Birthday Gift to Myself...

got some new ink, late birthday gift to myself. my pal Jerred Kincaid took care of it for me, just filling in some room on my neck that i have been looking to take care of forever...

Parts are finally on the way.....

so i finally have some new toys on order. for once, not going to nuts, or at least as to what i usually do over a winter break for the car. i have always wanted this little part for my car, just have never been able to justify spending the money. but at this point, there isnt much of anything that i need for the car that isnt behind a huge price tag. $100 trinkets and bolt ons dont apply any longer once you have reached a certain level....

not that i dont wish i could still by a little part here and there that doesnt break the bank, just that most of them no longer apply to my set up lol....

so some real race parts on order from germany on one hand. and some replica Japanese Market wheels on the other....

more on the second half later...

wow, so yesterday marked 3 years of my build thread on VWVortex.com

So here are a few shots from over the 3 years of the build up...

and heres a link to the thread, still ongoing :)

VWVortex.com

some more random tattoo and artwork stuff....

well, i should start off this one with some reasoning? yes, i really do have "wheel whore" tattooed on my wrists. why, you ask? well, i am now over 20 different sets of wheels on this here same car. granted, thats over 7 years in time. but some i have only kept on the car long enough to test fit, customize, then to become unhappy with, and sell off. some for no more than a few days time, etc. and i used to be in the business of wheels and tires, so it made it all the easier i suppose as well. add in that it was tattooed by a girl i dated for a short time. who knows, tattooing "whore" on me might have been the downfall haha....

and my knuckles. the age old "hold fast"tattoo. been touched up 3 times by now, and needs another going over as i type this. considering enlarging the lettering this next time around. so who knows, might even try to have it re-done on my bday for a personal gift to myself..
and some meaning...

"Many “traditional” tattoos have their roots in the history and customs of sailors. The “hold fast” tattoo i have is extremely traditional. It has since been adopted by other tattooing subcultures, but the original intent was to prevent sailor’s hands from slipping on lines, or to secure yourself to the riggin’ when working aloft in weather. To many sailor-folk, the meaning of “hold fast” is obvious enough, but those whose ear’s aren’t trained to it, it might sound a contradiction."

and now the random. this was something done in boredom, while waiting for our dinner at Hoopers in Ocean City, Maryland. they lay out construction paper, and leave crayons for the patrons at every table. well, doodle away i did. and just as i finished, i was called away from the table for a bit. when i returned, the artwork was gone, having been ripped from the table by the infamous JKRATE for the JKREW household. still have yet to see what they ever did with it....

Hannya Mask Tattoo (Adam Chido- The Inktailor Tattoos)

So to lead of the "ink!" side of things here, i figure i would explain some of the more general meaning of some of my ink. maybe i will take some time to get more into some of the personal meaning as well, time allowing..


Hannya Mask Tattoo - The hannya mask is just one example of the many different types of masks used by the traditional Japanese actors of Noh theater. Noh performances are very stylized representations of traditional and well known stories, developed in Japan during the 14th century. The masks are used to convey the identity and mood of the various characters, who number nearly eighty in the different tales. The hannya mask is specifically used to represent a vengeful and jealous woman. Her anger and envy have so consumed her that she has turned into a demon, but with some important traces of humanity left. The pointed horns, gleaming eyes, fang-like teeth, combined with a look of pure resentment and hate are tempered by the expression of suffering around the eyes and the artfully disarrayed strands of hair, which indicate passionate emotion thrown into disorder. The deeper and more extreme the coloring of the face, the deeper and more violent run the emotions of the character. Tattooing takes full advantage of these fanciful and engaging images, often using them in larger pieces of Japanese work or sometimes juxtaposing masks of good and evil characters. Often a Noh mask will also appear in isolation, as a work of art unto itself, not unlike the actual masks which are highly prized and very collectible.

sorry, been busy on other fronts....

been doing what i can, where i can. got the subframe and control arms out for some new bushings etc..


and started cleaning up the fire wall so i can start making the pattern for the shielding


and one of these days i will get the motor to the shop..

:)

"Rape Vans" (Dajiban) are the HOT SHIZ in Japan

Saw this on another board. People have been asking what this is in the "2010 trends" thread, so I thought I'd make an appearance thread about it. I suppose it's like any other wacky JDM style (i.e. shakotan, yanky, vanning-zoku, Dekotora, etc), but I think this one is tits.
I first stumbled across this back in July on the Japanese RS Watanabe website in the "owner car" section.
It's been referred to as "Youga Base" style, "Hentai Vans", and a few other things, but apparently they just refer to their cars as "Dajjibans", or Dodge Vans. The Katakana to search for is "ƒ_ƒbƒWƒoƒ“".
If anyone finds any new blogs, sites, or images related to the Dajjiban thing, post them in here. I want moar.

The Basics:
-Dodge Vans (I've yet to see anything else, but maybe they don't get other American vans over there)
-Lowering
-Deep dish low-offset wheels (often 6-lug RS Wats, but I've seen Diamonds and others)
-White lettered tires
-minimalist interiors (CF, racing wheels, not typical van stuff, lots of period American stickers, very eclectic)
-V8 performance mods
They appear to be actually tracking these vans, which is absurd, but ****ing rad.
Here's the "Youga Base" blog site:
http://blogs.yahoo.co.jp/r_q_collectibles

Some of the images I've found (I've saved tons):






Trackday at Ebisu Circuit. Obviously didn't work out so well for everyone, lol.





Is this normal engine placement? Really this far back? I guess the hoods are so short..

Interiors




Suspension shots: (I wonder if it's the same "swift" that makes bike shocks)


The ubiquitous Youga Base tag:


I want this shirt so bad:

Again, people are probably going to hate this to death, but I thought it was something new. So JDM it's USDM, lol.
More pics:


Funny perv references/Engrish:


Olive drab makes it look like a transport vehicle from "08th MS Team" or something.


I have to look and see if the USDM vans have these same tails. Looks different for some reason.


Guy built a model of his van:


thanks to Space, via the Eurowerks.org enthusiast forums...