Everything you need to know about the Japanese Mid-Night Club

The Midnight Club Japan, also known as the Mid Night Club, was an infamous group of illegal street racers that was formed in 1982. They gained notoriety for their high-speed races on the highways surrounding Tokyo, which often took place in the middle of the night. One of the most popular routes preferred by the club was the Bayshore route, a coastal highway stretching from Tokyo to Yokohama.

By Joshua Burnett

Published March 14, 2024

Everything you need to know about the Japanese Mid-Night Club

The members of the Midnight Club Japan were known for their highly modified cars, which were capable of reaching speeds well over 200 miles per hour (MPH). They would race each other on public roads, weaving in and out of traffic at breakneck speeds, often endangering themselves and others.

Despite the danger and illegality of their activities, the Midnight Club Japan had a cult following among car enthusiasts and street racing fans worldwide. Their exploits were chronicled in various magazines and videos, which helped to fuel their charisma and popularity.

Furthermore, there are several car games such as midnight club Los Angeles, midnight club street racing, and more. Moreover, a manga named “Wangan MIDNIGHT” by Michiharu Kusunoki is inspired by the MidNight club and reportedly 17 million copies of the same have been sold. On a side note, it is totally irrelevant but Netflix has also produced a thriller series called “The Midnight Club”. Just for your information, the web series has no connection with midnight club japan.

How to Join Mid-Night Club?

According to reports, the MidNight Club Japan's reign came to an end in the late 1990s, when two of its members and six civilians were gravely injured in a scuffle between the MigNight club and the Tokyo Bosozoku gang.

Furthermore, sources tell that many members are wanted criminals and some have also been arrested and charged with various crimes related to street racing over the years. That said, after Club hid or closed shut its activities as some people like to call them, during this period, the group was remembered as a cautionary tale about the dangers of illegal street racing, and a reminder of the thrill-seeking and risk-taking that can sometimes accompany extreme hobbies and interests.

How to Join Mid-Night Club?

However, in 2019, the Midnight Club resurfaced again with a new Chairman. So, do you want to join one of the most respected car clubs in the world? Well, you can but the conditions are strict since the Mid-Night Racing Team or simply Mid-Night Club is incredibly selective of its members due to concerns related to life-threatening racing matches.

Moreover, there is no known membership fee known in the public domain. Additionally, there is no immediate joining. The process is long. First and foremost, one must be an extraordinarily talented driver with a fast car in possession and he or she should be able to cross the minimum top speed of 160 MPH. Also, one must serve in an apprenticeship period called "Techi" for at least a year if one wants to become a member.

Having said that, if you become a member you get a password that can be used to log in on the MidNight racing team website.

What are some Mid-Night Club member benefits?

There is no doubt that the Mid-Night Club or Racing Team is a group of elite drivers who knows how to bend those incredibly fast cars at their will. There are several benefits of joining the Mid-Night Club but these come at great risk too. Nonetheless, let us look at what Mig-Night Club offers are as follows:

  • Acquaintance with the world-class street racing drivers
  • Chance of becoming an apprentice in the club
  • Chance to follow a strict code of conduct and ethics
  • Chance to participate in adrenaline-filled races
  • Chance to drive, experience, and see a few of the world’s fastest modified cars
  • The secrecy that makes members special and mysterious
  • Mid-Night Club stickers
  • Private socializing opportunities with top racing experts
  • Sharing of technical knowledge about the mods and upgrades
  • Access to OPTION magazine

Mid-Night Club Events?

Currently, every Saturday at midnight, the Mid-Night Club members or Mid-Night Racing Team compete in the Kanto region, Japan. Furthermore, the focus of the midnight club is to defy the laws of physics and archives the highest top speed possible. However, despite being such a marvelous feat and goal, it is an incredibly dangerous aim to strive for as drivers can lose their lives.

Moreover, there are many fights among the club members or with some other gangs which makes it even more of a challenge to disclose the information about the events held by the Mid-Night Club. Hence, the confidentiality and secrecy of many events of the Mid-Night Club are closely guarded.

The cars used by the Midnight Club racing team and members are highly modified and tuned for that gut-punching performance. Their collection includes cars from Porsche, Lamborghini, and Nissan. However, the Midnight Club has also raced the Ferrari F355 and the Porsche 934 and 935. Now let us look at some of the Japanese Midnight Club cars but remember that these are the base models of the later reworked versions.

Nissan GT-R

The Nissan GT-R Skyline was introduced in 1969 but went on a long vacation after 1973. Finally, Nissan decided to review the legendary GT-R name again but this time with the E-BNR32 chassis in 1989. This new third-generation GT-R was called Nissan R32 GTR.

Nissan GT-R

That said, the third generation of GT-R lasted till 1994 and it was powered by a 2.6L Twin-Turbo Inline-6 engine. The club also had the R34 GTR in its fleet but the older cousin manages to catch a lot of attention.

Acura NSX

Acura NSX

In the North American continent, the Honda NSX was branded as Acura NSX. The NSX in its name stands for New Sportcar Experimental. That said, its introduction in 1990, marked a pivotal moment in automotive history. It was the first Japanese supercar, built with the intention of competing with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche. The NSX’s first generation run lasted till 2005. Later in 2017, the Acura NSX made a comeback as a whole new car but ended up getting it in 2022.

Porsche 911s and Carreras

Porsche 911s and Carreras

Several incredible versions of the Porsche 911s and Carreras from the 20th century have been driven by midnight club members. A few notable names include the 911 Turbo Carrera 930, the Porsche 964 Carrera, and the most famous Porsche 930 Turbo Blackbird.

Toyota Supra

Toyota Supra

The Toyota Supra has become a legendary sports car that has gained a reputation as a favorite among car enthusiasts and street racers for many years. It's sleek design and impressive performance have made it a staple in the street racing scene. While there were several versions of the Supra used by members of the Midnight Club, the A80 MKIV of the fourth generation is the most notable one.

Mazda RX-7

Mazda RX-7

The Mazda RX-7 is a legendary sports car that has gained a cult following in the street racing community. However, even if you are not a stereotypical car nerd, you might have heard of the RX-7. Furthermore, the Mazda RX-7 has also won the GTU series championship. That said, the 1979 Mazda RX-7 batch model has an estimated value of $11,152.


 

 

 

 

 

 


FAQs

Why was it called Mid Night Club?

The club was called Mid Night Club because it met at a gas station in Yokohama at midnight. The races would then take place on the Bayshore route and lead to another gas station in Tokyo.

What were the rules of the Mid Night Club?

The Mid Night Club had a strict set of rules that all members were expected to follow. These rules included: No racing on public roads during the day. No racing in residential areas. No racing if there was heavy traffic. No racing if there were pedestrians present. No racing if it was raining or snowing.

Is there a video game based on Midnight Club Japan?

Yes, there is a video game series called Midnight Club that is based on the real-life club. The first game in the series was released in 2000, and the most recent game was released in 2012.

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