Drifting In Rain, Sleet, Or Snow?
Just days after reporting on Tokyo's old-school madness exposed in last month's issue, 2NR guerilla journalist Mike Garrett infiltrated the Tsukuba Circuit and transmitted these spy shots via satellite of Shonan ABS's annual Tsukuba meeting.
As the snow fell, anonymous drivers behind the wheels of Hatchis, Skylines, Silvias, and Chasers slipped and gripped the pavement, while drivers of all skill and experience levels were invited to throw down. Shop and demo cars accounted for a large portion of those in attendance, as did the occasional D1-class machine, but most impressive were the privateers, who jumped at the chance to attack the infamous course, and on occasion, its walls. Voice transmissions from our man on the ground were spotty due to altitude and conditions, but we were able to make out this bit of conversation (yelling over tached-out RB26s and screaming Yokohamas), "The driving was amazing, particularly on the D1 section of the circuit from the S-curve...through the hairpin...and out of the Dunlop corner!
The more powerful cars could connect the entire final sweeping corner...into the front straight...while the smaller cars (inaudible as the Feeling Run 180SX blows past) stayed as technical as possible!"
www.shonan-abs.ac.
EVO X Hatchback
You can't please everyone all the time. Words of wisdom that Mitsubishi Motors seem to be throwing out the proverbial window with every new variation of their halo car, the Lancer. For those of us sharing the same steak appetite, but cursed with a burger budget, Mistu gives the Lancer Ralliart the heart of an EVO at a discounted price. And finally for the random whiny European, aging hippie, or cool soccer mom who might have otherwise been swayed by the rear end convenience of the '08 STI, the company introduces its newest concept: the Prototype S hatchback. Powered by the same turbocharged and intercooled 4B11 as the Ralliart, and held in track by the same full-time all-wheel drivetrain and optional twin-clutch transmission, the concept hatch looks to be a production-ready incarnation of the '05 Concept-Sportback, but with some welcomed improvements. Our only complaints about the latest Lancers-their "plastic-y" interior bits have been upgraded in the "S"; wrapped in suede and given a sleeker, high quality overhaul. No final word on production, distribution, or price, but we'd expect the car to hit the European market first, if produced. Trunk nets and canoe racks not included.
www.mitsubishicars.com
Boo-Coo Boso
What happens when one of SoCal's newest tuning shops, and a handful of the area's most well-known drifters and cars, are mixed with crowds of enthusiasts, free beer, and live music? The Garage Boso grand opening! On the shoulders of Falken Drift's Ross Petty and Frank Siharath of Race Tune fame, Garage Boso specializes in building and tuning anything, for any reason. Team Falken and A'PEXi drift cars? Done. M-Workz time attack 350Z? Done. Swapping a 13B into an S14? If it weren't Frank's personal car, it'd have been done long ago! Simply put, these guys are in this game for one reason only. To get shit done right-the first time!
www.garageboso.com