Tokyo Auto Salon.

Tokyo Auto Salon is an auto show that happens each year. It gives aftermarket component manufactures and tuners an opportunity to showcase their products. If you don't like, or are not interested in cars this post will not be for you.

Mike, Dan, and I headed down to Tokyo for the day. We arrived just at the start of the show. The show was split into two main sections. The larger of the two were the domestic market vehicles. The smaller were the imports (Jeep, Chevy, Ferrari, etc..) From 2-4 there was a D1 drift exhibition in the parking lot between the two buildings.

Four main tactics are used to draw attention to each companies booth.

1. The display of flashy or impressive show cars.

****We determined that the car below gets a perfect score on the pimptastic scale. The base was a high end car (Mercedes in this case), rims are >20" with low profile tires, long haired baby seal fur skin seat covers, and you just can't get any more bling on the exterior. The entire car was bejeweled. Therefore from now this car will be set as the coefficient of pimptasticity, all other cars shall be measured against it.****

2. Race/drift cars from famous motorsport series.

Brian, this one is for you.

3. Display walls to show the companies products.

4. crazy costumes

5. Celebrities (Here is Smokey from Top Secret)

It took me 4 times visiting the booth. He was hiding behind the booth in meetings. The security guards kept telling me to come back in 30 min. I think they finally got tired of me coming back. On the last try, the guard went behind the curtain, probably told smokey I was not getting the hint, and then he came out for the picture and immediately went back into meetings. He is a pretty busy guy I think.

6. Women are used to draw attention. (Here are some of the more classy models.)

It was actually a little crazy around the women. The men took the models very seriously and were also very determined to get pictures. On a number of occasions I was even pushed as men struggled for position to get the perfect photo. You can see a crowd below, the one guy brought his own ladder. I even saw men with cameras on poles so they could shoot pictures over top of the crowd.

Midway through the show there was a D1 drifting exhibition event in the parking lot outside. Many of the big names were there. It was really interesting to see and hear the cars in action. You really have to hear it in person to appreciate the sound of the engines.

At the show many companies hand out brochures and bags for you to carry around the pamphlets you get. I am convinced that the companies strategically use large bags so you will consolidate your items in their bag and then walk around advertising for them. Mike was proud of the one he received. It was big, and well made so he felt he could carry all his stuff in it.

As the show progressed we discovered that Mikes bag was also very popular with the ladies.

A few companies got in on the action with motorcycles.

Finally I will end the post with this picture. These were pretty big wheels on this car. I was never able to get close enough to figure out what size they are. If anybody can figure it out, let me know. I think they would look pretty good on the Diva.