We’re again at Gunsai Touge for an additional yr of pure AE86 bliss.
This time, Storage Infinity expanded their scope to incorporate all 4A-GE-powered automobiles of their annual matsuri, although the turnout remained overwhelmingly Hachiroku-centric.
My day started on the Gunsai’s closest comfort retailer, the place there’s all the time a revolving door of cool automobiles en path to the well-known driving spot.
For individuals who are tapped into my AE86 adventures in Japan, you’ll know I obtained my automobile from Storage Infinity. So it was solely proper to attend their annual occasion and soak within the environment.
As a few of you already know, I’ve additionally delved into drifting with my AE86 – keep tuned for a narrative on that – and the temptation to expertise the Gunsai Touge from the driving force’s seat was sturdy. Nonetheless, after a number of visits, I knew higher than to danger a tow truck experience residence.
As ever, the occasion attracted a various vary of Hachirokus. I’ve all the time preached that AE86s are one of some chassis that adjust a lot from construct to construct, and this occasion was a testomony to that.
One standout for me was this cream-over-silver Trueno hatchback.
As soon as once more, the Crew Mouse automobiles got here up from Kansai. These are all the time my ‘how you can notchback’ examples, at any time when I would like inspiration. In my thoughts, there are two predominant types for an AE86: 15-inch wheels with a physique package, or 13/14-inch wheels with inventory Toyota aero. Crew Mouse automobiles nail the previous completely.
Among the best components of capturing at Gunsai is how shut you will get to the motion. As terrifying and harmful because it is perhaps, nothing beats standing behind weak guard rails outdoors of a quick nook, closing your eyes to keep away from being hit by rocks, and holding the shutter on steady fireplace hoping for that excellent shot.
I additionally caught up with Naoki-san and grabbed some pictures of his beautiful 4A-GE 20V ‘Blacktop’-swapped Levin. After years of dialling, there’s nearly nothing left for him to switch, alter or enhance.
I even mounted my GoPro in Naoki-san’s 86 for some in-car footage. Test it out above!
Hiroshi ‘Kaicho’ Takahashi was additionally there together with his iconic purple Working Free Trueno. This automobile is all the time evolving, and this time, Kaicho got here out to play with a full carbon roof swap, which was fairly spectacular.
In the direction of the top of the day, I hopped into the passenger seat of a automobile to see if I may seize some Hail Mary motion pictures out the window. As seen within the video, Gunsai is quick. Sitting in a inventory unbolstered seat, dangling my digital camera out of the window, I used to be fairly fortunate to seize the pictures I did, and the danger was effectively value it.
The Gunsai Touge will ceaselessly maintain a spot in my coronary heart because the true mecca of drifting in Japan, and occasions like Storage Infinity’s 4A-GE-only matsuri simply make it all of the extra particular.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
