ALL JAPAN

MEET THE COSMO

Plenty of Japanese-centric shows have popped up around the nation over the last decade, but only Adelaide’s All Japan Day pulls a bulging entrant list and epic crowds in equal measure.

Helping the event’s popularity is the fact that the show is for all Japanese marques and models, not just the chromebumpered classics, with late model turbos, mini-trucks, drift pigs and burnout rigs sharing Glenelg’s grass with rare classics, both big-dollar and not. Couple that with the popular, beachside location and a zero-dollar entry fee, and you’ve got a winning combination.

One of Australia’s only S110 Silvias made the trip (just), along with an early UP10 Toyota 700, presented in mint condition, but the big

drawcard for classic Japanese enthusiasts was Roberto Formato’s rare Mazda R130 Luce Rotary Coupe, fresh off the boat from Japan.

Kristian Appelt and his team of volunteers worked hard to ensure the day ran smoothly, starting with their trademark ‘archway window’ parking setup; All Japan Day is an event that consistently looks great from above. Moving away from the two-day format trialled last year, the show was used to launch an all-new event; the All Japan Day Classic to be held 13 October to specifically cater for vehicles built prior to 1989.

As usual, entrant fees went to charity with All Japan Day 2019 raising $8500 for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Great work again to the AJD team and we’re looking forward to October.

ABOVE LEFT Is this window tinting on a budget? Your guess is as good as ours!

RIGHT Steve Alexander’s father bought this Honda S800 in the early 70s and fitted a 10A rotary to it. After 30 years in the backyard, Steve has the car back on the road.

ABOVE BRE livery on a 510 pays tribute to Peter Brock, the American, not ours.