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Posted
Nov 20 2009, 01:12 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 4 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, 05:45 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 34 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, 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, 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, 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 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 15 2009, 09:30 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 46 comment(s)
There is simply nothing like it, the Drift Matsuri is a truly unique event and this third and last one for 2009 has probably been my favorite. With the surrounding mountains around Ebisu Circuit exhibiting the most intense autumn colors drifters were as ever spoilt for choice with 8 tracks at their disposal for the whole weekend. I've selected my favorite shots for this first post, pictures that best summarize what these last two days were like up in the drifter's paradise. The rain didn't...
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Posted
Nov 12 2009, 09:15 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 50 comment(s)
We are all great admirers of Nakai-san and Rauh Welt here at Speedhunters. The cars that have rolled out of this small countryside body-shop in Chiba-ken have pretty much all assumed cult status. Nakai's creations are all about raw style, a vision into what he thinks a Porsche should look, sound and even smell like! There are no compromises here, the cars that bare the Rauh Welt touch have been built for one simple thing, driving. I though it would be cool to take a nice and detailed look into...
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Posted
Nov 11 2009, 02:00 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 30 comment(s)
While most people probably think that everyone in Japan drives around in Skylines, Supras and AE86's the reality is that a great slice of the population is pretty crazy about minivans. Manufacturers have been churning them out in all shapes and sizes giving way to an ever-increasing presence on the crowded roads of the country. They do make sense as a practical means of transportation, they are big and in most cases pretty economical and as you can see from these pictures lend themselves rather...
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Posted
Nov 10 2009, 11:00 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 2 comment(s)
For everyone wanting a wallpaper of the Doriten R32 GT-R head to the Desktops section where you can download the widescreen and standard version of the above shot. Enjoy. -Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Posted
Nov 09 2009, 11:15 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 37 comment(s)
Here is one nice ride I spotted last month when covering the D1-GP final in Fuji Speedway. This extremely low BNR32 belongs to Ryusuke Kawasaki, the editor of Drift Tengoku (Drift Heaven) Magazine, the only publication you will ever need to read if you are into sliding around in cars! Doriten (the nick name of the mag) first came out back in 1996. It was bundled along with an issue of Option, and it kind of stayed like that until 1999 when it was finally launched as a proper separate publication...
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Posted
Nov 06 2009, 03:00 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 16 comment(s)
I spotted this Ings-kitted Lexus LS this last summer at the Okayama round of D1, parked up in the VIP lot. It was probably running a ride-height controller to get the air-suspension to drop to their lowest setting I thought it looked pretty menacing. I think it could have done with more offset to get those 20-inchLS Sport LM VIII to sit a little more flush. Ings Website -Dino Dalle Carbonare
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Posted
Nov 05 2009, 09:45 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 23 comment(s)
As the sun set early on Tuesday afternoon the Super Class of MSC got down to the final battles. Here are the two Run Free AE86s flying past the apex of the judged corner, Yamashita grabbing second position overall making him the winner of the East-Japan league with 52 points. This is one car I haven't seen before, built by Auto Service Mori, a respected tuning shop well known for building some pretty powerful track cars. I've been meaning to drop by their workshop in Atsugi for some time...
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Posted
Nov 05 2009, 03:30 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 17 comment(s)
I thought that for this second post from the MSC final it would be cool to take a walk through the paddock at Mobara's circuit, a great way to get a closer look at some of the cars that compete in this drift championship. There is always a nice mix of cars at MSC, all the way from the pro-looking machinery that competes in the Expert and Super classes like this Sign 141 Silvia all the way to more low-budget projects driven by amateur drifters in the Beginner class. Needless to say they each have...
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Posted
Nov 04 2009, 05:50 AM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 29 comment(s)
I found myself back in Mobara circuit yesterday, on a bitterly cold autumn morning, ready to get another drifting fix at the final round of this year's MSC Challenge. All the regulars we saw at Honjo in August were back, ready to score some final points in a last attempt to climb the point standings. There were also tons of other cool rides participating in the various classes, including a grip event, making it an even a more action packed day out than usual! Despite the chilling wind, the weather...
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Posted
Oct 31 2009, 09:00 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 22 comment(s)
These are the posts I love the most, allowing readers to get a more down-to-earth look into companies and personalities. Away from the limelight it is always so refreshing to see just how normal people are and the guys at T&E were a great bunch to spend the best part of a day with. I dropped by their main shop in Yokohama to try to get a behind the scenes look at what is one of the most respected aero parts makers in Japan. The man behind it all is Takahiro Ueno, who currently drivers the 2JZ...
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Posted
Oct 29 2009, 10:37 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 8 comment(s)
I was going through some of my old photos this morning when I came across this picture I took of a 240ZG race car at last year's Nismo Festival. I figured it was time my computer got a new Desktop and of course I had to "share the wealth" with you guys.
Head over to the Desktops section to pick it up in widescreen or standard format.
-Mike Garrett...
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Posted
Oct 28 2009, 06:30 PM
by
Dino Dalle Carbonare
with 24 comment(s)
If you were wondering what video I was talking about in my Retrospective about Taniguchi, this is it, shot by a couple of friends of his that really struggled to keep up with him!
-Dino Dalle Carbonare
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