2008 Tokyo Auto Salon

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The heat was intense—inside, at least. And I’m not talking about the temperature. Hell, it was pretty damn cold outside actually. It being January and everything. Doesn’t matter. One step inside the giant Makuhari Messe Convention Center and this year’s plethora of new cars on display was enough to make you feel all warm and tingly right where it matters. Tokyo, go!

Although the Nissan R35 GT-R was released in December here in Japan, that did not stop many companies from making and showing off new products for this big mutha’ of an event. Companies and tuners, like Mine’s, HKS, Yellow Hat, Fujitsubo, Sun Line Auto, Blitz, Endless CCR—to name a few—showed off their R35s and what made them stand-up from the rest. By far, the most talked about R35 was the custom painted Lambo Orange GT-R sporting Harrison original pieces which will be available soon.

There were quite a bit of new Evo Xs here as well. The one that dropped my jaw was the Mitsubishi Group N Rally Car Tarmac Spec Evo X... 4 huge rally type lights mounted on the bonnet just above the grille in a custom CF surround. Of course, you need to have a roof scoop as well, so they had one fitted. Not only that, it was gutted and roll cage fitted as well.

RE Amemiya had a full CF RX-7 on display in their booth as well; if I was to somehow become invisible amongst the crowd of jam-packed spectators and pull a Gone in Sixty, it would have been that one by far. The quality and craftsmanship on this car is unbelievable to say the least...

As usual, there were plenty of VIP cars, as well as a solid proportion of autos—sports, exotics, vans, VIP sedans—plenty of companies showing off the latest and greatest new products that are just out or that will hit the streets in the near future. Even in attendance was the Mach 5—yes, Speed Racer’s car—there, no doubt, helping to spread the hype for the Wachowski Brother’s live-action film coming out this summer. Still no word on why Racer X’s Shooting Star was absent...

If cars aren’t that main season to attend the TAS, then the girls certainly are. Let’s not fool around, as much as I love checking out what’s in store for the upcoming racing year, the girls are what keep on bringing me to back to TAS for seven consecutive years now. There’s plenty to ogle at here. Pumped up ladies nearly naked or wearing the shortest... *drool*... tightest skirts imaginable—the stuff wet dreams are made of.

Well, if neither cars or girls, or the sweet combination of the two, makes you want to come down to TAS, then I suggest you go get checked out by a professional mental health provider. Trust me, no matter how many pics and YouTube vids you see of this event, it does not come anywhere close to experiencing it in person. Next year, do yourself a favor. See you in 2009!

From the Land of the Rising Sun, I’m out.