| Hi! First of all please let me introduce my self, as mentioned in last blog by BOSS this is Real Biker "Hiro". I commute on chopper TW everyday but I have had HD for six years and finally started its KUSTOM. This HD will be ready for display at next years 3rd Motorcycle Show. It has already been four years since I left KUSTOM CITY of the Aichi Prefecture. At last my dream come true, trip to USA. I will report with main spot on KUSTOM bikes, so please bare with me until the end. |
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| So it's time for heading out to USA. This was the 2nd flight to abroad since last flight to Hawaii in field trip. I left Japan with out problem, taking 9 hours flight and just as I thought I reached dreamed land of California when officer at immigration smiled and said go into that room after taking my finger prints. I didn't know why but I was taken to a different room at little away from the rest. I didn't know what was going on but I am already in USA. The language flowing across top of my head is English only. All others I was with are not coming into this room. I realized this situation was bad one. I was covered in a cold sweat. Then I remembered I rented a cell phone and made emergency call to MOONEYES Mail Magazine Editor TANK who was in this trip too. I was so thank full to my rental cell phone, I recommend to every one not to forget on trip to abroad. I was in a situation where I didn't understand a single word, then interrupter came and helped me out, I was freed after one hour. The reason was I was wearing jacket I wear in the working ware and I recommend every one to travel abroad in clean clothing. I was told later that I was the only one who was taken away at immigration, looks like I made another legend. |
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- MOONEYES USA
The First day we went straight to MOONEYES USA by taxi. First time to see this palm tree after I have seen many times by picture. Its long. Maybe longer than expected. Cant miss the shot in this location. While taking look around the Machine Shop, Took a quick snap of nice pause by Manny the Mr. MOON DISC saying "Konnichiwa" which is "Hi!" in Japanese. |
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| Then next was Bill Jenks in front of my eyes, its usual sight in USA but this great man has taken picture with me! |
| This funny man came in sight, yes its Dean Moon Jr. He quickly made a pause but he had his eyes closed. But isn't it like Dean Moon Jr. Cant take pictures all day so its work. Getting ready for Saturdays MOONEYES USA Xmas Party 07. From various companies got so many decals, K/C, Catalogs thinking America is wealthy enough to give out so many things, BOSS said he will start Dragster engine and dashed to out side, it was like in his blog the scene in front of me was this. It was way cool, the sounds, fascinating. |
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That days Lunch? Dinner?, BOSS took us to L&L. It was very first food in California so I asked BOSS to order for me and came out like this! What a volume! Well over my standard. Maybe to explain this in Japan will be more than famous Beef Bowl chains special volume.
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- GO! HOLLYWOOD
On the second day, BOSS was nice enough to say I can go any where I like to, So I headed to HOLLYWOOD. I went with Mr. Kijimoto and Mr. Shoda who support MOONEYES Show. I am just a tourist here.
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| First I went to see this sign of HOLLYWOOD. Went to an observatory and took snap shot too. The view was great here and can take good look over LA. Did you know that LA has road like Kyoto and street is crossing in blocks so if you remember the street name you will not get lost. On the way back, the most shop I wanted to visit was SHOP "WACKO". This Shop is like the book shop you can play in Japan and goods and books were covered in according to many types. here I did little shopping and quickly left, I recommend this shop. Please visit if you have chance. |
- MOONEYES USA Xmas Party
Now the top priority and purpose of this visit is MOONEYES Xmas Party. There were many COOL HOT RODDERS from morning to wait for gate to open. Time was still before 5am. Very up for it.
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| Now its set up. Like this made shop with MOONEYES USA staff. |
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| Of course the Dragster is there too. I did little of shop set up and washed Dragster. How about this? It looks great from start but can you see it shinning even more? After I washed the car, BOSS told me to go look around, what a generous word by him. So I went around and took many pictures. |
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It was great weather, sunny actually hot and very hard to believe from rain on day before. Even though it was December, everyone had T-shirts on. The Ex-MOONEYES staff Louis came to help too. I took picture of MOONEYES USA staff while they were helping all customers.
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Real Biker Hiro had to take pictures of motorcycle as main. For people who want to see the cars please check out the MOONEYES USA Xmas Party 07 DVD which is already taking pre-booking.
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Vender Booth, Pin-Up Girls Contest, Live Music and Drag Race with many famous people were making MOONEYES USA Xmas Party more fan. This event is so loaded you can enjoy all day. If you thought you want to go by looking at these pictures, please try and visit next year.
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At 3pm Show was over, I rushed to the exit gate to get ready. They look so cool when they are in action.
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On the way back, took ride on Ford Pick Up with sign of MOONEYES USA. I was very excited and fascinated to get to ride on this car.
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| The day finished after joining the after party with USA staff. |
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- LONG BEACH SWAP MEET & CHOPPER FEST
With excitement from day before, I went to see Swap meet at the LONG BEACH Veterans Stadium Swap Meet. It was 7am in morning but so many people were there. From a bolt to a complete car, so many various things were sold there.
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We left Long Beach after 9am and headed to Ventura Seaside Park for CHOPPER FEST. After about two hours drive, we got there and saw some local bikers. It was just like in movies and TVs, anyway it was cool. The show was like this, HD, Triumph, Japanese, various Choppers were there. Chica-san who joined us at Xmas party day before was there too.
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| I joined MOONEYES USA Company Xmas Dinner. It was my birthday in Japan time. There was a surprise desert for me at Outback Steak House and also got Happy Birthday Song from MOONEYES USA staff. THANK YOU to all MOONEYES USA STAFF. See You Next Time! Lastly had group picture taken to end this trip! |
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- Impressions
Thank you for reading my long report.
California, the Holy Land of Hot Rods and Motorcycles. The impression of my first trip was just great. It was far more than my expectation. For everyone looking forward to see the California, please make a brave step to take a trip! I am sure you will be fascinated! For everybody who can't travel to California, please visit MOONEYES Area-1 at Honmoku, Yokohama Japan. This is the place you can feel like being in California the most while in Japan. For people who wish to hear more on my story, please feel free to talk to me, just say "Hey Hiro!".
See you again!! Thank you.
Hiro
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