Retro Scene Magazine tends to cater for the retro car enthusiast but it's well worth the retrophile taking a frequent look outside their scene for a change and possibly inspiration elsewhere. The car group often considered the closest (and sometimes with blurred lines separating them) is classic cars.

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Shortly after Retro Scene Magazine started up, a posting by HoTWire enthusing about car scenes abroad sparked a desire in me to travel further afield for my motoring kicks. Having been to a show in The Netherlands a decade earlier with a Datsun crowd, I knew it could be a fun adventure and when an events thread for Japan Classic Sunday appeared on Old Japanese Car.com, the fuse was lit. Andrea and I packed our 1968 Toyota Corona and headed over the Channel in the direction of Belgium. A fun evening in Antwerp followed and we rolled up at a smart green field the following day to a warm and surprised welcome.

 
Well organised and with a casual atmosphere, the field belongs to a café yet had a catering trailer serving fries and mayo of course but also tiny Dutch beers! The field was soon filled with a huge variety of over 250 of Japan's finest spanning five decades. The classic cars were more plentiful than in the UK, drawing from enthusiasts in surrounding countries. They also tended to be in finer fettle and few were modified which is nice as it showed-off how they were new. The modified cars were towards the other end of the field in the shape of more modern J-tin. A mix of hot sun and heavy showers put a spin on the day which included an optional 50km run in the countryside

 
Meeting-up with international forum friends was a high point as was appreciating the huge wealth of knowledge on offer. The range of cars was quite spectacular, particularly if you're a big fan of Asian motors as I am. We won a trophy for 'Furthest Travelled' and were sent on our way with best wishes and a request to come again next year. I think we probably will.

 
I urge anyone with an interest in cars and travel to venture abroad to see a twist on the scene they enjoy. Take a few friends and make it road trip, taking in new cities you've never stayed in. Take a few simple spare parts just in case! You can see more of Japan Classic Sunday in this flickr set.