Photo Diary: JUN experience

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OK. So with my work experience agreed, and plane tickets booked, I head out to Birmingham Airport UK.

Flying to Narita, Tokyo via Copenhagen. I havnt flown much in the past, but it was the most boring trip you could ever imagine.

Anyway, im not going to Japan to experience the flight. I land at Narita, and wander around a bit, and a bit more. Hmmm. I had agreed to meer Mr.Tanaka (owner of JUN) at arrivals, but I couldnt see anyone 'waving JUN flag' finalised.

Eventually a little stubby dude comes over and takes me home (with a bit of chat, oh and a JUN flag).

About 1 hours drive, and im pretty tired. I started to wake up a bit when I saw this:

Ive got the right stubby dude then!

The next day was a national holiday, so Mr.Tanakas son asked me if theres anywhere I wanted to go...... Super Autobacs it is!

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Mmmmm, stuff

The wheel that nobody dislikes:

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These wheels made my eyes hurt though!

Another shot of stuff:

Walking out, I hear the noise of airtools. So I go to investigate, and find the workshop!

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I wasnt sure if I should go in or not....... so I did!

Mmm 350Z

I felt a bit braver, so went over to the Evo:

Then another little stubby guy (I felt kinda tall for the first time whilst in Japan) came and told us to get out.

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Ok, enough of that.

On the way back, we drove around Tokyo for a bit. It looked kinda kickass so I took a pic. (Stupid C5 got in the way haha)

I looked over to my right and saw the Eiffel tower! WTF, right stubby dude, wrong country!

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I was really tired, and tomorro was work, so we headed back.

I woke up damn early he next morning! work started at 9 and I had to catch 2 trains and a bus to get there. The journey was all worth it when I got off the bus though:

This is JUN auto Mechanic in Irushima.

Shop floor of JUN Auto:

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They gave me a work suit, and introduced me to the mechanics. 2 or 3 could speak understandable English, which was nice .

As you can understand, on my first day of being there, I didnt run around with my camera. Which was a shame, since this was the only time the 2 Evos were at the place. They were racing in a 'Deamcar Club' event the coming weekend, so were trailered off on Wednesday, along with 2 mechanics.

After doing some basic jobs and cleaning things up, I was given a cusco LSD to fit. After that, I stripped down the gearbox from the Option 350Z (the bright orange one that got rolled in America).

A couple of days went pretty quick, and it was soon Friday. I was told to 'Take many pictures!'. So here we are:

A bunch of wheels (mainly volk and enkie)

A customers Supra:

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Looking into the paintshop, R32

And then a Boggo Impreza. 'What is a standard Impreza doing at JUN?'. Getting turned into a RWD D1 car, thats what! Using GTR driveshaft and box.

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View of the main section. The large space was filled with Evo

Need a gearbox?

Or even a project block?

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One of the nicest cars there, in my opinion, was with 240Z. Getting an RB26 aswell

It was getting a steamy inside, so I went to cool off. Damnit! Outside is even more arousing!

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Soon, they will play.

Amongst the pool of performance, one car stood out:

How much power? 'About 1000bhp' . What!

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The backyard was full of beasts. And then I turn around. I thought something was on fire.

1000bhp and 240ish MPH

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Oooh baby

I just couldnt resist getting a guy to take this picture.

I think the car suits me, maybe I should get it! Maybe I should get a job first.

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After I finished spoiling the bright paintwork of the Supra with my drool, I hear a growl. Wooo more toys!

I took a walk over to find out what was going on. A 1970s GTO, in a somehow discustingly cool green on the dyno.

Sweet.

It didnt sound like an old car though, so I went to the front.....

Deffinately not from the 70s! 2.5 Galant turbo motor.

[GunMetalR33]

thanks for all the pics, very interesting I love pictures

[CircusMonkey]

NICE write up .

Did they have many cars like the old GTO and 240z?

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The staff car park was pretty nice too! Silvias, GTRs, 86s. I took this picture:

And then one of the workers approached and asked. 'You know driting?'. After some talk about drifting he took me out in his black S15 (in the background of the prelude shot). And the guy was a nutter! Great fun!

Now, already slightly dizzy, and bruised from the ultra-stiff S15, the head mechanic waved some keys at me.

I followed him to the 200mile Supra and he sat down. Holy sh!t. 'Get in'. Didnt need to tell me twice!

Damn those seats were hard! And it became obvious that they were designed for people wearing helmets when we started driving along. The back of my head was so bruised after that ride, but I loved it. Half acceleration was crazy, full acceleration prevented you from breathing!

A very blurry shot of the workers and me

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The Saturday was spent shopping in Kichijoji. I didnt buy much, but the place was freakin awesome. And some how I ended up in the games arcade and wasted a couple of thousand on that damn Initial D version 3. Evil evil place, I couldnt leave.

Sunday I just walked around, finding places that sold western food, cheating I know.

Some pictures of the area:

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A Supra parked outside where I was staying. It never moved at all. I felt like offering to move it for him, Wangan maybe.

Oh, and the needed foreign sunset pic

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Heres a view of the display at JUN mechine shop. I was staying above it.

Then it started to get rainy. Really rainy! Infact, it made England seem dry.

And then I went to sleep. I woke up, and looked outside expecting it to be nasty. Sun! But then I looked closer and saw aload of broken fences and trees. Seems I slept through the typhoon! Im not the lightest of sleepers.