A few weeks ago, myself, Dylan, and Cole hit the road for Kelowna, and it was one for the books. Our main mission? To attend the highly anticipated After Hours Night Show 2024, but as usual, we packed in a lot more than just the event.
Before the show began, we took the opportunity to shoot a rare gem—a left-hand drive Nissan C130 Laurel, owned and imported by our buddy Reid. This car is a true unicorn in North America, having been brought in from Europe. Reid’s been working hard modifying it, as you may have seen in the last video. Capturing the Laurel in the golden Kelowna light with its aggressive stance and intricate details was an experience. The car looked incredible with its one-of-a-kind modifications in such a unique environment.
After wrapping up the Laurel shoot, it was time to head back to the hotel and prepare for the main event. The After Hours Night Show did not disappoint. The variety of cars was insane—everything from JDM legends to lowriders and classics. Every corner of the venue had something new to check out, with enthusiasts showcasing their rides with pride. It was awesome to connect with other car lovers and soak in the incredible builds, unique mods, and just the overall vibe of the night.
The next morning, before we headed home, we met up with a couple of friends with an FC RX7 and an AE86 Levin, both being true icons for any drift or classic JDM fans. The shoot was going smoothly but unfortunately, we had some problems with the cameras and couldn’t film this segment the way we planned, which was a bit of a letdown. But we still managed to capture some killer photos of the cars in action.
A few days after getting back, we decided the camera had been off long enough. We picked things back up by filming some behind-the-scenes footage at the warehouse. With a few new retro light-up signs to install, we had some fun styling the space, adding that classic vintage feel. The whole process turned into a bit of a comedy show, but it all came together.
After wrapping up at the warehouse, we decided to take my Honda Beat out for one last photo session before the insurance runs out. We headed to Richmond for the shoot, capturing the Beat in all its kei-car glory. It was great shooting the car in some of my favourite locations but it was a bit bittersweet knowing it’ll be off the road for a while.
We ended the day by taking our friend TJ, who had come up from the USA, to the Richmond Night Market. It was his first time there, and his reactions to the bustling atmosphere, amazing food, and wild displays were priceless. We got to show him a little slice of local culture, and it was the perfect way to cap off the weekend.
Our biggest drop EVER on the Checkpoint store is now live!
We have spent the last month following our Pop-Up Shop collecting, inventorying and uploading the most eclectic and carefully curated inventory list to our store.
Most items are one-of-one, so make sure you get that item you have your eye on before somebody else does.
Everything released in the drop is currently listed online, check it all out on the Checkpoint Japan Online Store.
