Signal Slide Riders
Signal Auto's newest drifters made an appearance at NOPI doing drift demos as part of the BFG Challenge. Katsuhiro Ueo, the '02 D1GP series champion, drove the Signal Sil-180 instead of his usual AE86, while Yukinobu "Boni" Okubo-fresh off of a third place finish at the Formula D finals-flogged Signal's Z33 Fairlady and even managed to manhandle Mad K's monstrous Skyline R34 GT-R. With help from Yumi "Lady Poison" Mano-her Japanese is so much better than Nads' hand gestures and wannabe FOBy accent-we sat down with Signal Auto's latest and greatest.
Super Street: Bony, what was it like to be at the Formula D finals at Irwindale?
Yukinobu Okubo: The first qualifying round was very good for me and I came in fourth place. My experience was really good. I arrived at the [Los Angeles] airport late on the day of qualifying with Mad K [Signal Auto big boss Kousuke Kida] and he drove straight to the track while I changed into my driving suit in the car!
SS: What do you think of the level of the US drivers since your last experience at Irwindale?
YO: I think that their skill is getting better compared to last year. Year by year their drifting skill is becoming great.
SS: How long have you beendrifting for?
YO: 14 years
SS: How old are you?
YO: 34
SS: And your hometown?
YO: Koga city in the Shiga prefecture of Japan.
SS: What do you drive at home?
YO: Toyota Land Cruiser. I also have a Skyline GT-R R32 as well.
SS: Will you drive in any D1 events for Signal?
YO: Not in Japan, but in the US D1 events I will.
SS: What is your favorite part about driving for Signal Auto?
YO: I like the Signal staff as friends and I like being with them. I also like high-powered cars and the Signal demo cars always have high power. I like Mad K's enthusiasm.
SS: How do you like drifting the Signal Auto GT-R?
YO: Much like Mad K I also like GT-Rs and that's what makes it fun.
SS: Of the three Signal cars [Sil-180, Fairlady Z, and GT-R] which is your favorite to drift?
YO: It's hard to explain, because the specs of each car make them good in their own way. I can't make a choice.
SS: Ueo-san, what was like to drive for Signal Auto at this event?
Katsuhiro Ueo: This is the first time that I drove for Signal. I don't want to only show off my drifting but I want people to be able to see real JDM drifting.
SS: How do you like driving the Signal Sil-180 compared to your AE86?
KU: Compared to the hachi the Sil-180 can stop easily and the high power makes it fun. I don't need to work as hard when I'm drifting the Sil-180 and I can have fun with the car.
SS: Will you drive for Signal in any D1GP events or will you continue to drive your AE86?
KU: I will continue to drive my hachi roku.
SS: Will you expand your Ueo Style line of products to any other cars or will you only offer parts for the AE86?
KU: I really like the AE86 and I only want to make parts for this car. I don't want to make money by offering products for other cars. I want everybody to enjoy the hachi roku and the parts only!
SS: Would you like it if Signal Auto built an AE86 for you in the States?
KU: If so, that would be so great for me. I am sure I could beat everyone in the US with a Signal Auto AE86.