Author Archives: Ben Hsu
Sportsland Sugo Damaged in Earthquake
Japan is still recovering from last week’s record-breaking 9.0 magnitude earthquake and subsequent tsunami. Sadly, reports say one of the nation’s great racetracks, Sportsland Sugo, has sustained damage. Located in the hard-hit Miyagi Prefecture, Sugo was built in 1975 by … Continue reading
Posted in japan, motorsports, wagons
Tagged earthquake, japan, juichi wakisaka, miyagi, sports 800, sportsland, sugo, supra, tohoku, toyota, wagons
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“Save Japan” Disaster Relief Campaign from Japan’s Motorsports Community
Juichi and Shigekazu Wakisaka, the race car driving “1141” brothers, have started a relief fund from the Japanese motorsports community for victims of the Tohoku earthquake. Save Japan has the support of Japanese racers and motorsports personalities of diverse backgrounds, … Continue reading
Posted in motorsports
Tagged daisuke ito, earthquake, japan, JGTC, juichi wakisaka, kamui kobayashi, kazuki hoshino, kazuya oshima, lexus, manabu orido, sakon yamamoto, sc430, sendai, shigekazu wakisaka, soarer, Super GT, supra, tohoku, toyota, yuji ide
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How the Earthquake is Affecting Japan’s Automakers
In the aftermath of the magnitude 9.0 Tohoku earthquake of March 11, the Japan’s great automakers are mostly at a standstill. Supply chains, transport and shipping facilities have all been affected by the quake and subsequent tsunami. There’s also rolling … Continue reading
Posted in honda, japan, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, toyota
Tagged akio toyoda, earthquake, honda, japan, mazda, mitsubishi, nissan, sendai, tohoku earthquake, toyota
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The Spirit of Sendai: JNC’s Tribute to the Hi-Land Drags
The news out of Japan keeps getting worse. Nearly 1,600 are dead, the Nikkei stock market plunged 6%, and a second explosion has occurred at the Fukushima nuclear plant. Sendai, one of the hardest hit areas with some reports of … Continue reading
Magnitude 8.9 Earthquake Strikes Japan
Our hearts, thoughts and prayers go out to all our Japanese friends today. A magnitude 8.9 earthquake occurred off the coast of Sendai a few hours ago, shaking buildings as far away as Tokyo. Even worse, the quake triggered a … Continue reading
Friday Video: Cedric 330 Wagon Full of Carnival Freaks
In what was probably one of the more bizarre episodes of Seibu Keisatsu, our favorite band of police heroes goes undercover at an amusement park. The goal is t catch some nefarious characters, one of which wears some sort of … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Video Games
Tagged 280zx, 330, 430, car chase, cedric, datsun, fairlady z, gloria, japanese cop show, nissan, s130, seibu keisatsu, wagon
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Old Ad: Kenmeri Nissan Skyline for Techno Project TR-V
Was the Nissan Fairlady Z432 ad just a bit too stock for you? Maybe a vintage rim ad for the Techno TR-V is more your style. This kenmeri shows how things were done back in the day — shakotan stance, … Continue reading
VIP S120 Toyota Crown Royal Saloon
Mid-80s Toyotas are rather unappreciated, but subtle expression is the key to customizing an S120 Crown. And you thought the Cressida was boxy… [Image: ezbbs.net]
World’s First Nissan Fairlady Z Newspaper Ad
Ready to go back in time? This is the first newspaper ad in history to fully reveal the Nissan Fairlady Z. It was published on October 20, 1969, four days before the 16th Tokyo Motor Show, where the S30 was … Continue reading
Design Study: Nissan Silvia CSP311 and S13
Looking at images of the Silvia recently, I was surprised that I had never noticed how many styling cues the 1988 S13 takes from the first Silvia, the 1965 CSP311. Part of it probably has to do with the fact … Continue reading
Friday Video: C130 Laurel vs. Kenmeri Skyline
Today’s video appears to star Tachi Hiroshi, but the cars are too old for Abunai Deka and it lacks the trademark pursuit music of Seibu Keisatsu. We don’t know from whence this car chase came, all we know is that … Continue reading
Posted in nissan, Video Games
Tagged c110, c130, car chase, datsun, gc110, japanese cop show, kenmeri, laurel, nissan, skyline
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Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution, 1992-2013
Like the giant panda, the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution may be an evolutionary dead end. Assuming Mitsubishi global product director Gayu Eusegi wasn’t suffering from altitude sickness at the Geneva Motor Show when talking to Autocar, the Lancer Evo X will … Continue reading
John Morton’s BRE Datsun 510 to Appear in Hot Wheels Vintage Racing Line
Hot Wheels has a new lineup called Vintage Racing for 2011, which will feature highly detailed race machines from the 60s and 70s with authentic livery. Nostalgic car fans will be pleased to know that the BRE Datsun 510 driven … Continue reading
Posted in minicars, nissan
Tagged 510, bluebird, bre, datsun, diecast, hot wheels, john morton, minicars, peter brock
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Today on YJA: Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR Gasket Set for $1000
Rebuilding the 4G32 on your Mitsubishi Galant GTO MR? This is the gasket and seal set you’ll need. Slight issue: the going price is ¥91,000, or about $1114. Be very, very careful not to tear it.
Kidney, Anyone? 1967½ Datsun 2000 Fairlady Roadster
If you’re parting with a major organ, it’d better be an ultra rare machine or something that’s been immaculately restored to exacting standards. Today’s kidney bait is the latter. The 1967½ Datsun 2000 Sports is a the most desirable of … Continue reading
Posted in for sale, nissan
Tagged american racing, datsun, fairlady, kidney anyone, libre, nissan, roadster, toshiba
12 Comments
NOSTALGIC WEAR: Enkei 92 T-Shirts
We love representing old school wheels but the problem is you eventually have to park your car. Now you can show off your love for vintage meshies anywhere except your shower with T-shirts celebrating the re-issue of the Enkei 92 … Continue reading
Rare Form: 1974 Toyota Publica Van Deluxe KP36V
Scouring YJA often brings one across truly rare examples of Japanese steel. Case in point: a 1974 Toyota Publica Van Deluxe, chassis code KP36V. When you see “KP” you think Starlet, but die-hard Toyotaku know that the Starlet was a … Continue reading
Kidney, Anyone? 38,000-Mile Datsun 720 King Cab Pickup
It’s not often that you see an old Datsun pickup that isn’t trundling down the slow lane, sagging under the weight of a landscaping crew’s livelihood. These trucks were workhorses, and affordable ones at that, so it’s pretty darn amazing … Continue reading
ANNOUNCEMENT: Toyotafest 2011
The folks at TORC have announced the date for the 16th annual All-Toyotafest! It’s the biggest Toyota family reunion of the year and it will take place Saturday, May 14, 2011 at the Queen Mary in Long Beach, California. Registration … Continue reading
