Looking Sideways

There still aren't too many FD3s drifting regularly these days. So lets have a look at the "LooK King" workhorse.

The finish on this rough drifter is nothing short of perfect. After a recent respray in Aircraft Grey, it debuted at Exciting Car showdown.

These shots are from a recent track day in southern Japan at Meihan Sportsland. Diffuser and centre rear brake light are not common on a drifter.

You have to be good enough not to wipe out this body kit. The rear guards for example are 1 off's. Wheels are Nissan Z33 Nizmo rims. Tow hook out the bonnet, loads of chrome finish, craft square touches and bride interior are just a few detail features.

Niel says "The man standing with it is the owner, well one of the owners who also owns the Red Looking FD3S. This one is a partnership between himself and the owner of Looking. This is their 'play' car. "

Clean? Yes. I don't think you'll find a better engine bay on a "beater". covers over the ugly bits are pretty cool too. the engine takes the focus but look around. there are nice fender arch trims also replacing the stupid plastic mazda items. I'm surprised no one has made a replacement item yet.

Lookking Garage make some pretty cool FD3s but their website doesn't reflect their automotive ability.

Check out Niel Lewis Photography.

Niel sent us a link to a video of one of its runs during the day - http://www.vimeo.com/23787981

Along with some feature stills.

 It's the details that make this car. Like the Black lip on the front and black vents on the BN sports bonnet. Not just one colour.

The white inside the wheels. It's not just on the rim. It's becomming a bit of a trend in Japan.

LooKKing Garage are specialists in custom paint and panel.

Origin rear wing is subtle and adds that little extra.

Street registered widebody drift car. Silencer installed for the trip home. Rear bar is not knight sports design but features similar holes. All indicators have been blacked out also for that stealth feel.

Niel is another self confessed Aussie FD Nutter! There're many of us.

Russ

TAS 2011 - Kenji's Pinker

Kenji! . . .  Kenji! . . .  Kenji! . . .

Note the details. Yellow side is not my favourite though. Gram Lights 57D in luminous yellow. Scroll back up and you'll notice the big chunk out of the front splitter.

The R-Magic Pink 6 is definately a rear drift har that is pushed to and beyond its limit at very close quarters.

Kenji and Kawabata on it. In this confined space the R-Magic beast takes a while to get going but soon pumps out FULL POWER. It's these shots that show the car at it's best.

This is the pink side, you will also notice the logo's on the pink side are luminous pink also, just like the 17 and 18" wheel combo

Check the different wheel cambers here. The wierd angle of the front bar is quite noticeable here.

R-Magic have taken a "maintenance only" approach to Kenji's car for the year. That means these body panels will remain.

Every time I see it. It gets a bit more "character"

Kenji finished 7th on the D1 Kick Off and he will run #7 during the D1 season.

Under bonnet is 500hp for the loud pedal. I like the sound of that!

Unfortunate parking place infront of the "dunny" "loo" "WC". Burning rubber or burning ass.
Which smells better?

Russ.

TAS 2011 - Suenaga's D1SL Drifter

TAS 2011 saw the D1GP kickoff event. RE-Amemiya and R-Magic ran, so lets look at Suenaga's machine. One of my all time favourites.

Summer Drift Matsuri - Preview.

This weeks event schedule for me includes a bit of a trip to Ebisu Circuit to catch up with some friends. I'll be up at the Summer Drift Festival taking in the influence of Andy's FD3s. Expect a bit of a feature on this car and sights and sounds from others around the event.

Visit http://www.powervehicles.com/ for more of the grassroots G1gp.

Unfortunately, Andy is still prepping the FD, but lots of other Drift coverage here.
http://re-xtreme-extra.blogspot.com/2010/08/ebisu-summer-matsuri-videos.html
http://re-xtreme-extra.blogspot.com/2010/08/g1gp-ebisu-videos.html

Russ.

Budget Drift

The FD has performed well in D1 reaching the top on many occasions.

Suenaga, Ryuji, Takayama, Imamura and a long list of others have tasted the greatness. But apart from big dollar machines, the FD rarely makes it to the local drift track. Until recently.

If you can't afford a D1 car, how far can you go. D1SL...?

Or something pretty cool, but on a budget.

Lets take a look at some of the factors in question. There are a few things that need to be adressed. Remember, once you decide to drift. This is no longer a street car. It will be rough, get thrashed and probably crashed, so sacrifices must be made for the slide.

1. Chassis and reinforcement.

A. The PPF power plant frame is a weakpoint in the FD. When you start twisting the chassis on full slide, it will rip itself apart quite readily. Upgrade this and if you have the funds go some chassis welds.

B. The engine mounts are a known weakpoint and definately require a soild alternative, diff mounts and gearbox mount frame should almost round out the changes.

C. One more item. Engine torque braces. fore and aft in the engine bay. This will not only prevent the on off throttle drivetrain twist, but also help smooth shift work.

2. Knuckles. You don't get to be like my hero Asamoto without them.

The FD is also known for limited steering angle. Often coming ... like me. Unstuck on my first track drift session. Big angle for correcting is a must. Drift knuckles are a reqirement. Many companies are making knuckles. Satoru works and others, but R-Magic are the most well known selling these.

If you do fit big angle knuckles. BE AWARE. On full lock front lower A arms will be munched by normal offset wheels.

So you have some choices .

3. A-Arms vs Spacers.

Ikeya formula and others make a different design to allow for max angle but at an expense. So the alternative is Spacers or big offset wheels for extra clearance but this second option leads to more issues.

4.Wide body.

Adding 30mm spacers will require +30mm fenders at least.. With normal +38 OFF and a 30mm spacer you should be fine. But max turn angle will still hit on many things. Under fender wiring is always a touchy subject. so when you have the fenders off,  relocate that and check other clearances.

If you do decide to get new wheels/tyres then think of the size/power situation.

Case Study 1.

265ps. NORMAL.

Front 18x9JF x10JR +38 +30 spacer with ......... 215 F 225R Streeeeeeech but perfect fun.

Why? because the traction of the chassis will simply grip up with 265rears.

Tokyo Drift Veilside Fortune FD ran 295 rears but 2/3rds were carved out to allow for reduction of grip.

Only one car was 500hp. Others were normal 265 or so, it was necessary.

To over come this situation add power.

But we know what happens then.

500hp creates a tyre shredding monster. High grip tyres like Neova will dissappear very quickly and you'd better upgrade every other possible component at the same time.

6. Fuel

Full slide will also force the fuel in the tank to flow over the standard baffle. Better insert a cheap baffle plate to correct this.

7. Cooling.

The final part of the equation is normal reliability issues with rotary cooling. Intercooler/radiator upgrades should be investigated.

If you've got all this sorted, see you at the track. Mad'mikes car wasn't always a 4rotor. You'll be hooked.

Mini Drift Matsuri

Andy was out in his FD the other day at Ebisu. Check here for some more pics and credits. Remember if you want to come to Japan and drift. It can be arranged.

Russ.

Andy's 500hp Power Vehicle

When I moved back to japan in 2006, I was introduced to Andy from powervehicles.
He had just purchased his Ex Sanai Works Circuit FD3s Rx7 that promptly transformed well into a high level drift machine. Over the subsequent few years, The car and Andy himself have both developed into a formiddible team. Andy is now at the level to enter D1Street Legal in his Chaser, the FD3s remains his SERIOUS FUN machine.

A huge T78 helps pump out 500hp from the beast and it looks awesome pumping smoke from the bronze TE37. Watch and enjoy.
Russ.

DeaneMsport/NEXEN SR20 FD RX7

James Deanes is an irish dude (actually the Irish Prodrift and EDC champion) who has done something special to his FD. The car features a Nissan SR20 Engine and sponsor ship from NEXEN tyres has him looking to top the leaderboards in the FD.

The Origin bodypanels fatten the stance with Work XD9 rims providing a place for the Nexen rubber.

In action the car looks great. We shall look forward to following this car more.

Spec: Engine
New oil pump
ACL racing Barings
Wossner Pistons .5mm over size
1.2mm HKS head gasket
.5mm off head
550cc injectors
top mount turbo with turbo smart external wastgate
Custom exhaust
custom intercooler pipeing
Custom wireing loom

OS Gieken twin plate clutch kit
DeaneMsport RB25 gearbox conversion
Custom gearbox mounting
Custom diff mounting
welded diff

Suspension:
HSD coilovers
Custom Hubs for more lock
Custom crossmember to make engine fit + adjustable camber

Body:
Origin wings
Origin Arches
Origin GT wing
Origin body kit

Wheels/tires
Front: Work XD9 17x9.5
Rear: Work XD9 18x10
NEXEN 255/35/18



Latest News from the Irish drift series. (should have stuck with the rotary... hehe)

Build Photos

Russ.

7's Day - Perspective - Daniel (SWE)

Russ wanted me to write something about my Tsukuba experience so here we go.

This machine is more my style. I have seen a lot of images and have followed the project on Revolutions webpage since they started building this car. I am VERY impressed as everyone else who has seen this car, and what it can do.

If I was Batman I would ride in this!

Looking good on the track as well.

The car sounds really nice on the straight just imagine what it would sound like from the drivers seat.

Sitting nicely in the first hairpin

Here you can see the TA-2's main rival in the background.

And here overtaking Fam-Speed's FD

The Pit's were really busy between the heats, here we are overlooking Panspeed and Revolution

When I first saw this car I thought the fenders were all wrong, but man has it grown on me.

Sitting low with all the ground effect

I just love this car!

The Pan speed 8 was also out playing on the circuit. Although wrong day and wrong month it did show it is a race car.

Fam Speed's new car with twin turbos producing over 500hp. I feel a small craving!

Some regular attendees

Here you have Koseki-san in his Scoot 4rotor down the finnishing straight. This is sound heaven!

RE-Amemiyas SuperGT replica looked good. Like the rims! (ed. I wonder why Dan?)

I have seen this car for a few years now and I really like the way the owner put it together. He drives it properly and it just looks so clean. AD-GT kit is never wrong. Except for speed bumps.

Now THIS is what Amemiya-san should be doing. I just love this car!

Looks incredible in white and green.

Takayama-san really went for it in R-Magic's D1 car. He was wide fast and the wheels were....

SMOKING

I got a ride in this Knightsports Rx8! Man when I get a family I know what car I will buy!
That's it from me and Thanks Russ for the ride, and usual pleasant company!

Daniel.

ed Note. Dan is a crazy fd guy who lives in Sweeden and visits Japan almost every year. His usual ride is this very well sorted FD.

This is the second time I go to Tsukuba for the 7's day. And my anticipations since last time were high. They had brought the 767B, Time attack cars and some D1 machines. As soon as I found out that Revolution were coming I knew the day would be good.
Left my apartment at 5:40 to meet up with Russ and we headed for Tsukuba circuit, and here is my contribution to this great site.
I don't know what to say about RE-Amemiyas new car. But I don't agree with Russ on this one. I love the old Touge monster, and the new D1 car. But this Green machine is just wrong for me. Then again it did move on the track!