A couple of months prior to Japan I was speaking with Alexi Smith on a regular basis trying to sort out our trip, mostly discussing the events we scheduled to attend. He mentioned that during the time of Ebisu Week there would be a couple of grassroots drift days held down south at Nikko Circuit. Alexi said at some of these low key events you may be lucky and see some pretty crazy cars out on the field, possibly a D1GP car? Or maybe D1SL? During the JZX Day on the Monday I was standing on the outside of the ever so famous first corner at Nikko, the 3 wheeled entry. This white on white JZX100 Mark II comes screaming down the front straight, smashing into 3rd. A transition like no other, dropping the rear right wheel off the edge causing the front left to leave the ground.
Downshifting to 2nd gear and smashing the limiter making instant smoke at the rear. What an entry. A 1JZ has never sounded so good. These guys really can drive, it is honestly unbelievable how consistent they are lap after lap, easily the best drivers in the world. I could only imagine a D1GP driver tearing up this tiny little track, but then again I think to myself, it surely couldn’t get much better than this? After all it is Japan…
I have to say I’m so relieved to know that Nakamura-san is back in action.
Guess who dropped into Tomei Powered today, Naoki Namakura the man himself, along with Takuya Hamakawa-san of Car Studio (D-Max). So, what are the plans for 2011 you wonder? Nakamura-san has confirmed that he will be competing this year. Not in D1, but in another series. What most people don’t know is that Naoki Nakamura is using Tomei Powered products in the cars he uses for competition and street.
I’m sure a lot of you have been keeping up to date with the latest news regarding Naoki Nakamura-san. Nakamura-san was published in the papers due to getting arrested for illegal street drifting in Minou, just north of Osaka. Dino Dalle Carbonare from Speedhunters stated at the Tokyo Autosalon; “The big news at the show yesterday was that Naoki Nakamura of Team Burst was once again arrested for illegal street drifting. At the same time the sentencing from a previous offense came through, consisting of a two-year driver’s license suspension and a pretty hefty fine. Upon hearing this, the D1 Corporation instantly banned him indefinitely from competing in D1 Grand Prix and D1 Street Legal. Today, some of the D1 Corporation people headed over to the D-Max stand where his cars are on display and removed his name from both, along with the D1 windscreen banners.” I do feel sorry for Nakamura-san, he is by far one of my favourite drivers throughout Japan and definitely one of the top drivers. It’s such a shame he will be deleted from the D1 division all together
“I wanted to practice” Nakamura stated. What a badass. I’d give anything in the world to see this man slide up the hills of Osaka.
I wish all the best for Nakamura. Hopefully this all blows over soon enough and I hope to see him banging it off the wall at Meihan alongside the other members from Team Burst in early May this year.
