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Blog:                            "Konichiwa!"                          2007.07.30

I finally hit the ground here in Japan.  Misawa, Japan to be exact.  It was a
pleasant flight with all the on-demand in flight movies I could ask for.  The
weather here is fantastic, it's summer and I'm wearing a long sleeve shirt to
keep warm!  I don't have a car yet, as the base has a rule about being under
25 and having to get speech from 10 different people on how NOT to drive
while you're here.  I was able to get to a drift even however, with the
assistance of a good friend I made in the few short days I've been here.  I can't
thank that guy enough for making me feel at home since I got here.  I guess
that's why I put his picture on the front page.  That's not to say there are other
people, but I don't have pictures of their cars yet!

The event itself was very different from the types we have in the states.  
Safety wasn't exactly the number one concern.  It was almost as if you got hit
by a car, you were the one not smart enough to be out of the way in the first
place.  There were only 2 classes of drivers, beginners and experts.  The
beginners however still got to drive as if they were experts, but the course
chosen for them was a little bit slower.  I'm sure I could explain this all day, but
you would probably rather see the pics.  So enjoy!
"Okidrifter" showing the
Japanese how the "Gaijin"
get sideways
On a side note:  I have been asked by a few friends from back home to start a "Blog" that's separate from
this photography website.  I haven't looked into the blogging craze much, so if you have some ideas,
please email me on where to go to set that up.  I've been here a week and I've already got a novel of
stories I could write.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW!
• Added 306 Pictures in the AutomotiveDynamite Rd 3 Section
Blog:                        "Motorland SP Car Festival"                2007.08.26

I feel bad about my site at this point; I haven't updated in a while, plus now
that I am in Japan most of the people I photograph are Japanese. I am working
on my site at the moment trying to make it Japanese friendly. Works out for the
English speaking people here, you get to learn a little Japanese. The local track
put on their first annual car festival. It was a mixture of go-karts, car show, grip
racing, bike racing and of course, drifting. I apologize for lack of pictures of the
car show, as I am not really inspired by parked cars. At the end of the night,
there was a dance competition and a performance by Metal Gami. He's also the
one driving that Eagle Auto Works car to the left. Talk about talent, bi-lingual,
professional drifter and full time hip-hop star.

Sometime about midday, they started doing some drift demos, which turned
into anyone who wanted to go drive on the track could do so. A couple of the
local Hipertekspeed guys got out on the track to show off some skills.
"Okidrifter" was out in full force participating in the drift competition, although
he didn't know it was a competition. "7-Slide" was able to get out a do a little
drift demo in his freshly tuned FC RX-7. "Wanttogofast" did a little grip
competion in his soon to be junked Evolution IV.
Eagle Auto Works got to test our their "new" car, with Metal Gami doing a drift demo on Saturday as well as
the shop and car owners got a chance to try out their car. I personally got a ride in the Kodate Car Shop S13.
This guy is a licensed in D1 and one heck of a driver. At least I got my own taste of getting sideways after
being here for a few weeks in Japan. Thanks to Motorland SP for this event, hope it's not the last.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW!
• Added 123 Pictures in the AutomotiveCar Festival Section
"Metal Gami" in the Eagle
Auto Works S13 showing
off during a drift demo
Blog:                "Dynamite Drift Rd. 4 with Extra"            2007.08.26

It was the final event at the Motorland SP sponsored Dynamite Drift series.
Round 4 pulled out all the stops as all the drivers went for broke. Kodate
showed up in his black 180SX while his brother drove the freshly painted
original red 180SX. The hunter green chaser in the pictures lost his 3rd gear
sometime early in practicing. Still he was able to pull out a Top 4 finish. I was
unable to stay for the duration of the event, however in the Top 4 were
Kodate, his brother, the blue S14 and the Green Chaser. With a Top 4 showing
Kodate walked away with the inaugural season championship. The final pair
pitted Brother vs. Brother to see who would win the final event; however, I did
not catch this match, but there's enough pictures to suffice.

The beginner group was allowed to "graduate" on this final event by having
the Top 6 battle it out in tsuiso style. Twoine from Geisha World had a really
impressive showing, apparently his 98 point runs just weren't good enough to
put him in the Top 4. Metal Gami also placed in the Top 24 of the advanced
class, although the blown head gasket he had been running all day just wasn't
enough in the end. Okidrifter made a last minute change to his gearing that
threw his timing off for the day, but it was impressive none the less.
I would definitely like to thank Motorland SP for putting on this event and this series. Hope I can get my own
car soon so I can tear up the track. Also in this installment of picture updates, I added a few pictures from my
trips to various places. Hope you can enjoy those as well. I haven't been getting much feedback from anyone,
so please feel free to drop a line and give me some suggestions and comments. Thanks for stopping by.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW!
• Added 219 Pictures in the AutomotiveDynamite Rd. 4 Section
Pulling out all the stops in
the final tsuiso round in the
Dynamite Drift Series
Season
Blog:                "Aomori Drift Meet"            2007.10.21

First of all, I apologize for lack of update. I started school and going to work
and it has all taken a big toll on me. I plan to get into writing on the blog that I
posted about, or making a blog on this website.

The Aomori Drift Meet is one of the largest in the Tohoku Area (Northern Japan)
over 95 cars entered in the event and many coming from many different areas
around Tohoku. During lunch, there was a team competition. The make-shift
team of the son of the track owner, the leader of geisha world and one final
driver who remains nameless took home the trophy. Metal Gami was due to join
the team but after blowing an intercooler coupler deep into third gear, the car
lost power and he slammed into the wall. RIP Orange S13.

I apologize for a second time about the lack of pictures. Safety has become a
new priority for the track. No longer are photographers allowed on track, nor may
we as spectators stand next to the wall. To add to the new rules, the freezing
rain in the middle of the day and my lack of sleep did not add up to much
enthusiasm for photography. I guess I still have a thing or two to learn if I want
to be taken seriously. Expect to see much more coverage in the 2008 season!
R.I.P "Metal Gami S13"
as she passed away this
past October 21.
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW!
 • Added 125Pictures in the AutomotiveA.D.M. Section
Blog:                             "Finally Updated"                           2008.03.02

It has been forever since I have updated this site and to my fans: I apologize.
Honestly though I have been so busy with working and school that when I get
home I just want to sit around and be lazy and not do anything. I have an
interesting story to tell about my trip to the Tokyo Auto Salon which I will
update my
Blog and give everyone the full details. I wish I had the discipline to
write in that blog everyday and update this site every time I do something, but
most people who know me know I don't have that discipline. I have also been
slacking on my picture taking. I have visited a few places here in Japan worthy
of pictures, but I just didn't take any.

Recently, I visited the Towada Snow and Ice Festival and took a few pictures
there, which I have yet to put on my website. Also, I have been doing a lot of
snowboarding and of course that is always worthy of pictures. The season is
coming to a close probably by the end of this month so hopefully I will get some
pictures. Everyone reading this should constantly bug me and email me to
make me get out there and take more pictures to put up for everyone to see.
Aside from the complaining, I made some updates, so check them out!
CHECK OUT WHAT'S NEW!
• Added 140 Pictures in the AutomotiveTAS 2008 Section
• Added 17 Pictures in the PlacesSnowboarding Section
When I'm not updating this
website I am perfecting my
Mobile Suit posing skills!