AE86's in Japan

I never really was a big fan of the Toyota AE86, or 'Twincam' as they are more commonly known in Ireland,mainly due to their stupidly high prices, the fact they have a hooligan image and the gardai (police) and insurance companies here hate them! But that all changed when I visited Japan and a drift practice day at Nikko Circuit

Plenty of AE86's (or Hachi Roku which means '8-6' in Japanese) there, along with some committed drivers and mechanics, all ready to push these RWD, lightweight machines to the limit and beyond


Most weight less than 900kg's so its easier to really throw them around


Got a few laps in this 1,crazy. Rough,rusty,full of welded up panels but still a lot of fun,particularly when the engine is approaching 9,000rpm! Go Shino!!!!
This 1 suffered a blown engine,constantly overheating but the driver just kept topping up the radiator until the headgasket cried enough

I was told at the start of the day 'You will like AE86's at the end of the day' And it was true,now I do,suppose sometimes you have to see them in their real habitat showing what they can really do and not in a carpark doing donuts at a cruise - how lame