Category Archives: Cars

I brought my 80’s Kuwahara along for kicks.

Babs’ Hako took out best of show runner up.

One category I had to judge was “Best Hellaflush”… but Hellaflush is an American brand! I sat there, felt embarrassed about it for a bit, then I kicked myself in the bum and thought why the hell not, sun’s out, let’s have some fun. This is the car I chose for the win.

I also had to judge “best stance” which I gave to Shane. You can’t argue his Supra has a menacing stance (even in broad daylight!), best of all, it’s stance is dictated by function.

EVO 9 wagon took me by surprise. It also won a runner up prize for best EVO.

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Babs claiming his prize.

A very pregnant Nat (Miss-R) took 3rd best overall car of the day.

Perfect weather, EVO guys were ripping it up on the circuit and skid pan (very impressive!), Show and Shine prizes went down a treat and best of all there was a great social vibe all morning and afternoon.

Judging the “Show and Shine” with George from Mothers was a hard job. George has judged many an event (including Sema!), and being in the care care industry he had a thing for perfect paint. I’ve got little idea about good or bad paint, but George didn’t have much of an idea about JDM car culture so we met in the middle.

There were a billion photographers out and about today so I’m sure there will be many more pics of the cars on show. I’ve started a photo thread on JDMST. Click here to keep an eye on it as photographers get busy uploading their images.

1975 260Z 2+2

It’s been one of my aims for some time now to find a car that was made in the year I was born. The project would entail a lot of research, time, space, blood, sweat and tears…all that stuff that makes me feel alive!

Out of curiosity I’ve started up a thread on JDMST to see what cars that other people, of different ages, would choose from the year they were born. Click here to enter the discussion

Why the hell am I driving a Golf for?! Always have loved the R34 GT-R, still very much do.

After seeing Jing I was drunk on reflections. It’s events like these that make you wake up, re-think and re-look at your life. I needed a cigarette or two so I dropped in to see my good mate/mechanic Indy who’s workshop is pretty much a stone throw from the hospital. Can’t say the smoke made me feel any better, but it was good to catch up with Indy in any case as it’s been a very long time.

Spotted this time attack monster at VSport.

Tubbed out.

Brakes, as you like.

Straight after my meeting with Advan this morning I headed out to VSport to see if the boys could work out a new front brake solution for my Golf GTI (I’ve managed to crack some slotted rotors with only 2 track days). Unfortunately there is no other alternative disc rotor that will bolt right on. It’s looking like I can either get some custom hats made up to hold aftermarket rotors ($$$) or they can modify some WRX one’s to suit. Either way I’m in good hands and they’re working on a solution for me.

Taz and Matt.

150+ cars. Lots of quality too.

The crowd.

Bonnet poppin.

It’s the me.

My Zoomer.

Huge JDMST meet last night at Fox Studios. 150+ cars easy, we almost filled up the entire floor. Unfortunately one guy dropped a stupid burnout on his way out, people panicked and more than half the cars there decided to leave. We’ve been holding these end of month meets since 2005 and there’s always a few idiots who just can’t help themselves.

All pictures above by Matthew Mead and many more great pictures by many more photographers can be viewed in the JDMST Appearance Gallery

Great VWGolf.net.au meet last night at Broadway. People often wonder, what the hell do we do once we all get to the carpark? For me it’s a chance to catch up with some old faces, talk shit (not just cars), meet new faces, check out other cars (and to an extent show off your own). Many more photos here

Our shed.

Zi’s spaceship. Probably the softest, heaviest and slowest car he’s ever taken to Wakies.

Timmy’s SP23.

Timmy stripped his rear seats out in search for an advantage over his mates. LOL!

Clifton’s Sportivo.

NB – rep it.

NA is best.

Luke’s GT-R.

Oh noes, my GT-R is leaking…

My best time.

Zi went wild with some race tape.

Crazy hot Mosler, sounded and looked so damn good.

NA on the track.

Timmy was looking really good in the last corner. I think he ended up with a 1.19 which is awesome for a first timer.

NB pitting.

There were a few Accords on the track, all going hard.

This Cobra sounded very tough.

Clifton pitting, all smiles.

Great day out at Wakefield Park today. Met up with Clifton, Timmy and Zi at the Shell half way on the M5, amazingly I was the last to arrive! Ate some McDonalds (as you do) and after I digested, we headed for Wakefied Park. As soon as we got there we realised that there was no more garage space. IE: It was a very busy day! Not great if you’re a a noobie (Cycling friends Clifton and Timmy have never been to the track before), not great if you’re a veteran like myself either ahaha.

We parked in our own garages a row back, felt kinda cool to have the entire row of parking to ourselves. They split up the street cars into 2 groups as there were so many of us, and there was also a race car group, as well as an open wheeler group (4 groups, 20 minute sessions).

We’d missed the first session. I ran into a few familiar forum faces. One guys Melvin already had car issues and needed a tow back home (damn that would suck after such a long drive!). We were up for the second session, unfortunately they don’t allow passenger rides anymore so showing someone the line isn’t easy (it’s always great to jump in cars with new guys). On their first session out, Cliffy and Timmy just took it easy. Their mate with the Impreza spun out though, haha. There was a lot of traffic and I didn’t get a good run in the GT-R, but still managed a 1.13 and damn the car was fast, brakes were awesome too.

Session 2 saw the boys get a little faster. I clocked a 1.11. Still not confident with the car. I hit the brakes in the wrong spot and had the tail come right out, caught it nicely though which stopped me from going around.

After lunch. Zi pushed me (just what I needed) to just go for it, just smash at least one corner I don’t usually smash. I tried harder in the 3rd session. I knew I was on a flying lap and on the lap after what felt like a fast lap I pushed even harder but it all came undone on the last corner. I spun out and couldn’t get the car started again for a while (flooded the engine I assume). The track marshal called me in after that, not for the spin, but because he spotted a lot of smoke coming out of my car when I was lifting off.

I parked the car, a few minutes later Zi noticed the car was leaking. There goes my day! Luckily the fluid was red. Power Steering Fluid. It’s the same thing that happened to the GT-R the last time it was out on the track over a year ago (!). I’ve since called Indy and he’s looking into a cooler set-up of some sort to stop the fluid from boiling.

When I checked the lap timer I was happy to see a 1.09 there. Fastest I’ve ever been around Wakefield. I know there’s a lot more in it. I’ve just got to grow some bigger balls! Pretty cool for a car to not be tracked for over a year, then to go and bang out a 1.09 though!