Login
Login

Ken Nomura

{{short description|Japanese drifting driver}}

{{Infobox racing driver

| name = Ken Nomura

| image = Nomuken.jpg

| imagesize = 180px

| caption = Nomuken in a comedy pose during a Pit Walk session, Silverstone Circuit, October 2005

| nationality = {{JPN}}

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1965|5|9}}

| birth_place = Fukuoka, Fukuoka Prefecture

| related to =

| current series = D1 Grand Prix

| first year = {{d1|2001}}

| current team = PACIFIC RACING TEAM DUNLOP

| former teams =

| starts =

| wins = 4

| best finish = 2nd

| year = {{d1|2006}}, {{d1|2008}}

| prev series =

| prev series years =

| titles =

| title years =

| awards =

| award years =

}}

{{nihongo|Ken Nomura |Shinjitai: 野村謙|Nomura Ken|extra=born Fukuoka, May 9, 1965}} is a drifting driver from Japan. He made his debut in the D1 Grand Prix in the 3rd round in 2001, driving the Blitz D1 Spec ER34 Skyline which he still drives. His nickname is Nomuken (のむけん) or Monkey Magic (as a reference to his company).

In his youth, Nomura was a baseball player and was very well known within his region, but his career never progressed any further through injury and turned to property developing.{{Cite web |url=http://driftjapan.com/blog/drivers/ken-nomuken-nomura/ |title=Ken Nomura » Driver Profile » Drift Japan |access-date=2007-09-23 |archive-date=2007-09-16 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070916035421/http://driftjapan.com/blog/drivers/ken-nomuken-nomura/ |url-status=dead }} Once he gained his driving licence, he was dedicated to night-time street drag racing and then progressed to touge racing. In 1992, Nomuken was runner up in the "All Japan Ikaten" Finals and later in 1996 opened his own tuning shop Uras (reverse for saru, Japanese for monkey), producing drift specific products.

When he first joined the D1GP series in 2000, his performance was average, he had been away from drifting for some time before competing in its inaugural year. But as soon as he signed a contract with parts manufacturer Blitz as a works driver, his skills quickly developed.

In the D1 events, he is known for his imitation of a monkey, as the pioneer of the smoke technique, he drifts with the most smoke. He is widely a fan favorite in the series. He also competes in the budget spinoff series, D1 Street Legal with a toned down version of his Skyline.

In 2006, Ken Nomura won the D1GP Non Championship Event World All Star.

He has also appeared for a TV commercial for his sponsor, Dunlop Tires in Japan, appears as a guest presenter in Video Option and Drift Tengoku as well as a columnist for the Option magazine and judges in drift events.

He announced his intention to retire after the 2018 season on Twitter,{{cite tweet|number=969163348334985222|user=_n_o_m_u_k_e_n_|title=私、自称レジェンド（自分で言うとるw）は2018年をもってD1選手生活を終了します♪皆さん成績低迷にもかかわらず背中を押し続けてくれた事、支えてくれた事、ホントにあざーっす!こんなヤツを応援してくれる皆さんがいた事は、一生の宝物で… |date=1 March 2018}} and ran his last full-time race on Odaiba.{{Cite web |url=https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20181112/mot18111220190002-n3.html |title=Legend Nomuken's Retirement! Follow his achievements before D1GP Tokyo Drift! |access-date=2018-11-18 |archive-date=2018-11-18 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181118122840/https://www.sanspo.com/sports/news/20181112/mot18111220190002-n3.html |url-status=dead }}

Complete Drifting Results

Image:Blitzer34.jpg

{{Drifting driver results legend}}

=D1 Grand Prix=

class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; font-size:95%"

! Year

! Entrant

! Car

! 1

! 2

! 3

! 4

! 5

! 6

! 7

! 8

! Position

! Points

rowspan="2" | 2001

!

! Nissan 180SX

|style="background:#FFCFCF;"| EBS
DNQ

|

|

|

|

|

|

|

! rowspan="2" |

! rowspan="2" | 0

Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|

|| NIK

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| BHH
TAN

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| EBS
TAN

|| NIK

|

|

|⇨

2002

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

BHH
TAN

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
6

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SGO
3

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TKB
10

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EBS
10

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SEK
6

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| NIK
2

|⇨

! 3

! 58

2003

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TKB
6

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| BHH
4

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SGO
9

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| FUJ
TAN

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SEK
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TKB
16

|

! 7

! 44

2004

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IRW
3

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| SGO
3

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| EBS
1

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| APS
8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ODB
7

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TKB
16

|⇨

! 4

! 72

2005

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IRW
8

|style="background:#FFFFFF;"| ODB
TAN

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SGO
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| APS
9

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EBS
16

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| FUJ
4

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| TKB
8

|⇨

! 6

! 49

2006

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| IRW
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| SGO
1

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
10

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| APS
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| EBS
2

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| SUZ
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
10

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| IRW
3

! 2

! 109

2007

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
16

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ
7

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SGO
6

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| EBS
1

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| APS
7

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
11

|⇨

! 5

! 57

{{D1|2008}}

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| EBS
2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ
8

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| SUZ
6

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKY
6

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| APS
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EBS
15

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
11

|⇨

! 2

! 78

{{D1|2009}}

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#FFFFBF;"| EBS
1

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| APS
2

|style="background:#FFDF9F;"| OKY
3

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKY
10

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
5

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
7

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ
7

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
18

! 3

! 106

{{D1|2010}}

! Blitz

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| APS
4

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| OKY
2

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| OKY
9

|style="background:#DFDFDF;"| EBS
2

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EBS
16

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ
6

|style="background:#"| ⇨

! 4

! 90

{{D1|2011}}

! BLITZ DFellow

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| ODB
7

|style="background:#DFFFDF;"| APS
4

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ
11

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| OKY
10

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| EBS
8

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| EBS
12

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| FUJ
8

|style="background:#"| ⇨

! 6

! 140

{{D1|2012}}

! BLITZ Dfellow

! Toyota GT86 ZN6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ODB
15

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| SUZ
16

|style="background:#"| APS
Q-16

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-25

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-16

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| CSC
6

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| ODB
16

|style="background:#"| ⇨

! 22

! 20

{{D1|2013}}

! Blitz

! Toyota GT86 ZN6

|style="background:#"| MSI
Q-28

|style="background:#"| SUZ
Q-30

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-22

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-23

|style="background:#"| HBR
N

|style="background:#"| ODB
Q-31

|style="background:#" colspan="2"|⇨

! -

! -

{{D1|2014}}

! PACIFIC RACING TEAM with URAS

! Toyota GT86 ZN6

|style="background:#"| FUJ
Q-43

|style="background:#"| SUZ
Q-25

|style="background:#"| APS
R

|style="background:#"| EBS
N

|style="background:#"| EBS
N

|style="background:#"| ODB
N

|style="background:#" colspan="2"|⇨

! -

! -

{{D1|2015}}

! PACIFIC RACING TEAM with URAS

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#"| ODB
Pq-21

|style="background:#"| SUZ
Q-36

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-39

|style="background:#"| TKB
Q-24

|style="background:#"| MSI
Q-43

|style="background:#"| ODB
N

|style="background:#" colspan="2"|⇨

! -

! -

{{D1|2016}}

! PACIFIC RACING TEAM with DUNLOP

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#"| ODB
Q-27

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| FUJ
15

|style="background:#"| TKB
Q-35

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TKB
12

|style="background:#"| EBS
23

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-28

|style="background:#"| ODB
N

|style="background:#"|⇨

! 27

! 16

{{D1|2017}}

! PACIFIC RACING TEAM DUNLOP

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#"| ODB
22

|style="background:#"| ODB
Q-21

|style="background:#"| TKB
Q-36

|style="background:#"| MSI
Q-30

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-22

|style="background:#"| EBS
18

|style="background:#"| ODB
N

|style="background:#"|⇨

! 34

! 2

{{D1|2018}}

! PACIFIC RACING TEAM DUNLOP

! Nissan Skyline ER34

|style="background:#CFCFFF;"| MSI
8

|style="background:#"| MSI
18

|style="background:#"| APS
Q-20

|style="background:#"| TOK
Q-18

|style="background:#EFCFFF;"| TKB
15

|style="background:#"| EBS
Q-23

|style="background:#"| EBS
23

|style="background:#"| ODB
17

! 24

! 23

References

External links

  • [http://www.uras.co.jp Company Site]
  • [http://www.nomuken.com Official site]
  • [https://web.archive.org/web/20070113081229/http://www.blitz.co.jp/d1gp/d1.htm Blitz official site]
  • [http://www.geocities.jp/d1gp_5thmotorsports/d1_drivers/nomura.html D1 Supporter profile]

{{D1 Grand Prix}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Nomura, Ken}}

Category:Japanese racing drivers

Category:Japanese baseball players

Category:1965 births

Category:Living people

Category:Drifting drivers

Category:Motorsport announcers

Category:D1 Grand Prix drivers

Category:Baseball people from Fukuoka (city)