CHARLIE CORY FAMILY_AND_FRIENDS FRIEND FRIEND_WEARING_GLASSES FUZZ_TOWNSEND JESS KAREN LUKE LWI_EDWARDS MAN_IN_RED_SHIRT MAN_WHO_NEEDS_A_DRINK NARRATOR RICK_WOOD TEAM TIM_AND_FUZZ TIM_SHAW TIM_WITH_HOOD_UP TRAINER VVC NARRATOR Today on Car SOS, dyed-in-the-wool petrol head, Tim Shaw, TIM SHAW This is one of the best cars I've ever driven. NARRATOR And mechanical maestro Fuzz Townsend, FUZZ TOWNSEND Oh, do you know, I love the smell of gearbox oil. NARRATOR Are once again on their undercover mission to rescue classic cars for deserving owners. NARRATOR This time, the boys delve into the mad, mad world of drifting. TIM SHAW Two cars, one person. NARRATOR Tim has a good, hard look at himself. TIM SHAW What's with the hood? TIM WITH HOOD UP To hide the world's biggest slap head. NARRATOR Fuzz forgets to put the seat down. FUZZ TOWNSEND Blimey, everything's fallen off this one. TIM SHAW Hello, guys. NARRATOR And the stage is set to make another automotive dream come true. TIM SHAW What? MAN IN RED SHIRT What a wind up. FUZZ TOWNSEND You okay? Do you need a chair? MAN WHO NEEDS A DRINK No. I need a drink. [LAUGHS] TIM SHAW Yeah, I'm sure you do. NARRATOR Today, Tim and Fuzz are heading to the suburbs of West London and Perivale, where a bit of a new challenge awaits. FUZZ TOWNSEND Here we are, Tim, we are in North London. TIM SHAW We are here to pick up one car, a Lexus IS200 rrr-yes! FUZZ TOWNSEND Lexus IS200! [LAUGHS] FUZZ TOWNSEND Oh, let me tell you something about the Lexus IS200. TIM SHAW Go on. FUZZ TOWNSEND I don't know very much about it. NARRATOR Built by Lexus, the luxury car division of Toyota, the IS200 range was launched in 1999 with one goal in mind to take on the high end saloon car market dominated by Mercedes and BMW. A lofty aim. And the ISs nearly gave the Germans a run for their money. The IS was comfortable to drive, had a luxury interior and, as you would expect, was massively reliable. The 2ltr [UNIT CONVERSION 0.5 US gallon] straight six engine did nought to 60 [UNIT CONVERSION 96.5km] in 9.5 seconds and had a top speed of 134 miles an hour, [UNIT CONVERSION 216km] which didn't quite match the rivals. However, where the car really fell short was in the sexy department. There was no getting around it. The ISs were dull. [SNORES] Until, that is, someone in the crazy world of drift racing decided to put one on a track, where, with a bit of heavy modding, the car's long wheel base, bullet proof engine and rear wheel drive were perfect for throwing the car sideways at eye watering speeds and turn them from dreary chumps into competition champs, which just goes show, in the car world you can never write off an also-ran. Although, having said that, the one the boys are off to see is less an underdog and more a dirty dog. TIM SHAW It's a car that you know very little about so, take it from me, right, Japanese cars have the reputation of being phenomenal and being absolutely reliable. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep. NARRATOR Well, today's lame old Lexus belongs to 28-year-old trainee bus driver, Charlie. A petrol head who took up drift racing a the tender age of 17. Six years ago, he bought himself an old IS200 with the intention of turning it into a drift car. But then, out of the blue, something happened to take the wind out of his sails. TIM SHAW It's got this straight six, 2ltr, [UNIT CONVERSION 0.5 US gallon] 24 valve engine. FUZZ TOWNSEND Whoa, hold on. I'm interested. TIM SHAW Right. FUZZ TOWNSEND I think we should go and get one of these cars and pick it up. NARRATOR It was mum, Karen, who wrote into Car S-O-S, hoping that Tim and Fuzz could help Charlie get his drift car mojo back. KAREN Hey, you alright? TIM SHAW IS200, hiding behind a bush. KAREN I know. TIM SHAW Right, where's Charlie? KAREN He's in Leighton Buzzard, near Milton Keynes, miles away. TIM SHAW Right. Sweet. Can we have a look round the old [WHISTLES]? KAREN Yeah, course you can, course you can. FUZZ TOWNSEND Fantastic. Now, this is cool, isn't it? TIM SHAW Okay. TIM SHAW I've never actually sat in the driver's seat. I've been a passenger in a few of these in my day. FUZZ TOWNSEND Have you? TIM SHAW Yeah, the thing about these cars that are so special is, the bolsters on the seats, they really hug you, so you feel like you're in a sports car. FUZZ TOWNSEND Get outta there. TIM SHAW Right, we'll go and talk about Charlie, you do your thing. FUZZ TOWNSEND That's it. TIM SHAW Come on then, let's have a chat. KAREN Come on, then. FUZZ TOWNSEND What we're looking at is a car that, on the face of it, looks quite modern. Sitting on the driveway is no good for a car. If they're not used, they get out of condition and suddenly things start going wrong. There is oil starting to squeeze its way out. It might be a little bit more worn out than we thought. TIM SHAW What kind of lad is Charlie? KAREN He's alright. He loves watching Formula 1, any sort of car racing, really. TIM SHAW Talk to me about that beast. How long's it been in the family? KAREN He bought it in 2018 to make another drift car. TIM SHAW Okay. Oh, he's a drifter? RICK WOOD Yeah. TIM SHAW Really? KAREN Yep. TIM SHAW Is he good at it? KAREN He is, he is really good. TIM SHAW Where does the car sit in terms of importance? KAREN Probably, I'd say maybe first. FUZZ TOWNSEND Got dents in the wings, very tired wheels here as well. Brake discs starting to rust over. On the inside, we've got tired upholstery, tired electrics. This is a tired old tub. I mean, look we got rust here. Oh, rust starting to take hold. Around this side we've got mould growth. We have moss, we have more rust. This is generally decaying slowly into the ground. TIM SHAW Why is it in that state? KAREN 'Cause at the end of 2020, he started feeling a bit poorly, a bit ill. So, when he was trying to work on the car, he said he was really struggling. It was, sort of, March, April 2021, he found a lump on his testicle and I said, "You need to go and get it checked." And he went, "Yeah, yeah, I am." He got diagnosed with cancer, testicular cancer. But it all moved so fast. Within a week he had his op to remove his testicle. It spread to his lymph nodes. He started chemotherapy and then, within a week, he lost his hair and his beard. TIM SHAW How is he, physically now? KAREN You think you'd get over the cancer, get the all clear and brilliant. But it's not. It goes on and on and on. He said it's like his life stopped. He lost his job. TIM SHAW How down has he been? KAREN Yeah, really down. The doctor said he was two points away from suicide. Life's about bad things that happen. TIM SHAW Do you think that he thinks, "I can't bear to look at it, 'cause I just know I can't do it now?" KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW Does he say that? KAREN He does. TIM SHAW Does it get him upset? KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW How do you think doing this car and getting it right for him would change his life? KAREN It'd just mean he can do his drifting again. He loved it. It'll mean the world. TIM SHAW And he lives here with you, right? KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW Right. So, he comes back and the car's gone, where's the car gone? KAREN It's gone to my mate who's a mechanic. TIM SHAW Out of sight, out of mind. KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW If it's not there, it's not a failed project. KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW 'Cause it's gone. How do we do the car? KAREN He said to me a while back, "If I get back into the drifting, I want to call it OBD Drifting. One Ball Drifting." [LAUGHS] TIM SHAW [LAUGHS] KAREN It'll make me happy to see him back to normal again. TIM SHAW Come on, then. Let's go and see Fuzz and get it done. KAREN Brilliant. TIM SHAW Follow me, come on. KAREN Let's go. TIM SHAW Fuzz-bot, one word for you. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah? TIM SHAW Well, two words, actually. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. TIM SHAW Drift car. FUZZ TOWNSEND No, no, hold on. No, no, no. TIM SHAW Now, you're in front of the boss here, so that's a "no" is it? FUZZ TOWNSEND Can't we just do a normal, four door family saloon, please, Kaz? KAREN No. no. TIM SHAW Say, "thank you very much." FUZZ TOWNSEND Thank you very much. TIM SHAW Yes. We're going to make your son a drift car. Good to see you, come on mate, let's go. KAREN Thanks, Fuzz. KAREN See ya. TIM SHAW Come on. FUZZ TOWNSEND Sure? KAREN Yeah. TIM SHAW Come on. KAREN Bye. FUZZ TOWNSEND See ya! FUZZ TOWNSEND The Drifters, now they were brilliant. TIM SHAW Not the musical Drifters, I'm on about automotive drifters. Drifting is the automotive sport, putting your car on a flat piece of tarmac and just going between cones, always sideways, always drifting. So, we should take it to the one guy we know who can turn that thing into a monstrosity of a drift car. FUZZ TOWNSEND Here we go. TIM SHAW Yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND He'll love it. NARRATOR Yes, this time it's not about restoring this 22-year-old car, it's about modifying it. And if there's one man who knows all about drift cars, or any other race car, come to that, it's our old pal, Rick Wood, performance car supremo, all round good egg. TIM SHAW The legend. NARRATOR And best of all, he's just a man who can't say no. RICK WOOD No! TIM SHAW Fuzz, bring it in, we'll grab it. RICK WOOD No. TIM SHAW You remember these things back in the day? RICK WOOD I do remember. TIM SHAW Okay. Right. RICK WOOD One thing a drift car does need. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah? RICK WOOD Is power. TIM SHAW That's right. FUZZ TOWNSEND Does it need more power than that? RICK WOOD That's only 153 horse. FUZZ TOWNSEND Three. RICK WOOD Let's have a look underneath and see if were doing loads of repairs before we do, like, the major heart surgery to it. What have we got? FUZZ TOWNSEND I mean, all of this suspension componentry could do with coming down, really, couldn't it? And then cleaning it up, seeing what's salvageable. TIM SHAW I knew it was gonna be good under here, because Japanese cars this time were, "I've got a plan for something ridiculous," which is me, we're gonna fall out big time, I'm gonna get it in the neck, trust me, very shortly. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah, it's all right, actually. TIM SHAW What's your first impressions? RICK WOOD It's actually quite good, considering what you usually bring me. TIM SHAW It's not bad, is it? FUZZ TOWNSEND You know, the only thing I can see is, leaks from the steering gaiters, really and that's not very much. TIM SHAW Alright, boys, come out here, I've got an idea. Something I just wanna throw at your FUZZ TOWNSEND Right-o. TIM SHAW Brains, see what you think of it, right? What about 500 horsepower? RICK WOOD Even if we can make it 500 horsepower, we've then gotta make the gearbox take it, we've gotta make the prop shaft take it, the drive shafts, the diff, the wheels. FUZZ TOWNSEND Ding, ding, ding, dig, ding. Ding. RICK WOOD The brakes. FUZZ TOWNSEND Ding. RICK WOOD It's all got to be like that mixture that will work together. FUZZ TOWNSEND You don't seem to understand. You see, and it totally changes the car. TIM SHAW 500 horsepower for a guy who's a drifter and lives to drift. It's his dream in his life to drift. FUZZ TOWNSEND Don't listen to him, don't listen. RICK WOOD Hundreds of hours. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah. RICK WOOD And hundreds of thousands, hundreds of thousands of pounds. TIM SHAW Is it a no? RICK WOOD Unfortunately, I can do it. FUZZ TOWNSEND I've gotta give you some lessons, you know? RICK WOOD How to say "No"? FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah, exactly. [LAUGHS] RICK WOOD [LAUGHS] RICK WOOD It is possible. NARRATOR Tim and Fuzz are turning a bog standard Lexus IS200 into a drift car, a task normally achieved by upping the power to the back wheels, although now Tim has had the bright idea of going to an insane 500 brake horsepower. It's turned from being a major job into a mahoosive engineering nightmare. FUZZ TOWNSEND 500 horsepower, you know what that's gonna take? TIM SHAW It's gonna take 500 horses. RICK WOOD He does a lot of talking, doesn't he? FUZZ TOWNSEND He does, yeah. TIM SHAW Right, let's just get it said now, what's my job? FUZZ TOWNSEND Everything that comes off that we're going to reuse, is gonna need to be cleaned and refurbished. TIM SHAW So, I've been put on cleaning duties because we're doing 500 horsepower? RICK WOOD You wanna be part of the team? FUZZ TOWNSEND Right, no, yeah. RICK WOOD You're on cleaning duties. FUZZ TOWNSEND Do you want a biscuit? Go and get your truck round and then you can have it. Go on. NARRATOR Yes, Tim is in the doghouse, as sending 500 brake horsepower to the rear wheels of a family saloon may well make them spin insanely fast and drift a lot easier, but will also require a huge engine rebuild with upgraded pistons, conrods, cam shafts, the lot. And all that power will also need a superior engine management system, so a new inboard computer, or ECU, will be essential to controlling fuelling, air intake, temperature and all at lightening fast speeds when the car is on the track. And it doesn't stop with the power, because if the Lexus is gonna be a serious competition car, it's going to need to look the part. Bigger wheels, bigger tyres, bigger wheel arches, in other words, a full body redesign. So, it's eyes down and off we go. It's gonna be quite a learning curve, especially for Fuzz, who's not quite used to these newfangled 21st century cars. FUZZ TOWNSEND So, for the first time ever, I'm working on a car with electric seats. So, I'm having to fit a battery, and I'm hoping that this will allow me to scroll those seats forward. We have access. Oops. Blimey, everything's fallen off this one. Electric seats. Come on, I ask you, whatever next? NARRATOR So, while Fuzz struggles with the modern world, Tim has got his feather duster out. Or not. TIM SHAW Gutted. Just on my way to go and do some cleaning and the car's gone and broken down. But the good news is, it's broken down here at a racetrack. And, if we stop for a moment to think about what we're doing to Charlie's car, we are tripling the horsepower. Now, what the hell have horses got to do with cars? Actually it goes back to some geezer called, well, James Watt was his name. he was making these steam engines, so he was like, "Well, how do I communicate how powerful they are? Horses. They are proper strong those things, aren't they? So let's, let's go with them, because people understand how strong a horse is." It's about how much power an engine can deliver and what you chose to do with it. Tripling the horsepower in Charlie's car, what does that mean? TIM SHAW Right, one horsepower or, in this case, one human power. Right Mark, get pushing the broken down car by yourself. So, it's hard work. He's struggling with it. Let's double the horsepower. Joe, get on it, right. So, we're doubling the horsepower of the car, it's beginning to move. Now, let's triple the horsepower, the dream for Charlie's car. Ben, get in, mate. So, we're moving quicker now, Rob, let's quadruple it. Now, the choice is ours, what do we do with all this power? Do we go slow and steady like an excavator, or like an off-road 4x4, or do we go like a super car? Now, in Charlie's case, it's all about sending that power to the back wheels. In other words, turning power into good old fun. But what does 500 horsepower fun look like in comparison to 150 horsepower? Hello, Mr Ferdinand 500 horsepower 911 turbo. NARRATOR Yes, Tim's brain might well be jam packed with horsepower but, back at the workshop, it's Rick who's the one with the headache. RICK WOOD I've been having a deep think. FUZZ TOWNSEND Oh, yeah. RICK WOOD If we stretch this to 500 horsepower, it'll be right on the limit. FUZZ TOWNSEND So, it's gonna be a weak engine. RICK WOOD A week engine. We're better going bigger. We can get a 2JZ engine. FUZZ TOWNSEND What, the 3ltr [UNIT CONVERSION 0.8 US gallon] one? RICK WOOD We can do 600 plus horsepower, and not be on the edge of destruction with it. FUZZ TOWNSEND Four times the power of this engine? RICK WOOD We'll change the rods, the pistons. We'll pull up the head. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. RICK WOOD Different exhaust manifold, single turbo. FUZZ TOWNSEND And I love seeing it done and learning. NARRATOR So, Rick really has embraced the challenge. A replacement 3ltr [UNIT CONVERSION 0.8 US gallon] engine really is gonna give the car some beans. Yes, when Tim finds out, he's gonna be beside himself. Quite literally. TIM SHAW Right, 150 horsepower, 500 horsepower like Charlie's is gonna be, two cars, one person. Dude, can I borrow you for a minute? What's with the hood? TIM WITH HOOD UP To hide the world's biggest slap head. Are we doing this or what? TIM SHAW Chh! Jump in the car, come on, let's go. Massive forehead. Right, here we go. TIM SHAW 150 horsepower in three, two, one. TIM WITH HOOD UP Three, two, one. TIM SHAW Go. Right, here we go. We're flat now, red lining it all the way up here. What is does this actually feel like? TIM WITH HOOD UP Wow. Oh, what a buzz. What a buzz and here comes the family car right now. How did that feel for you? Come on. TIM SHAW You know when you're on a tube and the tube sets off and you get pushed back into your seat a little bit? That's the feeling of 150 horsepower. What was it like for you in the pork? TIM WITH HOOD UP The thing I can compare it to the most would be like, when you're on a runway in a plane and you're about to get wheels up and you're thrown back into the seat just before you get air. That is the feeling you get from 500 horsepower in a car when you floor it. And that is what we're looking for,for Charlie; as many horses as we possibly can. NARRATOR Two Tims, it's like Fuzz's worst nightmare. NARRATOR Luckily, Fuzz has better things on his mind, like a 3ltr [UNIT CONVERSION 0.8 US gallon] engine block that's just arrived. Ready for a bit of mechanical geekery, anyone? FUZZ TOWNSEND Right. Rick, what's going on then? RICK WOOD We're gonna build a block on this CNC machine. FUZZ TOWNSEND So, what do we actually need to do? RICK WOOD This is standard bore 86ml [UNIT CONVERSION 3.3 inch], got oversize pistons, ½ml oversized. We're gonna go to 86.5 [UNIT CONVERSION 3.4 inch]. Book says a certain amount and then I allow a tiny bit more because I know how this is gonna be driven. FUZZ TOWNSEND When you've measured the piston and you put your ball gauge in between the points on the micrometer, it should read zero. RICK WOOD So, when you look at this, bang on zero, so, when we put this in the bore. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep? RICK WOOD When that reads zero, we've got 18 thou come out of that at the moment. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay, so, I'm gonna shut it. RICK WOOD It won't start without you shutting it. FUZZ TOWNSEND There we go. RICK WOOD You can't believe the accuracy and the speed. FUZZ TOWNSEND This is the first bit of turning that little Lexus into an absolute monster machine, isn't it? RICK WOOD It's all about the attention to detail. NARRATOR So, to put all that into common parlance, Charlie's car is gonna go like a rat up a drainpipe. But, with all that power, it's gonna need a suitable on-board computer system to get the very best out of that engine and, for that, Tim knows a man. TIM SHAW I think this is the place I'm supposed to come to get an ECU but forget ECU because I see you. OMG, an SX. Wow, Luke, hello, mate. LUKE Tim, how we doing? TIM SHAW Mate, what a treat to see one of these, the original LXS, the most beautiful. LUKE Absolutely. TIM SHAW Oh, dude, they're stunning aren't they? LUKE Stunning, stunning. This one's got a 3.5 naturally aspirated Toda Racing engine in it. Pushes out around 460 horsepower. TIM SHAW Honda S2000, what's this thing running? LUKE This is a 2.2 engine that came from the USA. TIM SHAW Right. LUKE The owner has beautifully welded a big turbo to it and it now does about 650 horsepower. TIM SHAW This is great, seeing all these cars, but I've come here about an ECU. LUKE All these cars that you've seen here, they've got our ECUs in them. Wiring looms and [UNSURE OF WORD] as well. TIM SHAW And where are they? That's what I wanna see. Okay. Wow, oh wow. So that's one of yours is it? LUKE Yes, so this is our 10in [UNIT CONVERSION 25 cm] LCD display. It has all the MOT tell tales that are required by law. So, this is perfect for any modified car that you may have. TIM SHAW Precisely what we want in the IS200. LUKE Okay. So, this is the full set up. So, this is your ECU, the device that makes your engine do everything correctly. TIM SHAW The brain. LUKE Yep. TIM SHAW Okay, so the brain is processing information from the Lambda sensor reading, 02 on the exhaust. LUKE Yep. TIM SHAW Drive shaft speed sensor. So, all this information goes into the ECU and then it processes it, makes the engine work accordingly and also let's you know what's happening on your screen. LUKE Exactly that. All these sensors, effectively, are the eyes and the ears of the ECU. TIM SHAW Right. Okay, well. Newp. LUKE What's that? TIM SHAW It's my shopping basket, mate. Fill it up, come on, let's have it. LUKE Come on then. LUKE So, need one of those. TIM SHAW Yep. LUKE You'll need one of those. TIM SHAW Yep. LUKE And a couple of those. And that's your lot. TIM SHAW Right, well, I'll swap this lot for a great gag. ECU IOU. [LAUGHS] Yes. NARRATOR Yes, not really L-O-L though, was it? Anyway, back at Rick's and it's all kicking off. Bodywork team are all over the body, cutting out the rust. The mechanics are all over the moving parts, getting rid of the car's old running gear. And the engine maestro himself has his magic hands on what is about to be a monstrous motor. So, rather than stand there gawping at it all, Tim and Fuzz are off on an essential mission; to find out exactly what this drifting lark is all about. TIM SHAW Heads or tails? FUZZ TOWNSEND Heads. TIM SHAW It's tails. Sorry mate, right there. FUZZ TOWNSEND You haven't even tossed the coin. TIM SHAW You don't wanna see where it is now. FUZZ TOWNSEND It was, look. TIM SHAW Put your hand in there, quick. Oh, next time. Hello mate, how you doing? What's your name? CORY I'm Cory. TIM SHAW Cory, right, drifting. Why? CORY I'll show you why, shall I? TIM SHAW Okay. FUZZ TOWNSEND I don't know if he's gonna enjoy this. CORY Hold on, Tim. TIM SHAW What the hell? Oh my word, what? Whoa! What? Whoa! Dude, seriously? Ah! Ah! Oh my gosh. Oh, feeling a bit sicky! FUZZ TOWNSEND You alright? TIM SHAW [RETCHES] FUZZ TOWNSEND You sit this one out. I'll do the next one. FUZZ TOWNSEND Right then. CORY How we doing? FUZZ TOWNSEND You'd better show me how to do it. FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] I bet you always get the parking spot in the supermarket. So, you're using the handbrake for some really quick, abrupt stops? CORY Yeah. Slow the back end down a little bit. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah? CORY Drag it on, drag it, drag it, drag it, drag it and then go. When the back end starts to go around, I let the wheel go a little bit and then turn it back in a bit, off the power. If you want it to go around a bit more, add more power, turn it in a bit more, off the power again, back on the power. Little bit of revs. Keep it going around. Do another loop, another doughnut. I'm gonna do another figure of eight, yeah? So I've looked over that way, power. Off the power, power. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. CORY Keep it going. Easy, power. Go, go, go, go. Off the power, let go of the wheel, power. FUZZ TOWNSEND So, lots of power. CORY Yeah, gotta keep the wheels spinning all the time. FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] CORY Then you're gonna use first gear, turn the wheel the way you wanna go. So, full lock it like this. You're gonna rev it all the way at the top of the revs and then you're gonna go bang off the clutch. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. CORY Alright? FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. You watch this. CORY Get a bit of speed up. Handbrake, clutch. FUZZ TOWNSEND So now, I can see why that handbrake is so vitally important. CORY Well done. Oh. Hey! That's it, let go of the wheel. Oh, easy. Good save. You're learning. FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] That's one thing that I must do then, when I get back to the workshop, forget the paint, cancel the order. You're gonna scratch it, it's gonna get scraped, so it doesn't matter what it looks like. CORY Yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND Let's just get it mechanically perfect for drifting. CORY Forward a bit. CORY Now that, back off. Back a bit. Nice, good save. TIM SHAW Fuzz? Fuzz! CORY Power. TIM SHAW Fuzz! We're going, we've gotta get on with Charlie's car! CORY Let it go. Power. TIM SHAW I know you can hear me. NARRATOR So, that's drifting for you. Like dancing on ice, except in a car and hugely addictive. So, when they do manage to extract Fuzz from the track, there's the little matter of Charlie's car to attend to. CORY Back a bit. NARRATOR All 500 plus horsepower of it. NARRATOR Tim, Fuzz and race car builder, Rick, have taken on a different type of challenge, in the form of Charlie's 2002 Lexus IS200, which they are turning into a full-blown competition drift car. FUZZ TOWNSEND This has gotta fit on there to make some more space for the wide wheels that we're gonna be fitting. So, I've prepped the area here with a bit of masking tape and I'm going to follow that line. NARRATOR Trainee bus driver, Charlie, had always dreamed of becoming a drift champion but, when he contracted cancer at the age of 25, his word suddenly changed and his drift car dream seemed to just fade away. KAREN It spread to his lymph nodes. He started chemotherapy and then within a week he lost his hair and his beard. NARRATOR When the car came in, it had a tired old 2ltr [UNIT CONVERSION 0.5 US gallon] engine. Now, with a bigger block, it's slowly being transformed into the stuff of legends, bored out at 3.3ltrs [UNIT CONVERSION 0.9 US gallon], the inlet and outlet ports have been increased for greater airflow. And clever new cam shafts really will give the car some umph. RICK WOOD So these are our cam shafts. FUZZ TOWNSEND VVC cams. RICK WOOD Variable valve timing, that's it. RICK WOOD Here we've got a cap. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep. RICK WOOD With a system where we've got oil that goes from one side to the other. So, depending where it, the oil's directed, turns the cam one way or the other way. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep. So, that means that the cam itself moves independently of the belt. RICK WOOD Correct. So, it's like 100 cams in one. FUZZ TOWNSEND So, this is our exhaust cam wheel, our variable trickery one has a movable hub inside it. RICK WOOD So, it's that much. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah. RICK WOOD About 35 degrees. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah, that's quite a lot. RICK WOOD Yeah. So, at low RPM, it's a very mild cam, as the revs come up, it goes to more aggressive. FUZZ TOWNSEND So it advances it. RICK WOOD Yeah. NARRATOR So, Fuzz and Rick are in their automotive element. But the engineering upgrades don't end with the engine. A big lump like that at full revs will drink fuel. Luckily, at Ricks, there's always a solution. TIM SHAW Jess is making a surge tank for the car now. A surge tank, basically a pot that is continually full of fuel, meaning that the engine will never be starved, so you've got two fuel pumps in the car, basically. There's a low pressure one in the fuel tank, which is keeping this thing overflowed and then from this one to the engine, a high pressure fuel pump. So, without this, we'd be in big trouble. It's a very important component in a high horsey car. Right? And this is TIG welding, tungsten inert gas, so it's a tungsten tip on there. JESS Exactly. Yeah, this is like a hairdryer creating a cone of heat, which will melt the aluminium. You push the filler wire in, then forms almost like this little kind of dime. TIM SHAW What, like a load of little American silver dimes? JESS Yeah, it looks like loads of little coins in a row, just kind of overlapping each other. TIM SHAW Yeah, okay. Right, so every single one of those dimes is in touch with the aluminium rod, isn't it? JESS Yeah. So, if I'm melting two pieces together, you'll have a puddle. TIM SHAW Yeah. JESS And then, I'll basically be dipping this rod into the puddle, creating the dimes. TIM SHAW How long would it take to learn how to do just that? JESS It took me two and half years to get it to look like that. TIM SHAW So, if that's taken you two and half years to learn to weld that well, how long would it take you to weld up the rest of this box? JESS Take me the rest of the day to finish this. TIM SHAW To get it right? JESS Yeah. TIM SHAW Okay. NARRATOR So, that big engine will never be short of fuel. Nor, it seems, will it be short of air. RICK WOOD There you go. FUZZ TOWNSEND Oh. RICK WOOD Do you wanna put that on? FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah, and rarely have I seen one as big as that before. So, this is the inlet manifold. RICK WOOD We want to create as little restriction coming in. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep. RICK WOOD As possible. RICK WOOD Right. FUZZ TOWNSEND But look at the size of that. RICK WOOD Weighs a bit of a tonne. [UNIT CONVERSION 1,016kg] FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] FUZZ TOWNSEND We've got the exhaust gases coming out of the engine, turning the turbo charger, spinning this around. And then exhaust comes out this way and off it goes out the back of the car. RICK WOOD The air's coming in here, into the impella, then it's compressed, comes out here. Down through the inter cooler at the front of the car. FUZZ TOWNSEND To cool the air down that's going to be taken inside the combustion chambers. RICK WOOD When you compress air, it gets hot. And we really want the charge temperature to be as low as possible. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yes. RICK WOOD That's why we have an inter cooler. FUZZ TOWNSEND Colder air is denser air, so you can get more of it in there. The more air you can get into the combustion chambers, the more power that you can actually liberate. RICK WOOD And it's been powered by free power because the exhaust has gotta come out anyway. FUZZ TOWNSEND It's gonna look absolutely amazing. I just hope that everything else fits in alongside it. RICK WOOD It's gonna be so tight. FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] It looks it. What a monster. NARRATOR Yes, it certainly looks fully loaded, but have Fuzz and Rick done enough to let loose those 500 horses and, more to the point, will Charlie's mum, Karen, approve of all these changes? Let's hope so, she's just turned up outside. TIM SHAW Mate, can I ring you back in a minute? Yeah, no worries. Hello. KAREN Tim, you forgot the wheels. TIM SHAW Look at those. Are these what Charlie chose? KAREN Yep. TIM SHAW No way. Have you got all four of 'em? KAREN Yeah, the others are in my car. TIM SHAW Come on then, we'll get these out in a minute. Mate, nice wheels. Right, come on then. TIM SHAW Fuzz-bot, Fuzz-bot? Karen's here. That is the car. KAREN Oh my god. TIM SHAW That is the car. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah. TIM SHAW What you thinking? KAREN Wow. TIM SHAW What's going through your mind at the moment, Karen? KAREN It just looks scary and a mess. TIM SHAW Yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND I mean, it looks like a scrap car. TIM SHAW I can't even imagine what it's gonna look like. FUZZ TOWNSEND Really, we're at the worst stage of the whole thing. This is where it looks terrible. TIM SHAW But, we're gonna turn this thing in terms of power, we're gonna times it by a factor of three. This thing's gonna be an absolute animal if you're happy with that. KAREN Yeah, I am. It'll mean everything to him. FUZZ TOWNSEND You know, it's not going to be the shopping car. KAREN He's gonna love it. FUZZ TOWNSEND Although, it will be road legal. TIM SHAW So, if I was to say, "We're gonna go big wheels, gonna make the thing low, wide, uprate the whole car," is there a point where you'll go,"Whoa, whoa, back off, back off"? KAREN No, 'cause you, sort of, sound like Charlie. TIM SHAW Really? KAREN Where I'm usually like, "Um, yeah, okay." And it goes over my head. I mean, fair play to him, he bought the car, he started. TIM SHAW Yeah. KAREN Trying, but then he got ill. TIM SHAW How's Charlie? Does he suss anything? KAREN From your day of filming, word got round. The whole estate knows. But, he doesn't know a thing. TIM SHAW Brilliant. Who knows about it? Who's talking about it? KAREN My next door neighbour told me. She said that people recognized you from the show and knew what was going on. TIM SHAW And it's a matter of time before Charlie finds out. FUZZ TOWNSEND This needs to be done fast. Normally, right about now, we'd talk about the reveal. KAREN Yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND We know what it's gonna be. It's a drift car, so it's gonna be a drift event. TIM SHAW Yeah. KAREN Great. FUZZ TOWNSEND There's nothing to do here, but get on with this car, so you've got the wheels out there in the car? KAREN Yeah, yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND Right, okay, go and help Karen get those wheels in, I'm gonna carry on with this. Go on. On you go. NARRATOR Oh dear. If the secret's been leaked, the date of the reveal is going to have to be brought forward. Charlie's been invited by his mates for a track day at Bovingdon Airfield but, to hit the new date, the pace of work is now gonna have to go up considerably. Time to bring the team together. TIM SHAW I'm sorry to say this, guys, but it means that car's gotta go back next week. NARRATOR So, the race begins. To incorporate those new big wheels, the car is going to need new big suspension. FUZZ TOWNSEND Now the strut in. NARRATOR It'll need more stopping power in the form of upgraded brakes. FUZZ TOWNSEND Drifting, it's either all the brakes or all the acceleration. These are gonna have to work their little socks off. NARRATOR That race-ready fuel tank is fitted, along with that beautifully crafted surge tank. And, as for the transmission. FUZZ TOWNSEND Now, take a look in here; a brand new five speed box. It's gonna be good for at least 700 brake horsepower. NARRATOR Yes, we've really gone super sized this time. But the question is, is it all going to fit? RICK WOOD The leaver of truth. NARRATOR If it doesn't, it's back to the drawing board. FUZZ TOWNSEND She's in. RICK WOOD Yeah. FUZZ TOWNSEND This turbo kit is made for a left-hand drive car, which means that there wouldn't be a steering column down here. It would be over this side, where there's loads of space. But it only misses the steering column by maybe a millimetre [UNIT CONVERSION 0.04 inch]. So close. It's almost kissing it. And, we've got that ginormous great inlet manifold to put in here. And that's the space that was taken up from mounting all of our electrical components. FUZZ TOWNSEND Any modification that you do to a car requires a little more thought further down the line. TIM SHAW This is actually, for me, probably one of the scariest moments when it comes to restoring a car because not only is it laden with technology, but we're modifying it with this gear down here, which is an uprated ECU. The new brain of the car, that ECU will get hidden under there somewhere. NARRATOR Well, a car's computer system might be in place, but there's still hundreds of jobs that still need doing. A whole new heavy duty drive train to take all that power to the back wheels goes into place. The extended wheel arches get a lick of silver paint before being attached to the car. An inter cooler is fitted to bring the temperature of the fuel-air mix right down. FUZZ TOWNSEND Air is passed through here as the car moves along the road and goes into the inlet manifold and then into the combustion chambers, cooler and more dense, capable of producing more power. Now that's what I call cool stuff. NARRATOR The interior is scanned by a laser so that a new hydraulic handbrake can be fitted at exactly the right position for lighting quick braking. TIM SHAW Steering wheel, handbrake, steering wheel, handbrake, steering wheel, gear, handbrake, whatever, so it's a nice little triangle. NARRATOR And once the handbrake is fitted, the rest of the interior can start to go back in the car. FUZZ TOWNSEND We're getting there. The engine and gear box are in, it's all tightened down but will it run? We don't know yet. All the suspension has been built up, we've got rebuilt front suspension, the cradle at the rear is completely rebuilt as well. We are trial fitting all of the body kit, so the body kit's on there. Now, we are actually getting somewhere with this car. It's not far from being a driving vehicle. TIM SHAW Rick told me a yellow binnacle around the clocks will look great and he's right. Gotta put the GPS on it as well, clip. That drops in there. 3D printed. Lovely, a complete one off, bespoke surround for the clocks. Right. The big moment. Oh yes, mate. That is sweet. And yes, I want one as well, it's okay to be jealous. Right, come on, we've gotta get on with this. NARRATOR Yes, seeing the lights flicker on on the dashboard is good. But seeing the light at the end of the tunnel will be even better. So, the last few pipes and hoses are plumbed in. Final electrics are wired up and tested. And those magnificent gold wheels are bolted on. But the big test is yet to come. The rolling road, where the engine can be started, tuned and, most importantly, tested to see exactly how much power is gonna pump out. TIM SHAW This is it. NARRATOR This is the moment of truth. TIM SHAW The time has come. We might be delivering the most powerful car we've ever delivered on car sausage. FUZZ TOWNSEND It's warmed up, it's ready, it's been mapped. RICK WOOD Switch the fans on. Fuzz, Luke, you jump on the back. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay, go on it. TIM SHAW Here comes the first fan. Right, go. Go, go, go. Give it meat! Come on! This it. This is that moment, the number that we're looking for in terms of horsepower, once we're on the way up and down, will be delivered on that screen. The wheels are spinning. Oh, my God! Ahh! FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] TIM SHAW What? 668.5 brake horsepower. Take a photo. This is one of them one of the, oh! RICK WOOD [LAUGHS] TEAM [APPLAUSE] FUZZ TOWNSEND It's the biggest horsepower we've ever delivered in any car. FUZZ TOWNSEND Come on, come on, hold on, hold on, hold on. TIM SHAW What a day. Today is the day never to be forgotten, Fuzz. FUZZ TOWNSEND This isn't the day that's never to be forgotten. The day that we give Charlie his car back, that's the one that we're working toward. TIM SHAW That's tomorrow. Got a little bit of a treat for you. FUZZ TOWNSEND What's that? TIM SHAW Drift circuit with a very special guest. RICK WOOD We've got hundreds of things to do. FUZZ TOWNSEND We've got body kit, we've go the front, we've got the bonnet, we've got everything, we've got things to secure. Yeah. TIM SHAW Alright, I'm gonna get some tools, let's get on it, guys. FUZZ TOWNSEND Alright, cool. TIM SHAW Back on the heads. NARRATOR Yes, it's gonna be quite a day. Let's just hope that Charlie's gonna be able to handle not just the surprise, but also his new fully loaded beast of a drift car. NARRATOR If you're thinking of taking up drifting but you don't know a clutch kick from a dirt drop, then you need to come drift school at Bovingdon Airfield in Hertfordshire and learn all about it. They have a fine selection of super cars to doughnut to your heart's content. Although, today there's one super car that you won't be able to get it going. TIM AND FUZZ 668 horsepower. TIM SHAW What? FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] No. TIM SHAW That's the neighbour of the beast. FUZZ TOWNSEND I know, yes it is, but look at the car now. It's got all of its body kit on, it's all colour coordinated. It's absolutely monstrous. Look at the wheels as well, everything. What's OBD? TIM SHAW If I told you, you'd peel it off. Anyway, forget that. What's happening today? Simple. Charlie's coming down here with his mate. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yeah. TIM SHAW To do a spot of drifting out here in one of these lovely cars. And you're gonna be out on the track. FUZZ TOWNSEND Yep. TIM SHAW We've managed to get a guy called Lwi Edwards. FUZZ TOWNSEND Right? TIM SHAW Who happens to be the UK drift champion. So, that's gonna create a bit of a stir. I'm the marshal. FUZZ TOWNSEND Oh yeah? TIM SHAW You're gonna pull up in it, right along side them and the rest will be drift history. That's what's gonna happen. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay, fantastic. TIM SHAW Come on, hop in, let's get it in position. FUZZ TOWNSEND Okay. NARRATOR Yes, the plan is pretty straightforward. Charlie's been invited by his mates to come here today for a bit of drifting to blow away the cobwebs. It is already the perfect day out. What he doesn't realise is that it's about to get even more perfect. Friends and family are here to join the surprise. What do they thing of the car? KAREN [LAUGHS] Is that the same car? Look at the wheels. Wow. FRIEND Oh my god. That is ridiculous. FRIEND That is naughty. KAREN I reckon, for the first time ever, he'll be speechless. He's gonna love it. FRIEND Fantastic. It is exactly what he wanted, from the moment that he's come out of hospital, this is all he's gone on about. NARRATOR So, thumbs up all round and time for Operation Oversteer to go into action. Everyone and the car go into hiding. Tim dresses up as a track marshal and, bang on time, Charlie and his mates, who are in on the scam, arrive. As the most experienced of the group, Charlie gets nominated to go first in the training car. TIM SHAW Right, let's make this happen. TRAINER You can give it a squirt of power here. CHARLIE Oh, I love this car. NARRATOR It's pretty obvious from the get go that Charlie knows his way around a drift track. He's also been told that the whole thing's being filmed for the drift school's website and that includes a face to face with a the UK drift champion, Lwi Edwards, who just happens to be one of Charlie's heroes. CHARLIE Sweet. TIM SHAW What's your name? CHARLIE Charlie. TIM SHAW Charlie, Lwi. LWI EDWARDS Nice to meet you, Lwi. CHARLIE Nice to meet you. TIM SHAW Lwi, do me a favour. Take Charlie out, will you? LWI EDWARDS Yeah. We got a Lexus? TIM SHAW Lwi's requesting a Lexus. What about a go in that? CHARLIE Yeah? TIM SHAW Do you recognise it? CHARLIE Oh. TIM SHAW Do you recognise that car? CHARLIE Let me check the VIN in the window. Oh. [SOBS] FUZZ TOWNSEND What's that? You call that a key? TIM SHAW Charlie, hello mate. How you doing? CHARLIE It's my car, innit? TIM SHAW It is your car. CHARLIE Oh. TIM SHAW This is your Lexus, this is your car. CHARLIE Thank you. TIM SHAW How does that feel? CHARLIE Can't believe it. TIM SHAW Are you shaking? CHARLIE Yeah. FAMILY AND FRIENDS [APPLAUSE] CHARLIE [LAUGHS] KAREN Hey, you alright, hun? CHARLIE You alright? KAREN Aw. What do you reckon? CHARLIE I love it. KAREN [LAUGHS] KAREN You know you all the bits for it? CHARLIE Yeah. KAREN And the you couldn't cope doing it? CHARLIE Oh yeah. KAREN And I asked for their help. And I just wanted you to see that good things can happen. Not just bad all the time. CHARLIE Yeah. KAREN Yeah? CHARLIE You can feel me shaking. TIM SHAW I can feel you shaking. This is your car. And this is a very specialized 200. CHARLIE I love the wheels. [LAUGHS] TIM SHAW [LAUGHS] They're good. CHARLIE [LAUGHS] TIM SHAW Come here, Rick, come on. Have you heard of something called horsepower? CHARLIE Hello, mate. RICK WOOD Hello mate. CHARLIE Yes. TIM SHAW Well, we put it on the dino yesterday, Rick, what did it pump out? RICK WOOD Over 600. CHARLIE Ooph! TIM SHAW [LAUGHS] CHARLIE How am I gonna manage that? RICK WOOD Slowly. TIM SHAW Yeah. CHARLIE And carefully. TIM SHAW And even Lwi said, "This boy can drive," which is a compliment from the UK drift champion. KAREN Come on. CHARLIE Ah. TIM SHAW Can we have a round of applause? For Charlie and his IS200, please. NARRATOR The last time Charlie saw his Lexus, it was far from the vision he'd once had. More a scrap car than a drift champion. Now, however, much to his surprise, his drift machine dream has come true. The car has been redesigned and rebuilt from top to bottom. From the outside, its aggressive stance, wide wheels and extended wheel arches make it look like it belongs on the track. It has competition brakes, running gear and suspension. An uprated gear box, electronic controls and of course, the most important part of any competition race car, a full blown powerhouse of an engine that's simply bursting at the seams with horsepower. This isn't any old drift car. This is a champion waiting in the wings. TIM SHAW How does it feel? CHARLIE Ecstatic. I struggle to show my emotions. TIM SHAW That's okay. CHARLIE But, when you revealed the car and you had your arm around me, I was shaking, trembling and I couldn't speak. So I just wanted to cry. And I feel, that was happiness. TIM SHAW What was it about drifting that you love so much? CHARLIE I think the adrenaline rush. You're going sideways at decent speeds. The wind's coming through the windows, you and our passenger are laughing. TIM SHAW Yeah. CHARLIE And it just felt like an escape. I had big plans for this car and then when I got ill, the first thing I thought was, "I'm not gonna be around to finish it." And then the ball got rolling very quickly. And there was a very short space of time between my operation to have it removed. And had 50 bags of chemo in nine weeks. TIM SHAW Really? CHARLIE So, I felt like I lost my identity. It just feels like every thing puts me down. TIM SHAW Charlie, what's been your lowest point in this? CHARLIE Not wanting to be here. I don't know how to take the help I'm getting. Because I've always been the one to wanna help. TIM SHAW So, if you're ever feeling low again, this car will put that smile on that face, and don't you know it. CHARLIE It's mind boggling. My car's finished and it's exactly what I wanted to do to it. And it's just amazing. TIM SHAW Alright, Charlie, there is only one thing left to do and that is to give you the key to your car. The penny dropped when you saw that, didn't it? CHARLIE Oh yes. TIM SHAW That is the key to 668 horsepower. Careful when chilling on the roads, alright? Keep that license. CHARLIE Brilliant. TIM SHAW Cheers, man. CHARLIE Thank you. TIM SHAW You've been Car S-O-Sed CHARLIE Oh yes. CHARLIE Ah, I love it. I've missed the smell of burning rubber and burning fuel. TIM SHAW Go on, Charlie, get outta here. FUZZ TOWNSEND [LAUGHS] FUZZ TOWNSEND Yes. TIM SHAW Exactly. One Ball Drifting. KAREN [LAUGHS] Don't crash. CHARLIE Whoa! [LAUGHS] CHARLIE'S GIRLFRIEND Since the cancer, even before, he's wanted to do so much with that car. And now and now that it's done, it's given him that boost that hopefully it gets him out of that pit that he's in at the moment. FRIEND WEARING GLASSES Hugely jealous yes. It's amazing, it's better than anything we've ever thought it could have been. Definitely sort of set him on the straight and narrow. KAREN So, you happy? CHARLIE Oh yes. KAREN Good. CHARLIE I can't believe it. KAREN I bet you can't.