When it comes to attending car events, one’s experience is typically dictated by perspective. My overall enjoyment of an event commonly sees me experiencing said event from one of three lenses; that of a spectator, an entrant or an organiser.

Attending an event in the eyes of a spectator often requires minimal preparation. You get dressed, arrive at the event and enjoy it for what it is. However, I often find spectators as the most vocal bunch of the group. Spectators attend an event to see quality cars and if they have a good experience, they’ll praise the event but if something was lacking they’ll equally criticise the event with as much devotion.

Being involved in a car event from an entrant point of view arguably provides the most enjoyable of perspective. You’re with your car, you’re hanging out with fellow enthusiasts and best of all, you get a chance to meet and learn new things about your car or that of other’s – simply because you brought your car out to an event. Your car allows you to bond with like-minded devotees much more rapidly as opposed to if you left it at home.

Wearing an organiser’s perspective is the most stressful and heaviest of work compared with that of a spectator or entrant. But if you’ve asked anyone who’s organised a car event – whether it’d be a simple car park meet or full blown track day – you’ll often get told that the end result and outcome was well worth the stress.

I’ve been attending All Japan Day at Wigley Reserve since its inception in 2008. Thus far, I haven’t missed one event so 2018 marks my eleventh attendance. However, instead of attending as a spectator as I do most year, I decided to attend as an entrant with some good friends.

The Sahau – Team Extreme , or Sahau for short, is an Adelaide-based group of close friends who share a similar passion for Japanese sports cars and modifying style. Founded in 2003 and having been involved in the Adelaide car scene for well over fifteen years, the group has seen the evolution of Australia’s and Adelaide’s modified car scene from the good o’ll show days to what it is today. Adelaide Auto Salon 2006 was the last time Sahau entered an automotive show as a group, so some twelve years later in 2018, the boys decided to bring out a few cars for All Japan Day 2018. I used the occasion as an excuse to bring along my DC2R as well.

Thanks to a certain Victorian vehicle import loophole in the early 2000s, a few genuine examples of desirable Honda models snuck their way into Australia. Aside from the two or so authentic personal import examples which currently reside in this country, the only other legal way to own a EK9 Civic Type R is to purchase one which came in through this scheme.

The EK9 is an extremely rare sight in Adelaide. Despite originality being key for some EK9 owners, the owner of this example below begged to differ as after ten years of ownership, decided it would be nice to update some parts to keep the car fresh and exciting. A genuine Seeker V2 rear wing and Sergeant rear diffuser – complete with bellicose fins – were installed just for this event.

GT-R Cruising SA had a few of their member cars on display.

Lexus of Adelaide brought a trio of cars to the event. Presently, Lexus’s LC500 is one of the hottest chassis for tuners in Japan with most aftermarket companies having a demo-car at this year’s Tokyo Auto Salon. In addition to the LC500 pair, and to much surprise and delight of all those in attendance, Lexus of Adelaide also brought a client’s privately-owned LFA. It was surreal to be able to get up close and personal with one of the 500 ever made examples.

GT Autosound is one of the rare workshops which was established way back in the day and is still operating in 2018. Owners – George and Theo – have worked on some of Adelaide’s most elite show and performance cars and have owned some pretty nice rides in between them over the years. Their S15 drag car has been wearing a wide-body C-West body kit with Bayside Blue paint for as long as I can remember and has had a few different mechanical setups over the years, including being powered by a HKS T51R and running 8 seconds passes around the year 2007. It was SR22VET-powered back then and still is in 2018 but has had the HKS snail replaced with a Precision unit. Despite retaining the OEM SR20 alloy block, GT Autosound’s S15 is currently the world’s fastest s-chassis with a blistering 7.96 quarter mile record. Utterly insane.

I bumped into many familiar cars throughout the day including Howie and Adam’s IS F, as well as Steven’s EK Civic.

Due to having so much fun chilling out with friends and meeting new people, my camera was switched off for a large portion of the day. Therefore I barely captured any photos of the wider field on display. All Japan Day entrants were not allowed to leave the venue until after 3:00pm, and as I was an entrant, I felt that I was rewarded with a more vivid experience compared to if I just turned up as a spectator. It’s always fascinating to peer through car events with different perspectives in mind. When it comes to automotive events, depending on which perspective you’re coming from – whether that of a spectator, entrant or organiser – will determine the type of experience you’ll collect.