motorculture

Just finished this simple but effective logotype design for Motor Culture, an automotive advertising network.

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Max&Mia

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VSport


Spotted this time attack monster at VSport.


Tubbed out.


Brakes, as you like.

Straight after my meeting with Advan this morning I headed out to VSport to see if the boys could work out a new front brake solution for my Golf GTI (I’ve managed to crack some slotted rotors with only 2 track days). Unfortunately there is no other alternative disc rotor that will bolt right on. It’s looking like I can either get some custom hats made up to hold aftermarket rotors ($$$) or they can modify some WRX one’s to suit. Either way I’m in good hands and they’re working on a solution for me.

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Advan design work


Advan Neova Cup Competitor logo design.


Design as a sticker on a competing car.


T-Shirt design concepts.

I’ve been doing a little bit of design work for Advan. I’ve always thought that the Advan brand was cool. When I first got into JDM Style Tuning I’d see the old triangle Advan logo placed directly above the side indicators on a lot of JDM Honda DC2R’s (like so).

It’s not always easy to do work for things you love. It’s been an aim of mine for so many years (to be paid for what you love doing) but in retrospect doing crap for for crap clients is probably easier as you don’t have to invest so much of yourself into the job, and thus not place so much value on the outcome (I’ve done a LOT of horrible work which will never make it to my “portfolio”).

When Advan first launched in Australia (2009 Advan Industry night) I was in 2 minds about whether or not the Australian arm would get the culture right IE: Whether they’d have to ditch everything I loved about the Japanese Advan brand and make it suit an Australian motorsport market. It’s been a while since then and it’s looking like they’ve done really well, and going from strength to strength, especially with the World Time Attack Challenge.

I’m glad to have a foot in the door with them. Nothing is concrete as yet but I’ve been given the freedom to initiate and develop some exciting new future projects. Baby steps I suppose, baby steps!

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A couple more of the Zoomer

Just a few more shots of the Zoomer from the EOMM the other night. These shots are by Steven Phan

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JDMST EOMM


Taz and Matt.


150+ cars. Lots of quality too.


The crowd.


Bonnet poppin.


It’s the me.


My Zoomer.

Huge JDMST meet last night at Fox Studios. 150+ cars easy, we almost filled up the entire floor. Unfortunately one guy dropped a stupid burnout on his way out, people panicked and more than half the cars there decided to leave. We’ve been holding these end of month meets since 2005 and there’s always a few idiots who just can’t help themselves.

All pictures above by Matthew Mead and many more great pictures by many more photographers can be viewed in the JDMST Appearance Gallery

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Christina’s B’day at Saké


Like a G6.


Tuna tasting plate, just too good.


Tuna salad with indo style fried onions.


So much sake on the menu, tried a few, loved them all.


Kingfish.


Caroline and Kay. GF1, struggling with low light as usual.


Pork belly.


Best karage ever full stop.


Scallops.


Beef was done agadashi tofu style.


Nat made this Tiffany cake for Christina.


Her cupcakes are otherworldly, but damn she outdid herself this time!


Happy B’day girl.


The ladies.


Luckily for us Saké has a sneaky back entrance that leads directly into the Argyle which let us jump the queue.


Christina’s stockings.

We hit Saké last night for Christina’s B’day with friends. We had a private room this time and I thought the food was way more impressive this time than last time (Valentine’s Day). The Tuna tasting plate was still their best dish though, it’s just so perfect. Even the tuna and avocado sushi was amazing, it just blows the best sushi trains out there, out of the water.

After dinner we slipped into the Argyle, which was way more club than pub (I’ve only ever been there by day). We stayed until they kicked us out at 3AM. Was a super fun night, no dramas, just good times.

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Paddy’s Hop Harvest Festival


Straight into it.


Perhaps the best beer there, cool guy too. He was happy to share a lot of info with Richie about licensing.


One of the beers I didn’t try as I had to drive!


I couldn’t help but geek out over their C02 injected set-ups. This one used a modified esky to cool down the beer taps.


It’s all about the hops!


I needed 2 of these in order to absorb the booze!


Lot’s of really fun branding going on.

Richie’s pretty into the home brew so he invited me out to the Paddy’s Hop Harvest Festival yesterday. Horrible traffic and weather getting there but there was a great vibe going on, the only blow-in there was me! Freshly brewed craft beer on tap and I got to appreciate hops for the first time (I’ve never been a fan of beers with hops).

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Little Maxy’s first visit to the Vet


Little Maxy at the vet.

A few nights ago little Maxy fell off the top rung of the cat tree and he mustn’t have landed right as he was meowing in pain from his fall. He limped out from behind the cat tree (which is in the corner next to our couch) and I managed to pinpoint the pain to his right wrist (as he’d meow when I massaged it in that area). Turns out Christina said he was limping a few nights before that so I assumed he already had hurt himself and the fall from the cat tree just further aggravated it. Later that night he jumped off Christina’s shoulder and this time he really screwed himself. He cried a lot, curled up in a ball under the coffee table with his sore arm tucked into his tummy.

Pretty stressful shit. I mean seriously… I was stressing out, worried and pretty angry and upset.

The next day Christina called the Vet, but being the Easter holidays they were shut. A few days later he seemed fine except you could see at times that he wasn’t quite putting all of his weight on his right foot and when we massaged it where it hurt he’d still meow.

Today I finally got around to taking Max to the vet. The vet was certain that nothing was broken, and that it’s just a sprain, and with more rest he’d be fine (she offered medication but we both agreed that he’d be better off without it). Kinda knew nothing was broken, but it’s nice to have the vet’s assurance in any case (phew I can sleep again!).

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QUAY


Entrance is a little freaky to get to if you park downstairs. There’s a little lift up and choosing the right button to press was almost a challenge!


Service staff was pleasant but they stuffed up placement of meals more than a few times, something that probably shouldn’t happen at this level of dining. They also kept forgetting my sister was pregnant (offering her wine a few times).


Kingfish was a nice start…


..sea pearls looked (and sounded) more amazing though!


Marron was nice. I found the sauce a bit too sweet for my liking, but it was cooked to perfection and the little details on the plate were amazing both on the eye and taste buds.


Pig jowl was otherworldly.


Snow egg was also amazing, like a deconstructed modern pav, just so refreshingly sweet after such rich foods.


Towards the end of the night (luckily for us, but not lucky for the table next to us who were just starting their entree’s) a young Asian kid threw up creamy light brown vomit which splattered all over the dark carpet (we assume he was drunk and on his way to the bathroom). Just not the kinda thing you see in a restaurant, period! Shocked everyone, even the staff initially didn’t know what to do!


Group shot.


The mothers.


Richie and Jamie.


Jess’ balloon pants…were…amazing!

Christina and I finally got to dine at Peter Gilmore’s QUAY restaurant last night (we were there to celebrate Christina’s 25th B’day!). We’ve read many mixed reviews over the past year or so and in retrospect I can understand why some would think some of his dishes are hit and miss. I just think that his signature dishes are just so damn good that it makes some of his lesser known dishes seem lesser quality.

My only word of advice: If you’re going to go, be sure to order his signature dishes, or to make it easier, go for the tasting menu. DO NOT order a dish different to your partner thinking that you can “share” as his dishes are so small, and his signature dishes so good that you won’t want to share (his dishes are so intricate that taking them apart to eat them is like a game in itself, one that you don’t want to end so soon!).

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