EVENTS: Okutama Sunday Meeting

A short time ago, we were invited to attend the monthly Okutama-ko Sunday kyusha meeting. Loosely organized by the well-known Isuzu shop Eagle Sports, it always attracts a wide range of cars. This weekend was special though, as GT-B driving friends said they would be using the Okutama-ko parking area as their meeting place for a touge run into the mountains of the area. 

The arrival of such a large squadron of GT Skylines caused quite a stir. We made a quick pass of the parking area of about 100 cars, which was unusually heavy on cars from the Sixties.

Some of it was due to the Skyline and Isuzu contingents, but the parking lot was replete with others, including Fairlady roadsters, a first-gen Silvia, Sports 800, a barikan 1600GT, and even a replica Toyoda AA.

Particularly stunning were a pair of Belletts. The gold 1600GT was exceptionally clean, very well done with detail paid to even things like custom center caps, and parked next to fellow Isuzu in the form of an extraterrestrial Vehi-CROSS for excellent effect. The orange GT-R was just as immaculate. Belletts restored to such a high standard are rarely seen, and its 60s racing class decals added to its already plentiful allure.

Looking exactly as it did when it rolled out of the showroom in 1963 was a Datsun 312, beautiful in its two-tone white and mint green paint. The only clue to its age was a row of specialty Japan Auto Federation grille badges collected over the years and worn with pride.

Other cars hailed from the 60s, but looked like the were kept around in good condition for a couple of decades, then modified in the 80s. A Honda S600 fit that bill with mesh wheels— Southern Ways, perhaps — with custom Honda center caps.

Some of the S54s we came with looked that way too, like a white specimen modified likely in the Bubble Era on gold Racing Forg wheels.

 A mean, well-driven ZG sported a lip that was homemade, but very nicely done. For the shakotan crowd, a Carina on SSR MkIIs rocked the new Mizuno Works old style steering wheel and a kaido racer accessory spoiler.

Elsewhere, a beautiful yonmeri on Hayashi Streets and a fetching 510 Bluebird Coupe on Watanabes exemplified a style that is both simple and timeless.

Though it was tempting to hang around and talk cars, there was some serious driving to be done. Soon we took off in fast pursuit of a heavily modified dark green GT-B on rare Hayashi Command 5-spokes. Its contemporary style belied some serious machinery under the hood and sheetmetal, and we tried in vain to keep up with it through the countless corners and numerous tunnels.

Our course took us out on Route 411, towards Sakeishi onsen town on the Daibosatsu Line, then south. From there we joined Chuo Expressway for a fast run back into Tokyo for a late lunch. Another perfect kyusha Sunday.

For more on the Okutama Sunday Meeting, click here. Bonus images below.

Skorj is co-founder of Filmwasters and you can find more of his work at Cars on Film and here on JNC.