Wed - August 1, 2007

GT-R spotted in Sunnyvale, CA?!


It doesn't look like any of the past GT-R models, or the new 2008 GT-R coming out soon, but the work seemed to have been done well.
Here are some spy photos of the new GT-R.




Posted at 09:10 AM     Read More    

Tue - June 19, 2007

Infitini Water Bottle


I went to a nearby Infiniti dealer last week, and got this water bottle.
Infiniti is a premium brand from Nissan.
The taste?!


Posted at 06:54 PM     Read More    

Mon - June 11, 2007

Legacy Nissan Z


I spotted this legacy Nissan Z nearby. I like the style and design of coups in this time of the era.
Most sport cars and coupes are really round shaped now.
Maybe this style will come back...


Posted at 11:23 AM     Read More    

Sat - April 21, 2007

GT-R video taped at Nürburgring


I found this video clip.

http://tv.hegnar.no/index.php?vid=2149

I hope the GT-R will be released in the US at the same time it will be released in Japan this Autumn.

Posted at 09:53 AM     Read More    

Mon - March 19, 2007

Screen on the gas pump station


Finally someone started putting this monitor on some gas stations and running some commercials. I thought about this a while ago, and was wondering no one was doing it. Unless you need to do something else while waiting for your tank to be filled, you may be watching it.


Posted at 04:54 PM     Read More    

Sun - March 4, 2007

Manual adjust door mirror


I rented a Toyota Matrix a couple of months ago. Every time I need to rent a car, I try different cars. This time was the Toyota Matrix. I was surprised with the side mirrors. I looked for a control to adjust them, but couldn't find it. I almost decided to go back into the Hartz office and ask about it. Then, I found it was manual adjustment. I was a little surprised to see it in the car like the Matrix.


Posted at 08:55 AM     Read More    

Tue - February 27, 2007

2009 GTR on the streets of Los Angels


Here is another video clip that caught the 2009 Nissan GTR.

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/GeneralFuture/articleId=119564

Posted at 11:37 AM     Read More    

Mon - February 26, 2007

2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R at Sears Point?!


Sears Point is a race track in Northern California. Someone spy-shot the 2009 Nissan GT-R running on the track!

2009 Nissan Skyline GT-R at Sears Point from Edmunds.com

The Nissan GT-R will come out to the market in Fall 2007 in Japan, and Spring 2008 in the US.

Posted at 09:51 AM     Read More    

Thu - February 22, 2007

D1GP Race Girls, etc.


Last December, I drove down to Irwindale in Southern California, which is close to Los Angels to see the D1GP and All Star. This is the last post about the event. Some may say again? But I am sure some are waiting for this kind of picture because I always take pictures of race girls, companion girls, and so on when I go to racing events.

She is one of the D1GP Race Girls.



Click on Read More!

Posted at 07:19 AM     Read More    

Sun - February 11, 2007

Nissan GT-R Prototype Video Clip!



http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0QymCN0_1yE&eurl=

A rumor has it that the new Nissan GT-R will be released in the US in the spring of 2008!

Posted at 09:24 PM     Read More    

Sat - February 10, 2007

D1 All Star At Irwindale, Report 2


The D1 All Star drift event was held at the Irwindale Speedway in December. This is report 2.
The sunset was nice.



Click on Read More!

Posted at 06:28 PM     Read More    

Fri - February 2, 2007

D1 All Star at Irwindale, Report 1


The D1GP of 2006 was on Saturday, and we had the All Star competition on Sunday. The weather turned out to be very nice on Sunday although it was cold and cloudy with some rain on Saturday.



Click on Read Me!

Posted at 07:16 AM     Read More    

Tue - January 30, 2007

D1GP in Irwindale, Report 4


Who is this guy smoking a cigarette as he was working on the engine room!?



Click on Read More!

Posted at 04:37 PM     Read More    

Mon - January 29, 2007

Jenson Button test drove the Civic Type-R prototype


I found this video clip on the Honda web site.

http://www.honda.co.jp/CIVICTYPE-R/prototype/jbtestdrives/

Posted at 05:55 PM     Read More    

Fri - January 26, 2007

D1GP in Irwindale, Report 2


D1GP started!

Cars are coming in and lining up for the opening ceremony.
Nomuken's Skyline looks so cool!



Click on Read More.

Posted at 12:24 AM     Read More    

Fri - January 19, 2007

D1GP in Irwindale, Report 2


I went to Irwindale in last December to see D1GP. This is the second report from the event. I am putting pictures of cars on the exhibition.
This car looks so cool with the wing doors!



Click on Read More!

Posted at 04:24 PM     Read More    

Mon - January 15, 2007

D1GP in Irwindale in Southern California


I drove down to Irwindale in December to see the last D1GP of 2006. I'd like to share some pictures from the event.

It was cloudy and very cold. It rained on and off.



Click on Read More!

Posted at 10:08 AM     Read More    

Wed - January 3, 2007

D1GP Irwindale Video Clip 2


This time, the Corolla AE86 is going after the Charger. This is a must see. Light-weight cars with a powerful engine win over big cars.
Here is the video clip !


Posted at 08:00 AM     Read More    

Thu - December 28, 2006

San Francisco International Auto Show, Report 3


This is the last biased report from the San Francisco International Auto Show.

This is a concept car from Mitsubishi. Is it FWD, or 4WD?


Click on Read More!

Posted at 10:13 AM     Read More    

Sun - December 24, 2006

The D1GP at Irwindale


I drove down to Irwindale to see the D1GP. We had a match between a light-weight AE86 and a heavy-weight high-power Charger. The Charger was announced to have 600HP whereas the AE86 was said to have 350HP. I posted a video clip from the match on my Podcasting site.



This looks so heavy. Here is a video clip from the first match.

Posted at 03:19 PM     Read More    

Sun - December 17, 2006

D1 World All Star


Following the last D1GP we had yesterday, World All Star was held today. D1 drivers from 6 countries participated.
Nomuken won all the way to the top!



I will write some more sometime in the near future.


Posted at 11:06 PM     Read More    

D1GP Irwindale


I went to the Irwindale Speedway yesterday to see the last D1GP of this year. It was very cold and rainy, but it was a lot of fun! The winner of the GP was Tanaka, and the 2006 Championship was earned by Kumakubo. It was too bad that Nomuken couldn't make it.



Click on Read More for a few more pictures

Posted at 07:20 AM     Read More    

Wed - December 13, 2006

San Francisco International Auto Show (Biased report 2)


This is the second BIASED report.


This is a Camaro proto type. Hmm, it looks like a shark. I like the front look of the BMW Z4 better, the land shark.

Click on Read More to see the rest.

Posted at 01:37 AM     Read More    

Sun - December 10, 2006

San Francisco International Auto Show (Report 1)


This is a first report from the San Francisco International Auto Show with some pictures. It is very biased.


This car looks cool with the nice blue color and all the things in the car. I guess it is modified for off-road racing.

Please click on Read More.

Posted at 07:21 AM     Read More    

Wed - November 29, 2006

5 Rice Power Up!


I got this NISMO cap for my car. NISMO is the performance division of Nissan Motor Company. With this NISMO cap on, I got extra 5 rice power! What is "rice power"? You get rice power when you do imitation to your car that makes you feel your car runs faster with it. People who regularly eat rice are the ones who mainly do this such as putting TRD stickers on Toyotas or putting the Type-R emblem on regular Civics and Integras.


Posted at 10:29 PM     Read More    

Fri - October 13, 2006

Map of the US made of license plates


I guess this is not something uncommon. It is an interesting idea though. Every state must be made of a license plate from the state.


Posted at 06:21 PM     Read More    

Wed - October 11, 2006

Infiniti G35 Rear-Active-Stir (4WS)


I took my G35 to a local auto shop to have the engine oil changed. I was wondering which one is the Rear Active Stir system when I was looking at the bottom of my car. Although I love driving on back roads, I don't know how to maintain a car; let alone tune it up.

Here is a picture of the left rear. I am probably seeing the RAS system, but I can't tell which one.



The oil is dripping.


Posted at 10:05 AM     Read More    

Sun - May 14, 2006

G35 Club


There is a G35 locale club in the San Francisco Bay Area. I joined their event about a month ago. We drove Highway 9 to Santa Cruz, and had some great beer there. I think we had about 25 G35s. It was a great turn-out! It's great to get together with other people who drive a G35. I saw one G35 sedan with a manual transmission. Most of the G35s were coupe.


Posted at 12:28 AM     Read More    

Sat - May 6, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 7 (D1 Drivers)


Early March, we had the first round of the 2006 D1GP down in the Southern California. This is part 7 of the report from the event. If you haven't read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , Part 4, Part 5 , and Part 6 , check them out first.

I walked around in the paddock.



(Click on Read More below)

Posted at 12:49 AM     Read More    

Mon - April 24, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 6 (some race girls)


Here are some more photos from the D1GP Round 1 in Irwindale, CA. This is the 6th post for the event. If you haven't read the previous ones, check them out. (1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , and 5 )

She is one of the Shark girls. Shark drinks give us energy and, blah blah blah...



( Click on Read More )

Posted at 06:08 AM     Read More    

Tue - April 18, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 5


Early March, we had the first round of the 2006 D1GP down in the Southern California. This is part 5 of the report from the event. If you haven't read Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and Part 4, check them out first.

Here are some pictures of the tsuisou matches.



(Click on Read More below)

Posted at 07:18 AM     Read More    

Fri - April 14, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 4


The first round of the 2006 D1GP series was held at the Irwindale Speedway in California. This is part 4 of my notes from the event. If you haven't checked the previous posts, check them out! Here are the links to Part 1 , Part 2 , and Part 3 .



( Click on Read More below )

Posted at 05:42 AM     Read More    

Sun - April 9, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 3


I am putting up some pictures that I took in the show area. I didn't take many pictures because I was already used to these cool looking cars. Here are some pictures that I took.

If you haven't read Part 1 , and Part 2 , check them out.

This Cadilac looked so cool. I guess the wing style doors are getting popular again.



(Click on Read More below)

Posted at 08:09 PM     Read More    

Wed - April 5, 2006

Hot Import Nights, extra...


When I wrote about the event in these entries, part 1 , 2 , 3 , 4 , 5 , I forgot to put this video clip up on the blog. There was a cage and girls were dancing in that. (Click on Read More)

Posted at 12:33 AM     Read More    

Sat - April 1, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 2


After the introduction of each driver, we got single runs, tanso. Because drivers run alone for point scores, they can concentrate on showing the best drifting they could do.

If you haven't read Part 1, check it out first.



( Click on Read More ==>==>==>==>VVV )

Posted at 07:30 AM     Read More    

Fri - March 31, 2006

When is the rainy season going to be over?!


Something seems strange about this weather here in the San Francisco Bay Area this year. It still rains! I really want it to be over and see something like this in mountains.


Posted at 09:21 AM     Read More    

Thu - March 30, 2006

D1 Grand Prix in US, Part 1


In March 2006, I drove down to Irwindale in Southern California to see the first 2006 D1 round. It was raining that week, so I was expecting to get a lot of water splash from drifting cars, but it was sunny on Saturday. The event was bigger than before, and there seemed to be more people than the US vs Japan drift event in December.

Here goes Kazama doing his rodeo drift.



( Click on Read More below ==>==>==>VVVVV )

Posted at 12:42 AM     Read More    

Wed - March 22, 2006

Hot Import Nights, Part 5


This is the last set of pictures. If you haven't seen Part 1 , Part 2 , Part 3 , and/or Part 4 , check them out.

Hmm, I don't remember what the car behind the models was...



There are more pictures. Just click on "Read More" below.

Posted at 07:45 AM     Read More    

Mon - March 13, 2006

Hot Import Nights! Part 4


Yeah, the event was big. If you haven't seen part 1 , part 2 , or part 3 , check them out.



(Click on Read More ! ========VVV)

Posted at 07:38 AM     Read More    

Thu - March 9, 2006

Hot Import Nights! Part 3


Okay, I have some more pictures from the event. Nowadays, every car related event I go to, I feel I need to take pictures that cover the event. Well, visual items tell what was like a lot better than my words. Anyway, here you go.

If you haven't read Part 1 or Part 2 , check them out.

She was the only one who looked elegant. I think she was hired by Mazda for this event. This is a Mazda booth.



( Click on Read More !)

Posted at 06:53 PM     Read More    

Tue - March 7, 2006

G35 Coupe 6MT with 4-Wheel-Stir


Early last week, the G35 broke in, and I had new engine oil. I took it to Los Angeles this past weekend. It was really a nice ride. I will take it to the back roads and twisty mountain roads sometime soon. The Active-Rear-Stir system works really well. It makes the car corner really tight and nimble. It used to be called HICAS, and it was used in the Skyline GT-R (R32, R33, and R34, I believe.)

I've just launched a web site for my new car... Here it is .


Posted at 06:27 AM     Read More    

Fri - March 3, 2006

Hot Import Nights! Part 2


Yeah, I have some more pictures from the Hot Import Nights event. I was thinking of putting all of them in one entry, but I was suggested that one entry should have a small number of pictures so that the loading time is short.

I was going to put all the pictures in the order that I took, but I have changed my mind. I'll sort them out. If you haven't read Part 1, here you go .

Here is a top picture from... hmm? Sore Saiko (That, the best)? I saw some drift DVDs with footage from Japan sold there, but I have never seen the publisher...



( Click on Read More )

Posted at 06:40 AM     Read More    

Wed - March 1, 2006

Hot Import Nights! Part 1


I went to a Hot Import Nights event last weekend at the San Jose Convention Center. It was a huge event. The event is about modified cars. Some cars are modified for more speed. Some others are modified for looks. There were a lot of modified cars at the event as well as models.

This model was advertising the D1GP coming up this weekend at Irwindale. She friendly posed for the camera with nice smiles.





( Click on Read More ! )

Posted at 07:17 AM     Read More    

Tue - January 24, 2006

Initial D comic book


A few years back, I borrowed this comic book, but didn't particularly get into it. Some time after that, I went to see the D1GP US event in Irwindale in Southern California, and got hooked. I have been watching the Initial D in animation.



I am thinking of going to Irwindale to see the first round of the D1GP in March.

Posted at 09:17 AM     Read More    

Mon - January 9, 2006

The new Infiniti G35 Coupe (?!)


Infiniti press-released a concept car at the North America International Auto Show in Detroit today. I think this is very close to the 2007 Infiniti G35/37 Coupe except the interior.



( Click on Read More )

Posted at 09:57 PM     Read More    

Sun - January 8, 2006

North America International Auto Show in Detroit


The auto show started today in Detroit. The Autospies.com website is posting some 400 pictures of it already. They seem to be posting pictures as they take and organize them. It's exciting to see some concept cars, and 2007 model cars if any.

Posted at 10:24 AM     Read More    

Mon - January 2, 2006

North America International Auto Show in Detroit


The press days start on January 8th, and the public show starts on January 14th. We usually see new models and prototypes at the Detroit auto show every year. It is exciting to get news from the event. I am especially looking forward to seeing the new Infiniti G35 Coupe. Rumor has it that Infiniti shows the new model of the G35 or the prototype at Detroit. Some say it will come with a newly developed 3.7 litter engine called FZ37DE on the platform that the next GT-R has been tested with. I hope they will put a manual transmission and the rear-active-stir system.

Posted at 03:53 PM     Read More    

Fri - December 23, 2005

Drift US vs. Japan in L.A. (with video clips)


I went to Irwindale, which is very close to Los Angeles in Southern California this past weekend to see one of the major D1 events. The top Japanese drift drivers match with the top American drift drivers. It was fun! The American drift drivers have been becoming really good nowadays. Race girls and models were much better than before too.



(Click on Read More)

Posted at 04:09 PM     Read More    

Mon - December 19, 2005

2007 All New Infiniti G35 (V36, FZ37DE)


I heard that the Infiniti G35 is going to have a major model change for the 2007 model with a new platform, which is going to be shared by the GT-R, and a new 3.7 litter engine (FZ37DE). Is it going to be called the G37 then? The model change seems a little early for luxury cars, but I am actually looking forward to it. The exciting thing is that it is going to share a new platform with the up-coming GT-R. I hope the curb weight for the V36 will stay the same, and it will come with the rear active stir system.
Rumor has it that Infiniti is going to bring the new model to the Detroit Auto Show in January.

Posted at 02:10 PM     Read More    

Mon - December 12, 2005

Lexus IS Coupe


I found this on the web. It is probably photochop.
Here is the photo .

Posted at 07:17 PM     Read More    

Sun - November 27, 2005

San Francisco International Auto Show


The San Francisco International Auto Show was held at Moscone Center in the South of Market district for a little more than a week. I spent about 4 hours there to check out almost all the booths.

(Click on Read More)

Posted at 10:27 PM     Read More    

Fri - November 25, 2005

Lexus IS430


I saw the Lexus IS430 at the International Auto Show in San Francisco last year. It's gotten the 4.3 litter V8 engine from the GS430 and some other parts. I wished Lexus would really make it for the market.


I am planning to go to the International Auto Show tomorrow. I saw a commercial of it on TV a few days ago. It was showing the Lexus future model, LF-C and LF-S. I'm looking forward to seeing them.

Posted at 05:17 PM     Read More    

Tue - November 22, 2005

Z33: Nissan 350Z "Fairlady Z"


This car has been lurking in me for a long time. I have kind of left things behind, that are stopping me for getting what I am really excited for. Suddenly, this car has come up to the top of my list. I have test-driven some cars in the past 2 months. All of them are great cars and I was impressed with them, but there is always something that has stopped me from getting it.

The Making of "Take Me Driving in Your Car"
(Click on Read More)

Posted at 07:39 AM     Read More    

Wed - November 9, 2005

Drift magazine


I found this magazine at Fry's sometime ago. I was like, "Finally, we've gotta a drift magazine in the US!"

It won't be too long people use NOS for drifting?! There is a picture of sexy ladies almost every other page. BTW, I don't want drifting to be associated with sex, drug, and fight, which might happen. I hope people have some respect to each other, so no fight, some discipline to behave well, so no troubles to other people, and enough security and honesty, so accept facts.

Posted at 11:03 PM     Read More    

Wed - October 19, 2005

Classic car drug race (with movies)


This is an old entry from my previous BLOG. In April this year, I went to see the Vintage Car Drug Race event at Infinion Raceway in Sonoma. It was pretty cool and LOUD!

Posted at 07:32 AM     Read More    

Sun - October 16, 2005

Drift Show-off in Berkeley (with a movie)


After test-driving the new Lexus IS350, I went to see the Drift Show-off at Berkeley. Falken Tire seemed to be the major sponsor for the event.

Posted at 01:01 PM     Read More    

Sat - October 15, 2005

Test-drove the IS350


I went to a near-by Lexus dealer to check out the new IS350. They started selling it yesterday. I talked to a sales person for a while, and asked for test-drive. The fit and finish is very nice. The seats are very good. Compared with the seats in the new BMW 330i, it is much better. The driving feeling was disappointing. Read more...

Posted at 04:20 PM     Read More    

Fri - October 14, 2005

The new Lexus IS350 starts at $35,440, produces 306HP, runs 5.3 secs for 0-60


I was expecting more than $35,440. Of corse, we can't buy a Lexus without any package. I guess it will be around 40K with Mark Levinson. If this IS350 model came with a manual transmission, I'd most likely get one! Let's disable VDIM, and thrown in a MT!

Posted at 12:08 AM     Read More    

Sat - October 8, 2005

Drifting!


I can't believe drifting is getting more and more popular in the US! It started in tight twisty mountain roads in Japan in 1980's! I was a college student and went to mountains late at night. Drifting is all about the style, the angle of the front tires, and the ultimate balance of the car!

Posted at 02:38 PM     Read More    

Fri - October 7, 2005

How nostalgic! Honda Cab?!


Actually I am not sure if I was already born when this bike came out. Isn't this a Honda Cab?

I saw this bike at the Infinion Receway in Sonoma, CA. The guy who took this to a Nostalgic Drag Race event showed it to me.

Posted at 04:42 AM     Read More    

Thu - October 6, 2005

No manual transmission on the IS350 model trim


There was an online chat conference with the Vice President & General Manager of Lexus USA. There were a lot of questions and answers. One of the questions was about possible manual transmission on the IS350. Lexus is not planning that because they don't see a market for it. IS250 with MT is enough.

Posted at 05:35 AM     Read More    

Sun - October 2, 2005

Lexus has opened in Japan


I guess Lexus has already opened in Japan. I wonder how the market is going to react for the first year. I was considering the IS350, but we are not getting a manual transmission in the US. Although the IS250 comes with a manual transmission, I don't want to get a lower-powered car. I test-drove the new 2006 BMW 330i with MT, and the Lexus GS430 a couple of weeks ago. I want to test-drive the 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe with MT.

Posted at 10:20 AM     Read More    

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