Hi everyobdy, this is my report from the March meeting I wen to during my trip to Japan.
I entered in contact with Miyoshi san, the manager of the March meetings thanks to our member McKenzie. Thanks again mate !
Miyoshi told me they had a meeting not long time ago before I went, but that it was not a problem,he will make another one especially for me precising on his website there will be a french fan guest.
I was a little worried if people would come (japanese people are SO shy) but few days before the meeting day, he emailed me and told there will be 30 March ! The hype started there
The D day, Miyoshi san and his brother went at my friends location in his 1992 K11, and took us for a trip to Shiba, on a CAREST car park, a Nissan owned auto shop (he called and asked the shop before, so some car parks had been reserved especially for us). The weather was really bad (lot of rain) these days. But March were there for GOOD
And they kept on arriving, one by one, I was recognizing their engines sound A lot of K11 (Cabriolets
, Box
, Tommy Kayra) and some nice K12.
Some people were coming from long distances, some had took a free day at job in order to come, I was really honored. Everybody introduced himself and his March talking in the megaphone, including I, where I was from, what were my K11 specs etc, it was funny. Miyoshi brother, Akihiro did an impressive japanese to english translation, thanks to him !
After that, it was lunch time, we went to restaurants, in a ramen, with "all you can eat noodles", talking about March, delicious
Back from restaurant, with umbrellas unfortunately, it was questions time, I asked general questions, talked about Micra in Europe (I talked about many Micra club, including Micra org UK off course, explaining them I was obliged to make my shopping here because in France there is only crap diesel Clio/Saxo/random french crap parts, they laughed hard), that Micra wasn't really a "fashionable" car there, but we didn't care, they explaining me that in Japan neither, but it was considered as a fine, robust, cheap and reliable car they were loving, I guess it's an international shared feelings !
Few people even wanted to give me gift: March model kits ! I was honored but couldn't accept ! Very kind of them!
I explained them the difference between our Micra and their March like the boot, door handles, and that they have features/optional parts we never had. They explained me pre facelift were sold there until 97, I told them mine was a 98 prefacelift. On the other hand 90% of japanese cars are automatic gearbox, but there was at least 6 people with manual.
Then nearly everybody showed me their car in details, they shared informations with great pleasure; showing me inside interiors, engines bays, I've seen some terrific turbo setups:
some 1.6 engine swapped:
Some beautiful classy Tomy interiors:
Before leaving, I for coming and for their warm welcome, and asked them to keep on loving March, that is was important !
Goodbye dream team ! Thanks again to everybody who made this particulary day possible, we will meet again !