The Little Red Wagon   Apr 1, 2005   [Total:7]

Ross Wilson's "Little Red Wagon" has been around for over 8 years in various states of tune. Used for circuit racing and drag racing, it still has the original EJ20 STi motor in it, though heavily massaged and now producing around 570hp at the crank. Ross is planning on cleaning it up, fine tuning the suspension and setting some record times at the various time attack contests throughout Japan.

Subaru STi S203 in action   Apr 3, 2005   [Total:7]

If there was any problem with the S203, it is how refined it is in comparison to the regular models. One expects the opposite case, as the S202 was particularly rowdy. With the S203 you get it all - more power, more handling, more grip, and better creature comforts. The only thing that I would wish for would be the Spec C to be used as a base, to increase turn-in and handling even more. But if STi had done so, they would have had to post a big warning label on the windows: "Do not drive under the influence of Ego". For the new, wide, and sticky rubber has one downside, and that is the fact that it takes a bit to warm them up, and even the slightest bit of water on the road will have you skating sideways faster than a hockey player.

Fall 2004 Hillclimb in Gunma   Mar 24, 2005   [Total:7]

It is becoming an annual event for me to compete in a hillclimb out in the depths of Gunma. Despite the name, a hillclimb in this case simply means driving around a paved over goat trail at breakneck speeds in hopes of beating out everybody else for fastest lap. The course is rather wild, a narrow, winding course that is very narrow, very windy, and certainly involves lots of extreme elevation changes over short distances. Did I mention there is absolutely no run-off? You go off, you hit a tree, wall, or go over a cliff. Sort of a WRC special stage for normal racing deviants.

D1 Grand Prix Round 1 - Irwindale   Mar 19, 2005   [Total:7]

The D1 Grand Prix season opener for 2005 opened in Irwindale, California - a first for this Japanese event. Fans came from all over the states, and indeed, the world, to catch some of Japan and America's finest battling it out. This event marked the entry of Manabu Orida as a driver in the series instead of his usual position as one of the three main judges. He crashed out on the final day. After three days of battles, Yasayuki "Cowboy" Kazama beat out all the other contenders to take the $5,000 prize and an early lead in the battle for 2005 D1 Champion.

AVO Toyota Landcruiser Turbo   Mar 21, 2005   [Total:7]

AVO is one of those secrets of the aftermarket industry. They are very well known in specific markets such as Australia, but less-well known in America. Determined to do everything the hard way, (Australian) english-speaking Ross Wilson decided to do their first international expansion into Japan. This Toyota Landcruiser with the AVO turbo kit is owned by a gentleman that lives up in snowy Hokkaido, a good days journey from AVO in Tokyo. Such is their reputation with the Landcruiser turbo kits - their testing was carried out in the extremes of the Arabic deserts - that he willingly made the journey to turn the stately refridgerator into a ballistic...refridgerator. Driving it is quite interesting to say the least. Initially it feels as docile and smooth as stock, then once the go-pedal is used, look out. Definitely a good device to terrorize smaller cars and nations with.