I want to be like Kei Miura. Why? The OG Late Riser kanjo runner reminds me of a modern-day outlaw, my definition of a true gangsta.
(photo by Christopher Jue)
I mentioned before to my peers and on my tumblr that I’m reliving my childhood. Fixing up our PVT cars keeps me feeling young. It’s like I’m stuck in the 80’s and 90’s in a way. I like to surround myself with things that keep me in that mood and nostalgia, just as Miura-san does. I have never been to his shop (yet!) but from pictures and articles I can see that he does the same.
What inspires me the most about Miura-san is not only his work but his personality and attitude. Though he is known for his Rocket Bunny kits, one of his first moldings were for his personal Civic EF, the one-off 6666 Customs front bumper and side skirts. With that, his Civic stands out from all the norm.
He refuses to grow out of his yancha-bosouzoku past and he isn’t afraid to push his style to the limits, just as he threw a wrench into everyone’s gears at the 2009 Tokyo Auto Salon when he brought his Civic EF to show off.
Liss, Tougel and I had the opportunity to meet him last year, as well as other PVT Runner members like GeekyLurv. We also ran into him this year at Formula Drift round 1.
I found it funny when Kei Miura said in the SpeedHunters article Miura-san speads the Joy Of Machine “expressways, piers and downtown streets were like racing circuits” that it was along the lines of when I said “I would treat my highways the same way as Kanjo racers would do in Osaka. I would also explore unknown parts (to me) of my home town.. I started looking at my city as a car playground and obstacle course” in the Private Runner Interview.
“No matter how many times we ran into guard rails or were caught by the police, we never gave up and just kept having fun driving our cars.”
– Kei Miura
PRIVATE RUNNERS STREET FAMILY 