Even Although I love Japan and plan to be here for the rest of my life, I am well aware of how different Japanese culture of mine is. The fact that it is so different means that it is virtually impossible to fully assimilate here.
That does not mean that it is a bad thing. However, what it means is that people may find it a challenge to be part of a community, and being part of a community is vital for people. If you think of milestones in life, they are generally celebrated with your community, both friends and family.
One of our goals for Fuji Select is to become this community for its members – to be there to celebrate the highest of the highlights and to offer support and guidance during the lows.
At the age of today, where it feels like everyone is only on their own, and communities made for enthusiasts such as you and I constantly fall through the road to companies, Fuji Select De Kantel picks up. Because of this dedication to the community, it is that I felt the need to share their story.
The vision
Fuji Select is the vision of me, my wife and my two best friends, who are a name looking for our car Shenanigans and ever -increasing enthusiasts community.
We spent countless hours with the local touges around the foot of Mt.fuji, so the brand name. From there we started to concentrate our efforts on becoming a little more like a car/driving/lifestyle. As I said before, one of our goals is to concentrate on the community.
The other goal is to give enthusiasts, in particular under -represented communities, an opportunity to ride on the right track.
Of course everyone is welcome to become a member of Fuji Select whether they love driving and being decent people. As an Afro -Marikan who lives in Japan, I have the feeling that I have an extra responsibility to ensure that people of color, women and other minorities get a chance as I have. This also includes Japanese people.
After I have spent more than ten years of my life in Japan, I feel this in my core. You said someone is welcome to participate as long as they like to ride and be a decent person. Selects Fuji for what friendly Loving you? What if I want to participate and float loving?
We have members who like to slide and concentrate on driving around floating, but I would say that the vast majority of our members are grip drivers. Open wheel driving, time attack and driving in the mountains.
Looking at the future
This leads well to our “big, hairy, daring goal” of a day that becomes a fully -fledged racing team that supports the enthusiastic community.
I want us to compete in events and different racing series in Japan, such as Super FJ, GR86 One Make and Tsukuba Time Attack, to name just a few.
We have members who are incredibly well informed and experienced in various areas of Motorsport. Members who concentrate on ECU tuning. Members who concentrate on coordinating the suspension. Members who design, and members who run keys.
Nik Romano, the founder and CEO of FastA driving school based in California that teaches their students absolute vehicle control at the borders on the right track. Nik is also part of the Fuji Select community.
To be honest, I would like to have the opportunity for our members to participate in every series in Japan.
Do you think you are close to your goal?
Not exactly, thought that if we were there, it would not be a big, hairy, daring goal. In terms of track day opportunities, Fuji Select is currently organizing a track day event every quarter. We help other events, such as the growing up of Tani from Final Konnexion’s 407 GRIP/Drift Matsuri in the next 4 June.
We want to come to a point where we can organize an event every month.
It’s in the family
This may seem a bit of a detour, Brandon, but how did you come into cars in the first place? Why did you become the car enthusiast you are today?
My grandfather worked at General Motors for 30 years and constantly had something fast and loud. It should not be surprising that my father also loves cars.
Like many of the readers of Spiderhunters, I grew up playing games such as the need for speed, Grand Turismo, Initial D and Tokyo Xtream Racer.
So, growing up around cars, witnessing how it brought people with different backgrounds together to become lifelong friends, and this coordination culture of games and magazines meant that I was destined to live in Japan and be involved in the autoculture in some form.
How did you settle for the GR86?
I have had around 20 cars so far, ranging from GT-RS to FD2s. The GR86 has packed the best with my needs and driving style. I can attack a technical track, sail around without being uncomfortable, and it’s fun in the mountains.
A Miata would also check these boxes and is a fantastic platform. However, I have a small child, so the small rear seat in the GR86 is perfect!
Ah! I have two little ones who like to ride in Project Rough, I understand that having a rear seat is a requirement. Thank you for taking the time to spend time with us and to share more about Fuji Select. Hopefully next time I can get Project Rough Out on track during the next event!
No problem, Ron. Yes, we would like you to run during our next event! They can reach me on @saunders_racing.
The floor of the cutting room
