Less than a week into the new year, 11 editors from various automotive magazines traveled halfway across the world to congregate in the city of Tokyo. For what purpose? One reason would be attending the highly anticipated Tokyo Auto Salon, held for three consecutive days, but the bulk of the stay was to partake in TEIN Japan's 2004 Tour. How would the good people of TEIN do to keep a group of editors occupied for the next 216 hours? I wasn't sure, but looking over the TEIN itinerary, it was without a doubt filled to the brim with scheduling. And that scheduling ranged from shop tours to track events. Would it be humanly possible to pack so many things into a mere nine days? We were about to find out.
Day 1: January 7-8, 2004
6pm: Home at last!
Securely fastened within my seat, the cabin begins to shudder as six turbine jet engines gradually produce a deafening roar. "I'm finally here," I thought to myself, smiling out the window as the Boeing 757 touches down, approximately 11 hours after initial takeoff on the island of Honshu. With 5,400 miles separating myself from my hometown of Orange County, I was overwhelmed with joy and anticipation, realizing the time had finally arrived to pay homage to my family's roots.
Day 2: January 9
7am: First Impressions
Damn, someone's knocking on the door! Wait a minute... didn't we just go to sleep? Ah man! It's only 7a.m.!I couldn't muster the energy or motivation to answer the door as I drew the bed covers over my head in hopes of muffling the obnoxious banging. Was it jet lag? Quite possibly, but perhaps the main reason for my comatose state was the previous night filled with Suntory whiskey and non-stop partying alongside the employees of Blitz USA, Andy Yen of V-spec, Nomura "Nomuken" Ken and Abe, the mechanic from Blitz. The persistent knocking continued while my head pulsed with every tap-a-tap-tap. In an aggravated state I swung the door open, coming face to face with a young Asian man dressed in a tight wife beater tank top and slicked back hair. Damn, I thought to myself, homeboy looks like a gangster! I wonder what he wants? To my surprise, he sticks his hand out and introduces himself as Phillip Chase (aka El Sea Basso, or better known as Sea Bass), an employee of TEIN USA and host of the trip. I stood there in shock and thought that this trip just might turn out to be more than I expected, and hell, it's been less than 48 hours. For the next two days, the Manhattan Hotel, located in the Makuhari Messe district provides the necessary shelter while I set out to command and conquer the Tokyo Auto Salon. Packing up my camera equipment and Yen (Japanese Dollars), I proceeded to head out the door to make my way to the Auto Salon.