PASMAG - Tuning Essentials Special Edition - JDM Issue Vol.3 by PASMAG - Performance Auto & Sound

THE TUNERâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE

JDM WHEEL RESURGENCE

TUNING ESSENTIALS | JAPAN SPECIAL | 3RD EDITION

WHAT IT MEANS TO BE "PERIOD CORRECT"

HOW TO PLAN YOUR TRIP TO JAPAN FOR MAXIMUM CAR CULTURE

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IMMORTALITY ACHIEVED. With over a full year of painstaking work and a no-expenses barred attitude, Clarion resurrected and reinvented an icon. Clarion Builds’ NSX started its journey as a bone stock and tired year-one Acura NSX. In its signature style, Clarion brought together an elite group of industry leaders to do what they do best, taking on the groundup restoration, modernization and tasteful modification of a timeless supercar and a true automotive legend.

THE ULTIMATE MIX OF OLD AND NEW MASTERED PERFECTLY BY CLARION BUILDS AND EXCLUSIVELY AVAILABLE THROUGH BARRETT-JACKSON You now have a chance to bid on this peerless supercar and, in the process, make a difference in the lives of countless in need. Clarion Builds’ highly praised Supercharged 1991 NSX restomod will be offered at the Las Vegas auction event on October 19 - 21, 2017. The proceeds of the auction will be donated entirely to the country’s largest humanitarian organization, the American Red Cross. Find out about the Clarion Builds NSX and the auction at www.clarionbuilds.com/acura-nsx

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STEALTH DESIGN . STRONG PERFORMANCE.

KW-M730BT DIGITAL MEDIA RECEIVER

Works with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto #JVCMobile #35YearsStrong #QualityBuilt #Since1982

JVC Mobile Entertainment

JVC Mobile USA | Official

Android Auto works with devices using Android 5.0 software or higher. Some devices may not yet support Android Auto, see the Google site for the latest list of compatible devices. Android Auto and its logo is a trademark of Google Inc. Apple CarPlay works with iPhone 5 and newer phones. Apple CarPlay and its user interface are trademarks of Apple Inc. For safety, various touch-screen functionality is disabled while the vehicle is in motion. See your local authorized dealer for more details. All logos are registered trademarks of their respective owners.

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DON’T BREAK UP WITH YOUR CAR BEFORE

AFTER

SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY

CONVENIENCE PACKAGE

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

UPGRADE YOUR VEHICLE WITH THE LATEST IN-VEHICLE SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY BY ADDING ANDROID AUTO™, APPLE CARPLAY™, AND BLUETOOTH®.

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PIONEERELECTRONICS.COM/CAR 1. Retained features may vary by vehicle. Check compatibility at mestro.idatalink.com. Maestro RR module and additional accessory cables required. 2. SiriusXM Connect Vehicle Tuner and subscription to SiriusXM Radio required (sold separately). Caution: Read all safety instructions in the product documentation before use. Distracted driving can result in serious injury, or death. Only use a function when it is safe and legal in your location, pay attention to the road and your surroundings, and obey all traffic rules. PIONEER and the Pioneer logo are registered trademarks of Pioneer Corporation. Apple, CarPlay, and the CarPlay logo are trademarks of Apple Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Bluetooth and associated logos are trademarks of Bluetooth SIG, Inc. HD Radio and the HD Radio logo are proprietary trademarks of iBiquity Digital Corp. SiriusXM and all related marks and logos are trademarks of SiriusXM Radio Inc. Android and Android Auto are trademarks of Google Inc. iDatalink and Maestro are trademarks of Automotive Data Solutions Inc. Pandora, the Pandora logo and the Pandora trade dress are trademarks of Pandora Media, Inc. used with permission. Spotify, the Spotify logo, and Spotify trade dress are trademarks or registered trademarks of Spotify AB used with permission. ©2017 Pioneer Electronics (USA) Inc.

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EVOLUTION OF EQUIVALENCE THE CT9A THAT HASN’T FALLEN FOR THE “DARK SIDE” OF STANCE

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PRAY THE REAL LIVE FOREVER NAVIGATING THE JDM WHEEL RESURGENCE WITH THREEPIECE.US

28 TIPS ON MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP - JAPAN CAR CULTURE STYLE

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DEALER DIRECTORY SPOT THE DIFFERENCES

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PASMAG (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 14 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada

S U B S C R I P T I O N R AT E S (1 Year Starter) Canada and USA: $24.99 (2 Year Starter) Canada and USA: $34.99 (3 Year Starter) Canada and USA: $42.99 Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS [7827] subs@pasmag.com

e got that itch again, so we thought we’d bring you the coolest stuff we can from the cradle of car modification: Japan! You’re welcome. This is our third edition, and by now, we think we’ve got this down to a science. We hope you’re as excited as we are, as this is by far one of our favorite issues to put out because we get to be super creative in our delivery, both in design and editorially.

pasmag.com/subscribe GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO: Tim Rutledge PUBLISHERS: Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin FOUNDER & SR. VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT: Frank Spezzano

EDITORIAL EDITOR: Micky Slinger ASSOCIATE EDITOR: Adam Gordon

So, what have we got in these pages?

GROUP MANAGING EDITOR: Lee Bailie TECHNICAL EDITOR: Garry Springgay

Let’s start with the stellar car on our cover: Star Road’s orange-as-a-creamsicle widebody S30Z. This Fairlady Z is a masterpiece in every sense of the word, built by the only shop to dedicate itself to vintage Nissans to this degree, which was doing widebodies for Zs before it was cool. We also go behind the shop itself, as well as the boss man, Shouji Inoue, to see what makes Star Road tick. Shout out to Adam Zillin of 7Tune for both of these solid pieces! We also wanted to dive into the culture of JDM as it affects us over here in North America. Adam Gordon tackled the need to be “period correct,” which weighs especially heavy on JDM fanatics on this side of the globe. While he picked their brains about their rides and sensibilities, I sat down with Jake Owens of Threepiece.us in California to get his take on the Japanese wheel resurgence we’ve been witnessing. Old JDM wheels are rising in demand, and it seemed like the right course of action was to speak with someone who handles hundreds of them a day, you know? A special guest to this issue is Taryn CONNECT Croucher. Some of you may know her from her work with Speedhunters, or her current gig as a travel advisor on all things Japanese PASMAG.COM car culture related on her website, JapanCarCulture.com. Seeing as she’s been back TUNERBATTLEGROUNDS.COM and forth to Japan to soak in everything JDM quite a few times, we reached out to PASMAG her to provide some tips on how to plan your next trip out there. If you want to head over PASMAG to Japan to peep some of that ridiculous car culture, you’ll find some great pieces of advice in this feature. PASMAG As always, we’ve provided some hot new products for your Japanese import, some PASMAG.TUMBLR.COM great show coverage – this time of the shows that happened over Golden Week in BLOGS.PASMAG.COM Japan – hot topics, and much more, like one of the nicest Evo VIIs I’ve ever seen. PASNATION Arigatou gozaimasu for picking us up, and we hope you enjoy flipping through this issue DOWNLOAD THE ITUNES APP PASMAG+ as much as we did putting it together!

DIGITAL COORDINATORS: Nick Jambrosic, Adam Steinberg

CONTRIBUTORS Ken Au Taryn Croucher Peter Kelly Jean-Christophe Pepino Adam Zillin

ART + PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR: Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION + SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR: Patrick Beltijar GRAPHIC DESIGNER: Mike Chan

S A L E S + A D M I N I S T R AT I O N DIRECTOR, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT: Randi Bentia DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICES: Richard Robles DIRECTOR, SALES & MARKETING: Frank Maguire DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS: Craig Sweetman CLIENT SERVICES: Nicole Winters SPECIAL PROJECTS EDITOR: Anna Rutledge

Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events, etc. (Forward to PAS, 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655 Periodicals Postage Paid at Niagara Falls, NY and at additional mailing offices. U.S.P.S. # 022-608

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In North America, when we hear the words “Fast & Furious,” we know we’re in for high-octane doses of fast cars, explosions, and cheesy plot points. If you were to ask a group of Japanese friends if they wanted to kick back and watch an F&F movie, however, you’d be met with weird glances. If you’re in the mood for Vin Diesel growling monologues about family and quarter miles while you’re in Japan, you’re actually talking about the Wild Speed franchise. It turns out that in the funny thing we call language, Fast & Furious doesn’t

America The Fast and the Furious 2 Fast 2 Furious The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift Fast & Furious Fast Five Fast & Furious 6 Furious 7 The Fate of the Furious

translate terribly well from English to Japanese, so Wild Speed was the next best thing. The latest movie was called “Wild Speed: Ice Break,” which we assume is because of the ice that totally does break during the last 20 or so minutes of the film. The fifth and sixth installments also feature subtitles based solely on a scene that happened in their respective movies, while the others were subtitled with “X” and “MAX” for probably really good reasons. Check out the list here to see how the English and Japanese titles stack up:

Japan Wild Speed Wild Speed X2 Wild Speed X3: Tokyo Drift Wild Speed: MAX Wild Speed: MEGA MAX Wild Speed: Euro Mission Wild Speed: Sky Mission Wild Speed: Ice Break

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If there’s a pop culture icon in Japan that can come anywhere close to Godzilla, it would have to be the giant military mecha from the Gundam series, namely the original RX-78-2. The “Grand Daddy Gundam,” as it’s referred to by fans of the series, actually got its own fully-lit, one-to-one (18-meter tall) statue at Odaiba’s Gundam Front museum. Sadly, we had to see the Gundam be dismantled in March, with the museum closing shortly after in April. So, what do you fill a Gundam-sized hole with exactly? A bigger Gundam, of course! The dismantling of the RX-78-2 and closing of the museum was more of a way to make room for a refresh, and standing in the same spot, at 24 meters tall, will be the RX-0 Unicorn Gundam in its “Destroy” mode, meaning there will be plenty of opportunity for lighting from its bright pink “Psycho Frame” all over its body. The Unicorn Gundam is the titular mobile suit from the Mobile Suit Gundam Unicorn series that gained high acclaim during airing, and is still a very popular Gundam design in Japan, so this move makes some sense. Along with the Unicorn, Gundam Front will be reopened in late 2017 as “Gundam Base,” with more of a focus on the Gunpla model kits the anime series has popularized. There’s also an excited buzzing around the year 2019, as the Gundam Global Challenge panel of engineers and technicians has stated plans to create a life-size Gundam that’s capable of walking! It’s been said that this could have a tie-in with the 2020 Olympics taking place in Tokyo, but just in case, I’m offering my services as a test pilot, ASAP.

E D I T I O N

2017-06-05 10:42 AM

DON’T BREAK UP WITH YOUR CAR BEFORE

AFTER

SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY

CONVENIENCE PACKAGE

MUSIC AND ENTERTAINMENT

UPGRADE YOUR VEHICLE WITH THE LATEST IN-VEHICLE SMARTPHONE TECHNOLOGY BY ADDING ANDROID AUTO™, APPLE CARPLAY™, AND BLUETOOTH®.

ENJOY MORE ENTERTAINMENT OPTIONS WHEN YOU UPGRADE THE MUSIC SOURCES IN YOUR VEHICLE WITH HD RADIO™, PANDORA®, SIRIUSXM®2, AND SPOTIFY®.

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tr. This one is sure to strike a chord with classic JDM fans. Amidst an announcement from Nissan that Nismo’s newest division included an in-house tuning shop that promises more Nissan sports cars in the near future, there was another announcement that brought joy to the hearts of old school JDM fans everywhere. Takao Katagiri, head of Nismo, announced that Nismo’s “heritage parts

program” would be offering a special restoration support program, which includes parts reproduction and supply. In layman’s terms, Nismo will be manufacturing once discontinued parts for old sports cars. The program will be starting with the R32 GT-R, one of Nissan’s most iconic sports platforms, and will be expanding to include all sorts of historically significant models from the Japanese automaker.

Word about a potential rotaryrevival by Mazda has been a series of ups and downs lately. Months ago, a rumor surfaced that Mazda was working on another rotary model. Shortly after, Mazda dispelled those rumors in an official statement. It wasn’t long after this that a Mazda spokesperson said that the next Mazda RX model would be powered by a rotary. That too was shut down shortly after, when Mazda explicitly stated that a new RX was not in the works. As you can see, there’s been a lot of back-andforth, but the overall consensus seemed to be that Mazda’s official statement made it nothing more than industry hearsay - until now.

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Any die-hard rotary fans who have been following the rumors are ready to take any relevant information as a promising sign of things to come, and the most promising of all may have just happened while no one was looking. Mazda recently filed for two patents: One for some form Gas+EV hybrid system, and another for a rotary-specific start/stop system. Those who understand the functionality of the Wankel rotary engine will appreciate just how sophisticated a start-stop function would have to be in order to stop the rotors in a position that closes the intake port completely. For now, any news about a nextgen Mazda rotary engine remains purely speculation, but with such a specific patent being filed while no mainstream rotary engines are on the market, one has to wonder what Mazda is up to.

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Star Wars Edition The Japanese branch of Mercedes-Benz made an announcement regarding one of their strangest (also see: coolest) special editions yet: The Mercedes-Benz 180 Star Wars edition, a limited production run of CLA 180s that will feature Star Wars branded bells and whistles. Nissan may have claimed licensing to Star Wars branded vehicles in the United States, but Mercedes-Benz Japan saw an opportunity to do something along the same lines. The CLA 180 Star Wars edition will be available in Calcite White and Night Black, emulating the appearance of a Stormtrooper and Darth Vader respectively. 60 of each color will be available in all, limiting production of the special edition model to

just 120 units. Calcite White examples will feature black trim accents on the exterior and white interior trim, whereas the Night Black models will feature an all-black exterior and red interior accents. The Star Wars brand makes an appearance throughout the vehicle as well. Special Star Wars floor mats are standard, as well as a branded license plate frame. The puddle light that once said MercedesBenz also shows the Star Wars logo as well. Other unique features include a dash cam that plays R2-D2 noises, and a reversible sun shade featuring a graphic that resembles the inside of the Millenium Falcon. These are most definitely the droids you are looking for.

The best case of midlife To anyone who dabbles in the subject of Japanese wheels, “Equip” is a very important and storied name, especially in the world of motorsports. After WORK Wheels was launched in 1977 by M. Takeshi Tanaka, he also launched his very own racing team: Team Equip. While racing and testing its own technologies, WORK also developed wheels for other teams, bringing them to the forefront

of wheel manufacturing – a position they haven’t fallen from all these years later. During its time in Formula, GT, and Endurance racing, WORK developed an innovative four-spoke design, which proved successful and popular in Formula competition. Thirty years later, WORK has brought back the design to celebrate their 40 years as a company steeped in motorsports heritage, and as such, have branded the wheel “Equip 40.” The 40 is the ultimate throwback, featuring only 12 pierce bolts, all of which are a larger size and sit on a larger mounting surface to reflect the wheel designs of the ‘70s and ‘80s, and even going as far as to use the same rims and barrels of the legendary Equip 01 and 03. Even the bolt pattern and sizing are old school,

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bolting up to 4x100 and 4x114.3 PCDs, and measuring in at 15 inches in diameter only, while going all the way from 5.5- to 13-inches wide! Two finishes are available off-the-bat with a “Brut Silver” or “Sprint Gold” center with polished lip, but custom order plans are available to set up a set of 40s your way, down to the valve stem caps. Whether you’re thinking of putting a set on your old Corolla, or grabbing a set to turn into one of the coolest living room tables, I think we can all agree that we love what WORK is doing here, and encourage them to make more modernized versions of the classics to bolster their Equip line of wheels.

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Mugen

Carbon Shift Knob

JDM EVERYTHING BUYERS GUIDE

$170 | Mugen-Power.com/KingMotorsports.com Show your loyalty to quality aftermarket Honda parts with the beautiful Carbon Shift Knob from Mugen. Perfectly weighted at 159.4 grams, and measuring 50mm in diameter, this shift knob is as functional as it is attractive with its dry carbon and aluminum design. Available for 5 and 6-speed manual transmission models.

Thinkware

F770 Dash Cam $299 | Thinkware.com The Thinkware F770 sets the new standard for advanced, premium Wi-Fi enabled dash cams. Featuring a new, sleek, and discreet design, while jammed-packed with features such as super night vision, time lapse recording, and speed/red light camera alerts, the F770 offers a next-level ultimate security and surveillance solution for the everyday driver.

BLOX Racing

Spherical RTA Bearings for 1992-2000 Civic and 1994-2001 Integra $240 | BLOXRacing.com BLOX Racing offers spherical bearing kits that significantly increase the vehicle's suspension performance. The rear trailing arm spherical bearing kit directly replaces the factory's soft, rubber bushings. The factory bushings contribute to the "sloppy" feel experienced by many during hard driving on road courses and race tracks.

BLOX Racing

Extended Ball Joints for Honda FD/FG $200 | BLOXRacing.com These roll center adjusters are extended ball joints that are designed to directly replace the factory ball joint inside the front knuckles, allowing greater flexibility in adjustment for lowered Honda FD and FG platforms.

JDM Tsurikawa

Tsurikawa / Train Handle $23 | JDMTsurikawa.com Stolen from trains by Japanese young gangsters (Bosozokus), the tsurikawas were proudly attached to modified bikes and cars to show disrespect to authority. They are the symbol of a reckless youth and hardcore car enthusiasts are still flaunting them to express their freedom. With more than 40 different models in stock, JDM Tsurikawa is the number one source for Japanese train handles!

Overtake International

Saikou High Power Rear Differential for Nissan R35 GT-R $5,295 | GT-RR.com For owners of modified GT-Rs that frequent the circuit, the limits of the OEM differentials have become points of frustration. Overtake’s Saikou differential was created to fix these problems, and create faster lap times for high power GT-Rs. The Saikou differential is produced by Drexler Motorsports, using their decades of DTM, WTCC, and Formula experience to Overtake's exact specs of improved circuit performance, at no compromise for the GT-R.

Work Wheels T7R 2P

WorkWheelsUSA.com CONSTRUCTION: Flow Formed SIZE (IN.): 15 - 20 WIDTH (IN.): 7 – 11.5 BOLT PATTERN: 4x114.3,

5x100, 5x112, 5x114.3, 5x120 FINISH: Matte Bronze, Matte Gunmetal, White, GT Silver, Candy Red

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Pandem

Widebody Aero Kit for Honda S2000 GReddy.com Honda’s iconic S2000 platform has had new life breathed into it, thanks to TRA Kyoto’s latest body kit design through Pandem. With cues reminiscent of the Scion FR-S V3 kit, this widebody kit takes the S2000 to the next level.

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Thank you to all of our customers and vendor partners for helping Turn 14 Distribution to achieve all that we have over the past 10 years and become the SEMA Warehouse Distributor of the Year in 2016.

WE COULDNâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;T HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT YOU! TURN14.COM // 100% WHOLESALE // 877-7TURN14

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JDM EVERYTHING BUYERS GUIDE

JDMFresh

Quick Release Bumper Kit $12.99 | JDMFresh.com This product is made of high quality precision machined T6061 billet aluminum, completed with an anodized finish for the shine. Perfectly durable for those wanting a stylish and functional quick release. Most people use these for front and rear bumpers, or even hatch lids. Perfect for holding your bumper, and for quick access when needed for car shows, track events and maintenance. Available in red, blue, black and silver.

Volk Racing

$450 | RaysWheels.co.jp | nextmod.com

$785 | RaysWheels.co.jp | Nextmod.com

CONSTRUCTION: Forged SIZE (IN.): 15, 16 WIDTH (IN.): 5.5 - 8 BOLT PATTERN: 4x3.93 FINISH: Black, Bronze

CONSTRUCTION: Forged SIZE (IN.): 18 WIDTH (IN.): 7.5 – 11, 12 BOLT PATTERN: 5x100, 5x112, 5x114.3, 5x120 FINISH: Dark Gunmetal, Bronze

TE37 Sonic

TE37 Saga

Varis

Arising-I Aero Kit for 2017+ Toyota 86 Varis.co.jp | BulletproofAutomotive.com For the 2017 model year, Toyota refreshed the ZN6 86 / GT86 with a completely new front end, as well as other small exterior tweaks. In step with these updates, Varis promptly got a hold of one of the updated cars and worked their magic. The result, a completely new aero kit for the updated modern hachi-roku. The Arising-I kit includes a front lip spoiler, side skirt set, rear diffuser and rear wing. Also seen fitted to the Varis demo car is their popular vented cooling bonnet.

Varis

Magnum Opus Kit for 2017+ Nissan R35 GT-R GT-RR.com For 2017, famed Japanese aero parts manufacturer Varis debuted their Magnum Opus carbon fiber aero kit for the revised 2017+ Nissan GT-R. Varis is a leader in high-quality aftermarket aero parts, and their pieces are renowned specifically for their OEM-like fit. The kit includes a front lip spoiler, front double canard set, side under skirt set, rear side diffuser set, as well as a revised version of their popular vented hood, specifically to match the 2017 GT-R’s sharp lines.

Bride

From $1,800 | Bride-JP.net

From $1,000 | Bride-JP.net

The Bride Stradia II uses shorter side bolsters for a comfortable ride and ease in entering and exiting the vehicle. While the Stradia II is a true full bucket race seat, it's also reclinable for extra comfort and convenience. This seat uses the LOW MAX system, which allows the driver to sit farther back in the seat for the best holding position.

The ZETA III is Bride's flagship FIA approved full bucket racing seat. ZETA III uses the latest technology for extreme durability and light weight, and also features extensive buckskin leather shoulder bolsters for extra grip. The shoulder and side bolsters are purely for seat performance and feature the largest shoulder and high driver holding ability. This is a true full bucket racing seat.

Stradia II Racing Seat

Voodoo13

ZETA III Racing Seat

Front Upper Control Arms for Nissan 350Z/G35 $760.00 | www.Voodoo13USA.com Voodoo13 dual adjustable front upper control arms for the Nissan 350Z and Infiniti G35 are made from CNC milled aerospace grade 6061 aluminum, sporting not only dual adjustment functionality, but also an innovative impressive design. The easy to reach dual adjusters allow for both caster and camber correction. Allows -4.5 to +1 degree relative to stock arm and depending on ride height.

Voodoo13

High Clearance Rear Toe Arms for 89-94 Nissan 240sx S13 $250.00 | www.Voodoo13USA.com Voodoo13 high clearance rear toe arms offer superior subframe clearance for extremely low cars. This unique and innovative design features a curvature for increased clearance between the subframe and the arm. The spherical rod end is completely selfsealing and self-lubricated because of their nylon/PTFE injection molded race that keeps dirt and debris out. Fits non-HICAS models only.

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JDM EVERYTHING BUYERS GUIDE

SSR Wheels

$720 | SSR-Wheels.com | Nextmod.com

SSR-Wheels.com

CONSTRUCTION: Forged SIZE (IN.): 18 - 20 WIDTH (IN.): 7 - 13 BOLT PATTERN: 5x100, 5x112, 5x114.3, 5x120 FINISH: High Bright Silver, High Metal Bronze

CONSTRUCTION: 3-piece SIZE (IN.): 18, 19, 20 WIDTH (IN.): 7-13 BOLT PATTERN: CUSTOM FINISH: CUSTOM

Professor SP5

Seibon Carbon

Nissan Skyline R32 TT-Style Carbon Fiber Hood $1,080 | SeibonCarbon.com Seibon’s TT-style hood for the Nissan Skyline R32. The TTstyle hood features integrated vents for a touch of aggressiveness and performance. Performance comes from its production process that allows exceptional carbon to resin ratio, creating high product stiffness that leads to extra strength. In other words, the TT-Style hood is both lightweight and durable.

SSR Professor TF1

Seibon Carbon

2016-2017 Honda Civic MR-Style Carbon Fiber Hood $800 | SeibonCarbon.com Seibon’s 2016-2017 Honda Civic carbon fiber MR-style hood features integrated vents for a touch of aggressiveness and performance. Performance comes from its production process that allows exceptional carbon to resin ratio, creating high product stiffness that leads to extra strength. In other words, the MR-Style hood is light-weight and durable. For a stunning finish, this hood is coated with a sleek, glossy clear gel coat.

Exedy

ExedyUSA.com

The EXEDY Sports Series incorporates friction material with high heat resistance properties and high strength fibers making the Sports Series an ideal clutch for street, circuit or drifting. Single sport clutch cover assemblies are designed to achieve a clamping load that is 30-40% higher than OEM, enabling a higher torque transmitting capacity.

The Hyper Single VF features comfortable drivability with more heat durability and better heat dissipation via an integration of organic and metal friction surfaces. Developed for people who are pursuing both the comfort of driving on the street, and the durability under aggressive driving and abusive clutch conditions. The Hyper Single VF is the optimum clutch choice for matching practicality with performance.

For high-powered applications Exedy offers multi plate clutches. These are designed for hot street action as well as drag, road, and rally racing. All Hyper Series clutches come with a lightweight forged chromoly steel flywheel, and the famous purple anodized forged aluminum clutch cover. Depending on the application, both strap drive and lug drive models are available. Rated for 500-900+ ft-lbs of torque at the wheels.

Single Sport Series

Hyper Single VF

Hyper Multi Plate Series

Pioneer Electronics

Prosport

$400 | PioneerElectronics.com

$209 | ProsportGauges.com

The double-DIN 6.2-inch LCD AVH-1330NEX is designed to complement the smartphone lifestyle of today’s consumer with continuous connectivity and access to a variety of entertainment options. The unit features a redesigned, simple-to-use interface, plus compatibility with Apple CarPlay and apps such as Waze, Spotify and Pandora.

This one gauge will display amber and white analog, and blue digital at the same time. Utilizing the latest Bosch wideband O2 sensor with a 5-wire heated LSU 4.9. Featuring a dual color analog readout in the center of the gauge with trailing LEDs around the outside of the scale plate, and a blue digital display for immediate reference to AFR. This is a complete wideband kit. Includes gauge, sensor, plug and play harnesses, weld in bung and mounting cup.

AVH-1330NEX Head Unit

JDM Series 52mm Wideband Air Fuel Ratio Gauge

Pioneer Electronics

AVH-3330NEX Head Unit $600 | PioneerElectronics.com The AVH-3300NEX expands the NEX line-up into the smaller, more universal single-DIN in-dash receiver size, providing for the first time, a smartphone connectivity solution that easily fits into many older and collectible cars. The unit features a redesigned, simple-to-use interface, plus compatibility with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto and apps such as Waze, Spotify and Pandora.

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Password: JDM

PowerChamber Intake for 2006-2015 Civic (R18)

JDM EVERYTHING

$249.99 | PasswordJDM.com Just like the original PowerChamber from PWJDM, this one makes more all around usable power and has the killer looks to back it up. Dyno proven +10 WHP gains over base line with no other modifications made to the car! Get real usable power throughout the power band with this intake in comparison to a CAI that gives you peak gains and often flat results elsewhere.

BUYERS GUIDE

Vertex

$640 | Vertex-USA.com

$2,890 | Vertex-USA.com

The Vertex Digna Lexus LS 460 Front Lip offers one of the cleanest front lips you can buy for your car. This clean and subtle look is simplicity at its finest. Great quality made in Japan.

Vertex's Edge wide body kit comes with front bumper, side skirts, rear bumper, front aero fenders, and rear over fenders. The kit will widen your S15 by 50mm once installed. Optional items available are front under diffuser, carbon or FRP hood, front bumper canards, rear roof spoiler, rear spoiler.

Vertex Digna LS 460 Front Lip for 20072009 Lexus LS 460

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Vertex Edge Wide Body Kit for Nissan S15 Silvia

Vertex

Vertex Toyota 86/Scion FR-S Lip Kit $1,480 | Vertex-USA.com Upgrade your Toyota 86/Scion FR-S with Vertexâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s lip kit. The kit offers a clean look, accenting the carâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s design rather than changing the lines of the car. Made out of the highest quality FRP and pre-drilled for ease of installation. Made in Japan.

2017-06-06 3:31 PM

Tomei USA

Full Titanium Muffler for AP1/AP2 Honda S2000 $1,090 | TomeiUSA.com 9.37 pounds lighter than stock and with proven performance gains, the Expreme Ti S2000 AP1/AP2 exhaust is the perfect complement for HONDA’s agile 2-seater. Made from lightweight titanium and featuring larger pipes than stock, this single exit race-inspired exhaust is exactly what the S2000 needs.

Password: JDM

Tomei USA

Roku

KA24DE ARMS M7960/M8270 Turbocharger Kit

PasswordJDMWheels.com CONSTRUCTION: 3-piece forged SIZE (IN.): 17 - 22 WIDTH (IN.): 7 - 14

BOLT PATTERN: Custom FINISH: Custom

$1,390 | TomeiUSA.com The KA24DE ARMS M7960/M8270 turbocharger kit is one of the most comprehensive solutions for empowering the 240SX KA24DE with an SR20DET turbocharger. When installed together with the Tomei KA24DE turbo exhaust manifold, the turbocharger is mounted in the same position as the SR20DET engine allowing you to mount SR20DET turbo elbows, downpipes and exhaust systems without additional modification.

Password:JDM Dry Carbon Fiber Gurney Flap $199.99 PasswordJDM.com Increase downforce with a full lineup of dry carbon fiber gurney flaps that conform to your factory rear spoiler. Available for Honda Civic and Prelude, Acura Integra Type R, Subaru WRX/ STi, Mitsubishi Evo X, and MazdaSpeed 3.

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CARSHYPE

“Live Low Or Scrape Trying” T-shirt $24 | carshype.com The front of the shirt sports the CARSHYPE logo and the back side displays the phrase "Live Low or Scrape Trying", a mantra followed by many in the import car scene. 100% cotton, double printed shirt with custom shirt tag. Designed and hand assembled in California, with love. Available in sizes S-XL, free shipping to the continental US.

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ly not ’s definite ol, but it tal of Japan. co is yo k To lture capi the car cu

TIPS ON MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP - JAPAN CAR CULTURE STYLE S T O R Y

B Y

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I think it’s and the culta mixture of the cars ure that lu back in. res me

C R O U C H E R

JapanCarCulture.com japancarculture @japancarculture

AKIRA NAKAI FOUNDER OF RAUH-WELT BEGRIFF (RWB) My first Japan experience really blew my mind.

As online pages encapsulating car culture in all its facets started to take the internet by storm in 2009, Taryn Croucher carved herself a niche in being a girl with genuine passion for blogging and storytelling about the scene, especially about her true love: Japanese car culture. After her “hobby” evolved to include work for other blogs, she was soon noticed by Speedhunters, and would travel the world for two-and-a-half years, covering car culture from all over the globe for them, with a focus on JDM. Now, through countless experiences, contacts, and reliable network of friends, Croucher runs a website called JapanCarCulture.com, which helps people make the best possible plan for their trips to Japan. Naturally, we had some questions for her about making the most out of trip to Japan, like when to go, where to stay, what to eat, and what to see, and thankfully, she was nice enough to answer every single one. If you’ve had some burning questions about how to go about visiting Japan, this is for you! J A P A N

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How many times have you been to Japan? What keeps you coming back? I’ve been to Japan seven times in the last six years, but often for three month stints. Actually, by the time this issue goes to print I’ll have been there eight times! I know, I have a problem. I probably could have spent my money far more wisely, but honestly, it is a bit of an addiction. I think it’s a mixture of the cars and the culture that lures me back in. The Japanese have such a crazy attitude towards modifying cars and just the way they make cars such a big part of their lives - there is so much dedication involved. Not to mention the country itself is incredibly beautiful. Sometimes I

If we hadn’t had that guidance though, we would have been totally lost! One of the first things that really surprised me was that hardly anyone spoke English, which was something I didn’t realize. When we got home, I just felt like there was so much I missed out on, either because I wasn’t well-informed or couldn’t talk to people because of the language barrier.

just miss little things like the sound of the pedestrian crossing buzzers or the little warm towels they give you before meals. I definitely don’t miss the coffee though; no matter how desperate you are, never drink the 7-Eleven coffee! Describe your experience the first time you went to Japan. Did it measure up to what you expected? My first Japan experience really blew my mind, but on some levels it was kind of a disappointment, too. It was very rushed and poorly organized, plus it was too short! Thankfully, we had a friend who was able to show us around, and luckily there was an amazing track day at Tsukuba on that weekend.

Tell me about JapanCarCulture.com. Why did you decide to create this online guide? JapanCarCulture.com is a membership-based website I created to help people plan their ultimate car-related experience in Japan. The idea for it came

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TARYN CROUCHER

JDM BLOGGER & JAPANCARCULTURE.COM FOUNDER

“THE JAPANESE HAVE SUCH A CRAZY ATTITUDE TOWARDS MODIFYING CARS AND JUST THE WAY THEY MAKE CARS SUCH A BIG PART OF THEIR LIVES - THERE IS SO MUCH DEDICATION INVOLVED. NOT TO MENTION THE COUNTRY ITSELF IS INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL.” things s little I just mis the pedestrian es im et Som sound of ossing buzzers. like the cr

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such a big parth They make cars- the is so muc of their lives lved.re dedication invo

about as I was constantly receiving emails and messages from people all over the world asking for help and advice about travelling to Japan, and it got to the point where I just didn’t have time to respond to everyone. I’d also see so many people asking the same questions over and over! There was obviously a need for a solid and reliable information source catering to foreigners interested in Japanese car culture and events, and now that’s what JCC is. It contains 16 in-depth guides, each based around a different topic, including race tracks, visiting workshops, useful car-related phrases in Japanese, accommodation and transport, networking, and how to meet people. It also features a constantly updated event calendar, along with every little piece of information that I could ever hope to pass onto anyone. If there is something you can’t find in there, I will personally help you figure out what you want to know! What is the best way, in your opinion, to plan your trip to Japan? To plan the ideal Japan trip, you really need to base your holiday around at least one or two BIG automotive events. Once you’ve got these dates locked in, you can start planning the rest of your trip. I’d also recommend hiring a car and doing a bit of driving, especially as this opens up a whole new world of activities that you might not be able to access via public transportation. In terms of where to stay, Airbnb is always good, especially if you’re doing a slightly longer stay or you’re with a group of friends, as it generally works out to be a lot cheaper. The hosts usually have some good recommendations for local restaurants too. So, eat everywhere and eat everything! Except the natto (Google it).

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Food-wise, what’s your “must try” recommendation? That’s a very difficult question to answer. If you could only try just one Japanese food in Japan… Oh man, that is hard! A really good ramen? No, okonomiyaki! Or actually, maybe a really high quality yakiniku meal. I can’t say no to a good Japanese curry either. Yeah, I can’t list just one, sorry! Is there an ideal city/ prefecture to start out in? Tokyo is cool, but it’s definitely not the car culture capital of and eat Japan. re he yw Eat ever ng! I think everythi this is quite a common misconception. I always get emails from people asking: “I’m in Tokyo for five days, do you know of any car events happening then?” Generally, the answer is no. On average, there are probably seven or eight really good events that take place each year in central Tokyo or Yokohama that are accessible by public transport. The rest of the time, you’ll need to get your hands on a rental car and get out of there! Some, if not all, of my best car-related experiences in Japan have taken place in the absolute middle of nowhere.

What are some important pieces of etiquette that you’d recommend to people going over to Japan for the first time? Just really basic stuff like bowing - a slight head nod will do - and showing people that you have made the effort to learn even just some beginner Japanese phrases will go a long way. If someone offers you a sticker or business card, accept it with two hands and make sure to really put emphasis on thanking them.

TIPS ON MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP - JAPAN CAR CULTURE STYLE and playing charades with the driver, I eventually just blurted out “Rawson!” in the cringiest fake Japanese accent I could muster, and the driver instantly lit up and replied, “Ah, Rawson, okay!” and we were off. How would you describe Japan’s car culture? Well, there really is nothing else like it in the world, I can say that much. For what is essentially a very small country, the sheer amount of cool car-related stuff going on there is just absolutely insane! The driving roads in the mountains are ridiculously awesome, and there are so many small, casual circuits ideal for beginner drivers and seasoned pros alike. Aside from circuit driving, there’s also a different car scene for just about any automotive subculture you can imagine. From modified vans to blinged-out trikes and decorated trucks – there’s even a Toyota Probox racing series – you name it, it exists in Japan!

What are some key phrases or words that someone should learn to make their time in Japan a bit easier? The Japanese phrase for saying thank you, ‘arigatou gozaimasu,’ will likely be the thing you use the most. But also, this is by far the best piece of advice I have ever been given: If you ever get really stuck with the language barrier, try speaking in English but with a Japanese accent. I know this sounds like good advice for getting your ass kicked, but this has saved me multiple times! Japanese pronunciation is very different and sometimes Japanese-ifying your words - almost as if you’re being a little bit racist - can result in a breakthrough. For example, ‘wheel’ is said more like ‘houiru’. Nissan ‘Laurel’ sounds like ‘Roreru’. I was in a taxi the first time I ever tried it, out of pure desperation. I needed to get to the local Lawson ‘konbini’ convenience store, and after trying to show maps on my phone, speaking really slowly

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ll likely zaimasu,” wi “Arigatou gose you use the most. be the phra

There’s a car scene for just about any automotive subculture you can imagine.

Is there a particular time of the year people should plan to visit to experience car culture in Japan to its fullest? Yes, I do think there are certain times that are better! From December to February is the season for Time Attack events, and Golden Week during May is probably the busiest week of the year for car events in Japan. From late April through to August seems to be the busiest overall period.

“THERE WAS OBVIOUSLY A NEED FOR A SOLID AND RELIABLE INFORMATION SOURCE CATERING TO FOREIGNERS INTERESTED IN JAPANESE CAR CULTURE AND EVENTS”

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You have to experience the annual Nagoya Speed and Custom Show!

TIPS ON MAKING THE MOST OF YOUR TRIP - JAPAN CAR CULTURE STYLE

How can you find out about shows, meets, and other events once you’re there on the ground? Start out at a big car event and try and meet as many local people as possible. Test out your Japanese skills - don’t be shy! Exchange details, take photos of their cars and add them on social media. Show people photos of your car back home; show them that you have something in common. If I’m being honest, it wasn’t until maybe my third Japan trip that I started finding out about some really good events and learning about local car scenes. This is another reason why JapanCarCulture.com is useful, as it has a regularly updated automotive event calendar!

“IRONICALLY, I THINK THE AMERICAN CUSTOMS AND LOWRIDER SCENE IN JAPAN HAS SOME OF THE MOST HIGH QUALITY BUILDS I’VE EVER LAID EYES ON.” What have been your favorite events to attend in the past? Definitely nostalgic car meetings, as I love old Japanese cars! There’s an annual car meet that takes place in Shiga Prefecture, hosted by a car club called Dual Factory, which is absolutely incredible. Hundreds, if not thousands of drool-worthy vintage machines turn up for it; there’s one of every car in every color, on every set of wheels imaginable. D1GP at Ebisu Circuit is pretty fun, too, as the drift stadium course has such great spectator access. This seems to be a common thing at many of the smaller drift circuits in Japan. Otherwise, I’d have to say any event that I’ve been able to get on track in my own car - a pretty basic street-legal JZZ30 Toyota Soarer drift car that I decided to sell recently - and improve my driving skills. J A P A N

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Is there an event that sticks out to you as not too popular, yet features quality cars? Honestly, this really depends on your definition of quality, as my tastes cater to some pretty questionable cars! There is nothing that stands out to me as being not popularized, as so many people have cameras and internet access these days. There was a big drift event on last year at Motorland Mikawa called ‘Drift & Dress Up,’ which probably had the biggest amount of really well-presented drift cars I’d ever witnessed driving at once. It was all about putting on a show for the crowd with flamboyant driving and aggressive style, so the atmosphere was pretty crazy! Ironically, I think the American customs and lowrider scene in Japan has some of the most high quality builds I’ve ever laid eyes on. If you’re into that stuff, as well as motorbikes, you have to experience the annual Nagoya Speed and Custom Show.

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I’ve been able to get my car - a JZZ30 Toy on track in ota Soarer drift car

Are there any shops that stick out to you as a good place for a visit? Yes! But there are so many, so I’ll just rattle some off in a list: Mooneyes in Yokohama has some amazing merchandise and delicious burgers, Tsutaya (a popular bookstore chain) for car magazines, the Tamiya Plamodel Factory in Shimbashi for model cars, Fun2Drive in Hakone for sports car rentals (arguably the coolest thing you can ever do in Japan), plus Toyota Mega Web and History Garage in Odaiba are both well-worth visiting. I hope that helps!

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THE

CAR SHOWS

Story & Photography by Ken Au

Golden Week is a week in Japan that contains a cluster of holidays that adds up to a whole week off. Ken Au, being the smart guy he is, planned his trip to Japan during this relaxing period, spending his time visiting the shows and meets that take place during this pause in pace of the big city rat race. Here is the solid gold he brought back for us:

GOLDEN WEEK

tr. GET THE FULL PICTURE

instagram.com/PASMAG

DAIKOKU PARKING AREA The Daikoku parking area is not easily

busy city lives behind to explore

accessible for many, as there is

the country side. On the contrary,

only one entrance into the lot. It is

thankfully, a large number still

located North East of Yokohama,

showed up and gave us a taste of

where the Metropolitan Express-

Japan’s iconic meet up spot. We

way Bayshore route intersects with

were not surprised when we arrived

the Metropolitan Expressway K5

to see an interesting variety of cars,

Daikoku Route, where every night,

from VIP to street tuner.

it is one of Japan’s hottest spots for automotive meets. We happened to go on a week-

If you are planning to visit this lot in the future, remember that most locals prefer to gather on Sunday

day of Golden Week, so we didn’t

evenings. This is one place you

expect to see many outrageous

should definitely experience if you

cars, as people tend to leave their

visit Japan!

J A P A N

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HALOGEN BULB REPLACEMENT BRIGHTER THAN HALOGEN SMALLER FOOTPRINT FOR VERSATILE APPLICATION FITMENT EXCELLENT FOCAL PATTERN 6 PCBBS FOR HIGH EFFICIENCY COOLING

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What better way to kick off the start

products at their booths. You could

of Golden Week than to attend the

see anything from R34 GT-Rs, to

second annual Fuji Speedway

Lamborghinis â&#x20AC;&#x201C; even a track-ready

event held on May 1st, where it was

Ferrari F40. One notable vehicle

more than just a track day; it was

that many may not have seen

a car show as well. Thousands

tucked away in the garage bay was

travelled from the surrounding

a Pagani Zonda Revolucion!

area to spend the day with their

We arrived fairly late to Fuji

family at Fuji Speedway, where big

Speedway and only caught the tail

name aftermarket manufactur-

end of the Liberty Walk event, but

ers such as Eneki, WORK Wheels,

Kato-san, the founder of Liberty

and HKS were packing the heat

Walk, was still there, always will-

with cars showing off their latest

ing to take photos with the public.

MOTOR FAN FESTA

Although we arrived late, a few vehicles stayed behind from the 140-plus Liberty Walk cruise to showcase their cars to the public. A line-up of Liberty Walk widebody Nissan Skylines (Infiniti G37 over here) did not disappoint to say the least, and a blue Lambo-

THE

CAR SHOWS

rghini did not shy to strike a pose

with its iconic doors while we were

GOLDEN WEEK

leaving the lot. This is a truly an event that captures the love for automotive enthusiasts in Japan! THE LATEST TRENDS, FULL THROTTLE

facebook.com/PASMAG

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A MILLION AND ONE WAYS INSTALLED OUTCOME...

MORE WORLDWIDE SOUND QUALITY CHAMPIONSHIPS THAN ANY OTHER CAR AUDIO MANUFACTURER

W W W . A R C A U D I O . C O M AM PLI F I E RS

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SUBWOOFERS

PROCESSORS

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THE

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FILL 'ER UP

GOLDEN WEEK

PASMAG.com

The event was held on a Wednesday,

the show mid-week, attracted

coverage through social media

which seems a little ridiculous for

thousands of travelers from all over

outlets from previous years, but

a large car show to be held in the

japan to attend the fourth annual

when I walked through those doors

middle of the week, but it was done

event. Some even endured six hours

all I could say was, “Extraordinary.”

so to coincide with the national

of traffic to make it to the show!

Each vehicle is built with passion

week-long Golden Week. As such, Wekfest Japan, despite having

Before attending the show, I had my expectations, as I’ve seen event

WEKFEST JAPAN

and heart, and it showed by the amount of minuscule detail put into each modification. One thing I would like to point out, and was extremely happy about, was the layout of the event. The area was oval shaped with beautiful natural lighting seeping through the glass windows. Vendors were placed around the outside of perimeter, which allowed traffic that wanted to purchase merchandise or speak to representatives at the booths away from the cars. This made it very helpful for any photographer wanting to snap some good shots of the 250-plus cars at the show. It is really hard to pick out favorites from this show, as there were so many different styles to choose from, so I’ll let you pick your favorites from the photography on the page.

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2017-06-02 2:48 PM

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If you were to enter the car world for the first time today, the overwhelming presence of bolt-on widebody kits, flares, and excessive negative camber might have you fooled into thinking that those things are what make up Japanese tuner culture and its influence on the aftermarket. The reality, however, is that JDM car culture in North America started with much humbler beginnings, back when the only bolt-on parts were either over-fenders or under the hood.

TOMMY KAIRA R32 SKYLINE COUPE JORDIE LEWIS

HOT ROAD S13 240SX JOSEPH PACIONE

S13 SILVIA SANTIAGO GOMEZ J A P A N

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he idea that less is more when it comes to modifying Japanese cars started long before many of our readers were born, in the mountain roads of Japan during the 1960s. From there, the simplistic style evolved alongside the skill of the drivers through the decades. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Japanese drift culture and cars had taken a spot in the limelight, especially popular among young North Americans who yearned for the unattainable compact sports cars of Japan.

Now that these iconic symbols of Japanese car culture are eligible for import into both Canada (15-year import rule) and the United States (25year import rule), the low-key style of the 1990s and early 2000s is back in full force on North American shores.

attracted to them. I would later learn that the cars I was drawn to had mostly been period correct examples, so tastefully modified that it almost looked like they came from the factory that way. In a way, I knew what I liked before I knew what it was. It wasnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t long before I knew which direction I was going with my car, and suddenly anything else seemed like a disservice to the platform. But why? To get a better idea of why period-correctness is so important to the JDM enthusiast crowd in

Now that these iconic symbols of Japanese car culture are eligible for import into both Canada (15year import rule) and the United States (25-year import rule), the low-key style of the 1990s and early 2000s is back in full force on North American shores. In any car community, be it Euro, classic muscle, or JDM, there is a group of people who consider a certain era of their respective scene to be the golden age, but that group seems especially prominent among dedicated JDM enthusiasts. Those of you who follow the antics of our PASMAG team may already know that I recently picked up a 1990 Nissan 240SX. JDM cars of all kinds have always had a place in my heart, but I had always looked at certain S-chassis examples with a particular affinity, often without even knowing why I was

BN SPORTS R32 SKYLINE SEDAN EMIR HEIDINGER

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particular, I went for a drive with five dudes who are doing it right. The cars you see decorating these pages belong to Mike Martino (white S15), Jordie Lewis (black Tommy Kaira R32 coupe), Joseph Pacione (blue Hot Road S13 hatch), Emir Heidinger Espinoza (gray BN Sports R32 sedan), and Santiago Gomez (white S13 Silvia). These guys have been all about keeping things classic since their eyes first graced the Option videos featuring drifters in the mountain roads of Japan.

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“FOR ME PERSONALLY, PERIOD CORRECTNESS IS THE FEELING

THAT THE CAR CAME FROM A CERTAIN TIME PERIOD AND PLACE. WHEN YOU LOOK AT IT OR HEAR IT DRIVE BY, YOU CAN IMAGINE IT BEING EXACTLY THE SAME WAY DURING ITS GLORY DAYS.”

How do you define a period correct car? Is there more to it than using brands from a specific era? Mike: Period correct to me is anything that was of the nostalgic ‘90s era that our cars now are currently built on, like a proven HKS boost controller that, at the time of versions 1 or 2, was at its prime, yet now is on version 10 or better. Even to this day the technology that was first developed in certain parts trumps anything that has been made today and it’s something you can’t look past.

Joseph: Period correct cars have a certain aura/feel to them, be it JDM, muscle, or European cars. For me personally, period correctness is the feeling that the car came from a certain time period and place. When you look at it or hear it drive by, you can imagine it being exactly the same way during its glory days. Emir: It’s definitely more than just using brands from a specific era. The overall style of the car has to follow similar styling from the era. Things like ride height, color, vinyl, stickers, etc. インタービュー

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When you first got your car, did you have intentions to follow a period correct style right from the beginning? Joseph: For me, yes. I love doing research on things I truly enjoy. I got into drifting when I was about 12 or 13 and from then on had always been researching and watching old Option videos. I quickly fell in love with the styling of many of the 180SX drift cars of the early 2000s. By 16 I had planned every part (wheels, body kit, hood, seats, etc.) that I wanted to own one day, and where to buy them. I wanted to build this exact car since I was 16. I’m 24 now.

Emir: When I got my R32 sedan, I knew it had to be styled in the R32 ‘Low Style’ that is represented by drift team A Bo Moon. BN Sports kit, 17-inch wheels and low. Santi: No way. To be honest I had no clue what I wanted to do with my car. I was lucky enough to be able to start with a super clean slate, and I always knew I wanted to keep it simple. Now, almost seven years later, the car has gone through various different looks and styles, but always with cleanliness as priority.

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“New is great, but I find a little joy in doing something better or similar to how it was done before and so widely recognized.” TIMELESS NEVER GOES OUT OF STYLE

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What is it that attracted you to this specific style? Mike: Ultimately, the dedication and simple nostalgic presence they’ve carried over is what’s attracted me to it. New is great, but I find a little joy in doing something better or similar to how it was done before and so widely recognized. Even now, visiting places like Japan gives you such a nostalgic vibe, and I’d like to keep that going. Maybe one day someone might look for inspiration in what I’ve built. That, to me, is something pretty cool.

Jordie: As fanboy as it sounds, I suppose it was grainy Option clips on Youtube, as well as realizing I could have parts from brands

featured in Gran Turismo. Initial D and Wangan Midnight were also big influencers and can’t be forgotten.

Santi: Mostly ‘90s nostalgia. Looking back at how straightforward cars were back then, but also the itch to switch things up after a few years of minor changes. I wanted to do something really different to me, while still keeping it simple. Although I loved the way massive 18s almost tucked under the fenders, I was always a fan of small wheels. I think making the dive from 18s to 15s, and replacing thrashed fiberglass aero with factory bits drastically changed the appearance of my car.

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Period correct styling exists across all sects of the automotive world, so why is period correctness so important to some JDM fans specifically? Mike: I’d compare what we do to the likes of the muscle car and hot rodding era. Essentially this is another form of that. Think of them like two different languages – they’re both complex and intriguing in their own way, but the end goal is a communicative process in which they’re being expressed. Cars are the same thing, and emulating an era is our way of communicating a complex and intriguing style to an age that may not have seen it before.

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Jordie: I think it’s because car culture is so big in Japan. During the ‘90s economic bubble there were so many different aftermarket manufacturers exploring all types of styles and levels of tuning. Some of these parts have of course become obsolete technically, but just like in fashion, styles and trends tend to repeat themselves.

Emir: I think we want to stay true to our roots - true to why we got into JDM cars in the first place. I think a lot JDM fans want to emulate their heroes’ cars, or maybe a car they saw in a Doriten scan or in a video.

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For many of these enthusiasts, the timeless “OEM plus” idea is about reviving a golden age, and living out glory days that they once only witnessed on screens and in magazines.

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With parts being mostly manufactured overseas, or completely discontinued, what is the best way to get your hands on them here on North American soil? Jordie: There are many brokerage services online to order parts from Yahoo Auctions and UpGarage.

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In a time when almost everything has been done and re-done style-wise, how could someone effectively change things up slightly to stand out while remaining period correct? Mike: Unless you’ve got the full recipe book for how someone has built their car, you’re likely going to adapt your own style into it, even if unintentionally; which is good because you’re essentially carrying forward something great and (hopefully) making it better.

Joseph: A lot of people build cars that are period correct in terms of looks, but modernize the suspension or powertrain. An aspect of the car can be period correct without the entire car being period correct. Emir: I would say custom parts are something that change things up slightly. Drag wings, bumper canards, or my exhaust tip for example.

Joseph: Hands down Jesse Streeter. He is a super nice guy based out of Japan. He answers all your questions, responds quickly and is very easy to deal with. He’s a local drifter and knows his stuff very well. My entire car is built from parts ordered and imported through Jesse. It seems that the idea behind period correct JDM cars revolves around a certain feel and presence, perhaps even more so than the parts they’re outfitted with, although those are important too. For many of these enthusiasts, the timeless “OEM plus” idea is about reviving a golden age, and living out glory days that they once only witnessed on screens and in magazines. It’s no wonder the style is almost inseparably intertwined with Japanese drifting culture, as the two scenes are fairly similar – both are all about style, and both have more than one way to do things right. While some might claim that the style of the ‘90s is back, we would argue that it never really left.

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SHOUJI INOUE: STAR ROAD’S MASTER OF THE FAIRLADY Z

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It’s three in the morning, and like every other time when we call each other at an ungodly hour, Shoji Inoue answers the phone. “Hey Adam, you still up, too? What’s up?” he says to me in his broken English. I’m still trying to teach him. “Ohayo, Inoue-san. I’ve got a deadline with my editor at PASMAG - we’re looking to put you on the cover this time. Can we work something out next week?” Without skipping a beat, Inoue tells me he’ll have a fleet of cars assembled for the shoot, and all I have to do is polish and assemble my camera gear and head on over.

o I do, battling the soup that is the Tokyo highway network along the way, heading from west to east on a solid 90-minute drive. “You’re late…” Inoue says with a wry grin, as I pull into the driveway and hop out. “I’m not late,” I shoot back. “I called you an hour ago to tell you I was held up in traffic, you oaf!” And so it goes. We’re constantly trading barbs like this whenever we see each other, and when you’re “besties” with a guy like Star Road’s boss, Shoji Inoue, you always know the time you spend working with him will never be wasted. You’re

absolutely guaranteed to have a rollicking good laugh, and this day was no exception. It’s fair to say that Japanese people are, by and large, very reserved, cautiously guarded on a social level, meticulous to a fault, and bound by long standing traditions. I would like to think I’ve learned a thing or two about that after 13 years of living and working among them in mutual observation and interaction. These cultural boundaries don’t necessarily always apply to a guy like Shoji Inoue though, who, like other tuning luminaries, such as Akira Nakai of RWB and Kei Miura of

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rocks off on Instagram follower numbers or slow motion panning shots of his cars passing by, weeds blowing in the wind, playing to crappy hip hop music in the background. He actually cares about the people who follow him and responds to each and every single person. Even though his English language skills leave much to be desired, the very fact he makes the effort is both a celebration of his character, as well as being proof that he isn’t a paper celebrity in a world of faux-tuners who just pose with cars others build for them. That’s really what endeared me to the guy. Unannounced, a young man appears from the street, dressed in a Star Road t-shirt and sporting a sizeable backpack. He has this look of a young, wide-eyed traveler; sure enough, it turns out the young man was visiting from France and had walked to the shop with a simple map in hand, just looking for the opportunity to see one of his heroes up close. I was amazed, as I still get lost finding Star Road with a GPS signal. But what timing! Inoue and I didn’t speak any French, the French lad didn’t speak

Rocket Bunny, cut a gritty, earthy, color-imbued kaleidoscope figure in a world of black and grey suits. Get them drinking and absolutely anything can (and does) happen. I’ve lost chunks of my entire week recovering after a night on the town with these guys. The other truths are that Inoue is the physical personification of everything important at Star Road. He’s outlandish with his work, poignant on his views, traditional to a fault, and an absolute perfectionist with everything he creates. If you, like many others besides, have had the chance to see his cars up close and marvel at the attention to detail; to see the absolute mastery with which they are created, then you and I have some stories to trade. This isn’t a guy who gets his

“HE’S OUTLANDISH WITH HIS WORK, POIGNANT ON HIS VIEWS, TRADITIONAL TO A FAULT, AND AN ABSOLUTE PERFECTIONIST WITH EVERYTHING HE CREATES.”

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“THE SHOP IS ALWAYS A HUSTLE AND BUSTLE BEE HIVE OF ACTIVITY, WITH BUILDS EVER-PRESENT IN VARYING STAGES OF COMPLETION.”

Star Citizen SHOUJI INOUE: STAR ROAD’S MASTER OF THE FAIRLADY Z

a lick of English or Japanese, and yet, regardless of the three-way language barrier, we still managed to have a great time because the cars were all that mattered to us in that moment. That’s just what it’s like at Star Road. Situated in a quiet residential area on the outskirts of Koiwa, Tokyo, the pleasant and picturesque locale lends nothing in appearance to the mechanical and engineering masterpieces within the garage. Inoue’s location is one that specializes in classics; particularly of Nissan heritage, with connections in the industry that run as wide and deep as Japan lives and breathes. The shop is always a hustle and bustle bee hive of activity, with builds ever-present in varying stages of completion. The timing for this special couldn’t have been better for the day I arrived, as there was a delectable array of machines to drool over and immortalize. It’s always the way and I have often caught myself staring at the detail in these machines and losing focus; they are that hypnotizing. It’s so difficult to find fault in anything on them; especially on a mechanical level. Inoue begins every build with a blank metal canvas and finishes

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“INOUE BEGINS EVERY BUILD WITH A BLANK METAL CANVAS AND FINISHES WITH A BANSHEE-LIKE, NATURALLY-ASPIRATED, 380-HORSEPOWER, STRAIGHT-SIX-EQUIPPED, TRACK-AND-STREET-SCREAMER...” with a banshee-like, naturallyaspirated, 380-horsepower, straight-six-equipped, trackand-street-screamer the likes of which nobody else on the planet can replicate in quality, sound, or fury. So, it’s no secret in Japan that Star Road is among the upper echelon of classic Nissan tuners, but it would be remiss of me to not want that to stretch further. Through WORK Wheels Japan, Inoue is ever reaching and developing; he has a range of classic 15-inch forged alloys

through the Glow Star brand that he designed, which has been working its way through global markets on an international distribution level. Not stopping there, Star Road have engineered a range of bespoke damper, brake, and exterior bodywork pieces that they’ve created for market, so it’s worth considering Star Road for pieces on a build you’re currently undertaking or looking to get into. The quality, as I have observed, like everything else Star Road creates, is second to none. The newest edition yet

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to go public are the side mirrors in carbon fiber, mirroring the paint finish. Without wanting to sound cliché, it’s hard to appreciate perfection (from both a euphemistic and humanitarian perspective), but when perfection is a constant and never-ending goal, the lines are blurred. Time may be the most important commodity we have as humans, but if time was a Nissan Fairlady Z, I’d be spending every second of it with Shoji Inoue at Star Road.

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STAR ROAD’S S30Z MASTERPIECE S T O R Y

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It’s the brightest, most vivid shade of orange I’ve seen on a car in a long time and is reminiscent of the Lamborghini hue, Arancio Borealis. Under a bright and sunny Tokyo sky, it comes across like an ice cold can of Sunkist; so refreshingly punchy and vibrant. This particular build has been over 12 months in the making, and has gone through three different engine and drivetrain configurations during this time - not because the previous incarnations were inferior, but because a perfectionist like Star Road boss, Shoji Inoue, knows sleep is optional and shop cars are a never-ending process of research and development. hat being said, it took me quite some time to get used to the looks of Star Road’s widebody kit, and Inoue knows it, too. I’ve made it no secret to suggest I preferred the classic, simple, carbon over-fenders on his other builds, but, over time, I’ve found myself drawn to the new lines of the Star Road kit. The “Sunkist Z” is polarizing, and for good measure; it carries presence and power

visually, but backs that up with mechanical prowess worthy of a legend reborn from the ground up. The “devil is in the details,” as they say. Every Star Road chassis is built from the ground up, nut and bolt. Starting with a naked shell, everything on the chassis is blasted, treated and then seam- or spot-welded before being primed and painted, while the drivetrain, interior, and exterior modifications are simultaneously planned J A P A N

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and prepared for execution. The process can take up to a year and a half and up to or over $200,000 (USD) to complete, depending on the options ticked. Absolutely no expense is spared nor stone unturned in the pursuit of automotive perfection. The purpose and concept behind a Star Road build is simple in concept, but eye-wateringly detailed in execution. The car must be something that can be driven daily, retain classic lines and 58

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THE “SUNKIST Z” IS POLARIZING, AND FOR GOOD MEASURE; IT CARRIES PRESENCE AND POWER VISUALLY, BUT BACKS THAT UP WITH MECHANICAL PROWESS WORTHY OF A LEGEND REBORN FROM THE GROUND UP.

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features, be period correct where possible, and contain enhancements to the chassis, drivetrain and interior that bring it up to a more modern spec and finish. That’s why Star Road S30Zs are powered by the classic straight-six L28 engine - this one stroked to 3.2 liters, with a five-speed gearbox from an R32 GTS-t. It’s why there are Defi gauges in the center vent pods, and it contains two incredible Bride carbon-Kevlar GIAS semi-buckets. It’s also why it has LED headlights from a Mercedes G Class that just happened to fit perfectly. It looks and feels like a brand-new car - one that barks just as viciously as it bites. “Pop the hood!” The first time you do with a Star Road S30Z, you’ll immediately realize what true vehicular engineering is. Starting with a venerable N42 L28 straight-six, the block is then sent to renowned engine builders, Auto Service Watanabe. ASW is not a name most of you will know in North America, but when it comes to extracting the ultimate level of performance and reliability from the L28 in Japan, ASW are virtually peerless. The block is meticulously checked, acid dipped, pressure tested, decked on both ends, and bored to 3.2-liter SPL specifications, with the further benefits of increasing the size of the big end bearing cap galleries and boring out the crank escape galleries to handle increased oil flow and combustion pressures, adding to

the robustness of the package down low. Inside this monster of a heart beats six forged ASW oversized pistons attached to H-beam ASW connecting rods, which are then fixed to a fully counter-balanced and shot-peened 3.2-liter-specification ASW crankshaft. The aluminum head was also sent to ASW, where things are just as hardcore. After extensive water pressure testing and machining of both faces, the intake and exhaust ports are entirely hand-finished to SPL big port specifications, with the intake receiving a hairline port treatment, while the exhaust gets a half-mirror treatment. If you saw the finish on these ports you would

with custom ASW high-lift springs assisting the send and receive. Spring retainers are custom-offset titanium items with uprated custom valve cotters keeping the valves securely in place. The meat in the metal sandwich is a head gasket that has a secret thickness to it to give a compression ratio nobody knows. Feeding air to this beast of an engine is an old school triple threat set of brand-new Solex 50-mm carburetors, which are set

INSIDE THIS MONSTER OF A HEART BEATS SIX FORGED ASW OVERSIZED PISTONS ATTACHED TO H-BEAM ASW CONNECTING RODS, WHICH ARE THEN FIXED TO A FULLY COUNTER-BALANCED AND SHOT-PEENED 3.2-LITERSPECIFICATION ASW CRANKSHAFT.

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be absolutely speechless - they are truly a work of art all on their own, and dozens of careful hours are spent getting them absolutely on point. With a firm head on the L28’s (L32’s?) shoulders now ready, a set of ASW R-Type 79-degree camshafts were installed, backed up by a full set of larger (46.5-mm wide and 119-mm long) custom valves. ABB/PBB valve guides help the valves find their way back and forth through the combustion cycle

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NATURALLY ASPIRATED AND ON CLASSIC CARBURETORS, THE POWER PLANT MAKES A TOWERING 380 HORSEPOWER AT 7,800 RPM WITH NEAR 295 LB-FT OF TORQUE AT 7,500 RPM TO BACK IT UP. IT REVS OUT ALL THE WAY TO AN 8,500-RPM CUTOFF. the speed, power, and surge they produce under load. You firmly and progressively squeeze the throttle, and the Z instantly changes character; an urgent, guttural growl down low gives way to a blood-curdling scream at redline with no end in sight. It’s enough to make every hair on your body stand to attention with your wits following soon after. This particular engine is his finest yet. To drive, this S30Z is tractable, well-mannered, and a doddle in traffic thanks to the fully-overhauled, Kameari-spec, cross-geared R32 five-speed transmission and OS Giken twin-plate clutch assembly. The downsides to all this being the obviously alcoholic tendencies on fuel guzzling, not to mention that heat soak on the carbs can be a bit of an issue in hotter temperatures. To

off by a Mallory ignition system. It’s old school cool that pops and coughs intermittently, but wails and rages to an ungodly scream when the loud pedal is squeezed hard. Expelling the raging fire within is a full custom Star Road exhaust system consisting of a shop original 48-mm “Low-Spec” set of custom headers, leading to a full stainless system and exiting in a street-and-track-friendly Star Road Low-Spec muffler. How much power does all this madness add up to you? Naturally aspirated and on classic carburetors, the power plant makes a towering 380 horsepower at 7,800 rpm with near 295 lb-ft of torque at 7,500 rpm to back it up. It revs out all the way to an 8,500-rpm cutoff. These numbers are no joke, as I’ve driven many of Inoue’s cars and they absolutely shock with J A P A N

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combat this, a fan forced system has been installed to assist intake temperatures. Getting power to the ground is a stout R200 casing containing a Nismo 4.375 final drive mechanical differential. And through what rubber is that power transmitted? None other than Pirelli P7 semi-slick race tires; good for dry weather, but I fear for the man who tries his luck in the rain on these. Measuring a massive 305/35 out back with a supporting 235/45 footprint up front, these are no joke to be fooling around on. It was very interesting to notice how the P7s come to you the harder you drive them. Setting off from the shop, they are hard as ice, with the tendencies to suit; they complain and protest over bumps and undulations, but give the chassis some work (and thereby, some heat) and

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THE P7 PIRELLIS EMBRACE 15-INCH WORK-WHEELSMANUFACTURED STAR ROAD “GLOW STARS,” BEJEWELED IN A BLACK DIAMOND-CUT, BRONZE-ANODIZED LIP, MEASURING 9-INCHES WIDE AND A -53 OFFSET UP FRONT WITH A MASSIVE 12 INCHES IN WIDTH AND -60 OFFSET AT THE REAR

they become much more supple. Tires not suited to a novice at all then - and at over $500 (USD) a corner, for very good reason! The P7 Pirellis embrace 15-inch WORK-Wheels-manufactured Star Road “Glow Stars,” bejeweled in a black diamond-cut, bronze-anodized lip, measuring 9-inches wide and a -53 offset up front with a massive 12 inches in width and -60 offset at the rear. It’s a gorgeous combination of colors and contrasts befitting the overall look and feel of the mechanical marvel. Holding everything up on all four corners is a brand-new set of Star Road’s 16-point adjustable dampers with the very recently added Star Road hydraulic height adjustment system, not uncommon in supercars from Lamborghini or Audi. Thanks to the onboard compressor system, a press of the button on the dash-mounted switch panel gives you added inch-

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a universe where people care less and less about creation, and more about what is created for them, Star Road continues to blaze that “Rainbow Road” trail to motoring nirvana, unbridled by time and space, unaffected by opinion and industry machinations. Timeless in every way possible. Inoue’s machines are from a time long since passed, but he makes them present, relevant, and capable, like the traveler he is, with a million stories to tell. Pay him a visit sometime if you’re in Japan and can find him! The gate to Star Road is always open to you.

es of clearance to ensure bodywork remains intact and performance remains uncompromised. Pulling everything up is a complete set of Star Road four-piston calipers, discs, lines, and pads. There is so much detail to these cars that I could write a book on it all, but I wanted to end this deep dive into one of the most amazing S30Zs in the world by explaining the interior; or rather what it was like to be travelling in it. No matter where we went, people stared. Necks snapped. Conversations ensued. We couldn’t even get gas or a drink without someone coming over for a chat. Kids pointed, staring wide-eyed in amazement; their parents nodding approvingly. Older gents craned with wistful gazes reminiscent of a time remembered well in their younger years. It literally felt like we were travelling through time. From the air-conditioned, Defi-gauge-clustered, bespoke interior, it all seemed surreal and yet all-too-familiar to me. Star Road is like a wormhole and Inoue may as well be piloting the Enterprise. In

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ESSENTIALS

Datsun S30 Fairlady Z

OWNER > Shoji Inoue LOCATION > Edogawa, Tokyo, Japan BUILT BY > Star Road ENGINE > Datsun N42 L28 2.8L I-6 HORSEPOWER > 380 hp TORQUE > 295 lb-ft

ENGINE

Auto Service Watanabe (bored to 3.2L, oversized pistons, H-beam connecting rods, counter-balanced crankshaft, head machining, hairline-ported intake ports, halfmirror-ported exhaust ports, R-Type 79-degree camshafts, custom valves, high-lift springs, custom titanium spring retainers, uprated custom valve cotters, custom head gasket) + Solex 50-mm carburetors (3) + Mallory ignition system

EXHAUST

Star Road Low Spec (48-mm headers, stainless steel exhaust system, muffler)

DRIVETRAIN Nissan R32 Skyline GTS-t 5-speed transmission + Kameri FS5W71C cross gears + OS Giken twin-plate clutch + Nismo 4.375 final drive mechanical differential

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION

Star Road (16-point adjustable dampers, hydraulic height adjustment system)

WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES

Star Road Glow Star wheels – 15x9 -53 (f), 15x12 -60 (r) + Pirelli P7 tires – 235/45 R15 (f), 305/35 R15 (r) + Star Road 4-piston brake callipers + Braided stainless steel brake lines

INTERIOR

Defi gauges + Bride GIAS carbon-Kevlar racing seats

EXTERIOR

Star Road widebody kit + Mercedes G Class LED headlights

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2017-06-05 11:51 AM

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PRAY THE REAL LIVE FOREVER NAVIGATING THE JDM WHEEL RESURGENCE WITH THREEPIECE.US B Y

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Whether you’re aware of it or not, we’re in the middle of a renaissance of sorts, and our Michelangelo, Leonardo, and Raphael are WORK, Rays, and SSR. That’s right, we’re talking glorious Nippon steel (aluminum) here, folks, and only the oldest and most sought after models; all the way from the ‘70s to the early 2000’s.

Before I dove into the fascination with old wheels from an island in the Pacific sea, I’d need a guide that gets their hands dirty with these soughtafter rollers on the daily. Thankfully, after giving Jake Owens (El Presidente of Threepiece.us) a shout, he was more than up to the task of talking shop. Mr. Owens’ wheel fascination started when he would buy old wheels

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of off Craigslist, which he would then recondition the best he could, before relisting them and making some extra cash. Soon, refinishing wheels (old JDM ones in specific) became more of a passion than a side hustle, and with some solid contacts now made in Japan itself, he opened the doors to Threepiece’s first warehouse. Soon outgrowing that, he moved his team to a bigger space, which now receives shipments of 150 to 200 wheels, every couple of months. “The bulk of what we do at Threepiece is source, import, refinish, and resell

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vintage Japanese wheels, as well as manufacture harder to find parts for them, like center caps, lips, barrels, hardware, and all the good stuff you would need to bring your old wheels back to life,” says Owens, who has a contender for best job ever. So, let’s get to the meat of the issue here: why is there such a huge market and demand for old Japanese wheels right now? One could argue that a good chunk is the fact that lips are back in like Botox in Hollywood, and a good amount of Japanese wheels were multi-piece way before the trend started sweeping the car nation. Another point would be the fact that Japanese wheel companies were the originators of the designs you know and love today, paired with the fact that they’re built with the same quality and over-engineering as a 2JZ. “One reason, I think, is style,” says Owens. “A lot of these JDM wheel companies were the first ones to do these styles, so you’re not getting something that’s been copied and tweaked, over and over again.” “The quality of the product, for sure,” he continues. “If it can last 30 years, then you know it’s a decent product. What’s really a testament to that is not just the faces, but the inner barrel, which is making contact with the most amount of road, most frequently. I would say 90 percent of the inner barrels that come through here are not cracked or bent. I see WORK Wheels coming

“I SEE WORK WHEELS COMING THROUGH HERE THAT ARE OLDER THAN I AM THAT ARE STILL IN GOOD SHAPE.”

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through here that are older than I am that are still in good shape. We’ll do paint stripping on these wheels and the original paint won’t come off. That’s quality product, there’s no way around it.” Let’s not count out the part of us that wants to replicate the cars of our childhood. Whether we raced them on a game console or saw them get wild on an Option video, we want that black S13 on Blitz 03s.

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Speaking of which, Owens lists Blitz’s 03 as their most popular wheel – something that’s driving up their market value and making a set that’s worth chucking on a boat over here less and less likely to come across. “There are five or six models that are really popular, but Blitz 03s are the ones we’re getting phone calls about every day,” he chuckles. “At this point, it’s pretty much impossible to get them. They’ve become all but nonexistent. At my wholesale cost, and I have no problem putting this out there, I’m spending $1,500 to $1,700 on a set of non-refinished, old, beat up, 17-inch Blitz 03s. By the time you bring them over here, doing the new lips, refinishing, etcetera – we’re competitively priced, but it still all costs money – you’re flirting with $3,000 to $3,200 for a set. The Blitz 03 was one of those wheels that really drove the creation of Heritage.” [see sidebar on the next page] Now, some of you may be recoiling after seeing costs like this, but such is the price tag on an item that’s finite and in high demand. Just look at the costs of GT-Rs coming out of Japan; same deal. Isn’t being a JDM enthusiast great? But just like you can get a less popular model of car out of Japan for a more agreeable price, the same is true of wheels. “With the more desirable models, there’s a certain price tag that accompanies buying a set of VSXXs, Blitz 03s, or something like that, whereas you can get something lesser known, like Riversides or ABC Exclusives, for $1,500 to

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Heritage Wheel

$1,600 out the door,” Owens advises. “If you ditch some of the refinishing options, there are at least a dozen sets that I’m looking at right now in my warehouse for under $1,000.” “Check out some of those wheel models that maybe some other people aren’t doing,” he advises further. “The one time this gets a little tired is when we’re doing six sets of the same wheel in the same color scheme because someone saw it once. There’s a lot more out there that can be executed really well and look really cool if you have that vision of what you want to do. Definitely still check out what your friends have on their cars and what you see on Instagram that looks super sick, but also check out some of those lesser known models – you’re going to get a really good deal, and get a really cool-looking product.”

“...CHECK OUT SOME OF THOSE LESSER KNOWN MODELS – YOU’RE GOING TO GET A REALLY GOOD DEAL, AND GET A REALLY COOLLOOKING PRODUCT.”

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Say you love a certain JDM wheel design that’s way out of your budget, you own a car with a bolt pattern that’s not readily available in older JDM wheels, or you just don’t want to go through all the adaptation pains of getting a wheel to work on your car, Threepiece offers an option in Heritage Wheel. Heritage was born out of the demand for wheels that are almost impossible to find, in general or within spec. “When you look at the Heritage models, there’s no denying that they do come from some of the older Japanese wheels, but we wanted to reimagine them in such a way that it’s going to fit on whatever vehicle you choose,” Owens explains. “For the customer that’s not dead-set on the brand name, this gives them the opportunity to still have a quality, forged, multi-piece wheel in a similar spokestyle and design to what they want.” You can see familiar designs in the Heritage offerings, like Blitz 03s in the “Ebisu,” or WORK Equip 05s in the “Suzuka.” There are even three-spoke and super-mesh designs if that’s more your style. If you go to HeritageWheel.com, you can choose the wheel model you’re after, enter the specs you want for your car, choose your construction and finish, get a quote, and after a nail-biting wait, receive a brand-new set of wheels, fit specifically to your car, built 100-percent in Cali, with a whole lot of Japanese spirit.

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If anyone can bring your vision to life, it’s Threepiece. Offering what they call a “standard refinish,” or “bring your wheels back to life package,” which usually comprises of four new lips, powdercoated centers, and some new hardware. Beyond that, more extensively, the crew at Threepiece can handle three-piece conversions of nonmulti-piece wheels, custom step lip, full re-lip, and re-barrel, plus just about any finish. As Owens puts it, “If you’ve seen it somewhere before, we can do it.” These days, $1,000 to $1,500 isn’t far off from a lot of the replica sets that we see bolted on cars, so the excuse gap to run something un-authentic gets smaller – plus it saves you from being the butt of jokes made by wheel advocacy groups and blogs online. While we’re on the topic, what is an authentic wheel anyway? There are so many wheel companies around these days that lines are a little blurred. Owens has his own view on things real and fake.

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“It’s a hot button issue,” he says. “Like, are BBS LMs WORK VSXX reps? It’s become almost trendy to talk shit. If something is a direct copy with nothing changed, that’s a replica to me. If you were to take a monoblock and make a three-piece variant, or if you were to take an existing design and alter the shape of the spoke, or the lug area, or something like that, so it’s recognizable as your own unique design, I feel that can be authentic. I think a lot of what comes with it is who’s making it and what they embody. If you’re buying a quality multipiece or one-piece forged product, there are only so many designs. Everyone has heard that adage of ‘Hollywood makes seven movies and they make them over and over again.’ It’s the same thing with wheels; there are only so many core structures of a wheel. You can only change so much before you push the limits of what is safe

and what the actual wheels can take. It comes down to how you’ve deviated from the style of these acceptable variants.” As far as reps are concerned though, Owens has a surprisingly understanding tone. “I think that anything that gets people into cars is a good thing,” he explains. “I mean, I remember when I was 16 and I didn’t know about authentic wheels, so I bought some wheels off Ebay and thought I was really cool. As things went on, I learned that they’re obviously not a high-quality product, but I do feel that they have their place. For guys competing in grassroots drift series that don’t have the excess capital to spend on a skid of authentic wheels, I completely understand that. For a kid who just turned 16 and wants to start modding their car, I get it. The biggest problem I have is that it leads people to this culture of instant gratification. A lot of people

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“HOLLYWOOD MAKES SEVEN MOVIES AND THEY MAKE THEM OVER AND OVER AGAIN.’ IT’S THE SAME THING WITH WHEELS; THERE ARE ONLY SO MANY CORE STRUCTURES OF A WHEEL.”

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aren’t willing to buy a set of wheels that are authentic and throw them on their car to drive around for three months while they save up to buy some lips, and then send them back for refinishing. It’s Instagram culture; they want to be able to post up their sick car right now.” While that debate will probably rage on for a lifetime, the up-trend of demand for Japanese wheels from the heydays of car tuning seems to want to follow suit. Even if this renaissance fizzles out, Owens reckons we could see another resurgence later on in our lives. “Right now, we’re kind of at a peak for it,” he says, assuredly. “Japanese ‘90s nostalgia is a huge thing, especially among kids of my generation who were too young to have these cars in the ‘90s, but now we’re driving FDs, Supras, S13s, and S14s – stuff we’d see in video games and movies back then. I think we’ll see that taper off a little bit as this generation gets a little older, buys houses, and more mature cars, but I fully believe that there will be a resurgence similar to how baby boomers are restoring their Chevelles and Camaros. I have no doubt that in 30 years we’ll see restored S15s and R32s. I fully expect to see a resurgence, and maybe even see it surpass where it is now in 10 or 15 years.”

E D I T I O N

2017-06-05 10:56 AM

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THE CT9A THAT HASN’T FALLEN FOR THE “DARK SIDE” OF STANCE S T O R Y

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P E P I N O

Before Mitsubishi started producing electric toasters and refrigerators on wheels, the storied brand was famous for a trim-line of their four-door, all-wheel drive Lancer models: Evolution. After 10 generations of roman numerals and turbo-charged, four-wheel-spinning goodness, the Evo name has been retired, but the cult-like following from enthusiasts seems like it’s almost stronger than ever, especially in Japan.

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poster child for Evo enthusiasm would have to be the owner of the stellar Evolution VII on the pages here. Takeru Shinno is an Evo nut, and knows just about everything about the proud family heritage of the “Evolution,” especially the CT9A he owns and operates. We’re not talking only mechanical facts either; Shinno considers himself a bit of a history buff when it comes to the rally-bred cars, and can list off race results from prominent WRC drivers who helmed Evos in the past. For example: he’d totally be able to tell you that the Evo VII was the “fat kid” when it was introduced to the family in 2001. The CT9A was built on the Lancer Cedia platform, which weighed much more than the Evo VI of yesteryear, but the newer Evo would make up for the extra heft with the addition of an active center differential, a helical LSD up front, an improved LSD in

A “SHINNO CONSIDERS HIMSELF A BIT OF A HISTORY BUFF WHEN IT COMES TO THE RALLY-BRED CARS, AND CAN LIST OFF RACE RESULTS FROM PROMINENT WRC DRIVERS WHO HELMED EVOS IN THEPAST.” J A P A N

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the rear, plus a bump in torque to 284 lb-ft. The VII can move, and it can move well. It should also be mentioned that Shinno’s Mitsubishi belongs to Hara-Tire’s team of cars that are built to strut into a show and shut things down, as is tradition with Hara-Tire builds. For a little bit of backstory, Hara-Tire is a small shop in Fukuoka, with what is said to be the first “stanced” R32 GT-R as their claim to fame. The demo car features WORK VSXXs wrapped in extremely stretched rubber, fender to lip fitment, and a moderate dose of camber to round everything out. With the R32 as their first successful foray into the show circuit, Hara-Tire then rode the stance wave, churning out notable cars as that wave splashed all over Japan. According to Jean-Christophe Pepino, the man behind the lens of this feature, “It’s common to see a group of 10 to 15 cars wearing Hara-Tire colors at a big Japanese event.”

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“FIRST THING I DID WHEN I GOT THE CAR WAS TO TAKE IT TO THE TRACK,” SHINNO EXPLAINS. “I WANTED TO SEE HOW IT HANDLED AND PERFORMED BEFORE MODIFYING IT.” Some Evo purists reading this may be shuddering at the thought of a car with rally DNA exiting through the bay doors of a stance shop with eight degrees of negative camber, but have no fear, Shinno has a good head on his shoulders. In fact, when he bought the 100-percent stock Evo from a used dealer in 2008, his first move was very uncharacteristic of anyone who values form over function. “First thing I did when I got the car was to take it to the track,” Shinno explains. “I wanted to see how it handled and performed

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400 horsepower – 124 more than the factory 4G63T 2.0-liter pushes out. The resulting exhaust from this fierce combustion is released through a full Tomei system, which makes a sound that has Pepino questioning how Shinno “hasn’t been locked up yet!” Next came the piece that really sets this Evo apart from the rest: the Voltex body kit. This particular kit is the Cyber Circuit kit, which is the full deal that’s made for competition, with every canard, endplate, and diffuser included. Under the haunches of the wide

before modifying it. The car was really fast already, so I knew it wouldn’t be hard to make a rocket out of it. I just made sure to keep the excellent balance.” Shinno actually left the car stock for a year after he bought it to feel everything out. Once he identified where he could improve, he dove right under the hood first to try his hand at heart surgery. The HKS F-CON V Pro computer and EVC 6 boost controller are the maestros directing the Tomei ARMS M7960 turbo kit, 600cc injectors, and aftermarket camshafts to produce

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front fenders and rear over-fenders, 255/40 Advan Neova tires are stretched over square 18x11 WORK Meister M1 wheels. “The quality of the Voltex body kit is beyond reproach, but it wasn’t a piece of cake to fit the 11-inch wide wheels and get this flush look,” says Shinno. “I had to spend some time on the suspension set-up.” Ohlins’ capable PCV (Parallel Compression Valve) coilovers, outfitted with Swift springs, lower the fenders just over the Yokohama tire stickers for a height appropri-

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weekends sometimes!” One such weekend would be when he shot with Pepino after the StanceNation event in Nagasaki. Cruising around the city to look for the perfect place for to shoot, the pair were amused by the faces of onlookers as the car snarled past on the street. “The car is street legal, no problem, but it’s just too hardcore,” laughs Pepino. “It was great to drive around looking for a spot though. While the car often enters

ate for street or track. To get the flush look that Shinno was after, the camber and toe were tailored with Megan Racing suspension arms. The resulting fitment is perfect for the aggressive Voltex kit, as well as Shinno’s want to create a car that’s registered for the street, with the look and performance of a track car. “I use the car mainly on circuit and bring it to events,” he says. “I don’t drive it on the street as often as I would like to, but take it out on

stance-oriented events, it is not too low and can pretty much go everywhere.” Shinno isn’t done yet either, and don’t worry, he isn’t giving into the dark side of stance. He lists his next modifications as, “wider front fenders, wider wheels, larger canards, and an increase in engine displacement – maybe a 2.2-liter stroker…” Shinno is still of sound mind, and looking to the next stage of his CT9A’s evolution.

“THE RESULTING FITMENT IS PERFECT FOR THE AGGRESSIVE VOLTEX KIT, AS WELL AS SHINNO’S WANT TO CREATE A CAR THAT’S REGISTERED FOR THE STREET, WITH THE LOOK AND PERFORMANCE OF A TRACK CAR.”

ENGINE

ESSENTIALS

2001 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution VII (CT9A)

DRIVER > Takeru Shinno LOCATION > Fukuoka, Japan BUILT BY > Hara Tire ENGINE > Mitsubishi 4G63T 2.0L I-4 HORSEPOWER > 400 hp

ORC (twin-disc clutch, lightweight flywheel)

CHASSIS/SUSPENSION

Ohlins PCV coilovers + Swift springs – 16 kg (f), 14 kg (r) + Megan Racing suspension arms + Okuyama roll cage

WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES

EXHAUST

WORK Meister M1 wheels – 18x11 (f/r) + Advan Neova tires - 255/40 R18 (f/r) + Racing Gear brake rotors + Dixcel brake pads

Tomei (Expreme Ti exhaust system, exhaust manifold, turbo outlet, front-pipe) + ARC exhaust manifold thermos cover

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DRIVETRAIN

HKS (F-CON V Pro computer, EVC 6 boost controller, spark plugs, oil cooler) + Tomei (ARMS M7960 turbo kit, 255-lph fuel pump, fuel pressure regulator, 600cc fuel injectors) + ARC intercooler + Carbing intake box + Aftermarket camshafts + Koyorad 2-layer radiator + Samco silicon hoses

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INTERIOR

Keys Racing steering wheel + Recaro racing seats + Takata harnesses + Defi gauges (oil temp, water temp, boost)

EXTERIOR

VOLTEX Cyber Circuit body kit (front bumper, rear bumper, canards, diffuser, front fenders, rear over-fenders, carbon fiber GT wing) + Mitsubishi EVO VIII (headlights, taillights)

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OFFICIAL MILITARY SPONSOR

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Photography by Ranger Ramirez

Want to win some awesome PASMAG gear?

THE DIFFERENCES

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Send us the 10 CORRECT answers to this puzzle at letters@pasmag.com for a chance to win a PASMAG Fan Pack (Formula Drift 10th Anniversary Photo Book, stickers and some copies of PASMAG)!

Need the answers? Visit pasmag.com/Spot10 Spot The Differences_Spot_v2.indd 1

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Get real. Great performance and unbeatable value, that fits your vehicle.

ÂŠ 2017 JL AUDIO, Inc. For more information on our complete line of products, please visit your local authorized dealer or www.jlaudio.com. In Canada contact GemSen Distribution at www.gemsen.com

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