Back...for another while

Back home from Japan, and there was no time to spare. Chill and recover for a day then prepare the AE86 for a meeting at Kirkistown Circuit. I didn't get many photos from the day, but here are some that were sent to me of the '86. Sad to leave Japan, but I definetly had missed driving the AE86! Time to prepare it for the AE86 Ireland Mondello Trackday next, plenty cool of updates coming very soon!

I really like this shot of the back of the Corolla...

Cooper's Drift S14 was there too! Cool car!

Best car for me had to be the Manta...Stunning build!

The End...again!

Finally catching up on the blogging, and no better way to finalise yet another spell in Japan than at a circuit...Tsukuba Circuit to be exact. Myself and Ed met up with our buddy Mike of Auto-Otaku in Tsukuba. There was a time attack trackday event on, so we called in for a look around. As usual, the pits were full of many different makes of cars, from full on track monsters to everyday road cars. Photos below..

Constantly a great lineup of cars for racing, all day long!

I love the view we get at Tsukuba, its a great track...

This R35 GTR was going hard around the track...

On the way back we called in to catch up with my friend Yoko and all the staff at VeilSide. It was good to hang out again, and chat about how things are going. The past, future, Fast & Furious 4, and the possible return to racing for Veilside in the future...Hopefully! This was Mike's first time to visit Veilside, Glad he had a fun time.

So that rounds up another spell in Japan. It was, as said before, a VERY important trip, much more than just the cars and blogging you see on here. So much more goes on than all this. But it will all be revealed in good time. Right now its back to Ireland for a while. Alot of 'normal' everyday blog entries coming soon. Watch this space...

Back to Kanto...

After the hectic schedule and busy travelling, ended up back in Kanto to chill for a few days before leaving Japan! Where better to stay than Yokohama as always! After an early start in Osaka, it was onto the Shinkansen again bound for Kanto! It was such a clear day and got an amazing view of Fuji San along the way. It would have been rude not to take a photo of course! When you see it like this you can understand why Japanese still always get so excited seeing Mt.Fuji

Maybe one of my favourite photos ever! Amazing view!

Once in Yokohama we chilled at some good friend's Shops...

Do-Luck and Sui:Vax to be exact, good to catch up again!

J's Racing...

Sorry for the gap in posts, I've had a very busy week! But back to a quick update. When in Kansai, I had promised Ed we would call into J's Racing! Not far from Osaka, the short train ride out to Ibaraki, then walk to J's Racing. Very cool place, such laid back Kansai style atmosphere, but professional setup, with very friendly, helpful staff. Ed took pics and had a chat while I took a seat in the show room to chill out and chat about parts etc...Here are some of my photos!

J's Racing team car, and other customers'...

The J's Racing Tokyo AutoSalon demo S2000...

Another customer's S2000, stunning in white!

Inside the shop is very cool too, All the race winning trophies are desplayed in cabinet, Tuning parts on show, and alot of cool merchandise that play homage to J's Racing routes, the Touge!!

Check it out sometimes you are in Osaka!

Impulse Car Service...

Having been following the progress of Impulse Car Service for quite some time now, and meeting up at Tokyo Auto Salon, it was then arranged to have a tour of the shop, and a quick meeting. Early start after relaxing days in Kyoto, and we made the trip to the Kobe countryside, following my usually pretty good directions. Short taxi ride from the station, and we were baffled, including the driver. We discussed, looked at maps, but still confused, It should be right here?!... After a quick call to the guys at Impulse, we realised we actually were there, but just had to walk around to the other side of the block haha, where we were greeted by Hiro waving and smiling! But thats not all we were greeted by. I knew Impulse before, and knew we would see alot of AE86's, but I was not expecting anything like this. AMAZING sight! I have to admit I did very little photography work this day, I struck up a deal with my buddy Ed instead. He done all the photos on the day while I talked and had a quick meeting with Hiro and Impulse, moreso because its a Japanese language only shop, with very VERY little English. I'll let the pics do the talking...

Huge lineup of AE86's, some for sale, some demo/customers...

Let's take a look inside the shop...VERY Impessive setup!

This is the sort of work Impulse do...FULL restoration/tuning!

You think all that's good, just look what's out the back!!

Kyoto Adventure...

A day of chilling and relaxing, and no better place for it than Kyoto. Making the short trip from Osaka to Kyoto, we met up with some friends along the way for a day of walking around, taking in some sights, enjoying some great foods and delicacies, afternoon tea, and temples! This day really was needed after the hectic few days in Tokyo. Kansai is very different though, and just so much more suited for taking things easy. After checking out some beautfiul places and just enoying the whole vibe in Kyoto it was off for Drinks, dinner, and some karaoke... Check out some of the photos below...

Kinkaku-Ji Golden Temple...

Making the trip across town, the long steep path leads to...

None other than Kiyomizudera...The must see Temple!

and this is why...Amazing place and the view is good too!

Kansai Time...

On the move again, and bound for Kansai, Osaka to be exact! Short trip to Shin-Yokohama station, then ride the Shinkansen to Osaka. Kansai really is totally different to Kanto, so it's pretty cool to experience and take in both. Very different style, crazy friends, noisy, Oh and the food, party life is great too! This was to be more of a relaxing few days, and then a trip to Kyoto to meet some friends, followed by 1 or 2 days business after that! Some pics...

This is when you know you've arrived in Osaka...Dinner time!

First stop had to be Osaka Okonomiyaki...Mmmmm!

Mobara Circuit...

Needing my fix of Drifting, I had made sure that I would be attending Mobara Circuit for the 'SR Engine Drift Day'. Located deep in the Chiba Prefecture, it takes a while to get there from Yokohama, but it was worth it when we arrived to be greeted by the noise of cam'd up SR's screaming around the circuit. There is always a great welcome at Mobara, and its somewhere I definetly recommend you to visit!

There was a huge attendance, including G-Corporation!

Not the only tuners, T&E boss Ueno San was here, sleeping...

HUGE turnout, I knew the SR event would be very popular!

Out on the track...SR20 powered RX7 tears it up!

LOTS of girl drifters today, just have to love the 'Gal Dori'...

Cute, but she drives like crazy, Team 'Ambition' Laurel..

All Nissans (and others) were out in force for Drift & Grip!

Really nice pic of this Silvia, was very consistent driving...

Have a break...

Amongst all the crazy busy schedules and 3 days Press at Tokyo Auto Salon, something was calling me to have a little break. Anyone who really knows me will know yes I live cars cars cars, but there is so much more to life. So along the way into Tokyo I took a little detour to return to Odaiba for some chillin' and thinking time. Alot going on in this head of mine, but this trip was needed to finalise some things in my mind. It's just something we have to do sometimes, and there is no better place for it, I really love Odaiba. I'll let the pics do the talking and you can think about whatever, but do remember, it's important to relax sometimes and have a break...More soon!
Amazing view of the Tokyo Bay area, and somewhere to just come relax and think about anything on your mind, check out Mt.Fuji above, peaking through in the distance...was such a clear day!

Tokyo Auto Salon...Part 3

Part 3 of Tokyo Auto Salon and I'll finish up by posting some Booth photos! For me personally, I thought some of the biggest news of the year was the return of APEXi Japan after 5 years away. With the absence of some of the bigger tuners (HKS, Greddy etc) during these hard economic times, when I spotted the APEXi stand, it was hard to stop grinning. Good times are returning even during this 'recession'. It's like I said previously in my posts below, the Auto Salon 2009 had a feel or vibe like that of the past, it's like the scene is going back to what it was before, maybe back to its best? Time will tell of course, but good to see everyone staying positive, not giving up, and introducing and still developing products. After a long chat with APEXi it was clear to see they are determined to stick around, with new electronic parts, mufflers, suspension and even more in the pipeline, including a return to motorsport! Certainly is interesting news!

New selecton of APEXi exhaust products...including R35 GTR

All the classic electronics return alongisde the new products!

Bomex were there also with some very cool Demo cars..

Project Mu brakes booth was very busy as usual...

MiNES had a big display, especially of new GTR parts...

No Tokyo Auto Salon is complete without Top Secret is it?

Blitz had the bigger booth with ALOT of cars and products!

HKS Kansai were there to represent the HKS brand!

Ark had some very trick and impressive products to show..

This is just a small selecton of the many, many trade stands and Tuning Companies booths. Alongside all the show cars, live drift action, talk shows, interviews and the MANY racequeens, Tokyo Auto Salon is still a show to display and debut companies new tuning products for the future. Recession time has certainly changed the style and approach to tuning, but I can't help but think that its slowly turning into a good thing, and reaching out to people the way it did many years ago. Are we on the verge of another tuning BOOM over the next few years like in the 90's? We will see, it definetly was a 'smaller/clsoer' more 'down to earth' Show, but great in this way! Big thanks to Ed and Joe for working on the Press side, roll on next year!

Tokyo Auto Salon...Part 2

Another blog entry of Tokyo Auto Salon 2009. I'll continue with another selection of photos, especially of the cars that got my attention most! There was a very 'different' vibe about this year's Auto Salon, maybe it's the whole economic situation, but things took a step back, it felt like going to a show maybe 5 or more years ago, but that's a GOOD thing. It felt like the whole tuning scene in general has came back down to earth, which felt good, and I noticed ALOT more people could relate more to it, and enjoy more everyday style, and quality tuned cars! One final post about the Auto Salon soon!

Really was good to see more cars like this EF race Civic..

MiNES brought out their even more advanced R35 and new 370z

BIG news, was Ueno Takahiro's new D1 spec BMW..

Cars like this is what made it a great show for me...AMAZING!

One thing got my attention was the Rotrex charged R35 GTR...

Outside as always the D1GP drivers were keeping the crowd happy!

Possible Overall Car of the Show?? Mugen NSX...

Again, quality old-school cars, got plenty of attention...

I couldn't possibly post all the girls,haha but for example...

VIP scene gets bigger, along with the addition of Import AutoSalon