Stopping at a petroleum station in the midst of nowhere – miles from civilisation or the closest freeway – may look like the proper evening out for slasher movie buffs desirous to channel the vitality of The Texas Chainsaw Bloodbath. Nonetheless, for many of us, the one cause for such a detour could be if the petrol station offered 99RON gas.
However that is Japan, the place high-octane petrol is as ubiquitous as sushi and out there at each station, from Hokkaido to Okinawa. But the attract of this explicit Apollostation, located deep within the mountains of Gifu Prefecture, is much extra intriguing.
As I pulled as much as the forecourt, proprietor Keiji Kasugai waved me in.
Instantly, I noticed Maeda-san – no stranger to Speedhunters – skillfully reversing his pristine Subaru Forester S/tb-STI into the loading bay of a close-by shed. It solely has 30,000 kilometres on the clock, and smells like new sneakers. Maeda-san’s assortment contains a number of 22Bs and a few WRC Imprezas, and Keiji-san takes care of all of them.
Earlier than we take a look at what Maeda-san was unloading, let’s discover the principle Apollostation Autocare workshop…
Wherever else within the nation, an Autocare workshop is the place households carry their Honda Stepwgns for routine service. This Autocare, nevertheless, serves as a entrance for a much more attention-grabbing operation. Step into the dim gentle of this service centre, and also you’ll discover extra than simply kei automobiles ready for an oil change.
What might look like a typical service station can also be dwelling to Keiji-san’s true ardour: AION Racing Service.
Keiji-san gives race assist for Method Drift Japan and D1 Grand Prix opponents. However his abilities aren’t restricted to race weekends; AION Racing Service additionally builds and tunes numerous race automobiles for these sequence.
In a single nook of the workshop, an FDJ3 Toyota JZX entry in sizzling pink awaits Keiji-san’s contact.
The 2024 D1GP R2-winning Toyota GR86, powered by a Nissan R35 GT-R VR38DETT, is parked alongside. The brand new engine remains to be prime secret so I can’t present you it now, however don’t fear – I’ve scheduled a shoot.
Throughout the forecourt, a extra nondescript shed homes even spicier machines.
The Greatest WRC Storage That Isn’t
A forklift was used to shift a JDM Mercedes-Benz Unimog 411 out of the best way, however I used to be glad to maintain it in my body. Presumably a parallel import from the late Nineteen Fifties, the Unimog’s portal axles are excellent for Japan’s mountainous terrain. A favorite of farmers and emergency providers, these quirky machines are nonetheless utilized by Shinkansen rail building crews immediately.
By now, you may be starting to know Keiji-san’s spectacular mechanical experience. And the tasks he takes on are as eclectic as they arrive.
Stepping contained in the unassuming shed transports you again to the glory days of the WRC. “It appears to be like like the Prodrive workshop from 1999!” exclaims Maeda-san, proprietor of W24 SRT, as he admires his absolutely restored Prodrive S5.
We unload a field from the again of the Forester: a set of refurbished WRC dampers. They be a part of a group of recent, outdated inventory and used Subaru WRC elements cluttering the workshop. Assume carbon fibre air intakes, hub assemblies, physique panels, and subframes.
Within the nook, a well-known sight catches my eye: an Impreza Retna, equivalent to my two-door challenge automotive. This was the opposite car Maeda-san had squirrelled after I purchased mine. It’s been fully stripped and is destined to turn into a WRC reproduction, full with authentic metal wide-body panels from Prodrive for a contact of authenticity.
Something Is Attainable – Simply Do It
Keiji-san is tasked with the reproduction’s restoration, however he additionally maintains these priceless rally legends.
But Keiji-san isn’t just a few ex-Prodrive mechanic dwelling out an idyllic retirement in Japan’s mountains; he’s only a very intelligent man. Intrigued by the array of rally automobiles in numerous phases of restore, I requested Keiji-san how he learnt to repair WRC automobiles. “I simply learnt by doing,” he replied with an off-the-cuff shrug.
Honest sufficient. However, I ponder, when elements break, are they nonetheless out there? “Many elements are nonetheless out there, like brakes and suspension. But when one thing else breaks, I simply make a substitute or modify one thing else to work.”
In a manner, Keiji-san’s ingenuity embodies the rally spirit. Photos of Colin McRae bashing a bent management arm again into form with a boulder on the facet of a gravel highway come to thoughts.
Within the reverse nook, a Safari Rally-spec shell awaits its buckled physique panels to be pulled out, arrange on the chassis jig, and restored. There was a time when these ex-works automobiles could possibly be bought for the value of a well-kept R32 Nissan Skyline GT-R. These days are lengthy gone; even automobiles like this mangled wreck have turn into extremely wanted.
I’m simply grateful that locations like AION Racing Service exist, the place the damaged warriors of WRC are rehabilitated and reborn as road-legal reminders of Subaru’s rally historical past.
Toby Thyer
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