Coincidence: a outstanding concurrence of occasions or circumstances with out obvious causal connection.

I discover myself continually busy today with the endless duties of parental duty, leaving only a splash of spare time to tinker with Project Rough (which is overdue for an replace). I haven’t had a lot time for precise Speedhunting, and due to that I not often head out with my digital camera tools.

On a latest journey as much as Tokyo I had no purpose to deliver my digital camera alongside, however I did so anyway. I’m actually glad I did.

My digital camera by no means left its bag whereas I used to be in Japan’s capital, and as I left the metropolis round midnight I believed it will keep that approach. My plan was to drive straight dwelling with no stops alongside the best way.

My bladder, nevertheless, had different concepts. The Dangozaka Service Space – one of many bigger service areas on the Chuo Expressway – could be my saviour.

As I approached the doorway, I noticed what gave the impression to be somebody sitting in a kei van with their smartphone out filming automobiles coming into the service space. I believed this was a bit odd given it was near midnight, however I’ve seen a lot stranger issues in Japan earlier than.

By the point I discovered a parking area although, it was clear why somebody could be filming. The sounds of barely-silenced engines and the sights of takeyari pipes reaching for the sky painted an image of one thing I by no means anticipated to see on this explicit night time. However that’s Japan for you.

Whereas making an attempt to mix in with my digital camera, I ran into the proprietor of a Toyota Corona GT that Alec featured earlier this year.

John was blissful to fill me in on precisely what was happening – a multi-team cruise occasion, because it turned out. I had stumbled upon the ultimate leg.

Given there was a police automotive parked within the distance, with the officers inside seemingly minding their personal enterprise, I started to suppose that this was a sanctioned gathering.

However it was not the case. Every so often the police emerged from their patrol automotive and requested folks to not park within the spots reserved for big vans and buses. By no means thoughts all of the questionable modifications!

Wandering round, I additionally met Jon and Astrid, a married couple who construct customized automobiles again in California underneath the Moonlight Runners banner. The pair have spent years researching and perfecting their craft with a purpose to create genuine kaido racers in North America, and this pilgrimage to Japan supplied an amazing alternative to expertise the native scene firsthand.

It is a fascinating Japanese automotive subculture, regardless of not being everybody’s cup of tea. It’s not significantly mine, if I’m sincere.

The engineer in me is consistently bemused by among the modifications, nevertheless, that is considerably the purpose of those automobiles. Most individuals are constructing kaido racers for themselves, purely for the enjoyment of it. They aren’t doing it with their severe glasses on.

Kaido racers might be tough across the edges, and that’s completely cool.

On the flip facet, some folks go approach above and past. You may need noticed an BMW E21 earlier on on this story. Effectively, it’s not truly a BMW in any respect; it began life as a KE70 Toyota Corolla.

On the finish of the day, this subculture is all about having enjoyable and sharing that have together with your kaido racer household. That is one thing I can genuinely get behind, even when issues are a bit of chaotic at occasions.

I feel I higher begin bringing my digital camera with me in all places I’m going. You understand, simply in case…

Ron Celestine
Instagram: celestinephotography