Christmas Entertainment

With Christmas around the corner, now is a perfect time to check out the latest go-fast DVDs. If you feel like spoiling somebody – maybe yourself! – read on.

We check out High Performance Imports Vol 9, Ignition: Street Dreamz Vol 1 and Best Motoring International 12 – Factory Fighters...

High Performance Imports Volume 9

High Performance Imports (HPI) Volume 9 is the most recent in the series of specials on Japanese import vehicles.

This Australian-based production caters to anyone interested in the drift scene with its extensive coverage of the Drift Nationals Round 1 from Calder. Check out the power-slidin’ form of Australian enthusiasts in a swarm of S13s, R32s and a sprinkling of other Nissans. As you’re probably aware, drifting is particularly hard on machinery and there’s more than a few panels and suspension components damaged in the quest for Drift King. But the highlight is the presence of five D1 Drift competitors from Japan.

These fellas really know how to drive!

The D1 guys set the standard with their impressive formation drifting, drifting with a foot resting on an open door and general larrikin behaviour. Oh, and watch the brilliant car control as one of the vehicle’s tyres delaminates near maximum-warp down the track’s main straight!

One of the D1 Drivers – Tezuka Tsuyoshi – features in the next feature, called Mizunami Practice. As its name implies, the Mizunami circuit (in Japan) sets the scene for Tezuka’s practice drift session behind the wheel of his faithful Toyota Mark II – an unusual choice for any form of motorsport. But with around 560hp, this is no average Mark II! Tezuka cuts loose pushing the limits of the car and his skills and it's impressive to watch. Sure, he has his own ‘moments’ but this guy drifts hard!

Staying in Japan, you follow Tezuka and the rest of the D1 competitors to a D1 GP round at Sugo – a tight go-kart track. Keep an eye out for some familiar faces from BMI and Option productions and take notes as you watch their technique – they are the pros! Countless bumper bars are torn off, there’s plenty of panel damage and smoking rubber. And it seems the art of show-boating is growing within the world of drift. One of the D1 drivers parades around the track drifting sitting on the door of a convertible S13 – with only one leg and arm inside the car!

Next, take an overnight romp through the Japanese mountains with a bit of illegal street drifting. Follow the teams as they get sideways on public roads – and come close to on-coming vehicles... These guys are mad.

Things get a bit more respectable with the YZ Drift Battle which, unlike the Sugo track, allows the cars to build plenty of speed. Some of the corner entries are insane and, yep, there’s some carnage to show for it!

The final dose of Drift is Round 2 of the Australian Drift Nationals at Oran Park. Check out some more Australian drift form with Sprinters, various Nissans, a Holden ute – even an old Falcon ute with a twin-turbo 289ci V8!

The final feature is called Chari Dori – and it’s a weird one. Sit and laugh as one of Japan’s workshop lads tries to drift his pedal-powered cycle on a wet road. You don’t really expect it to go smoothly do you?

After 90 minutes of drift action, HPI Vol 9 ends with bonus drift footage rolled in with some brief drag and circuit racing. But this is first and foremost one for the drift-lovers – it you don’t ‘get’ the concept of drifting, don’t get this DVD!

Production quality is not up to the standard of many other go-fast DVDs, but it’s better than some previous DVDs in the series.

Available in PAL DVD form from the AutoSpeed shop AutoSpeed Shop , HPI V9 can be bought for AUD$34.95 plus postage. It carries a G rating.

Ignition: Street Dreamz Vol 1

Ignition: Street Dreamz Vol 1 is the latest Australian-based go-fast DVD on the scene. And judging by its top-level art direction and production quality, we should see it become a big hit.

This is an interesting production because it takes you to the streets and up-close with a number of car owners. It’s not technical by any means, but it is entertaining and extremely well put together. Cinema-style segments, quick flashes of action and a kick-butt sound track ensure this DVD has a great feel.

Running for approximately 90 minutes, Ignition: Street Dreamz Vol 1 covers the quarter mile action from the Fast Fours Jamboree, the Rigoli 8 second WRX wagon and The Melbourne Scene of shows and car clubs. Go on a cruise with MCCR and meet some of the owners and cars and then head to Calder to go drifting with Team Full Lock.

There are also some segments dedicated to individual cars and their owners. The first is Boris and his well-known Mazda RX-7 Series 6 – BARB7. You get a brief tech run-down, some words from Boris and a lot of artistic camera work. The same applies to Cesar and his flashy BMW which is built with individual style in mind. The third car owner in the spotlight is Adnan with his Impreza WRX. This beast has the works – airbrushed paint, leather trim and a monster 2.5 litre stroker motor.

A similar approach is taken with coverage of the R32 to R34 range of Skylines. There’s a quick tech run-down and you then get to see a modified example of each. Speak to the owners and get some basic tuning advice from a workshop.

You also get a fair serving of bonus footage, including the trailer for Volume 2.

This has the potential to be an absolute top-notch production – the presentation is simply class-leading. Unfortunately, the content is a little ’soft’ for most car enthusiasts so it is best suited as general-interest type DVD – it doesn’t give the die-hards anything new.

Ignition: Street Dreamz Vol 1 carries a PG rating and is available in PAL DVD form for AUD$34.95 plus delivery through the AutoSpeed shop (see AutoSpeed Shop ).

Best Motoring International 12 – Factory Fighters

And here’s one of the best go-fast DVDs you’ll ever see.

Best Motoring International (BMI) 12 – Factory Fighters is all about ‘evolution cars’ – cars that are based on relatively humble underpinnings but manage to deliver a supercar punch.

Fittingly, BMI 12 starts with the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution – the Evolution 8 MR, to be exact. Hit the high-speed track in the hottest Lancer and be amazed at its 250+ km/h stability and its composure in the high-speed slalom test – which it rockets through at 190 km/h without any signs of stress! The car is also put through its paces in a straight line alongside a standard Evo 8 - both post low 13s with the MR holding a small advantage.

Not hanging around for a stocker!

The BMI crew delves into technical differences between the MR and the usual Evo 8 and you even get to see a bare body and the manufacturing techniques associated with its aluminium roof. One of the MR’s most trumpeted advancements is its 4kg lighter aluminium roof - which the BMI guys put to the test by placing a 4kg load on the roof to offset its advantage... On the gymkhana, it does make a difference – with the load in place, there’s noticeably more roll causing the inside wheels to lift when turned.

Following this, the guys swap the lightweight BBS wheels for the heavier Enkeis and hit the track only to find the slightest of slight improvements – if any.

There are also technical information on the MR’s Bilstein damper setting and the optional ‘vortex generators’ which are fitted to the trailing edge of the boot.

The same high speed tests are then carried out with the 2003 Subaru STi V-Limited (a limited build of 555 units). With its 4-way adjustable suspension from factory, the STi is visibly more nervous than the Evo – as evident by the in-car camera running on the high-speed circuit and slalom. It even clipped one of the slalom markers – while travelling 20 km/h slower than the Evo 8 MR...

And then there’s the Honda NSX-R to put things into perspective. It does everything the Evo does – except without raising a sweat...

The gymkhana is the venue for the next Evo MR vs the rest comparo. Up against the STi V-Limited and R34 GT-R the hot Lancer posts a very impressive time and looks very tidy – its AYC system doing its thing. It cranks into a corner and simply bites at it. The driving is also something to marvel at.

Things really hot up between the Evo 8 MR and the rest at the Tsukuba racetrack. In a 5 lap reverse-grid sprint, three versions of the Eo 8 MR take on the STi V-Limited, Sti Spec C and NSX-R. Given the similar power-to-weight ratios and set-ups it’s no surprise it’s a close race.

Now its time to move on from the Evo 8 MR.

Tsukuba sets the scene once again for a battle between the Nizmo S-Tune GT 350Z (which is covered and road tested in detail), MazdaSpeed RX-8, Lotus Elise 111R (with the 2ZZ Celica engine), Renault Letucia (Clio) Sport V6, BMW M3 CSL and Integra Type R. Oh, and the Evo MR does make an appearance...

For the closing segment it’s the Lightweight Face Off. This begins with a run-down on the Mazda MX-5 (Miata) Turbo followed by a gymkhana and racetrack challenge against other comparable class vehicles – the MX-5 1.8 RS, MX-5 hard-top coupe, Roadster NA-R, Integra Type R and Rover-powered Elise. It’s good viewing – and keep an eye out for the second “windscreen washer attack”!

BMI 12 – Factory Fighters runs for 81 minutes and carries a PG rating. Buy it in PAL DVD for AUD$38.94 plus delivery through the AutoSpeed shop ( AutoSpeed Shop ). Note that this is a Japanese production with English narration – but don’t let that put you off!

Even the closing footage is interesting – Taragos, Odysseys and various other people movers shake it up on the racetrack! The only thing missing is the famous BMI Touge segment – but you probably won’t notice its absence coz you’ll be too engrossed.

A good buy you’ll watch over and over again.