For this month, our JZZ30 SOARER will finally be on HPI vol.97.
As you have seen it at Brisbane and Gold Coast Autosalon, this JZZ30 SOARER has VERTEX RIDGE wide body kit, which is the same as Mr. Ueno's D1 Soarer in Japan.
Also, this car has many other VERTEX products!!
Please have a look at the latest HPI magazine for more information!!

We look forward to attending car shows as much as we can with this car!
If you see us, please feel free to talk to us!!

We were quite worried about the weather since it was raining the day before the Autosalon, but glad it was sunny on the day.
We had good feed backs about our demonstration cars. It was a very good experience for us to have couple of cars there to show the people what we are all about.

Was it just us, or were there more people that came to see the Gold Coast Autosalon compared to last year?
The levels of competitors were higher and it was good to see new cars around too.
What did you think about the Gold Coast Autosalon all up?
We aim to make our demonstration car better each year, as we have done this year.

There is a plan for a different demonstration car too so keep an eye on the updates!

Have a look at the simple, but beautiful car, S15 SILVIA.

Simple colouring with no stickers, and no GT wings as well.
That’s the style the owner has for concept of making his car.
But the credit goes to the VERTEX RIDGE bodykit for sure lol

Team T&E: Takahiro UENO [VERTEX RIDGE TE3006 Soarer] and Tomokazu HIROTA [VERTEX VEROSSA] competed during Friday’s practice session. On this day, Ueno has some bad luck as he ran off course! However it was determined the Soarer was still in great condition, thus allowing him to return to the track. Ueno also prepared for the rain (as it was forecasted) on Saturday. It was great day for him and we were ecstatic that the final round of the D1GP would bring success to Mr. Ueno.

Unfortunately for Hirota, it was discovered the Vertex Verossa suffered a steering and diff problem during the Friday practice. Therefore, Team T&E mechanics took the car back to our factory, SUI:VAX to find/fix the problem.

On Saturday, the rain stopped, it was a beautiful day and things were looking better for Team T&E. As Mt. Fuji majestically shined the land, T&E mechanics and Hirota returned with the Vertex Verossa ready to run! Hirota was more motivated than ever and wanted to repay the mechanics for their hard work with a good result. However there wasn’t enough time to track tune/practice, as qualifying session already started. He approached 1st corner (174km/h) but his speed was average and the approach line wasn’t good enough to mark higher points. Although Hirota had done his best run, (score: 99.75!) it wasn’t enough to pass the qualifying session. Sadly, his 2007 D1GP year ended at qualifying session.

On the other hand, Ueno was ready for the session. He showed 2 fantastic runs with the fastest entry speed of the session: 184km/h! He passed qualifying session with a score of 99.80, winning 3rd place! He was already concentrating for Sunday’s session after the session, in order to get more points to determine his 10th championship ranking.

On Sunday, many participants and staffs came to the track for support Ueno’s last race in 2007. Ueno was very relaxed and ready for the final session. It was a high level for the final round.

Many other drivers marked full mark. Ueno had a nice run during the 1st lap however, it wasn’t good enough to get a full mark. At the 2nd lap, he appeared with perfect angle, smoke, sound and approach to the hairpin corner. The Vertex Ridge TE3006 Soarer fantastically passed the corner! The audience and commentary was screamed out and he got full marks with the run. His approach speed marked 187km/h which was once again, the fastest in the session! As result he was awarded 1st place in qualifying session and advanced to tournament session!!

During the opening tournament session, Ueno competed against Mr. Masao SUENAGA with Trust Amamiya FD3S RX-7. This match proved to be a battle of strength as Mr. Suenaga won 2nd place during D1GP round 2 in Fuji Speedway and as he has proved to be comfortable with the Fuji track in past years. Ueno on the otherhand, got a win from Suenaga during the previous round in Autopolis.

As the 1st run was began, Ueno was preceded. He showed a fantastic lap and got the advantage. (6:4) Mr. Suenaga showed nice run as well as Ueno and took advantage. (4:6) The judges called for ONE MORE TIME and wanted to watch their run once again.
Ueno was preceded in 2nd run, Mr. Suenaga came inside of Ueno and he took advantage. (4:6) Mr. Suenaga was preceded in 2nd run, then showed a fantastic run but Ueno was much better and wild with his driving style. Ueno took advantage. (6:4) The judges still couldn’t decide winner! Therefore Mr. Ueno and Mr. Suenaga competed for another ONE MORE TIME.

Ueno was preceded in 3rd run, he still showed crazy drifting but Mr. Suenaga came inside of Vertex Ridge TE3006 Soarer and took advantage. (4:6) Mr. Suenaga was preceded in 3rd run, Ueno came perfectly just before hairpin corner but he couldn’t come enough inside of Mr. Suenaga. Mr. Suenaga took advantage just 0.5 points more than Ueno. (4.5:5.5) Ueno’s 2007 season finished with the so close game.

As a result, Mr. Ueno finished 9th place at D1GP round 7 Fuji Speedway. Team T&E is very disappointed with this result. Especially Ueno was in good condition from middle of season also the team was well organized for 2007 last round.
However Ueno placed 10th on 2007 series ranking and he will be registered as seeded driver in 2008 season!
We would like to appreciate our sponsors, supporters, fans and all of the participants.

As you guys know, Mr. Ueno was 2nd place at D1 GrandPrix in AUTOPOLIS!!

He put hydric-hand brake from this round, which he loves it very much!!
So, we hope that he’ll get better result in the future!!

By the way, Do you guys know the spec of his car???
Do you guys know what he used for D1 GP???
Here they are…
This is how he can create 200KM/H of entrance speed for first corner in Aotupolis!!!
All the carbon mods took approx 300kg off from standard Soarer!!

Takahiro Ueno and his famed VERTEX RIDGE Soarer was in great condition since the 5th D1GP round. Mr. Ueno had installed a new hydraulic side brake system for the Autopolis round. T&E-SUI:VAX mechanics did great work! The new brake system proved to best suit Mr. Ueno’s driving style and the course layout.

The course had a long straight and was around 200km/h at the 1st corner approach. Speed also played a very important factor of judgment. The higher speed makes hard cornering in the S turn. Therefore, the need for stability was essential for drift control at the S corner. As a result, Takahiro had to find a high level setting with his mechanics.

He did have a few minor problems however, with the brake system during the Friday practice session. Nevertheless his mechanics fixed problem and his drifting progressed to the Saturday qualifying session.

He marked 99.85 points / 100 points (191km/h at approach) at the qualifying session. He passed qualifying session with 2nd place! He said he wanted reach over 200km/h at approach and get 1 extra championship point with full marks on the Sunday round because other drivers marked over 200km/h.

He marked full marks at 1st run of final session (198km/h at approach, 4th fastest), span 2nd run, 99.95 point at 3rd run. He got 2nd place again and was awarded to compete at the final tournament! He looked very satisfied with the result when he came back to pit.

Opening the round, Takahiro competed against Mr. Masao SUENAGA with FD3S. Suenaga’s car has better agility than Takahiro’s Soarer because of the difference in weight. However Takahiro compensated with a powerful drift and that outshined Mr. SUENAGA. Takahiro won the judgment and proceeded to the best 8!

His next competitor was Mr. Toshiki YOSHIOKA and his AE86. Mr. Yoshioka won AUTOPOLIS in 2005 and got 2nd place in 2004. He is known as Mr. AUTOPLIS. He was at a significant advantage with his lighter AE86. Therefore, T&E Japan was carefully interested how Takahiro should do battle with Mr. AUTOPOLIS. As it turned out, Takahiro made a mistake in the 1st run and Mr. Yoshioka received the advantage. We thought it’s the end. But Mr. YOSHIOKA made a bigger mistake at 2nd run and Takahiro won and proceeded to the best 4!

At the Semi Finals, Takahiro did battle with Mr. Youichi IMAMURA and his 350Z. Both Mr. IMAMURA and Takahiro were in great condition. The 2 drivers made fantastic during their run and the judgment call was so close. But since Takahiro made better approaches and angles, he defeated Mr. Imamura and proceeded to the Final round!
In the Finals, Takahiro competed against championship point leader, Mr. Masato KAWABATA. Kawabata showed great skill in the tournament round. In the 1st run, Takahiro followed Mr. KAWABATA. Takahiro’s approaching was good but his Soarer went too close to Mr. KAWABATA and out of the best line. Takahiro then went out of the course at the 2nd corner. The judgment was too hard for him. Takahiro showed fantastic drifting at 2nd run but he couldn’t recover from his mistake in the 1st run. As result he got 2nd place of D1GP round 6.

Takahiro is satisfied to get to the finals and winning 2nd place at round 6. He promises he will provide a better effort in the next race. He is keeping good condition and we are very looking for the final round, Fuji Speedway in Japan and D1GP in Irwindale as well.

Thank you very much for your support and visit to Brisbane Auto Salon!!!!

Do you guys have any plan on this weekend???
If you don’t, come and visit Brisbane AUTO SALON!!!!!!

We have our two demo cars,
VERTEX RIDGE WIDEBODY JZZ30 SOARER,
& VERTEX JZX90 MARK2 are @ AUTO SALON BRISBANE NOW!!!

Come and have a chat with us!!!