Renndrive 10: a meet up of the highest level

24 Aug

Every now and then over the last few years of being involved in the car scene here in Thailand, an offer or invitation comes my way that is simply impossible to say no to. This Renndrive meet was no exception. Let’s take a look…

Joe’s Coffee

I’m struggling to think of a cooler spot for a cars and coffee of this caliber. Walking into Joe’s Coffee feels like stepping into a treasure trove of memorabilia, everything from old petrol pumps and vintage cameras to letters from the King of Thailand and boxing gloves signed by Mike Tyson. Yes, that Mike Tyson. Crazy, I know! I almost dropped my camera when I walked in. Oh, and the coffee is great, too.

A Rushed Visit

To give you an idea of the sheer insanity of Thai car culture: I had originally planned to attend the Bimmermeet Mag event, which luckily was just 10 minutes away from this Renndrive gathering. Naturally, I ended up stuck at the BMW event for a while, busy capturing wide-body E46s, E30 M3s, Alpina Z8 Roadsters, and beautiful E36 M3s. Not to mention a stunning M2 CS that really caught my eye, which is saying something, because I’m usually drawn to cars closer to my own age. Early ’80s and ’90s (or even ’70s) iron are usually what get my juices flowing.

The Cars on Show

I say "on show" as if this were an organized display. It wasn't. This is just a group of friends with impeccable taste who meet up for coffee, who just so happen to drive RS 4.0s or RWBs. There was even a beautiful Targa and a RUF sitting right in front of me. A couple of other stunning Porsches attended as well, but because I was so pushed for time, I didn't get the chance to shoot them all. I did, however, capture a perfect trio of GR Yarises: one sporting an amazing Rothmans livery, and the other two looking equally cool in deep black and charcoal grey. Every time I see a GR Yaris, I fall a little more in love with them.

The 964 RWB

As I mentioned, I’d been over at the BMW event before rushing to meet the Renndrive crew, so I had to move fast to capture the cars that really stood out to me. The RWB in its gorgeous Gulf livery was a absolute must-shoot. I frantically ran around this stunner to grab as many shots as possible, focusing on the lines and shapes Nakai-san created, as well as the gorgeous Rotiforms it was sitting on.

The Porsche 911 GT3 RS 4.0

I was also desperate to capture the RS 4.0. I’d never seen one in the flesh before, and wow! I was hooked. Porsche is one of the few brands where you can really pour over every angle, shape, and subtle detail that makes them such special machines. The standout story behind this particular car is that it’s actually been driven all over Southeast Asia, Laos and Vietnam, to name just a couple. Pretty special, wouldn't you agree?

Unfortunately, just as I switched into photo mode, the owner hopped in and drove off, so photos of this one are a bit limited, I'm afraid.

Red 911 Turbo RUF

A red 911 Turbo RUF? I mean, what car fan doesn’t love one of those? Again, I sprinted around to grab a few quick shots before the owner took off. I don't have a massive gallery to show for it, but the car itself... well, that’s definitely worth shouting about!

GR Yaris Trio!

Last but not least is the little GR trio. I must admit, I was strangely drawn to these little pocket rockets. When they lined themselves up together, I had to spend some time grabbing shots and taking in the details. They are really growing on me, and if I had the chance to have a little hot hatch in my life, I think I’d be looking at one of these road-going rally beasts.

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Arran- AJP Automotive