Stoked: TVR in Shinjuku

During my study abroad stint in Japan I had a 50 plus min commute from my host family's house to the language school I was studying at in Shinkjuku. During the last 15 min of walking from Shinkjuku Sanchome subway station to class I was in the heart of shinkjuku and would constantly see incredible high performance pumpers of air. Including but not limited an Acura NSX, Lamborghini Aventador and Diablo that was vinyl wrapped in metallic silver, a McLaren MP4-12C and this fine little TVR Sagaris

Now this was the first time I had encountered one of these endurance racing bread pumps and had to do a lot of reaserch on it just to subdue my curiosity and learn more about an intriguing Air Pump I never knew existed. And a gorgeous one at that.

These were produced between 2005-2006. Sporting a 4.0l inline six producing a bit over 350bhp. Weighing in at just over a ton I'm sure they're a handful when you put your foot down.

Dispite my lack of knowledge of the Sagaris and having to look at Wikipedia just to find out the years it was produced I'm glad to say I've learned about another great piece of British engineering thanks to the streets of Shinkjuku. Considering no large number of these were imported into the States I'm not sure I would have ever even heard about one if not for my stay in Japan.

So dispite my mention and repetative bragging of the fact that I went to Japan, which won't lessen anytime soon (I'm just now having time to sort thru all the photos I took) I'd like to give Japan a shout out from one more enthusiast for constantly being a Mecca of car culture. 

Joshua Sewell

Instagram: josh_sewell_photo

Real Chopper: Dogwood Show and shine,

 This will be the second to last post on the dogwood show and shine photo blogs because I have other exciting stuff to get on with as far as content goes. But the last one will not disappoint, at least I hope it won't, well you'll see.

This old roadster was an eye catcher to say the least. I honestly don't know to much about these old rigs and would be giving false information if I tried to spell anything out. Above is the engine, and below is the back of the car.

I never got a chance to talk to the owner but it was easy to see that the build quality of this pump was up there with the best of them especially with the interior and engine in mind. This is the inside of the cars, usually containing a steering wheel, a couple seats and an instrument panel.

This was really an eye opener for me, these type of cars have never been of much interest to me along with old choppers, like the one below. But after taking a few minuets to admire them, all I can see is dollar signs and tireless hours being invested into these, and if you can't appreciate anything else about these pumps than at least appreciate the work and money that went into them. I try to do that now with any build or project that I see. These are some neat leather seats.

Whether that be a riced out Honda civic, a Factory spec all original hand build Aston Martin or a street rod that I never even got the manufacturer year of. these builds took time, and that I can fully appreciate that. This is the front tire.

This chopper I found in the bikes section does indeed still count as an "Air Pump" it has an intake and an exhaust, which is basically an air pump, therefore I could have just about anything on this site that pumps air. I could have an airplane if I felt the need, or I could have a vacuum cleaner, or a human for that case, considering the fact that we are constantly breathing.... air. but I digress this is a Harley and I took photos of it.

Once I saw the bike section, I almost didn't go over there just because I don't have to much interest in in them to begin with, I mainly went over there because this bike looked like a lot of time had been put into it, and boy was I ever glad I checked it out.

After talking to the guy who owned this bike I appreciated it even more. And the more time I spent looking at it the more I found little details I liked. This bike was built by the owner and his brother back in the late 1960' through the seventies. This old geezer was proud to tell me that it was an original Harley, chopped just like they are supposed to be, with only 30 percent of the frame still intact.

Now I personally had no idea that a chopper was called that because it was literally put into a shop and hacked at by a couple of guys. I was very happy to hear this because the owner later said that now a days anyone can buy a prefabbed chopper frame and build one out of a catalog.

The shop that built this bike, is called 8th day cycles. From some place in Idaho... again, details. I'm not sure if that is supposed to be some supernatural symbol for power or something, but they know how to make a bike, and purple used to be my favorite color, back when I was like twelve.

Joshua Sewell.
Instagram:josh_sewell_photo

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