Local talent...

One of the best local shows of the year has to be Club GTI. Its a show for all the VW and VAG car lovers, aswell as anything European and tastefully modified...

Here are some of my favourites from the day. This VR6 Converted Mk3 Golf was stunning, and very well done...

My winner for the day, this very fresh Mk3 Golf...

I love this Clio 182 also, beautiful car...

Of course no show here is complete without a few of the Japanese cars from the tuning scene. This S14a Nissan 200sx (UK Silvia) was simply stunning...hella flush!

But my overall favourite was this R32 GTR Skyline. Just all the right modifications under the bonnet, brakes, suspension. The silver body sits so well on the Wedsports Rims... Perfect

Local Shows...

Recently I got to check out some local shows, this is an annual event I was just home for, so I called in to catch up with some old friends and see the cars on display...

All built to a very high standard. Stunning restorations, paint, engines. Attention to detail on some cars was great...

Back to the Future anyone??

We even rolled the TA22 Celica out too...

ProDrift round 3...

Next day it was off to Nutts Corner for Round 3 of the Irish Pro Drift series...Great line up of cars and drivers, the course and drifting was superb, and made for some great action...some pics

Tsuiso (Twin drifting) was superb...

Eric O'Sullivan, the overall winner in his F20 Honda S2000 powered Hachi Roku...Well done

Home...

Im finally catching up on time here after lagging behind with updates...but here goes! When I got home Ed was in town for the Pro Drift round, so we decided to meet up for some dinner and drinks the night before and catch up on old times. Here's some quick pics from the day...

This was our ride. Just kidding, but its cool to see a Roll's like the at your local shopping centre...

Later that night we got the train into the city, so slow, not on time, boring, and well, this was 9pm, but the platform shows 17.33pm, as Ed demonstrates haha, baka Irish trains...

Ed's verdict on Irish starbucks...

Ja ne...

On the move again, but not for long...

I was well looked after though, hehe, LEG ROOM...

But I couldn't sleep much, so checked out the view...

Party Time...

Nagoya is a nice place, and well I was on my own here for a few nights, so I called into some nice bars. The first one was very classy, and great to relax, and everyone loved to have a chat. But tonight there was only one place to go...HIRO'S BAR!!!

For those of you who dont know, thats the 'Cooper's Irish Pub' just a 2 minute walk from Nagoya station. I had been here several times before, so I thought I would call in for a quiet drink and dinner, catch up with Hiro and the locals. But well, after meeting up with my new friends, things got a little CRAAAZZZYYY haha.... great times!

These guys and girls ROCK!!!!

Group photo! Now you are all famous....

5am and we are in Bar number 4...all nighter!

We stepped outside and Nagoya was EMPTY! Then I realised I had a plane to catch...see you guys, thanks for a great party, we will do it again! Same place!

Nagoya Castle...

Sometimes in life we have to be the tourist. When im in diffrent places, most of the time I know it well, or just im too busy to check out some tourist sights. Well I had free time and was checking out Nagoya but well, I really didn't feel like a tourist. I went to Nagoya Castle for a trip, something I have wanted to do for a while. Its very beautiful, and a great place for a view over the city, and walking! I was surrounded by people so hyped up doing the tourist thing, I felt a little too easy going, when I was so relaxed checking it out. Maybe im just too used to Japan now! haha, Anyway, its a cool place, LOTS of history, culture, and amazing views. All you people should check out places like this. There's more to Japan than just cars! The Culture, and Attention to Detail in historic places like this are definetly worth visiting!

GREAT view from the top...

Toyota Museum...

Well recently I got some free time to do something I have always wanted, visit Toyota. Now I dont mean your local garage, or even Ireland (as it's Toyota mad), I mean Toyota City, and Automobile museum in Nagoya, Japan. The museum is mostly the very older classics and vintage cars, but well its good to go back to the roots. Its easy got to but its deep deep in countryside of Aichi but I had already pre-arranged to meet up with a member of staff there, she is Toyota mad, and on her day off, well she went to work, and guided me around. Here are some photos...enjoy

Wall to wall with beautiful cars...

Race cars, classics, vintage...

and my favourite...TA22 Celica!

Fast moving...

I have always said life moves so fast in Japan, and well so it does, literally. Whether its a shopping trip or a blast down the highway at 300km/h, its all fast. Stepping onto the Shinkansen is one of my favourite things here. If you are lucky enough then I recommend a blast on the Nozomi 700 shinkansen. This time it was a quick stop in Nagoya! Japan's trains...always on time!

Here it is...Nozomi...

Arrived in Nagoya for a short stay to meet up with some old friends and check out some places. If you're ever in town get the subway to Sakae, great place, very beautiful at night and lots of nightlife, restaurants, bars etc...

I always liked Nagoya...

European Tuning in Yokohama...

Back to cars again and I recently got the chance to check out IMPACT:Euro Tuning in Yokohama with a friend. This is a small tuning shop, but big in reputation for building some of the craziest projects and best tuned European cars in Japan. Some of these include the two E36 3series BMW's. One with 2JZ and the other with F20 engine swap!

On the way home we stopped by the Yokohama Tyre Head Quarters...It's a VERY cool place, great staff, friendly and free Yokohama goodies... call in sometime

Odaiba...

Sorry for the lack of updates, I know some of you have even emailed me for an update, im surprised, but also glad you enjoy reading the adventures. Anyway, its another 'tourist' style one this time, I will come back to the cars soon. Odaiba, or Daiba as its really known is man made 'island' in the heart of Tokyo Bay. The word 'Daiba' means 'Fort' in Japanese, so you get the idea now! All I can say is visit here, especially at night if possible. The view alone from the Yurikamome (mono-rail) is well worth the money. Go to the front of the train for the best views/photos!

Beautiful view, even more at night...

So much to see in Daiba, check it out sometime...

Daikoku fun...

Another weekend, another trip down to Daikoku. Considering its only 10 minutes away it's not so bad, so I made the trip down on Saturday night to see if many racers and car enthusiasts were out. I arrived around 9.30pm and things were already crazy! The rest stop was full of modified cars and there was a great atmosphere. Finally another good night in Daikoku. I parked up and went for a walk to chat with some friends, oh and to get a cold espresso in a can from the vending machine. Only in Japan...

As usual the Sound System vans were out in full force blasting their music. Some of them are very cool, and they always get the party going and people dancing...

Re:Amemiya tuning shop in Chiba had brought out 5 of their best customer's RX7's. They were simply beautiful, and the sound. Awww Rotary power! *^_^*

Alot of big horse-power cars here tonight...

It wouldn't be complete without the drifters too...

and of course a few AE86's. We talked for a long time and the owner couldn't believe how much they make outside of Japan, and more so in Ireland, he definetly wanted to sell...

Good times...

Back to relaxing and it was the birthday of Yokohama Bay's Minato Mirai. Hanabi was today's plan with a festival at Sakuragicho and fireworks at night. I met up with some friends after enjoying a great day in Yokohama bay!

Just beside QueensWay in Minato Mirai was the Under-23 world finals for BMXing, this was a great event, Japan is the world number one for it at the minute...

After it was off to Em's House for Hanabi party. This block of apartments was right in Minato Mirai and WOW what a night we all had. LOTS of food, drinks, fun, THANK YOU everyone!

Around 9pm we went onto the roof deck for a great view and watched the firework display over Bay Bridge...

Sui:Vax...

Back to cars again and this time it was off to Sui:Vax, the tuning side of Car Make T&E, in Yokohama! Deep into Kanagawa we were driving, fighting our way through the torrential rain, to catch up with D1GP drifter and T&E Boss, Ueno Takahiro. The Sat-Nav was not getting us there, so I had to remember the roads and directions from others and think hard, but finally made it there. Luckily Ueno San was back from his holiday this time and had arranged to meet me for a chat at lunch time. He said he was not so busy today, but the phones never stopped, he is ALWAYS a very busy man.

Once inside I was greeted by Daisuki (D1 Street Legal S14 Driver) who was changing his coilovers and graphics on the Silvia. Then Ueno San came out of the office with a big smile, hand shake, and a nice english HELLO! We looked around the garage and he explained what was going on at Sui:Vax over the last few weeks. Currently he is building ANOTHER Toyota Soarer, developing some new Aero kits, and also doing basic tuning to several cars. Next we took a seat under the S15 Silvia and had a good chat. We talked about everything from Japan, to Europe, to USA. Past, present, future. Good times, bad times! After a long relaxing talk with some coffee it was time to go home. I thanked Ueno San for his great hospitality and all the Sui:Vax/T&E staff. He really has made an excellent company that im sure will continue to strive for even more in the future! Visit http://www.t-and-e.co.jp/

The latest T&E demo car...S14 Silvia Inside the Sui:Vax workshop...
T&E President, Ueno Takahiro...
On the way home I stopped off at Super AutoBacs...