Best Motoring “Final Battle” at Fuji Speedway

Best Motoring is a Japanese organization that puts out DVD’s where they review both factory and aftermarket tuned cars. Their roster of drivers and presenters consists almost exclusively of world class professional drivers that compete in the Japanese Grand Touring Championship (JGTC). One of the reasons I enjoy their DVD’s so much is that they test everything through wheel to wheel racing. The car lineups are always varied and interesting with themes like Turbo vs. NA, Lightweight vs. Power, AWD vs. 2WD and VTEC club battles to name a few. One of their favorite races to set up is Japan vs. the World. It works just like it sounds. They’ll take the fastest car that the Japanese automakers have to offer and put their oldest and craziest drivers behind the wheel. The rest of the guys will fall in with the latest and greatest from Europe and America. For many years, the Japanese cars were handicapped by the gentlemen’s agreement between all of their automakers that limited power output to 280hp. During this period, the Japanese had to try and hold their own against powerful European super cars with chassis balance since power wasn’t an option. Being represented by the driver most willing to take risks on track didn’t hurt, either. This Super Battle at the Twin Ring Motegi is the best example of one of these Japan vs. The World races that I can find:

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The 1986 Safari Rally

Forget your DVR. Watch this coverage from Round 4 of the 1986 World Rally Championship, the Marlboro Safari Rally. This is was back when the 4WD Group B monsters were just taking over, but not at the super long distance car breaker Safari Rally. Toyota had won the event 2 years in a row before ’86 in the 2wd turbo Celica. Their success was largely attributed to the car’s durability and it’s the start of Toyota’s success in WRC.

Part 1 gives an introduction to the event from the team and drivers

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VTEC Club vs. AE86 Club – Best Motoring

This is an exciting older Best Motoring video that pits the crew’s favorite tuner cars from the VTEC camp against the AE86 camp. Representing the VTEC cars, they brought out the Techno Pro Spirits DC2 Integra, Spoon EG Civic and Power House Amuse S2000. The two 4AG powered AE86’s are from Arvou and Crystal Body Yokohama. Of course Keiichi Tsuchiya shows up in a car that represents both camps. He got his hands on the Hot Staff AE86 powered by an F20C engine from an S2000. At the time, they were the first tuners to complete this swap. There must have been a lot of bragging rights on the line because the boys push pretty hard in the rain.


Source: YouTube user dc2rSpoon

Top Fuel Honda S2000

Yokohama did this interview with Hirano-san, the owner of the Top Fuel Honda Tuning Workshop in Japan, as a promotion for this year’s World Time Attack Challenge. Top Fuel was invited to bring their turbo S2000 that held the Tsukuba RWD time attack record for 3 years to compete this year. Hirano-san decided to completely rebuild the car to bring it to the WTAC. The video isn’t so much about the details of the car, but Hirano-san’s philosophy towards running his shop. He explains what the difference between a race car and a tuning car. It’s pretty interesting to hear what he believes to be proper etiquette for how tuning shops should interact with their customers. Top Fuel’s successful 28 year history shows that it’s working.


Source: Yokohama Advan on YouTube