Marc Holstein can is German, but he’s a big fan of Japanese culture—and an even bigger fan of Japan’s fascinating motorcycle scene. This accomplished photographer divides his time between Frankfurt and Tokyo, is a regular at the hugely popular Mooneyes exhibition, and has been behind the workshop doors of some of Japan’s most mysterious builders.
Marc’s latest adventure takes him two hours northeast of Tokyo, to the picturesque coastal town of Oarai for the annual Oarai Sun Beach Sand Flat race weekend.
Now in its second year, the Oarai Sun Beach Sand Flat event is a return to the American beach race of the 1940s. A few hundred classic bicycles and cars descended on the sunny seaside town for the weekend, kicking up sand and flirting with the Pacific surf on the 1/10-mile track, while plenty the audience cheered them.
The emphasis is on style; captures the atmosphere of the golden age of beach racing. But even though the vehicles and competitors look like they’ve just stepped out of a time capsule, the retro feel doesn’t detract from their competitive edge.
“Unlike some events I have seen in Europe which tend to focus more on the show, this event is all about serious racing and beating the competition,” Marc told us. “The skill level and speed of the participants was truly impressive and it was inspiring to see such a significant number of female riders taking part too.”
“Among the standouts at the event was Kazuo Fukada from the family-owned Buddy Navy bike shop in Yokohama. Both he and his son Kosuke were famous for their speed on the track and their expertise in building Harley Davidson engines. Kazuo’s daughter, Mizuki, not only races but also excels in creative graphic design and excels as a flag girl.”
“Another notable rider that caught my attention was Atsushi ‘Sushi’ Yasui, he accelerated relentlessly through various categories and provided stiff competition, especially in the finals ’45’ finish, where he was finally defeated by Kazuo. Sushi also heads the company Freewheelers, famous for its leather jackets and cutting-edge clothing.”
“Overall, it was a great event with lots of great people and I enjoyed meeting and interacting with everyone there.”
Appropriately, Marc shot almost everything at the Oarai Sun Beach Sand Flat over the weekend on Kodak Gold 200 film (minus the high-speed panning shots, which were captured with his digital equipment). We’ve selected 34 of his best images for your reference—so refill your glass, peruse the galleries on this page, and start planning your next trip to Oarai .
Photos by, and with special thanks to, Marc Holstein.
