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Thursday, August 30, 2007
D1 Grand Prix Ebisu 2007 Round 5 - Kumakubo's New Lancer, Nomuken Wins
Round 5 of the D1 Grand Prix Professional Drift Series was held last weekend in Ebisu on the 25th - 26th of August 2007. I made the whole 15 minute trip up the mountains of Nihonmatsu to one of the most challenging drift circuits in the world - Ebisu. I arrived just as the lunch break started so I had time to walk around the pits taking pictures of the baddest drift cars and hottest promotion girls in Japan.
The most highly antcipated car was of course Kumakubo's NEW Lancer Evolution drift machine. A little awkward for a lancer but not unsurprisingly, it was decked out in TEAM ORANGE colors jsut like his Impreza WRX. Actually, for someone who doesn't have a keen eye, they would have trouble telling themapart. Same color scheme, both 4 doors, about the same size and even the sound of the exhaust was similar.
(see the post below for pics of Kumakubo's Lancer)
None the less, the JUN built Lancer Evo is built for drift...and performs great. Despite it being the first ever competition run for Kumakubo in his new lancer, he managed to finish in the top 8. In one of his last runs, his clutch didn't return so he missed a gear shift. But there was definitely nothing wrong with Kumakubo's drifting.
The champion of Round 5 was the monkey man himself, Nomuken in his BLITZ Skyline R34 4 door! Nomuken always seems to make it high in the rankings (if he doesn't crash early) but rarely gets to hold the trophy. Last year at D1 Ebisu, he was in the final with Kumakubo and after about 2 "sudden death"s, Kumakubo took the win just marginaly.
It must have been an emotional win for him this time, as he broke down in tears of joy(?) right after his deciding win. Throughout the day he was having "sudden death" runs in just about every round. I think he deserved to win just for that. But, he never made a mistake which proves he was the best drifter of the day.
D1 Drift Grand Prix 2007 Ebisu Round 5 Highlight Video
The most highly antcipated car was of course Kumakubo's NEW Lancer Evolution drift machine. A little awkward for a lancer but not unsurprisingly, it was decked out in TEAM ORANGE colors jsut like his Impreza WRX. Actually, for someone who doesn't have a keen eye, they would have trouble telling themapart. Same color scheme, both 4 doors, about the same size and even the sound of the exhaust was similar.
(see the post below for pics of Kumakubo's Lancer)
None the less, the JUN built Lancer Evo is built for drift...and performs great. Despite it being the first ever competition run for Kumakubo in his new lancer, he managed to finish in the top 8. In one of his last runs, his clutch didn't return so he missed a gear shift. But there was definitely nothing wrong with Kumakubo's drifting.
The champion of Round 5 was the monkey man himself, Nomuken in his BLITZ Skyline R34 4 door! Nomuken always seems to make it high in the rankings (if he doesn't crash early) but rarely gets to hold the trophy. Last year at D1 Ebisu, he was in the final with Kumakubo and after about 2 "sudden death"s, Kumakubo took the win just marginaly.
It must have been an emotional win for him this time, as he broke down in tears of joy(?) right after his deciding win. Throughout the day he was having "sudden death" runs in just about every round. I think he deserved to win just for that. But, he never made a mistake which proves he was the best drifter of the day.
D1 Drift Grand Prix 2007 Ebisu Round 5 Highlight Video
Labels: 2007, D1, drift, ebisu, gp, grand prix, japan, kumakubo, nomuken, video
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Kumakubo's New D1 Drift Lancer Evolution 9
Kumakubo's brand new D1 drift machine - Mitsubishi Lancer Evo 9 (IX) was finally unveiled and made its debut run at Round 5 of the 2007 D1 grand prix series at Ebisu yesterday, 26th of August 2007.
Kumakubo qualifed in the Best 16 and made it through the first round but was knocked out after he missed a gear shift on one of his runs. He said the cause was a stuck clutch. Thwe clutch pedal didn't come up...OUCH! - The painful woes of a new drift car.
Here it is! - Lancer Evolution 9 D1 drift machine driven by Team Orange's front man Kumakubo Nobushige. As you can see in this picture the 500+hp 4G63 turbo engine is installed north-south like conventional rear wheel drive cars and not east-west how Lancers originally come from the factory.
Kumakubo said he wanted to change to a Lancer after he was a stunt driver in this years Hollywood movie Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift and liked the way the Lancer Evo handled and moved.
The Lancer heading down to the main straight before the fast and aggressive first corner at Ebisu south course.
Kumakubo smokin the tires ang getting nice angle in the infield at at the end of his run. Notice the rear suspension is sinking pretty low. He must have the settings pretty soft.
Some of the TEAM ORANGE members. Kumakubo is in the middle, the manager second from the right and Igusa san (Team Orange and K-style cheif mechanic). Other Team Orange drivers that are not in this picture are Tanaka and Naoto Suenaga - both drive WRX Imprezas.
So now Kumakubo has 3 competition drift cars - S15 Silvia, WRX Impreza, and now the Lancer Evolution...and all orange.
Kumakubo qualifed in the Best 16 and made it through the first round but was knocked out after he missed a gear shift on one of his runs. He said the cause was a stuck clutch. Thwe clutch pedal didn't come up...OUCH! - The painful woes of a new drift car.
Here it is! - Lancer Evolution 9 D1 drift machine driven by Team Orange's front man Kumakubo Nobushige. As you can see in this picture the 500+hp 4G63 turbo engine is installed north-south like conventional rear wheel drive cars and not east-west how Lancers originally come from the factory.
Kumakubo said he wanted to change to a Lancer after he was a stunt driver in this years Hollywood movie Fast and Furious 3: Tokyo Drift and liked the way the Lancer Evo handled and moved.
The Lancer heading down to the main straight before the fast and aggressive first corner at Ebisu south course.
Kumakubo smokin the tires ang getting nice angle in the infield at at the end of his run. Notice the rear suspension is sinking pretty low. He must have the settings pretty soft.
Some of the TEAM ORANGE members. Kumakubo is in the middle, the manager second from the right and Igusa san (Team Orange and K-style cheif mechanic). Other Team Orange drivers that are not in this picture are Tanaka and Naoto Suenaga - both drive WRX Imprezas.
So now Kumakubo has 3 competition drift cars - S15 Silvia, WRX Impreza, and now the Lancer Evolution...and all orange.
Labels: d1 2007, D1GP, ebisu d1 2007, kumakubo, lancer drift car, lancer evolution, new lancer drift car, team orange, ドリフト, ランエボ, 新車, 熊久保, 選手
Sunday, August 12, 2007
Drift Matsuri in Ebisu Summer 2007
Ebisu held their 2 day Summer Drift Matsuri (drift festival) over this last weekend, August 11-12. And as always, drifters came from far and wide to enter. Although there is no drift competetion, just practice, there was plenty of action to see. Here is a sample video of some quality action I took. Make sure you check 1:15 for the sikkest car of the day. A 3 cylinder K car in undercoat. They drift anything over here.
Also, the new Ebisu West drift course was open! It was the first time I had seen drifting on it. Looks like sooo much fun. I wan't to run on it bad!
Also, the new Ebisu West drift course was open! It was the first time I had seen drifting on it. Looks like sooo much fun. I wan't to run on it bad!
Labels: ebisu drift matsuri 2007, ebisu west drift course, japanese drifting festival
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