Main – Page 5 – Royal Origin

Toyama Living | RO Explore

I’ve been to Toyama many times, but I’ve never been here with Ryo. When we decided to go to Japan during golden week, Ryo offered us a place to stay in his hometown of Toyama. We didn’t want to miss the chance to live in the countryside for a couple of days and see the life of the Lowballers Japan.

Masao bought this Verosa for like dirt cheap. I think it was $500 because the owner thought it had a transmission problem. It ended up being an easy fix and now he has a 1jz equipped vehicle for $500.

Ryo’s Lexon GS430, so cool to see this thing roaming the streets of Toyama.

We made our way to a okonomiyaki(Japanese pancake) place where you make it on your own. This place is kind of like a Denny’s to the locals.

Hiroki and Masao showing us how it’s done!

Math and John mixing and laying out the pancakes to cook.

The finished product. Bone apple tea.

We slept over at Ryo’s parents spare house and it had a legit Hawaii theme throughout the house.

Woke up to Ryo starting up his Integra that he hasn’t seen in months. It still looks super clean.

We wanted to get some photos in before the day started of both of Ryo’s cars.

We met up with Hiroki and they took us to this amazing park with a river going through it.

This was rated one of the most beautiful Starbucks in the world. I’ve never seen such a long line for Starbucks before.

This was rated as one of the most beautiful friendships in the world.

Hiroki and his family.

For lunch, we went to a curry spot that is famous in Toyama.

I shit you not, this was the best curry I have ever had in my entire life. Seriously perfect in every way! I am literally drooling looking at this picture.

Next stop was Super Autobacs, we wanted to go to an Up Garage, but all of stores were closed for Golden Week. I don’t even know what kind of car this is.

Clean S13 on some Advan TCIIs.

Big boss Job Design LS460.

Julia so over this car shit.

Getting around in Ryo’s GS felt so cool.

For dinner, we got sushi and for the longest time Ryo has always said the sushi is the best in Toyama. He was not wrong.

We ended the night, Initial D style by going up the mountains, looking over the city and talking about fuck bugs.

Thank you Ryo, Masao and Hiroki for the hospitality! I can’t wait to come back to have more curry!

-NGUMINH

July 7, 2019

2019 Auto Enthusiast Day presented by Nitto Tire | Event Coverage

I’m in a mentorship program for kids at risk and thought it would be a good idea to take my mentee out to a car show. Good thing Auto Enthusiast Day was around and close to where my mentee lives, so we were able to go and check out the show.

I saw the Moonlight Runners cars at Toyota Fest, but it still amazes me when I see their cars.

My mentee Angel recognized this car right away. He asked if Brian O’Conner was here, I didn’t want to break the news to him..

The new Camry’s are looking pretty damn good.

Angel was really digging these headlights on this FRS.

Ojay’s old LS430?

This Accord ended up being Angel’s favorite car at the show.

The boys over at Karuma had a booth and their booth car was Adry’s Lexus IS350.

Just missing spoiler, tail lights and diffuser…

Meliton on the gram while someone works on his car. Must be nice.

This BMW wagon looks perfect on Kansei KNP Wheels.

This Toyota Corolla livery looks so sick.

Max Power’s old S14. Crazy this thing used to be parked at Illest OC all the time.

A last shot of my IS250 before everything is taken apart…

Overall Angel enjoyed the show, he just thought it was boring the demo cars were just driving in circles. Kids these days…

July 2, 2019

Alabama Hills to Coyote Flats | RO Explore

After so many years of going camping with Chivas and Angelo, I finally convinced myself to buy a SUV to build for overlanding. I recently purchased a 2007 Lexus GX470 and after Angelo’s bad influence I bought some Bilsteins 5100 with Toytec springs, a M60 GOFSR tent and some Falken AT3Ws. We’ve been planning this trip to Coyote Flats for months and I wanted to be prepared for whatever we were going to face. Shout out to Steve from Falken and the boys at 714 Tires for helping me get everything installed!

Now that I’ve fully committed to overlanding, I’m realizing how important it is to make sure every aspect of my vehicle is in top shape for the journey ahead. Whether you’re out on an adventurous off-road trek or preparing for a long drive, it’s crucial to ensure your SUV or truck is properly maintained.

Regular automotive diagnostics are essential for preventing unexpected breakdowns, especially when you’re relying on your vehicle to take you through rugged terrain. From checking the suspension system to monitoring the engine performance, there are many components that need attention to ensure everything runs smoothly. This is where a reliable repair service comes into play, giving you peace of mind that your vehicle is prepared for the road ahead.

One service I trust for all my diesel-related needs is RUSH Diesel. They specialize in high-performance diagnostics and repair, focusing on everything from routine engine checks to more complex mechanical issues. RUSH Diesel offers expert solutions to keep your vehicle running at its best, even when faced with the demands of off-roading and overlanding. Whether it’s ensuring the transmission is working properly or diagnosing fuel system issues, their experienced technicians provide accurate, efficient service.

The rigs. We have Tim’s Jeep, Justin’s LX470, my GX470, Dayne’s GX470, Derrick’s Montero and Angelo’s 4runner.

On the way up to Coyote Flats, we thought it would be a good idea to camp at Alabama Hills for a night since it was only an hour away from our meet up spot. We literally had to drive the whole area for a spot because most of the cool spots were taken.

We finally setup camp and everyone was excited to get the party started.

Apparently it was shot o’clock every 5 minutes, so things started to get blurry.

It’s been a while since I’ve seen the stars this bright, it feels good to be out with nature once in a while.

I started going around to get some cool star photos with our rigs. Dayne’s GX with his SUV tent.

Derrick’s Montero.

My GX470 and my GOFSR tent fully setup. Man I love this tent and it makes camping so much more enjoyable! After upgrading my GX470 with the essentials, I started realizing just how important it is to tailor your rig to the kind of adventures you want to take. From suspension to tires and a solid rooftop tent, each piece I added felt like an investment in a better experience.

Of course, outfitting your vehicle goes beyond just slapping on a few accessories. It’s about creating a reliable setup that can handle any terrain while keeping you safe and comfortable out there. I found that baseline overland offers a solid foundation for building a capable overland vehicle without going overboard. Their approach to customizing rigs gives you a practical starting point and helps you upgrade from there, step by step. Now that my GX470 is ready for the trails, I can’t wait to tackle more remote spots with the confidence that I’ve built something that can handle whatever Mother Nature throws my way.

Find the ghost of Kiki.

Angelo’s 4runner with his Tepui tent.

Such a sick view of our camp setup.

Woke up to Yuki wanting to play while Dayne was passed out.

Julia and Derrick making breakfast for everyone.

Me and Derrick had to flex on em.

We finally arrived to the trail to get to Coyote Flats, but we were having some overheating issues and had to stop.

‘

What a view. Our first attempt up the mountain was deterred because Derrick’s Montero had some overheating tranny issues. So, we decided to go back into town and get a tranny cooler, install it in the parking lot and try to climb the mountain again at night when it’s a lot cooler.

We made it up at night with no problem and found a sick camping spot by a stream.

The stars felt even closer because we were at 10,000 feet elevation. I would have taken more photos, but it was so cold at night.

The next morning I woke up to this.. Dayne wanted to see if his GX could make it over the stream and got stuck in some mud patches..

We eventually got it out of the stream because of Angelo’s manliness and his winch, but Dayne’s GX wasn’t able to move on it’s own. We had to leave it there and find someone to help tow it down the mountain.

Angelo’s rescue vehicle.

Wish Dayne’s GX made it in this shot.

Thanks Angelo for planning this trip and being our guide! It’s amazing the things you get to see when you go overlanding and how much fun it is to experience it with friends. I can’t wait for the next trip!

July 2, 2019

Our Favorites at Wekfest Nagoya 2019 | Event Coverage

Some of our favorites at Wekfest Nagoya 2019..

I’ve been following Seji’s S14 for the longest time ever since Big Country Labs posted his car on their Instagram. This S14 is ridiculous in every way from the wide body to the gigantic Big Country Lab wing and it’s static!

On the other side of the spectrum we have Masaki’s super clean S13. He perfected the clean body look for years now and has keep his car in such pristine condition!

You can’t even tell this sticker is like 6 years old.

Flashy is an understatement for this FD. The gold chrome wrap with the RE-Amemiya kit steals your attention from all the other cars around it.

I rarely see any TL wagons in the states, so seeing this one slammed on wheels caught my attention right away.

Japan just knows how to build 240s. It’s really amazing.

That shift knob is sick, uncomfortable but sick.

Nissan R32 on TE37s with a toy replica. So sick.

This Lotus Espirit is so cool, those formula mesh wheels pair really well with the old school theme. There’s an Espirit for sale near me, I kinda want it now..

No function, all style with this AE-86. Still looks awesome!

My favorites at the show was this line up of FDs with super awesome liviries.

Hiroki’s NSX is so nice from Level One Japan, I believe he won an award too!

Seji’s and this S14 are what kids in America are trying to make their shit boxes into.

Closing it with Yasu’s S2000 it is a subtle execution, but this car so many crazy parts!

My blogging game has been weak, so sorry for the lack of updates! I’ll try to put this as a priority…

-NGUMINH

June 25, 2019

Wrong Fitment Crew 10 Year Anniversary | Event Coverage

Super late pass on these photos, mostly because I submitted them to Stance Magazine and it is up on their latest issue! Congrats to the homies over at Wrong Fitment Crew for the 10 year anniversary! Check out some of the photos I took below..

April 17, 2019

Evolve Film Concepts | Shop Visit x New Tee Announcement

The Santa Ana winds have been terrible lately and it ended up affecting my blogging abilities and destroying the somewhat clean look of my SC400. My SC was in a pretty secure tent, but the Santa Ana winds pushed my tent against my car and rubbed out some parts of the wrap. Luckily, it’s a wrap because if it was paint, the cost to fix this would require me to take out my knee pads and work some night shifts. The homie Rodney aka Bruno Mars aka I wrap, but I’m not a rapper recently opened up a shop for wraps and tint. He offered to fix my SC door because he had some left over wrap and I gladly dusted off my knee pads in exchange.

When I got to the shop, Rodney was working on making this truck invisible.

You can see the damage on the top of my door, I started telling people I got it from drifting. I’m hardcore yo.

Rodney cut the wrap under my body line to seam it and so we would have enough wrap to cover the door.

On the other side of the room, Rodney’s partner Dan was installing a clear bra for this Lambo.

Master at work.

Just like that, my door was looking brand new! Disregard the mirror..

Thanks Evolve Film Concepts!

Find them here!

https://www.yelp.com/biz/evolve-film-concepts-los-alamitos-4

Rodney also just finished wrapping his Cressida, so I had to get in a quick photo shoot with the new two tone wrap.

Being old never looked so good.

Rodney on his new set of Kansei Tandem wheels.

I also had Rodney model in our new shirt that’s coming out soon..

Time is the only enemy. Available in black, white and yellow.

Coming soon..

-NGUMINH

April 17, 2019

Nimo is Found | Royal Origin Member

Some days aren’t like the rest. Shavi, Keith, Jeff and Nimo came over to my house to get wrecked on Smash Bros Ultimate and for some reason we had an itch to go photo shoot a car. Since all of my cars looked like hot garbage and Shavi for some reason didn’t want a photo shoot, we decided to shoot Nimo’s BMW wagon.

Shavi didn’t want a photo shoot of his MS3, but I had to get some snaps of it outside in the real world.

Nimo giving the wagon a quick rinse.

I tried to get some good rollers, but the lighting was working against us.

There was a festival going on at the park, so we decided to just shoot in this parking lot.

Mr. Late as Always

Koenig Monsters are so sick.

The bokeh in this shot is so creamy. I love it! This was shot with my 135mm 1.8 Sony lens.

Almost a decade of friendship.

Moscow was mad I didn’t take her to the park too.

-NGUMINH

March 4, 2019

Sparkle’s Nissan Rocket Bunny S13 | Royal Origin Member

Sparkle’s Rocket Bunny S13 was getting shipped out to Taiwan, so Kevin hit me up to shoot the car for the last time in the United States. It’s been a car that I’ve seen transform from the very beginning when it was at Robros Customs getting stripped for paint to where it is now completed at Greddy Performance. I guess I’m a little attached to this car and I’m definitely going to be a little sad that I won’t see it at Greddy anymore. I also can’t wait to see Sparkle driving this beast in Taiwan! Anyways, check out some of the last photos of Sparkle’s Rocket Bunny S13 in the United States.

Throwback photo of when the S13 was being stripped for paint at Robros Customs.

This little s13 hatch has definitely gone through a journey of transformation.

I love the white and black theme with the color match wing and roll cage.

The front bumper canard is still the best looking setup from Rocket Bunny/Pandem.

It still looks good without the front bumper, showing off the front bash bar by Street Faction and a big inter cooler setup by Greddy.

We went back into Greddy to ask someone to drive for some roller shots, while we were waiting I spent some time with Greddy’s Pandem FC.

Melton’s sick S14 on Work Cr Ultimates.

It’s not how you stand by someone else’s car, it’s how you drive it.

Only need the basics in this car.

Custom window panel made by Robros Customs.

AG wheels and a custom big brake kit for DREAMER 77.

Safe travels Sparkle’s S13! I hope to see you one day in the mean streets of Taiwan.

-NGUMINH

February 11, 2019

Shooting Cleopatra | Royal Origin Member

I went out with Kevin aka KCHOW510 to shoot my IS250. We were planning to shoot earlier that day, but we both needed a afternoon nap. The IS250 hasn’t changed in a bit besides stuff getting broken, wheels getting curbed and a headlight bulb going out. I’m planning to do an updated look on the IS250 soon, so this photo shoot came just in time. Even though Kevin was the one that wanted to shoot my car, I ended up taking my camera out to get some photos too. I’ve learned from going with people to shoot my car that sometimes the photographer will not come through with the photos. Kevin didn’t get any photos from our last photo shoot, but this time he delivered. Thanks Kevin!

Coming soon my new clothing brand Made to Break..

Make sure you check out the shop.royal-origin.com store because we restocked!

Check out some of Kevin’s photos..

Thanks again Kevin!

-NGUMINH

February 6, 2019

90’s Forever Slide Sesh | Event Coverage

Last weekend, Rodney hosted a drift event for his brand 90’s Forever at Apple Valley Speedway and it was a blast! A ton of friends came out to the event, so there were many familiar faces and a lot of sweet 90’s cars.