There’s by no means been any scarcity of AE86-centric tales on Speedhunters. From SH Storage mission updates and have vehicles to visits to 86 specialist outlets and occasion protection, the Hachiroku has at all times been very effectively represented. The fixed celebration of this humble, rear-wheel-drive Toyota from the Nineteen Eighties speaks volumes.
Amongst all of the AE86-based builds we’ve featured, Driftworks’ LSX V8-powered Trueno stands out as one of many wildest. With a decade since Bryn Musselwhite’s function, there’s no higher time to revisit this tire-destroying machine than this week’s throwback publish.
2014 Characteristic
Begin with a space-framed NASCAR-inspired race automotive. Add a clear, road and drift-ready AE86. Throw in a full-race LSX motor. Then fabricate the crap out of them till they morph into one.
What do you get? Driftworks’ earsplitting drift machine constructed on the legendary appears to be like of a Hachiroku!
Nearly… As a result of it’s much more sophisticated than that. However don’t stress, for now, let your thoughts wander and also you’ll be amazed the place it might take you. If you happen to’re a purist you won’t like this decide’n’combine strategy to automotive constructing, however should you’ve bought a heartbeat I defy you to not crack a smile whenever you hear a race-tuned V8 bouncing off the limiter while tyre smoke spews from sacrificial rubber.
You don’t simply come upon a construct like this, so let me let you know how I got here to be mendacity on the bottom taking photos like this one. Oh, and there’s a video later you’ll positively need to see…
Driftworks is a reputation that needs to be acquainted to many Speedhunters. The UK-based enterprise – born from a again bed room thought – is fuelled by the drive and dedication of its founding companions Phil Morrision and James Robinson.
That enterprise has seen exponential progress within the decade since its founding and is now internationally acknowledged. All through all of it, the blokes have stayed true to the mantra of getting enjoyable and never getting too hung up on what others are doing. That’s to not say they ignore what’s happening around the globe: they watch with eager curiosity – after which do what they need, with an occasional dose of hooligan thrown in.
So it’s this innate capability to grasp the foundations of drifting and all its related legend, folklore, fable and method that permits them to place one thing just like the ‘DW86′ collectively.
The blokes have realized and respect the historical past of the game. They’ve additionally constructed sufficient competitors vehicles to know that in present-day drifting you want energy – and many it.
The early days have been crammed with S-chassis shells and SR motors, however when the S15 that they debuted in 2008 was offered, it marked a turning level – taking an enormous step forwards whereas revisiting their roots on the identical time. In spite of everything, you don’t simply get up one morning and construct the worlds most badass AE86!
With enterprise success got here the flexibility to construct wonderful dream vehicles.  So when Phil noticed a operating ASCAR on the market within the UK at a really low cost value, he jumped on the alternative. The ‘ASCAR’ collection was an try at NASCAR-style racing in Europe, and like all collection that fizzle out, the competitors vehicles it left behind have filtered by way of the secondhand market on the lookout for a house.
As a lot enjoyable as a roundy-round race automotive is likely to be, it was by no means going to move tech inspection for a collection just like the British Drift Championship, which is the place Phil spends most of his aggressive seat time. As I witnessed firsthand on the BDC’s early-August Lydden Hill spherical in south east England, the number of weapons individuals carry to the observe is unimaginable. However one easy rule amongst just a few others retains it attainable – no bulkhead modifications.
So with a race-bred V8 and an entire bunch of rear-wheel drive {hardware} to deal with, what to make use of as a donor? Oh it wasn’t this race-bred V8 although, that may be means too easy….
That is the place historical past is available in to play, as a result of Phil and quite a lot of the blokes related to the early days of drifting within the UK (like the remainder of the world) took their inspiration from Preliminary D and the long-lasting AE86 Trueno. On the identical time the ASCAR confirmed up, a clear however non-original Trueno sat within the nook of the Driftworks workshop. So it was actually solely a matter of time earlier than anyone mentioned ‘what if?’
On that notion, Phil went straight subsequent door to see Craig Taylor and his band of proficient fabricators and mechanics. Dyno Torque is liable for a big share of the LS V8 swapped vehicles within the UK and round Europe, and should you watched that clip I pointed you in the direction of a second in the past you’d have seen Craig’s personal 1000hp-plus twin turbo RX-7 wrecking tyres too.
It does make me marvel – if Phil didn’t have anyone like Craig subsequent door, would his concepts get so far as they do? Nothing presents an excessive amount of of a problem to Dyno Torque, and the reply is at all times ‘sure’. So with a warehouse filled with elements and a few donor vehicles, work started on prepping the shell.
Given the Driftworks product vary and expertise with S-chassis, the entrance finish was configured from a hybrid pile of S14 and AE86 particular elements. A few of it has been modified to get it to work, however the inside wings and chassis rails are nonetheless mid-’80s Toyota fare.
Immediately, the distinction in width could be seen. Certain, the automotive is sporting 17×9-inch CCW wheels up entrance, however simply try how far the decrease arms attain in the direction of the unique bodyline. Check out this video of the bare prepped shell being pushed for the primary time.
Customized Kevlar overfenders have been fabricated by Magic Aero to completely home the beautiful cut up rims. I ponder if Driftworks will find yourself promoting these – it’s look that I wouldn’t thoughts seeing extra of.
Wanting on the Trueno from a straight-on aspect profile, the spirit of the unique automotive continues to be very a lot evident. Being a fan of the unique automotive it’s one thing Phil was eager to maintain, and why the AE86 wears a TRD N2-type boot spoiler – albeit built-in into the FRP hatch. And did you discover that it’s operating 18-inch tall (and 10.5-inch large) wheels on the again? The delicate staggered wheel and tyre dimension being very arduous to identify at first.
With the ability to making clouds isn’t straightforward although, and there was lots extra work to do earlier than the glory… And once I say glory I imply kickass movies! And clouds!
With insane 100mph-plus entry speeds and the potential for 4 determine horsepower, the 30-year-old shell wanted some severe reinforcing. Ready by Dyno Torque and Nickson Motorsport, Phil went for some additional house and aspect affect safety. The truth that we seek advice from this type of cage within the UK as being ‘NASCAR’ is sort of apt!
On the within it’s all enterprise – as a result of this factor has been constructed to win. Cobra Seats added a few of their customized embroidery and color within the signature Driftworks orange hue.
One other scan of the cabinets delivered a Driftworks Nardi wheel to Dyno Torque, however with very trick Cartek wi-fi push-button controls for when Phil engages battle mode. The massive-bore hose you’ll be able to see on this image and the one earlier than permits filtered recent air to feed straight to his helmet.
It’s excellent for these chase moments when the smoke takes over.
For all of the smoke, thunder and lightning, it’s the V8 occasion up entrance that most individuals have been speaking about because the Toyota made its debut earlier within the 12 months. The unique motor from the ASCAR is lengthy gone although, now changed by this specially-built and freshly-imported 454ci LSX. For people who don’t know, it’s principally an off-the-shelf race motor sourced direct from Common Motors’ GM Efficiency division.
With two banks of Jenvey throttle our bodies bolted on prime, it not solely appears to be like achingly cool, it additionally kicks out 646hp on the rear wheels. Torque peaks at 640lbs/ft – greater than sufficient to tear the world one other trench with solely 1243kg to propel. That’s moist weight too!
That weight consists of 28kg for the 28 litres of Evans waterless coolant that the DW86 makes use of – the rear-mounted radiator proven right here from the drivers aspect rear window vent. These black circles are the place the followers have sucked filth in opposition to the core, and sure – at some stage the blokes will most likely clear it off.
However they’re normally too busy doing stuff like this… You understand how you guys at all times ask for video? Effectively, I’m glad to say Phil wasn’t shy at exhibiting us what the automotive is able to. That is what we love.
The economic property that Driftworks name house is pretty quiet by the tip of the day, and it additionally occurs to be a non-public street. So Phil, being the consummate hooligan, needed to give us a present – and there was no means in hell I used to be going to cease him.
Did anyone say burnout? That is the way you get a gap shot just like the one firstly. That is the place clouds come from, youngsters…
In order a lot because the DW86 is about competitors and exhibiting off the merchandise of Driftworks, it’s additionally about remembering why we stand up within the morning: to place smiles on our faces and get a kick out of what we do.
The dual exhausts line up completely to kick up the tyre smoke. Why? As a result of it appears to be like good! And should you disagree, you most likely must hearken to your inside youngster some extra…
If you happen to don’t you’ll threat forgetting methods to ask the query ‘What if?’… And if all of us did that it might be an ideal disgrace, as a result of then we’d by no means get to say WTF?!
The Speedhunters
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Bryn Musselwhite
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