Japan Cars and Racing

There are very few Japanese used cars that are better than a Subaru.  According to some car trivia experts, Subaru, owned by Fuji Heavy Industries and Toyota Motors Corporation (16.5%) was named after the Taurus’ constellation of star clusters called Pleiades. If you look at the logo of the Subaru, you will notice the presence of 6 stars. Others believe that the 6 stars represent the people behind the company who helped build Subaru. Another set of people have confused Pleiades with the Seven Sisters which they say is another cluster of stars.

To explain further, Seven Sisters when translated is “Subaru.” It consists of over 500 stars but only 6 of these 500 stars are visible. On occasions when the sky is clear and the weather is excellent, one can see 9 to 12 stars from this cluster using the right equipment. Seven Sisters is a common name used to describe the brightest stars on Pleiades. Thus, it isn’t a different cluster. The reason for the name Seven Sisters being named as the cluster and why the company only puts 6 stars is because Pleione who is the mythological mother had 7 daughters with Atlas and one of the daughters or stars is a double star.
From the Japanese perspective, SUBARU refers to “6 gathered stars” or “Mitsuro-Bashi,” and this is in reference to the Pleiades stars. In Japan, there is a very old romantic song that was composed over 1,000 years ago that has the word Subaru in it.
According to Fuji Heavy Industries, the mother company of Subaru, the story of the logo is simple. After the war, Fuji was forced by the government to break down into smaller companies to reduce it monopoly on the weapons industry. It did this and originally had 15 companies but by the 1950s, all that remained were 5 companies and Fuji. This is why there are 5 small stars and one larger star.

Also known as the Echo or the Yaris, the used Toyota Vitz for sale is considered a sub-compact car. It came out in 1999 and was the creation of Sotiris Kovos. This Greek auto designer is also the one who designed the Lexus SC300 and 430 models. The fact that the used Toyota Vitz for sale is considered as a top preference among used subcompacts is a credit to his work.

There are two kinds of Vitz: the 3 door and the hatchback. If you follow along this line of category instead of basing your search on the name of the car, you might fare better. This is because in Canada it’s called the Echo. In South Africa, they call it the Yaris, and in others it’s either Yaris Hatchback , Yaris or Echo Hatchback, or Echo. Strangely, the first gen Vitz was never available in the US local market.
From 1999 to 2005 the first generation of the Toyota Vitz underwent several changes and modifications.  One such modification was the use of digital instruments on the hatchback’s dashboard. It made the car look more in tune with the changing times. The Yaris did win the 2000 European Car of the Year edging the Fiat by a very slim margin. When it was launched it was meant to replace the Starlet, and it did it so quickly and effectively.
From 2006 to the present, the second generation of the Toyota Vitz went on sale. Again, there were different versions for different countries but the overall modifications were universal. For instance, 3- cylinder engine was installed instead of the 4 cylinder. This was aimed at being able to boost fuel efficiency and provide more power at the same time. This increased its popularity around the world especially in countries like Great Britain, Canada, and Asian countries.
Most interesting about the Toyota Vitz is that it’s easy to dress up. There are many options and this is what the younger generation likes. It’s an affordable way to customize the appearance and power of your car.

The Japanese are pretty well-known for the sports cars they manufacture. Japanese sports cars are sold in great numbers all across the globe. Some of the popular Japanese sports cars include the Toyota Celica, the Mazda RX-7, the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, and the Toyota Supra. However, these are just a few of the popular Japanese sports cars. There are far too many other great Japanese sports cars to mention.

The Toyota Celica has been around since the year 1970. It has since gone through many changes and will more than likely continue to do so. It is a very common sports car. It is one of the models of cars used in the Fast and the Furious movies.

The Mazda RX-7 is another popular Japanese sports car. However, it was only produced from 1978 until 2002. It is still sold all over the world, but no new models are being made today. The Mazda RX-7 is a very popular sports car. It has been on the Ten Best List for Car and Driver Magazine five times. That should say enough about the vehicle.

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI has been in production since the year 1992. This sports car is well-known as a rally car. It has undergone many changes since it’s initial release.

The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution is more commonly referred to as the Lancer Evo or just Evo. It has been in production since the year 1992. There have been ten different versions of the vehicle produced to date. Each different model is identified by a roman numeral. This sports car, like the Subaru Impreza WRX STI, is also a rally car.

The Toyota Supra was produced from 1979 until 2002. The style of Supra came from the Celica. However, the Toyota Supra is longer and wider in comparison to the Toyota Celica. Many changes were made to the Toyota Supra. Although no new models are made today, it is still a very popular sports car sold all around the world.

As you can see, Japanese sports cars are very popular. The above-mentioned vehicles are just a few of the popular Japanese sports cars. There are many more that have been made over the years as well that are very nice sports cars as well. Even though some are no longer making new models, the models that have been produced are truly amazing vehicles.

While there are many different brands of Japanese race cars, three of the most popular include Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Subaru. However, Nissan and Mazda are also runners up in popularity for the brands of Japanese race cars available. When considering the above mentioned most popular Japanese brands of race cars; Toyota Celica, Mitsubishi Eclipse, and the Subaru Impreza WRX STI are the first three race car models of their brands to come to mind. If you’re looking to purchase one of these brands, you can always find a Japanese used cars dealer that will export to your location.

When it comes to these Japanese race cars, it would be wiser to buy them used as they can definitely tend to be a bit on the pricey side if purchased brand new. They are still very good Japanese race cars while used. So, quality should not be a question in your mind. Japanese manufacturers are well-known for the quality and reliability of their vehicles, which will carry over even if they are used provided they have the proper maintenance.

The Toyota Celica is more than likely one of the most popular and most talked about Japanese imported race car. The Japanese models are made with racing in mind and has many modifications that are not in the American or European models. So, being certain to get a Japanese model would definitely be beneficial for your racing.

The Mitsubishi Eclipse is another extremely popular race car manufactured in Japan. The Eclipse is well-known for the customizations and modifications available to improve the car for racing purposes. The Eclipse has gone through many changes over the years and is definitely a great Japanese race car.

The Subaru Impreza WRX STI is a very high standard Japanese race car. This model of the Impreza also has an abundance of modifications and add-ons available for the car. The Subaru Impreza WRX STI even has a version of the car that was made specifically for racing, which is a huge advantage to those purchasing the vehicle strictly for racing.

As there are many different brands of used Japanese race cars, it may seem like a tough pick. However, knowing that Toyota, Mitsubishi, and Subaru are three of the top brands may shed some light and give you a breath of fresh air during your decision making process. It is highly doubtful that you will have any issues finding the perfect, reliable, and affordable used Japanese race car that fits all of your needs and what it is you are looking for.

Anyone can find used race cars for sale on many different websites including eBay Motors and Used Race Car Sales. The customer  can find others  at on-site auctions, trade shows, and NASCAR racing teams. Some used race cars are in mint condition with minimal race hours while others need some work.

Automobile racing began soon after the first cars were built. Although some cars used for racing are so specialized that they are quite useless on the streets, most differ only slightly from standard makes and thus can be used for ordinary driving as well as racing. Racing cars are usually single seaters built solely for racing. Sports cars that seat two people are true dual purpose cars which can be raced or used for street driving.

Buy from a Racing Team

You can also purchase cars from various racing teams such as Waltrip Racing, Hendrick MotorSports or Roush Racing. The best time to begin your search for a used race car is two to three months prior to the end of the racing season. Try and meet in person with the owners and drivers of each car. Top race teams often sell their cars to supplement their income and, because of their notoriety, if there is a problem with the deal you can usually find the seller pretty easily. Finally, because racing teams buy the parts and bodies of their cars at discounted prices to begin with, you can often find good deals on used race cars for sale. You can get a complete list of racing teams on NASCAR Racing Teams offered by Wikipedia.

On-Site Auctions

• Barrett-Jackson – This vehicle auction house travels the country and offers many race cars. Any one visit their website for auction dates in Scottsdale, Arizona, Palm Beach, Florida, and Las Vegas, Nevada. The customer  can also pre-order a bidding catalog and find out what race cars will be in each show. They also have an online bidding option that coincides with the live auction.
• Mecum Performance Auctions – If street rods, hot rods or muscle cars are for you, Mecum also travels the US offering race cars for sale. Check out auction dates for St. Paul, Minnesota, St. Charles, Illinois, Des Moines, Iowa, or Monterey, California. Many of these vehicles have a reserve price. Often reserves are not met as race cars offered by Mecum are top of the line; however, you can find some great deals if you make a trek to one of their auctions.

Image Source

Fans of action and car movies alike watched the third Fast and the Furious movie Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift with a level of scepticism. Not about the actors abilities or the plot (that’s for a different review) but for the realism. High speed car chases are shown all the time in America, but could drifting gangs actually happen in such a place as Tokyo?

Sadly, yes. This isn’t to put a black mark on Japan, many countries have issues with illegal street racing; Japan is merely one among many in this regard. There is nowhere you can go to look up when and where annual street races in Japan so racers have to be covert about where they can race.

Street racing takes place all over the country. Some take place spontaneously, with two drivers eyeing each other off at a stop light. These aren’t ‘official’ amongst the racing members; these are usually done for a bit of a laugh and hold no prize for the winner other than bragging rights.

There are people in Japan who are called the bozozuku, and they “run” the illegal street racing in Japan. Some people have stories about dangerous run ins with this gang, but mostly they are peaceful. Members appear threatening, and they are said to hold weapons like knives and base ball bats to keep pedestrians and motorist off of the roads on which they are racing. The Mid Night Club was an illegal street racing gang in the 80s and 90s. However, they disbanded after a crash killed one of their members.

In Tokyo, highway racing occurs at midnight on Friday and Saturday nights, and they generally occur on the Shuto Expressway.  Some racing enthusiasts see it as the government’s fault that they are forced to race on the street. In Japan, a toll pass (a pass that allows you to drive on the highway) is around ¥1,000. A pass to drive on a circuit can cost at least ¥20,000, so legitimate racers feel that they have no choice but to race on the roads.

Image Source

Trucks are large size vehicles that were invented in the last decade of 19th century. They are mainly used to transport goods and materials. The word ‘truck’ had its origin from the Greek word ‘Trochos’, which means ‘Wheels’. Trucks are classified into three groups based on the Gross Vehicle Weight Rating.

They are:
Heavy Duty Used Trucks: The heavy duty trucks are those that can haul the heaviest cargo loads ranging from 19000 pounds to 33000 pounds. They are built heavy and strong to transport heavy goods and materials from the plants or factories to the desired places. Since these trucks come with a lot of features, they are quite difficult to manufacture. Hence, only few companies are manufacturing heavy duty trucks. Some of the prominent names in the market are International Trucks, Ford Trucks, GMC Trucks, Kenworth Trucks, etc. They design and manufacture class 6, 7 and 8 trucks. Some of the popular ones are Ballast tractor, Chipper trucks, Beverage trucks, Packer trucks, Semi-trailer trucks, etc.

Medium Duty Trucks: The medium duty trucks are the trucks that are the most frequently used and popular media of transportation. They are categorized as class 3, 4 and 5 trucks and can haul a minimum load of 10,000 pounds to the maximum of 19500 pounds. These trucks are the most demanded trucks in the market for the transportation of raw materials and industrial products. The most popular types of medium duty trucks are Box trucks, Flatbed trucks, Delivery trucks, Garbage trucks, Lift trucks, Hook lift trucks and Pickup trucks. Ford Trucks, GMC Trucks, International Trucks, Mack Trucks, Chevy Trucks and Kenworth Trucks are some of the prime manufacturers of these types of trucks.

Light duty Trucks: These trucks are classified as such due to their lightest hauling capacity. They come under class 8 category and can haul loads that weigh 10000 pounds. These trucks have better traveling abilities and they are mostly used by the cargo transporters to move raw materials to distant places. The leading manufacturers of this type of truck are Titan, Toyota, Nissan, GMC and Ford. They have rolled out popular models like Tacoma, Sonoma, Titan and F250. The other models which come under this category are Tow trucks, Pickup trucks, SUV, Salvage trucks, Flatbed trucks, Dump trucks, etc.

Japan is a country that loves sports. With many game shows involving creative sportsmanship and sports emphasized in the school curriculum, the Land of the Rising Sun sure has their people fit and active. Here are some sports that originated in Japan and have gained popularity in other countries.

The martial art that is considered as the country’s national sport is sumo wrestling. In this sport, the sumo wrestlers will need to gain an incredible amount of weight while being able to maintain their balance as they battle with each other to force the other outside the ring or touch the ground. This sport originated from Edo period Japan, and is said to be a form of entertainment among samurai. The daily regimen of a sumo wrestler is extremely disciplined to maintain their fit condition and stamina despite the size of their bodies. Nowadays, there are even foreign participants in this popular sport.

Japan is also very popular for other martial arts, such as Judo, Karate, Kendo, and Ninjutsu, among many others. They originally came about as warrior traditions among samurai and as a form of caste differentiation. Eventually, martial arts became a philosophy where one would need to take it as a way of life, instilling their mind, body, and soul to focus on their life battles. Such martial arts have gained so much popularity around the world that some of these sports are also included in the Olympics and Commonwealth games.

Japan is also popular for the Japanese racing or drifting. The sport originated from racing on the sharp slopes of the mountains in Japan. This form of Japanese racing requires a lot of skill and control so that the vehicle does not fall off its tracks or even crash. However, the sport has been adopted into Western countries where tracks are made in stadiums for the purpose of drifting. Japanese sports have sure found their way into to the hearts of many across the globe!

Takuma Sato (佐藤 琢磨) was born January 28, 1977 in Tokyo.he is the one of the most popular Japanese automobile racing drivers and the most successful Japanese Formula  driver in history. Currently He is racing for KV Racing Technology in the IndyCar Series under the Lotus banner.

BAR HONDA F1 Cars

Early Years

An interesting fact that makes Sato stand out amongst his Japanese driver peers is that he has relatively little experience motor racing in Japan. He actually, began his sporting career with bicycle racing, taking home several national junior championships.

He launched his karting career in 1996, at the late age of 19, later entering into the Suzuka circuit Racing School (SRS) run by Honda. By 1998, Sato had stepped up to the All Japan Formula Three Championship and drove for the Mugen-Dome project, but broke off his contract with the team mid-season, moving to England to pursue a racing career in Europe. Throughout 1998 and 1999, Sato took part in Junior Formula races around the continent, progressing to the British Formula Three Championship at the end of 1999. In 00/01 Sato race engaged in full British Formula Three seasons, taking third place in 2000 and winning the championship in 2001, in the process taking the pole-position on the podium sixteen times over the two year period. Also during this time, Sato competed in several international races, at Spa-Francorchamps, Zandvoort, and Macau.

Formula One

By 2002, Sato was ready to graduate to Formula One finding a home with the Honda-powered Jordan team. In Austria Sato was involved in a dramatic crash when Nick Heidfeld lost control of his Sauber under braking, striking the side of Sato’s car, punching a hole into the cockpit. Suffering from a minor concussion, Sato was unable to leave the car for several minutes having been struck in the legs, thankfully he soon recovered. During the final race of the season at his home race in Suzuka, Sato scored his first points. Finishing out the season with 2 points, 5 points behind his teammate Fisichella. He did however manage to out qualify his more experienced teammate on four occasions.

Source:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Takuma_Sato