Choro Q ? ? Funky caricature model cars from Japan.

For something different.

Some of you may know the ChoroQ (チョロQ) series of miniature pull back cars from Japan, the original 'Penny Racers' first made by Takara Toys back in 1978.
The name comes from the Japanese word "Choro-choro" which means "dash around" and an abbreviation of "cute"(Q).

What sets these particular Toys apart is the fact that they will often make limited Editions of actual rare vehicles and real life Racing Cars. These Limited Editions tend to be done in fairly small numbers and the prices Collectors will pay can often exceed 15000 yen (approx US$150)
The designs are largely based on illustrations by Yasuhiro Nakamura, who also design covers for books and Video games, and are done in the caricature style that is so popular with Motor Vehicle Art these days.

They often have amazing detail considering their very small size (4.5cm x 3cm), and there are even radio controlled versions made.

While I am not really into collecting model cars, some of these Limited Editions were a bit hard to resist when I came across them  ;-)

別にチョロQを集めているわけでは、ないけれど、ちょっと珍しいものに興味があるので、思わず買購入しちゃいました ｗｗ


                                                                           SUBARU WRX 22B                                        WRX STI

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                                                                                                    Not so rare, but cool Lancer Evo X

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                                                                                                                        Lancer Evo VII

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                                                                                                                       Lancer Evo VIII

                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                   Lancer Evolution VI

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                                                 WONDA Coffee version Choro 3Q ultra mini model Ralliart Evo X set

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                                               WONDA Coffee version Choro 3Q ultra mini model NISMO R35 GTR set

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                                                VERY sought after and rare WRC Group A Lancer Evolution III　　限定版

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                                                     Sold only at Mitsubishi Ralliart Dealers, Evo VIII Ralliart　　　限定版

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VERY sought after and rare Tommi Makinen WRC Group A Lancer Evolution VI　　　　限定版

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                                                                           'Super realistic' series Lancer WRC 05

                      And probably the rarest of the lot. I got this way back in 1986. A Group B Rally Mitsubishi Starion 4WD

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2013 World Time Attack Challenge. And my favourite is....

The 2013 'World Time Attack Challenge' has once again come and gone, and while this event isn't held in Japan, because of the fact that the entries in all categories are almost entirely Japanese makes, I felt it is worthy of a post.

The annual event held at Sydney Motorsport Park in Australia is rapidly growing and has captured the attention of many Motorsports fans across Australia with many locals now building and entering cars in what has to be one of the World's premier Time Attack events.

There is also an ever increasing number of International Teams making the journey to Sydney every year with some absolutely stunning cars, especially those coming from Japan.

My own interest in the event is not in the million Dollar plus professional teams, but the true 'backyard' warriors and small Tuning Shops, some of whom have produced stunning cars that have the performance to match their looks and are an absolute credit to the builders. I have seen the progress of some of these builds on various Internet Forums over the last couple of years, and they keep with the true 'Time Attack' spirit.

One such entry this year, and by far my favourite, is George Whenn's Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution II.

George bought the car in October 2006 as a totally standard Evo II GSR in pretty good condition with the intention of just stripping it out and fitting coilovers, an aftermarket ecu and a Roll cage.

Well that idea did not last too long...

DMS 50mm coilovers, a Carbon Fibre roof,  a 2.3 stroker engine, and a list of parts from such names as Brembo, JUN, SARD, and RaceFab are nice. But the thing that makes this car stand out is the fact that George has built practically the whole thing himself, modifying and improving many factory parts along the way or having parts custom made, instead of simply buying off the shelf components.

The first incarnation and completed car. Very beautifully done indeed.  　最初の出来上がり。

A blown engine at a track day testing the new car meant it was back to the garage, and as often happens, this is where George went 'mad', deciding to put the car on a massive weight saving diet, and a custom wide body conversion.

The result was this:

Hard to believe that this was not built by a professional Workshop.　　　　プロのチューニングショップではなく、個人で作ったと思えないぐらい良く出来ている車です。

Close to completion, beautiful workmanship where ever you look.　　　　　どこを見ても、とても綺麗で丁寧に作られています。

Fast forward to October 2013 and the Pro Am class of the World Time Attack Challenge, and George was finally able to show the World what he'd built.
Teething problems including a Radiator that decided to keep splitting meant that he wasn't able to fully explore the capabilities of the car, so he made the hard decision to retire from the event early. However a very respectable time of 1:35.470 shows the potential of the car. Considering the very limited amount of testing able to be done before the event, this was a great result.

In the pit bay at Sydney Motorsport Park.　　　　今年シドニーであったワールドタイムアタックでデビュー。

Photo courtesy of ON THE REDLINE

Photo courtesy of ON THE REDLINE

George has plenty of reasons to be smiling!

Here's a look at what it goes like around Sydney Motorsport Park,  lots of potential once it is fined tuned, and I for one cannot wait to see George on the Podium next year :-)

 LINK-->     WTAC Incar Video link

The ULTIMATE Rally fan's car.

I was browsing Rally cars for sale online the other day and came across the ultimate Rally fan's road car.
This isn't in Japan, but it is a Japanese car, and i'm in love!

私はこの間オンライン販売のラリー車を見ている時にラリーファンの最高の車に出くわしてしまった。これは国内のではないですが、これは日本車であり、思わず惚れた～！

Polish company Cars4youcustom who specialise in the construction and preparation of vehicles for rallies and races, and the production of lightweight carbon fiber parts for cars such as the Mitsubishi Lancer EVO, Subaru Impreza WRX / STI, and many more, have produced this Mitsubishi Lancer WRC 2005 replica, easily the best Rally Car replica I have seen for a long time.

The lengths they went to to create as accurate a replica as possible are astonishing.
The car now has full Mitsubishi Motorsports works decals as driven by Harri Rovanpera in the 2005 Rallye Monte Carlo.
 
They will also create replicas of other World Rally Cars upon request.

Ok, i'm off to buy some Lottery tickets... 

ポーランドの会社Cars4youcustomは、この三菱ランサーWRC2005レプリカを作り出した. 最近見た中でぶっちぎりに最高のラリーカーレプリカと思う。
うーむ... さてと、宝くじでも買いにいって来ます...

More at:

http://www.cars4youcustom.com

Hybrid performance?

I was just reading up on current Nurburgring Circuit lap times and was surprised to find that the current record holder on non semi slick tyres (and it's a lot faster than the number 2 car), is an electric hybrid.

The Porsche 918 Spyder has a 4.6-litre naturally aspirated V8 that produces 599bhp. Two electric motors, one for each axle, push power production up to 875bhp. It has a carbon fibre chassis and body combined with rear-wheel steering for extra agility, adaptive aerodynamics, and a torque vectoring system.

The 918 Spyder does zero to 62mph in 2.8 seconds and has a top speed of 214mph. 

 私はちょうどニュルブルクリンクラップタイムについて読んでいて、Ｓタイヤなし現在の記録保持者は電気のハイブリッドであることを見つけるために驚いた。。。

 ポルシェ918スパイダーは599ps, 4.6リットルV8（自然吸気）を有する。 2つの電気モーター、各車軸用のものは、875psにその生産を押し上げる。

それに、適応空力とトルクベクタリングと一緒余分アジリティ用後輪ステアリングと組み合わせたカーボンファイバーシャーシとボディを持っています。

918スパイダーは、2.8秒でゼロに毎時１００ｋｍｈを行い、毎時344ｋｍｈの最高速度を持っています。

                                                                                               Porsche 918 Spyder

I know that Japanese manufacturers pay a lot of attention to these things, so fingers crossed that the results of this new Porsche spurs Mitsubishi to continue with their hybrid performance car R&D which they have been doing now for the last 10 years or so, dominating the last few years in events such as Pikes Peak in the USA. 

日本のメーカーはこういう事に多くの注目を払うことを僕は知っている。

三菱はこれを見た結果、彼らは過去10年ぐらい前からハイブリッド高性能車のR＆Dを作っているけど、もっともっとがんばってくれるといいな。

 電気のハイブリッドランエボ、ＧＴＯ、スタリオン。。。新しい何かが生まれてくれればいいな。。ＧＴＲ，ＮＳＸ，ＷＲＸ？．．

                                                                                               Mitsubishi E Runner driven by 'Monster' Tajima.

                                                                                               Mitsubishi  MiEV Evolution II - AWD & 545 hp...

The Evo MIEV does 0-100 kmh in 6.9sec and is powered by four electric motors, delivering 382lb/ft or torque right from standstill.

Tsukuba 1000 september 2013

Some Video from my trip out to Tsukuba last week. This was the 1000 metre sprint course, probably my favourite Track :-)

Was great to meet some people there who had seen my videos on YouTube and came up to say Hi.
I was trying some new suspension settings, and due to feeling a bit off colour due to only about an hours sleep the night before... I wasn't breaking any personal best records this day (but was close) lol. But the car went really well and is definitely improving each time out :-)

先週筑波１０００．このミニサーキットは今一番好きかも :-)

この日、また変わったサスのセッティングテスト。久しぶりにランエボとインプレッサがたくさんだった。
サーキットが込んでいて、自分も寝不足で具合が悪かったためで、自己ベストタイムは達成できなかったけど、エボちゃんがいい感じでした。新しいサーキット仲間も出来て嬉しかったです :-)

Motorsports in Japan.com

Welcome to Motorsports in Japan.com!

My name is Anthony and I have been living in Japan on and off since 1992, permanently since 2008. 
I have had many performance cars over the years and have always been actively involved in Motorsports. I have been focused on Japanese cars exclusively now since the mid 1990's.