Working on projects for Checkpoint has led to some incredible experiences, but this one was truly unforgettable: a visit to the RWB Headquarters in Kashiwa, Chiba, where I had the chance to visit Nakai-san and his closest friends and associates. The photos that will accompany the words in this article were shot by Colton (@sixspeedsoul) because as I filmed the video I watched him fully immerse himself into the energy at RWB Headquarters and channel all of his inspiration into what I feel is one of his best sets of photos ever.

As soon as I walked into the workshop, I knew I was in a special place. Surrounding me were some of the most iconic RWB builds in the world, each one bearing the unmistakable stamp of Nakai-san’s creativity and passion. For someone who had long admired his work, being in the presence of this much creativity was a dream come true.

What struck me most about the experience was how welcoming and gracious Nakai-san and his friends were. Despite being busy with their work, they took the time to show us around, answer our questions, and share stories about their builds. It was clear that Nakai-san had a deep love for his craft, and that he was happy to share it with anyone who was interested. We were never rushed and were made to feel welcome.

One of the most impactful moments of my visit to the RWB Headquarters was the opportunity to see Nakai-san’s personal aircooled Idlers race car “Rotana.” This was a car that I had grown up reading about on Speedhunters and watching videos of on YouTube, and to see the car that lives in my subconscious in person was truly a surreal experience.