夏本番 炎天下の埼玉自大イベントへ
- AMAZONと仲間達
- by suna
- 2011/07/10 日 22:49
7月10日（日）鬱陶しい梅雨が明けた灼熱の太陽の下、「・１２２」ＡＭＡＺＯＮは埼玉自動車大学校の「AUTO JAMBORE2011」に行ってきました。埼玉自動車大学校は、クラシックカーラリーの「線踏み」セミナーも開催されるテストコースも充実した自動車専門大学。今回は、４０年来のお付き合いとなるパリ・ダカール日本人初挑戦者で私とも世界中を走り回った自動車環境評論家、エコ冒険家として活躍する横田紀一郎さんと、やはり、３０年来の友人で日本のカースタント界の草分け的ドライバー大友千秋さんとその仲間たちが、「環境とクルマの共生トークショー」、「交通安全カースタント」を行うということで、ご一緒した次第。「・１２２」ＡＭＡＺＯＮは、会場入り口となるメインロビー前に、オーストラリアを走破した横田紀一郎さんの「プリウス」と共に、新旧クルマ文化を象徴するかのように展示され、７０００人もの入場者をお出迎え。校舎や実験棟などでは、数々の催し物が行われ、テストコースには２００台以上の国内外ヒストリックカーがずらりと並びました。ヒスリックカーは、圧倒的に国産車が多いものの、懐かしい車も多く、「トークショー」の合間を縫って青春時代にタイムトリップを楽しむことが出来ました。「交通安全カースタント」では、ＴＶ映画撮影用の「本物そっくり」パトカーを交えて、オートバイのスタントと軽４輪の「片輪走行スラローム」など、その昔の「スタントカーショー」を想い出す楽しい演出で会場は大いに盛り上がりました。真夏日のＡＭＡＺＯＮドライブは、過酷そのものでしたが、オーバーヒートもせずに無事帰還。「・１２２」ＡＭＡＺＯＮは」、この真夏の猛暑は避けて、９月のクラシックカーイベントシーズンまでは、また地下駐車場でじっと待機、ということになりそうです。
On Sun July 10th, just when the rainy season finally let out and the scorching sun unrelentlessly shining, I drove with my .122 Amazon down to Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology for their Auto Jambore 2011. This institute actually has a seminar to instruct people how to go about the classic car rally time challenge. I was joining an old acquaintance from about 40 years back - Kiichiro Yokota - the first Japanese to challenge the Paris-Dakar race and also famous motor journalist and eco adventurer. We were also joined by another old acquaintance who is one of the pioneers in stunt car driving in Japan - Chiaki Ohtomo. The two were participating in the talkshow"Coexistence of cars with the environment" and "Safe driving car stunt" show. My .122 was parked along side Yokota-san's Prius representing the car of the past and the future. 7,000 people showed up for the event and 200 historic cars partipated. Most of the cars were domestic cars but many of them brought back nostalgic memories and I was able to enjoy myself in and between the talkshow events. The car stunt show featured an "almost real" police car, a motorcycle along with a 4 wheel car during a 2 wheel slalom "wheely". Just like the old times. Driving my .122 under the tough hot summer conditions was an adventure but my .122 thankfully made it back to Tokyo without overheating. It will go back underground to avoid the summer heat until September's classic car season.
On Sun July 10th, just when the rainy season finally let out and the scorching sun unrelentlessly shining, I drove with my .122 Amazon down to Saitama Institute of Automotive Technology for their Auto Jambore 2011. This institute actually has a seminar to instruct people how to go about the classic car rally time challenge. I was joining an old acquaintance from about 40 years back - Kiichiro Yokota - the first Japanese to challenge the Paris-Dakar race and also famous motor journalist and eco adventurer. We were also joined by another old acquaintance who is one of the pioneers in stunt car driving in Japan - Chiaki Ohtomo. The two were participating in the talkshow"Coexistence of cars with the environment" and "Safe driving car stunt" show. My .122 was parked along side Yokota-san's Prius representing the car of the past and the future. 7,000 people showed up for the event and 200 historic cars partipated. Most of the cars were domestic cars but many of them brought back nostalgic memories and I was able to enjoy myself in and between the talkshow events. The car stunt show featured an "almost real" police car, a motorcycle along with a 4 wheel car during a 2 wheel slalom "wheely". Just like the old times. Driving my .122 under the tough hot summer conditions was an adventure but my .122 thankfully made it back to Tokyo without overheating. It will go back underground to avoid the summer heat until September's classic car season.
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