Run for the Hills!

Sometimes you need to get away. When stress builds up you need a release. Thats what hobbies are for.

The main reason I guess, was to enjoy my hobbies, cars and photography. These pics did have another purpose though. A lasting memory.

 Something about this shot creates a warm peaceful feeling. Somewhere to relax.

But roads like this beg to be driven. Over and over.

With short breaks in between.

Before heading off again.

I sat here contemplating for a while.

Practicing some photography...

...and wishing I'd had a better camera, but the car was near perfect. These roads in an FD3s is something special.

These are the best of the best pics for the day's adventure.

The full long winded story can be found here.

Russ.

Yamanashi's 5 Lakes

Yamanashi is a special place. You feel like you are in Japan.

As you can see by these images of my old car, It's been a while since I had been there. Circa 2004.

The 5 lakes of Yamanashi around Kawaguchi-ko are a great place to drive and get shots of Fuji on a clear day, but if it's not clear, sometimes it's just the destination, a chance to chill and relax.

Russ.

7's Day - Road Trip.

7's Day starts at dawn for some. The road trip to an event could take a while. Tiredness, concentration, weather.

While all part of the ultimate driving experience. Somedays are better or worse than others.

This Yellow FD with RE-A street trim and TE-37 is all you need to make the trip a little better.

However, Many succumb to the trip and pull in to one of many "PA" Parking Areas or "SA" Service Areas with gas stations, on Japan's amazing highway network to get some coffee and stop for that "urgent break".

Early 90's Mazdaspeed Tuned FD. Awesome.

Mid 90's Bomex spec with funky Super Advan type I.

Usually it's just a bunch of family wagons, but weekends and special events like 7's day bring out the enthusiasts.

Early 2000s RE-A street tune.

To and from Tsukuba I needed to stop at a couple.

A wide selection of vehicles for all too see.

Back on the highway... heading to Daikoku Futo... the most well known of all "PA"

Just a regular light tune RZ on a cloudy afternoon. Nice.

Russ.

Fast and Furious Reality

One of the few "REAL" cars featured in the movie. The lucky owner of this beast will soon retrieve this special vehicle.

It turns heads at every corner and while deliviering it to the dockyards with Newera Imports, I got some shots with my new 10.0 mega pixel canon Ixy IS 25.

Very happy with it's snapping ability. Stay tuned for more happy snaps.

Russ.

Touge Time

The Summer Touge run in Hakkone area saw us travel over our favoirite roads. With view of Mt Fuji, the weather couldn't have been better for the trip in the mountains. Empty roads allowed a great day of "cruising".

Our route included. Tomei -> Odawara, Toyo Turnpike, downhill to nantoka Parkway, Izu Skyline --> end Golf Course Loop Road, Return Izu Skyline, Ashinoko Skyline -> Gotanba, Tomei -> C1 -> Higashi Kanto.

With my car in the shop getting paint and panel, I again thank www.NeweraImports.com for the drive. Battling cars on the day included, Newera FD & AE86, Mines GTR, Tomei AE86, S-tyre R34GTR & R33GTRs and a Supra. Oh yeah, don't forget the Sunline Racing Carbon GTR!

A long but fabulous day for driving an FD. More pics are here on the GTR Forum.

Russ.

Hakkone - Izu

A glorious sunny was perfect for the cruise. We tagged along with the GTR boys on a hike from Tokyo to the Izu penninsular. We started the day from the Hakone Turnpike which is an awesome wide road with some amazing bridges that span the valleys and provide a view to the coast, If you dare to look.

A small deviation saw a thin winding downhill then a silmilar uphill to the ???parkway.Our adventures then led to the Izu Skyline where we blasted along in either direction for a while before continuing to some more well known locations later in the day. Namely the Hakone skyline pre-empted by the Ashinoko Skyline these roads are quite tight and offer limited passing so you have to be brave and use all your cars power and your own commitment.

The cruise back to Tokyo met its usual traffic problems but it helps you wind down after punishing your body in the Bride seats. On the Mountain Touge, it doesn't matter what car you drive. But we all know some are just made for it. The Fd is one such machine.

Russ.

ps. watch out for hachis, they are quicker than you think.

Daikoku Futo

Daikoku Futo is the Tokyo - Yokhama high speed street racer's pit stop. This rest stop is a crazy place thats ideal for showing off your car and meeting up with friends and drivers of similar machines.

Day or night on the weekends, you can often find a swarm of Fds, GT-Rs or NS-Xs lying around the car park, in amongst the VIP lexus LS400s, Vans full of stereo gear and the odd tuned Pajero. The odd fibreglass replicas are also here from the 70's with their tailpipes 3 meters in the air and 14"x14" inch rims covered by original 1970s slicks. It is quite a sight. Especially on 7's day.

Weekdays are reserved for the more serious runners with less cars out and about, you dont get bothered by any "Bosozoku" or other cruising cars.

It allows a start point for the Aqua Line or the Southern Route of the Wangan. Sections Koseki-san knows well.

As you wind up out of the carpark you head towards the Yokohama bridges and start grabbing more gears.
Some of the activities that happen here are quite strange. The art of "engine dancing" is one that must be seen to be believed. Select neutral, then rev your car and make it like a beat near the rev limiter, while guys dance around your car like a rave party with glowing battons to direct you. NUTS! You can also climb up on the viewing platform and watch the Street drifting that takes place out-side in the wee hours of the mornings.

This is also an engineering masterpiece. There is a skywalk that follows the coil style route down from the wangan about 150 meters above this place. You are litterally between two bridges in the middle of nowhere. A great place for any lover of cars. Yahoo Map

Day or night. There is always something here.

Russ.

Hakone Skyline

The mountains are FD territory. Winding fun that you can hang the rear out or drive hard. but make sure you stop and go for short walks.

The views are amazing.

The Hakone Skyline road actually starts a fairway up the mountains and is known as the Ashinoko Skyline and looks over Hakone and the lake Ashi, which is basically the foothills of Fuji.

This volcanic area is famous for hot springs, hot exhaust and hot brake pads.

The Skyline is a toll road and therefore you have to pay your entry fee and drive at about 50kph in the middle of the day as the "hobby drivers" take their family vans touring around. At late afternoon and night and early morning is when you have open slather use of the place and free access.

 as you approch the open hillside the road opens up and the speed increases, with longer straights in between you find yourself giving the gearbox and the brakes a complete hammering.

Amazing views on the western side towards mount Fuji.

Down the mountain (hakone touge) its really tight and twisty with some very tight hairpins.

But its fun. Up and Down, Turn Around, go again or continue to the Hakone Turnpike another fun run.

Yahoo Map

Russ.