The FX goes to an all Corolla track day. This is very likely the FX’s first time ever on a race track in it’s 34 years of existence! The event took place in Willows, California at Thunderhill Raceway. The track was the 2 mile west course that has a nice mix of elevation changes and technical corners. The event was admittedly an all AE86 event and I was able slip my AE82 into the mix. It’s still a Corolla with a 4AGE engine from the same era after all.
I trailered the FX to the event simply because I didn’t want to hold back. I didn't want the fear of a breakdown to stop me from exploring the full potential of the AE82. I didn't know how well the FX would stack up against an AE86 but I was excited to find out!
The first session out I was just getting familiar with the FX and the track. We were running the West course in reverse which I had never done before. Nothing major broke on the FX but the front drivers side wheel hub got a little loose. Tightening the axle nut isn't hard as long as you have a 32mm socket, which I did not bring with me. My new AE86 friends came to the rescue! @nichs_niche had the right socket and the FX was back on the track.
The second session is where the fun really started. The FX was doing a great job of keeping up with the 86's on the track and it was a marvelous thing to experience so many 4AGE's singing together. I was able to have a little battle with @superstarolla and he was a heck of driver!
Toyota people are the best! All the drivers at the event were great to talk and so many beautiful cars.
There were 16v 4AGE's, 20v 4AGE's, 7AGE's, BEAMS, 4AGE's with ITB's, a Starlet with a 4AGE and a v8 swapped AE86 (1uz)! The sound on track was heavenly.
The cherry on top was the FX going up against @bgrs_grant in the @battlegarage_rs shop car with a 7AGE 20v build that was making some serious power.
Driving the Corolla FX on the track was different than taking it on the touge. On a touge, you tend to drive at 8/10's and never really push the car to its limit. On the track, however, you can drive as fast as possible.
***Thank you to @ae86mikey and @battlegarage_rs for providing some of the footage to use for this video!
Also, thumbnail picture was provided by and shot by @jaguirre80!
Thanks again to the event organizers and the good Toyota people at the event.