JENNY IS BACK - Jenny De Jesus

a sixsecond Toyota Starlet?

What even is a Toyota Starlet?

Well…the Starlet was produced in Japan from 1973 to 1999 as a subcompact and was briefly exported to North America from 1981 to 1984.

Given the limited export window, it’s likely you’ve never seen one beside you on the highway (and if you did you probably wouldn’t remember it anyway), let alone at the dragstrip, however, there is a strong following for these cars for a few simple reasons; they are light and versatile! Two key

components in building a winning drag car. I know, you’re thinking big deal, anyone can make a car that light run quick, but try doing it with a Toyota 4 cylinder engine! So, while you may have half the weight, you also have half the engine, and this wicked little Starlet runs 6-second 1/4-mile hits… nuff said!

“Starlet” refers to a young actress with aspirations to become a star, and there’s no doubt that this Starlet, also known as “Jenny Is Back”, has definitely become well known

This 1981 newspaper ad touted the features and benefits of the diminutive Toyota Starlet

Story & Photos by Eddie Maloney

compact indeed

The Starlet weighed just 1,620lbs from the factory. With the give and take of the build (taking away glass and heavy trim but adding a cage and turbo), it most likely sits pretty close to that now.

among her peers. And since Jenny De Jesus is a co-owner of the car, the name just works. You will mostly find these cars racing on the Atlantic coast, from the Northeast to Puerto Rico. Atco Raceway in New Jersey and Orlando Speedworld Dragway in Florida predominantly host most of the racing action for Toyota Starlets, but you can also find some heavy hitters competing at the World Cup which happens every November in Maryland. If you have not had the opportunity to see these

I started racing imports at 16 years old

Efren Santiago

cars in action, we strongly recommend doing so. Mixing in big horsepower with a short wheelbase, light weight and high RPMs, these cars are a handful to drive. The pilots are truly in a class of their own and many drivers from other top-level classes admit they’d rather not get behind the wheel of one.

Chances are with the factory 44 available horsepower (53HP in the performance version) the Starlet was not the choice of performance enthusiasts. Originally, it would have seen a top speed of 88MPH, a far cry from the close to 200MPH it now runs. Efren has wheeled Jenny to a best time of 6.90 @ 198 mph in the quarter mile.

Harnessing the Competitive Edge

5/8" WHEEL STUD KITS

½" SOCKET HEAD WHEEL STUD WITH BULLET NOSE

VANESSA FLANAGAN OPEN OUTLAW RACING LUG NUT KITS (5 PC)

The car is painted Candy Pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

The Smart Car tow rig is wildly appropriate!

Most of these boosted cars need to breathe heavy due to the M1 Methanol fuel, so you’re probably best to stand on the other side.

Jenny (the car) is co-owned by Efren Santiago and Jenny De Jesus of Kissimmee, Florida, with Efren taking on driving and maintenance duties and Jenny (the person) handling bookings, marketing and sponsorship.

Efren is no stranger to the Import scene, having lived in New York during its heydays. “I started racing imports at 16 years old and we mainly raced at Englishtown and Atco, New Jersey,” he

said. Fast forward to 2005, and Efren met his “better half”, Jenny, and they quickly became inseparable.

“The first Starlet we bought together was in 2007, we named it Jenny Racing, after me of course!” Jenny added. The pair raced a few cars over the years throughout the east coast and Puerto Rico, then after relocating to Florida, they competed heavily in all the major events at Or-

The interior is Spartan at best with all factory parts gone in favor of carbon panels, a 6.0-Certified cage, Racepak dash, Liberty Shifter , chute lever, Fire system and a few other odds and ends.

lando Speedworld. After crashing their previous red Starlet in August 2015, they went on a hunt for a replacement rolling chassis, and as you can imagine, it is a bit harder than finding a Fox Body Mustang or first Gen Camaro. They caught wind of a near complete Starlet built by the owner of Orlando Speedworld, Ozzy Moya, that might be coming to market in their own backyard. Once the deal was secured, Efren and Jenny were extremely excit-

ed to get started as the roller was a top-notch build and was already painted pink!

The body is an OEM 1981 Toyota Starlet with Lexan windows and functioning lights. The original interior is long gone, replaced with mostly carbon fiber panels (including the sizeable rear wheel tubs) to make the already lightweight, even lighter. A Racepak IQ9 dash is situated front and center and the tall Liberty billet shifter sits at grab-height. Not skimping

everyone loves the clutch pedal!

Shifting the boosted 4-cylinder through the gears at 10,000 RPM is a show in itself.

out on safety, Jenny is certified to run 6.00 in the ¼ with some of the finest chassis work in the business evident in the build. Once in their garage, Efren hit the ground running, sourcing a 2.7liter 4-cylinder from a 2002 Toyota Tacoma. The package was built by TRS Motorsports using the factory head, block, and crank.

Custom billet rods, Outlaw spec Traum pistons, a TRS-prepped head and valvetrain and Stage 5 Web camshafts were used to create a very boost-friendly mill, and boost it they did. An 88mm Precision turbocharger was plumbed into the mix and a custom billet intake manifold by Gato Performance along with eight

To date, the Starlet’s best run is a 6.90 in the quarter at a tick over 198mph

in 1981

The Toyota Starlet was more utilitarian than threatening, with more emphasis on fuel economy than impressive horsepower and lightning quick ETs.

booster shots

The engine is a 2002 Toyota Tacoma 2.7L 4 cyl built by TRS Motorsports using the factory head, block, and crank. Custom billet rods, Outlaw spec Traum pistons, a TRS-prepped cylinder head and Stage 5 Web camshafts were incorporated into the build.

The Starlet is boosted by a PT8891 GEN2 88mm turbocharger by Precision Turbo with 66mm wastegate.

Efren Santiago and Jenny De Jesus’ 1981 Turbo Toyota Starlet

Chassis Type & Mods:

OEM Toyota Body fully modified with NHRA cert 6.0 chassis, carbon fiber interior, carbon fiber wheel tubs.

Suspension:

Front: Strange spindle mount adjustable struts installed on factory style front suspension.

Rear: 4-link suspension set up with double adjustable coilovers.

Tires:

M/T 33x10.5

Body & Paint:

Candy Pink By Witing body & paint

Engine:

2002 Toyota Tacoma 2.7L 4 cyl engine built by TRS Motorsports. Factory head, block, and crank. Custom billet rods, Outlaw spec Traum pistons. TRS head and valvetrain with Inconel valves and Stage 5 Web camshafts. ATI damper with external oil pump and mechanical 13 gallon fuel pump.

Induction & Fuel Delivery:

Ross Machine Racing throttle body. Custom Billet intake manifold by Gato Performance and 8 x 5500cc FuelTech Billet race injectors running Methanol.

Power Adder:

Turbocharger, 8891 GEN2 by Precision Turbo, 66mm wastegate by Precision Turbo.

Electronics:

FuelTech FT550 LITE ECU system for engine control, traction control and datalogger, FT Spark Hi Energy CDI ignition controls the spark. Racepak IQ9 Dash Display.

Transmission & Converter:

Liberty Gears 5 speed sequential transmission. Dual disc clutch by Direct Clutch in Australia.

Rear Differential:

9-inch Ford custom housing, billet spool and 4.56 gears.

Other Important Vehicle Information:

Car is owned by Jenny de Jesus and Efren Santiago. Efren drives the car and performs all the maintenance. Jenny handles all the media content and sponsorship of the car.

Best ET & MPH: 6.90 @ 198mph

Division/Class Run: Old School Import Class

5500cc billet injectors feed the small but mighty mill a healthy dose of Methanol.

Most Starlets in drag racing row through gears of a standard transmission, and Jenny is no different. Backing the potent turbo’d 4-hole is a Liberty’s 5-speed with a dual disc clutch from Direct Clutch in Australia that transfers power to a well-fortified custom fabricated Ford 9-inch housing with 4.56 gears.

Engine and fuel management on the beast is provided by a FuelTech FT550 LITE system which also looks after traction control and datalogging, and an FT Spark Hi Energy CDI ignition controls the spark, all monitored on the Racepak Dash.

Spindle mount front adjustable struts were incorporated into the factory suspension and that tough as nails 9-inch hangs

Surprisingly the Starlet came as a rear wheel drive compact, all of which is long gone. A heavily fortified fabricated 9-inch with 4.56 gears now resides aft and is suspended by a 4-link/ double adjustable coilover setup.

from a 4-link with double adjustable coilovers outback, allowing those monster 33-inch diameter 10.5 Mickey’s to be stuffed up into the wheelwells. Half the fun of watching these Starlets during a run is seeing the suspension go to work off the hit and through the gears, all while Efren tries to keep it pointed straight.

To date, the Starlet’s best run is a 6.90 in the quarter at a tick over 198mph, making it a solid force to reckon with, and with Jenny (the car) looking to continue the ride to stardom, we’re sure there’s more to come. So next time you’re strolling through the pits of an event featuring these nasty little 4-cylinder compacts be sure to sit a spell and watch, but bring some earplugs because the sound of 10,000RPMs is not for the faint of heart!