Ricci's Garage: does Volk Racing build the best-looking wheels for modified cars?

Renowned photographer Mark has been working with Top Gear for many, many years. When not taking photos he’s buying inappropriate cars. Here he shares his addiction with the world

Back in 2001 – while driving north to the Isle of Skye – my parents were keen to demonstrate the fancy capabilities of our Volvo XC90 which had screens in the headrests. What wasn’t considered was any actual material to watch, so the first few hours of this journey were spent staring blankly at said screens. Then, while stopping for fuel, I asked mum if we could get a DVD to watch (still relatively new tech at this point). Being car obsessed from a young age led me straight to a DVD with a bright yellow Impreza on the cover.

Max Power: Beasts from the East. Anyone who knows the history of Max Power understands this is far from family viewing, but amazingly this particular DVD was in fact car based and relatively factual. Even by today’s standards it’s a brilliant insight into Japanese car culture, despite first being launched on VHS in 1999. And while it left my parents completely perplexed, it would shape my automotive obsession for decades to come.

My first car, a white EK Civic, was made to replicate the Top Fuel EK9 featured on this film. Isao Mizota – who drives Ab Flug’s Mazda RX7 early on – is now a friend of mine. From 2004–2010 I even worked on Max Power, and when I finally visited Japan in 2017 a visit to Top Secret and Veilside were high on the list of things to do right away.

I’ve owned Civics, Skylines, an Evo, a 200SX and multiple RX-7s in the past 20 years. And every single one has shared a common trait triggered by that DVD all those years back... they’ve all been sat on the most honourable of honourable Volk Racing wheels. For over 50 years Rays Engineering (which manufactures Volk Racing) has produced some of the best looking wheels in existence, from OEM designs like the R35 GT-R right through to the world of Formula One. Its wheels don’t just look good, they’re built with actual motorsport purpose too.

My first R32 Skyline sat on Volk TE37s, as did my R33 GT-R. I’ve had Gram Light 57DRs on an RX-7 along with TE37s and ZE40s. I’ve tried (and failed) to fit 17x9.5in SE37Ks on an old EK Civic, and most recently ran a set on an old Ferrari Challenge racecar. I can’t decide if it’s worrying or impressive, but I can decipher most TE37 fitments simply by their spoke design and PCD.

And it’s this level of anorak that’s why my current R34 GT-R is now on its third set of Volk Racing TE37 wheels – the TE37 Saga SL M-Spec to give them their full name. Essentially you’re looking at a lighter, stronger version of an already light and super strong wheel. The finish is known simply as ‘pressed black’, and depending on what light you view them in, they appear to shift between an almost chrome-like finish to completely black. Both of which look brilliant against the Bayside Blue paintwork.

It’s been 23 years since I inadvertently kicked off an obsession with Japanese cars, and I’d hoped by my late 30s this would’ve progressed into something a bit more sensible. But with the GT-R still in many pieces, a Pajero Evo boasting a blown engine and a horrid desire to (one day) build a four rotor RX-7, the phrase ‘it has to get worse before it gets better’ couldn’t be more apt right now.