I’ve been intending to create a post covering another old MSC or D1SL competition, but those take forever to write, and I just haven’t had the time lately. However, I do want to keep sharing stuff from my archives, so enjoy these pictures (and minimal narrative) from a random NK Company soukoukai (practice meeting) held at Bihoku Highland Circuit in 2005.

It’s fairly common for popular shops to rent out a circuit for the day every year and invite all their customers and friends to come and drive. NK Company did it multiple times every year.

The turnout for these was never as big as a competition day, but I’m sure Kawakami always made his money back.

I’ve been to practice meetings where less than a dozen drivers show up. Turnout for NK Company events was always pretty healthy. The blue S14 on the far left belongs to Itakura from H.D.O (Hydraulic Drift Oldies) who has competed in MSC and D1 Grand Prix.

The term “support driver” is something you hear quite frequently around drifting in Japan. Sometimes it refers to a full sponsorship. However, in most instances it means a shop helps drivers out with good deals on parts (sometimes free stuff) and maintenance. That was the case with Yakushiji’s S14 pictured above, which ran NK Company’s “K’s FRP Factory” aero. Also, how good are chrome CST Zero-1s? I miss those wheels.

Back in the days before bricks were a million dollars, it was fairly uncommon to see triple projectors on an S13. They’re never not going to look weird to me. Probably common knowledge, but the bricks only came on the early CA18 powered S13s. They later got the dual projects, and when the SR20 models were introduced so were the triple projectors. It’s fitting how the best headlights came on the S13s with the best motor…

FDs were also fairly uncommon. With S13s and S14s being so cheap and easy to drift, an FD was an expensive choice that was challenging to drive and maintain.

I’ve always really like the JZZ30 Soarer, and I’ve noticed some really cool ones popping up in the US lately. I’ve forgotten the name of the red one above, but he was an Eau Rogue support driver and eventually drove in D1GP. Eventually he showed up at Bihoku with a full livery by RYO.

This NA-Works kitted AE86 was almost neon yellow. I can’t recall the owners name, but he attended most of the events in the area. Big fan of those Rays Gramlights 57C as well.

Kitashiba’s very stylish 180SX. He was always one of the top drivers at Bihoku. These days he’s graduated into the big leagues and drives an 800HP 2JZ powered GSE20 for Sunoco Goodyear Racing in D1GP.

Kawakami’s wild S14 Silvia. This isn’t the same one Yusef from Thrash Racing recently purchased. I’m not sure if this one is still around or not. More pictures of it can be found here.

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again, Fukuda’s S14 will always be my favorite. More pictures of it can be found here.

It doesn’t get much cleaner than his Onevia on XT-7s. Origin needs to bring back silver carbon. Maybe they have and I haven’t been paying attention.

Has there been an S13 so close to looking amazing?

Hmmm, maybe it was the angle of the last picture? Definitely better for the rear…

This R32 was pretty impressive, and this was the only time I’ve even seen it. I know A-Bo-Moon made the sedan pretty iconic, but I’ve always preferred the 2-door.

Orange can be a hard color to pull off. If the shade isn’t right, I just can’t get into it. This one is spot on, and this might have been one of the best looking R32s I’ve come across.

The engine room was pretty impressive too. The RB has been dumped in favor of an SR20, which in itself was pretty common even back then. However, the build level with all the custom fab work stood out.

A black onevia on Buddy Club P1s is a nice combination. Nothing crazy here, just aero, coilovers, boost-up SR20 and 2-way LSD.

A kouki S14 Silvia running, what looks like, full Uras aero. I can’t tell these kits apart half the time so I could be wrong.

The NK Company S15 was mostly a show car, but it’s spent some time on the track. This is the wild one that had LCD screens molded into the carbon fender tubs in the engine room.

Work XT7s in the MWB finish might just be the best wheels of all time. I think I’ve probably said that before.

Nice lineup.

I’m running out of shit to say… This picture has a lot of cool in one shot.

Bihoku has one of the best track queues.

Someone went off track so everyone went out with brooms to clean up on the gravel/dirt that made it on the track.

Let’s wrap it up with, what might be, the best picture I’ve ever taken. I’m going to throw in a little bonus gallery below of other pictures from the event. Thanks for joining me on this adventure! That sounded weird. Thank you, come again. Nah, weird too. Uh… thanks for reading. That works I guess. Whatever.