Meguri-Ai: The Washington Bred RWB Porsche

While I was at Formula Drift Seattle I had my first real life encounter with a Genuine Rough-Welt Porsche. Meguri-Ai is one of the few Porsche 911s that has been given the Rough-Welt Begriff treatment. Porsche purists hate them and just about everyone else loves them, but no matter who you are they grab your attention, and I have a hunch that was part of the goal when they were modified.

 The thing that struck me most about this Porsche and many of its siblings was the massive #AIRSLICER on the decklid, not only do they add so much to the statement the car makes but also seem to be functional...

 An observant eye can catch the air scoops that the spoiler also performs as forcing more Air into the engine bay and therefore allowing for more Pumping of Air! These scoops speak to the presence that Nakai san (the kat behind these monster cars) wants his cars to have, not only to have them catch your attention but also perform well to match the daunting looks.

 This better shows the massive down force producing wing that slices through the air..the same medium the Pump breathes. This also shows the gorgeously incorporated wide body treatment given to the once stock 993.  

 Meguri-Ai was sitting pretty on a set of 18 inch iForged Fusion, Performance Alloy wheels. Hugged by a set of Pirelli Pzeros with a stenciled idlers on the sidewall. Before I knew much about these cars I didn't really like them, but knowing now that they are raced at events like idlers, thus makng the form and function of them come out, I have to say my feelings have changed.

The first time I saw one of these RWB Porsches online I wasn't sure if i liked them or not, they seemed to loud for what I was into. But After researching them and leaning that Nakai san does indeed race them at the Idlers 12hr and other Competitions in japan I have to say I have grown to like them.

When I went to Fourmula Drift Seattle I knew I would enjoy everything about it, but I had no idea that I would see an RWB Porsche. Meguri-Ai.. the name meaning "chance encounter" fit so well with how I came across the fine Air Pump it had to be of some supernatural occurrence.

Joshua Sewell

Instagram: josh_sewell_photo

Cloudy, Teal and a Couple of the JZ

It would be hard to find a fellow AirPumper (individual who drives an AirPump with more than a utilitarian mindset) who doesn't have a dream car. This may be an Italian exotic with a high reving 27 cylinder engine, or a thirsty American luxury car with a bit less cylinders and that much more displacement. But for me, I have a dream of almost any every day car that has been modified to perfection with a raspy low cylinder engine, induced forcefully with Air.

Case in point this perfected is300 on AMEs with one large Turbo by Garrett  and two JZs in the engine bay, I'd have put three in there but hey it's not my Pump. I love the consistency of the build and the teal color is to die for. I recently saw this feller for sale on craigslist after the Offset Kings show and was astonished that the owner was selling such a unique Pump. Unfortunately I didn't have the funds at the time and couldn't purchase. But this car opitimizes my dream car. One that can transport some buddies, looks like a monster and has the numbers to back it up. Form, function, and forced induction. Can't go wrong. What's your dream car? Let me know in the comments section below. Maybe I'll get a shoot on it!

Also I really like the blue polish rag. I use one of these for my car(more on that in later posts). Can't beat a blue polish rag. Something about that color. 

Joshua Sewell

Instagram: josh_sewell_photo

Fourmula Drift Seattle Fun

  For my first installment of AirPumps I would like to share, thus far, one of my proudest/most memorable moments in automotive photography. It's a bit lengthy so bear with me. Earlier this summer I went to Formula Drift Seattle with some buddies and two cameras, my primary shooter and a second film camera. The above picture is of Dean Kearney in the viper and D-Mac in the 240sx in their final battle for first. In the end D-Mac won and I can't Say I was disappointed. If you have a real keen eye you can see me at 00:43 here, the line of the door sill of the s14 points to me. 

I went to this event with a few expectations, but most importantly to shoot some MAAD Air Pumps skidding with my dads 40+ year old 35mm Film camera. On the First day of shooting after some fumbling around with the camera I Realized my light meter indicator wasn't working. So I looked to Google on my phone first and tried to find a way out, to no avail. I then took to my extroverted side and asked an official event Videographer if he could help me at all. He didn't know squat about the film camera except that it was "Badass" so he pointed me to a guy named Joe.

I thought neat, I'll talk to Joe. I awkwardly introduced myself to this Joe fella and handed him the camera, he fumbled around with it, and said I might have a broken light meter, but luckily showed me the numbers I would need to shoot at to get some halfway decent Pictures. After memorizing the numbers, we parted and I crossed my fingers to not waist this super high quality Rite Aid film on under exposed pictures.

After parting I returned to my earlier mentioned post to start sniping Pumps. Once I got there, wound the camera roll back, and loaded my first picture, the light sensor meter popped up and started working! (the thumb lever needed to be in a particular position to free the indicator to work). After figuring this out I shot three rolls of film with much joy. Sadly that same retard that couldn't figure out his own camera ruined a roll by opening the camera before he had rewound the film into the canister. I still had the other two rolls to work from tho, so not all joy was lost.

 After coming home I realized that I had a Joe Ayala in my Instagram feed and quickly found out that this was the same Joe I had met at FD Seattle without even knowing it. Joe Ayala from the drift team Tandem of Die and www.joeayala.com. Now you may ask yourself, self why would Josh be so proud of this moment in his automotive photography career? Well inquisitor, I answer that question with an epiphany I had that day of shooting.

As I was shooting that day, I realized I was that one guy, on the last corner of FormulaD Seattle holding a 40+ year old film camera and taking pictures of giant AirPumps shredding tires. It dawned on me that despite me really knowing it, I was drastically different from the other folks at that event. none of them were doing what I was doing, or at least to the extent that I was. And in that moment, I was having the time of my life. Shooting one of my favorite sports with a piece of history. I got to meet one of my favorite photographers, and get some sweet photos in the process. So my word to you is, dare to be a little different... see where it takes you.

Happy Pumping,

Joshua Sewell

Instagram: josh_sewell_photo