Young Version — August 1999
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About this issue
The August 1999 issue of Young Version explores drift setups versus grip tuning through 22 shop demo cars, including S15 Silvias from Mine’s and Kazama Auto. Features cover front-wheel-drive builds taking on high-powered 4WD rivals, choosing a first drift car, and reviving a used AE86 Trueno on a ¥1 million total budget. Suspension fundamentals, engine-oil selection, rotary maintenance, new-parts tests, and reports from Hiroshima and California round out this look at Japan’s late-1990s tuning scene.
242 available scans from Young Version — August 1999, in right-to-left reading order. Japanese OCR and English translation drafts are available throughout. Drafts have not received exhaustive image proofreading; unreadable source remains recorded in the archival data.
Page 142 — English draft translation
Dear Young Version: This is my first letter. I’m 25 and only recently got into cars and driving. My current car is an AE100 Ceres; I just needed something that ran, was cheap, and looked a little cool. At first I wasn’t especially interested in cars, but lately I’m a bit unhappy that it’s an automatic, front-wheel drive, and has few aftermarket parts. Still, I’ve grown attached to it and want to make this uncommon model look cool enough to catch people’s eyes. But I made a mistake recently…
I could still drive, so I had a nearby gas station and body shop look at it. While they did, I suddenly felt like I’d joined the street-racing crowd. I’m sad I crashed, but I also felt a little proud—is that weird? When my car looks good again, I’ll send photos. It currently has Grid II wheels and TE37s, Momo steering wheel, and stickers. It’s at stock ride height, so it looks uncool.
How should I work hard enough to make this dream come true? I can’t shake my laziness and keep going out to drive. What did everyone else do? (Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, “The Prince of 3 Appears Here…”) / Matsugon: Taking breaks is important, but work hard now for your future dream. Put a Young Version sticker on the SilEighty you’ll own one day! “N-GH Angels”… Hello, I’m a street-racing girl…
Matsugon: Seeing drifting in person really is overwhelming. Which circuit’s competition did you attend? About your request for stickers: as a rule, we send one sticker per published letter. To get enough for everyone, keep sending submissions. But this letter has no name or address. Send your address and name to me, Matsugon, by letter or postcard.
Captions and page details
I had a little experience I’d like to share!
I got my beloved car, but…
Dear editors… The other day…
I had an interesting experience. I went to Nissan to get an S15 catalog. The salesperson asked, “Would you like a test drive?” We got in together. I thought test drives were always with the salesperson, but I went with two friends and the three of us…
I think I entered the corner a little sideways because of oversteer. When the tires that had been holding on regained grip, the car was suddenly pulled into the guardrail. I always try not to cross into oncoming traffic, and I think I was turning the wheel too much…
lt。
I’m in ninth grade—please publish this!
CRNE GEE
…I forgot how I was doing, and was only two… The three of us also took photos in the S15. I’m driving an 180SX now, but next I want an S15…
Water…
S15
Silyi
Takaku Koishikawa, Sambu District, Chiba Prefecture
Matsugon: Hey, feeling proud after crashing isn’t great! Marimo from the editorial team thinks you looked toward the guardrail when the oversteer started. When the rear slides, focusing your eyes on where you want to go improves your chance of recovering.
“Summer Memories,” Kyushu edition, illustration by Shohei Takeuchi
Pen name: Black Holmes II…
(Jin Okui, Omiya City, Saitama Prefecture)
2
Black Holmes II
Matsugon: Wow, you can test-drive cars by yourselves now? I didn’t know that. Visiting a dealer sounds fun. If it’s that easy, I’d like to drive an S15 or FD too!
Almost a street-racer!
My machine today
TEAM
I’m in my first year of junior high!
Hello!
Hello. I’m a first-year junior-high student. I’d like to show you my favorite model car. The silver S14 is my pride and joy. Its rear wheels…
Future racer
The wheels are stock R34 Skyline 25 Turbo wheels. The front has extreme negative camber. The low ride height is the key. I plan to paint the body blue soon. That’s all!
…I’d like to introduce it.
Ve
(Yusuke Okazaki, Hofu City, Yamaguchi Prefecture)
Hello, editors! The new logo looks really cool. Anyway, I’m taking entrance exams this year, so I should be studying rather than having fun. But my routine is to read Young Version and Bicycle Drift… I do have a dream, though.
I want to become a full-fledged street racer and nursery-school teacher, driving a white, loud SilEighty. I…
Matsugon…
-
V
…am part of a group of would-be drifters. Our team is “N-GH Angels.” We often drift on the road. Recently I watched a drift contest live for the first time and was moved.
I’m going to a drift event in July. There will be many more drivers…
I’d like to talk about it. Please send me 100 stickers! I’m waiting. Our team has … members.
Please send enough for everyone.
…so stickers can be mailed…
Nose…
:
。
-
S
A
…there…
,
1
1
Mackerel…
(Anonymous)
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