Chapter 2. Falling for BMW

2-1: Mr. Kimura’s Childhood and Teens

— Were you a car enthusiast from childhood?

Yes. I’m from the supercar generation, and my father loved cars, so naturally I grew to love them too. When I was in elementary and middle school, my father, who started his business around the time I was born, drove American luxury cars and Mercedes-Benz. As a kid, I thought, “Wow, that’s amazing and cool.”

In my late teens, I started thinking, “If I buy a car, I want a Mazda RX-7.” Back then, it was trendy to drive aggressively on mountain roads and Osaka’s Hanshin Expressway. I dreamed, “Once I get my license, I want to drive the RX-7 on mountain roads.”

— So was your first car an RX-7 after getting your license?

No, actually… I got my license right after turning 18 and planned to buy an RX-7. Looking at used car magazines, I thought, “400,000 to 500,000 yen… I can buy one if I work hard at part-time jobs!” But when I told my father, he said:

“No! You should drive a sturdier car! I’ll buy it for you!”

Embarrassingly, I was a typical privileged kid, and my father had lost my older brother in an accident, so he didn’t want to lose me to a traffic accident.

He recommended a Volvo as a sturdy car, but at the time, Volvos were jokingly called “driving bricks” (laughs), and as a teenager wanting an RX-7, I wasn’t attracted to it. When I told my father this, he said, “Okay, then let’s check out BMW.” That’s how I first visited a BMW showroom.

— I understand your father’s concern and care…

At that time, during the bubble economy, BMW 3 Series were called “Roppongi Corolla.” I had a prejudice thinking, “BMWs won’t get you any girls!” so I wasn’t keen on visiting the showroom.

I was a naive young man who thought, “RX-7s with loud engines are definitely cooler!” (laughs)

But then, at the BMW showroom, one car caught my eye: the BMW 635CSi. A luxury car costing over 10 million yen, called the “world’s most beautiful coupe.” I was instantly captivated by its elegant, sporty vibe and asked my father to buy it for me.

— Wow… getting a new BMW right after getting your license…

Sorry, it’s embarrassing even to say. That BMW 635CSi was amazing. “What is this fun handling and engine? So this is BMW’s ‘joy of driving’!” I became a BMW fan, forgetting about the RX-7.

Until I was over 30, I wanted to keep driving BMWs rather than Porsches or Ferraris.

2-2: To the Circuit with BMW

— Did you continue driving BMWs after that?

Yes. I drove several BMWs and owned an M3 at 31, which was an eye-opening experience. I thought I knew BMW’s greatness, but the M-badged BMW amazed me even more.

Though the ride was a bit harsher, it sharpened BMW’s driving performance and sporty nature, making even city driving very enjoyable.

— Why did you start circuit driving then?

I liked tuning cars, so I modified the M3’s wheels and suspension for my satisfaction. But “tweaking a finely balanced car causes various issues.” I ended up visiting several shops specializing in BMW tuning and repairs, finally settling at one with a strong circuit focus.

Listening to the staff and customers there, I gradually became interested in circuits, even though I initially had no interest. One day, I was invited to drive on the circuit together, and at 33, I drove Okayama International Circuit for the first time.

— Have you been hooked on the circuit ever since?

Not exactly. The first time driving the M3 on the circuit was fun, but maintenance costs became huge, and I thought, “I can’t keep this up.” Still, I started entering races.

I joined the Euro Cup, a grassroots race mostly featuring foreign cars, to test how my driving stacked up and what level I was at.

— My husband is also hooked on Gran Turismo, trying to see if his driving skills measure up (laughs).

I totally get that. I practiced Gran Turismo on PlayStation more seriously than my own kids (laughs). What started as lighthearted racing turned into a full obsession. I practiced at least twice a month, trying to shave off tenths of a second and gain even one position, pouring all my pocket money into tuning.

But tuning increased the risk of breakdowns, so it was a cycle of fixing and breaking—quite tough.

— Did your wife say anything about this?

At first, she opposed and criticized it, but eventually she gave up, thinking “No use arguing, just do as you please.” (laughs) Then one rainy day, I crashed badly on the circuit when the tires lost grip. I was fine, but the car was nearly totaled.

I was really down, thinking, “I’ve spent so much money, played around, and wrecked a precious car… what a fool I am.” I stayed away from racing and circuits for 4-5 years.

2-3: Wanting a Porsche GT3

— What kind of car life did you have after that?

During my break from circuits and racing, I enjoyed BMW sports sedans but always thought, “Someday I want a Porsche GT3.”

“If the BMW M3 is this fun, the Porsche GT3 must be unbelievably fun.”

Having experienced circuits, I realized Porsche is amazing. The M3 requires costly brake and radiator upgrades for circuit use, but Porsche doesn’t need any of that. You can take it straight from the showroom to the circuit and it performs incredibly.

Also, oil and water temperatures remain stable even after many laps, allowing consistent lap times. Other cars can’t do that. Porsche invests heavily in unseen areas beyond just specs.

— So that performance is Porsche’s true appeal?

Yes. It’s amazing that Porsche combines circuit-ready performance with everyday usability. The high quality backed by German craftsmanship is a major attraction.

Among my acquaintances, many who started circuit driving with other brands switched to Porsche and never looked back. Seeing that, I’ve set my ultimate circuit car goal as the GT3. That’s the dream of any car lover.

— Why not buy one now? (laughs)

N-no… new ones are way too expensive. But actually, I’ve been to Porsche dealers, picked options, and almost ordered a GT3—twice!

Both times, I canceled at the last minute. I started thinking, “Maybe the GT3 isn’t ready for me yet.” People around me even say, “Kimura-san isn’t meant to have a GT3.” (laughs)

Then about eight years ago, I spotted a Ferrari for consignment sale.

→【Next Page】 Bringing a Ferrari to the Circuit Leads to Crazy Things…