A 20 Year Hakosuka Friendship

It’s very easy to make friends as a car-lover.

First, approach potential friend and ask ‘are you into cars?’ If the answer is ‘yes’, proceed to talk about cars and become best friends. If the answer is ‘no’, comment on the weather then back away slowly; repeat process on next potential friend.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1369

Finding someone who is not just a fellow car enthusiast, but also a fan of the exact same car you love/drive is, thus, a moment to be treasured. Who knows, this person could be your best friend for the next five, 10, or 20 years!

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1370

While I was walking through the Fuji Speedway paddock at the 2016 Nismo Festival earlier in the month, I struck Speedhunting gold. It’s no secret that we love a good Hakosuka here at Speedhunters, but finding two extremely modified examples parked next to each other in front of the Panasport booth was a spotlight opportunity to good to pass up.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1372

The owners of these respective cars have been friends for over two decades now, and they’ve had their cars about the same length of time. What started as two guys tuning up their kyusha C10s has clearly escalated into something more. Almost nothing on these cars remains stock – two decades of continuous improvement have seen to that.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1374

For whatever reason, it has been decided by the collective wisdom that there is a ‘right’ way to modify your Hakosuka: a factory colour, GT-R flares and front lip, deeply dished Watanabe wheels. Of course it looks great, but it can tend to be a little formulaic. These two cars are clearly reading from a different rulebook; check out the massive, polished-lip Work VS-XX wheels barely hiding the massive front brakes on the sedan.

nismofest-2016-blakejones-speedhunters-0651

Lurking inside the shaved engine bay of the gold car is an enlarged L-series engine breathing through ITBs, which I’m told makes close to 350hp.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1378

The best thing about having car buddies is that they can get you out of a jam, say if your battery goes dead at a festival!

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1380

Apparently both cars see regular track duties, which explains the serious fueling setup and battery relocation in the coupe.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1388

Both cars had very little remaining of the original interior, the dashboards gutted in favour of aluminium panels with aftermarket gauges (more than a few) and custom switchgear. In addition, well constructed full roll-cages tighten up the aging chassis in both cases.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1383

The coupe was sporting a heavily vented bonnet but a slightly more traditional wheel choice in a set of three-piece Panasport Racing G7-C8Rs.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1387

The weathered plates tell a story of their own; the cars hail from Shonan, an area south of Tokyo famous for long beaches, small bikinis and bosozoku. If there’s a better car for cruising the Shonan strip, I’m yet to see it.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1389

Showing an equal amount of patina is the iconic PMC.S logo sticker that is synonymous with these classic Skylines. It’s not just a cool look; the club is active and runs regular meet-ups and track days where you’re bound to run into more guys like our two owners here.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1396

Gold-san here didn’t speak a lick of English and my Japanese is about the same level as a three-year-old child, but the universal language of automotive passion bridged the gap allowed us to share a moment of friendship with plenty of thumbs up and smiles to go around.

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1402

It turns that ‘Speedhunters’ translates pretty well to Japanese, however. Upon mentioning where these photos would be posted I was immediately embraced in a big, warm bear hug by Blue-san. There’s a first time for everything! See what I mean about making car friends?

nismofest-hakosukas-blakejones-speedhunters-1403

And on that warmly embracing note, this spotlight concludes this year’s coverage of the Nismo Festival.

Blake Jones
Instagram: blaketjones
blake@speedhunters.com

ADVERTISEMENT

Comments



Comments are closed.

25 comments

by Oldest
by Best by Newest by Oldest
1

I think - Gold Fever -  is the proper way to comment this.

2

"First, approach potential friend and ask ‘are you into cars?’ If the answer is ‘yes’, proceed to talk about cars and become best friends. If the answer is ‘no’, comment on the weather then back away slowly; repeat process on next potential friend."

-Words to live by

3

The dash has me like ...

4

definitely not a complaint!

5

Isaac C lol   my thoughts exactly

6

That blue one though...

7

You able to  profit  $9730 




in a few  weeks .............





         http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

8

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTwLxrVK2ls .Its got both Hakos in this article and some cars at the Nismo Festival.

9

That dash makes the 10 year old in me smile...it looks like a fuckin' X-Wing cockpit!!!

10

I thought PMCS stood for, "Prince March Crown Skyline"...Guess I was wrong!

11

Woow so much wins.Its nice to see wilder build of hakosukas.   The cars,and the writing,and the story.....very nice!
Reminds me on me and my friend wich I know all the way since 1st grade, and we run same cars.
He got himself something newer (and more unreliable) cuz family and girflriend never stopped complaining,but he promised he will continue his build. hmm we will see.

12

I've made $64,000 so far this year w0rking 0nline and I'm a full time student..It is easy.
check this link. ►►►►►►  http://tiny.tw/3r6H

13

I am really thankful to and my employer, It's really great m0ney and I'm just so happy that I found out about it.check this link. ►►►►►►  http://tiny.tw/3r6H

14

I'm startled that people able to profit $9887





in one month ............





http://tinyurl.com/youtube-have-jobs

15

I'm taken by surprise that some one able to profit $9897


in four weeks ............


❥ http://www.fl-y.com/3kmr

16

my Aunty Mila just got Toyota Highlander
just by some part-time working online with a pc...
Get
More Information>>>>❥ http://www.fl-y.com/3kmr

17

You can earn $9412




in four weeks ...........




http://www.fl-y.com/3ks7

18

my Aunty Mila just got Toyota Highlander just by some part-time working online with a pc... 
Get More Information...............>>>>>>>>>> http://tinyurl.com/heavycash1

19

I'm alarmed that any one can profit $9823



in  weeks on ..............



http://www.fl-y.com/3ks7

20

online job without investment.so i have a great news, now every body can earn 105 dollar to 250 dollar per hour at your laptop.check this link. ►►►►►►  ▒❥❥❥ http://tinyurl.com/za75lxa

21

JakWhite

22

These cars need more than a spotlight. Any chance of a full feature on both these cars (together, obviously) at some point?

23

Speed Hunters = Sokudo Hanta!!!

Yeah it sure does sound nice!! :D

24

my Aunt Taylor just got yellow Mitsubishi Eclipse by working part time from the internet
. .see here you & click site...................................http://www.35options.com

25

BozoMotosport what car are you guys building/driving?

OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS