All of us have – movies which have created our love for automobiles or channeled our pursuits in a particular path.

I may identify a number of, however one which stands out is a 21-second lower of a shiny yellow Mkiv Toyota supra constructed by June, with a slide on the Tsukuba circle. I am undecided the place I first noticed it on-line however in 2001 – 4 years earlier than Youtube Was a factor – you will be positive I threat the prospect of 25 to life by downloading the bootlegged clip.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t7gft2z1pqw

Luckily, you do not have to.

So consider my pleasure, once I was a take a look at the identical automotive a number of years later, parked in a graveyard throughout from the Iruma retailer.

What I did not know on the time was that it was the identical supra that was the entrance pages of Most energy and Tremendous road Magazines on the finish of 2001, with a considerably different outward look. A supra that reached the intoxicating high pace of 401.20 km/h (249,292 mph) on the Bonneville salt residences in Utah, USA.

How did I find yourself right here? In 1999 I met the Jun Auto mechanic chief Susumu ‘God Hand’ Koyama in New Zealand as he traveled right here to get to the Choice Pace ​​trial run With the Jun Tremendous Impreza GC8 – a 580ps (572 hp) animal that hit 309.1 km/h on a protracted and straight, however bumpy and moist again street. I knew I needed to go to June, and in 2004 I got here to Japan and will make it occur.

Greater than 20 years later, I’m nonetheless humble that I obtained private excursions in Jun’s Nerima Store in Tokyo and Jun Auto Works/Auto Mechanic in Saitama from the founding father of the corporate, Junichi Tanaka.

I could not spend a lot time with the supra – it was the tip of the day, and I had a prepare to come back again to Tokyo. However I used to be fortunate sufficient to maneuver the automotive for some images in a small open area within the parking zone.

Based in 1980, however the historical past of the mum or dad firm dates again to 1946. After World Battle II, Tanaka-San’s father Tanaka Industrial Co. Established and equipment used for Japanese battle plane for automotive purposes. Tanaka-San has appointed Koyama-San, a gifted younger mechanic, to maneuver on, and Jun as we all know it was born, employed Tanaka-San Koyama-San, a gifted younger mechanic.

The most recent turbocharger expertise was the center of Jun’s operations, and the enterprise shortly constructed a reputation for itself by constructing a few of the quickest and strongest automobiles of Japan. Tuning Automobile High velocity trials held on the now decomposed Yatabe check monitor Alternative Journal within the Eighties grew to become an early point of interest for Koyama-San. Then, in 1990, he took Jun to the worldwide stage with a number of performances in Bonneville in numerous automobiles. In 2001, Jun returned to the Salt Flats with its ‘Akira supra’ – a demo automotive constructing began three years earlier from a inventory Toyota supra in 1993.

Not like most automobiles within the 200 mph membership of Bonneville, Jun’s supra was not a goal-built race automotive with tube body. It was a modified road automotive with a number of extra-fast items added (and eliminated) to allow it to achieve 400 km/h-a quantity that Koyama-San noticed on the salt with earlier constructing.

About the identical time Jun was within the US with the Akira supra, the boat clip of the automotive slipping in Tsukuba made his manner on-line, now identified that it was ripped Video possibility full. 76which got here out in 2000. Once I assume again it was maybe on a regular basis first ‘Viral’ video to seem from the setting of Japan, which was nonetheless largely a thriller on the time.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oq9rm9aofpk

Luckily, a number of years in the past, the choice formally uploaded the three -minute full section on YouTube, so you possibly can watch it by urgent the play button above. Because it seems, the Akira supra was delivered to Tsukuba to see how briskly it may shoot the circle, and on a sizzling shot, Alternative Check supervisor Eiji ‘Tarzan’ Yamada determined to have enjoyable …

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ac23h0-lzey

Not lengthy after seeing the ability disc for the primary time, a pal acquired me a Video possibility VHS tape of, I feel, additionally about 2000. Within the grainy footage, the Akira supra was filmed by the gears alongside the Tokyo Aakwalin at greater than 300 km/h -the Wangan measure of the golden period. It simply acquired higher.

Even earlier than I knew in regards to the Bonneville exploitation, the Akira supra embodied all astonishing in regards to the Japanese tuning scene on the time. It was a road automotive that might simply hit 300 km/h and float. There was a 2jz-gte engine constructed as much as 3.2l with Jun Prototype components built-in-crankshaft, solid bars and pistons, efficiency rooms and a T88 turbo. Gear was made by a successive gearbox, nearly unheard in road automobiles, and it was unmistakably a Jun creation with useful out of doors mods and that signature yellow paint.

For the Bonneville try, the 2JZ engine was fully reviewed. Along with reinforcing and modification of the engine base for extra energy, Koyama-San Twin Belief/Greddy SPL T78-29D-14 cm Turbos, a prototype Jun Inlaarspruit, and a gasoline system added to the duty. The system included a 120l tank, 5 Bosch motorsport gasoline pumps and a dozen Jun 890cc followers. The setup was tailor-made by an HKS F-CON V Professional engine administration system and made practically 1,400 hp (1.380 hp).

The drive line retained the identical 6-speed Holinger sequential gearbox as beforehand outfitted, however a remaining driving ratio of two.238: 1 was used on the again to make sure that the supra may hit 400 km/h mechanically. Mixed with its aerodynamic modifications and a full flat metal undercover, the supra was averaged 386.55 km/h (386.55 km/h) over two runs within the E/BGCC class. To hit 401.20 km/h on one of many runs is what it’s remembered for.

When it returned from Bonneville, the Akira supra was returned to its road automotive setup, with a single belief/Greddy T88-34D-22 cm turbo, a milder cylinder head specification, a gasoline system with a extra setback and a extra road-friendly diff ratio. On this type, the ability output was as much as 950 hp (937 hp), which had about 1.7 bar (25psi) of the enhance. That is the specification you see right here.

The road model of the Akira supra-jun’s unique search for the automotive climate mirror completely the late-90s/early-00-Japanese tuner fashion. The main bumper, ventilated and bulbs hood, aero mirrors and gt -wing have been all Jun components, whereas the rear distributor was a re Amemiya piece. Finishing the imaginative and prescient was Golden 18-inch Advan Mannequin 6 wheels-the identical as used at Bonneville in Yokohama Advan Semi-Licks.

Because the supra was not lower into the transition from Street Automobile to Salt Flats Racer, it was straightforward for Jun to return it to Avenue-Spec. Regardless of its upgrades for racing, resembling a welded Cusco 10-point rolling cage and a Recaro SPG seat, it has benefited from some consolation, resembling a whole line, main carpet and door playing cards. The initially outfitted suite of Greddy meters was additionally in place, plus the then state-of-the-art stack 8100 digital streak efficiency.

Within the years after my 2004 assembly with the Akira supra, nothing was heard in regards to the automotive, so I assume it spent extra time parking in destiny. Then, in 2011, Jun the supra offers a whole overhaul – and paints it silver with new yellow and orange graphics and refreshes the ability for using circuit.

Two years later, early 2013, Jun supplied the automotive on the market, nevertheless it took till late 2014 earlier than a purchase order was made. It seems like a very long time given the asking value, for which you will wish to sit down: ¥ 6,000,000 earlier than tax – it is simply $ 40,000 in at present’s cash.

I wish to know the place the supra ended up. There are chats on-line that Australia calls, however I am unable to affirm it. Hopefully somebody on the market can make clear the placement and present type.

One factor is for certain: Of all of the tun automobiles inbuilt Japan over time, Jun’s supra is simply the most important. It was an all -rounder like no different.

Sadly, in 2019, Tanaka-San handed away, 76 years outdated, after a illness, and Koyama-San, who struggled for years, died in 2022, after founding Koyama Racing Labo in 2009/2010. Whereas these icons of Japanese efficiency setting are sadly gone, Jun’s legacy will dwell endlessly via automobiles just like the legendary Akira supra.

Brad Lord
Instagram: Speedhunters_brad