Posted
Nov 20 2009, 01:12 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 1 comment(s)
The first time I came across Shakotan Boogie was in a small used bookstore in Japan a few years ago. I had heard the comic mentioned before, so I was really excited getting a chance to pick up a few volumes of this cult-favorite of Japan's car enthusiasts. In the time since I've managed to collect about half the series from bookstores all over Japan, and even some here in LA. With this month's theme, it's a perfect time to take a quick look through the pages of Shakotan Boogie....
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Posted
Nov 20 2009, 09:46 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 16 comment(s)
Yes, people in Europe do fit airbags on cars besides VW's and Audis - case in point, Mike Neirinck's 2006 Mercedes W203. In case you aren't too familiar with Mercedes chassis codes, a W203 is second generation C-Class sedan. Mike is actually a master of all things air ride. Together with his cousins he owns a small company in Belgium dedicated to custom air ride kits. Being a fan of Mercedes cars, it was only natural that Mike chose one to serve as the company's demo car....
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Posted
Nov 20 2009, 05:45 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 33 comment(s)
This is so bizarre. Last Friday, after I shot a few drift cars at Nikko circuit, I was on my way to the actual historical town of Nikko, to relax for a bit before heading up to Ebisu for the Drift Matsuri. As I set the Audi S4 I was driving on cruise control, l sat back and enjoyed some tunes from the crisp Bang & Olufsen audio system. After cruising for twenty minutes or so I suddenly had to hit the brakes and pull a U-turn. I couldn't believe my eyes, I had just driven by an abandoned gas...
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Posted
Nov 20 2009, 12:45 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 11 comment(s)
Well it's been one week since I headed up to Ebisu for the final Drift Matsuri of the year and I can't believe we will have to wait until next spring for another of these legendary events. The rain and freezing wind didn't for one second spoil what was an action packed weekend with cars sliding around on every track within the Ebisu compound for two days and one night. It's now time to wrap up the coverage with this final selection of my favorite shots. Once the sun began its dive...
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 05:45 PM
by
Carl Jarrett
with no comments
Check out the Desktops section of SpeedHunters for a couple of my favorite shots of the car in both Widescreen and Standard format as usual. - Carl Jarrett
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 04:26 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 6 comment(s)
Here's a couple video clips that "Sassy", the owner of the IMSA-styled SA22C RX7 sent to us.
Besides the sights and sounds of the RX7, you can also catch a glimpse of many other Japanese classics running on the famous Suzuka Circuit.
Thanks a lot, Sassy!
-Mike Garrett
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 03:01 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 23 comment(s)
Back in September when I was at Billetproof 2009 in Antioch CA, I kept my eyes open for interesting low cars to spotlight this month. I found all manner of slammed customs and rods, but none were as crazy as the '59 Rolls Royce pictured above. Seeing the world's most prestigious luxury car and scraping the ground is one of those things that just grabs you, and I knew I had to include this sled in our monthly features....
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 01:53 PM
by
Rod Chong
with 20 comment(s)
This past August, I was invited to be a guest judge at a local drift Drift Mania West event, held at Western Speedway in Victoria BC, Canada. As you can expect at typical North American grass roots drift event, the majority of the cars competing were S chassis of various types. But one drifter chose to break the mold with his choice of car and went in a more old school direction: his name is Chris Scremin and this is his 1985 SR-86. Chris is one of the top drifters in the west coast Canadian scene...
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 12:47 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 24 comment(s)
OK, now to wrap up my coverage from last weekend's Hellaflush III meet in Nor Cal. Was it really only five days ago? It seems like so much longer than that. Goes to show how crazy this month has been.
Anyways, on with the photos!...
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 08:27 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 37 comment(s)
There is just no denying that many top Japanese tuners have fully turned their attention to ECO cars. The Honda Insight and Toyota Prius are gaining in popularity so the tuners have been quick to hop on this trend. Aimgain has set out to personalize the Toyota Prius with a full workout including the exterior, interior, wheels and suspension. Aimgain went the familiar VIP route for which they are famous for. The car has been dropped using a complete adjustable suspension system and not with the familiar...
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 02:15 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 40 comment(s)
On my way up to the Drift Matsuri on Friday I stopped over at Nikko circuit as I heard there was a drift track-day going on, organized in collaboration with T&E. I'm so glad I did take the little detour as I got to see some fantastic cars, total grassroots stuff being driven hard around the track. One car that grabbed my attention was this unmolested GX71 Cresta Super Lucent slammed onto some sexy vintage JDM wheels. The whole body has been left stock, the 80's looks enough to make this...
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Posted
Nov 19 2009, 12:15 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 16 comment(s)
After spending a long weekend hanging out with Andy & Emily of Powervehicles.com up in Ebisu, I couldn't head back home before grabbing at least one picture of their JZS161. This is the car they use as their daily driver, and is one of the cleanest Aristo around. It has been dropped on 19-inch AEM TM-02 wheels thanks to a set of GP Sports G-Master suspension and sits nice and flush thanks to the flared rear arches and front Kazama Auto FRP fenders. The unique look comes from the full Kazama...
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Posted
Nov 18 2009, 04:49 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 2 comment(s)
By popular demand, we've added some of Kevin Raekelboom's fantastic shots of the TUK Customs MK5 Golf to the Desktops section.
Head over there now to find two different shots available in both widescreen and standard formats.
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Nov 18 2009, 03:12 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 34 comment(s)
Back in January when we did Mazda month, we ran a spotlight on this IMSA-styled SA22C RX7 out of Japan. At the time the car was done in semi-gloss black, but it's since been repainted in a glossy red. The guys from the 22C Works website sent us some photos of the remade car, and we knew for sure you guys would want to see them....
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Posted
Nov 18 2009, 01:18 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 36 comment(s)
I'm really missing Japan right now. I plugged in my external hard drive a bit ago to hunt for some lowdown car pictures and the memories came flooding back. Memories of Watanabes, SSR's, Solex carbs, and musical horns. We thought you guys might be getting a little tired of the late model flushed out cars we've been showing this month, and figured another gallery of retro JDM coolness can never be bad thing....
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Posted
Nov 18 2009, 10:44 AM
by
Jeroen Willemsen
with 19 comment(s)
Today I had a job interview in Amsterdam and there I spotted this Scirocco with a full Rieger bodykit, it also had small sticker on the trunk saying MTM. They have a full engine package available for this car, so I hope it wasn't just stickerstuning. Seeing a Scirocco is one thing but seeing one like this in the capital of Holland really made my day. Can't wait for the Essen Motor Show at the end of this month. Last year I already saw several Scirocco's but I'm guessing there will...
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Posted
Nov 18 2009, 06:00 AM
by
Linhbergh Nguyen
with 38 comment(s)
What has always fascinated me is that a hunk of metal can make a person do the most irrational or illogical things. Why is it that many of us would get up at the most ungodly of hours only to climb in to a car and spend a day's festivities surrounding none other than cars? Or what is it that makes us wake up so eagerly for a car, yet we have to literally pry ourselves out of bed on most other mornings? Or to even drive a car with literally zero creature comforts across the country, just to spend...
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Posted
Nov 17 2009, 08:15 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 26 comment(s)
I'm dedicating this second post on the Autumn Drift Matsuri to the first ever "G1-GP," an all-foreigner drift competition that was held at the Nishi (West) course on Sunday afternoon. With so many Aussies over for the event, Andy at Powervehicles.com came up with the idea of holding a little competition, especially seeing the high level of skills these guys had. As soon as he mentioned the idea to Suenaga and Kumakubo they jumped on it and told him not to worry as they would organize...
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Posted
Nov 17 2009, 06:42 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 35 comment(s)
Over the weekend we heard unconfirmed rumors that Chris Rado had driven his Scion tC into the 6's at Pomona, making it the first front-drive drag car ever to do so. There has been a little discrepancy regarding the time, but I just got off the phone with Chris who gave me the the quick rundown of what happened. With the car running faster than ever, and a solid coating of rubber on the track Chris laid down an astonishing 6.97 second ET during eliminations.
Unfortunately the incredible traction that the car had off the line caused the timing beams to misread the 60-foot time, technically making the ET "unofficial". Nonetheless, the complete 1/4 mile time is still legit by all accounts.
The drag racing was just part of Rado's wild week, which included record breaking time attack runs at both Buttonwillow and Fontana. He'll be posting a blog here soon with the story in his own words.
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Nov 17 2009, 05:16 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 40 comment(s)
I don't think any sort of caption or comment can do justice to the beauty of this car.
This photo actually reminds me of a real life version of the Shakotan Boogie manga.
I'm thinking maybe I should do a story on the comic considering it fits right in with our theme this month?
-Mike Garrett...
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