22 years ago. Standing in front of Maekens 86 at D1 Irwindale. It was the first time all the drivers brought their “real cars” over and showed America (and the world) what a professional drifting event really was. I’m only 16 in this pic and the fashion is very 2004 (HYPHY MOVEMENT) 😂
But still, these were the guys from the videos!! The magazines! The real legends in the flesh and they were the nicest to everyone, even with my limited Japanese!
The following year, Maeken would be sponsored by Thrash Racing, and 14 years later, I’d restart the company and meet with him again. But at that time in this photo, I had no idea what my future held. I thought 30 was old 😂
Anyways, never count yourself out and life is long as hell (if it allows it to be). Time to pack seats.
Studio time with @earhammer510 for the third full length has been booked in for April. This will be our first time in a studio and having the local legend handle it will definitely give these songs the breath of life (or death) they deserve. We also have one show planned for 2026 with some absolute demons. More on all of that when the time comes.
Just realized it’s been ten years since I set my mind to moving to Japan. The early days with @stackedexports_inc were real fun and every day at work was full of surprises (good and bad haha). I feel like my Japan life had three stages - the early days with Stacked/Wolfreign, then the early Thrash Rebirth, and now, whatever you wanna call it haha. Sometimes I was so broke or my card didn’t work that I had to ask my work mom Keiko for help. We’d often go out to dinner and just forget the stresses at work and let the beers pile up! I really appreciate that and how everyone accepted me as the comedic relief degenerate I was haha. I wish I could post more cause I know I’m missing some folks, but these are some good ones from 2015-16. Also happy I could bring over some of my friends in the early days to see what was going on. Cars and parts were still affordable and abundant. It was tough, but worth it! Part 2 soon ☺️
Back in Japan after completing the biggest task I promised to Fukuda back when restarting Thrash. He finally got to drive his remade 180SX and be back in front of the crowd in USA. What made it even better is that Bai and Tomoya got to join in on the fun. I think these are some of the best guys to bring along as they love interacting with the fans here. Taking photos, signing goods or just talking (even if they don’t speak the same language) is something they always made time for. On top of that, they were important figures in my early drifting life. Bai being at my first event, with Tomoya being in the first video. Safe to say it was a success 💪🏽
I thought with the event being done, I’d be able to focus on the new shop and making more new seats etc…but I got a message about a few other drivers who may want to make their return for the next Thrash Day… So the work continues 🦔 Onwards!!!!
A special note - when Fukuda saw the Thrash bomber jackets he said “Okiyama (old thrash boss) used to always always always wear one of these! This brings it all back!” 🥲
Promised him if he graduated high school I’d bring him to Japan. So I did.
From scaling the TV shelf like cliffhanger and rocking out to Cathedral solos to dropping sushi and missing photo ops.
Got this @officialbcrich Stealth a year or so ago but had to put it under the knife to get it how I want it. Changed the color from black to red to be the 7 string counterpart to my trusty star. Went with a Dimarzio combo instead of the EMG’s . Added pick up rings and a little custom routing to suit them. Changed all the hardware from black to chrome for that pop ✨
Stoked to work on the new @rudedeathmetal with this thing
#bcrich #bcrichstealth #rudedeathmetal
Finished the long drive back home to California from @finalbout . Time to get this new guitar put together, handle this incoming container and head back to Japan to help plan the next adventure for friends here at home and abroad.
So glad I could help my childhood hero’s once again. I watched these dudes drift video’s literally every day on repeat to the point of annoying my friends and girlfriend at the time. I just wanted to be in Japan in those days so bad and be part of the group. A little late but we can truly call each other friends now 🥲 thanks for this killer impromptu pic @theryanlopez
#finalbout #bwest #originlabo #carshopciel #thrashracing
20 years ago at the first D1 at Irwindale and then yesterday at @finalbout 6. 🏁 💫
Bai is the reason stylish drift cars exist. He brought one of the most well executed and iconic drift cars to Final Bout this year. And while it dropped jaws during the pre party with all of the tiny details, paint and bodywork, I think it really shined during the driving. Such a good looking car driving so well (and fast 💨) with a bunch of longtime friends. Hopefully I can send my car out for the next one ☝🏽
Highlight for my was riding with Bai after he got hit. It flipped a switch in him I think 😆 That was probably the most exciting chase run I’ve ever been a part of (indirectly), and I’ve ridden with a lot of very good drivers but nothing matched the car control he used during that run.
Once we returned to the pit, everyone was like “how the hell did he make the car move like that!” 30 years of driving really well set up, not overly built cars will do it. Legend
Thank you to @ggsimba for all you did and continue to do! Glad you got to check off your bucket list goal of driving with Bai. Added bonus of driving THAT car 😂
#finalbout #bwestco #originlabo #thrashracing #garagethrashracing
