Before the cars, before the scene… this is where it all began.
Somehow, we bumped into a legend called Jamie at Osaka Auto Messe, and he works at Hayashi racing. He lives and breaths Hayashi and its amazing, he was kind enough to let us in and share the incredibly dense history of the brand with us. Here are the photos from visiting the workshop. visit Hayashi These are photos from the place where the very first aftermarket wheels in Japan came from and the people who started it all.
Visiting Yuasa was one of the most memorable experiences I’ve had in the car world. When he handed me the window you see above, it became one of those moments that stay with you for life.
I grew up obsessed with this era through old magazines and grainy photos, never imagining that one day I’d become friends with someone who had actually lived it, someone who played a real part in shaping that scene. The fact that Yuasa wanted to share pieces of that history with me made the experience feel even more special.
Meeting the people connected to that world, including Tadakoro, who openly credits Yuasa as a huge influence on where he is today, gave me a deeper appreciation for how much passion and history still live within this world.
I’ll keep the talking to a minimum here and let the photos from the recent video speak for themselves. Here are some of the things that caught my eye during the visit.
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Here are some photos from meeting up with Ryota Yuasa at Osaka Auto Messe. Visiting Messe had been on my list for many, many years, and when the opportunity finally came up, it turned into something even more special.
I picked Reuben up in Osaka, and together we met up with Ryota Yuasa and his partner at the event. It was Ryota’s first time attending a car show in many years, so getting to cruise through the halls with him was a really special experience. Watching him catch up with old friends, hearing his thoughts on different cars, and listening to his perspective on the event made the whole day unforgettable.
These are some of the moments and cars that caught my eye throughout the show. Enjoy the photos. Cheers.
Here are a few photos from my visit to Japfest in Poland. The first proper Japanese car show I ever attended was Japfest in Ireland way back, so it was epic to see how they did it over here. I was shocked because I came in with no expectations, and had mostly seen BMW stuff over the years, so this was a pleasant surprise. I’ll let the photos do the talking with the rest of this. I hope you enjoy a walk through the Polish Japanese car scene. Enjoy.
They let me race at Fuji Speedway. This is how I got approved for a racing license in Japan 🇯🇵
The world’s biggest AE86 festival at Fuji Speedway, AE86 culture at its absolute peak.
A day in Japan’s real car world. We follow a modified R34 through shaken before dropping it off at auction, and see how Japan’s strict car system really works.
After finishing our road trip through Europe, we somehow ended up in Abu Dhabi.
The final stop of our road trip led us to an insane hidden workshop in Belgium. This place has to be seen to be believed.
After days on the island, we finally commit and drive our 45-year-old Corolla off it. No turning back now.
I had no idea Gran Canaria had a car scene like this. From late-night meets to wild drives and hidden garages, this island completely surprised us.
Picked up a 45-year-old Corolla on a remote island. Didn’t expect what came next. Episode 1 of the Shitbox Safari begins now.
Working on the KE70 again… I don’t know why I do this to myself, but here we are. Enjoy the chaos.
Reuben’s Laurel is in rough shape after the damage. In this video, we break it down, assess what’s left, and decide the future of the build.