The key to building a high-performance wheel is actually a complicated process. From start to finish, we walked through every part of the manufacturing plant, and from melting down raw materials to the powdercoating room, Enkei runs a solid game plan. It sure impressed the hell out of me. Though it's well known for producing cast wheels throughout the years, it has recently introduced the MAT process, also known as Most Advanced Technology, which uses a combination of both cast and forged technologies to produce lightweight racing wheels that share many of the same properties of forged wheels but at a cheaper cost. Also, the MAT process makes its debut with the redesign of some of Enkei's more popular cast series in the RS+M, RP03, RPF1, NT03+M, and the ES Tarmac.
From the outsider's viewpoint looking in, anyone who's employed by Enkei has a pretty sweet deal. Not only are you responsible for delivering some of the hottest wheels to the tuner market, but the actual work environment kicks ass, too. Did you know that each staff member is required to recycle materials used in the factory to create art? And covering nearly every square inch (well, maybe not that much, but there is a lot) are plants/flowers/miscellaneous vegetation from around the world? You see, Enkei's CEO, Suzuki-san, believes in providing his workers with a refreshing environment to work in. We at Primedia would be lucky if they rid the floors of cockroaches and changed the air filters for the ventilation system every now and then.
Great, seven more people who can drive better than us.
"Look at me with this helmet on. My head's almost as big as Jonny's."
"Remember, try to run over that Taiwanese dude from Super Street if you see him on the track."
"You see, when I click here, it goes directly to the Charmaine Star Web site."
Lowered and raised in a matter of seconds. Got it? Good.
The Aftermath: Breakin' It Off In Japan Super Street Style
There's hardly anywhere that we can go without causing a ruckus. It's a curse, trust us. Things just happen to get crazy when we're around. This time around wasn't any different. But then again, what can you expect when we have ikki Ricky representing us in Japan for an entire week. And it's not like we're at the track the entire time. It also didn't help that every dinner included "all the juice boxes you could drink." From karaoke clubs to hot springs, we hit em' all up. Besides, we're in Japan. Who needs to sleep anyway? We do enough of that at the office.
If you ever visit the Ramen Museum, make note that this cutout doesn't have an ugly mustache on it. That belongs to Tein's very own Senr Chavez.
Big boss man Mr. Fujimoto and his Mexican sidekick Philippe Chavez.
Mr. Fujimoto is looking a little red around 3 a.m. Must have been all that sun we got in the lounge downstairs.
Karaoke clubs all over the world better watch out; we're tone deaf!
Poor Philippe couldn't hang with the Super Street life. Maybe he should just stick to cleaning windows.
Power House Amuse body pieces and Ti exhaust make for a 287-pound weight reduction. Too bad Tanabe-san can't make a lightweight head for Jonny.
Suddenly, your carbon-fiber hood ain't all that anymore.
"You want me to make a lightweight head for who? No way, his noggin is way too huge."
The Touge Monster: able to kick the crap out of the Cookie Monster.
Jonny would translate this for you, but he hasn't gotten that far in Japanese class.
I better finish designing this wheel before I start looking at Charmaine Star's Web site.