9:30am: Who Is That Masked Man?
We were huddled behind the retaining wall because the temperature barely eclipsed ten degrees. The forecast called for a possible snowstorm and the area had experienced a major blizzard the day before. With the faint sounds of screeching and turbo spool in the distance slowly growing louder, I managed to peek my head out from my sweatshirt just in time to see a mint green Porsche rocket past the pit area followed by a green FC3S performing chokudoris [drifting from one side to the other in a continuous motion]. I quickly fumbled for my camera in hopes of catching the action. Before another second passed, screeching out from turn one was a blue chop-top S15. Who the hell is this? I stuck my body halfway over the wall and zoomed in closer. I prepared to snap a shot and focused through the eye lens. Then I noticed the vehicle purposely swerve toward me. I quickly yanked my body behind the barrier as a shower of ice and dirt blanketed my head. "Asshole!" I yelled out only after I realized the DRFT sticker on the side of the car meant the "rude" driver was to none other than D1 Grand Prix Driver Utsumi Akinori. After a few more laps I was able to recognize the driver of the FC3S (RX-7) as Murao Shingo while Takeuchi Hironori was piloting the Falken 911 Porsche. Hironori-san is nicknamed "Mr. Taikyu" due to his dominance in the Super Taikyu [Endurance] Race Class One. Dominating the series, he took the checkered flag in five consecutive races. Hironori-san currently campaigns in the N1 Taikyu Races, in which he has placed second, the highest among Porches to date. Murao, in the Auto Service Sancha sponsored FC3S, is best known for his D1 Grand Prix series presence. What many people don't know about Murao is he is an accomplished journalist who writes for various magazines such as Option and Option2. Not only campaigning as a D1 driver, Murao has also raced in the Super Taikyu series, placing first in the 1997 Tokachi 24-Hours Race in a Class Two Celica. It was a surprise to me seeing Utsumi, known for piloting his FD3S, change vehicles to a C-West Sponsored chop-top S15. Rated at 512 horsepower, this chop-top vehicle is the newest creation for the DRFT team in the upcoming 2004 D1 series championship. We learned after the trip that due to alterations, the D1-sanctioned laws prohibited DRFT from racing the vehicle in the series, making the car a rare one-time show for this event.
11:30am: The Super Taikyu Experience
Test rides are cut short for the day once Murao's FC3S encountered engine problems midway through his warm-up sessions. First up for me is the Falken 911 GT3 Porsche, campaigned in the Super Taikyu race series. Equipped with a set of TEIN Type N1 dampers, this demon produces well over 400 hp to the wheels. I sat inside, tightly gripping the side bolsters of the bucket. The vehicle displayed unnerving responsiveness and handling as it took the apex and straightaway like a champ. When we pulled into the pits, the Endless brakes plumed a cloud of white smoke as the rotors glowed a red hue.
12:35pm: D1 Spec Ride
Next up is Utsumi's chop top S15. After what seemed like 10 minutes of wrestling to climb over the kick bar while squeezing my body in a precarious position to accommodate the short roofing, I finally strapped myself into the TAKATA harnesses and was ready to rock and roll. Utsumi turned his head towards me and said, "Use both hands and tightly grip onto the overhead halo bar." I wasn't sure why but followed his instructions as he floored the gas, spinning the tires out in a hail of smoke. Using a set of TEIN Drift SPEC Dampers (special), Utsumi proceeded to fly down the straights into turn one, ripping the car sideways while continuously connecting the drift into the second 180-degree radius turn. Seemingly impervious to the tight turn, Utsumi quickly yanked on the E-brake executing a seemingly clean drift while my head repeatedly banged back and forth on the cage.
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