It’s been just a few months since I final up to date you on my AE86 endeavours right here in Japan, and what an eventful few months it’s been. We’ll kick issues off with a fast journey to Ebisu Circuit.
For years, I’ve been behind the digital camera, capturing drifting motion first in Australia and now in Japan. However getting behind the wheel? That was at all times a purpose, simply by no means a precedence. Most of the time, I’d spend observe day cash on a brand new lens or digital camera accent as an alternative. However when the possibility to float my Levin notchback in Japan got here up, I’d have been insane to say no.
Don’t get it twisted, although. Taking Venture AE86 to the observe wasn’t a choice I made calmly. It took my pals months of arm twisting and reassuring me that the chance of placing the automotive right into a wall was minimal. Ultimately, they received.
Coming from Australia, the place observe choices are restricted and much from dwelling, I knew I needed to benefit from Japan’s huge choices. For a lot of, drifting in Japan is synonymous with Ebisu Circuit – with seven tracks starting from newbie programs to D1GP and FDJ-level circuits, it was the apparent place to begin.
I made the drive as much as Ebisu from Tokyo very first thing on a Monday morning with a very good pal who’d simply completed constructing his AE86. For each of us, it was a little bit of a break-in testing journey – courageous, contemplating we had no trailers and have been a four-hour freeway drive dwelling after afterwards.
Apart from just a few enthusiastic corners right here and there, this was my first correct time on the observe. I had no concept what the automotive’s setup was like, and from the differential to the steering knuckles, it could be a studying curve.
To my aid, the automotive did have a limited-slip diff in it. It felt like a TRD 2-way with the usual 4.3 last drive ratio, although you wouldn’t discover it till you kicked the automotive sideways at velocity. The road wheel setup, nonetheless, was a bit too grippy for Ebisu’s freshly re-paved College Course floor – to be anticipated from 195/50/15 semi-slicks.
After swapping on a pair of RAYS Volk Racing TE37Vs with some throwaway tyres inflated to 45psi, we have been in enterprise. One factor that makes Ebisu so nice is how quiet it’s on weekdays. We solely needed to share the College Course with just a few different vehicles, giving me loads of time to focus and work on my drifting approach.
For probably the most half, the automotive carried out excellently. I needed to put loads of religion within the manufacturing unit gauges, although. Scorching-lapping the automotive in 10-minute classes started displaying the restrictions of the Freedom ECU, which ran wealthy sufficient to sap the already minimal energy produced by the lightly-tuned 4A-GE 16-valve engine.
Right here’s a fast video of some laps at Ebisu College. As you’ll see, it’s a severe exercise for the clutch, however with somewhat extra velocity and confidence, I’m hoping I may give it a little bit of a break. Massive because of Dino for catching all of the out-of-car pictures!
The Transformation Begins
After my day at Ebisu, the automotive’s subsequent vital outing was to JBeat Customs, a physique store simply exterior Tokyo in Saitama. This journey had been a very long time coming. Over the previous few months, I’d been gathering components and concepts for the Levin.
While you purchase an AE86, until you’ve received cash to burn, there’s at all times going to be a compromise. For me, that compromise was the automotive’s paint. It’d’ve regarded okay in images, however in actuality, it was removed from nice. The paint job was a yard DIY effort, with overspray in every single place and a scarcity of primer that led to chips throughout a number of panels. However most of all, I simply didn’t love the salmon crimson.
Strolling into JBeat, I didn’t even know what color I wished to repaint the automotive. The shortlist included silver, gunmetal gray, darkish inexperienced, blue, and black, so it was honest to say this was going to be an impulse determination.
Jun, the proprietor of JBeat, recommended we combine up a customized black base with a blue pearl. He was assured it could be the only option and distinctive in Japan, the place each AE86 color combo has been finished.
After a fast combine and take a look at spray, we made the decision. From most angles, the paint seems to be black, with only a trace of blue reflection. However when the sunshine hits it, the blue shines. This refined impact was precisely what I used to be after.
Together with the brand new color, I had earlier picked up a Goodline FRP bonnet and a set of Group A-style mirrors. These have been each AE86 ‘grail’ items for me, so getting to place them on the automotive was thrilling.
Two Weeks In
Two weeks later, I discovered myself again at JBeat, checking on the progress.
Seeing the automotive in items gave me an opportunity to take a look at some hidden surprises, primarily within the type of rust spots. Fortunately, the workforce at JBeat was fast to chop them out and substitute the affected areas with recent steel. In addition they sealed up the antenna gap, giving the driver-side fender a a lot cleaner look.
We’d additionally determined to take away the gold from the RS Watanabe wheels, leaving the uncooked, silver anodised end. A small change, however one which’s made a world of distinction to the automotive’s total look.
By this level, primer had been utilized to the still-unknown physique package, and I used to be simply in time to see some color laid down. Seeing the paint on bigger surfaces would give me a greater concept of how it could look on the automotive.
For sure, I used to be stoked with the consequence! As supposed, the automotive regarded black from most angles, with the blue solely turning into seen below direct gentle, particularly within the fluorescent glow of the store. I stepped again and let the JBeat workforce end their magic.
The Last Consequence
Quick ahead 4 weeks, and I picked up my freshly refinished AE86 from JBeat. To rejoice, I did what any self-respecting automotive fanatic in Japan would do: a comfort retailer photoshoot.
Then I took the Levin out to an area rice subject for some extra quintessentially Japanese pictures, sitting again and admiring the automotive because the solar dipped under the Shinkansen tracks. The JBeat crew did an incredible job – not solely on the paint however on the general end. The panels that had as soon as been somewhat wavy have been now completely straight, the wheels have been silver, and the mirrors and bonnet have been in place. Better of all, the rust was gone.
I’ve efficiently turned the AE86 I supposed to study drifting in right into a automotive I’m virtually too scared to park on the outlets. However truthfully, I couldn’t be happier.
Present Day
A few months have handed since I received the automotive again from JBeat, and after leaving Japan for some time, I’m now again and placing the automotive’s new look to good use. I’ve racked up just a few thousand kilometres on the odometer in just some weeks.
I even threw collectively a video from a fast evening run by means of Tokyo. Test it out!
It’s not simply Tokyo that’s been graced by the sound of 8,000rpm and 4A-GE ITB goodness. I additionally took the automotive as much as Hakone Turnpike and Skyline – simply an hour from dwelling.
The view from the highest of the Turnpike is well certainly one of my favorite spots in Japan, particularly at sundown. That’s when you don’t get swallowed up by the clouds, which occurs very often if you’re over 1,000m above sea degree.
And that’s the place we at the moment are, all caught up on my Venture AE86 journey. Big because of Jun and his workforce at JBeat Customs for his or her unbelievable work on the automotive. I’m trying ahead to the following replace, hopefully from one of many dream circuits I’ve to drive right here in Japan.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
