JiJi on the Road!

Although this breaking news is somewhat old now and should have been posted two weeks ago it's better late than never! JiJi is finally registered on Australian roads! The cost for 12 months registration, roadworthy certificate, insurance and compliance was somewhere around $1500, I think (I lost count) but it didn't matter in the end. My happiness was overwhelming when I climbed behind the wheel and fired the engine up before setting off for home. The long process was finally complete.

I always seem to have a silly grin on my face whenever I take him for a spin now and bystanders often look and point with giggles or comments, such as "cute" or "what is it?".
The modifications have continued. I've had the padding in the front seats redone and a cigarette burn fixed so they're just like new ($160) and the rear seats removed altogether due to the lack of seatbelts.

Next up, the paint.

Galaxy Convertible

I had the pleasure of riding in my friend's Galaxy convertible a few weeks ago. This is one huge car! It's a very original car and while cruising around the bay area people would just stop and stare at the huge white whale driving past. It's got a sweet sounding V8 engine and really adds to the enjoyment while driving with the top down. I can't wait for our next cruise.

Well, it's been a little while since I've had a chance to update my blog. My computer equipment is still coming over from Japan so I don't have much access at the moment. The good news is everything passed through Japanese customs, was packed into the container and is halfway to Australia now.

The bill? So far it's 155,561yen for the Japanese side. I'll still have to pay more customs clearance fees etc on the Australian end plus a few other costs.

If you've ever wondered what it looks like when a container is packed then wonder no more. Enjoy the photos.

Import Approved!

I received a phone call today from DOTARS and the application for JiJi to be imported to Australia has finally been approved! What a relief!

On a different note; I've started collecting parts for my stereo. I've got a Nakamichi 10" subwoofer to go in, along with an MTX Blue Thunder Pro1502 amp. The Nakamichi was purchased at UpGarage for 3,000yen and really does look in as new condition. The amp was donated by my mate.

Drift Girl

Drifting is a male dominated sport but occasionally one stumbles across the female variety and things always seem so much cooler when that happens. The overall-wearing cutie is Ayu and she's responsible for most of the work done on her Toyota chariot. The fuse cover says it all about the engine's internals and the pink highlights are part of Ayu's personal touch.

When it comes to choosing a car for drift duties one of the last makers on the list would be Daihatsu. But last year, while I was visiting 'drift heaven' (Ebisu Spring Drift Festival), I found a very rare and very beat up Daihatsu drifter. The car was a Charmant. Never heard of it? Neither have many other people. Based on the Toyota Corolla platform, the original 1500cc engine had been replaced with a Toyota 1600cc 20 valve 4AGE. There was more unusualness in the cabin with a Recaro baby seat.

Old School 2

Maybe I'm getting older. Maybe new cars are less interesting. Whatever the case, in recent years my affection for old school cars has increased. It's not that I didn't like classic cars when I was younger, quite the opposite, but now old school cruising just seems so much more appealing. Here's a selection of some very cool old school ricers.

Crazy Japanese Cars

The curious mind may sometimes wonder, 'Is it true what they say about Japan?' The answer is, only the really weird stuff. When it comes to car shows there's plenty of weird stuff to see and my advice is for the best experience save your money on the entry fee and spend it on a few beers. Cruise around the carpark, getting drunk, while you view the real show that goes on.
For the last three or four years the car show scene has really lost its volume and quality but the carpark crowds show up without fail. There are certainly more weird cars, more weirdly dressed owners and more skanky girls in the carparks.

Suzuka Circuit

YZ Circuit Crash

During my time covering motorsport I've seen a lot of crashes on the circuits of Japan but there's one that always stands out. It was just another day at YZ Circuit, a place that never fails to punish drivers who step over the line, when this happened...