Category Archives: Zen Garage

Zen Photowalk 2

Posted on 3 November, 2014 by Justin Fox

Zen Photowalk #2 was to Cockatoo Island! Perfect weather (luckily it wasn’t the day before, where temperatures were through the roof) and a much bigger crowd than our first Photowalk! Was such a great day out. Matthew Mead and I are already discussing locations for the next one! Look out for the full feature, featuring work from all the photographers on the day, on Zen Blog soon.

groupshot
Group Shot! In the end one of the staff from inside the office came out to shoot it for us.

gull
The first of many more gulls we saw that day.

stefan_milly
Stefan and Milly were already on the island when we arrived.

cameramead
Matt was only sweet to Milly to steal her camera.

garrytrinh
Photographer Extraordinaire. Garry Trinh. Check out his work here, he’s amazing.

seagull
Turns out it’s breeding season and there were gulls laying eggs everywhere.

meadsteps

flowers

tunnel
One of 2 deep tunnels.

babygull
Something I’ve always wondered. What do baby gulls look like. Now I know!!!

meadmoo
Mead directing Moo loves to direct. Firmly! So direct!

bar
We ended it with pizza and beers at the bar.

pizza
Prosciutto Pizza is tha bomb!

zen_moo
Sunset Moo.

cockatooisland
On the express ferry home. Goodbye Cockatoo Island. You were awesome.

billchant
Hey Bill!

Posted in Photography, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

It’s OK if you don’t get it!

Posted on 28 October, 2014 by Justin Fox

itsok

OMFG read this. I love this woman, who’s the closest thing to a mentor I’ve ever had (checking in on the things she writes on her Facebook wall alone inspires me to no end!). Pauline writes:

Many come close, yet few dare, so boldly to live without judgement, to give without expecting, and to love for no reason. I know this because I have come across so many, who interpret generosity as having an ulterior motive. Who react to compliments with suspicion. Who respond to offers of abundant opportunity with fear and derision. I have come across so many, who are consumed by their limiting beliefs and what others may think of them, that they are too afraid to explore that which is outside of the mundane matrix that they have trapped themselves in.

I have learned that there are more Sleepwalkers out there, than there are those who are Awake.

My religion is love. Nothing more. Nothing less. And I guess that’s why I fucking thrive when I hang with those who are weird, who are random, who are not afraid to be themselves. People who are full of love, generosity, authenticity, courage and presence.

You can’t do anything about the length of your life, but you can certainly do something about it’s width and it’s depth.

And sincerely, to all the naysayers who have had something smart, derogatory or sarcastic to say about the way I live my life and the way I speak my mind…. I say to you… Hey, it’s okay if you don’t get it. I wish you nothing but love, but I also choose to no longer waste my time with you. XP

‪#‎eatmydust‬

Posted in Zen Garage | Leave a comment

WTAC 2014 Friday

Posted on 17 October, 2014 by Justin Fox

Big day today. 5.30AM alarm… I’m up! Luke got to his Media briefing on time and the day rolled on pretty hard after that with lots of dramas and some fantastic moments.

ardc_garage
First stop, the ARDC Garage for a toasted bacon and egg roll and a good chin wag with Photographer Matthew Everingham.

david_streetcar
Spotted from above. David’s R32, which is very much more a street car than a lot of the competition in his category.

rb26_david_dalrymple
After the early sessions David’s radiator shroud cracked, ripping it off was the easy fix.

s14_turbo
The Heasman Steering S14 had some heat issues, the team were at it fast. Indy’s EVO had issues too, with the driver having to keep 4th pushed in (IE: otherwise it would pop out and thus driving one handed when in 4th gear!). The gearbox eventually blew.

nathanantunes
Shout outs to Nathan Antunes, pilot of the Heasman Steering S14.

jdmyard_eg_pittlane
JDMyard Civic entering the circuit.

ross_og1957
Ross Churchill’s amazing Belair.

ross_bonnet
Jaw-droppingly gorgeous.

enzo_combi
Haha!

jesus_combi
Loved this ratted up Combi (sounded amazing too).

kangaroo_combi

combi_wtf
Found this underneath.

mead
Hey Mead!

madbull
MADBULL.

driftcat
Driftcat’s in town.

meek_speedhunters
Sad the Speedhunters guys aren’t here this year, was looking forward to hanging out. They’re here in spirit though.

danny
Hey Danny! Great work on the aero on the Top Class Tyres STi.

vsport_86_wtac_2014
V-Sport‘s new 86 project set for WTAC next year!

brad_heasman_wtac_2014
Hey Brad!

brad_sarah_wtac
Haha, Brad and Sarah, exaggerated height difference!

splitter_r32gtr
Dave’s new splitter created enough downforce to rip the front lip off his car. Desperate measures to get him out for one more session.

pressuresheet
Under pressure.

dave_gtr
On pitt lane for the last session, finishing strong too.

steve_evo
Steven Planinic ready to go out in his EVO.

jdmyardeg
JDMyard EG (also with a few niggling issues) in pitt lane.

ceecee
Hey CeeCee!

moo
Hey Moo!

indyreturn
Unfortunately Indy’s EVO didn’t make it back in time for the last session of the day, but all good, fresh box, all set for tomorrow!

schembri_3fingersneat_zen_wtac_2014
Blaze Unit. Scott Schembri, ready to rock. As the sun went down, the drifters came out to play.

ryan
Ryan, working back late.

houseofpie
It’s way past dinner time. House of Pie!!!

Posted in Cars, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

Late Night KK’s Run

Posted on 12 October, 2014 by Justin Fox

carwash

krysti_spray

krysti_carwash

krysti_ke

kks
Ohhhhhh.

donuts
Been a looooong time, baby!

Posted in Cars, Food, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

Hello Coco!

Posted on 23 September, 2014 by Justin Fox


When I shot Coco in Tokyo last week we talked about her getting more out there, and making YouTube videos was one of the things we discussed. She’s just kicked off her channel and I get a little mention in there! So glad you guys get to listen to her English too, considering she’s never lived anywhere outside of Japan, and was born in Japan, it’s amazing, don’t you agree?!

Posted in Spam, Travel, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

Ogilvy Talk

Posted on 2 September, 2014 by Justin Fox

ogilvy
Ogilvy entrance.

ogilvy_Brian-Merrifield
Hey it’s Brian! Brian was speaking too, about his new company Common Ventures.

ogilvy_infront
Aus Infront on the big screen.

I’m on a high from a talk I gave at Ogilvy earlier today. Every fortnight Ogilvy have a Lunch & Learn event where everybody gets together and somebody presents on a chosen topic. The whole point is not just to learn, but be inspired.

I was invited to talk on the topic of Start-Ups / Small Businesses. Basically following your passion/dream, breaking out of the mould, pursuing something, tuning it into a business and making it successful.

Of-course I had a lot to say about the topic. Starting with Australian INfront through to Zen Garage, of finding happiness by being in the moment of doing what you love.

Conversations with Pauline helped to get me in the right frame of mind for this talk. I found myself patting myself on the back driving on route to Ogilvy, not just after the talk driving home.

I only had 15 minutes. I’m more used to having an hour to present! I had to take big chunks out, but I shared a little, showed a little and I had an absolute blast. A quick Q&A at the end let me say a little bit more, which was great. I just wished there was more time as I love any opportunity to speak (haha!).

Posted in Design, Spam, Zen Garage | 1 Comment

NINJAS @ Zen Garage, one last hoorah!

Posted on 28 August, 2014 by Justin Fox

17_ninjas_zengarage
NINJAS @ Zen Garage last night.

Back in 2011 when we first opened up we had the NINJAS over to bless our space (revisit that feature here). Back then we didn’t have our shop fit out installed, we basically had an empty space, so it seems fitting that we invite the NINJAS back one last time now that Zen is completely empty again.

As expected, seeing the space so empty stirred up a few emotions. Zen Garage is but a shadow of the space it once was, the logos on the walls are the only real remnants of Zen, and as strong as they are they don’t carry across that great Zen vibe without all the other goodies we managed to cram into our man cave over the past 3 years.

Like the first time, we ordered Pizza and again we had no table or chairs to eat it on, but the great company, conversation, food, tunes and beers helped get our minds off the empty space that once was Zen Leichhardt.

Soon after dinner we got the Pedalkhana going. A course which saw a fast slalom through the pylons, a slow and slippery figure 8 through some posts then a roll up a couple of down low ramps into the office through to a step drop off into the finish line.

The first round saw contestants use their bike of choice, the second round was much the same except riders weren’t allowed to set a foot down (if they did they were instantly disqualified). The third round levelled the playing field and saw all competitors use the funny bike!

View the full feature on Zen Blog: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2014/08/ninjas-zen-garage-the-last-hoorah

Posted in Bike, Zen Garage | 1 Comment

ZEN PHOTOWALK

Posted on 21 August, 2014 by Justin Fox

stump

dogs1

matthewmead

mead

butters_tramsheds1

tram

All the photos gathered from the Zen Photowalk last weekend are now up on the Zen Blog! Was such an awesome day out, so much luck was on our side, from the rain holding out, to the cops not pressing charges when they caught us breaking into the Rozelle Tram sheds!!! Check out the full feature, it’s a rippa!

Visit: http://www.zengarage.com.au/2014/08/zenphotowalk

Posted in Photography, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

Red Lantern VIP

Posted on 15 August, 2014 by Justin Fox

VIP
Yeah you know me!

A while back the Zen crew feasted like Kings at Red Lantern on Riley. The food was mind blowing! We’ve been in touch ever since and we’ve managed to secure a few ZEN GARAGE VIP CARDS to hand out which get you a massive 20% off your meal!!!

What a mad collab! I’m stoked. All orders from our online shop will get a card as of today until they run out!

Check out our review of Red Lantern on Zen Blog.

PS: Could not resist giving the card a spin last night, and had the best catch up with Felix and Di for dinner at Red Lantern on Riley last night. The food was EPIC. The beef, OMFG the beef.

Posted in Food, Zen Garage | Leave a comment

Zen Garage Leichhardt is now closed for good

Posted on 12 August, 2014 by Justin Fox

6055136339_7b59cb8886_z
A photo I took when we first inspected the warehouse space in Leichhardt.

ZEN LEICHHARDT STORE IS NOW CLOSED FOR GOOD.

It’s been a few months coming, and we’ve kept it under wraps as best we could but for over a year we’ve been looking for a new venue and sadly we’ve failed to find the right space. Our lease is up (has been up for a while now) and we’ve had to make a very hard decision, one that none of us have taken lightly, but the decision has been made and we’re letting go of our Leichhardt store.

It’s been an amazing 3 years, opening up with a queue of people on day 1, a plethora of events, special guests, many who have become family and let’s not forget our sick Saturday hangs.

We’d like to sincerely thank everyone who dropped by at some point in the last 3 years. It’s been fucking amazing. Zen Garage will live on, our online shop will continue to run and we’ll soon have even more next level Zen products than ever. Of-course expect us to host and participate at even more events now that we’re not chained to the shop!!!

The Zen Crew.
Justin, Robert & Sergio.

On a personal side note, and completely my own observations and opinions: I can’t understand how ANY small businesses in Australia survive. Online, sure, no overheads, no worries, but having a bricks and mortar business? Forget it! Our insurance incase someone hurt themselves in our space was more than our rent!!!!

We’ve said it so many times before, we’re doing it for the love, but when the government takes so much from your business you’ve got to wonder, 3 years in, whether the love could soon run out.

I’m sad, but at the same time SUPER excited about putting the money saved from closing the physical store back into Zen, big time! A quick trip to Japan next month to energise, then I’m going to fucking slay 2015!!!

Posted in Zen Garage | 7 Comments