Young Version — August 1999

…but my senior didn’t believe me. I even got in trouble for driving on a temporary spare! E: I’m surprised your second car was automatic, too. T: I wrecked the Eight-Six and searched for a manual GX71 twin-turbo, but couldn’t find one, so I got a DOHC automatic. I thought I’d quit drifting. Then I tried semi-slicks in front and worn tires in back, and it worked—so I started again. E: Is that when you began entering competitions? T: Near the end of the Mark II, I installed a differential and gained confidence. Then I wanted to enter drift competitions, so I got a manual Chaser. I hadn’t planned to enter the YV Cup I won! E: This was the car you won the Young Version Cup in, right? T: A little before that, the rear end got wrecked during an Ikaten demo run. I was so shocked that I lost motivation. I hadn’t planned to compete, and I was in such a state that I hadn’t even prepared tires. But a friend invited me, so I went with tires that had cords showing. During practice…

…and I wore out the tires during practice. But maybe because I kept drifting where people couldn’t see, Mr. Tsuchiya noticed me. By the final, I had no tires left, so I borrowed some at the last minute from a stranger—and won! E: Do you still drive the mountains, or only circuits? T: I go to Ebisu Circuit two or three times a month, and I still drive mountain roads. Lately it’s mostly the Eight-Six, and it’s fun trying not to be recognized. Even strangers become friends when you drive together. That’s part of the fun. E: So you can’t quit drifting? T: I don’t think people who’ve had a big crash can ever quit. I used to drift anywhere. Even now, when it starts raining my foot naturally presses harder on the accelerator. E: What car would you like next? T: A ‘pig-nose’ Mark II from around 1975. I’ve always liked Mark IIs. I don’t want a JZX90 or 100—they feel like Toyota abandoned us. I like the older look, too. E: Who should we introduce next? T: Takahashi from Running Free—he’s really passionate!