Event>> Hellaflush Japan 2011 - Pt.1

Admittedly I didn't know what to expect when heading to Fuji Speedway on Saturday morning. My only exposure to the Hellaflush movement has been through what I've seen on the internet and maybe what a few fans of the style have done over here in Japan. Doing my first quick walkthrough the display area where the Hellaflush Japan gathering was being held, I quickly realized that this was very different from what most people would expect to see at such a meet. This is Japan of course, and things are done differently!

Diversity was the operative word of the day as I have never seen so many different styles on show in one place.

It was obvious the Fatlace crew had done an impressive job at organizing an event of this scale so far away from their home base in San Francisco, combining the style they have helped create…

…with the best Japan has to offer.

I had a chance to chat briefly to Mark Arcenal and he too was impressed at just how diverse the selection of cars was. When not busy at the Fatlace booth he was checking out the rides and getting some pictures, impressed at how extreme some of the cars were.

I don't think I've been exposed to so much stanced and slammed goodness as I have over the past few weeks, first at the King of Sedan Festival in Osaka and this past weekend at Hellaflush. Style reigns over everything and there are so many different takes on it all it was fun to check it out…car by car..

…and style by style. I mean, aside from the Tokyo Auto Salon, where can you see full on show cars like this crazy FD3S and Z33…

…next to curiosities like this Nissan Wingroad wagon on 14-inch Hoshino Racing Impuls…

…and Rauh Welt Porsches! This is Toshi's Rough rhythm which I featured a while back…

…together with a few other of Nakai's latest creations. The guys from the RWB crew were chilling out in front of their uber-cool Porsches.

Itasha-ed Kei-vans…

…and crazy JZX100 drift cars. Yup, definitely Japan!

This was my favorite Kei-car of the whole show, a little Daihatsu Mira 5-door slammed on BBS rims.

The familiar sight of VIP sedans again!

Some of the parking area next to the main paddock had turned into an extended part of the show, which is where I found Kawasaki-san's slammed BNR32 drift car sitting on its black BNR34 wheels. The car looks as aggressive and as low as ever!

And on the subject of GT-Rs…how about this example running R35 20-inch wheels? I've seen R32s run R33 and R34 wheels, but this is the first time I've seen any of the second generation GT-Rs running those big massive 20s.

OK, give me your best caption for the upside down GT-R badge on the back! This was curious to say the least.

For this first part of the coverage from Hellaflush Japan I want to try to post up pictures from each and every style that was there as it's not often I see old VW vans…

…in the same place as modified hybrids! I have to say I quite liked this G-Fine Prius, who said hybrids have to be boring!

VW and Audi tuner Voomeran had this slammed A4 on display in front of their product booth

Gangster CLS.

I've always enjoyed checking out Jeroen's posts from the European VW meets as it's something I have never seen in Japan. But of course, there is a scene for that too over here and a few BBS-equipped Golfs and Sciroccos came over to pose for the show too.

Nothing screams JDM more than a Toyota Hiace tuned beyond recognition.

Pink on blue? Maybe something I should try with the GT-R?

You want a broad selection of cars? Here you go! The metallic blue E46 M3 above really stuck out…

…sporting a stickered up hood and rear bumper section.

Nice Datsun 510 ute on TE37s.

The show started at 10 am but there were cars rolling in all day, from VIP Cimas…

…to slightly different machinery.

There were all sorts of oldschool Toyota's present, from the popular AE86 to rarer cars. In fact I will be running a spotlight on one particular 3S-powered Toyota wagon that grabbed everyone's attention. More on that soon.

You can expect to see a lot of Hondas too as I work my way through the coverage, including some sublime aggressively stanced older cars.

More Kei goodness!

Hellaflush indeed.

This Vitz RS was impossibly cool in every way, from the neat little engine bay, to the twin exit titanium exhaust and of course the wheels and offset choice.

We should never judge, that is something everyone should avoid doing when stepping outside one's comfort zone and approaching a whole new different way of doing things…but I just have to ask. What is it with the odd rusty body panel on some of these more modern cars?