Loco Racing Sepang 1000km Endurance

DSC00031
Originally uploaded by razeef_razeeq

It was a wonderfull race with support from various parties.
Brothers-in-Racing, SM Racing.

Hiace gathering Japan

Hello all. Its been awhile since my last update. Been very busy and getting harder for me to go online.

I was going around the net recently and stumble across this video. Now it is one of my favorite video for Hiace.

Made me really wish that i was in this video and at the place where this video was taken.

I really want to make this happen in Malaysia or die trying. Many thanks to the owner of this video for letting us experience this wonderful event.

Video Courtesy of TRH200V1TR

Celebrating hiace owners and fans around the world

Hello all. Its been awhile since my last update. Been very busy and getting harder for me to go online.
I was going around the net recently and stumble across this video. Now it is one of my favorite video for Hiace.
Made me really wish that i was in this video and at the place where this video was taken.
I really want to make this happen in Malaysia or die trying. Many thanks to the owner of this video for letting us experience this wonderful event.
Hiace gathering Japan

Reliving 90's Motorsport In Malaysia

Curiosity was the real reason i took interest in cars, this was back in the early 90's. It all happened when one faithful morning on my way to school. The car my dad drove was side swiped with me and my dad inside. We walked away without without a scratch.

The very next day when i got home there was a car parked in the drive way. It was a Toyota Starlet EP70, little did i know what was to become of me after that. It was a sluggish little thing, not the kind of car a teenager would be interested in. The ideal car at the time would be something like Knight Industries Two Thousand or better know as "Kinghtrider's Car"...or KITT.

When my dad got his car back from the workshop, the Toyota was left under the hot sun and rain to rust. I would occasionally take it for a cruise around the neighborhood until one afternoon i realize the exhaust has broken off eaten away by rust. So i thought if the car is moving forward the exhaust gas would get left behind in the wind, so there was no need to have an exhaust pipe running all the way to the back of the car.

Being ahead of my time so i thought, i broke off the now hanging rear end of the pipe and was left with only a few meters of exhaust pipe left from the middle of the car to the exhaust manifold. To my surprise the car was a little bit faster with the shorter exhaust. I've discovered something new! so i thought. But that wasn't the end of the story.

The ultimate performance mod back then was engine swap. No respectful weekend warrior race boy would dare brag about their ride if they have not done it or at least have plans to do it. Engine swap would transform any John Doe to Tom Jones in an instant. That was the story back than.

The question now is, why did i brought up old forgotten story now that Toyota Hiace is the only relevant topic here. Customizing has always worked for me. Being an average Joe, buying the ideal car that would suite my every need is out of the question. Customizing has always been the way and the backbone of motorsport in Malaysia and many other part of the world ever since cars where invented.

The invasion of bolt on performance parts in the late 90's has made horse power easily available. People can gain Hp without thinking. They just need to spend more and bolt on everything. More and more local tuners welcome this concept with open arm hoping to strike gold.

Over the years this has transformed many of local tuners to performance part traders and they have little or no actual knowledge of their own. Since they didn't discover the knowledge and relied mainly on 2nd hand knowledge discovered by others, they will for ever be a few steps behind the people who actually discovered the knowledge or the creator of this knowledge and will for ever be followers.

Without leading knowledge they are unable to lead the market by not give the consumers leading product. They eventually or perhaps for ever will be market followers until they change their mindset.

The video i found on Youtube celebrates the true spirit of innovation, creativity. Next time you see a local custom built drag car down the quarter strip remember that its not just the car and the driver, but the pride of the entire team, the true spirit of racing.

4th generation Toyota Hiace (1989–2005)



3rd generation Toyota Hiace (1982-1989)

CRS Hiace Drift Vehicle

 This is a follow up to the video added by The Mechanic on CRS Drifting. Here are some photos of that particular car at CRS parking lot in Osaka.

Low roof or Baluga......

Here i am again writing on the basics of Toyota Hiace. Locally Toyota Hiace is limited to 2 models.

The first is the low roof panel van. That's the van your friendly Pos Malaysia, Tenaga Nasional and just about every other service van in this country. It is undoubtedly the work house, the backbone of this nations economy as far as durability and reliability is concern. The low roof does not come with glass rear window. There are low roof Hiace with rear glass window running around, but they are either custom fitted with rear glass window or fully imported with glass window like the one we have. But being a simple van, it can be custom built to anything.

The second is the high roof. This model is made for passengers. It comes with rear air-condition, rear seats and glass rear windows. It can be ordered without rear seats. To me this is the ugly duckling of the two. I call this the "Beluga" after the unmistakable Beluga whale. It will be a challenge to pimp this model.

The Beluga Whale picture taken by Alison Reese.

The rest of the Hiace family such as Commuter, Super GL and Regius Ace is not available locally through local Toyota dealers, but the good news is it can be imported.

Low roof panel van (Front), High roof passenger van (Middle) the two models available locally. Picture courtesy of rightcar.govt.nz

The Mechenic

"The Mechanic" is the philosophical voice of Optimoprojets. I will discuss more on the technical side of fabrication and the course of Optimoprojects.

Optimoprojects represent a new flavor for an old already existing market. As with all things i came to realize a large void for improvement in the fabrication industry here. The details of this void remain to be explored.

Quick and easy has been has been taken over by efficient and practical. The "quick and easy" method in the manufacturing industry in Malaysia has left most of our local product in the dark due to lack of quality. This explains why some of our home grown tuners leave their fiberglass body parts unattended to at night when they close down for the day.

The lack of know how and the fundamental of the whole fiberglass laying process.

But there is still hope as some fabricators still do a good job, this was highlighted by our Japanese tuners during their recent visit.

Our aim is to establish Optimoprojects not only as Hiace tuners but synonymous with quality fabrication.

I present to you Toyota Hiace CRS Style....

Outdoor friendly Hi-ace development

These are a few photos of the 3rd row seat that can be taken out and turned into a picnic table with 2 stool.
Demo was done before seat installation works to the vehicle.
Please refer to older post for view of the seats which has been installed.
Many thanks to Bridge Japan for their hard work.

Modification works by Bridge Japan

Below is a few photos of the works that was done in Osaka by Bridge Japan.

These was taken during final phase of development before installation to demo car.

Much of the modifications is a first time ever develop as most of the Hi-ace in Japan has gone to different direction in interior modification.

Designs were done taking into consideration:

- Long distance traveling 

- family of 6 with luggage 

- outdoor friendly

- interior flexibility

Custom made sliding seat rail for 2 row seating

 

Dismantling of rear pillar cover to install custom made cover with Carrozzeria speaker system

Optimo Projects Logo and Sticker installation

This day we went for installation of our logo and sticker. Thank you to Top Racing@batu caves for the printout and installation.
A big heartfelt thank you to Nan for the Logo design.

M.I.O +81 Antenna Replacement

Original Hi-ace antenna unit before replacement

M.I.O +81 Original antenna cover 

Really looks good with original body color

Many thanks to Bridge Japan for the M.I.O +81 Hi-Ace Antenna cover.

Hi-ACE LIFESTYLE - OUTSIDE part 1

Low down? Big Wheels? whats your taste? How do you like your van to look like?

Hi-ACE LIFESTYLE - INSIDE

There are so many interior options for this vehicle because of the many years that has been put in the development of aftermarket parts. Hi-ace is so popular in Japan that they even have different options for different owners. Business and personal owners benefited from this by having to owned just 1 car that can fit many purposes at the same time. Be it for work or recreation, family vehicle to technical support van. It can be customize to a specific need of the owners. This is where the imagination is almost key to a person's interpretation of a perfect vehicle for himself.

Optimo Projects: 1st Trip To Kuantan

Optimo Projects: 1st Trip To Kuantan

1st Trip To Kuantan

Parking lot at Kuantan just outside of the wedding reception area.

Wanted to stay for the wedding which is happening at night.

But we have to be back in KL for another wedding.

Together with En Zakaria Ujang and Puan Siti Aisah

Right after receiving the car, we had to make an urgent trip to Kuantan for our cousin's wedding ceremony. This day the car was tested for long distance traveling. On this day there was going to be 3 event, 2 in Kuantan( 1 during the day and the other was at night) and 1 more in KL at night. We could not attend the reception that was held at night in Kuantan but we heard from our parents that it was very grand with all the night lights.

Optimo Projects Demo Car First Wash

after the long wait. it finally arrives in KL.
Toyota Hi-Ace KDH 200 Super GL 2.5L Diesel Turbo.
Many thanks to Motorkon, Bridge Japan, Amad's Garage and also CRS Japan.
Vehicle received on 22nd July 2010
Time received at 9pm Thursday.

Photos here is when the car went to its first Malaysia Snow Wash.
This was done on Friday night at 24th July 12am.

CRS wheels has been successfully install with no complications.
although i had to buy 2 sets of wheel nut. meant for 4 lugs wheels

My wheels have arrive from Osaka.

many thanks to CRS and Bridge for the shipment.

could not see the true color from the photos but this is really sweet!!!

CRS-Essex parking lot

This is the parking lot where CRS store all of their cars that is ready for purchase and also a few of their newly build customers car. Itaya-san showed me the difference between commuter van, Wide-body and the narrow body. There was so many cars and all of it was HI-ACE. They are the Hi-ACE specialist in OSAKA.

Hi-Ace Options Japan

some photos from 2009 Osaka Auto Show

These are some of the Option that will be available soon at Optimo Projects