Trent Grubel.

I feel that if I don’t do anything else at all this year I’m well satisfied. Might as well wrap it up, what a way to end the year!

Photos by Gina.

What an awesome week with Tanuki Racing. We’re emotional. Much gratitude to the entire team and everyone who came out to WTAC to support. Absolute elation. ZEN is back!

Spotted in the WTAC merch line. I designed this logo for ClubITR many years ago!

Awesome to see WTAC are still using the logotype I designed on official merch.

Hey Mark!

Serious business.

Lots of cars in the show n’ shine rocking the JDM Plates I designed for MyPlates.

Hey Lachy!

The lads!

Mad Mike.

Hana and G.

Not been to WTAC since… 2018?! It’s been a long time, and I felt so welcomed by so many old and new faces throughout the day. As usual I didn’t end up taking many shots, too busy yapping! But backing 2 horses in the race with Todd and Hana behind the wheel of the Tanuki cars was awesome. Todd topping the time charts throughout the day added a delectable tension!

Big energy, big day and we’re doing it all again tomorrow!

Awesome night last night at the ZEN EOMM Pre-WTAC Tanuki Party at Benzin Cafe in Dural. Turnout wasn’t huge, but quality over quantity and those who came got to check out the Tanuki S13 and meet Bathurst 1000 Winner Todd Hazelwood who will be driving the S13 and Hana Burton who will be driving the Tanuki Yaris.

Photos by David Song: @ds.machine

Really happy with how this Initial-D inspired ZEN X Tanuki design came out. In the end we’ve decided to put it on a more fashion fit AS Colour hoodie. Lovingly printed by Born & Thread and will be arriving today in time for tonight’s Benzin meet and of-course on sale at World Time Attack Challenge!

Ox Tongue was awesome (and huge!).

Matrix steak.

Checking in to Hotel Indigo.

Gina and I flew to QLD last night to meet the Tanuki Racing team. The idea was to shoot Tanuki big boss Wayne Lee testing the Tanuki S13 at Queensland Raceway the following day, but on arrival we found out that all plans for track time were cancelled due to rain.

Bit of a bummer as there’s a great story in an independent team boss who’s not afraid to wrangle the beast that was the previous outright winner of the World Time Attack Challenge: the Hammerhead.

Wayne had a Plan B though, and that was to check out both the Tanuki race cars at the workshop the next day. Either way it’s been great to finally get back on a plane (I’ve not flown in 6 years!), and of-course to meet both Wayne and John, who picked Gina and I up from the airport and treated us to an amazing dinner at Agnes.

PS: All photos by Gina! More to come!

Some photographers that use digital cameras whine when they have to go through 300 shots from a shoot. I mean seriously? What were you doing? Simply hoping that at least some of the 300 shots were going to be OK?

With film you’ve got to make every shot count and that means framing well, and often times making the decision to not hit that shutter button. I once overheard Nick suggest to another photographer to “pretend” that he had a roll of film in his camera, and perhaps try to take less, but more considered shots. I thought this was great advice!

On topic; our Melbourne based Photographer Curt Graham chose to use his Fuji GW690 III with 120 film which has only 8 shots per roll.

Check out his awesome photo feature on ZEN Blog: https://www.zengarage.com.au/fuji-gw690-iii-first-rolls-120-film/

Last night Nick and and I were invited to join a select group of creatives at LaPorte Space in Rosebery, hosted by Nikon Australia.

Without knowing too much about the event, we went in expecting a PR event focused on their new entry level mirrorless camera, the Z50 II.

Upon arriving, we were pleasantly surprised to find that we would be treated to a presentation by guest speaker, Michaela Taylor, aka Kayla Tayla.

Full Feature on ZEN Blog: https://www.zengarage.com.au/a-night-with-nikon/

What a massive week!

Zen Garage EOMM at Benzin Cafe last night was massive. Thanks to all who came out and special thanks to the staff at Benzin for the fuel.

Much thanks to Gina for being my backup shooter for both IWC Schaffhausen shoots this week. The first shoot with Nick Turner (AKA The Wizard) at Uno Studios and the second at the IWC King St. boutique flagship store.

We spent some time to go through our shots the other day and we’re really happy with what we got so look out for those features on ZEN Blog soon! See less

We now officially have 2 horses in the race!!!

Look out for HUGE ZEN ROUNDEL logos on the roof of both the Tanuki Racing cars at World Time Attack Challenge this year.

The Tanuki two-car lineup includes 2024 Bathurst 1000 winner Todd Hazelwood and rising global motorsport talent, Hana Burton!

BRING IT ON! Can’t wait to party with everyone. We’re beyond pumped!