Legends of The Motoring World - Tsuchiya Keiichi

Motorsports had come a very long way, where names like Henry Ford, Ferdinand Porsche and Karl Benz had left quite a foot trail in the automotive world. But there are individuals that continue the tradition of making the 4-wheeled metal box more than what it is. They make them faster, more agile, and pushing them to the limit, where no man has gone. Here, I present to you, the Legends of Motoring World.

To those of you that has no idea who this is, he's the guy which minds are on wheels. The first man that brings cars to us, Mr. Karl Benz.

With top speeds of 16km/h, this is the first known patented car by the brilliant Mr. Benz. (Well, looks more like a tricycle to me)

Well, maybe a lot of us could easily spell them out, having their names being publish daily in the papers, mentioned a zillion times in the news or rumored around as the fastest man alive; who could have possibly miss that? But what about the others? Those that do not get that much coverage from the media? Those that are overshadowed by big, motoring cups that their existence is just something in the history books? Lets give them a little tribute by appreciating their effort in making motorsports a world-class event.

So lets move on to the first one that I have in the list. Drifting has now swept the world with such a ferocity, that it no longer stayed in the twisted and wicked roads of the touge in Japan. Vaughn Gittin Jr., Tanner Foust and Dai Yoshihara are now international stars when it comes to going sideways. But who is the man that made such driving style into an international phenomenon? There is only one guy responsible for such crime, the one dubbed as the real world Drift King or "Dorikin", Mr. Tsuchiya Keiichi .

"Dorikin" with one of his favorite cars, the Honda NSX.

Born back in 1st January 1956 at Tomi, Nagano, Japan, Mr. Tsuchiya paved his way into the professional motorsports scene from the most unlikely way, street racing. And he does not only made a name for himself, he literally became a legend with his unique style of drifting and his nerve-racking, high-speeds touge driving. After starting off from the Fuji Freshman series in 1977, Tsuchiya's professional career grew after the years with rapid acceleration.

I doubt that he ever drifted in one of these...

Mr. Tsuchiya in his "Hachiroku" during the 1984 Fuji Freshman Cup. Going sideways!!

His career then bloomed when he entered a series of world-class events such as the Japan Touring Car Championship, NASCAR, and also the prestigious race that only the strongest will remain, the punishing 24- hour Le Mans. Who knows if there is more that fits in this list. But whatever it is, he was one of the most stunning and awesome driver ever in the scene.

Finishing the Le Mans is one thing, but getting a podium finish? Truly a man for the job.

Tsuchiya had commandeered one of these NSX GTs in the JGTC.

"Was", as being that he is now retired,from racing of course. And he is now filling his past time with what most of us had always dreamt of doing while retiring. Test driving new, powerful cars like the R35 Skyline or the Murcielago on world-renowned tracks in Japan, being a judge in the D1GP, or even hosting a video line of your own. Seriously, even after retiring, this guy is living his life! If you are familiar with Japan's auto scene, shows like Option or Best Motoring should not be something new to you.

Porsches, NSXs, GT-Rs, what else would you wish for during retirement?

At such an old age, you're still flirty, aren't 'cha?

The "Dorikin" as an official judge for the D1GP.

But in case that you are, here's a lil info about it. Those shows are basically like Top Gear, except that they don't look at underpowered, weird looking cars that needed sarcastically-fueled commentaries, or even do weird challenges that needed the cars to be turned into Frankenstein. Tsuchiya and friends usually get a new car, tests them on the track ( for evaluation, commentaries, etc... ) and last but not least, put them with cars that belong in the same category and race them down. Or if its not on the track, they'll do it on the narrow, winding roads of the touge, where only those with balls will ever reach the finishing line. Getting the picture?

The usual view of Tsuchiya's videos, showing the rev meter and his footwork altogether.

Unlike these three, where their challenges range from drag racing a Bugatti with an Eurofighter, to converting your car into an amphibious vehicle. Sounds crazy? But I love them nonetheless!

Mr. Tsuchiya is also known for his never-ending love towards the RWD "hachiroku", as they call the Toyota Corolla AE-86 Trueno in Japan. It is with this midget car that Dorikin was able to win 6 consecutive wins in the 1984 Fuji Freshman Cup series, making it a serious track-killing machine that before him, was neglected and being made fun of. Just imagine, being in the race, he didn't bother to race with those in his class of 1.6 litre. Instead, he hunted those running with the turbocharged 2.0 Skylines that was way out of his league. Even after all those years, he is still sticking with his trusty "hachiroku" to get him around the touge and where "The most important thing is balance", quoted the Dorikin.

Mr. Tsuchiya in his trademark jade green suit with his beloved "Hachiroku", the car that literally captured his heart.

Neither will he settle for the new Toyota MRS nor the Honda S2000. In touge, "Hachiroku" is Tsuchiya Keiichi, and that, is something that is not going to change.

Even after all these years, and all the famous names appearing in the drift scene, no one will be able to replace Mr. Keiichi Tsuchiya's place in making what drifting is today. A special salute to you, and truly you deserve a place in Legends of The Motoring World.