One must never forget our heritage, where our lineage comes from; it is because of our ancestors that we are where we all are today. What we make of tomorrow is up to us, but they have set the path for us.

There is such a vast fascination for the Nissan Skyline in North America, mainly due to its rarity, but the Japanese have given this symbolic model so much credential in the tuner world that few would remain indifferent to this badge.

At IntunedOnline, we always strive to showcase the best vehicles, and the one you’re about to lay your eyes upon is no different; thanks to our collaborator Hiro from KC Trading in Japan, we are able to display this pristine C10 Skyline, so fresh even Mr. Clean would give it the thumbs up. Or is it Mr. Sparkulu in Japan?

Enjoy the eye-candy, while we pay homage to one of the ancestors of what we know today as the Nissan GTR.

By: Freddy Huynh

Shingo Saito was the overall winner during the 1st round of the 14 scheduled for D1GP Japan. The 1st round titled 'Tokyo Drift' took place last weekend in Odaiba, Tokyo. Over 8,500 spectators battled the cold rain to watch their favorite drivers hit the track over the 2-day event.

Today was an exciting day in Autobacs Super GT Racing as the 2012 season officially opened in Okayama, Japan. The dry, sunny conditions were perfect for the season opener as all the competitors took to the track.

Aside from practice sessions this was the first time the teams took to the track together with changes to the vehicles and some new drivers compared to last season. The competition was absolutely fierce as each racer wanted to take the lead during the first race of the season. Zent Cerumo Lexus SC430 piloted by Yuji Tachikawa & Kohei Hirate took 1st overall in the GT500 class with the Raybrig Honda HSV-010 only 0.588 seconds behind them making it an extremely close finish. Honda rounded up the last podium position with Keihin's HSV-010.

The GT300 class was much more spread for the 1st race of the season and really came down to two cars. First place overall was GAINER DIXCEL Audi R8 piloted by Tetsuya Tanaka & Katsuyuki Hiranaka with their closest rival of the day 3.766 seconds behind in the Endless Taisan Porsche 911; 3rd place was rounded off with the GSR HATSUNEMIKU BMW Z4 which finished a lap behind 1st and 2nd.

The exciting race and pumped up fans has everyone anxious for Round 2 at Fuji

Coming up with blog ideas can be tough; with that being said I've decided to discuss my biggest pet peeve, haters. I realize by discussing this topic it makes me a hypocrite but hey, what is a guy to do?

I'm hoping these segments will cause people to think and question what they hear and hopefully even research anything they want more information on as there are tons of resources and forums on the internet and not just rely on what other people hear. I'm not claiming to be an expert but this series of blogs will recall numerous occasions where I've heard things, shook my head and laughed.

Why are there so many F@#%ing Haters in the car scene? What purpose do they serve? Why do they waste their breathe? Please don't answer, these are rhetorical questions as haters have absolutely no value to anyone. A Hater is someone who simply cannot be happy for somebody else's work, effort, originality or success. Most haters start off as jealous individuals who don't understand anything about cars.

Just so we're clear there is a difference between critiquing somebody's build to just plain hating somebody's build.

Example of Critique: If I built that car I probably wouldn't have used that spoiler, I would have left it wingless.

Example of Hater: F@#%ing Ricer!

The car scene is full of people from different backgrounds and lifestyles who are all brought together by their passion for cars; with that being said styles are cyclical and most will come full circle to be popular again.

Here are my Top 10 'Hater' observations for 2012:

10. Haters think all bodykits are rice whether it's WingsWest or Veilside
9. Haters don't know the difference between WingsWest or Veilside
8. Haters do not consider aftermarket 'JDM' parts as JDM
7. Haters refer to every aftermarket exhaust as a 'fart can'
6. Haters only buy replica parts as the original engineers didn't know what they were doing anyway
5. Haters only like 1 make or model and do not appreciate any other vehicles
4. In the debate of Form>Function or Function>Form their heads explode as 'Haters' do not know the difference
3. Haters need to be told what's popular so they can follow it
2. Haters think the fastest way to earn respect and popularity is by doing burn-outs in crowded parking lots at meets and events
1. Haters don't own a car

Even though every builder builds a car for themselves; if we don't stop 'haters' it will kill the car scene as people will just stop showing up for events, meets or whatever. The next time you're at an event and don't understand why somebody did something to their car, or you see something strange and not sure what it's used for, ASK! Most people are happy to talk about their cars and if you're too shy, research it at home, just don't call it rice and walk away.

Big thanks to Chris and PlusONE crew for having us at WekFest!

Photos by : EmotiveImage

Any Honda enthusiast knows that the Type-R is the flagship for performance in their line-up and with performance and style this EP3 Civic Type-R is no exception. We caught up with Chikao Matsuura deep in the heart of Japan to get the low down on his Civic.

The natural flow of the Championship White exterior was kept completely intact but the rest of the car received some very tasteful upgrades. The engine was worked over with the Spoon catalogue including the throttle body, exhaust manifold, torque damper and of course the yellow valve cover. The OEM ECU was also swapped out for a Spoon version which would not only re-balance the air/fuel ratio but help increase the effectiveness of the bolt-ons.

The EP3's handling was also boosted with the help of Tein Mono-Flex coilovers sitting in Function 7 lower control arms which were all tied together with a BEAKS tie bar. On the high side of the suspension we found more Spoon parts with front and rear tower bars. To help stop the vehicle the brakes were also upgraded to Spoon with 4-Piston calipers up front tucked behind a set of 18" Work Meister S1R's. This Authentic JDM Civic is one of the cleanest we've seen in a long time and look forward to everything else Japan has to offer.

Performance:
Spoon Big throttle kit
Spoon ECU
Spoon Exhaust manifold
Spoon Yellow Head Cover
Password JDM intake manifold
5zigen Exhaust muffler
Spoon Engine Torque Damper kit

Handling:
TEIN MONO FLEX
Function7 LCA
SPOON Strut Tower bar F&R
BEAKS Lower tie bar

Braking:
SPOON Caliper & Roter

Wheels:
WORK Meister S1R F.18×9J R.18×9J

Photos by Takeshi Yasumasu
Ryuji from "Defcult" (http://defcult.ocnk.net/) wearing our Mask T-Shirt available in our Facebook Store

Mazda Motor Corporation today announced the launch of the special edition of its mid-sized tall 'high-roof' Mazda Biante minivan. The special edition Mazda Biante GRANZ goes on sale from today at all Mazda, Mazda Anfini and Mazda Autozam dealers throughout Japan.

Based on the high model grade Mazda Biante 20S that comes with Mazda's unique idling stop system, i-stop, the front design of the Biante GRANZ features Mazda's signature wing, one of the design motifs of the company's new design theme, KODO - Soul of Motion.

Its exterior also includes an exclusive front bumper as well as a large chrome grille. For the interior, the decoration panel for the instrument panel that is used for Biante's top-of-the-range 23S model grade is featured in the special edition for a refined and distinctive design, for both exterior and interior.

A new special body color, Aluminum Metallic, has been added to the popular body color lineup that includes Brilliant Black and Chrystal White Pearl Mica.

The Mazda Biante 20S model grade front-wheel-drive (FWD) version now comes with the popular Clean Air Package as standard equipment, and is now set at a more affordable price.

Main features of the special editions Mazda Biante GRANZ and GRANZ-C
Base modelBiante 20S (FWD version)The Clean Air Package (standard equipment for the 20S) is available as an option for the Biante GRANZ but not available for GRANZ-C.
Main features of the GRANZ and the GRANZ-CExterior•Exclusive front bumper (front lower grille) and chrome top bar & upper grille
•Exclusive rear finisher trim (silver)
•LED rear combination light bezel (silver & black)
•Muffler cutter
•Chrome trim (front bumper, side sills, lower rear bumper)
Interior•Decoration panel for the instrument panel (Black interior: hairline)
•Scuff plates (for front)
Special equipment for the GRANZ•215/50R17 91V tires and 17-inch alloy wheels
Special equipment for the GRANZ-C*1•Halogen headlights (with low beam manual leveling function)
•205/60R16 92H tires and 16-inch steel wheels with full-wheel cap
•Keyless entry system (with answer-back function and automatic rear liftgate) and one Mazda retractable key (and normal key)
Exterior body colorsThree colors are available: Aluminum Metallic (exclusive color for special edition), Brilliant Black and Chrystal White Pearl Mica (special body color).

Additional features of the Mazda Biante 20S (FWD model)

Clean Air Package (nanoe ion*2 air purification system, Alleru [Allergy] Buster®*3 air filter that removes allergens and viruses, ceiling-mounted cabin deodorizer and rear heater)

Intuned Online's flags were raised for the first time in Japan just as the sun began to rise. The occasion was Yura Mode's No Name Heroes drift event. Drivers from around the area came out to test their skills on the track. Professional Race Driver Manabu Orido was on site to check out all the action and meet with some of his fans.

These amateur drivers left everything on the track including most of their tires and some assorted bumpers. These amateur events are the core of drifting and we can't wait to see more events like this in the future.

It was a year ago when I started noticing there were some amazing quality cars around Toronto that you'd never get a chance to see at car shows. People who built cars for themselves, for their own pleasure and not for trophies and bragging rights.

Here, is one of em. Owner Carson built the car basically over the winter and knew exactly what he wants his car to look like before the car was even purchased. Coming from a "HellaFlush" Lexus IS250, he knew the difficulties and scarifies required in making this car.

At 431whp and 369tq, this evolution isn't slow. Rolling down the Don Valley Parkway with -4 degree of camber is quite the head turner as well, I even spotted a silly BMW driver taking the shoulder just to catch up to take a peek.

05 2.3 EVO VIII GSR
mod list:

Engine:
-2.3 BR ( Buschur Racing ) Stage 3 STROKER
-2.3 BR Stage 3 head
-BR DELUXE 3.5" FMIC
-BR3065 (Garrett GT30R)turbo kit
-BR COP w/Dynatek Ignition
-BR 65 mm throttle body
-BR 2.5 upper and lower i/c pipes
-BR double pumper
-HKS 264 cams
-ID 1000 cc injectors
-AEM EMS
-Magnus custom downpipe
-Tanabe medalion Exhaust

23PSI 431WHP @ 369 FT/LBS on 94 Octane
tune by Magnus motorsport

Exterior:
-Rexpeed CF front lip
-Rexpeed CF rear spoiler
-JDM side marker
-JDM Evo 8 tail light
-JDM Evo 9 rear bumper
-APR CF mirror
-OEM windows viros

Interior:
- Gruppe-S 60mm Gauge Bezel
- Defi BF Exhaust Temperature, Oil Pressure, Boost Gauges with Control Unit
- AEM Wideband
- JDM bubble Shift Knob

Wheels/Brakes/Suspension
- Work XD9 18X10 +18 camber : -3.5F / -4R
- Sumitomo HTR Z III 225/40/18
- Agency Power Rear camber arm
- BC Racing BR coils
- project mu B-force F/R Brake Pads

Photos and Writeup by Spyder01

The Nissan Silvia is synonymous with drifting and infamous as sports compact. In North America; the underpowered 240sx versions were sold as a pure understatement to the potential of these cars. The turbo powered versions in Japan have become legendary in drifting events and engine swaps all over the world.

Our latest voyage brings us back to Hong Kong where we came across an S15 that was built for the street. Prior to our arrival we heard stories about a street tuned S15 which had a long history of victims on the Hong Kong freeways. At first glance the exterior of the car looked almost stock except for the large intercooler tucked behind the front bumper and the race exhaust in the rear.

Inside the car we found the typical race setup with Bride seats up front with 4-point harnesses, for aesthetics the rear seats were also matched in Bride material. The OEM wheel was replaced with Nardi and the center cockpit controls were all modified for monitoring the vehicles settings. Under the hood there was an enormous amount of modifications which took place including an upgraded turbo, Greddy catch can and the entire fuel system was overhauled. The cooling system also received upgrades to ensure optimal performance. The suspension was swapped out for a Tein full damper kit and since the OEM brakes could not handle the power any longer a pair of AP Racing calipers were also installed. Although this S15 does not look like your typical feature car; we all can remember and appreciate stories about sleeper cars from our past.

The Yura Mode Shop in Japan has become no stranger to the drifting scene. Specializing in drift products, these car builders also like to host their own drift events. This last round titled 'No Name Heroes' showcased drivers who really pushed their cars to the limit. As an added bonus for this round special guest Manabu 'MAX' Orido (Super GT) was in attendance.

With the number of spectators present in addition to the growing number of participants there's no doubt that the popularity of the Yura Mode events will continue to grow.

Mazda Motor Corporation today launched the special edition Mazda AZ-Wagon 'XS Limited' and 'Custom Style XS Limited' for the Japanese market. The exclusive micro-mini wagons go on sale today at all Mazda Autozam, Mazda and Mazda Anfini dealers throughout Japan.

Based on Mazda's AZ-Wagon XS Special and Custom Style XS micro-minis, the new XS Limited and Custom Style XS Limited offer a more refined exterior and interior design thanks to exclusive features, including black chrome headlights, smooth synthetic suede seat upholstery, and a leather-wrapped steering wheel accentuated with blue stitching. User-friendliness is also enhanced with special equipment such as door mirrors that automatically fold in and out when doors are locked and unlocked, an auto-light system that automatically switches on the vehicle headlights according to ambient light conditions, and a heated driver's seat (FWD models).

Main features of the Mazda AZ-Wagon XS Limited and Custom Style XS Limited
Base modelsMazda AZ-Wagon XS Special, with a continuously variable transmission (CVT) and AZ-Wagon Custom Style XSSpecial features for both models•Black chrome headlights
•Exclusive seat upholstery (Lux Suede®) *1
•Exclusive leather-wrapped steering wheel with blue stitching
•Automatic folding door mirrors*2
•Auto-light system (which automatically switches on the vehicle headlights according to ambient light conditions)
•Heated driver's seat (standard equipment on the 4WD versions)
•Audio-less specification (to best match each driver's needs, the space for a head unit in the center panel is left open. The Audio-less spec allows for a variety of audio systems)
*1 Lux Suede® is a registered trademark of Seiren Co., Ltd.
*2 Accessory installed by sales companyExclusive features for the XS Limited•Discharge headlights (with low beam auto-leveling function)
•Roof antenna
•Exclusively designed 14-inch alloy wheels (Gun Metallic)
•Black instrument panel, door trim, door trim fabric and door armrests
•Armrest box
Exclusive features for the Custom Style XS Limited•LED indicator lights embedded in the door mirrors
•15-inch alloy wheels
•Blue illumination (instrument panel, front door trim and front door speakers)

Before the Scion FR-S and Lexus LFA there was one flagship sports car at the top of Toyota’s line-up, the Supra. The final model Mark IV Supra was manufactured between 1992 and 2002 in Japan while only being sold in North American between 1994 and 1999. Despite minor changes over the years, the Supra maintained its sports presence as a high end performance sports car.

Our latest feature comes from our home town of Montreal via Japan. Joel’s Supra originated from Japan and was imported by one of the many shops in Quebec at the time making it a legitimate RHD vehicle. When he purchased the car it had a few modifications already but nothing to what he envisioned a Supra to be.

The Konig wheels and rear spoiler were immediately stripped off for a cleaner look. Joel chose Volk Racing SF Challenge wheels in 19x9.5 in the front and 19x.10.5 in the rear which he acquired through some extensive searching. The Supra is lowered on a set of HKS Hypermax 3 coilovers replacing the optional Bilstein set which were originally on the vehicle. A full 5 piece Do-Luck aero kit was installed to complete the exterior while providing and ultra clean look.

Under the hood is the legendary 2JZ-GTE (all I can hear is Jesse from The Fast and the Furious saying No Shit, this will decimate all..) Joel already had some goodies under the hood including a Greddy intercooler, air filter and blow off valve. The SARD 800cc injectors along with Tomei regulator help control the proper fuel ratio combined with AEM FIC.

Currently this Supra pushes out over 400hp at the wheels and there are many more modifications planned for the car including new turbos, brakes and suspension. The tuning possibilities are almost endless for this Japanese legend and as we look towards the future we can’t wait to see what happens with the next generation of RWD Sport Coupes.

Photos by KSP Productions

I remember when I had my Protege, Brian has one of the coolest purpose built Protege out there. Being only on sale for 2 years, the Protege5 did not have much aftermarket support... With custom made parts, Brian's car always found itself into a thread on the US forums... Purposely built to be a street going go kart, Brian spent alot of time making it that way. Even the gears in the transmission were custom made to specified ratios!

"I really think that Less is More if there is an extreme amount of "Less". Each and every part is selected based on, Function and Reliability, Then It Must never stand out, seem out of place, and it must be part of the rest. I do not want a bunch of parts in a car, I want a Single Perfect Machine."

Coming from the Ottawa area for this photoshoot, I got a chance to finally see all the little parts done to this car. On the outside, its a sleeper, a few might notice the 14" 8 piston brakes... A quick glace on the inside, you would think thats a screen in the center dash. Its just a piece of black cardboard covering the custom wiring for the whole car. There is no radio in this car. Everywhere you look further, everything is so purposely modified. This is a Go-Kart.

-Fully Forged Engine
-Transmission with PAR Straight Cut Gears Set Specified Ratios (2.500, 1.550, 1.100, 0.770, 0.650 Final 4.105)
-Haltech Standalone ECU on Custom Trigger (36-1+1) Sequential Injection
-Direct Fire AEM CDI Coil On Plug conversion Multi Strike
-Quaife ATB LSD
-SPEC Stage 3++ R Pressure Plate and Clutch Disk (425 Ft/Lb Clamp)
-SPEC 6.8 Lb Aluminum Flywheel.
-K-Sport 14" 8 Piston Brake System
-K-Sport Hydraulic Hand brake
-K-Sport RR Aluminum Coil Over suspension
-IQ3 Digital Display Solution
-WORK Emotion Kai 7076 Forged Aluminum Rims, 18" Only 16Lbs
-Full OEM JDM Mazda SPORT 20 Conversion (Front, Rear, Lights, Badges)
-Full Weight Reduction

Spring 2012...
-Front to Rear Carbon Diffuser to generate much needed aerodynamic stability (Flat Bottom with cavity in the middle and rear)
-GT3071 .63 and Re-Tune
-4th Gear (0.725) Taller 3000 RPM = 123 Km per Hour
-5th Gear (0.625) Taller 3000 RPM - 145 Km per Hour

By: Spyder01

The Nissan Skyline may have been around for decades in Japan and other parts of the world but for North Americans our first Skyline experience started in 2001 with the release of the V35 Sedan and Coupes branded as the Infiniti G35. Except for the history lesson our latest feature takes us back to Hong Kong where we spotted a modified 350GT that definitely has more than looks.

Dropped on a set of bronze Volk Racing TE37's fastened with RAYS lug nuts this 350GT was prepped for the street. The exterior was worked over with some custom touches like the blacked out trunk to match the slotted vents on the aftermarket hood. The Skyline also received a full aero kit and a half moon tow hook up front to ensure it doesn't get damaged in case a tow is required. Braking was only upgraded with new pads as the factory Brembo brakes are more than sufficient to stop the car. Aside from lowering springs the car also received upgraded exhaust to help with the additional performance modifications. The interior of the car is relatively stock with a carbon fiber shift knob and a 5" Defi tachometer which wasn't installed just for its looks. This Skyline is definitely a street contender even if it's not a GT-R.

Photos by Davis Chan

The MOTEGI GT 250 KM Race, Round 8 (final round) of the 2011 AUTOBACS SUPER GT, took place at the Twin Ring Motegi (lap = 4.801 km x 53 laps) in Tochigi Pref. on Oct. 16. The race was won by the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R with drivers Satoshi Motoyama and Benoit Treluyer. As for the GT500 class Drivers' title, it went to the 2nd place finishers in this race, Masataka Yanagida and Ronnie Quintarelli (S Road MOLA GT-R). The season Team title went to Yanagida and Quintarelli's team MOLA.
In the GT300 class, the pair of Nobuteru Taniguchi and Taku Bamba (HATSUNEMIKU GOODSMILE BMW) won the race, and in doing so also won the season Drivers' title and the Team title.

In sharp contrast to yesterday's rainy qualifying, the race today was run under fair skies. The first car to lead the race was the pole sitting (1s qualifying) S Road MOLA GT-R (Ronnie Quintarelli). Following it came the DENSO SARD SC430 and the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R (Benoit Treluyer).
The first real developments in the came in the middle stages when the teams made their pit stops and change drivers. After some quick pit work and a change of drivers from Treluyer to Satoshi Motoyama, the MOTUL GT-R returned to the track. From here it was a match race for the lead with the S Road GT-R driven by Masataka Yanagida. Motoyama rapidly narrowed the gap, which at one point had been a full five seconds. Then on lap 40, he took advantage of a moment when Yanagida was caught behind a back marker to finally pass him and take the lead. Once in the lead, Motoyama drove the MOTUL AUTECH GT-R on to its third win of the season.
By finishing the race in 2nd place, Yanagida and Quintarelli of the S Road MOLA GT-R team maintained their lead in the season ranking to win the title. For both drivers this is their first GT500 Drivers' title, and their team MOLA won the Team title in its first season competing in the GT500 class. Also, this race extended the season record for the Nissan GT-R to five wins out of this year's eight rounds and three pole positions. Meanwhile, Motoyama extended his own record for most wins of any GT500 driver to 15.

In the GT300 class the HATSUNEMIKU GOODSMILE BMW started from pole position and ran on to victory without being challenged. This gave the team the most wins of the season at three and put the team atop the season ranking to win both the Drivers' and Team titles.

Spectators: 26,000 (10,000 on 15th)

¡GT500 class winner comments

No.23 MOTUL AUTECH GT-R
Satoshi Motoyama : "There is a clear sense of achievement because we came with the aim of winning this race, but I am still sorry that we couldn't get the championship title. I was confident we could win this race due to our prior tests and what we learned about tire choices and machine set-up. Still there were difficulties because of the weather, so we had Treluyer drive with restraint in the first stint and the pit stop timing, the pit work went very well and I was able to get back into the race in second position. Then all I had to do was to push hard and pass No. 46 to take the lead. Hat made the race easy for me in a sense. The fact that we were able to win three races this season and still not win the title means that we still aren't as strong as we need to be. Going forward we will think about what was lacking and try to remedy it."
Benoit Treluyer : "I am happy that we won, but it is still a shame that we didn't get the championship title. In the race I started with a full tank, so the machine's performance and the braking were difficult, which made it hard out there for me. But, from around the 15th lap [as the fuel load lightened] the feeling got better. Also I was thinking about which tires Motoyama should use on his stint, and we ended up using the same type of tire I had. That turned out to be the right decision. The pit work went perfectly and the race overall went very well. This season we made some strategic mistakes at Sepang and Suzuka that resulted in no-pointers. That hurt us in the title race."

GT500 class Drivers' title Winner comments
No. 46 S Road MOLA GT-R
Masataka Yanagida: "I still can't really believe that we are the champions. I want to thank my teammate Quintarelli, the team that have competed with me this season, and also S Road for all their support and the Nissan fans who cheered for us and all the spectators. I came here to the GT500 as last year's GT300 champion, but I never expected to win the championship here as well. I can't believe it. To be truthful, the GT500 class is really tough and I had a lot of worries about how we would do as a team new to this class. But, with the repeated testing that we did, we began to get confidence. The win at SUGO was an especially big confidence-builder for us, and it made us feel that we might win the title."
Ronnie Quintarelli: "I won the F3 championship in 2004, but to win this championship in the GT500 class of the marvelous SUPER GT makes me extremely happy. It has been a wonderful year. I felt sure that we could compete near the top this year, but I never dreamed that we would win the championship. In our first tests of the year both the GT-R and the Michelin tires performed well, and that gave me confidence. When we fulfilled our goal of getting on the podium in the three consecutive summer races and won SUGO on top of it all, I felt that we would do well for sure."

GT500 class Team winning Manager comment
No.46 S Road MOLA GT-R
Toshiomi Oeki: "We started competing in the GT500 class this season, and for giving us this chance I want to thank the people at Nissan Motors and NISMO. I also want to thank S Road for supporting us. For the team it was our first time in GT500, but our drivers were experienced in GT500 and Michelin had worked with NISMO in developing tire last year. So, although there was a good bit of trial and error, we weren't really worried. Our initial aim was just to get a first win in the class, and since the Michelin tires are good in summer heat and perform well even with a heavy load of handicap weights, we hoped to get a win in one of the three summer races, at Sepang, SUGO or Suzuka. We did get one win and also two more podium finishes in those three races, which put us on top in the ranking and started us thinking about winning the championship. But, today I wasn't thinking about the championship much, until the last ten laps when Yanagida was being chased hard (grimace). Today the season ended, so I haven't started thinking about next year yet."

GT300 class Drivers' Title/ Winner comments
No. 4 HATSUNEMIKU GOODSMILE BMW
Nobuteru Taniguchi: "I want to begin by thanking our team, Yokohama Tire and all the people who have cheered for us. I am very happy. This is my tenth year in GT racing but in the last several years I have been competing for the title but unable to win it. Now I finally feel that satisfaction. I am happy and relieved, and I am so excited that we were able to come from behind to win it as dramatically as we did. For today's race the plan was that I would start if it was wet or the track condition was difficult. If it was dry we were going to have Bamba start. After the morning practice we decided to have Bamba start for the first time. He drove so hard for us and kept the lead from the pole all the way to the pit stop and my stint, so I was determined to keep the lead no matter what."
Taku Bamba: "I am just very happy. Our team is supported by a lot of private individual sponsors and I want to thank them all. I am also grateful to the team, Yokohama Tire and Taniguchi san, who has trained me this year. To tell the truth, what I feel more than anything is a sense of relief. When we were coming back from the last race, Taniguchi san begged me to help him win the championship, and in the two weeks since then I feel I have done everything I could think of to do that. So, even though I was starting for the first time, I was able to concentrate and drive with the same feeling as always, trusting that would lead to a good result. I was ready for it mentally."

GT300class Team title winning Manager comment
No. 4 HATSUNEMIKU GOODSMILE BMW
Itsuo Ohashi: "When we were putting together this team I wanted to be sure to make it a "winning team." That is why I asked Taniguchi to join us as driver. In the garage as well we got Ukyo san (advisor, former F1 racer) and other members with winning capabilities. When Taniguchi joined the team I wondered if he could get along with Bamba (wry laugh). The result was that Bamba made a lot of progress this year. So much so that I was confident when I asked him suddenly to be the starting driver for the first time. That is how strong he has become mentally. But, I must admit that I was really worried when we had a chance to get our first win at Sepang and Bamba was being chased down by car No. 11 at the end (laughs). Our team is supported by many private individuals as sponsors and I can feel their momentum now and hope that we will be able to work with them from now on as well. So I want to make the team organization even stronger so that we can win again next year."

As the temperature began to drop outside, the anticipation continued to heat up inside as IMPORTFEST: Canada's Biggest and Baddest Car Show was about to hit Montreal for the first time ever. The show brought in some of the best cars and special interest vehicles from Ontario and Quebec as well as some competitors as far away as Chicago and Indiana.

In addition to show cars the event also offered fans a chance to meet some of the top models in the industry including Miss IMPORTFEST Montreal - Corissa Furr & Miss IMPORTFEST Toronto - Amy Fay; but that wasn't all there were models as far as the eye could see including some Canadian favorites like Marina Victoria and Jile Cai.

Some other big announcements happened at IMPORTFEST as it wrapped up the 2011 Season; Scion announced 'Project Anarchy' to win the first Canadian Scion Tuner Challenge and they will have their vehicle displayed at Scion's booth at SEMA. Voting also concluded for the 'Baddest Tuner Championship Belt' in the Elite Class going to Tajai Das for 'Acurabot' which returned to the show circuit at IMPORTFEST Toronto.

At IntunedOnline we kept people busy with Panda T-Shirts (still available) and feature model Karine Vandal. This show was also an opportunity to show off our freshly wrapped 370Z project car. All we can say is from Friday at setup till 1AM when we rolled out of the show on Saturday that we had a blast; thank you the entire IMPORTFEST Team and we look forward to 2012.

At 2:00 in the afternoon the 55-lap race began under cloudy skies with the air temperature at 29°C. and the track surface temperature at 39°C.
The front of the starting grid was monopolized by SC430 machines, and the they began the race with mo major mishaps or upsets at the start.

The first machine through the opening lap was the No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 (Hiroaki Ishiura), but right on its tail throughout the early stages of the race was the the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Kohei Hirate) in hot pursuit. Following in 3rd position came the No. 6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 (Kazuya Oshima) and in 4th came the No. 35 D'STATION KeePer SC430 (Andre Couto). However, the two leaders gradually pulled away from the rest of the field and the race became a showdown between the two SC430s.

The SC430 teams remained dominant in the early stages of the race, until the No. 35 D'STATION KeePer SC430 (Couto) began to fall of the pace rapidly after the tenth lap. It was passed by one machine after another over the 13th and 14th laps, allowing the No. 8 ARTA HSV-010 (Hideki Mutoh) to move into 5th position, only to lose it again by running off the track at the Coca Cola Corner of lap 14. Moving up next to claim the 5th spot was the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R. After running off the track, the No. 8 ARTA HSV-010 went straight back to the pit, where it was lapped by the field.

No.12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R More trouble was in store for the SC430 teams, as the No. 6 ENEOS SUSTINA SC430 also fell off the pace while running in 3rd position and was passed by the No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 (Andre Lotterer) at the Dunlop turn of lap 17. In the same way, both Oshima and Couto dropped far back in the field.
Meanwhile, the two lead machines increased their gap over the rest of the field as they ran on in an intense dual with only a few tenths of a second separating them until the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 made its routine pit stop first at the end of 24th lap. The driver change put Yuji Tachikawa at the wheel of No. 38. On the next lap (25) the No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 also made its pit stop and changed drivers to Takuto Iguchi. Helped by some fast pit work, Iguchi was able to return to the race with a 2-second lead over Tachikawa.

After delaying his pit stop as much as possible, Bjorn Wirdheim finally brought the No. 24 ADVAN KONDO GT-R in for its routine stop on lap 31. This put the No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 (Iguchi) back in the lead. Iguchi continued to race on toward his first win, maintaining a lead of 3 to 4 seconds over the pursuing Tachikawa (No. 38). Behind these two lead machines there was an intense battle between the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R (Tsugio Matsuda) and the No. 17 KEIHIN HSV-010 (Koudai Tsukakoshi) for the 3rd-place spot vacated by the No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 (Kazuki Nakajima) when it lost speed. However, by this point the battle for the lead and the win had come down to just two machines, No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 and the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430.

No.17 KEIHIN HSV-010 It appeared as if Iguchi in the No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 would sail home to victory until a sudden tire burst on the No. 36 PETRONAS TOM'S SC430 (Nakajima) coming out of the last turn on lap 50 cause it to crash. This made the main straight a yellow flap zone and prevented Iguchi from passing the GT300 machine he happened to come up behind. With this delay Iguchi lost his margin of lead all at once and put the 2nd-place No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 (Tachikawa) right on his tail.
Now, the man long known as the "Fuji Meister", Tachikawa (No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430), had the opportunity to prove he was worthy of the name and to end his dry spell here at Fuji Speedway over the last few years. Tachikawa made his move at the Coca Cola Corner of lap 53, charging in from the outside to pass Iguchi and take the lead for the first time.

Iguchi continued to chase Tachikawa through the last lap until he had to slow for a backmarker at the Prius Corner and was ironically hit from behind by a GT300 machine, sending him to into a spin.

This dramatic come-from-behind victory by the No. 38 ZENT CERUMO SC430 finally gave the SC430 camp its first victory of the season, here on the Toyota home track.

The time it took to recover from the last-lap spin dropped the No. 39 DENSO SARD SC430 to 8th place. Finishing 2nd and 3rd respectively were the No. 12 CALSONIC IMPUL GT-R and the No. 17 KEIHIN HSV-010, while the No. 1 Weider HSV-010 finished 4th and the No. 100 RAYBRIG HSV-010 came home in 5th place. The ranking leader, the No. 46 S Road MOLA GT-R, finished 7th but still managed to maintain its place at the top of the season ranking.

The Mazda Demio (Mazda2 in North America) is easily one of the most popular commuter car choices in Japan because of its compact size, spacious interior and fuel economy but does it have what it takes to also be a tuner car?

Owner Naoyuki believes that it does and this is how he did it. The Demio may have a variety of parts available for it in Japan but Naoyuki wanted stand out and separate his car from the regular bolt-on crowd. The USDM popularity in Japan is comparable to JDM fanatics in North America and what better way to begin the Demio makeover than with a complete front end swap from its U.S. counterpart. The 12 piece conversion included items like hood, fenders, bumper, fog lights and while the USDM headlights were also used they were retrofitted with the OEM internals from Japan to maintain the original HID lights. The rest of the Demio also received a healthy massage of U.S. spec parts from the tail lights to the sun visors. The Demio was then dropped on custom painted JLine 5RL2 wheels 17x8 all around wrapped in Pirelli rubber. Performance was increased with a 02werkz exhaust system and for added handling the Demio received Cusco coilovers with H&R springs. The aggressive stance of this Demio combined with the unique look for Japan can easily separate this Demio from the regular 9 to 5 crowd.

OWNER：Naoyuki Yamamoto
MODEL：2007 MADZA Demio SPORT
　　
Exterior:
/US Front bumper w/fog lamps assy(12piece)
/US Head lights
/HID conversion
(JP genuine HID→US Halogen→HID conversion)
/US Rear bumper
/US Tail lights
/US Tail light Connectors
/US Rear reflectors
/US Door mirror glass(R)
/US Fuel gas cap
/US Sun visors
/UK Floor mats
US Genuine Option Side Step
(standard JDM "SPORT" Grade)

Wheels & Tires:
JLine 5RL2
Custom semi gloss teal metallic disk/High polish lip
17x8.0j all around
Pirelli
195/40R17 all around
Suspension:
Cusco coilovers/H&R Spring
Performance:
O2werkz Exhaust (SUS304)

Today was a really hot day, and rather than spend the afternoon by the pool with a cold one, we went out to the Full Throttle Show held at iCar, a race track not too far from Montreal. And boy we didn't regret it! Sure it was boiling hot, but the great display at the show made us forget a bit of this suffocating heat. From Acuras to Volkswagens, variety was there for everyone's taste. We even got a stand from our Ontarian neighbors with tastefully modified cars! The organizers put up a great show, presenting drifting runs, motocross stunts and burnout contest to excite the numerous bystanders visiting the exhibition, which are most likely to come back next year to visit this unique display!

Coverage by Matthieu Lambert