When you’re the kind of individual to have a pastime, obsession or ardour, then you definately’ll know all too nicely simply how a lot time this stuff take up. On the very excessive they are often all-consuming fevers that occupy each waking second of 1’s existence.

Automobile obsessions are a few of the most crippling. Simply attempt including up what number of hours you spend serious about, tinkering with, and driving your cash pit. Now, think about attempting to take care of that dedication to your pastime whereas working a busy Tokyo roastery and café on the similar time. I believe we’d all discover ourselves drowning in a sea of truthful commerce espresso beans earlier than we even began searching for our automobile keys.

So you would most likely think about Yoshiaki Shimada‘s delight when his son Masaki developed a eager curiosity for rotary-powered vehicles. Yoshiaki-san – the present proprietor of the RE Amemiya Tremendous GReddy 8 RX-7 – may now deal with his enterprise, CafeAiR, whereas residing semi-vicariously by his son’s personal Mazda journey.

To be truthful, it was inevitable for Masaki-san to change into a rotor-head. Earlier than Yoshiaki-san was a profitable enterprise proprietor and arabica bean roaster extraordinaire, he spent many late nights out on Tokyo’s highways having enjoyable in one other wild FD3S.

Twenty years in the past, Yoshiaki-san additionally participated in Japan’s model of the Cannonball Run – as organised and documented by Video Possibility – which was contested on a bit of the Tomei Expressway in between two fastened pace cameras. You may relive a few of that motion right here.

Did you notice the GReddy 8 within the video? When Yoshiaki-san took possession of the ex-RE Amemiya demo automobile, the RX-7-based custom-kitted speedster nonetheless wore the enduring sizzling pink paint seen on its debut on the 1999 Tokyo Auto Salon. He ended up respraying the Mazda white, however when Masaki-san bought his off-white FD3S RX-7, it appeared nearly as good a time for Yoshiaki-san to return the GReddy 8 to its well-known hue.

Each vehicles have a time capsule high quality about them, as if they’ve been locked up in a late-’90s/early-’00s Japanese tuning store and left untouched for 20+ years. That’s largely true of Yoshiaki-san’s automobile, and in some methods additionally of Masaki-san’s Mazda, as his was modelled off one other well-known Japanese tuner RX-7 from again within the day. I’m, in fact, speaking concerning the legendary 327km/h Scoot Sports activities FD3S.

Whereas Hidekazu Koseki at Scoot in Yokohama takes care of each vehicles right this moment, the GReddy 8 retains most of its authentic gear, together with RE Amemiya’s ‘AC987′ {custom} bodywork, Porsche headlights (though now later-model projector variations) and Belief TD06-25G turbo-equipped 13B good for 400PS. The engine has had a Scoot rebuilt in Yoshiaki-san’s possession, and the bonnet, rear spoiler, suspension and muffler are all up to date Scoot Sport items.

When Dino noticed the automobile again in 2015 it had been fitted with some aftermarket BBS wheels, nevertheless it’s now again on the unique RE Amemiya AW-7s seen in its ’99 Tokyo Auto Salon spec. All is correct on the earth.

Visually, Masaki-san’s RX-7 seems to be loads like Koseki’s Scoot automobile – from the distinctive equipment with added rear wheel spats (supposedly good for an additional 5km/h on the prime finish for Koseki’s authentic automobile) to the Enkei NT03 wheels and Stack digital sprint show.

Below the hood, Masaki-san’s FD3S runs a Scoot-built 13B side-port with a jumbo Belief T78-33D single turbo and flat-mounted intercooler. Tuned by a Hyperlink engine administration system it makes a strong 550PS.

It will probably put that energy down too, due to chassis and suspension setup advantageous tuning carried out by a buddy of Yoshiaki-san’s at Autopolis Circuit in Ōita Prefecture.

The widespread love that father and son share for rotary tuning was heartwarming to see firsthand, and an inspiration to all. Hobbies are greatest shared, and as seen right here, they’ll carry buddies and households even nearer collectively.

I wish to give a giant due to Yoshiaki-san, who took the time to satisfy me for the shoot with Masaki-san after an extended day spent roasting beans and brewing coffees.

Toby Thyer
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