2009 has been quite a year for me – one that's included a move overseas, a few new cars, and then a move from California's Central Valley to the car culture epicenter that is Los Angeles. After spending the first couple months of the year in Japan, I packed up my things and returned stateside just in time for the start of the '09 season. There are times when I miss Japan greatly, but I've had an absolute blast Speedhunting here in the good old US of A.

For the first my part of my photos of the year, here are some shots I've taken on both sides of the Pacific this year.

JCCA New Year Meeting, Tokyo Japan: Kicking off the new year in style – nostalgic Japanese street style that is. The New Year Meeting is just one of those things that has to be seen.

HKS Premium Day, Fuji Speedway Shizuoka-ken, Japan: Here's something I doubt I'll get a chance to do while in SoCal – shooting auto racing in the snow. Just a couple minutes after I snapped this photo of the Defend GT-R, the event was called off due to track conditions.

Super Lap Battle, Buttonwillow Raceway, Buttonwillow, California: Buttonwillow Raceway will always hold a special place in my heart, as that's where I first I tried the whole automotive photography thing.

Formula Drift Finals, Irwindale Speedway, Irwindale, California: Ross Petty runs through the inner bank at Irwindale. A photos of the year post wouldn't be complete without at least one shot from the House of Drift.

The California Hot Rod Reunion, Famoso Raceway, Kern County California: I have very fond memories of going to Famoso Raceway to watch my dad and his buddies race their cars, so it felt great returning there for the California Hot Rod Reunion in October.

Monterey Sports Car Championships, Laguna Seca Raceway, Monterey, California: The Falken GT2 Porsche finishes off the 2009 ALMS season at Laguna Seca. This was certainly one of the most "proper" events I shot this year.

RX7 Track Day, Tsukuba Circuit, Ibaraki-ken Japan: The thing I probably miss the most about my time in Japan is having Tsukuba Circuit a mere 20 minutes away. Oh well, it's only a plane flight away, right?

Japanese Classic Car Show, Irvine California: I'll never forget the moment I first laid eyes on the 240Z that changed the face of the internet as we know it…

Tokyo Auto Salon 2009, Makuhari Messe, Chiba-ken, Japan: And you go to TAS for the cars? Meh….

Formula Drift Sonoma, Infinieon Raceway, Sonoma, California: Justin Pawlak shows the crowd how to enter like a man.

Nisei Showoff, Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, California: From Big Tokyo, to Little Tokyo. Nisei Showoff has been the summer meeting spot of LA's finest for years.

X Games 15, The Home Depot Center, Carson, California: ACP takes flight at the X Games in the NOS Energy Drink Evo. X Games rally was one of the craziest events I've ever shot.

All Star Bash, Willow Springs Raceway, Rosamond, California: All Star Bash was without a doubt the funnest event I went to all year. Hopefully the next one won't be held in the middle of the summer though!

Idlers Games, Tsukuba Circuit, Ibaraki-ken, Japan: When I returned to Japan for a couple weeks in the summer, I made sure to hit up some events when I was there, including an Idlers race at Tsukuba. Words can't really describe the brilliance that is an Idlers event…

Somewhere in rural Tochigi-ken, Japan. A VIP drops by Family Mart. I've had a lot of fun doing my "Car Sightings" stories in Japan, and have even considered doing an occasional "LA Car Sightings" post if there's interest.

Long Beach Grand Prix, Long Beach, California. ALMS GT2 and P1 cars mix it up in the LBC. There is something amazing about street courses….

Cruisin' Nationals, Santa Maria, California. Wide whites reign supreme at the 2009 Cruisin' Nationals in Santa Maria.

Formula Drift Round 2, Road Atlanta, Braselton, Georgia. Sam Hubinette and Chris Forsberg trade paint in front of some of the craziest drift fans in the world.

Bug-In 34, Auto Club Speedway, Fontana, California. Aircooled VW's line up for a run down the quarter mile at Bug-In 34 in Fontana.

Fresno Autorama, Fresno California: Just a couple days after I returned from Japan I got a proper reintroduction to American car culture at the Fresno Autorama.

OK that does it for my first batch of photos. More on the way!

-Mike Garrett