Queensland Matsuri 2014

Queensland Matsuri 2014

by Gabriela Bolitho

Nelson Mandela once said that there is no passion to be found in playing small. If there is one thing I discovered while exploring the Queensland Raceway for Matsuri, it was that no one was playing small. Our introduction to the day was a Silvia parked up near the entrance to the event showing signs of defeat and looking a little worse for wear; what we later found out was a casualty of the previous days antics.

As we walked through the gates and headed for the track, we happened across countless teams huddled in their spaces – some looking quizzically at their vehicles, some looking like they had no cares in the world and others laughing and joking with each other like the family they were.

Behind the row of cars and across the bitumen were all the people who had come to spectate the event. Beyond was the track filled with the people who make this event what it is.

As we continued to tour through, we came across more teams working together in the garage as well as a guy who was the only member of his team. We walked in awe of all the vehicles at the event and, even more, their drivers. We witnessed some malfunctions, namely a driver having a domestic with his bonnet on the track and were lucky enough to watch the owner of LoLux drift ute tear up the track as well.

"Ladies and gents, that is not all at all. I picked the pictures that best illustrated Ms. Bolitho's eloquent words, but she took so many photos. Starting tonight in Japan time, I will be posting several mini posts featuring the photos she took at the event. I just want to give the biggest shout out to Gabriela and her boyfriend Louis, which both made this series of articles possible! Thank you so much, guys!"

-Dustin Mankin