Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 29, 2014 Blog updated with various things including the Subaru factory tour at the Gunma plant: http://laurenblighton.blogspot.jp Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 Just did the Hakone Skyline and after a few navigational errors we made it to the Toyo Tires Turnpike. Stability control off, pay the toll and away you go. We didn't see any other cars on the way up till we stopped at the viewpoint. It's all second gear up and down to the redline with every bend a hairpin. The Toyo Tires Turnpike was much faster and was downhill. I admit I just ignored the 50km/h speed limit and went for it. That was until approaching some bend at around 160km/h to find I had no brakes! Err, slightly scary moment. I went around another corner, yep no brakes so pulled in just about to a small car park to see smoke rising from both sides of the front wing! Oops! Okay after two minutes they had stopped smoking, but you get the idea: Was amazing fun though. Even went Irish for a minute and did a few donuts in the car park (it was remote). What we noticed at any turning point there was just loads of circular lines everywhere where people just donut, I'm guessing. Also slower cars just get out of your way, reckon this road is famous for having a play. Crazy, mental fun and it felt like it was the kind of place where you can just let rip and nobody minds. On Hakone Skyline at the viewing point. 1 Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Special K 442 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 Looks great, Lauren... defo on my wishlist... Spec K Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 £63.90 in Super Autobacs, Yokohama. Had to have a car pressie! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 That steering wheel looks well nasty! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 It is! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 30, 2014 Hakone Skyline & Toyo Tires Turnpike now blogged. It was absolutely amazing! http://laurenblighton.blogspot.jp/2014/07/hakone-skyline-toyo-tires-turnpike-and.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 You might like this one! I've updated the blog with our trip to Super Autobacs Yokohama: http://laurenblighton.blogspot.jp/2014/07/super-autobacs-yokohama-minato-mirai.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted July 31, 2014 I've got loads of pics from our trip to Toyota Megaweb today. This really is a better bet than the museum in Nagoya. Nice cutaway of the 4UGSE. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
forge197 12 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 I've just caught up on the blog been a silly week I've had a car seven days and spent 24hours in it so far and a similar amount at the datacenter. It's a great antidote to what is turning into a bumpy week I don't see myself as Japan enthusiast, though your blog is written in away that makes me thing you know maybe I should go have a look, sure you don't work for their tourist board? Love Japan Demon Tweeks The Hakone Skyline is that unrestricted speed or a scenic drive that has become a bit well driver orientated? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 I've just caught up on the blog been a silly week I've had a car seven days and spent 24hours in it so far and a similar amount at the datacenter. It's a great antidote to what is turning into a bumpy week I don't see myself as Japan enthusiast, though your blog is written in away that makes me thing you know maybe I should go have a look, sure you don't work for their tourist board? Love Japan Demon Tweeks The Hakone Skyline is that unrestricted speed or a scenic drive that has become a bit well driver orientated? I think all the Japanese toll roads are normal roads as far as speed limits are concerned (no nurburgring !) so its up to you if you want to risk it 1 forge197 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 Hi Paul, the Hakone Skyline has a 50km/h speed limit but I chose to ignore it. Ditto with the Toyo Tires Turnpike where I saw speeds in excess of 170km/h. Slower cars simply pull over for you. You could say it's famous for being a drives road and where people likely go to street race at night. Everyone in Japan keeps to the speed limits and so do I, apart from the odd exception. I think people accept that rather than having the police patrolling it just to stop you having fun like they would in the UK. I haven't had time to update the blog, just got back from a 200 mile round trip to Gunma hitting Tokyo traffic both ways not helped by a late start due to a flat battery. New battery fitted now, typical Japanese efficiency! I've been paying homage to Initial D today. Atop 'Mount Akina' at the start of the downhill waiting for the Speed Stars! In the Yokota Museum! 2 Keethos and forge197 reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 1, 2014 Phew! Megaweb, puppies for sale and the history museum blogged: http://laurenblighton.blogspot.jp/2014/08/toyota-megaweb-puppies-for-sale-toyota.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 Flat batteries, Ikaho, Yokota Toy, Doll and Car Museum, 'Mount Akina and the downhill'. Lots of Inital D stuff! http://laurenblighton.blogspot.jp/2014/08/ikaho-initial-d-downhill-yokota-museum.html 1 GT86-Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
forge197 12 Report post Posted August 3, 2014 great updates, don't like the pets for sale impressed with effiency of getting the Battery sorted, Museum looks good. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted August 4, 2014 Darn you Lauren, all this Initial D talk has finally got me to watch it and I've just blitzed through the whole of First Stage and I was up till half 2 last night finishing it off But it's good Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Stevo 6 Report post Posted August 5, 2014 Just read all of your blog. Fantastic stuff! Enjoy the rest of the trip 1 Lauren reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Cheers, Stevo, some more to come when I get home and back to fast broadband, I'll get all the 86 day at Fuji Style uploaded, I've got 400 hundred to sort out! 1 Stevo reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
keelerad 256 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 Darn you Lauren, all this Initial D talk has finally got me to watch it and I've just blitzed through the whole of First Stage and I was up till half 2 last night finishing it off But it's good Did you watch it in Yanklish or Japanese with subtitles. I strongly recommend the latter, the Yank accents ruin it for me, these are Nihon-jin, they should sound like it ! Alec Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 I've only ever watched it in Japanese with subtitles. We showed it to a friend once who insisted on American. It's terrible. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 6, 2014 A quick edit of the after effects of driving a GT86 hard down the Toyo Tires Turnpike. Brakes got a bit hot: 1 Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 7, 2014 Undoubtedly my favourite day in Japan. This is when we met with my Japanese friend who knew the top people in the AE86 world. Just fantastic and we had so much fun and even a welcome party! Happy days! http://laurenblighton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/akira-tec-arts-tsukuba-kms-and-fabulous.html Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Keethos 842 Report post Posted August 7, 2014 Did you watch it in Yanklish or Japanese with subtitles. I strongly recommend the latter, the Yank accents ruin it for me, these are Nihon-jin, they should sound like it ! Alec LOL, yeah, any animes I watch has to be in Japanese, I can't stand how bad these people dub them....you'd think that after so many years now that they'd know better and do a better job.....but even then....it still wouldn't be the same. @Lauren - that is mental, take it you were having a lot of fun that day then Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 8, 2014 Accidentally finding one of three 'musical' roads in Japan. A bit of a shock this one! 2 Stevo and Keethos reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Lauren 2259 Report post Posted August 8, 2014 All the 86 Style at Fuji Speedway coverage. 370 pics so took me all day to sort out. http://laurenblighton.blogspot.co.uk/2014/08/86-style-at-fuji-speedway-3rd-august.html If there's any styling ideas people want, it's all here! 2 Keethos and GT86-Ian reacted to this Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
