TAS Week 2024: RWBs Take Over The Arduous Rock Cafe

It’s honest to say that Tokyo Auto Salon is the basis of most automotive tourism in Japan, and the ensuing meets surrounding it in January definitely make for a busy, but thrilling month.

First up this yr was RAUH-Welt Begriff’s annual New Yr Celebration – or extra particularly the RWB Automotive Assembly that precedes it – held on the Arduous Rock Cafe in Roppongi on Thursday night earlier than TAS 2024 kicked off.

You might need observed not too long ago that the Porsche 911 has seemingly re-established itself as a pop-culture icon. 964s are being utilized in vogue commercials and even the model new 992 GT3 is making its approach into conversations with buddies you didn’t even know had been into vehicles. I’m certain that’s partially the motive why the crowd at this yr’s RWB meet was unfathomably giant; the opposite is the actual fact a lot of persons are on the town for TAS.

I’ve attended this occasion for a few years now and it’s all the time breathtaking seeing so many wide-bodied 911s in a single place, and nearly all the pieces from early-model G-body coupes to 997 cabriolets.

Because the years press on, we’re beginning to see fairly a couple of RWB 997s – a comparatively new providing from Nakai-san – within the combine. Whether or not you want them or not, they’re definitely a refreshing addition to the RAUH-Welt Begriff lineage. There have been a couple of flavours at this assembly.

I used to be delighted to see a few slender physique 911s amongst the group too, lovely in their very own proper however serving as a obvious reminder of how vast these RWB Porsches proceed to get.

And naturally, it wouldn’t be a central Tokyo automotive meet with out some sort of police presence. While the group continued to develop, a number of officers noticed from afar, paradoxically taking part in into the well-established RWB outlaw tradition.

With seemingly no clarification, this truck was sitting out on the principle street – an attention-grabbing sight contemplating this 997 has license plates and the ethos of this assembly – coaxing RWB house owners into driving their vehicles out within the wild.

RWB 911s are identified for dividing teams of lovers, however irrespective of which approach you have a look at them, they’ll all the time be very polarising vehicles. Having seen a number of of those assault the Motegi Twin-Ring circuit is proof sufficient that no less than a handful of them get pushed the best way their aero suggests they must be.

As a lot as I do benefit from the RWB assembly, it was a easy, white AE86 that made me the happiest to see. Again in January 2019, I visited Japan and this RWB meet for the primary time, taking a photograph of this actual Levin, on this actual location. Quick ahead 5 years, I’m again, in my very personal AE86 alongside the identical white automotive. This was presumably essentially the most full-circle and rewarding second of my time in Japan to this point.

One other nice yr of RWBs in Tokyo, and even higher to be again on the Arduous Rock Cafe in Roppongi after a short time away. If this meet will get any greater, maybe subsequent yr a fair greater venue could also be a necessity although.

Alec Pender
Instagram: noplansco