Best Motoring International 5
Here's one for the Japanese performance car aficionado. Best Motoring International Number 5 devotes a lot of time to Subaru and Mitsubishi rally guns - the Impreza and Lancer. Set in Japan - but with an English voice-over where required - the guys set off on 'The Battle of the Decade' wheel-to-wheel around a racetrack in current model and "light tuned" earlier model machines.
See the latest Evo 7 and C-spec Subie compare on the track - driven truly to extreme - and be rewarded with informative feedback from the drivers on the pros and cons of each car. Keen eyes will also see the cars handling change as their tyres get a tad too warm - interesting to watch.
The history of the Evo and Impreza is then traced back with track work from early models (Evo 1 and STi V3) through to the current series. As before, the drivers also tell the story of what each is like to drive and gives an honest insight. Just check out the smoke wafting up from the brakes of the Evo 1!
After talking with a Subaru engineer about the layout and balance of the current Impreza, the guys take to the track in an aftermarket modified WRX. This car has all the good bits - trick diffs, bracing and full suspension - but watch as it performs rather abysmally. Again, it's brutally honest.
Then there's a celebration of the straight six engine. Check out a modified NA R32 Skyline that screams its way around the racetrack and look back at an old-school triple carby R31 Skyline coupe; this is "one for the guys". The ante is then upped with a twin turbo Toyota Supra that cranks out an astonishing 589Nm of torque at 3000 rpm. On the track, this is an absolute weapon with seeming unbeatable speed. The machine that steals the Supras show, however, is the MINES R34 GT-R tuned for "ultimate response". No words can tell you how fast this car looks from outside and through the in-car camera - it's as the driver says, "even a dead man would scream"...
The final segment is Sayonara Japanese Supercars. As you might expect, this is a final tribute between some of Japan's about-to-be-axed finest - the S15 Silvia, Supra twin-turbo, RX-7 and R34 GT-R. Go to the racetrack for the last showdown of modified versions of these great cars but - unfortunately - the race ends in tragedy. Close your eyes for the part when the GT-R spears into the side of the S15; the owner later clowning around and calling the GT-R driver "an A-hole"...
High Octane 3
High Octane 3 builds on the successful style of its two predecessors - there's plenty of light hearted entertainment, slapstick humour, a hot sound track and excellent production. Based in New Zealand, HO3 is just as much about having fun as it is cars. Legend Ketz Sterling again fronts up as the 'face' of High Octane, but he's also joined by a female presenter - Cherie. Together, they show you the hot cars at an IDrag event, where there's a supercharged Series 5 RX7, turbo Integra with wheelie bars, Reece's new R32 GT-R, Evos, Starlets and more. There's great in-car footage as Reece sets the all-wheel-drive Australasian quarter mile record with a blistering 9.4 ET. Oh, and your jaw will drop when Rosco McGlashan runs his jet powered drag car down the strip and incinerates a Ford Escort with its afterburner!
Out on the racetrack, there another High Octane Battle Day, with a GTi-R, a rotary powered 323, a 230hp Beetle, R34 GT-R V-spec 2, S15 200SX, racing Civic, VTEC Honda powered Starlet, a 2-door STi and a pair of Evos. Ketz even fronts up for qualifying in his MR2, but an engine fire soon puts an end to his chances...
Some more driving talent hits the screen with Team Drifters - no explanation needed here.
For the first time, High Octane also visits Australia.
The team - including Big Brother's Imogen Bailey - hit Bondi beach with crazy modified Charade and Prelude showcars and take a public poll of which car is best. Ketz takes the opportunity to run amok with some clever innuendo.
Next, there's a shootout of a very different kind - a 10-second Rigoli Subaru Brumby ute with a massive turbocharger poking out the bonnet takes on a Ducati 996 on the street. It's the classic car vs bike battle.
There's a bit of tech included as well. Ketz starts his new project car - a R32 GTS4 powered by an RB26DETT - and takes you through the motions. Similar to his previous MR2 project, the Skyline cops a new body kit, candy paint and all the good gear you can imagine. It's just a shame the gearbox lets go before they could do a power run...
Attend the New Zealand South Island Nationals car show and check out the local drag racing. There's more Evos, RX7s, MR2s and even a Lexus V8 powered Hilux!
The age old war between V8s and small Japanese cars rages with a dual between a HSV SV300 and a modified 12A RX2. Ketz sets them off on a road 'race' to see which is the fastest, but - just like in HO2 - Ketz finds himself pulling out all stops to beat them both. We won't say too much, but it does involve a donkey!
Another road dual involves the new BMW M3 and Porsche 911. Watch these two supercars blast their way through the NZ countryside and find out what separates them.
Like the other High Octanes before, there's a "super nasty" Tekken style fight scene. Not much to do with cars, but Ketz sure kicks butt. Will he be the next Van Damme?
Both PAL DVD and VHS formats run for 110 minutes and are rated M. The DVD version is available through the AutoSpeed shop for AUD$36.95, while the VHS version is AUD$34.95.
Serious Performance 6
SP6 is an Australian fast car production, not surprisingly the sixth in the series.
If you've ever wondered which of the local modified MX-5s (Miatas) is quickest, you'll be watching closely for the segment where the SP6 crew line up an atmo V8 Bullet, a supercharged version and BD4's turbo 1.8-litre MX-5. Delve under the bonnets before they do battle - and it's a close call. It was more than a close call for the camera mounted on the side of one of the vehicles however - the mount lets go during a charge and breaks into many small pieces when it hits the ground. Ouch...
At the same venue, there's a mega SR20 challenge. Eight cars - a Torana, Celica, Corolla, Bluebird, 180B and a few Datto 1600s - line up to see who has the best combination of power, traction and weight. The cars are all pretty evenly matched and - with a few burnouts scattered here and there - it's entertaining viewing. Oh, and look out for when the throttle jams open on a RB26DETT powered 240Z!
While we're talking about head-to-head racing, there's a pair of 550hp Supras to ogle, plus Maz-Fix's 20B RX-3 and RX-7 SP single turbo - they're simply awesome.
Australia's fastest Nissan GTS25T - with a 10.6-second ET - is featured in detail and, well, you can imagine how impressive its power oversteer performance is, and there is plenty of footage of it...
The fastest WRX in Australia is also detailed in 'A Quick Purge'. Running nitrous, a drag auto and 2.3-litre capacity, the C&V Performance Rexie is just awesome at the drags. Get stuck into a few tech details about this groundbreaking car (which doesn't need an intercooler) from the man who built it - Con from C&V.
If you want more tech make sure you tune into Getting Technical. Talk to experts on turbocharging, intercoolers, blow-off valves and wastegates - it answers all the questions you've never got around to asking.
From left field comes the Honda S600 powered by a supercharged Fiat engine and the barge-like '60s Mercedes packing - wait for it - a turbo rotary! Get the oil from the owners and place your bets when they pair off for a drag.
Speaking of drags, the crew also head to New Zealand for the Nationals. Get the details on Reece's R32 GT-R, a wicked 10-second Integra and blown Series 4 RX-7 (all as seen in High Octane 3). The New Zealanders sure know how to put together a kick-arse car!
Finally - if you're into new cars - go behind the wheel and get some driving impressions of the current Honda Type R Integra and Mitsi Evo 7.
The 90 minute NTSC and PAL VHS copies are available from the AutoSpeed shop for AUD$32.95, while the 110 minute PAL DVD version (featuring deleted scenes, full interviews, extra circuit footage, more burnouts and the Serious Performance 5 cinema ad) is AUD$34.95. Both video and DVD formats have a G rating.
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