Better late than never…..  Even though it’s now deep in winter we’re still busy as ever getting cars ready for this years events, so it’s taken us a while to get round to featuring my favourite Drift Matsuri to date – the 2009 Aki(Autumn) Drift Matsuri….

There was a good mix of both wet and dry weather over the weekend, allowing everyone to try their hands at the tracks in varying conditions of moisture.  Also the rain means less time changing tyres and more time drifting!

At the end of each day the West course is closed off to allow everyone a shot at the excellent short course – one of the best fun tracks you could ever drift!  Here’sNori-yaro’s Alexi flying his Dual Aussie Flags mounted on his JZX100 Mark 2, amongst the locals.

Luke from the forthcoming DVD “we are drift” was on hand as usual, capturing some of the madness here on the Minami course.

…. He gets everywhere it seems, whatever it takes to get “the” shot!

One of the main factors that made this Matsuri the best for me was this bunch of MAD AUSSIES!  They all bought cars from us for use over the matsuri and their all-out , good hearted style was a welcome addition to the fold.  This was the day they got their hands on their cars for the 1st time.  They headed down to the Touge course for a quick photo.  From Left to Right, Dan Miller in his C32 Laurel, Christian Tassone in his S14, Paul Austin in his C34 Laurel, Ben MacKerras in his S14, Linden Reynolds in his C32 Laurel, Ben Purtell and the guys from Tasmania in the RPS13 180SX, and finally Rhys Harmon in his S14.  Thanks for coming guys, you HAVE to come back soon!  The highlight of the weekend had to be Paul Vlasbom, Linden, and Paul Austin flying down the minami course in the wet in hot pursuit of legends Daigo Saito and Naoto Suenaga in their missiles….. THAT’S MATSURI!  

The Aussies drove through most of the night.  Here’s Ben in the battle hardened S14 giving the wall some love with this little love tap!

With so many foreigners, we thought what better time to have a little comp! So 3pm on the Sunday we all descended on the Nishi short course for a competition in front of Team Orange’s Kumakubo and Suenaga.  Here’s Dino slipping some Speedhunters.com stickers on to my JZX90 prior to the start, as Stu takes the names of the entrants and translates them in to Japanese for the guest star judges!

The event was won by “the natural” Lynden Reynolds.  Even with broken power steering his consistent great driving made him worthy winner over Ben Purtell (Ben was in the cheapest car of the day, showing money doesn’t mean much here!) and fellow Japan-based foreigner Alexi in 3rd.  This is just the start though, the inaugural G1GP (as it’s known) was a great success and has given birth to a 3-round series for this year.  Unfortunately Paul Austin and Christian never made it due to mechanical failures, so the next G1GP comp will take place on the Friday PRIOR to the Matsuri weekend, allowing the carnage of Matsuri to take it’s tole on the cars AFTER the competition from now on.  If you fancy participating in what has to be best week of DRIFT in the world, then get in touch soon.  Details of the calender HERE. 

Oh and we can’t forget Mr Vlasbom….  the only man to come to Ebisu circuit and change tyres for the locals!  Everyone in Drifting in Europe knows this man, not only for his harder than hell driving, but him always being the 1st to lend a hand to keep everyone drifting.  His spirit embodies what its all about.  You and Femca are EXPECTED to be at EVERY Matsuri from now on mate! 

Video option were on hand to cover the G1GP and it now features in Drift Tengoku Vol.55, IN STORES NOW! 

There’s plans for both Video Option and Speedhunters(Via DINO) and more to cover this year’s G1GPs so if you want some truly International Drifting-exposure get yourself over here for a round (or 3)!

G1GP Dates:

Spring [Round 1] April 30th – Minami Course

Summer [Round 2] August 20th – Nishi Course

Autumn  [Round 3] November 12th – Minami

Matsuri Web Links

Speedhunters Part 1

Speedhunters Part 2

Speedhunters Part 3

We are Drift Part 1

Also, if any of you guys out there have any links featuring coverage from the Matruri / G1GP please post up the links!  We will leave the pics of the after party aside…. we were all WAY too Drunk!

I’ll leave with this shot of me and Alexi onSpeedhunters hitting up the Nishi course….  GREAT FUN!

This entry was posted on Saturday, January 23rd, 2010 at 1:44 pm and is filed under Ebisu Events. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.