A Match Of Two Halves: Riko’s RWB Yoshiwara Reborn

Riko is not any stranger to SEMA, or to Speedhunters for that matter.

In truth, his RWB 993 Porsche 911 Targa – Yoshiwara – was featured by none apart from Dino 5 years in the past in Las Vegas, although Riko was solely there for the RWB Gruppe assembly relatively than the SEMA Present itself. In 2019, Riko attended SEMA in full, exhibiting his utterly reworked AE86 with a 3S-GE BEAMS coronary heart, stripped cabin and ponderous physique package. Two years later, his IMSA-inspired 240Z discovered its method into the Toyo Treadpass with a wide-body thicker than, effectively… insert whoever you considered.

For 2022, Riko has gone three for 3 at SEMA with a totally new tackle an ‘outdated’ construct.

RWB Yoshiwara was initially began over six years in the past, however the undertaking was deserted by the earlier proprietor. Riko bought the 993 in an incomplete state throughout October 2017, and instantly set about ending the automobile with Nakai-san.

Shipped from the manufacturing unit with an automated transmission, Riko swapped out the boring Tiptronic unit with a G50 gearbox, however says the automobile by no means actually felt full. Coupling this sense with a visit to Japan that modified every thing, Riko determined to step again from the RWB for some time. He may drive and revel in it within the meantime, however he didn’t wish to tear into it or significantly modify it once more till his true imaginative and prescient for the automobile was full.

5 years later, it was lastly time for some huge strikes with the 993 chassis. We’ll get into the true ethos behind the construct in an entire characteristic and backroads drive with Riko’s RWB after SEMA, however for now let’s give attention to the fundamentals. In the event you can name them that.

Most instantly noticeable is the glossy, curved Lexan window that replaces the tinted Targa glass that the automobile was delivered with. Being a manufacturing unit Targa, RWB Yoshiwara has at all times stood out, however this replace alone simply makes the physique type much more putting.

Then there’s the colour. Riko describes it solely as Riko may: “We name it ‘1978 Aged Inca Gold’ to signify how I’ve matured and change into seasoned by means of this pursuit of automotive ardour.”

I like how Riko displays on himself to element the hue, which is darker and deeper than the shade used on his different automobiles. The {custom} coloration continues by means of the utterly stripped-out cabin which now options a full welded-in roll cage.

The cockpit additionally obtained the primary set of restricted version RWB x Bride bucket seats, the glowing silver backs of which stand out towards the daring gold-and-black coloration scheme. There’s an AiM digital sprint unit flanked by manufacturing unit gauges, a CAE shifter for the G50 transaxle, and lots of extra particulars for us to dive into in the course of the full characteristic.

A celebration piece that can’t be ignored, although, is the revamped 3.6-liter flat six that sits within the freshly-shaved engine bay. The air-cooled powerplant is topped with a Rasant GT3 consumption meeting that feeds unbiased throttle our bodies, and machined Rennline valve covers even have been added this time round. Oh, and see that Speedhunters sticker on the entrance window? That’s nonetheless in place after the primary characteristic all these years in the past.

The engine exhales by means of Fabspeed headers and a custom-fabricated exhaust, the wrapped suggestions of which terminate well beyond the rear fascia. I’m considering it’s an engine that I’ll want to listen to (and really feel) large open to completely admire.

One other well-suited characteristic that ties every thing collectively are the just lately launched Work Meister M1 3P wheels, which make the most of ultra-deep and mirror-polished barrels. They measure 18×11-inch up entrance and 18×14-inch out again, and are unsurprisingly wrapped in meaty Toyo Proxes R888R rubber.

Another parts, just like the wing in addition to the nostril, stay largely unchanged from the primary RWB iteration of the automobile. Nevertheless, every thing is now tied collectively in a greater method than it was earlier than, and general the 993 is a totally totally different animal.

As with Riko’s earlier automobiles, nearly all of work on the construct was accomplished by Marcus Fry Racing, whereas the colour was created by Jose Ayala and the paint itself was laid down by Juan Ayala at 24/7 Auto Physique of Redwood Metropolis, California.

Riko additionally wished to thank our mutual pal Ezekiel from CM Autohaus for serving to with meeting on the final day earlier than the automobile was shipped to SEMA. It takes a military, however Riko says that securing his third consecutive slot within the Toyo Treadpass is “proof of the onerous work… believing in your self and your group.”

By means of all the onerous work, Yoshiwara isn’t solely extra mature and refined. It is usually extra uncooked, extra Tough World.

And that’s the level, isn’t it?

Trevor Ryan
Instagram: trevornotryan
tyrphoto.com

Images by Mark Riccioni
Instagram: mark_scenemedia
Twitter: markriccioni
mark@scene-media.com