We’re again at Gunsai Touge for one more 12 months of pure AE86 bliss.
This time, Storage Infinity expanded their scope to incorporate all 4A-GE-powered vehicles of their annual matsuri, although the turnout remained overwhelmingly Hachiroku-centric.
My day started on the Gunsai’s closest comfort retailer, the place there’s all the time a revolving door of cool vehicles en path to the well-known driving spot.
For individuals who are tapped into my AE86 adventures in Japan, you’ll know I bought my automobile from Storage Infinity. So it was solely proper to attend their annual occasion and soak within the ambiance.
As a few of you already know, I’ve additionally delved into drifting with my AE86 – keep tuned for a narrative on that – and the temptation to expertise the Gunsai Touge from the driving force’s seat was robust. Nevertheless, after a number of visits, I knew higher than to danger a tow truck experience dwelling.
As ever, the occasion attracted a various vary of Hachirokus. I’ve all the time preached that AE86s are one of some chassis that change a lot from construct to construct, and this occasion was a testomony to that.
One standout for me was this cream-over-silver Trueno hatchback.
As soon as once more, the Group Mouse vehicles got here up from Kansai. These are all the time my ‘learn how to notchback’ examples, every time I would like inspiration. In my thoughts, there are two most important types for an AE86: 15-inch wheels with a physique package, or 13/14-inch wheels with inventory Toyota aero. Group Mouse vehicles nail the previous completely.
Among the best elements of taking pictures at Gunsai is how shut you may get to the motion. As terrifying and harmful because it could be, nothing beats standing behind weak guard rails outdoors of a quick nook, closing your eyes to keep away from being hit by rocks, and holding the shutter on steady hearth hoping for that good shot.
I additionally caught up with Naoki-san and grabbed some pictures of his gorgeous 4A-GE 20V ‘Blacktop’-swapped Levin. After years of dialling, there’s virtually nothing left for him to change, alter or enhance.
I even mounted my GoPro in Naoki-san’s 86 for some in-car footage. Test it out above!
Hiroshi ‘Kaicho’ Takahashi was additionally there along with his iconic crimson Operating Free Trueno. This automobile is all the time evolving, and this time, Kaicho got here out to play with a full carbon roof swap, which was fairly spectacular.
In the direction of the tip of the day, I hopped into the passenger seat of a automobile to see if I may seize some Hail Mary motion pictures out the window. As seen within the video, Gunsai is quick. Sitting in a inventory unbolstered seat, dangling my digicam out of the window, I used to be fairly fortunate to seize the pictures I did, and the danger was effectively value it.
The Gunsai Touge will endlessly maintain a spot in my coronary heart because the true mecca of drifting in Japan, and occasions like Storage Infinity’s 4A-GE-only matsuri simply make it all of the extra particular.
Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco
