Yokohama Custom Hotrod Motor Show

Ok how about those of us that will be at the pre-party meet up around ...say....7 p.m.
and for those can`t make it until SUnday we can shoot for 10 1030 in the a.m.?
Hows that ?

I just went a got me a new video camera and I`ll be heading out in the morning.

I`ll bring the clippers for those sideburns

 

oh yeah! if you want to get ahold of me you can send me an e-mail at
hotrod******@docomo.ne.jp I will have my phone on me the whole weekend.

 

I'll be kicking around - Cheers Dave (I'll see you later) - burns have been clipped, thanks for the offer Viva.
No "skirt" this weekend, but something close!

 

Had a great time! I'm on a borrowed computer, so can't download pics. Dice party was kick*** too after a late start. Fortunately we invaded a small bar down the street until they opened the doors. It was great to meet new faces and catch up with old acquaintences.

 

Was a very good show. Too many pics to post. Pics to Link:

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=1247&id=100000571831583&l=32ee4dd1a1


Will, great shorts, saw a couple of babes with tartan shorts as well, would have liked to get you all together in a pic...

 

Big shout to all the guys and gals that I met over the weekend - it was a privelage.

Great show, off home tommorrow - till the next time !

Arigato.

 

I was blasted when I returned back from the show last night. It was a great show, pics I linked were only about a quarter of the bikes shown. The level of artistry was very impressive. I only pic'd probably a third of the cars in attendance as well.

Like Comet above said, it was nice renewing acquaintances and I met a number of above Posted Hambers, whom I hope to stay in touch with, and also met a few members who attended and did not post above.

I was amazed at the international turnout of attendees and presenters. I met a couple who publish an Aussie rodding mag:

http://www.graffitipub.com.au/.

Also met a couple of fellas who publish an Hungarian mag:

http://wild.hu

I noticed credentials and heard languages from all over Europe.

The local pin strippers are truly talented, was a great display and marketing of their art.

Look forward to next year...

 

Fabulous show! Had a great time! Really enjoyed all the cars and metting the people there. Definitely looking forward to next year!

 

Hey J, I didn't know Larry was from Graffiti pub. I was milling around when you were talking to them. I've bought a few books from them before. Wish I had stopped to chat more.

 

wheres the pics?

 

See above facebook link to Imfatdad's pics

 

Larry O'Toole was there?? He's from Melbourne (well Castlemaine, an hour North West)!!!

Im still in touch with dudes I met there 3 and 4 years ago....just a special bond about being the strangers in a strange place..

...... now where's them pix at??

 

I just got back in and Man did I have a blast. I don`t know what took me so long to go. It was good meeting everyone. I didn`t make it to the Dice party but had a great time hanging out with a bunch of friends that decided to stop by. HillBillyWill don`t forget you and I have a bottle of Jameson in our future. I took some video but you can tell that I had way to much fun the night before and just wanted to sit down so the quailty ****s.
DOn`t get mad Jay I`m gonna steal some of your photos.

 

Hey buddy - if you're pourin them, we're drinkin em!

 

Thanks for the picture link. Spotted Coles style even before I opened that shot.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fJ3jpjM3Lac





this is what I had time to take pix of - the rest of the time I was trying to get video of the event

 

not sure where to post this.....

so I will put it here -
my article review of the show


Sunday December 6, 2009 marks the beginning of the indoor car show season. One of the biggest shows in the
world is held at the Pacifico Yokohama - the giant convention center in downtown Yokohama, Japan. This is an outstanding location for a premiere world event. Car
enthusiasts from all over the world descend on the Mooneyes Annual Hot Rod & Custom Show. Not only do the locals bring their best to show off to the fellow hot
rodders, owners ship their rides here in order to have the prestige of telling their colleagues, "Yeah, I showed my car at the Mooneyes in Japan." This year's
special guests were Billy Gibbons and Pete Chaprouris from So Cal. The Mexican Blackbird (named after a song on ZZ Top cl***ic Fandango!)
started out as a really nice bone stock driver that Gibbons had in
his stable for over 10 years. He described the T Bird as a nice grocery getter that had won some awards in its cl*** at some local Texas shows. With the persuasion
of Pete, they turned this stocker to a pure piece of throwback mastery. This '58 Thunderbird screams history since it looks as if it's jumping to life from the pages of
Rodding and Restyling or Kustom Rodder circa 1960. This was one of the first shows for the Mexican Blackbird, but certainly will not be the last. Pete stated
that there will be some final touches added to the Bird between now and the Grand National Roadster Show. Not sure what else can be added to help this piece of
rolling art reach perfection, but it will be cool to see what happens.
Setup at any show is always quite hectic.


Since the entire area of Pacifico Yokohama is used for display of hot rods and motorcycles, expectation of total chaos was
expected. But the Japanese have no troubles, and seem to have
this down to a science. Perhaps it is just their innate organization skills that seem to keep everything in order in the land of the rising sun, but it sure seems
like indoor shows in the states could learn a bit from the Japanese on this front. Typical indoor shows of this size take at least a day and a half to set up, usually
two days. During this set up time there are always old friends to see and meet and this year was no exception. Photographers from Italy, France, Spain, England, New Zealand,
Australia, etc all stand around talking to each other as well as the people that they have shot over the past years. People like Makoto, Grimb, Ghost, Keith Weesner,
Jeff Decker, Har****, Dan Collins, Max Grundy, Nash, Vintage Torque Video Crew, Mr. G, The Pizz, Donnie Hawley, The Bean Bandits crew, Matt and Dean from Dice, and many many more are all ready to give each other a
warm handshake or hug to welcome each other back to an old familiar place.
One of the reasons that so many people come back to this show year after year is the pure entertainment factor. There is a pre party for all the guests on Saturday
night and the Mooneyes crew feed everyone with burgers built to your liking and great live music to keep people hopping. After the official pre party, most
gaijin (foreigners) make the trek to a local hangout that is usually sponsored by Dice. This year was no exception, and it was probably quite a sight for the
locals to see over 100 white guys and girls all arrive en m***e to take over the streets of some out of the way bar close to the Chinatown section of Yokohama.
Those that don't stay out too late are able to get a fresh start on Sunday and hit the show running because the final touches of the show are put in place after
the pre party on Saturday night.


So before the 20,000-25,000 people that show up for this one day event it's not unusual to see many people scrambling around trying to get the last pictures, before
the throngs of humanity show up. Once all the spectators arrive - forget about getting a clear picture of any car. The Mooneyes show is a bit different than any
other indoor car show in many ways. One of the big differences is the grand entrance that the celebrities get to make. There is a path made for the cars to actually
drive in to the event and drive up to the front of the show. It is like a miniature parade. The spectators line the path in hopes of getting a clear view of the
cars actually driving in. And with this many fans, it is not at all easy to do, since most people are stacked 3 to 4 people deep. After getting introduced, the crowds
dissipate into the rest of the show and spend the entire day there milling about.


The car variety this year was nice, but it seems that the motorcycles are getting more and more space year after year. Perhaps this is due to financial reasons
(owning a car in Tokyo is not for the middle cl*** - it is usually a joy that only those with a bit more disposable income can afford) or just the trend right now,
but the independently built cycles that were there were quite amazing. Even better, was seeing these show bikes being DRIVEN out of the show. That is usually
the highlight of just about any show and this year was no exception. Overall this was another big success for the Mooneyes crew and
many people are already making plans to attend December of 2010.

Seeya there!
John Wells
Vintage Torque
www.vintagetorque.com

 

I dont have any other pix - but trust me - all the white guys that were there had cameras and will post a LOT more pix I am sure - its just that I am the first one back.........keep an eye out later this week - other stuff will be posted I am sure

 

Nice article Coolstuff. You talk good without a mask on!!!

 

ha - you are too funny - thanks again to you and Comet for helping me out!
I appreciate it!!!

Hopefully I will be able to see ya'll next year?

 

Nice Review John,

Its actually left me a little choked up.

Mooneyes Yokohama & the shows really were one of the BEST parts of my years in Japan!

Ofcourse, they have vendors for BBQd Pig Tongue on a stick at the outdoor show!!!!!!!!

Thanks!

MIJ

 

Anytime man, it was a pleasure meeting you and we just watched the videos-Killer!

 

Oh, and just to prove they drive these cars, here is a pic I caught on the way home. I don't think "Trailer Queen" translates into Japanese.

 

John, as with Comet, it was my pleasure to meet and ***ist. Will be here for awhile, anytime you, or anyone else needs something I can ***ist with, don't hesitate to ask...

 

http://s977.photobucket.com/albums/ae255/geoschiss1/Yokohama HRCS 2009/

just thought I would link to this cats pix page - he has a lot of em

beware the annoying pop up ads though..........

 

http://www.mooneyesusa.com/

not sure if this was posted yet - but the official photos from Mooneyes are up on their site