A while ago I spent some time in Japan. A few days following cyclists in the hills and lakes (more about that later) and a few days in Tokyo. I can tell you all about Tokyo but that would mean this blog post would be about 74 pages long so I’ll narrow it down to a few experiences. Starting with this one.
On my last night there, while trying to beat an upcoming jet leg when I get back. I had the luminous idea of not going to sleep until I was on the plane (at 12 am). Because Tokyo is one of the safest places I’ve ever been to I decided to grab a camera and roam the city after dinner.
I had a few stops to make, places I hadn’t seen. Like Tokyo Tower. Think Eiffel towers, painted red and white and just a little bit bigger. So I set Google Maps to the tower and set about walking. When I arrived, while it’s technically bigger than it’s Parisian cousin in a huge city like Tokyo it’s just dwarfed. When i was done looking up I looked down and my jaw just dropped to the floor. Because parked below, in the shimmering tower I saw a Prototype looking race car just parked up the curb. I spent a few days in Tokyo already and I know the Japanese like their cars. But this?
Coming up closer to it I recognised it was an Ultima Sports, the predecessor to the Ultima GTR. You can compare it to a radical, Pretty much a full on mid-engined prototype racer that happens to have plates on it. Next to it was couple and the guys standing next to it was the owner. I politely asked if I could photograph his car. We got talking. He open the doors, put on the lights. While shooting the conversation was still going.I told him I knew the Ultima because the GTR used to race in the Belgian GT Championship. The owner was baffled that I actually knew what it was and was enthused by my interest in his car. Just when I was about to shake his hand and continue my nightly roam. He quickly replied, you want to go for a ride? F*ck Yeah!!
A quick drive around the was crazy. The sheer drama one riding along in Tokyo in something that was essentially a race car with plates was a mind boggling experience.
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