Wednesday 20th February 2019

The Drift King and an '86: Time For Coffee?

Keiichi Tsuchiya doing what he does best, with one incredible touge run and an AE86

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Drifting is huge business nowadays, the names, money and the spectacle associated with the sport being bigger than ever. It wasn't always like that, of course, and there's no better reminder of the fact than this video.

Because drifting, as you'll well know, wasn't always about 1,000hp engine swaps and hydraulic handbrakes. What it used to be was like this, with tinbox Japanese coupes, touge hill runs and unwavering commitment. And it remains incredible to watch.

While clearly tuned by the sounds of it, this AE86 is not boasting huge power, which means it's not simply gliding from corner to corner on a surfeit of torque. It needs to be driven, and driven hard, which Tsuchiya-san is of course more than happy to oblige in doing. There isn't much run off, there are a lot of revs and the oversteer, when it does come, is absolutely fabulous.

So if you love powerslides, fast cars from the East and perhaps the most famous Japanese racing driver in history, there's no better accompaniment to your morning brew. Turn it up...

 

[Titan2]

Epic driving as always Tsuchia san...

Still have a load of these videos on tape hidden in the house somewhere.

[NDNDNDND]

Ahh, a small, light, analogue, rwd hatchback.

Pity you can't get those any more.

[rob1991]

This is Tsuchiya's personal car. At the time of this video it was built by TRD's Sakurai-san. 1600cc, 20v head, individual throttles, live read axle with LSD and only 170PS. Pure and raw. It's been restored at least twice from what I can remember from old Hot Version videos.

It's currently maintained by Tecart, and it's now a 1800cc with ~200PS. It still shows up on new Best Motoring videos.

[RemyMartin81D]

Tsuchiya




He is such a legend.

[ZX10R NIN]

Love watching the these touge runs.

[unsprung]

helpfully, appended with subtitles

[blearyeyedboy]

This is just fantastic to watch, and worthy of more than single digit comments.

[blade7]

Suit, gloves, no lid

[The Green Triangle]

Banzai!!

That was a pretty epic drive. Love seeing this, car purety at its best 😁

[DanielSan]

It's always so easy to get lost down a Best Motoring/Hot Version rabbit hole on YouTube.

[ZX10R NIN]

Touge Battle

https://youtu.be/3t742T1GwUs

[SteveJL]

I was fortunate enough to have a ride in a GT86 with Tsuchiya san when he did the video with Idris Elba.

I’ve been sideways in cars with mates and with myself driving and I have never experienced driving like that, he was so smooth and fluid.

The previous day he drove the Toyota GB owned AE86 and declared it was a very good example of them.
We did put the translator we had hired in with the AE86 with him as the director wanted some specific shots (who drove a Prius and had never been sideways before).
When he got out I asked him how it was - he said “it was very good and I did not pee my pants”

An awesome couple of days!

[Sf_Manta]

I was lucky enough to meet Tsuchiya and a few of the D1 drift drivers back at Silverstone around 2004?

Back then i'd just found Initial D, and was figuring out how 'heel toe' breaking worked.
Still have a copy of Initial D manga books , 1 and 2 signed by them all, with Tsuchiya having signed the first one....

Possibly worth a few £ nowadays.

[rossh]

Simply put:

fking hell

[GravelBen]

That man's driving seldom fails to impress me

[aka_kerrly]

Absolutely outstanding, I never get bored of touge driving nor Japan's car culture. I wish there were similar facilities in the UK.

Bizarrely only yesterday I was having to educate someone I work with who was talking about F&F Tokyo drift but had no idea the Drift King is quite the celeb in Japan.

[Plate spinner]

Wonderful