Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk (II)

Following the positive response to our first anniversary special, we are thrilled to continue this journey into the heart of HPI. In this final part of Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk, we look back on the journey and share the concluding thoughts from this anniversary conversation.

We are thrilled to continue this journey into the heart of HPI. 🏎️💨

Read Part 1

Interviewer: ACE HPI’s passionate test pilot and mood maker!

A cool red-and-black robot whose catchphrase is,

"With this part, you can push even harder!"

A drift master behind the wheel of an S15 Silvia, he loves racing and spirited driving more than anything.

At event venues, he is the true ace of HPI, talking about our "passion for driving" more fervently than anyone else.

ACE Digs Deep: The Roots of President Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk (Ⅱ)

ACE: President, I was absolutely blown away by your journey from your boyhood days to your first encounter with racing last time.

But what specific event determined your path as a developer?

You mentioned that meeting the people at Fukagawa Internal Combustion Engine changed your destiny.

Hitomi: That’s right. I was so eager to work on engines that I started helping out at their factory.

Their main products were exhaust headers for Nissan’s L-type engines, but they were swamped with orders and couldn't keep up with production.

I started helping with the welding, even though I didn't have a license or any professional training.

But as I helped, I realized, "Maybe I could do automotive work while still racing," so I started my own factory to build parts.

I eventually left that company due to some minor circumstances, but my desire to race never changed, so I founded a new company.

ACE: Was that TRUST (GReddy)?

That was undoubtedly a golden era in your history, wasn't it?

Hitomi: Yes, that was the beginning of TRUST (GReddy).

I started manufacturing and selling mufflers and headers with Mr. Hayakawa.

But we really had no money.

We managed to borrow some land from an acquaintance in real estate, but it was just an exposed dirt floor without even electricity.

We had no choice but to build mufflers and headers using gas welders and engine-driven welders.

I remember working until 2:00 AM every night.

A glimpse into the workshop and classic racing scene.

A race-ready car in the garage and its powerful Toyota engine.

ACE: On a dirt floor with no electricity, working until the dead of night…

That’s a harsh environment unimaginable in today’s HPI manufacturing facilities.

But President, you then faced a major crossroads:

"Do I choose stability as a corporate employee, or do I keep chasing the dream of a racer?"

Hitomi: Exactly. Thanks to everyone’s support, TRUST (GReddy) grew into a large corporation.

But even as the business went smoothly, I always kept asking myself, "Why did I start this company in the first place?"

I worked so hard because I wanted to race, but I was so busy I couldn't.

Yet, I had to manage the company properly.

In those days, I sacrificed sleep just to race.

Furthermore, when developing parts like air cleaners, mufflers, and exhaust manifolds, I took them to the circuit myself as a test driver and drove until I was satisfied.

I didn't want to rely on armchair theories; I wanted to feed all my experiences as a driver back into development.

After that, I drove machines in the TRUST (GReddy) colors, competing in Freshman races with the KP61 Starlet.

I participated in every category, including TS, NP, and N2. I also drove the AE86/92 and TA63/ST162 Celica, competing in domestic endurance races and Group A.

In the US, I drove an IMSA GTU-spec Celica tuned by the legendary "All American Racers (AAR),"

led by Dan Gurney, racing at iconic circuits like Road Atlanta and Laguna Seca.

I even stood on the podium in other overseas races.

Some of those overseas tracks had road surfaces and grandstands that barely felt like circuits at all!

Actually, I’ve been so busy that I never had time to look back, and I didn't keep any of my trophies. Looking back now, maybe I should have kept a few 😅.

The iconic GRACER TRUST (GReddy) Starlet on the grid and in action on the circuit.

Victory and dedication: Celebrating on the podium and off-track at a motorsport event.

Ryusaku Hitomi in the cockpit and the starting grid during a 1984 race.

ACE: If you have time to display trophies, you should be thinking about the next setting.

That kind of focus is the mark of a true craftsman.

Especially that legendary death match during the 1985 C/SGC race against the legendary driver Keiichi Suzuki in the Enkei Corolla—

a battle for the series championship that went down to the final round.

That fierce driving is still a subject of conversation today, and you were undoubtedly one of the protagonists in the most exciting era of Japanese motorsports.

For over a decade, you conquered every category from endurance to sprint.

And after retiring as a racer, you challenged the pinnacle of the world: the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Hitomi: That's right.

After I retired, when TRUST (GReddy) challenged Le Mans, I served as the team director.

At the time, we imported a Porsche Group C car into Japan for the first time,

spending hundreds of millions of yen.

The iconic ISEKI Porsche 956 in the pit lane and prepared for the race.

The ISEKI Porsche 956 in front of the headquarters and ready for action at the track.

ACE: Spending hundreds of millions of yen to import a Porsche C-car back then...

It's shocking even today, but the resolve you showed in making that decision makes you a true "gambler" in the best sense of the word!

But President, knowing the pinnacle of Le Mans, where the world's latest technologies compete and massive budgets are spent, why did you decide to leave that behind and start HPI from scratch?

The story of Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk (II) tells us that this move wasn't just a change in career, but a pursuit of your true passion.

What was your core motivation when you decided to start from scratch?

Hitomi: Well, I simply wanted to make parts that could actually run.

I became independent from TRUST in 1998.

"Parts that can run" means parts that don't just look cool, but actually increase performance—

and it's even better if they are affordable.

To achieve that, I incorporated new ideas in every aspect, from materials to manufacturing methods.

I just wanted to satisfy the users.

Our goal is to provide high-quality products at an affordable price. ✨

ACE: Because you are a passionate racer who staked everything on driving, you understand the feelings of users in the same position all too well.

"Increased performance, yet accessible."

It is the ultimate user perspective, one that only someone who knows the glory of Le Mans and the harsh reality of welding on a dirt floor could reach.

I truly felt the soul of HPI today.

Thank you for this wonderful conversation!

Hitomi: Thank you, it was an interesting project.

Finally, HPI exhibits at events both in Japan and abroad,

so please feel free to talk to our staff at the venue.

Your feedback is a hint for new product development.

Of course, comments via the inquiry form on our official website or on social media are also very welcome. 🤝

ACE: Everyone, HPI will continue to drive forward with our "passion for driving" ❤️‍🔥.

We will keep coming up with exciting new plans for you all, so please stay tuned! 🏎️🔥

A BIG THANK YOU to everyone who shared our previous article on social media.

Your engagement and support mean the world to us and keep our passion for motorsports alive.

We hope you enjoy the conclusion of Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk as much as we enjoyed creating it.

This concludes our series, Ryusaku Hitomi x ACE: A Special Talk.

(Note: The driving experiences described in this article reflect the traffic environment and social context of that era. It should not be interpreted as acceptable under modern traffic laws or safety standards. HPI prioritizes strict adherence to traffic regulations and promotes only safe and legal motorsports activities.)

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