October | 2014 | Natsukashi Garage

Its that time of year again! Wekfest has always been my favorite show to attend to, and this year was no different but this time Im the spectator. I wasn’t accepted this year when I registered both of my cars. I am kinda butt hurt but I guess its another person’s turn to be in Wekfest. Besides I was working that whole weekend (nightshift 12 hrs.) and I wouldn’t be able to show my cars, sometimes things do happen for a reason.

Thaison’s hatchiroku was the only car in our team that made it to Wekfest but that didn’t stop the rest of the team to drive to Houston from Austin. Unfortunately Thaison couldn’t make it because of work but Cody drove his car for him. I was determined to at make it Wekfest before I had to get some rest for work.

Sunday morning, after my shift was over I went home and got ready for Wekfest. Some my friends from Austin came the night before and slept at my crib. Sooo naturally, after they woke up, we were all hungry. We ate at a local spot in Houston called House of Pies and their menu has always been delicious. After doing a 12hr shift I was sleepy but the excitement and 3 cups of coffee kept me awake.

The breakfast of champions. As you know, you need a good hearty breakfast for Wekfest.

The entrance to House of Pies was dump friendly but the exit looked like Mt. Everest. Since we are all static, we exited through the entrance without drama with the exception of a few confused faces from the customers.

Since we were the cool kids, we all parked behind the convention center.

Branden finally put the center caps for the Advans. He actually had a motocycle race the day before Wekfest and trailered his CBR600.

I remember seeing this Mercedes at StanceNation Dallas and it still looks great! This is the same owner that had the green bagged MK1 Golf at Wekfest last year. Very impressive build and a lot of custom work, I know he is planning to bag the Merc too.

This TSX rocking Mugen and 90s Volk GT-P! No replicas in Wekfest.

Crews getting ready for roll in.

The line for the roll in and people waiting to be assigned a spot.

This ITR, with a K20 swapped ITBs, really killed the game. Wekfest really brings the heavy hitters out.

All carbon fiber Js Racing s2000. Wekfest has a good mix of stance, meaty fitment, JDM, Euro, and American. No haters here.

Hakosuka GTR. Legit shit from Mayday Garage. Im clearly doing it wrong.

Team Volk Racing

My homie Manny from Team Apokalypse couldn’t show his TSX because someone vandalized his car weeks before Wekfest. People like that shouldn’t even be living, why ruin someone’s hard work just because of jealously. Kinda shows this world is not as nice as it seems to be but you just come back harder and knowing you have good friends and family with you. Because in the end its your life. Don’t let the lows get to you, instead get back up and try harder.

This BMW was absolutely insane. Seemed like every single body panel in this BMW was modified, in a good way. I think this BMW is rocking the Liberty Walk body kit. This is probably the best BMW out of the show in my opinion.

Very classy. Im a wheel whore and I can tell a nice rim. These are BBS Motorsport Magnesium wheels made for Bugatti. They are centerlocked rims but I think these have been converted to 5 lug. Most people wont notice it but its all the little things that count that ties the build together. Super rare wheels, and even rarer to be converted to 5 lug. Ahhh the early 90s styling, and did I mention, its Bugatti.

Really lovin the red Work center caps. A nice touch to make the Kiwami pop. Demon camber is starting to get popular with increasing hate too haha. I personally love it, and Im glad to say I did demon camber on the Miata Jan 2014, before it got popular, in the States. Next year though, the Miata is going to have a different stance. You just have to wait and see.

Team Advans

Lam with his baby blue Tiburion. Now with team Prospeks

Last year he had iForged Fabulous now he is on Volk CE28 for a more functional fitment. He just picked up those carbon fiber side skirts days before Wekfest. Looking good.

G35 was pushing the fitment envelope. This build is the other end of spectrum with the slam, tuck, poke, stretch scene. I like this style the most, and definitely stirs controversy in hearts of some car people.

Tony’s static TSX…… Just kidding its actually bagged. But Hong’s Altimia is static. Team Vossen wheels with these duo.

This was my favorite Euro mainly because I love VWs and I happen to own a MK5 GTI. This R32 keeps it clean and simple, bagged on classic BBS RS with upsized lips. Love the little details like the Cupra R lip, the BBS center caps to the yellow high beam lights. I tried to the replace the high beem lights on my GTI and was a pain in the ass, or maybe Im just not mechanically inclined.

The Honda game at Wekfest always seems to be the hardest to judge because I think a majority of them has a swap, boosted, ITBs, shaven engine bays, or rocking legit JDM parts. The Honda judges must have it tough.

This EF looked very familiar to the EF last year that had the rebarreled SSR Super Fins. It was all stanced and cambered but this year the look is a more functional track/kanjo look. The engine had the looks to back it up.

No reps, just Mugen MF10 from Japan.

Notice the front mount turbo on this ITR. You don’t see that often, and its not the eBay turbo kit either. This is custom fabrication and countless hours in the garage. Im pretty sure the owner put more money on this ITR then I have on my GTI or Miata combined.

Always something new with Tom’s S2000 at every show. Going for the fuctional track setup for Wekfest this year. And now on Volk TE37 instead of Mugen MF10s.

Meaty Toyo R888

Lightwight with a K swap.

Cristian S2000 looking real clean. Fitment on point and static too.

Roger’s Mazdaspeed daily from team BRG. He just recently acquired Work VS KF, team Work Wheel right here. He actually drives his car from San Antonio to Houston frequently because his girlfriend lives in Houston. Better love story than Twilight.

Hybrid Lexus, something you dont see often in the car community. Not sure if the LED tail lights come stock from Lexus but Im liking it.

VQ swap on this 280Z with a custom twin turbo set up. I saw this car in the early morning with a WRX just cruising the streets of Houston. Purred really nice on the highway and it broke my neck, I almost missed my exit heading home.

Bun’s uniquely wrapped Anime wrapped Subie. Just being different from the rest but still looking cool.

Root beer GLI, with Mercedes Benz Alphards. A classic wheel in the Euro community. I wish I still kept my set.

The memories.

The Volk Wheel booth was showing its products at Wekfest with Mayday Garage since they are rocking Volks. Volk is also starting to stamp their TE37, obviously because of all the knock offs. Forged wheels, not rep wheels.

After 18 hrs of no sleep and having to work later that night, I left before they opened their doors to the public. I wanted to take more pictures and stay longer but I needed rest. Its was only a day later after looking at instagram pics that I missed out on the Ridox Supra and I didn’t even get to see my homie, Johnny’s custom widebodied MK5 GTI. BUT…… For more Wekfest photos check out my homie Cody’s flicker page:

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http://natsukashigarage.bigcartel.com/

Happens only once every 3 years….. Like the start of the Olympics. It really felt that way. This was actually my first time attending this meet but I sure loved all the quality cars that came out. Three years ago, when Mayday Garage first had this meet, Thaison was able to attend but I think I was still in the Philippines. 3 years ago, Thaison rolled up in his TE27 Corolla with his lip backwards hahaha. Unfortunately Thaison wasn’t able to make it this year, but me sure his car did. He had someone drive his s2000 swapped AE86 all the way from Austin. Thats dedication. I rolled in earlier than the rest of the Natsukashi Garage gang because they had a 3 hr drive but I didn’t. I went with my homies from Houston and I have to say the Houston car game kills the Austin game. Bruce’s 280z got internet famous with bags and a flared wide body complimented by the super aggressive spec AG Wheels. Chilling with this guy in the garage, I can tell he is a perfectionist. Its not often you see a beautiful build like Bruce’s Z. Unfortunately the Wekfest curse hit him hard, and the car is undrivable currently. But that didn’t stop him from attending a meet that happens once every 3 years. He trailered his car to the meet, and loading the car to the trailer was a task itself. The dedication though, just because you can’t drive your car doesn’t mean you can’t trailer it. My friend Donnie has one of the cleanest CRXs out there and we ended up trading my GTI for his CRX because he had work and wasn’t able to make it in time to get a get a good spot. His car reminds me of my Miata just faster and more refined. The CRX was a fun car to drive, and has a lot of pep. Like a eager puppy dog ready to grab the ball once you throw it. The ICE. While waiting to get the cars detailed at my friend’s secret location I stumbled on the this rare Audi S4 wagon. V8 muscle with a manual tranny. Sooo much want. This secret location had more rare European and Japanese cars but thats for another time. When we got to the meet, a lot of cars showed up all at once. We caused traffic jams in this little Houston street. The meet was held at Moon Tower Inn, a local Houston bar. This place has a vast selection of crafted beers, with tasty hotdogs and burgers. Seemed like every other person had a tattoo, gauges, a beard, or thick rimed glasses. Has that hipster vibe kinda like Austin. My home away from home. Chan was taking Polaroid shots, the memories. Thats the model hand of Bruce, some people call him Ryan Gosling. This had a 1UZ motor from the Lexus SC400. Except this motor powered the much lighter AE86. Got sandwiched with the heavy hitters. Then more heavy hitters came out.

This S14 looked like had some serious power judging the size from the rear tires. Im loving this R32 and can now be import legally, since its 25 years old. All its takes is money. More cars just kept on rolling throughout the day and into the night. Sweg. Another rare sight to see, is this widebody Toyota Starlet on some, I think, old school SSR mesh wheels. The widebody wasn’t just for looks either, this has a BEAMS motor. Sporting retrofitted headlights tooo. Rocking legit Volk RE30s, thats money. Then I saw this Silvia which minded me of the style in the Japan. The aircooled classic. This Porsche looked like the 911 RS with the duck tail spoiler. The 350z almost got stuck on the incline and rocking rubber band tires on GTR wheels. You really had a mix of old and newer cars. Obviously priority was given to the older cars. Cities like Houston, that is sooo big, you never know what you will encounter. Like this stanced Hyundai Tiburon, looks like its RWD but its actually FWD. Props to the owner for taking a car that doesn’t really have a lot of aftermarket support or been known to be riced out with APC parts, or Walmart specials. The ambulance was called because sooo many necks were broken. Then it started getting dark. I used to drive a 1969 Beetle in the Philippines and this Beetle brought back memories.

Cody and Billy showed up in their bikes all the way from Austin. What was suppose to be a 3hr drive ended up becoming 7hrs becuase AJ’s bike broke down and needed a trailer. The struggle is real, but they made it thanks to Randy’s truck. Nothing like chilling with your homies, over cars and beer. Then I spotted this R31. I saw this car also at the Mayday Garage Ricer meet last Wednesday. Individual trumpets on this Hatchiroku The guys from CVT brought their van and aired out while driving….. scraping what seemed to be flat road. A Nascar V8 car that’s next to a truck that is doing a burnout…. Merica Bruce making a crowd. Then they are gone….. Team Badass showed up. I love meets like these and the exclusivity. You see all the quality builds out there and some cars you might not see till the next Nostalgic Car Meet. I know for certain, some of the cars seen here will not be in Wekfest Houston. Not because they didnt get accepted, Im sure they would in a heartbeat, instead the owners prefer a meet like this. No competition for best in show but just a relaxed meet with high class cars, chilling with your friends with food and beer.