Update time...

I was joined by ED for the latest adventure and just got back. I really dont have time to write alot, but will over the next few weeks. So I guess I will just let the pics do the talking this time as they do say a thousand words eh... well I think so!

DAMN I hate London...

Feeling pretty genki before take off...but not for long!

The flight over was terrible, air-con broken, TV Entertainment broken, some dude with a cold coughing and sneezing beside me, (which I later caught), Then awful food and rough ride had Ed thinking should he jump haha!

Getting closer...this was like an Endurance race!

Ahhh land at last, almost there...FINALLY!

Never been soooo glad to get to Japan! Straight to the Narita station, get some water and cold medicine, and admire how clean and efficient it is here...damn I missed it!

On board the Narita Express...destination Yokohama!

Checked into my hotel, and time to rest before dinner!

Nice hotel indeed, really enjoyed my time here!

Some pics...

Finally got a chance to take some photos of the Skyline this week! Squeezed into the busy schedule and week of trip planning, I went for a quick photoshoot! This will probably be my last selection of photos before leaving for Japan...enjoy! She loves the camera!

Isn't it Ironic?! Dont you think?...

Only a few days into 2008, and its as busy as ever, if not more! But lets start with some good news this time! This week I FINALLY got my new license plate for the Skyline! All is done, and now I can officially drive it down the street, legally too, with no problems! Im very happy and it makes the last few months all worth while, I think! I took great pride in bolting on the License Plate and taking her for first real good drive on Irish tarmac! But isn't it Ironic?! Don't you think? Ironic that after all these months of hard work and waiting for my new license plate and registering my new R32 Skyline after test, taxing etc, I still can't drive it now! But why is that you say??

Well, today this happened...it started snowing!

Then some more, and more! Now im snowed in...DAMN!

Going back...2008

Going back, or forward, anyways, next week, Nihon ni iku!

End of another year...

Well its the end of yet another year, time really has gone fast! So many great memories for 2007, and well, some not so good! But I guess that's the way it goes in this life, take the rough with the smooth and the ups and downs! Roll it all into one and we have got yet another year! Although there were many bad times, I try not to look back on those too much, I prefer to remember some of the best times of 2007! Also, I be very grateful for the fortunate things that have happened to me. Health, all the people I have met, new friends, old friends, family, places I have been lucky to see!

Who knows what 2008 will bring! To be honest I dont even think about it much (well I try), as im sure the year will unfold the way it is meant to. So I will leave it up to destiny and fate! We have one more day left, so make the most of it people, reflect, but also look forward to new things, new times, in a new year! Have a great celebration wherever you may be! Enjoy it and keep safe, I'll not be posting to next year haha, so hopefully see you all again on the other side for more great memories! Take care all... Goodbye 2007!

P.S: I guess now I can reveal the first news of 2008, my new car...

It's all MiNES!!

On browsing the GT CHANNEL site and Taro's blog I found these sneaky shots of new MiNES parts for the R35 GTR. As usual the work is top class, and exhaust/catalyzer is just a work of art! Also check out the new Brembo combo brake set up, and MiNES prototype Suspension kit! Impressive stuff in such little time, and sure to be even more at the Tokyo Auto Salon.....very soon!

Amazing progress in such little time...

Merry Christmas...

Just to wish a very Happy Christmas to everyone and all my friends throughout the world, stay safe, have fun and take care on the roads!

Back again...

Just back from another crazy time in UK. Im soooo burned out lately, just too much on. But finally Im going to have a quiet night and update my blog, and relax! So what have I been doing...I guess its been alot of work and preparing my own new car (more on that soon). But before that I had to go to Leeds, UK, and collect another that had just arrived in! Now prepared and tested!

Started with a busy day at first, 3 hours sleep, then up at 5am for the first flight. After a 1 hour delay at the airport, we were finally up in the air, but another delay upon landing made time even more tight. But we got there in the end! The entry into Leeds, UK was crazy, like Immigration...never have I experienced such Interegation before entering UK haha, weird and VERY rude staff! This is another reason I hate busy trips to UK. Not to mention the food! But once out out of the airport, we made our way to do the business...

Beautiful sunny horizon on flight...

At Leeds/Bradford Airport...

Arrived to do the business and lift what I came for...

Here it is...Top Secret tuned R33 Skyline...

Beautiful car, now filled with Petrol for the drive ahead...

One of the finest in Japan...

On the move...Great car to drive!

On board the boat home...

On board the deck, rough sailing ahead...

The final drive home...TIIIIRRREEDD!!!

Buusssyy...

Been so damn busy recently, that I've neglected my page a little, not many updates eh! But I've just been so busy moving about this crazy world and sorting alot of 'car' things! But rest assured, there is some VERY special news coming soon and in January! Thanks for all the kind words at this busy Season time! Merry Christmas everyone!

ご無沙汰しております！

最近引っ越しなどで忙しく、最新していないのが現状です。
１月から再スタートするのでよろしくお願いします！
皆さんからのメールは感謝しています！

メリークリスマス!

クリス!

Grrrrr....

I guess its time for some moaning and compaining this week. Or what some might call 'rant'. Parts, parts, parts! Waiting, waiting, waiting...and still waiting! Well truth is, im pretty pi$$ed off waiting, and companies letting us down. Why is it that we can order parts from as far as Japan and Australia (yes, the other side of this world) and have them here in 2 or 3 days?! Very well packed, great prices, a great product, item tracking number attached so it can be traced all the way, and arrives perfectly, great service.

But then local European, and UK companies who take weeks to get their act together and post something simple, small and even a few sheets of paper! Im sick of this 'Culture' and 'way of life'....Grrrr, I guess I should stop ranting before I end up in trouble, but when its for a very important project, I can't help but feel annoyed and frustrated! Its these few parts that are adding on weeks to having this project finished and complete! Well my advice and lesson is, choose your business contacts and associates well, if they screw you over or let you down cut them out next time! BAKA!!
All the parts are arriving in reverse order! The final parts from Japan arrived first, great, but the needed parts for the present problems are STILL stuck in UK! C'mon! Sort it out PLEASE!!

Let the fun begin...

Look what just arrived at Top Secret headquarters in Chiba, Japan! New R35 GTR! It sure will be interesting to see what Nagata San does, along with the Porsche! One thing that im certain of is the 'Top Secret' stand at Tokyo AutoSalon in Jan sure will be busy!

Also this week seen more news for the tuning scene and the R35 GTR...MiNES tuning from Yokosuka (Kanagawa-ken) debuted their first version at the REVSPEED Tsukuba Circuit Time attack!

MSC Final...

Last week was the final 2007 round of MSC Drift competition! The final took place at the dock island of Odaiba, near Tokyo port. It's an amazing location and even more amazing when hosting a top drift event. MSC has grown to be hugely popular, not only in Japan, but all over the world, and is doing very well. I hope to catch more action from MSC in 2008! Some big plans are already underway...

What was more special about this MSC event though, was the link between drifting worldwide. EDC champion Brett Castle was also driving at the event (representing Europe), alongside Formula Drift champion Tanner Foust (representing USA). This, with the Japan series, seen a world united through drift, maybe the best thing to happen in the Drifting scene for a long time...

Tanner was driving this top spec Toyota Supra...

Brett Castle was driving this top spec Nissan Silvia...

The 3 Drift series' united as one...EDC, MSC, Formula D!

Crab fishing...

Spent the weekend Crab fishing...Well not literally haha. Just market hunting, and WOW we got a good one. Big crab, weighing in at over 1kg, so it made for a good dinner! It was great fun cooking this guy...and rewarding! Tasted so good!

Not for the feint hearted...

Ahhh nice setting, great relaxing dinner time...it would be pretty hard not to be in a romantic mood at a time like this...

Full after a great dinner and night...Thank You!

Quick update...

Well I've just been sooo busy with things lately I have neglected the blog, and not really had much time to update. But expect alot more very very soon! As everyone is aware WRC Ireland took place last weekend, Unfortunatly I didn't get to see every stage of it as I would have liked to, infact, seen none, but was a great programme on TV this week, some great coverage of what seemed like a very difficult, challenging rally for the world's best! The only driver I got to catch up with was a meeting with Fumio Nutahara, from the Yokohama Advan Japan team! Driving the Mitsubishi Lancer...

Was a good encounter, and enjoyed my time meeting Nutahara San. I have been told by Nutahara that I have to return to Yokohama Headquarters once again, pretty soon haha!

Well speaking of that, I will be flying back to Tokyo next month, its likely to be a crazy busy trip as always, but it is only for a short time, so it will be ok. Im in the middle of planning the busy schedule right now! Plenty of business to take care of, and hopefully can have some adventures too along the way. Eitherway im sure i'll write all about it here...more soon!

Busy times...

It's been VERY busy times recently, and well it has even taken a few days to update things here. After a busy few weeks I was off to Liverpool, UK for business trip and to bring something back to Ireland. What is it? Well you will have to wait a little while to I reveal it here, but its worth it! On the way I took some pics...

Leaving from Belfast's 'George Best' airport...

Arrived at Liverpool's 'John Lennon' airport...

So much culture and positive vibe here, I like Liverpool city...

After a long drive across England, into Wales, I arrived at the port, to catch the ferry home to Ireland, but what did I bring back? You'll find out soon enough...

Actually, what I brought back is something I have been working towards for years now. But I want it to be 100% complete before I reveal it here. Some people already know, but those are the closest people to me! It has been VERY busy times, some good, some bad, some frustrating, very stressful and annoying, but its almost done! I have been waiting a while to post this blog to thank those who have helped make things possible throughout this year, and especially the last few months (you know who you all are).

So now that I have got over the most difficult time (I hope) of 2007, I can actually do some relaxing and thinking, and have been reflecting on alot of things over the last few days. I think I'm a very lucky guy, though maybe I dont feel it or maybe realise it at times, it just takes a little moment, to reflect and appreciate those things that are most important in life! I think every now and then we should do that, even for 1 minute, alone...reflect! It also makes me think how we never really know how the crazy road of life will go! Up, down, left,right, stop, slow, fast, crossroads etc...its constantly changing, and of course there's always a few speed bumps or potholes in there to stir things up a bit, but the moral of the story is to work towards making things better, slowly, but never forget to be happy for what you have got. This path in life has worked out this way for a reason! Every now and then in this journey on the road of life you find a treasure, even when you're not looking for a treasure! So hang onto it, or him, or her, and appreciate how special they really are! Goodnight!

Off to the East Coast...

Well every so often the tuning shop 'ECC' opens it's doors to the public for a 'Rolling Road' aka DYNO Day! Click here for last report Today I got to check out the latest on display, and getting tested on the dyno! It's not so often I get to check out the local tuning scene now, as most of my work and involvement is in the Japanese Market, or USA! So this was a good lesson and experience for me, since im back here now. The standard and level of tuning has increased dramatically, but still has a LONG way to go! Some great cars are being built, to a very high level of tuning, but the research and development I feel is still needed, especially in fine tune setup and ECU Mapping! Several cars were down on BHP from today's dyno results. Of course there are MANY reasons for this, but a few of the main things seem to be Mapping, incorrect/cheap choice and set up of modifications, and of course general dyno room conditions/leaks etc will be a factor. Its in these areas of tuning I feel Ireland especially is behind. The sooner more and more tuners are trained to specific mapping, be it by HKS, Greddy, Apexi etc, or custom mapping, the sooner I think these tuned cars will perform to their maximum. Anyway, Here are some photos from the day. It was good to meet up with some new and old faces, even if for a short time!

ECC, great local tuner of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evo

and old school Mitsubishi too...

Some projects in development...

Back to the dyno, Integra performed well...

Mini was CRAZY...Supercharged Honda K20!!

Stunning JZX100 Chaser showed up too...

This R33 Skyline put out over 400bhp today...

Leaving for home, nice photo this...

LDK video...

Lemon Drop Kick - 11:40

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Hey, check it out...Lemon Drop Kick launched the video for their song '11:40' How cool is this?! Great news for the guys, rocking it up with Justin on drums. Check out Miyako too on vocals..looking great! I predict big things for LDK as they start playing more and more shows and making it to Japan...Check them out! http://www.myspace.com/lemondropkick

Quality...

Here is an interesting video for you all. The manufacturing process of RAYS Engineering wheels in Japan! This is what you are paying for! In my eyes, its well worth it! Stick to good quality first time round and you won't be out more money in the long term...enjoy!

Moral of the story...Don't buy cheap or fakes...

This is what happens...