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The primary weekend of December is at all times an occasion double-whammy for me. It begins off on Saturday on the Pacifico Yokohama conference middle for the Mooneyes Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present setup, whereas Sunday – the precise Mooneyes occasion day – is spent at Fuji Speedway for the Nismo Pageant.
Now that Covid disruptions appear to be behind us, this previous weekend I had quite a lot of enjoyable hitting up these two legendary meets as soon as once more. Let’s kick off with the Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present 2022 – the thirtieth anniversary occasion no much less.
The present prep is one thing I’ve at all times loved taking pictures.
Seeing so many wild automobiles arrive below their very own energy is an actual spectacle, and even when I by no means get to see the precise present the next day, I by no means really feel quick modified.
With sufficient area contained in the venue that I can simply escape my 70-200mm lens, plus no crowds to cope with, setup day on the Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present actually is an automotive photographer’s paradise.
It’s additionally so cool to see the work that goes into making ready automobiles for show, to not point out the shows themselves.
Then after all there are the automobiles – the principle purpose why we’re right here.
Though I’ve lined Mooneyes occasions in Japan for years – and discovered so much about this nook of automobile tradition within the course of – I might by no means name myself an professional. There’s simply an excessive amount of selection in relation to automobiles, historical past and types spanning just about an entire century.
However that’s OK. I’ve at all times loved being a fish out of water at these occasions, however on the identical time some issues have turn out to be acquainted. That’s as a result of Mooneyes Japan occasions at all times throw home automobiles into the combination.
Just like the Yajima Jidousha S14 Silvia, which I first bumped into at Tsukuba again in 2018. Since then, its L28 engine has obtained a bump as much as 3.1L and it now breathes by way of triple 50mm carburettors.
Proper in entrance of the S14 was this Nissan Gloria wagon, additionally powered by an L-series engine with an analogous spec.
It’s so cool to see house owners persevering with to make use of these older, carbureted straight-sixes. It have to be somewhat cool having full-tune S30Z sound in your wagon.
Mooneyes at all times has its justifiable share of Volkswagen Beetles and Buses, however there have been another rear-engined VW beauties on the occasion, together with this beautiful Brazilian 1600 4-door notchback.
Irrespective of the way you resolve to navigate the Pacifico halls, the range retains coming.
So, after I was finished taking a look at previous American vehicles, I headed again outdoors to see what was on its approach in.
I like themed automobiles, particularly ones that make sense. I wouldn’t look twice at a Nissan NV200 van on the road, however when one turns as much as a Mooneyes occasion sporting the long-lasting BRE livery and operating reimagined 4-spoke wheels – the originals used on previous Datsun Sunny race automobiles – I begin snapping away.
The NV200 wasn’t the one BRE-themed automobile on the Pacifico. Try this wonderful track-side help van from Artwork Racing.
On the ramps out again was a Datsun 2000, additionally sporting the legendary colours that Peter Brock of Brock Racing Enterprises made so well-known. This rig and automobile setup was like a Scorching Wheels Staff Transport launch, however in 1:1 scale and totally purposeful.
The Nissan racing theme didn’t finish there…
I’m not 100% positive what we’re taking a look at right here, however I received flashbacks of the S30-inspired Z33 I noticed at TAS again in January, on the Nissan Automotive School sales space. If the automobiles from Floor Designs are something to go by, it looks as if grafting old fashioned faces onto fashionable automobiles is catching on.
Right here’s Floor Designs’ extra street-oriented construct, rolling in afterward within the day.
Customized bikes are an vital a part of the Scorching Rod Customized Present, so I at all times must seize just a few photos.
Mooneyes Japan at all times likes to herald builds from different international locations for this occasion, however sadly it didn’t find yourself figuring out this 12 months. The container coming from Los Angeles, that was stuffed with bikes, by no means even made it onto the ship on account of dockworker strikes.
One space of the occasion was reserved for ‘Muscle Mopar’, and boy did the show dwell as much as its title.
Not solely did they’ve this loopy machine sporting a 9.3L massive block engine…
…However an enormous variety of Plymouth Highway Runners – greater than I’ve ever seen in a single place at one time.
It was enjoyable making an attempt to determine the variations of the assorted mannequin years.
For me, the winner was this Tremendous Chicken iteration – based on the visuals and that huge rear wing. I attempted to search for the proprietor to ask if the automobile was one of many few packing a 426ci Hemi V8 – and to listen to the beep beep horn – however to no avail.
Earlier on I discussed the number of builds on show on the Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present, and right here’s extra proof – a slammed Daihatsu Hijet.
This little show – a homage to the 1980 Subaru AWD wagon that was utilized by the US Ski Staff in the course of the Lake Placid Winter Olympics and subsequent advert marketing campaign – stopped me in my tracks. It was so ’80s, and with so a lot pink I find yourself questioning if that is the explanation STI used the colour in its branding…
Ever since protecting Andy’s Rod Works years again, I’ve turn out to be an actual fan of Willys coupes. I’ve at all times discovered it visually-pleasing how the entrance and full roof line of those automobiles dramatically lean ahead, making them seem like they’re going 100mph even when sitting nonetheless.
No shock then that they appear completely menacing when constructed up for drag racing.
There’s nothing like a giant blower topped off with a bug catcher to make a press release!
I had my son in tow, type of as an assistant, wheeling my digital camera case round and ensuring to complain each couple of minutes at simply how a lot strolling we had been doing. After we stopped to have a look at the ’90 Years of Deuce’ show he had bother comprehending that these automobiles are near 100 years previous now. “However they appear so new,” he stored saying. He was sort of proper, and that’s actually the entire level of kustom tradition – holding these historic machines alive and reinventing them over and over. I’m fairly positive it struck a chord with the little fellow.
Because the day went on, the shows had been buttoned up and the present actually began coming collectively.
It was in the direction of the night that I had an opportunity to take a better have a look at a few of my favourite builds of the present, together with this one from a member of the famed Pharoahs Automobile Membership Japan.
I’ve at all times been intrigued by the straight-eight engine, a Fireball 8 on this case.
Not too far-off, the lowrider space was just about prepared for Sunday.
I’m positive Snoop Dogg would really feel proper at residence on this one.
The Mooneyes Yokohama Scorching Rod Customized Present has at all times managed to carry home and worldwide kustom tradition collectively in its personal distinctive approach, and this 12 months’s occasion was no totally different. The fusion of previous and new, the combination of types and the wonderful individuals make all of it so particular. As ever, I can’t look forward to the thirty first occasion in 2023.
Dino Dalle Carbonare
Instagram: dino_dalle_carbonare
dino@speedhunters.com
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