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Posted
Jan 12 2012, 12:00 PM
by
Charles Kha
with 26 comment(s)
Mad Mike Whiddett today announced that he will be competing in the 2012 D1GP championship in Japan. And, as you might have guessed, he'll be behind the wheel of a quad rotor RX-7. However as this teaser photo shows, it's a different car to the 'MADBUL' FD RX-7 that was nominated as the 2011 Speedhunters Car of the Year. Dubbed the 'JAPBUL', the D1GP RX-7 was built by Magic Co in Japan, and is set to debut at the Odaiba round on April 14. - Charles Kha Mad Mike Whiddett's...
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Posted
Aug 06 2011, 02:00 AM
by
Charles Kha
with 12 comment(s)
To celebrate this year's 86 Day, the Speedhunters team have each selected their favourite AE86. Mine is an obvious choice: Katsuhiro Ueo's D1 86. This video has been immortalised as part of drift's heritage, and I'm sure you'll agree you can watch it over and over again. While drifting has since progressed into a highly competitive global sport, videos like this make me miss the good 'old' days.
- Charles Kha
AE86 Day
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Posted
Mar 24 2011, 05:00 PM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 33 comment(s)
Bee*R just released some photos of their entry for the 2011 D1GP. This car is going to replace their famous R324. Can't wait to see this car going sideways with Tsuyoshi Tezuka behind the wheel. You can see some more shots on the GTROC Forum -Jeroen Willemsen
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Posted
Mar 04 2011, 10:10 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 8 comment(s)
When I was looking through my archives I found some old shots of the ER34 driven by Nomuken. I took this shot at Rockingham circuit in the UK when I got invited to witness this great car for the first time. From that point on I was hooked and never looked back. -Jeroen Willemsen
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Posted
Aug 16 2010, 09:00 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 29 comment(s)
I really love seeing all these cool unique rides participating in D1 this year and the one I had my eyes on at Ebisu at Round 5 and 6 was this 1984 KP61 Starlet driven by Teruyoshi Iwai. Built in collaboration with the guys at R.Y.O. in Hiroshima it's a car that fits our current Old School theme rather well. It has been a while since I've seen Iwai take his Starlet out at D1, I think the last time was at Odaiba back in 2005 or something. Back then the car was powered by a 20 valve 4AG developing...
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Posted
Aug 14 2010, 10:00 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 37 comment(s)
It's been almost a week since I was up in Ebisu for Round 5 and 6 of the D1 Grand Prix, and I'm already getting ready to go up there again in a few days for what has to be one of the most enjoyable events of there year, the Drift Matsuri. But before all hell brakes loose with crazy missiles aiming for pit walls and a new wave of gaijins from across the globe coming over for the G1GP, let's finish up looking at the epic battles and atmosphere from last Sunday's Round 6. How about this...
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Posted
Aug 13 2010, 01:00 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 31 comment(s)
This opening picture of Tokita on two wheels is an indication of just how hard everyone was driving this past weekend at the D1 Grand Prix double round in Ebisu Circuit. Following a couple of crashes on Saturday due to the faster line that was introduced for the day, it was decided to revert back to the regular kink for Sunday's Round 6. This however, didn't really seem to slow many drivers down, as everyone was out to impress the crowds with some on-the-limit drifting. After taking the win...
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Posted
Aug 09 2010, 03:33 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 25 comment(s)
It's not quite clear why, but the D1 organizers had a little surprise at Ebisu Circuit for us during Round 5 this past Saturday. They decided to change the line leading into the famous Minami Circuit drop, effectively removing the little kink and allowing drivers to carry even more speed than usual. The result? Mind-blowing action throughout the day, with the bravest drivers getting a few wheels in the air before landing sideways, others getting caught out by the higher speeds with some pretty...
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Posted
Aug 08 2010, 07:45 AM
by
Patrick McGrath
with 25 comment(s)
Just spotted this video starting to do the rounds through the message boards and social networking sites. Filmed by the guys at Powervehicles it shows just how hard the likes of Hibinio and Saito are pushing at Ebisu. Check out the insane four wheel jump from Saito in the Chaser at 2.48 onwards !
Paddy
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Posted
Jun 28 2010, 07:00 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 27 comment(s)
The entry into the judged corner at Okayama is unlike any other circuit that the D1 hits throughout the year. I literally spent half of the morning on Sunday mesmerized at just how close to spinning some drivers were coming as they angled their cars wildly in order to hit the apex on the tight first corner. It's basically a full throttle run down the long straight, up to top gear before throwing the car sideways with heavy use of the side-brake. It looks like a balancing act as they hold the...
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Posted
Jun 27 2010, 07:00 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 31 comment(s)
Today was the day it finally happened for Tokita. Not only did he grab his first win in D1 but he managed to beat Orido in a series of fantastic runs at the fourth round of the D1 Grand Prix in Okayama Circuit. The Bee-R Crown driver was already in tears before the judges announced who the winner was, ecstatic for having made it to the final. He went up against his teammate Tezuka in the final at last year's Okayama round and ended up losing... ...but today the win was his. Orido fought very...
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Posted
Jun 10 2010, 10:15 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 33 comment(s)
A rather unexpected bit of news came yesterday afternoon when D1 Grand Prix announced it's 2010 US drifting schedule.
Besides plans to hold events in Texas, Atlanta, Florida, and Irwindale, D1 also announced a deal with Speed TV to televise both the USA events, and D1 action from Japan over the course of the year.
August 13-14 Texas Motor Speedway, Fort Worth, TX (Round 1 & 2)
September 24 - 25 Atlanta Motor Speedway, Atlanta, GA (Round 3)
October 29-30 Homestead Miami Speedway, Homestead, FL (Round 4)
November 27-28 Toyota Speedway at Irwindale, Irwindale, CA (Round 5/Finale)
No word on who will be competing in these events, or which drivers will be coming over from Japan. Hopefully we will learn more as August draws closer.
Can D1 become viable in the United States again? I guess we will find out.
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Jun 07 2010, 12:15 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 42 comment(s)
The Dunlop people must have been very happy yesterday with the one-two finish from both of their top sponsored teams. Yoichi Imamura in his M7 Boss S15 grabbed the victory after beating Ken Numura hands down in a pretty straightforward final battle of what was a great actin-packed weekend. The pressure was on for most of the seeded drivers after their dismal performance on Saturday, where it looked like most were suffering from mid-season blues! But they had to step their game up for Sunday as tons...
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Posted
Apr 27 2010, 03:01 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 9 comment(s)
The second event of the 2010 D1GP season was held over the weekend at Autopolis. Dino had another event, so he couldn't be there to shoot, but it was Masao Suenaga who took the victory after defeating Daigo Saito in the final. The event also included American drivers Sam Hubinette, Pat Mordaunt, and Mike Pollard, who drove JZZ30 Soarers borrowed from Takahiro Ueno. Following the win, Suenaga now has a slight lead over M7 teammate Youichi Imamura in the season standings. Round three will be held...
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Posted
Mar 31 2010, 06:30 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 17 comment(s)
It might not have been a proper competition with points, but boy did the action from Sunday's D1 All Star day not disappoint! I was expecting everyone to take it easy, and seeing the weather turned very cold it was a good thing they put on a good show or a lot of people would have left! By mid-afternoon the winds were freezing but I didn't see anyone get up and take off as the top seeded guys were providing just way too much excitement. Murayama's rear end was another casualty of those...
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Posted
Mar 30 2010, 07:30 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 30 comment(s)
After checking out some action from Odaiba in the previous post it's time now to take a look behind the scenes at what helps make D1 the spectacle it has become. Organizers did a great job this year of bridging the action together with demonstration runs out on track and various shows which included some singing from up-and-coming artists as well as tons of entertainment in the paddock. The pit walk remains the most popular part of the day as fans can get closer to the cars, take pictures and...
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Posted
Mar 28 2010, 09:45 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 29 comment(s)
D1 really captured the Japanese capital over the weekend with packed stands on both Saturday and Sunday. The TV Tokyo crews came out to film the action and behind the scenes for a special show which will be aired later next month. I know I probably say this every year but the level of driving seems to increase so notably as this form of motorsport progresses, especially in the precision department. I have never see so many barrier-clipping runs at Odaiba! Still driving his trusty old ER34 Nomuken...
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Posted
Feb 02 2010, 02:27 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 97 comment(s)
Some very sad news out of Japan today. Veteran D1 driver Atsushi Kuroi has passed away after injuries sustained in a motorcycle accident. Kuroi was popular not just in Japan, but in all the countries where he drove. Anyone who's seen him drive knows the kind of talent this man had behind the wheel of his Nissan One-Via. Besides being known as a great driver, he also made a name for himself with his River Side tuning shop in the Osaka area.
I feel very fortunate having the opportunity to see him in both the US and Japan.
Our thoughts are with his family and his friends.
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Jan 13 2010, 06:30 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 42 comment(s)
If there is one tuning shop in Japan that is well worth a look during this month's Misfits & Mavericks theme it has to be Weld . A lot of people make the mistake of classifying it as just a regular tuner, but I've always thought Johnny at Weld does things differently. He has vision and he's never afraid to push boundaries when it comes to building cars. I shot his JZX100 demonstration car before it got its updated 2009 D1 graphics so that is why it may look different in these pictures...
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Posted
Dec 29 2009, 08:30 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 23 comment(s)
2009 proved to be a very exciting year for D1. Youichi Imamura became the first driver to win two championships, his first back in 2003 behind the wheel of the Apexi RX-7. His Auto Produce Boss built S15, based on Yasuyuki Kazama's old 2005 championship winner car, allowed him to grab points consistently at each round allowing him to finish ahead of Tezuka in the Bee-R GT-R and Nomuken in the Blitz Skyline. I have put together a selection of pictures from both D1-GP and D1-SL that best represent...
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