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WEEKEND EDITION: Anti-missile missile

Does anyone else have the problem of not being able to read the large blocks of text that some people tend to write on their blogs? It might be some sort of computer-related attention span issue, or it could be that a majority of what people think is carefully constructed prose is in fact like rubbing your eyes with razor blades. With the risk of going Gilette on your pies, here’s an all-text post!

When working at Auto Salon Magazine before I came to Japan, making sure that what you wrote was at least somewhat interesting was the entire reason you were getting paid, and even then, there were at least three other people who read it with a critical eye before it went to print. I recall making a reference to Matt Damon wearing swimming shorts in “The Talented Mr Ripley” in an article I wrote once. Needless to say, that paragraph never made it to print.

Just a quick aside for any Aussie readers, Auto Salon is organising a guided tour of the Tokyo Auto Salon this year. If you’re looking for a pain-free way to see the 2010 show, I recommend giving them a call. You’ll probably meet me at some point on the trip too. Wow, incentive or what!

So, I was pulled up recently by a local driver who reads my site (Japan is the third biggest viewer of Noriyaro, behind the USA and Australia, believe it or not), who had a bit of an issue with how much glorified coverage I’ve been giving to missile cars. You see, there’s actually a fairly strong divide between the people who love the demolition derby-style missile cars, and the people who can’t stand them.

“The reason to have a missile car is not so you can smash into things on purpose. They’re just meant to be cars to practice in, and if you crash, it’s not so much of a problem.” he said.

When a Japanese workshop holds a track day, famous drivers will often be invited to enter for free to give the spectators something to watch and the other drivers something to study. Often, shop owners will attend each others’ track days out of courtesy, and bring their D1 cars with them, often using the chance to shake down any new mods they have done, or check engine tunes or similar.

At one particular day, that was the first ever drift event held at this particular circuit, a group of drivers (you may be able to guess who, considering my past coverage of missiles) turned up in their junkers and proceeded to rip up the grass the edge of the circuit. The workshop owner wasn’t too happy about this, since the circuit manager was annoyed, and these guys were banging around in ugly cars that weren’t much to look at.

Personally, I’ve never been the type who enjoys breaking things for the sake of it, nor do I like crashing, mostly because you end up with a jerked neck and a lot of work to. Isn’t part of the fun of drifting knowing that you’re toeing the edge, and could wipe out your beloved car at any second? Who is more hardcore if they’re pulling off the same crazy lines and angle? The guy in the car that looks like a piece of crumpled newspaper, or the one with fresh paint and expensive wheels?

So, let’s start the campaign against junk missiles!

Kiss the wall tenderly, don’t give it a black eye! Damage is a side effect! Keep it straight when sideways!

Anyway, since there are no pics today, here’s some other blogs you can look at!

hachiroku.com.au/blog
Written mostly by Garth from Sydney, who drives a JDM Trueno hatch that should be running soon, right?
It should be first on your list if you dig AE86.

beeoneoneoh.wordpress.com
Written by Chris from New Zealand, who drives a rad Datsun 1200 truck in mustard.
It’s about Starsharks and smelling of petrol.

omgpancakes.wordpress.com
Written by Chops from Jersey, who drives a Scion xB in yellow.
It’s van, wagon, micro and truck stuff that’s enjoyable to read for people who aren’t into vans, wagons, micros or trucks.

riskydevil.blogspot.com
Written by dudes from Chicago who drive all sorts of things.
Reading it is like eating a bag of Skittles in a cloud of tyre smoke.

bhworld.wordpress.com
Written by Brian from California who will probably stop driving his 180SX soon.
It’s about stickers, events and hate. There’s also too much damn hockey stuff in there.

I really should update the cryptic introduction on the “About” page too…