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Japanese News came to USA to cover Mini Trks.

Discussion in 'Mini Lounge' started by TRAX and HORNS, Aug 20, 2016.

  1. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Interesting weekend. So we had a Japanese news team come to Texas that wanted to a story on how we use mini trks. as opposed to how they are used in Japan. Example, here we would be using them for hunting and work trks. on the farm/ranch. They approached a importer and a few other dealers and they declined to do anything with them because there was no $ involved, bottom line. Sad when you get into that mode. Sometimes it's not about money. But I said, bring it on, my information is free from the simple standpoint of wanting to grow this mini trk industry. We did a interview at our shop in Austin,Tx then we took them to our ranch in Blanco, Tx.
    We took two trks, a Suz and a Dai. Both rigged up for hunting. I invited Gary from South Texas who is a professional bow hunter. Gary just came back from a hunt in New Zealand. He was pumped up about doing a interview with the Japanese news team. I sold Gary a 2000 efi Daihatsu about 5 or 6 yrs. ago. Being a welder he has created a all around work/hunting rig. Gary has owned just about every utility vehicle in the USA market but says the mini trk is the best thing money can buy. His truck is wearing 14" wheels, beefed up front suspension, big front bumper/winch, heavy duty rear bumper, desert sand color and two tool boxes in the bed. He will never own anything else, he said, Ever.
    Anyway we created a few fake hunting arrangements to give the general public in Japan what we use the mini trks for here. The producer of the news team was overwhelmed with our builds, going from a street legal vehicle in Japan to a ultimate hunting vehicle here in the states.
    The guys from Japan were great, fun to be around and very interested in our trucks.
    The producer wanted to get a few pictures with his personal camera and didn't know he was standing in a bed of fire ants. He went to hooping around, taking his shoes off, throwing his socks off and rubbing his ankles.
    I said " Welcome to Texas". After the shoot we cooked up some deer burgers and deer sausage and had a few adult beverages.
    Their next stop was GR Imports to get a ideal of what the parts business was about here in the states.
    The shoot will be aired in Japan sometime in Sept. Oct. on TV . I think the interpreter said it was like our Public Broad Cast Station(PBS).
    I'm doing this on my iPad right now but will get a few pictures up soon.
    Thanks to all you guys for buying mini trks. Because without you believing in them we would not have this market in the USA or Canada.
    Cheers,
    Terry Bearden
    TB Tractors/Trax and Horns Mini Trks
    Austin,Tx
    Grand Imports
    Austin,Tx
    Texas Motor Sports(Yamaha's since 1973)
    Killeen,Tx
     

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    Last edited: Aug 20, 2016
  2. Jim Nelson

    Jim Nelson Active Member

    Thanks for doing that Terry,the mini business here needs all the help it can get,as you know better than most it's a tough nut to crack.
     
    fmartin_gila likes this.
  3. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Mr. Nelson,
    Thanks for the post. These days with wholesale prices as they are I shifted attention to more farm equipment than mini trks. I still pick up a truck off the street every now and then and run it though the shop. After we finish the voodoo on it they always sale. As you know the industry took a whoopen after the epa deal. Fast forward to 2016 there are a few players brining in the 25 yr. old trucks now. Today the only one I know doing the 25 yr. old trucks that I would buy from is Kent Gun in North Carolina(Indian Trail Motor Company). 25 yr old trucks are going to have issues with radiators, vacuum lines, timing belts ect. Kent is the only one I know, as of today, that takes the time to check these things before he sells them. Everyone else is just brining them in and flipping them. Recently I have met Amir in New York which is a 25 yr. old truck importer and I'm in the process of vetting him. Time will tell.
    Good to hear from you.
     
    fmartin_gila likes this.
  4. Jdmonealp

    Jdmonealp Member

    Last edited: Aug 22, 2016
  5. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Gin, the interpreter said they were with you. I was excited about their excitement.
     
    Jdmonealp likes this.
  6. Ronin

    Ronin Active Member Supporting Member

  7. fmartin_gila

    fmartin_gila Well-Known Member

    Ronin, I would like to see it too, but since TV is so crappy here I'll have to wait till it does hit UT. If you notice it please let us know.

    Fred
     
  8. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    From what Gin told me it most likely be around the end of Sept. before it's hits the air waves.
    They are supposed to send me a copy.
     
  9. Jarlath Keary

    Jarlath Keary New Member

    We had this aired on the tv here in Japan just tonight. Was really nice to see how you guys over in the US and Canada use the Kei trucks.

    I actually export cars from here in Nagoya, but this has got me interested in starting to export some kei trucks to you guys that side of the Pacific and even in to Europe.

    Im actually originally from Ireland and my dad has a kei truck over there on his farm , Suzuki Carry 4x4.
     
  10. TRAX and HORNS

    TRAX and HORNS Well-Known Member

    Cool. I'll have to make a call and get my copy. They weren't joking when they said it would air in Sept.
     
  11. shogun

    shogun Active Member

  12. Ronin

    Ronin Active Member Supporting Member

    New baby on deck, strange/busy times... missed it.

    It'll pop up on Youtube in a bit.
     
  13. Anthony Maco

    Anthony Maco New Member

    Hello guys, i heard about this news by two car dealers here in japan just two days ago, i went to them to ask if they have some mini Suzuki van or mini trucks for sale then they told me that they saw on the tv about japan mini trucks making wave now in the states, they said they will rather sell to someone shipping to the states rather than sell locally, but i just got to know about this just two days ago, will love to see the news on UT soon.
    we are japan licence car scrap yard, we buy all kinds of car and scrap for parts, we also ship cars to various parts of Africa but not to the states yet, because of this information we are looking at shipping some of our trucks to your area.
     

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