An Isle of Wight car club formed by a group of friends with a shared passion for Japanese vehicles has scooped a top award at Japfest, with JDM Island being crowned Small Car Club of the Show at Goodwood on Saturday (3rd October).
The Island-based group travelled across the Solent with 7 cars to attend the Japanese car event at Goodwood, marking its final show of the year in style.
JDM Island was established around 2 to 3 years ago after a group of local enthusiasts realised there was a lack of dedicated clubs on the Isle of Wight for owners and fans of Japanese Domestic Market (JDM) vehicles.
Original members Robert Polley, Jamie Fickling, Samantha Dyer, Ian Bradbury, Dave Compton and Charlie Harris came together to create the group, which has since grown into a community of Japanese car enthusiasts from across the Island.
The club now has 186 members in its Facebook group, bringing together men and women of all ages who share an interest in Japanese vehicles.
Its members own a wide variety of cars, ranging from vehicles worth around £600 to a Nissan Skyline GT-R valued at an estimated £220,000 to £230,000.
Despite being based on the Isle of Wight, the club regularly travels to events across the country, attending around 5 or 6 mainland shows each year alongside local motoring events.
Last year, around 20 vehicles from the group attended a major gathering at Goodwood, while 7 made the journey for Saturday’s Japfest event.
The award was a proud achievement for the club, which has continued to grow since being established by its original group of friends.
In a heartwarming gesture, members decided to give the trophy to the 9-year-old son of one of the group’s members who regularly attends meets with his dad, allowing him to display the award on his bedroom wall.
The club says it welcomes enthusiasts of all ages, with its growing membership reflecting the popularity of Japanese cars across the Isle of Wight.
Saturday’s success rounded off the group’s show season with recognition on the mainland, highlighting what a relatively small Island-based community of car enthusiasts has achieved in just a few years.
Organisers iof the group have said that anyone wating to join can find the club at JDM_Island on Facebook.
