The vibrant city of Kuala Lumpur provided the scorching heat and humidity, but was SpeedFest 2024 capable of attracting sufficient customized Japanese automobiles to occupy a retired military airbase?
Situated in the heart of Malaysia’s bustling capital, KL Base served as the ideal setting for this ambitious occasion. Local residents shared that the unused airbase is set to undergo redevelopment soon, making this festival potentially a once-in-a-lifetime experience in this exceptional location.
Upon arrival, the impression was akin to driving onto a film set. The setting bore resemblance to the iconic ‘Race Wars’ scene from The Fast and the Furious, featuring endless lines of car-filled structures and numerous banners fluttering against one of the most remarkable city skylines in the world.
The location exuded a gritty, almost dystopian ambiance that flawlessly complemented SpeedFest’s grand aspirations.
The automotive industry and enthusiasts in Malaysia turned out in full force, showcasing everything from painstakingly restored vintage vehicles to cutting-edge supercars and even some astonishingly unconventional creations that caught me off guard. The juxtaposition of state-of-the-art technology against the backdrop of aged military structures added a surreal dimension to the event.
The unrelenting warmth and moisture were no match for the intense crowd’s excitement. It showcased the fervor fueling the Malaysian automotive scene.
The expansive airfield provided a distinctive backdrop few places could rival. The extensive runways were an ideal space for drag racing and drifting, while the grand hangars showcased some of the nation’s premier automobile constructions.
United as a Whole
Visitors from Japan brought a distinct flair to the occasion. Mixing with others, exchanging car tales, or even just clicking selfies with the original icons who spearheaded Japan’s customized automobile culture was a rare experience outside venues like Tokyo Auto Salon or select Japanese gatherings.
Prominent guests included Daijiro Inada, creator of Option magazine and Tokyo Auto Salon. Inada-san isn’t just a pioneer in Japanese car culture but also a figure who has significantly impacted global automotive trends.
Shoji Inoue from Star Road is the mastermind behind some of Japan’s most astonishing vintage resto-mods, notably his work on the iconic Datsun Z series. A partially restored Devil Blue 240Z was showcased in the primary hangar.
Sakamura-san from Garage Active exhausted his pen signing numerous scale models of his all-carbon R32 Skyline GT-Rs over the weekend. His pursuit to push boundaries and redefine the ‘perfect’ GT-R deeply resonated with local fans.
A unique ambiance was brought by these icons at SpeedFest, affording everyone the rare opportunity to socialize with some of the original Japanese domestic market scene trendsetters.
The event saw more than 1,000 vehicles officially registered across the exhibition, drifting, and drag sections. This is in addition to the numerous customized rides that found their way into the viewer parking lots.
A remarkable 50,000+ visitors passed through the entrances. Conversations were had with admirers from Malaysia, Singapore, Japan, Brunei, Thailand, and even the United Kingdom.
Hanging Out
Inside the vast hangar, the atmosphere was overwhelming, but here are a few attention-grabbing highlights.
A significant total of eight RWB vehicles created a tremendous impression. I struggle to recall witnessing such a large gathering outside of Nakai-san’s RWB New Year Hard Rock Tokyo Party back in 2018, surpassing even the initial RWB film screening in Melbourne in 2016.
Malaysia’s most recent RWB addition is this exceptionally wide 997. Finished just a few weeks ago, it marked the culmination of a mega-building spree where Nakai-san completed a total of six cars.
Teoh from RWB Malaysia, being one of the owners of Miyabi, Malaysia’s pioneering RWB vehicle, was present to offer a swift view of the remaining RAUH-Welt Begriff exhibit.
Moreover, within the hangar, there was an abundance of restored contemporary classics, luxurious European automobiles, racing vehicles, and more. Virtually all categories were represented.
Extra points for the delightful Panda passengers. I would be thrilled to witness one of these vehicles collide with a barrier at high speed while being captured in ultra-slow motion.
Among the remarkable cars were some distinctly customized rides, like this Honda Prelude featuring an entire bespoke carbon fiber bodykit fabricated by its owner, Kevin Lim. Carbon fiber also replaces a significant portion of the interior and floorpan.
There are evident design hints borrowed from renowned body kit manufacturers and conceivably even GT500 or time attack constructions.
A Garrett turbo assists in generating 300 horsepower from the modified H22A engine when VTEC engages, hey!
Another motor that grabbed attention was this Mazda 13B rotary engine. The remainder of the vehicle was also attracting quite a bit of attention.
We may have a plentiful supply of Nissan/Datsun Bluebird 910s in Australia, but none as unique as Rotosun, with its samurai-sword-wielding, R32-taillight-equipped, Japanese-police-liveried appearance.
While the showcase lacked many pure competition vehicles, the carbon Ginetta G58, tipping the scales just above 900kg and propelled by a 6.2-liter V8, drew admirers mesmerized by its intricate carbon fiber nuances.
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The assortment of vehicles, the meticulousness of the renovations, and the inventiveness in many of the projects were simply astonishing.
Observing these cars in motion surpassed the joy of seeing them parked. Fortunately, SpeedFest 2024 delivered that excitement as well. Part two of my coverage is coming soon.
Matthew Everingham
Instagram: matthew_everingham
matt@mattheweveringham.com
CraftLab showcased three iconic rally cars – a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution III, a GC8 Subaru Impreza WRX STI, and an ST185 Toyota Celica GT-Four. Despite all being replica rally cars, they made a fantastic addition to the exhibition.
The Surprising
This distinctive brick-built hot rod was an unexpected gem that caught my attention, and exploring its details inside and out was a true delight.
The local ‘Bricks’ group displayed two vehicles constructed almost entirely from brick-like Lego pieces, including functional doors, sound systems, gauges, and even LED lights. One of the cars modeled a life-size version of the popular economical car in the area, a Perodua Myvi.
