Recollection Auto Fashion 2025 at Thunderhill Speedway.

In all my years, California was a place I’d never been—until this year’s Recollection Auto Fashion event, hosted at Thunderhill Speedway, that is.

I’d daydreamed for years about taking the time to venture far south into the Sunshine State, just to see if it resembled the place I imagined it would be after looking at it through photographs and endless Hollywood films over time. Recollection Auto Fashion was the big reason to get away from home for a weekend, and the trip we embarked on was certainly one for the books. Fourteen hours of watching the sun come up, and set, observing the foliage and environment change around me as we travelled deeper into a warmer climate, is something I now hope becomes a journey I regularly undertake.

Like my previous entry covering a very yellow RX-7, this story and excursion also launched on zero hours of sleep. Upon finishing my night shift at work, I raced home, quickly packed my camera bag and some clothes, put away some grub, and had an hour to spare before being picked up by Alex and Paul at 3:45 AM. We had a quick rendezvous with our friends Josh, Logan, Zac, and Cynthia at a gas station near the U.S. border, forming our little convoy to head south. Our first stop along the way was in Issaquah, Washington, to pick up our friend TJ. With the sun filling the sky after collecting TJ, we hit the interstate and ventured into what was uncharted territory for me.

With a few brief stops for gas, food, and restroom breaks, the drive progressed, and so did the effects of not getting any rest before leaving. I spent most of the journey through Oregon microsleeping while scrunched up with TJ in the back seat, but the excitement of being in a new and foreign place always brought me back to life. As we got within about an hour of the California border, watching Mt. Shasta grow larger and larger, the reality of how far and how long we had been on the road began to set in. We stopped in the funny little town of Weed, California, just at the base of Shasta. Getting to stretch the legs out and rest near such a monumental landmark while soaking in the California sun for an hour really set the tone for the rest of the night and the drive down. We decided it would be cool to find somewhere to stop around golden hour to shoot both Josh’s and Logan’s cars together.

Paul found us the perfect spot on Google Maps about 30 minutes down the highway—a boat marina on Lake Shasta. The security guard was cool enough to let us park both cars up near the edge of a hill, just catching the very tail end of sunlight as golden hour turned to blue. This wasn’t where I had imagined I would witness my first California sunset, but I certainly had no complaints. The scenery in Northern California is beautiful and untouched, and I now understand why so many people dream of moving there after retirement. Josh’s and Logan’s cars looked exceptional in the opportune lighting with the lake in the background. Many photos were taken, and a bucket list item was checked off for me.

Willows, California—a small and surely quiet little town—would be home for a night to many folks who had travelled from far and wide. It seemed the vast majority of people who had driven from afar were also staying in the same motel as us, which allowed for me to connect with some people I’ve been following on social media for a while. Finally seeing some of their cars in person was a stellar feeling because, let’s be honest, back home, the car scene has certainly seen better days. I have immense appreciation for these builds, all iced out on big wheels with super-tight fitment and nice paint jobs. Perhaps, similarly to my own builds, you can really catch a glimpse of just how much love there is inside of the people who put these machines together, and I really feel that energy when I’m around them.

After admiring the sights in the parking lot, we lined up for some fast food and took a walk through the dimly lit town to the only bar around—the Wrong Way Home Saloon. I can only imagine that the night before RAF is probably the busiest this little dive bar gets all year. Everyone converged here for a few drinks, many laughs, and an exchange of good spirits. For Alex, it was like a high school reunion, reconnecting with people he had known for years. Meeting Denizu, a.k.a. the HYPE MAN of the drift community, was an unexpected surprise. If that guy is making his way out to Cali all the way from Wisconsin, it’s a good sign you’re in the right place. After a few drinks and a few handshakes, we headed back to the motel, where I indulged in three luxurious hours of sleep.

First California sunrise, checked off the bucket list.

Before I even signed up for this trip to film and photograph the event, I YouTube’d coverage of previous Recollection Auto Fashion events and thought, “Yeah, looks cool. Maybe nothing special, maybe not Final Bout, but it looks fun.” I didn’t have high expectations, but I knew it would be better than anything back home, and I was just glad to have a reason to be in California with friends for the first time. A waiver was signed, and five minutes later, we were setting up our booth. The parking lot that would serve as a paddock, began to fill up as cars and drivers arrived, getting ready for a day of good vibes and fun in the sun. I finally got the chance to shake hands with Sal Gomez, from UPRISE, and take a proper look at his S14 in daylight. As the sun warmed things up and the track came to life, I prepped my camera and got to work.

Strolling through the paddock, buzzing with people unloading tools and making final preparations to thrash their cars all day, was refreshing. New faces, new cars, a new place. I typically shoot B-roll for Checkpoint, but this time, I was handling both A & B-roll for the first time. I don’t really stress over filming or photos; as long as I’m having a good time, I can keep rolling and immerse myself in the moment. One thing that has bummed me out a bit since taking on a video role under Checkpoint is missing out on the opportunity to shoot photos as much as I used to. This day, however, I came strapped with a second body—my faithful Canon 6D, the camera I originally learned photography on. I usually try to keep my video camera strictly for video while having another camera ready to run and gun for photos simultaneously really filled that void.

 

 

 

 

After several hours of rolling video while having my eyes filled with tire rubber and being bathed in smoke and enjoying the sights and sounds of this community gathered in one place, it became clear that RAF had levelled up from years previous. The turnout was filled with polished, well-executed builds, each full of character. With drivers whose skills matched the energy of their machines, there was some exceptionally entertaining motoring to be watched. Notable mentions include @jrdori, @nick_goldstar, @sambstreet, @coupe4l, @sg14k, @acolinrx7, and @n_michuda, just to name a few personal favourites. Watching these guys absolutely throw themselves at the wall on the edge of the layout with no show of fear over and over again was captivating.

I had the opportunity to become acquainted @jrdori, the owner of a very sound Levin AE86 hatch. JR has been a Hachiroku owner for a long time, and when you talk to him, you can tell he’s a true 86 guy. I didn’t know what to expect from him on track, having only just discussed 86s with him for a few minutes (I’ve owned 2 very horrible 86’s). If your eyes weren’t glued on JR from the start line, the unmistakable sound of a 4AGE’s belting out independent throttle bodies commands your attention to look his way. Turn your head, and you would see JR driving flat out, using every bit of horsepower and inertia he could bring with him off the entry. If you know 86s, you know how much energy it takes to drive one hard and fast, not to mention how violent it is. Witnessing that kind of commitment isn’t common among 86 owners. JR went on to win RAF’s “Best Lead” award for his driving. I hope to cross paths with JR again this year. Thank you for putting on such a performance in your machine.

Back home, I’m used to seeing drift cars with mismatched panels, monster truck-like suspension, missing headlights, and caved-in quarter panels. I don’t feel particularly enthusiastic about pointing my camera at many things at local drift events due to the lack of effort put into presentation and expression through style. I believe in the art of the machine— and everyone has some degree of creativity sewn within. Seeing nothing but the same old thrashed and beat up cars that resemble beer cans used for target practice really had me feeling like the exciting and vibrant part of the car scene in the lower mainland is dead. Honestly, being at Recollection and being surrounded and somewhat inundated by nothing but beautiful cars was therapeutic. The boys behind RAF have repeated the message of “raising the bar” for Northern California, but I genuinely think their event will inspire people far beyond that and stir the hearts of others far and wide. Bringing so many people together to celebrate the sport of grassroots drifting and high standards is no small achievement.

I hope that Checkpoint and the rest of us from Canada can carry that torch and bring some of that energy back to the true north. I would love to see our own community pulling up to local drift days with the same pride and dedication we witnessed at RAF 2025. I think Recollection Auto Fashion is something special, and the young blood behind it really is nurturing a sleeping giant. I know I speak for many when I say I can’t wait to return in 2026. I hope to drive down in one of my own cars and add more miles and memories to the odometer next year. Contrary to my expectations for RAF 2025, I reckon that RAF will be even bigger and better in 2026, and I can’t wait to make my return to see what RAF has in store for the future.

With all that I am,

Cole/Bole