They say to never meet your heroes. I never quite understood this concept. Heroes are people who contribute to society, inspire individuals to do greater things, and help make this world we live in an overall better place. Heroes come in all forms; from youths picking up an instrument as they were inspired from their favourite artists and bands, to doctors and medics who save lives every day – emboldening aspiring humans to also do the same. Heroes also come in the form of race car drivers. These individuals (as well as their teams) push man and machine to be the first or fastest around a race track, motivating a passionate legion of enthusiasts from all corners of the planet to follow suit. Since 2010, the annual World Time Attack Challenge held in Eastern Creek, Sydney is one such environment where people like you and I get to meet in the flesh, our favourite racing heroes.
I’ve made it a plan to attend WTAC in person every second year. This biennial arrangement means I get to follow all the on track action – something I struggle with when I’m physically at Sydney Motorsport Park – thanks to WTAC’s fantastically presented live stream coverage. However, not being present at WTAC means I miss out on the festival’s sideshow alleys; of which one key highlight is meeting the drivers and teams. I continue to support Ian Baker – bossman of WTAC – and the event because of opportunities like the below.
Keiichi Tsuchiya requires no introduction. Even fans who live in Japan don’t always get an opportunity to meet him. So as cosy and snug as it is to watch the live stream at home, this is the reason why I attend WTAC in person every second year.
This trip’s number one mission was to get some of my prize processions squiggled on by Tsuchiya-san and the other drivers. After a tip off from a fellow Adelaidean mate who also flew up with his family for the event, I got in line at the driver’s autograph area one whole hour before schedule. I couldn’t fathom missing the opportunity or getting axed from the line like many fans did the day before for lining up too late.
Unfortunately – despite my efforts – I was not first in line. However and fortunately, I was second. A brief chat with the bloke in front revealed that he was one of the statistics from yesterday’s axing and did not want a repeat of those results. A short time later, feelings of relief swept over as I was able to declare the mission a success. Time to unwind and absorb what else was on hand at WTAC 2018.
WTAC 2018’s Stylized Modified Car Show keys were thrown from Sydney-based The-Lowdown to Queensland-based Downshift. Stance was definitely the overall theme and flavour at this year’s event with many interstate cars represented.
Mark Taraby’s SUBLIME 20b-powered S15 was crowned the prestigious “God of Autosalon” in 2010. I was last in the presence of this particular 200SX at Adelaide Autosalon 2010 where it sat on stands complete with spot lighting, as well as mirrors on the ground to expose its detailed and chromed out undercarriage.
My buddy Kenny T (from Sydney) didn’t have his Mugen-themed Championship White DC2R entered this year but his car was there in spirit in the form of these 16” Spoon SW388 wheels he used to own. Previously owned by another Kenny T (from Melbourne) who had the exact same number plates on his black DC2R as my white DC2R, these Spoon wheels now belong to Renel. They sit beautifully on his Spoon-themed EK4 Civic.
Work Meister CR01 on a panda zenki Hachi-Roku is definitely a look inspired by Dori Dori’s Gunsai Touge Monster AE86.
While I admired these two S2000s from Victoria, it was the NSX pair parked close by that immediately stopped me on my stroll. Closer inspection revealed the white example to be boosted with lots of stealth/black painted components such as its intercooler and HKS SSQ BOV. Roland Lu’s 5ENNA NSX was looking stunning as it always does. Regrettably, I didn’t get a chance to say G’day to Roland. Definitely next time mate!
Adelaide representing with Ayden H’s S14a splashed in Interlagos Fire paint (a Z33 350Z factory hue) as well as this very shimmering gold BA Falcon.
It was cool to see the Agentz decal floating around on these fine Euros. The Victorian-based car club has been around since the height of themed car clubs in Australia, and were always impeccably presented at Autosalon events.
Takahiro “Drift Samurai” Immamura caught a flight from Japan to Sydney to complete in the International Drifting Cup. He would be sliding Cliff Clayson’s BN BLS-kitted FD on track, another car which made the trip out to Sydney from Adelaide. Here’s Toshi Hayama – from the legendary JDM Insider series – interviewing Drift Samurai as part of WTAC’s live stream broadcast.
OG Team Burst leader – Naoki Nakamura – now running under the Pink Style logo was also in attendance with his freshly built 700-pony 2JZ Silvia. Nakamura-san is synonymous with Japan’s street drifting scene and is well known for loud graphics in combination with glimmering magenta/pink paint – a style which has been adorned on all his S-chassis builds over the decade.
Dino Carbonare of Speedhunters fame was on assignment to cover this event for the site. His wheels in Sydney? a 488 GTB (complete with cheeky windscreen decal) loaned to him from Ferrari.
Mechanical Stig’s VH41-V8 powered R34-nose Stagea was parked nearby Nigel Petrie’s – Engineered to Slide – bronze TE37 equipped RPS13 and bike. Yes, Nigel built a custom Volk TE37 rim to suit his BMW R nineT motorcycle.
WTAC 2018 is likely to be the first and last time I ever get to see the “Racing Performer RS-3” aka HKS’ 690 horsepower 2JZ-powered Toyota 86. This drift machine was built in collaboration with Daigo Saito’s workshop – Fat Five Racing – and features Daigo’s infamous chassis guttering build style throughout the body. The HKS RS-3 86 is an experimental drifting concept car. Because of this fact, we probably won’t see it competing at a D1GP or Formula Drift event anytime soon.
As you can see, with all these wonderful attractions grabbing my attention, it was difficult to follow what was unfolding out on track (to those living under a rock, Barton Mawer took out WTAC 2018 with a record resetting 1:19.8250 in the RP968 Porsche 968). One particular moment where I got to meet some of my favourite time attack hero machines was during the lunch time pit walk.
My all time favourite WTAC machine – Under Suzuki’s Scorch Racing S15 – was unfortunately not present at WTAC 2018. However, Tomohiko “Under” Suzuki was there in person and as the madness that is WTAC unfolded throughout, he would later find himself in the driver’s seat of Yoshiki “Fire” Ando’s Escort Evo due to a plagued wrist injury which got the better of Ando-san that afternoon. Having never driven the car before, Under went on to set a 1:27.5580 in wet conditions; an incredible achievement for having spent less than 10 or so minutes in a car he’s never driven.
Once upon a time, the Jun Hyper Lemon all-wheel-drive 350Z was on the cover of every modified car magazine around the globe. I even recall reading a feature on it within the pages of Autosalon Magazine back when I was a teen. So it was fulfilling to finally meet this hero in person. For WTAC 2018, the 800 horsepower Jun car was converted to RWD to meet regulations and was driven by none other than Eiji “Tarzan” Yamada.
While Freddy from Topstage Composites was handing out Mi Goreng packets to punters strolling through pit lane, I was busy getting up close and personal to the two machines Eddie Ng shipped over from Singapore – the Choon’s Motor Works FD RX-7 and DC5 Integra.
HKS – arguably Japan’s most legendary tuning company – dispatched their Tsukuba Record Breaker TRB-03 monster to delight fans with exhibition laps. Its neighbour for the weekend would be Beau Yates’ AE86, considered by many enthusiasts as Australia’s most prominent Hachi-Roku. While “No-One-Better”Tanaguchi-san was assigned to pilot the HKS TRB 86, just as many eyes were glued to Beau’s AE86; having Keiichi Tsuchiya as your driver carries that effect. I could write a dedicated post on these two hero cars alone but will just let the photos do the talking for now.
Alongside most attendees, I wrapped up WTAC 2018 by getting the pleasure to hear Drift King’s commentary as part of the International Drifting Cup.
Seeing Beau “The Show” Yates battle Nobuteru “NOB” Taniguchi in a new-school 86 showdown is one memory I’ll forever cherish.
Another “it only happens at WTAC” moment was seeing Nakamura-san in a traditionally-dressed Japanese drift Silvia battling Mitch Pullen in Australia’s best selling car of 2017 (no joke) – a Toyota HiLux ute. Nakamura-san demonstrated his legendary aggressive style in this battle and went on to become champion of the 2018 International Drifting Cup.
Heroes are individuals who inspire our hearts with their actions. They motivate us to become better versions of ourselves. Sometimes, heroes even surface in the form of a vehicle. It was an honour to have met some of my hero drivers and hero time attack machines at WTAC 2018 – and despite the contrary – I encourage you to do the same. Thank you Ian Baker for allowing the opportunity to realise these memories and experiences.
