This blog owner's overwhelming love for this New Zealand's brotherhood (literally) is known widely, so I have been willing to talk to them for a long time already. But this and that, could not find contacts, people promised and did not keep promises and etc...and nothing happened. But just recently I suddenly found Joel's email, sent him a message, and here we are, after several weeks of expecting a reply from guys, who seem to be really all busy with the stuff we all know them for. Please welcome, Joel from C'S Garage interview, part 1.



Q: First of all, lets go back to the roots. I know (and I guess that is true) that you guys are two brothers who are all about cars. Tell me how did it happen that you decided to have a common «business» in car building? When did all begin and what is it now — like a hobby or a real business?

A: It all started with our first cars really. Drifiting was pretty young in New Zealand, but Adam and I both were pretty interested in it so we decide on a dead stock s13 as a good choice for my first car. We had plans to change it a little, but didn't have any idea that it would turn out anything like it is today.



Adams first car was a little KP71 startlet. Being rwd, and him being young, ment that it was tonnes of fun, so I guess it was a natural progression for his interest in drifting. After building a VW beetle that we both still wish he didn't sell,


more about VW Beetle

he decided to get rid of that to fund a car that he could take to the track, rather than just a car that looked kinda cool and was low. He picked up basically stock midnight purple 180sx which ended up being his drift car up until a few weeks ago.



«C's Garage» isn't really a business at all, although Adam fab's up Billspeer Knuckles and other steering related parts, we still just build our cars for fun, just a hobby really.

Q: Your cars are known to be really well built and what is maybe even more important for us — really good looking and in great style. What or who did you learn from? Where do you find ideas? Why did you choose that style — being extremely low, clean and good looking?

A: I think the first time we took proper notice of low drift cars was Matt Powers car back in 2007.



it was tucking 17's all sick, with the aero touching the ground, and I think thats when we decided we wanted cars like that. Tommy's onevia was also a huge inspiration for my yellow car, I think I originally modelled my wheel sizing from him.

From there, our interested switched to the early japanese d1 guys. Haruguchi, Koguchi, Itai, Taniguchi and all the rest. I still look at those guys cars all the time, there cars will be forever cool I think. These guys are pretty much our main inspiration these days.

Q: Now to drifting. I have seen lots of photos and videos of you two going sideways. But everything i have seen shows that you are not pros, meaning you always do it for fun, I haven't seen any materials of you in competitions. Is it true, or wrong, and in any case, speak a little on the matter of professional and competitive drifting.



A: Yep, drifting to us is just for fun. I guess we would rather just drift at track days with friends, than spend more money competing and getting less track time. In saying that, we have nothing against the pro guys. D1NZ here in New Zealand seems really well run, and theres quite alot of hype behind it, which inturn I guess helps drifting in NZ. Although I we haven't been too a D1 round in years, I think we need to go watch one soon.

That goes for the American d1 guys aswell. Although we might not like the cars, and the driving style or whatever, I'm not gonna bag on them. They do there thing and everyone else does theres, its not hurting anyone really.

Q: Recently we found ouf that Adam has some changes meaning all that goodbye to the purple car stuff.This car can be called an idol (as well as yours, Joel) for lots of people around the world and now we hear that it is going to disappear. What is going on?)

(This is the last photo we got before he ripped it apart.(c) C's Garage website)


A: Haha, kind of a funny story behind that. Adam recently brought a s14 in Japan to bring back to NZ to use as a base for his new build. It just so happened that it was timed so I could drive it while I was on holiday over there.



I did 3 track days in the car, one at Meihan where I got to see Noaki Nakamura and pals drift, which was awesome, and the other day at a small track called Mikawa Sportsland. The 3rd track day we met up with Jesse Streeter and Rob Riter at Suzuka Twin. They were running it in reverse, which ment it had an awesome wall entry, but the entry was a left hand turn, so kind of like a mirrored Meihan. The first session Jesse, Rob and I had some fun as runs driving together. But about mid way through the second session, I understeered on entry, and straight lined down the wall, and as I went to turn late to get round the corner, I must have underestimated my speed or something, and the back came round and I hit a load of tyres that were surrounding a concrete island on the far side of the corner. It was a really lame way to crash the car, so I was pretty bummed. We managed to pull out the damage, so I could get out there for a few more runs with Rob, but the car was pretty much wrecked. Adam wasn't phased though, which was great. He simply replyed to my story via email saying «haha, you owe me a shell then.»

Adam's just found a new S14 shell here, which he's going to start building up as soon as the little corolla we have been building is out of the garage. The S14 will be using the engine and a bunch of other parts from the 180sx. Stance USA has just come onboard with us, so we look forward to using there suspension in both our cars.

Q: The world's drifting and low cars community is really large, and mast people know outstanding personalities like C's Garage, Matt Powers, Tommy Roberts, Risky Devils and many others. Do you contact with any of them, or do you see any of them as an inspiration?

A: I guess we see all those guys as inspiration. Although we love a nice drift car, it isn't just because it may have the coilovers wound right down. I think people are focusing way to much on how wheels fit a car, and how low it is, and really losing out on other aspects which make a cool car awesome. We have never really got into the whole stance/hellaflush kind of thing. We like cars that are a whole package, not just look cool.



(to be continued...some day...)