VeilSide - The Return visit

On the way back from Tsukuba circuit and contrary to popular belief it was further away than we thought, but we had to drop by our friends at VeilSide. Unlike the last time, the shop was quiet and things were being re-arranged. Mr Yokomaku was away in America arranging for VeilSides involvement in the next Fast and Furious film, and far less cars were in the showroom, some of them had been moved to VeilSides new showroom in Nagoya, but there were a few new ones too, including their latest kit in development for a European car

Which will be revealed soon, it is for an Italian car

It helps to have a rich boyfriend, and one who modifys cars at that. This is Yokomaku sans girlfriends car, in pink, with lovehearts. Very girly! Not for me but the work deserves respect


Also here was a recently completed Fortune RX-7. This clearly shows how wide the kit is. Every panel apart from the roof and windscreen has been replaced
VeilSides transporter was parked outside, better known as the greenhouse. There are curtains which can be drawn to show or hide whats inside

Evil!!

Chris shows how big a fortune kit is, the white boxes are for a fortune kit for the NSX

The Real Deal, not copied 50% fibreglass 25% chicken wire 25% newspaper rubbish, this is real and genuine, it will fit the car like a glove, wont need ages sanding and filling in the bodyshop and wont warp when its painted, not to mention an easy repair should it be damaged and not a replacement, unlike copies which tend to explode

Still 1 of my favourite cars, the R32 GTR Evolution R-III, well over 860bhp and 1 of the GTR's that really pushed the Japanese tuning scene foward,with both style and performance


Random Japan Part 5 - The Japanese truly love Carbon Fibre, as they make benches in train stations out of it, and not just lightweight parts for cars
And its real carbon, not just 1 layer on top of fibreglass

Tsukuba Circuit

After missing out in December I finally got the chance to see the home of Time Attack, Tsukuba Circuit, in Ibaraki, Japan. There was an Option Time Attack on today, but there was not any serious Time Attack cars there, moreso just people driving their (fast) road cars with a transponder attached, not much commentary needed on these photos, was like watching the intro movie from Gran Turismo, and yes the Nissan Marches (Micras) were quick! Gave the Porsche and Ferrari some competition

The Real Tokyo Drift

So been in Japan for 11 days and have not seen any decent track again - until now, and its off to Mobara circuit on the outskirts of Tokyo. The last time I was here, I was 'spoiled' a bit as there was a very good lineup of drivers and nice weather, but today was a bit colder, but far more civilised, mostly local drivers and less extreme cars, mostly driven to the track too. Myself and Chris were the only non Japanese there, so were easily spotted by Tada san, the owner and manager of the circuit, who tried out his English on us. He said it was rare for people to visit on these quiet practice days


At most drift days there is always 1/2 drivers that stand out and today was no exception, this SR20 powered C33 Laurel was great to watch


and this AE86, driven in a very committed fashion, the only way to drive an AE86

JZX100 Chaser just about to lose it

Most cars were dented with chipped bumpers,dented wings etc but this 180Sx Sil80 really took 'well used drift car' to another level, every panel dented, Sil80 front end conversion and mismatched panels

Very fast JZX110 Mark II

The skill level was fairly low today, so no D1 spec driving, but its still fun to watch.

Back to Kanto

Well as much fun as Kansai in West Japan is, it was time to head back to the Kanto region in the East,Yokohama,Tokyo,etc, so after an early start Chris and I were on our way

Its the 1st thing many people think of when they think of Japan - Mount Fuji, also the countries highest mountain at 3,776 m (12,388 ft). Passed it on the Shinkansen on the way back to Yokohama. The plan was to meet our friend Shino and hang with her for the day. We 1st met Shino on our 1st trip in 2006 and she is the only person we have met all 3 times, she leads an easy life, mechanic by day and drifter when she is not working, not bad. Big U2 fan, she does not like the fact I dont live too far away from them either!

Random Japan Part 4 - free tissues. You will see this a lot outside train stations in Japan, someone handing out small packets of hankercheifs. Not for blowing your nose, which is seen as very bad manners in Japan but for when you go to a public toilet and there is no toilet paper,as many public toilets wont have any. Saw them being handed out a lot, but this girl was making a big effort to hand out as many as possible, not to mention the fact that I thought her coat was cool. She didnt give me or Chris any though!

Outside Shinos garage, called Amazement

Shinos very cool circuit spec AE86, with a side exit exhaust. The last time I visted Japan Shino brought us to a drift day at Nikko Circuit

A targa top Datsun 260Z,FC and FD RX7's,a S14 Silvia and 2 AE86's outside the garage

Later and to my shock there were slippers that fitted me!! Unlike the Hotel in Osaka

Later after a fine meal it was once again time to engage in that greatest of all Japanese social activities - Karaoke

In some Japanese karaoke places you can sneak in drinks, so I brought in Chu-hi, which is a Shochu mixer, strong stuff!! Well its well known that too much alcohol makes people show off a bit, particularly me........

The Karaoke machine in this place gives you a score out of 100......

Chris just picks up the microphone and makes some singing type noises, scores 78

Wow aswell as being a mechanic,drifter and general nutcase Shino can sing really well, she scores 92...... So I had to go for it

And I did with that well known rock tune Black Dog by legends Led Zeppelin, not good enough, I only got 89. Ah well, if you dont enter you cant lose

The next day, back in Shinos old traditional Japanese house, almost entirely made from wood, and its not a camera trick, the doorframe is quite low, got a nice bruise on my forehead when I forgot to duck.. Not to mention the very narrow steps leading upstairs, oh well I got used to kids staring up at me lol

Ja Ne Shino, see you soon!!

Travelling, again

1 thing in particular thats amazing about Japan is transportation and in particular the railway system. I have always been interested in railways, not an obsession just a keen interest so on the trip to and from Sunline Racing, I photographed some Shinkansen trains

A Series 700 Sanyo Shinkansen at Shin Osaka station

100 Series Kodama at Okayama Station

Series 700 Nozomi - Nozomi is ltd express

1 of the latest N700 Series


And to finish, a very rare sight, an original 0 Series from 1964......


Since it was the last day in the Kansai region, time to finish it by catching up with some friends, Saki and Mari, for a meal and a few drinks. I tell good jokes on nights out.....

Mari thinks so

Saki does too

Not to mention Chris

Normal service will now be resumed

Time Attack 2008

Its back and bigger than ever. Time Attack 2008
Over 100 cars from a Renault Clio to a AC Cobra and all the Japanese machinery inbetween, plenty of Evos and Imprezas, not to mention Skylines and RX7's. Should be good! It starts at Donington Park on April 5th/6th as part of the International Styling and Tuning Show

I will be covering this series again throughout 2008 as the official series photographer