’re studying this, chances are high you’ve at the least heard of, or seen footage of the Gunsai Touge sooner or later. It might have been whereas searching the web on a web site like Speedhunters, watching Sizzling Model movies or studying an Choice journal.
Tucked away within the hills of Gunma Prefecture, the Gunma Cycle Sports activities Heart is residence to a number of roadways that make up this world-famous touge. The personal roads aren’t usually opened as much as something apart from biking, in order that made the occasion I attended a few weeks again all of the extra particular.
Hosted by Storage Infinity, a Gunma-based AE86 specialist tuning store, the ‘AE86 Drift Move Assault’ made for a shocking exhibition of one in every of Japan’s most iconic chassis within the vibrant peak of autumn.
After a brief drive out of Tokyo, I used to be greeted by greater than 30 Levins and Truenos that had made their means from throughout Japan. Some homeowners had pushed all through the evening prior, simply to take up this chance to float the well-known course with fellow Hachiroku lovers.
The occasion was break up throughout two completely different tracks, the Touge Course and a chalk-drawn circuit in one of many facility’s adjoining automotive parks. This opened it as much as these not eager on throwing their automotive across the slim highway course, which was designed for bicycles, not automobiles, in spite of everything.
There have been many notable AE86s and groups in attendance, a favorite of mine being the Staff Mouse notchbacks. This pair of 86s each share the large aero and over-fender look – an iconic early-2000s fashion that’s usually now reverted to manufacturing facility. It’s one other signal of the rising collectability standing of the as soon as humble Hachiroku.
The collectible nature of those automobiles, nevertheless, didn’t appear to be on most of the drivers’ agendas. It was refreshing to see AE86s pushed as they had been 10 or 15 years in the past. On the identical time, although, it was stark reminder that occasions like these will proceed to grow to be fewer and farther between because the youthful technology are priced out of the passion.
No stranger to the Gunsai Touge, Hiroshi Takahashi, AKA Kaicho however identified to many as runningfree86, was working constantly all through the occasion – even after he put his automotive right into a guard rail.
Kaicho has been drifting Corollas for over 30 years now, and his purple Trueno is well one of the vital well-known AE86s at this time. It’s been by way of many iterations in its lifetime, however proper now it’s working a constructed, dry-sumped 4A-GE with FCR carburettors, propelled by a TRD Cross Mission gear set.
It was positively one of many best-sounding automobiles of the day, and it’s nice to see that the Trueno may even be again to wanting its finest very quickly.
Taku-san’s N2 AE86 Levin is an unusual search for drift-built AE86s, however it appeared proper at residence on the Gunsai Touge.
One other favorite of mine was Yuichi’s perfectly-executed, street-style Levin notchback. I’ve seen this automotive at nearly all of the AE86 occasions I’ve attended in Japan, a testomony to its 4A-GE engine’s reliability.
It’s no secret that driving a observe like this has its dangers. In simply the in the future, Gunsai claimed a handful of Hachis, some faring higher than others towards the unforgiving guard rails. This by no means obtained in the way in which of any excessive spirits although; the present went on with laughter all spherical.
A number of the finest automobiles, backed by the beautiful autumn surroundings of the Gunma mountains is any fanatic’s dream come true. It definitely was for me.
I’d like to provide a particular observe of appreciation to Kaicho for the invitation out.
Alex Pender
Instagram: noplansco
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