WEBMINING> Aggressive Offset Deja VW
WEBMINING> Five Axis xB
Every year there are a few SEMA builds that stand out. This Five Axis-built Scion xB is certainly worthy of falling into that category. The super-wide flares and 5 spoke Impul Hoshino-esque wheels seem altogether remnant of the N2-flared AE86 racers we all know and love. The fender mirrors are another subtle touch that only adds to the feel of that very nostalgic throwback. The rear doors/windows have been sealed up and shaved smooth to give this otherwise 5-door compact a much meaner coupe-like attitude.
For more pictures of this car, check out Garage Life over at Fatlace.
:: Andy Sapp
WEBMINING> Hachiroku turns it 360!
One of the many things I love about the AE86 is its nimble handling. Look at the tight area in which this driver pulls off this maneuver and you’ll understand exactly what I mean – short, sweet, and to the point. Hachi lovers I hope you are watching and paying close attention to the in-car footage – there will be a pop quiz when you least expect it. Samuel Hubinette may have borrowed this as his signature move, but this Hachi turns it out!
Enjoy!
:: Travis Hodges
WEBMINING> JDM gets Aggressive
JDM Allstars HD – Agressive style - from Clashproduction on Vimeo.
During the hustle of the last Formula Drift event, I got to take a brief (very brief) break and chilled with Eric O’Sullivan from the Dynamic Auto Sports/ Hankook team. It was great to get to know Eric better. Not only is he a great drifter, but a really great guy. I commented on how well he was doing on his interviews. Apparently, Eric’s brother does video production and when Eric got into driving, his brother put him in front of the camera and told him to get used to it. Haha. A little bit later we talked about the Europe drift scene and Eric mentioned the guys from JDM Allstars. He talked about all their hard work, amazing growth and the growing popularity of the series. This video from Clash Productions gives you a glimpse into why drivers from all over Europe are flocking to this aggressive new series.
Enjoy!
:: Travis Hodges
WEBMINING> Zen Drift Master Orido
I was on a hunt for footage of one of my favorite cars – the JZZ30 Toyota Soarer (aka the Lexus SC300/SC400) and lo and behold, what should I find but Manabu Orido drifting Honjo Circuit in Japan.
Although in this video, Orido’s driving his Project Mu/Autotech JZS161 Toyota Aristo (Lexus GS300) and not a Soarer, I thought it was worth it to post this gem just to show the interior action shots. Look at how little he has to do to control the car – his economy of motion and technique is amazing.
I know that we’re not supposed to be envious…but I just can’t help it! Who wishes, like I do, that they could plug into The Matrix (I’m talking about the movie, not the FF Toyota) and download Orido’s drifting skills like Neo, waking up suddenly, saying… “I know drifting.”
::Avon Bellamy
WEBMINING> 4×114.3 Wheel Boner Jams 09
Usually I’m not a fan of videos just made up of pictures, but this is quite the exception. As a self-proclaimed Japanese wheel geek/nerd/aficionado of 4×114.3 wheels I approve of this PSA. The collection of wheels in this video makes me feel that all my wheels and even Antonio’s wheels are weak. That, and listen to PUNK music kids.
Damn, I wish I had this many obscure and retardedly deep dish wheels in my collection!
Can you point out all the different types of wheels? Let’s start making a list!
:: Jover Papag
WEBMINING> Bluebird SSS at Flex Auto Yokohama
Back in 2004, I went to visit D1 driver Takahiro Ueno and his shop, Sui Vax in Yokohama, Japan. I was doing a feature photo shoot on Ueno and his shop for Modified Magazine at the time, so I spent the whole day hanging out in Yokohama. When I told him how crazy I was about Japanese nostalgic cars, he said he knew a shop that I would love, and he wanted to take me there. That shop was Flex Auto Review - they restore and sell Japanese classic cars! Ueno was absolutely right. I flipped out when we got there! AWESOME. (I was kind of embarrassed afterwards, because I was so obviously excited when I was walking around Flex Auto... and I didn't quite show the same level of excitement when I was hanging out at Ueno's shop earlier that day. Oops, my bad.) Read more...
WEBMINING> Dead Pirate at Irwindale
Formula D Irwindale Round 7 “Judgement Day” from Ross Fairfield on Vimeo.
In case you haven’t seen it yet, here’s the newest video from Formula D Irwindale, which was produced by Ross Fairfield from Dead Pirate Productions in conjunction with our friends at Streetfire.net. I think it’s the best work I’ve seen from Ross thus far, so props to him for continually working to step up his game. That’s what it’s all about… constant improvement and the never ending quest to seek out new angles and new ways to present the “same old subject.”
This video includes some great footage of all the familiar Formula D characters, plus some cameos from some less familiar faces, like our new Motor Maven from Seattle, Yoshi Shindo, at 4:39. Great job Ross – did you get some new equipment or what?
:: Antonio Alvendia
WEBMINING> An Evil Glare
A friend of mine showed me this photo of what I think is a ’59 Buick Electra. I can’t get over how sinister this car’s presence is. The missing front grill, rusted finish, and frame scraping height make it look intense! You could probably ditch a costume for Halloween and just roll around in this monster.
What do you think?
:: Andy Sapp
WEBMINING> Ueo vs Nomuken – 3 Wheel Drift
I was on one of those endless YouTube “nature hikes” when I stumbled upon this D1 gem. The action is awesome but it’s really the characters and the commentary that make D1 so cool and fun. Check out the 3 wheel action as Ueo goes against Nomuken! Enjoy!
:: Avon Bellamy
WEBMINING> KP61 Starlet Grand Cup
Let’s kick off the week correctly, with this video of the Toyota Starlet Grand Cup, a one-make race consisting only of KP61 Starlets!!! I absolutely LOVE Starlets, so the images and sounds in this video are definitely soul stirring and inspiring to me. Can you imagine standing trackside at a circuit, watching a sea of TRD N2 fender wide bodied Starlets come over the crest and enter a turn, all together side by side?! Bad ass!!! One day, I will own a KP61 again.
I’ve owned two of them in the past, but they ended up getting sold because they weren’t clean enough for what I wanted… I’m looking for one without rust! I’m always on the hunt for another Starlet for my collection. And videos like this remind me that I need to get back on track. The Starlet hunt continues! Long live the KP61!
:: Antonio Alvendia
WEBMINING> Diary of a Serial Tire Killer
Motor Mavens has never really featured any “build videos” on the site before, but today as I was browsing the internet looking for information about MX83 Cressidas, 5-speed swaps, and 1JZ swaps… I found this video, from the Serial Nine guys in Canada. This has GOT to be the most entertaining, amateur made “build video” I’ve ever seen. Yep, gotta love those amateur videos. Wait… what? Oh… umm, well I mean the video is informative, but it’s funny at the same time! The Serial Nine crew definitely looks like they’d be fun to kick it with.
So what do you guys think…? Some of us were thinking of having a little fun by building a Motor Mavens project car on a BUDGET. Ideally, the car would be inexpensive and also daily drivable on the street without much hassle from cops. Just brainstorming, some of us were talking about maybe building an FC or an S13… but this video is sparking some MX83 dreams… what do you guys think? MX83 build? Yay or nay?
:: Motor Mavens
The Beginning of SERIALNINE. from SERIALNINE on Vimeo.
WEBMINING> AE86 Lap Battle in Okayama
While we’re still hurrying to post our photos and video footage from JCCS, I took a moment to do what I love to do best (surf the web), I came across this video of the lap battle that takes place during the All Japan AE86 Festival on the Okayama International Circuit. Surrounded by awesome AE86s all day – you gotta love it, it’s an AE86er’s dream.
The Lap battle is a part of the Challenge Cup takes place at this annual hachiroku festival. The Challenge Cup is a gateway for anyone wishing to compete and want to move up into semi-pro racing. There are typically 8 rounds held during the season, and all of them take place at Okayama. Enjoy the sights, sounds and action of these sick AE86s screaming around the track.
:: Travis Hodges
WEBMINING> VW Vanagons at Hockenheimring
While I spend most of my free time dreaming about JDM minivans, I often find myself wanting a sport-tuned German kid hauler. Germany seems to have an abundance of Porsche-powered VW Vanagons out there, and the Deutschlanders just love to take these hopped-up vans to the track. Here we have a vid of a blue VW T3 Vanagon tearing it up around the famed Hockenheimring.
While it’s hard to pick a favorite van, the campervan seen at the 0:40 mark is my favorite just because it’s so absurd. Anyone out there want to help my dreams come true by setting up a Vanagon vs. Estima race?
::Justin Kaehler
WEBMINING> H20 is the place to go!
You can call me biased (having been raised with a rust covered MkI Rabbit in the driveway and learning how to drive in a MkII Golf) but in my humble opinion, the Euro scene has some of the best car shows in the country. Especially the VW/Audi crowd or VAG if you prefer. (VAG… hehe)
With that said, my boy “Mooch”, Dave Mucci drove all the way to Maryland this weekend from Chicago in his E30 BMW and he sent over some great photos from the H20 International Fest. I’ll post the photos up in the coming days but I thought I’d start you off with this awesome video from Steven Nawrocki. He did a great job of capturing the automotive onslaught of Ocean City that is H20. Enjoy all of the great cars from the show (Especially all the pristine MkII Golfs that I dream of owning!) Great job Steven!
:: Pat Daly
WEBMINING> Kawabata's Unbelievable Entry!
I’ve had to watch this video of Kawabata drifting his Toyo Tires S13 in Japan over and over and OVER again at least 10 times just to see if it was somehow a fluke or even possibly faked! When you watch this video, you’ve GOT to agree that he nailed down an absolutely unbelievable entry!
I’m utterly speechless, just shaking my head in bewilderment… so please help me out here and comment below! Wasn’t his entry into that corner just NUTS?! Also, does anyone know which circuit that was? At first I thought it might be Sugo Sportsland, but after watching it again, I don’t think so…
:: Jover Papag
WEBMINING> Sumo Power R33 at Santa Pod
Last year on a trip to the UK, Antonio went to Santa Pod Raceway and came face to face with this pink R33 Skyline drag monster from Sumo Power.
This car is well known in the UK – the R33 stirred up quite a bit of attention from its performance numbers and overall impact! (Not to mention its pink paint job!) We came across this video from our buddy Stephane Benini from Clash Productions (who always produces great work), showing the pink powerhouse in action.
This video is an oldie but goodie! If you live in the UK, you can check out Sumo Power’s Skyline, “Fuujin” in action at Santa Pod next weekend! According to Sumo Power owner Andy Barnes, Fuujin means “God of Wind” in Japanese… so either Andy drives it really fast, or he just passes a lot of gas. Maybe both.
Before I forget, Antonio also did a killer photo set and story on this sick Skyline sometime last year, so don’t forget to cllick through to check it out!
Enjoy!
::Travis Hodges
Antonio’s photos and story of Fuujin, the Sumo Power Drag R33
WEBMINING>Team Battle:Drift by Stephen Brooks
Team Battle:Drift from Stephen Brooks on Vimeo.
I’ve been checking out Stephen Brooks’ work lately on Vimeo. The man from the land of tea and crumpets makes great videos, but this one really stood out to me in particular. It was shot during a team drift event (hence the name) at the Norfolk Arena, which is about 2.5 hours North of London.
Although I’m not too keen on the song choice, I think it matched the content of the video very well. Beyond that, I feel like this piece does a great job to portray all the emotions behind the scenes of a drift event. Don’t worry though, there’s great drifting footage as well!
::Justin Shreeve
WEBMINING> The Thai Drifting Scene
We found this video just clicking around on Youtube… apparently the drifting scene is strong in Thailand too! Check out the Nissan A31 Cefiro police car… convertible?! Crazy! The umbrella girls look pretty cute too… Have a look!
::Yoshi Shindo
WEBMINING> JDM Allstars is hungry!
Drifting at JDM Allstars – Trax 2009 Season Finale from JDM Allstars on Vimeo.
Internally, a few members of the Motor Mavens crew have been talking about this video for the past few days, but we’ve been really swamped with other work this week and we couldn’t get to posting it up until just now – sorry! Everyone in the USA seems to think of Formula Drift when they think about professional drifting. However, we’d like to take a quick moment to recognize the JDM Allstars series in the UK for all the momentum they have gained. Even though JDM Allstars started in 2007 as a small UK privateer series, they have really grown up in the past few years! Now their series is even attracting drivers from other countries within continental Europe!
There’s nothing more inspiring than seeing a group of hungry underdogs rise up and become successful because they’re passionate in what they’re doing!
Much respect JDM Allstars!
:: Travis Hodges
WEBMINING> Cyrious About Drifting
CYRIOUS PRODUCTIONS – Drift Maniacs from Cyrious Productions on Vimeo.
Greetings! My name is Jover! I’ve been Antonio’s homeboy, representing from up here in Canada since the late 90’s, eh! Think of me as his shorter, somewhat similar “brother from another mother” that is also a nut for all things related to AE86s and drifting.
Speaking of AE86’s, Pat Cyr from Drift Posse dominated the podium this year in the DMCC (Drift Mania Championnat Canadien) Series, taking the 2nd place spot in the series and making a HUGE name for himself amongst a field of professionally backed teams, most of whom are running big, bad V8s!
Not bad for an AE86 that still runs a 4AGE motor, on a privateer budget! If it wasn’t for a broken axleshaft in the Quarter Final heat in Toronto, he’d be sitting in the top slot in the points…but that’s racing folks! Look for a feature on this dirty hachiroku, and the equally badass wheelman from Drift Posse soon here on MotorMavens!
For now, enjoy this video his brother, Dan Cyr put together from the DMCC -Toronto Round 4 and the DriftOps Drift Lapping day at Shannonville. This is how we do it up, turn up the speakers!
::Jover Papag
