It's been a difficult and busy few weeks lately, with alot going on, I really have not had time to sit at the computer to browse, nevermind write my blog, but I'm still alive and now it is catch up time, so I will write about what's going through my mind at the minute.
When it comes to cars there are two types of people: those who see a car as a convenient mode of transportation from point A to point B and won't understand me so can stop reading if they wish, and there are the rest of us who are reading this right now. We spend the majority of our time (and money) trying to decide how to get from point A to point B faster, more stylish, and a little differently than the next guy. Unfortunatly for those of us who fall into that second category, that puts us into a bit of a dilemma...
Basically we dream up our perfect spec of a tuned or modified car, and the majority of us will set about building it, eventually, and finishing it (at some stage) no matter what the cost. But lately that is playing a big factor for everyone in the tuning world...cost!
Now everyone knows the rising cost of motoring, it is nothing new, but lately it has hit an all time high. The price of fuel, tax, insurance, maintenance, tolls etc just to name a few are all hitting alot of us car lovers hard...in the wallet! Now I know there is always the 'higher class' who can take out their checkbook. go out and buy any car they want, and then do whatever they want to it, that is life! But for the majority of the 'Average Joe' tuner in this world, we are feeling it. Of course, I have owned and drove MANY fast, big horsepower, heavily tuned cars, and I loved every bit of it, but I think now it is all changing...QUICKLY! If you asked most car tuners, what car would you like to own? The majority will say 'Skyline, Evo, Impreza, etc', and rhyme of the list of modifications they would like to do, before stopping suddenly, and realising what I just have...Of course we want to own these cars, always will, but right now, with all these costs at an all time high, it is just not realistic or practical anymore to own and tune one of these cars to the spec that we would want to. So if we can't do it fully, then why do it at all. Which leads me on to...
Old cars! So many more people are going back to older cars! It is happening very quickly in Japan, USA, and now Europe. Of course it is not a new thing to own, build and tune older cars, but it is certainly becoming much more popular again. With new car sales dropping significantly, it certainly is interesting more people buying older used cars. There are MANY reasons why. Most will say, its older, cooler, drives better, more fun, and tunable. For me, it is also a cost thing, actually that for me is the main reason for going back to 'old school'. Maybe the tuning world is just entering a 'Nostalgic' phase, or maybe its just me and a small majority? Whatever it is, it's growing fast and getting more and more cool. It's cheaper to buy these old cars such as EF civics, AE86, Silvia, etc, cheaper to run, years of history, tuning, and a distinct presence on the road. Maybe it has all been pushed upon by the rising costs? It is much cheaper to buy and tune an old car for 15k budget, and have ALOT of fun, compared to buying a car at 20k, and spending 30k on it.
Who knows where it will go, of course this 'phase' has its downsides, older cars need maintenance, parts are getting harder to find, but I think the car scene has lost that fun factor, that can only be redeemed by stepping into an older car and having a fat wallet again! I miss that feeling when I'm excited to get into a car, walking around it admiring before I even step inside, smiling when I sit in it, start it up and wait as I hear the tuned engine idle. It is a feeling I would love to enjoy with many cars, but right now the cost is leading factor, so if I can't get this feeling out of the new, modern cars then I will go back to my roots. You will see my big change soon enough...watch this space! I predict the next year will see a big rise in the older 'classic' cars, as more and more people are driving less, they want to make that short driving experience as much FUN as possible! Which may include a blast from the past car crusing down memory lane...
4th - Glen Maher SR20 AE86
ALOT of old school FORD's owner clubs...
Half way through the 5-0 showed up, LAPD style...haha
Plenty of retro Japanese too, MR2's, AE86, Datsuns etc...
STUNNING E30 BMW M3...car of show for me!
I liked the retro classic vibe this year, more than vintage...
Polody was flying the Poland flag...cool
Ireland's Mark 'Buff' Luney battling it out with Kumakubo
Unfortunatly Kuma's Transmission ended up busted after qualifying, had this been the full D1 car his event would have been over, however, with the help of ZEN Performance a stock Impreza box was on hand to replace it. Kuma was explaining to me about it just before i took this photo. Saying how it just wouldnt select any gears and how he was very disappointed for everyone, so he really wanted to fix it. After a quick smoke, he set about getting his hands dirty to help
Really like this pic, there was so much tension in the pits...
Meanwhile Kazuhiro Tanaka battled on with his Impreza...
Only to be defeated by Alan 'Chubby' McCord, though it was Bon Bon who progressed to the semi final, to claim Third place...
In the final was Kumakubo Nobushige and Brett Castle. Both had drove amazingly all day, and this really was the well hard earned final. Brett just tipped it though and stole the win...Awsome stuff!
Now we know the how high the standard of European drifting is...
A really great event! Roll on Santa Pod for Round 4...
