Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

Mito Natto Racing is a small team of Hachiroku enthusiasts formed by GT drivers Akira Iida and Manabu Orido. They are currently driving their own tuned AE86s to drift spots around Japan, looking for new members. Their future adventures should be fun to follow, but what we really want to know is how their Hachiroku cars are built. Here, let's take a quick look at one of the Mito Natto Racing members' cars.

Apart from driving one in a freshman race, Akira had not had much connection with the Hachiroku. But he decided, ‘Let's build an AE86 that no one can beat!’ and got hold of the now-unavailable TRD Group A engine. He installed it in the car and even carried out the jobs he could do himself, such as converting it to dry-sump lubrication and port polishing, making the machine feel even more personal. ‘There may be no end to how far you can develop it, but I built this Hachiroku as close as I could to the ideal AE86 I had in my head. I'm not building it to race, so I'm happy if it turns out the way I want. I think you guys feel exactly the same way.’

Hachiroku…

Making a splash on V-OPT!

A look at the machines of ‘Mito Natto Racing’!!

…runaway crew

Even GT racers love it—the pleasure of building the ultimate Hachiroku is the best!

RACING

Mao Naie

‘Hena-choko Akira,’ aka Akira Iida

‘I really wanted one a long time ago, but I couldn't afford it. Now my dream has come true, and I'm so happy…’

…you know!’

Is this a dream or an illusion?!

Equipped with a TRD Group A engine

Mito Natto Racing — Hena-choko

Akira's Levin

The suspension uses Air Force components from Kei Office. The front brakes are GT-R Brembos, and R32 units have been adapted at the rear…

…at the rear.

…is that right?!

The seats and door trim have been finished in a ‘full-bride’ style. That attention to detail is another of Akira's preferences…

The engine itself is an extraordinary Group A 4A-G! It has even been converted to dry-sump lubrication. This is a direct, all-out naturally aspirated mechanical-tuning approach to building the strongest 4A-G.

Photos: Hiroyuki Ominato / Hiroki Iwashima. V-OPT report: Tadashi Uemura.

Option — Shōwa Car Tuning & Buyers Guide (2000 Edition)

About this issue

Page 76 — English draft translation