K&K Clubman's Meeting at Tsukuba

Since I have been in Japan, I have had the opportunity to cover all sorts of events at Tsukuba Circuit. I have seen everything from time attack cars trying to break the course record to pro drifters sliding through the track's tight corners in tandem. While that stuff is quite impressive, seeing and hearing a full grid of about 30 vintage micro cars come through the esses and into the first hairpin is something that it is hard to beat for the sheer spectacle of it.

The event where I witnessed such spectacle was the K&K Clubman's Meeting held on February 10th on the full course at Tsukuba. The meeting is held by the Arugo Gate car shop and is gathering of kei-class race cars with engines that displace under 660cc's. The event's races include a formula car class and a turbo class. The highlight of the event, however, is the 360cc stock and open class races. This where a variety of vintage JDM micro cars take to the track for some action that might not be blazingly fast, but is quite fun to watch and competitive nonetheless.

When it comes to classic Japanese microcars Honda is probably the first maker that comes to mind. Indeed, the cars from Soichiro's company held the majority of the spots on the grid. The Honda's included N360's, Z's, and early Life models in varying states of modification. There was everything from fully stock cars to race cars that had been cut into open roadsters.

This N360 was one of many at the event. While the power levels may not be high, a lot of the cars were purpose-built track machines with high grip S-tires, gutted interiors, roll bars and heavy engine tuning.

Honda Life from Freedom Craft Racing.

Honda Z being prepped for the race session.

Of course Honda's weren't the only cars at the event. This race-ready Suzuki Fronte Coupe was one of several.

How often do you see Subaru 360 wagons in general? How about one at circuit?

Now some on track action-

The field rounds the Dunlop Corner at the start of the race.

RS Watanabe-wearing N360.

Note the "Type R" badge on this Honda Z.

Throwin' her into the corner.

N360 on the front straight.

Open-top Honda Z racer.

Before this event, I wasn't too familiar with the classic kei racing scene in Japan. I was amazed at the craftsmanship and effort that are put into these fairly rare models. Even more impressive was the fact they are driven hard on the track, wheel-to-wheel with no holding back. There are a lot more photos in the gallery, take a look at them right here .

Comments

[TADO]

awesome article! really enjoyed the pics - thanks a lot!!

[AJ Phelps]

thats great coverage, i love kei car events!

[Josh / F/M Tuning]

Amazing! What's really funny is this reminds me of the SCCA VW Rabbit class here in the states except 10,000x's better, lol.

[Michiel]

Fantastic! I enjoy all your photos of old Japanese cars but this is brilliant, makes me want an N360 even more now.

[noelski08]

Deng! those wheels are so small...some of them are really old school. i see them on corollas...

[noelski08]

Deng! those wheels are so small...some of them are really old school. i see them on corollas...

[JayHundred]

Up until I started reading your blog, the classic car scene, for me at least, consisted strictly of european and american marques. But now when I open your blog and there's some stripped-out Nissan with flared wheelarches tuned by a tiny garage in Osaka hurtling down Tsukuba's main straight, I gotta laugh. It's a whole new side of JDM tuning that I was previously unaware of and it's AWESOME. And posting your classic ride up in Daikoku is way cooler than on some manicured lawn in Pebble Beach.

[shopa]

I have invented a way to get Kei Cars safe enough to come into the U.S.

www.safersmallcars.com Please help me.

[shopa]

Many Americans want low cost, fuel efficient cars.

Kei cars are a special class of cars in Japan. They are limited to an engine size of 660cc and have vehicle size, but not weight, restrictions. They are made by many different Japanese car companies and they are mature designs that are reliable, and get up to 60 mpg. They can cost less than $10,000.

If these cars were converted to hybrids, they might get 100 mpg.

However, they can't be driven in the U.S. because they can't meet U.S. crash test requirements.

I believe that adding my crumple box invention to a Kei car will allow it to pass U.S. safety requirements. Then it could be driven in the U.S.

Some American auto companies have ties to Kei car manufacture. They could make these cars.

Please help me promote this idea.

See my website www.safersmallcars.com

[henky]

saya dari indonesia igin bergabung dengan rekan rekan yang ada di japan

[jangkung]

help me,
I devotee honda live 1971
i have honda live 1974, but I do not know about honda live

thank you

[cervoclubchile]

Hello I call andres have a club of cervo in chili. Our web is www.cervoclubchile.cl I divide congratulating on your car this expectacular. and the time inviting you to that us envies photos of your car to raise them to our page and they admire the phenomenal thing that one sees..
Regards....