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Posted
Oct 22 2008, 01:44 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 11 comment(s)
OK, so perhaps the title of this post is a bit misleading. I was only five years old when Riverside International Raceway closed for good in 1989, but after reading through Frank Sheffield's website about the track, it almost feels like I was there. Frank used to work at the track and he has put together a very thorough site that chronicles the track and its history. Since October is Socal month on Speedhunters, it is the perfect time for a little look back at one of the Southern California's most historic car spots. When I asked Frank if we could use some of his gathered material for this story, he said that in his view every bit of motorsport history should belong to everyone. With that said, let's take a look back at RIR....
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Posted
Oct 06 2008, 03:16 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 5 comment(s)
We always like to show support for our favorite magazines and websites, and Japanese Nostalgic Car is one of the most dedicated enthusiast websites/publications around. After debuting their first print magazine issue earlier this year, they have just finished their second issue which will be received by subscribers soon. After glancing at the cover, it looks like it will again be packed full of cool stuff about old school Japanese iron......
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Posted
Sep 22 2008, 09:12 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 7 comment(s)
The Targa Newfoundland has to be one of the most unique motorsport events in North America. I remember being glued to the televison watching Speed TV's coverage of the event years ago. In fact I think it was one of the coolest things I saw on the Speed channel ever. The Targa Newfoundlad is as big as ever and the 2008 edition of the race just wrapped up this weekend. The Targa is held over 2,200 km of scenic backroads in Newfoundland and the event draws competitors from all over the world in...
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Posted
Sep 18 2008, 03:52 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 10 comment(s)
OK, so it probably sounds strange that there is a NEW car model called the "'33 Hot Rod", but I think that the latest offering from Factory Five Racing certainly qualifies as a "new" car. While old school hot rods are not lacking in character or coolness, the antiquated cars leave a lot to be desired as far as chassis design and performance potential goes. Factory Five Racing is well known for their popular Cobra kits and their latest design puts combines all of their sports and racing experience with all the style and simplicity of traditional hot rods....
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Posted
Sep 10 2008, 06:00 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 16 comment(s)
For our second post on the Langley Cruise, I thought I'd focus on 'Imports'. I was surprised at the selection at the show. I assumed it would be an all American show, but the show had a very eclectic mix. As you can see from theses images, European and Japanese cars such as the Datsun 510 and Fiat 500. I regret selling mine when I immigrated to Canada, so you'll have to put up with my indulgence for Fiat 500 images and posts! There was a great selection of Datsun 510's. I wasn't...
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Posted
Sep 09 2008, 06:50 AM
by
Andy Blackmore
with 4 comment(s)
The Langley 'Good Times' Cruise-in started in 1997 by a group of classic car enthusiasts. Eleven years on, and the small town, just outside of Vancouver is now one of the largest cruises in North America. Classic car TV personality and handbar moustache owner (!) Dennis, Gauge puts it in his top 10. I hadn't been to the Cruise before, so I didn't know what to expect, but I came away massively impressed. In this post we'll concentrate on Domestic cars, but Part Two will feature...
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Posted
Aug 27 2008, 06:30 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 10 comment(s)
For those who are fans and followers of grassroots styte nostalgic drag racing and hot rodding from the 1950's and '60s, there are few better websites out there than the Jalopy Journal and its "Hokey Ass Message Board" (H.A.M.B). For these guys it's all about homebuilt, stripped down rods ,straight axle drag cars and the like. I also think it should also be noted that these guys were around long before the "rat rod" trend took off. Rod, is a hardcore lurker on the H.A.M.B forums and since he introduced me to the site a while back, I have been reading it quite a bit myself. Every summer, they hold an extravaganza in Joplin, Missouri called the H.A.M.B drags and it looks to be an amazing event by any stretch....
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Posted
Aug 26 2008, 02:09 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 7 comment(s)
had too much content for one post, so here's another batch of coverage from last weekend's Idlers Games at Tsukuba. Let's jump right into it. I took this opening shot during the first lap of the Super Cup race. Imagine over 30 fully tuned Porsches' and other makes taking to the track for fender to fender racing and you can imagine the spectacle. On top of all this, the track was wet making things even more tricky. Older Porsche cars are not known for being the most driver friendly, and you can bet that these guys were using some serious skill to keep their cars on the track. My heart was beating like crazy watching these guys scream past my camera in the wet....
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Posted
Aug 26 2008, 07:55 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 10 comment(s)
After spending last Saturday at Tsukuba Circuit for the Idlers Games, my busy weekend continued on Sunday with a trip up to Twin Ring Motegi to check out the "Super American Sunday" event. As the name implies, Super American Sunday is a celebration of all automotive things that are American or American inspired and it draws "Ame-sha" (American Car) fanatics from all over the Kanto area and beyond. The event includes a huge car show, swap meet, celebrity appearances, and even drag racing on the front straight of the Motegi oval course. I had been planning to go to this event for a while and I was quite interested to see the Japanese take on the cars from my homeland. Not to mention I haven't really had the chance to see any cool American machines for a while....
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Posted
Aug 25 2008, 10:49 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 18 comment(s)
I was originally planning on joining Rod and Antonio on their trip to Suzuka for Super GT, but in the end I decided I would stick around here as there were two events going on that I wanted to cover. The first of them was the latest match of the Idlers Games at Tsukuba Circuit and although Super GT would have been awesome, I was quite happy with what I got to see at Tsukuba this weekend. If you are a frequent reader of this site or Auto Otaku, then you probably have seen my Idlers coverage in the past. Of all the events I have been to in Japan, this one is certainly one of my favorites. Idlers events always have the coolest cars to see and this one was no different. As typical for this time of year, skies were gray and rain was falling here and there, but that didn't stop anyone from coming to the circuit and running the wheels of their machines....
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Posted
Aug 13 2008, 02:10 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 7 comment(s)
I'm sure you have been enjoying all the Japan-related content we have been running lately. I know I have been reading Rod and Antonio's content from Ebisu and am seriously regretting not being able to make it up there with them last weekend. When I read Rod's thoughts on the Japanese appreciation for aesthetics and quality when it comes to car builds, I couldn't help thinking of the VW movement here in Japan, which I got to experience during this year's Street VW's Jamboree in Odaiba....
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Posted
Aug 06 2008, 12:45 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 16 comment(s)
Throughout the next month I will be doing a number of "101" posts about different aspects of Japanese car culture and I don't think there is a better place to start than with the classic car scene in Japan. After all, the Japanese tuning culture that is so popular around the world would not exist without these nostalgic machines. While it has only been in the past few years that vintage Japanese cars have gained mainstream popularity outside of Japan, most of these cars have held legend status in their homeland for a while now....
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Posted
Jul 16 2008, 02:30 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 13 comment(s)
By popular demand I decided to upload another gallery of photos from the JCCA Summer Meeting event at Tsukuba. I don't think any more commentary is needed from me. Just enjoy the sights of vintage machines under the hot summer sun....
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Posted
Jul 15 2008, 05:00 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 10 comment(s)
This is drifting month right? That is why I decided to open up the second part of JCCA Tsukuba Summer Meeting coverage with a photo of a Hakosuka Skyline doing a sideways dirt drop during the free track time at the event. While most of the drivers were content with gripping the course, the driver of this car was out to demonstrate his drifting skills much to the enjoyment to the fans sitting in the stands near the first hairpin. I have to say that it was one of the coolest things I have seen since...
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Posted
Jul 14 2008, 12:00 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 9 comment(s)
The Japanese Classic Car Association is old enough to be considered a classic itself. When it comes to the classic car scene in Japan, there a few organizations that are bigger or more respected than the JCCA. Besides their annual New Year Meeting which draws hundreds and hundreds of classics to Tokyo every January, the JCCA also hosts a number of race events including the Fuji Jamboree and a pair of meetings at Tsukuba Circuit. The Tsukuba Summer Meeting has been held for over 30 years now and despite happening during one of the hottest and most humid months of the year, it still draws a full grid of some of the finest vintage race cars seen in Japan and plenty of spectators as well......
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Posted
Jul 13 2008, 02:20 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 9 comment(s)
If you have ever been to Japan in the summer time then you know just how damn humid it can get here. Nonetheless, as visions of Hakosukas and Kenmeris danced in my head, I woke up early to spend a hot and sticky Sunday at Tsukuba Circuit for the annual Japanese Classic Car Association Summer Meeting. Sure the temps were not quite as high as Vegas this weekend, but the humidity more than made up for it I think. I have tons of pics to go through so I'll just post a few as a quick teaser for now......
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Posted
Jul 04 2008, 06:02 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 3 comment(s)
In the realm of motorsports, there are few things more exciting than some old fashioned hillclimb action. These shots come from Speedhunters forum member St3ph3n who has been documenting some recent hillclimb events held in Scotland. When you have super cool cars blasting down lonely winding roads in the Scottish countryside, what more do you need? It looks these events draw all sorts of cars. I see everything from Japanese tuner cars to European classics to open wheel cars......
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Posted
Jun 30 2008, 12:15 PM
by
Mike Garrett
with 15 comment(s)
Check out this RA28 Celica Lift-back that has been competing in the Japanese D1GP recently. The car which was built by HDO Racing Service and driven by Hideo Itakura has competed in both May's match at Suzuka and this weekend's event at Okayama. If you look between the headlamps you can see the intercooler which hints at the car's SR20 powerplant......
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Posted
Jun 30 2008, 09:44 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 6 comment(s)
As I woke up early in the morning to head to Tsukuba Circuit for the Interclub Historic Car Race, I looked outside to find it pouring rain. "Oh great, hopefully it will stop raining soon", I thought to myself. But as it came time to head out, there was no end to the rain in sight. No we aren't just talking about sprinkles, but a hard steady rain that that leaves huge puddles all over the place. I entertained the idea of forgetting about it and staying home, but I decided I would be brave and after a quick stop at the conbini (7-11) to pick up a rain coat, it was off to the track. When I got to the track for the place was already bustling with race cars and drivers......
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Posted
Jun 27 2008, 08:12 AM
by
Mike Garrett
with 11 comment(s)
I already did a post about Toyota's Megaweb in Tokyo, but I had to save the best part of Megaweb for last. While Megaweb itself has a lot of cool stuff to see, the History Garage is even better. Megaweb has all the new cars and high tech things, but the History Garage is where you will find all the cool classic cars and vintage racing machines. It's the car geek's section of Megaweb, if you will......
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