CENTER STAGE> Garson x Rocket Bunny Odyssey
Before I get into the details of this incredible VIP style Garson and Tra Kyoto fitted RA1 Honda Odyssey, let me fill you in on some details. It was super late on Saturday night, and I had just finished a non-automotive editorial shoot for a Japanese magazine. I had a gorgeous model and the magazine's editorial staff sitting at my dining room table, talking to me about photo ideas while I was urgently texting members of the MotorMavens Crew to see who would be down to drive down to San Diego, CA with me for the AutoFashion VIP Meet.
I had just returned from Las Vegas, and was still reeling from a sleepless week of meetings, afterparties, and overall hustling at SEMA. However, I remembered that I made a promise to my friends at AutoFashion in San Diego - I told them that I definitely would be going to their VIP meet to show MotorMavens support, and to shoot photos of the event! I was still sleepy as hell, and I didn't feel like driving by myself, so luckily I was able to talk Tamer Omran, Lambert Paat (and his gf Daisy), and Driftwell founder Herbrock One into rolling to SD with me.
Right as we found parking at AutoFashion, this gorgeous cream-colored 1997 Honda Odyssey (RA1) immediately caught Tamer's eye. He immediately hunted down the owner, who drove it all the way from Tempe, Arizona to attend the show!
We found out that it took four years for the owner, James Cherry, to collect parts for his Odyssey and ship them over from Japan. Even though he was building on the car one by one, he decided that he would put it all together at once instead of bolting on parts one at a time - this way, the Odyssey would have more impact when it came out! Good move. Read more...
I had just returned from Las Vegas, and was still reeling from a sleepless week of meetings, afterparties, and overall hustling at SEMA. However, I remembered that I made a promise to my friends at AutoFashion in San Diego - I told them that I definitely would be going to their VIP meet to show MotorMavens support, and to shoot photos of the event! I was still sleepy as hell, and I didn't feel like driving by myself, so luckily I was able to talk Tamer Omran, Lambert Paat (and his gf Daisy), and Driftwell founder Herbrock One into rolling to SD with me.
Right as we found parking at AutoFashion, this gorgeous cream-colored 1997 Honda Odyssey (RA1) immediately caught Tamer's eye. He immediately hunted down the owner, who drove it all the way from Tempe, Arizona to attend the show!
We found out that it took four years for the owner, James Cherry, to collect parts for his Odyssey and ship them over from Japan. Even though he was building on the car one by one, he decided that he would put it all together at once instead of bolting on parts one at a time - this way, the Odyssey would have more impact when it came out! Good move. Read more...
COVERAGE> JDM Allstars Rd.2 – Donington Alpine!
When I first heard that JDM Allstars was coming to Donington Park for Round 2 of the championship, I was a little confused as to where the event would be held. Would it be on the actual race circuit? Since it's currently under reconstruction, any idea of that went out the window. Would it be on the large plot of land off to the side of the track known as the "Launch Pad"? Well, since two other drift series have used that area in the past, it didn't seem to fit JDM's approach which usually involves coming up with fresh and exciting course designs.
I later heard that the plan was to hold it on something called the Donington Alpine Circuit. I had no clue what that was until I came along to the shoot of the promotional video a few weeks back. Then it all became clear. On the outskirts of the main track and the Launch Pad is a fast, wide, almost mountain road-like track that the JDM Crew decided to use. It's made up of four corners and a steep uphill straight where the cars seemingly come out of nowhere and fly over the top. There's a right transition into the second turn, aiming for a clipping point close to the deadly armco, then a transition left into the third turn where you plant the throttle and bring the rear of the car to the armco on the straight, leading to another transition right into the final hairpin turn.
Fast corners, armco barriers on all sides and beautiful scenery all around. This was looking to be one of the most unique and exciting drift events in the JDM Allstars calendar. Read more...
I later heard that the plan was to hold it on something called the Donington Alpine Circuit. I had no clue what that was until I came along to the shoot of the promotional video a few weeks back. Then it all became clear. On the outskirts of the main track and the Launch Pad is a fast, wide, almost mountain road-like track that the JDM Crew decided to use. It's made up of four corners and a steep uphill straight where the cars seemingly come out of nowhere and fly over the top. There's a right transition into the second turn, aiming for a clipping point close to the deadly armco, then a transition left into the third turn where you plant the throttle and bring the rear of the car to the armco on the straight, leading to another transition right into the final hairpin turn.
Fast corners, armco barriers on all sides and beautiful scenery all around. This was looking to be one of the most unique and exciting drift events in the JDM Allstars calendar. Read more...
COVERAGE> JDM Allstars Rd. 1 – Manchester, UK
The JDM Allstars Professional Drift Series has become famous for raising the bar for UK drift events year after year, and the start of the 2010 championship was no different. Once again JDM Allstars rocked up to an all new location, this time the city of Manchester, a place that usually makes me think of Football, the band Oasis, and excitable accents that I can't understand.
Like Wembley and Newcastle before, the track would be a street based circuit in one of the overflow car parks outside the Trafford Centre , a shopping centre that looks like a cross between the inside of the Titanic, Ancient Rome and a giant US mall! When I arrived on Friday, I was blown away by the scale of the track and surrounding area. I had a feeling, with all the hype and build up, that the empty space I was looking at would be packed over the weekend!
Saturday morning came and it was looking like my feelings would be proven right. With the track ready, the crowds pouring in, and a whole heap of new cars, practice got under way. So here's a few photos from day one of a truly awesome drift event... Read more...
Like Wembley and Newcastle before, the track would be a street based circuit in one of the overflow car parks outside the Trafford Centre , a shopping centre that looks like a cross between the inside of the Titanic, Ancient Rome and a giant US mall! When I arrived on Friday, I was blown away by the scale of the track and surrounding area. I had a feeling, with all the hype and build up, that the empty space I was looking at would be packed over the weekend!
Saturday morning came and it was looking like my feelings would be proven right. With the track ready, the crowds pouring in, and a whole heap of new cars, practice got under way. So here's a few photos from day one of a truly awesome drift event... Read more...
