VISVIM MOTORS CLUB

"Car Week"

A gathering to celebrate the passions of Car enthusiasts from all over the world

I currently live in the town of Carmel, California which I came to know after my first visit to "Monterey Car Week" a large historic automotive event that is held annually in August along the Monterey Peninsula.  It is a festival that draws classic car enthusiasts from around the globe where various exhibitions, gatherings, and showcases take place in different sites spread across the region engulfing the entire town in a joyous atmosphere.  The various venues are filled with people from all walks of life that can include executives from major automakers as well as your ordinary enthusiast.  It is a time when titles do not matter, and everyone can connect with each other as peers who share common values.  Drawn by the purity and passion during this time that takes precedent above anything else, I too look forward to this gathering every year. 

The appeal of vintage cars lies in the fact that their mechanical systems are much simpler than those of modern vehicles, giving one the sensation that they are truly in control.  When driving them you can feel the vibrations and sense the ground beneath you.  As the cabins are not completely sealed off you can feel the outside air seeping in.  I also really enjoy the unique sounds and smells.  I believe it is precisely because of these unique quirks that we grow so fond of these vehicles.

Last year we joined in on the festivities by hosting a VISVIM MOTORS CLUB event at the WMV VISVIM CARMEL store location.  Inside the shop we set up a miniature slot car racetrack (which is actually quite massive in scale) where customers could race toy cars and our staff donned matching MOTORS CLUB jumpsuits, joining in the excitement and having a great time hosting our guests.  The circuit's diorama was handcrafted by a friend of mine who is also a car lover.  The attention to detail is truly impressive, down to the model buildings, spectators, and tiny signage.  The event even allowed the adults to experience some nostalgia and momentarily return to their childhoods to have some fun amongst other enthusiasts. 

In fact, this time of year is usually when our family enjoys a brief summer vacation; however, participating in this festive gathering in a new way that was different from our usual routine and also having the opportunity to spend time with the visvim staff along with everyone else proved to be a truly delightful experience.

I want to share the power of pure passion

Among the many events held during Car Week, the Monterey Motorsports Reunion which takes place at the Laguna Seca Raceway stands out as it is a competitive race that features historic racing cars.  It is a true aspiration for enthusiasts to participate in this competition, and I have been fortunate enough to have an opportunity to participate in the race for the last two years. 

The people who compete in this race are often referred to as "gentleman drivers."  They are essentially amateur racecar drivers who pursue their racing dreams driven solely by a passion that remains pure, all while maintaining other full-time professions.  Of course, I have tremendous respect for professional drivers who compete in modern motorsports; however, there is something truly captivating, almost reminiscent of a "weekend hero" about those who race not for prize money, but simply out of love for the sport, tackling such inherently dangerous competitions with an unbridled passion.  I have participated in races in places like Japan and the UK, but when I finally had the opportunity to drive at Laguna Seca Raceway, it turned out to be a truly exciting experience.

In addition to the racing, we also set up a visvim booth inside the circuit.  We brought a large bus from the 1940s that was originally fabricated in the UK as part of our set up and also served drinks from Little Cloud Coffee while interacting with visitors who toured the racing venue.  The bus which was originally a coach bus built shortly after the war by a manufacturer named Foden was modified to carry a racing car and now acts as what is commonly referred to as a transporter.  It is designed exclusively for motorsports and is capable of carrying a race car inside of it.  These days racing cars are almost exclusively transported in rugged box like trailers, so in comparison the form of this bus along with all the little details presents a gentler design that is really very charming.  The paint job retains the feeling of its original aesthetic, with the addition of some graphic details like the "MOTORS" lettering that was hand-painted by a veteran craftsman who specializes in vehicle painting.  It was incredibly popular even with people just passing by the booth.  I was delighted to see so many visitors taking commemorative photos in front of our bus.

"VISVIM MOTORS CLUB" is a conceptual line of products born from a desire to express the pure, passionate feel and atmosphere surrounding motorsport through the medium of fashion.  Some items from this collection like the driving gloves, racing shoes, and jackets are clearly designed with vintage motorsport aesthetics in mind, but we certainly hope you can enjoy wearing these pieces not only for driving, but in a wide range of everyday settings as well.  The sight of seeing someone immersed in something and engaging with passion; this alone has the ability to fill those in close proximity with an unmatched excitement.  It would bring me great joy if we could spread that feeling more through the work we produce with this line. 

Text: Kosuke Ide

Photo: Keisuke Fukamizu

2026.08.10 Republished with revisions
2023.08.29 Original work published