Category Archives: Cars

Never underestimate the power of a phone call

So what’s with all this attitude at 42? Understandable if I was young, but telling the boss of an international brand that you think you love the brand more than he does sounds pretty damn arrogant, and that’s exactly what I said to Jose Angeles, the big man at Toyo Tyres Australia a couple of years ago during our first meeting.

Over the years I’ve developed an interesting relationship with most of my clients. It takes a lot for a client to take risks on me and allow me to work the way I want to work, because if you try to make me work the way everybody else does… well then there’s friction, and well, then basically nothing gets done.

I got a message from Nicholas Green yesterday. Nick has been a middle man of sorts in my relationship with Toyo. He simply asked for a Toyo update and I lost my shit.

It’s funny how much pressure we put on ourselves. It’s funny how much pressure money puts on me and how much pressure I put on money. In a time where I’m hyper aware of how little energy I have for anything but working on personal issues and gaming, I still wake up with ZEN and Toyo on the brain and if I scroll through my feeds, though there are less posts I still see ZEN and Toyo posts in the mix.

It’s this natural connect that is important to me and I love that Toyo and many other of my clients leave me alone to do what I like when I like, but for some reason, a simple question from Nick yesterday made me feel an immense pressure, like what I was doing wasn’t enough, like maybe we should just drop the relationship, like what the hell was I thinking?

It’s taken a few deep breaths, an apology, and a phone call to both Nick and Jose to calm me down. Thanks Nick, and Jose for being pillars and mirrors for me. I didn’t like what I saw in the reflection, but I’m glad I’ve seen it, and I’m massively grateful for the support.

Posted in Cars, Spam, Zen Garage | 1 Comment

The Golf is SOLD!

SHE’S SOLD!

Going to a good guy who’s a mate of a great guy. This car has been the longest daily driver I’ve owned. It’s the car that killed the modifying bug in me (as I was buying and modding a car a year before this car). Where I often wished I was in my GT-R when a nice ride would pull up next to me at the lights when I was in my daily drivers, I never felt that way in the Golf. It holds it’s own and nothing I’ve owned has ever sounded so good from the front and the back.

#hooraynomoretyrekickers #lessismore

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WTAC 2017

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My WTAC photos are up! FEATURE: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2017/10/wtac-2017/

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JDMyard, WTAC winners… AGAIN!

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So surreal, so unreal, so… lost for words. My mates at JDMyard have won WTAC again!

I was done at 5PM on Sat at WTAC, as usual, no idea how the guys managed to muster the energy to hold a meet after the win, but damn! What a way to celebrate!

Sam Law was there (when is he not?!) to capture the vibe. Full feature on ZEN BLOG: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2017/10/the-chronicles-x-jdmyard-megameet/

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Project Cars 2

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Hey all, the full feature from my day playing the latest build of Project Cars 2 is up on ZEN Blog: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2017/09/projectcars2/

Awesome timing as this image just got sent to me last night!

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Legends!

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Hangs with Nicolas Hamilton and Rod Chong

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Yesterday I was invited by Bandai Namco Entertainment to the Developer Tour for Project Cars 2. Attending the event was Slightly Mad Studios (Speedhunters Founder) Rod Chong, together with British Touring Car Driver, Nicolas Hamilton (Lewis Hamilton’s younger brother who races with a specially-modified car due to his cerebral palsy).

We got to play the latest build of Project Cars 2 on two DBOX full motion simulators at the event (each retails for over $40,000) as well as full VR support with Oculus Rift and PS4 Pro enhanced versions of the game. We also had a full 12K tri-screen PC setup to play with. I’ll be sure to blog that all up on ZEN Blog soon, but this morning I got to spend quality time with Nicolas Hamilton out at my hood. Seeing him on the sim yesterday was pretty mind blowing stuff (ZEN feature to come!), but getting to know the legend and having him over at my place was pretty spesh!

Check out his story here, it’s amazing, and be sure to follow him: @nicolashamilton

Posted in Cars | 1 Comment

It’s time to sell the Golf

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Due to MDT (or at least, my paranoia of it) I’ve not driven much at all in the past year. I’ve mostly relied on friends to give me lifts and uber. The Golf is sitting out in the car port unloved. It’s bad enough I have the GT-R in hibernation, the Zoomer too, but the Golf as well?! I can’t fight logic anymore so I’ve made the call to finally let her go.

I’m asking $25K which is way under what it’s worth, but I’m after a quick sale without the game play. If you’re interested, or know someone who might be, do get in touch. More info on my build thread: http://www.vwgolf.net.au/showthread.php?14292-Justin-Fox-s-ABT-Supercharged-MKV-R32

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EOMM JULY 2017

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What’s with all the commotion about the skids at EOMM?

It’s nothing new?

I’ve been running EOMM’s since 2004 and sadly there have always been idiots doing skids leaving the event.

EOMM has been shut down MANY times. Early days we were shut down every 2nd meet. EOMM has been shut down for years at a time, yet it’s come back again and again when the time felt right.

EOMM feels like a previous lifetime ago to me, but when it resurfaces I’m OK with it.

Right now it’s a HUGE safety issue as EOMM is child friendly and I see a lot of kids walking about at the meets. I was with 2 kids all EOMM last week. One 14, one 8 and there were a few guys driving way past 60 in the car park…
Sydney Dragway takes all money off the door. We’ve tried more security, we’ve tried hiring police and nothing seems to be working to stop a handful of idiots from driving dangerously both to, inside and on the way out of the event.

I personally see this as an issue management has to sort out. Either way EOMM can’t go on the way it’s going and I’m OK with whatever decision management ends up making, whether it’s to try to continue to solve the issue or call it a day (for now?!).

PS: To all those offering help. I’ll speak to the team and see if I can come up with one point of contact for help/suggestions. Thanks for caring!

PPS: To all those who have been saying bad things about EOMM (or hearing people saying bad things about EOMM), thinking I might be upset by the noise; NO. I am AOK with it. YES I represent EOMM. I founded it, but it’s a whole different beast today to what it was when I started it (those who know know that EOMM is long dead). To the haters kicking me whilst I’m down (you know who you are), fine form guys, keep talking about me and following me, there’s much more to come!).

Posted in Cars | 2 Comments

EOMM


Video by Ved and audio by yours truly. #vibes

Hittin’ the ground rollin’. I’m vibe hunting tonight. Expecting a HUGE End Of Month Meet (EOMM). I’ll be there with the ZEN stand so please come down and hang. Community. Unity. Haters and Hoons don’t fuck this shit up for me.

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Raijin Fujin – Japan Trip Day #6 – HKS Kansai

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Couldn’t help but check this little thing out. Not one part of this S660 was left untouched!

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This BNR34 had a HKS Kansai cage in it, the cage featured a fair bit more bolstering than my Cusco cage which makes for a much stronger look. Definitely makes me wish I pulled the trigger on a HKS cage many years ago.

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Clean EVO 6. Many cars were stored away due to the impending rain today, shame but hey, not complaining with the cool cars we did get to see!

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Beast!

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This car was for sale.

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I have this same genuine new old stock sticker that I still haven’t stuck on my car. Every time I do see an old BNR32 rocking this sticker (very rarely!!!) it makes me want to put mine on!

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A couple of tough white GTR’s were parked closer to the showroom.

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Monster!

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I really really wanted this dipstick but it doesn’t fir the RB26! Grrrr! I did end up getting a bunch of stickers and T’s though.

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Mukai-san was so animated, so much energy. I can only hope I have the same amount of energy when I’m his age!

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Meeting the President of HKS Kansai Service Mukai-san was a pretty special treat, especially with Naomi tanslating for me! He had all the time in the world for us. I got to show Mukai-san my R32 GT-R which he approves of! He liked my girly photography too LOL! He’s even tried to persuade me to come back to fit some new GT III turbos! Definitely a highlight of the trip!

Later that we had all the guys we’ve been hanging out with on separate locations, all in the one place for goodbyes. Got to love these young Japanese guys, they’re just such cool cats the lot of them!

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