July marks a lull in the traditional Japanese farming calendar, where people partake in celebrating good health, fortune and call upon animistic deities for a good harvest. This particular tribe has much to celebrate. However, praying to the divine Shinto for rice is not their ritual. The Japanese Classic Car Association (JCCA) clan pays homage by way of 200 or below tread-wear, racing harnesses, roll cages and old metal. By old metal, I mean the nostalgic rock 'n' roll blaring over the loudspeakers like Heart, Bon Jovi, Guns N' Roses and Lynyrd Skynyrd.
Metal also means Toyota Sports 800s, TE27 Toyota Sprinter Truenos, KB110 Datsun Sunnys, M10A Mazda Familia Rotary Coupes, Toyota Celica 1600GTs, and an HS30 Nissan Z. Overseas makes include Porsches, Ginettas, Lotus Cortinas, Austin Healeys, Caterhams and the BMW 2002.
Years ago, when Tomei, Tom's and Mugen were mere shacks, and Volk was still getting started with OE Subaru wheels, many of the aforementioned cars roamed the streets of Japan. It was a time when rice paddies outnumbered paved roads and the Meishin Expressway was a single-lane road inching closer to completion. It's a real wonder seeing all these perfectly maintained vintage machines still in action, and in full racing garb, no less.
As I make my way through the rusty gates of Tsukuba Circuit, the familiar aroma of brake dust, triple-digit octane fuel and burning rubber begins its nasal assault. A pack of formula cars (Tecno Formula Ford, Brabham BT28, Lotus 51A, Royal RP2, Titan MkIV) head towards the infield and the qualifying heats. I stake out turn one and witness the #17 and the #18 Datsun Sunnys trade paint.
The highlight of the day is the Factory Full-Tune Race (F Race). Within the F Race, classes are divided by engine size, with the F1 class restricted to 1500cc, F2 to 2000cc and F3 to 3000cc. In their heyday, each one of these rolling museum pieces represented the highest form of factory-backed racing. The Tomei, Works and Suda cars-as well as all the F1-class Sunnys-sport something called a 'racing jacket' over their grilles, something unseen in other classes and even modern race cars. It's an obvious concession to not having a typical sports car profile.
The F2 group, being the largest class, is rounded out by an M10A Familia Rotary Coupe, a '73 Toyota Celica, a '72 Toyota Levin, a '65 Lotus Elan 26R, a TE27 Toyota Trueno and a TA22 Celica 1600GT.
The third-generation KPGC10 Nissan Skylines are a real treat. Originally produced in 1969, the coupe version arrived in 1971, with a production run of only two years. Often going by the moniker Hakosuka (hako is the Japanese word for box and suka is an abbreviation of sukairain, which sounds a lot like 'skyline' when spoken, the u being virtually silent), the Skyline's boxy frame houses the same S20 engine as the 1969 Fairlady. Perhaps the coolest feature on these vintage racers is the exposed 10-row front-mounted oil cooler, which replaces a section of the front bumper.
It's hard to remember a time when Isuzu was a major force in the car market, much less the sport market. Currently, it does freight and light passenger trucks in Japan. Its most recent passenger car attempt was a re-badged Honda Accord, dubbed the Aska. The 1967 PR91 Isuzu Bellet 1600GT was a remotely successful attempt (as many Isuzu endeavors are) at capturing some of the 'open car' market. Sixties sports cars were defined by the sun-worshiping MGC Roadster, Alfa Romeo Spider and the Triumph Spitfire. Japan's answer was the aforementioned Honda S800, the Bellet and the Fairlady 1600.
About the time that decade-old, budget Datsun 510s were hitting their peak in the US, B310 Datsun Sunnys and KP61 Toyota Starlets were being campaigned the world over. Detroit was still at full strength, so the dueling pair were only minor hits Stateside. But both were real delights to those in Japan, Asia (particularly the Philippines) and Latin America. The rivalry, much like the current Lancer Evolution/Impreza WRX STI rivalry, is experienced in the TS Cup race.
The atmosphere of the whole event is largely laid back, much like the classic car meet you might have gone to with your dad. If it wasn't for all the racing, that is. With Nomex suits on, helmets fastened and belts harnessed, all cordial feelings are set aside. Long-standing rivalries are aroused and relics of rubber, metal and plastic are driven in anger. It's how machines are meant to be used, regardless of their age.