TOYSPORT
20/20
TOYSPORT
20/20
20 Years in 2000
A Milestone. A Reflection. A Smile. The Thank You
The Automobiles
Our first customer car, a 1976 Toyota Celica Coupe came all the way from Washington. Appropriately the license read- 1st TOY. This was followed by countless other Celicas. At that time, the typical work order was written up for carbs, cams, headers. Not too many people were aware of the tuning potential of Toyotas. Second most popular request was for springs, shocks, swaybars. After the engine mods, the car needed to be kept on the road!
Our first magazine car, a 1980 Toyota Celica GT-Rally was a US model RA40, up-dated to full TRD Rally-Specification. It had a built TRD 18RG 2.2 with all available TRD tuning parts- suspension (shocks, springs, swaybars), close-ratio transmission, 4.8 LSD differentials, TRD seats, ….everything in the catalog! Car was featured in Sports Car Graphic, the 1st Japanese vehicle featured in that publication!
Our first show car, a 1982 Toyota Celica GTS came from Toyota USA. This was when Kent Racing was handling the new IMSA program for Toyota Motorsport. The car was prepared with the full IMSA body kit, 9X16 and 12X16 BBS 3 piece wheels, RECARO racing seats, and Suspension Technique springs. We had a rally prepped- 152E engine for the car (that was never installed).
Our first pick-up, a 1980 Toyota 4X4. Basically this became our rolling R&D project. On a continuing basis the truck would come in for work, be used for a couple of months, come in for more power, be used for a couple of months, come in for more power, ….and on and on. For 14 years. The power search ended with a Supra turbo engine- with all the HKS upgrades. 4 Wheeler Magazine said it was the fastest Toyota they ever tested.
Our first race car, a 1984 Toyota Celica GTS (from Toyota) raced in the Macao Grand Prix, South East Asia’s most prestigious regional race. This track is a Toyota favorite, where all top Japanese racing teams come, to race against all the international competitors. This is the only documented win by the Toyota 22R in international competition. It placed 3rd, behind 2 six-cylinder factory prepared BMWs!
Our first race truck, a 1984 Toyota Class 7 Pick-Up raced in the SCORE / HDRA series. This was campaigned for the 85 to 87 seasons. All development work for our 22R Spec Desert engine was based on this unit that won the Championship and received the biggest contingency money from Toyota. Truly a grassroots program, 50% of logistics came from the winning pot, and at least 25% from tire and parts sponsorship. The series had a huge following and we supplied engines/parts to more than 6 Toyota private teams.
Our first rally car, a 1985 Corolla GTS (again from Toyota) raced in the FIA sanctioned Olympus Rally in Washington State. Our preparation, FIA Group N, earned us a spot in the same Toyota facility where the headlined Group A Supras of Toyota Team Europe were also accommodated. This was an international event, and our driver/navigator were FIA rated. The effort finished 2nd in Class.
The Clients
We have met and became friends with a lot of interesting people. Somehow these personal relationships are more memorable and valuable to Toysport than the vehicles they had brought us. For as varied the cars and trucks we worked on, so are the personalities. Much as I am tempted, I cannot name-drop.
We have worked with lawyers, developers, doctors (in all specialized fields), dentists, importers, exporters, racers, engineers, stockbrokers, military people, entrepreneurs, computer talents, computer nerds, advertising types, and (our favorite) restaurateurs. Even a Casino owner! We have supplied race teams in the U.S., Japan, Europe, and the Caribbean Islands. The customer who drove in the farthest for engine work on his car came from Michigan. We have sent engines to all Asian capitals, the Middle East, Europe, Caribbean islands. We have shipped to all the States of the Union, including North Dakota and Puerto Rico.
We have customers who won "all the money back" in one weekend of racing. We have a customer in a Supra who terrorized the BMW tuning shops in Northern California. We have a customer in a Corolla who worked in a Honda Tuning shop. We have customers who challenged the canyons of Mulholland, Black Mountain, and Azusa. We have Toyota employees from all departments come in for "aftermarket" service. We have foreign students who attended "Toysport University"- accessories before books; built-engines before tuition; perfect attendance despite being non-compulsory. We have customers who "spent all the money" here. We have had our share of obsessive-compulsive types. Some unlicensed pharmaceutical distributors too!
We have prepared cars for racers in SCCA, IMSA, HDRA, SCORE, FIA, who have won national championships, regional events, and other illegal night street races. Driver ability ranged from FIA rated to DMV license impaired. This is why I cannot name names. Thank you, everyone.
The Suppliers
Our true partners who helped us when we were starting. Our first product line consisted of TRD (of course), Mikuni, Dough Thorley, Centerforce, HKS, Recaro, Sway-Away, Jacobs, K&N. 20 years ago, Kaminari, Suspension Techniques, MOMO, Centerforce, Tokico were also just starting up. We directly helped launch Eibach, PIAA, Greddy, and others, who entered in the late eighties and early nineties. As true partners we also helped out when others were starting.
Thru numerous Japanese importers we introduced Work wheels, Volk Racing, Hayashi, Autolook, Blitz before these companies opened their U.S. trading companies. Toysport was a true pioneer in the import tuning market and absolute leader for Toyota.
Nissan, Honda, Mazda, Maserati, Isuzu- Corporate Offices have used our services for prototype work and promotion. Goodrich, Bridgestone, General tires, Kenwood and JVC also directly worked with us. Thank you.
TOYOTA
Yes, there are Toyotas made better. Many divisions in Toyota have helped us out. From cars, to sponsorship, to technical info, to rush orders, to race tickets, to technical info, and most important for moral support. Toyota Motorsport, Toyota Product Planning, Toyota Public Relations, Toyota Shows and Events, Toyota Emissions Lab, Toyota Technical Center, Toyota Contingency Program, Toyota Accessory Development, Toyota Forklift, and the Office of the President- Thank you all for your personal and corporate support. Every Year.