With the way that trends have been heading in recent years, we Kiwis are clearly super keen on the allrounder car that can be used to get amongst multiple disciplines at events to make the most of our entry. While we’ve grown accustomed to these events catering to what we seek, Japan remains a bit more segmented, with the drifters doing their own thing, show cars staying close, and the circuit racers staying clear of both.
That’s apart from the likes of Slammed Show Drive, organized by Kouitiro Hayashi. Year-on-year, the venue for the event changes and the track layout evolves, although what remains true is the combination of your typical car show with the likes of grass-roots drifting, burnouts, cruising, track blasting, and even a bikini car wash.
Breaking the barriers between genres, so that all those who share a love of the automotive world can enjoy their own segments together, has always been Hayashi-san’s goal, and the mix of cars is wildly huge.
The Bihoku Highland venue in Japan’s Okayama prefecture was packed to the brim this year; for those who know the circuit, we’re talking the whole Bihoku area full, with the pits on the first corner of B-course and all three car parks jammed.
The event is well supported, with the likes of Uras, Moty’s, Work Wheels, 326power, Drift Tengoku, and Hectopascal all displaying stands.
But now, rather than continuing to ramble on about all the radness that our Japan correspondent Shaun Constable saw, we’ll let you experience it for yourself over this seven-page hit.
Doing kyusha style justice, this 240Z was super crisp, with a full roll cage, stripped interior, fresh paint inside and out, and an OS Giken TC24-B1 heart under the bonnet
Bippu style was represented by new and old throughout the three car park areas, the standout being a Toyota Crown Royal Saloon (S130) that sat over an early set of Work Rezaxes You aren’t actually allowed to do standstills at Bihoku, so, for the burnout competition, someone dragged out a few metal slabs on the back of their truck. With two burnout sessions throughout the day, each burnout saw four cars lighting up at the same time
R34 GT-R on air suspension, anyone? Pictured here, it isn’t even aired out; it was later spotted throwing sparks from the rails 326power showed the force of its fleet, including a newly formed drift team known as ‘トチ狂ラーシング’. It’s ‘Tochikuru Racing’ in English, with ‘tochikuru’ roughly translating to ‘crazy/foolish’
Owned by Kazuya Koyama, this Lexus RC350 is dressed head-totoe in 326power parts — we’re talking the entire catalogue
You’ve seen S13s with Odyssey front-end conversions, but this is a new one: an R33 with an Odyssey front-end conversion, Lambo doors, and small-diameter wheels
You know how the Japanese scene is huge in the US? Well, it’s the same in Japan with US-market cars. This left-hook Honda Accord has been repatriated and slammed on Work Emitzes
More American influence could be found in the car park, with four big-bodied imports that had various configurations of door openings, airbags throughout, full interior jobs, and massive ICE! How’s this Nissan Crew?! Originally used as a taxi, it now spends its days going sideways through corners and burning tyres — a taxi ride we’d sign up for any day Team Garage Force members are known for two things: constantly tandeming, and always being right on each other’s doors!
Drifting is never without a bit of carnage. The biggest crash of the day came via a super-sharp hairpin that was catching out its fair share of drivers; here, the day was over for both cars
These guys aren’t called ‘Team Crazy’ by chance — they’re actually bloody crazy. Their signature is constant door-to-door tandeming with the five team members, and they made a statement with the use of a blow-up doll strapped to one car with a blowup ‘organ’ that mimicked a popular anime