The Land Cruiser has connected people across the globe, fostering its own unique culture over decades. Sadayoshi Koyari, former Chief Engineer and widely known as “Mr. Land Cruiser,” has spent years at the forefront of its development journey.
This time, he set his sights on America, embarking on a five-day trip exploring the world that revolves around the Land Cruiser.

Day 1 | To the Sacred Land of Speed – Bonneville

Discovering American car culture on the white expanse

On the night of September 4, we arrived in Salt Lake City. Still feeling the effects of jet lag and the long flight, we set out the next morning for our first destination in the U.S. – the vast Bonneville Salt Flats in Utah.
Our goal was to experience the “Test & Tune & World of Speed 2025” event, held from September 5 to 8.

This was also the opening day for Rob Tygart of Rusty Nail Racing, a man who has competed in the North American off-road race “The MINT 400” behind the wheel of a Land Cruiser 45. Daniel arrived in his impressive Cruiser Limousine to pick us up, and after a two-and-a-half-hour drive, the endless white landscape began to unfold before our eyes.
It was a moment when the origin of the name “Salt Lake” became visually clear.

Leaving the freeway and heading deeper into the flats, we soon spotted the “Bonneville Salt Flats” sign. Beyond it lay a scene already bustling with cars and people.
After checking in, we entered the pit area, where vehicles of every kind were lined up – from classic cars to motorcycles – a vivid display of diversity.

Bonneville itself is a perfectly flat salt pan stretching roughly 19 km long and 8 km wide, a place where countless land speed events have been held and world records set.
Standing there, surrounded by the scale of the landscape and the variety of machines and enthusiasts, you can’t help but straighten your posture.

We made our way to the starting line where Rob’s Land Cruiser 45 was being readied.
A quiet line of vehicles waited their turn, and among them, we spotted Rob’s familiar machine and exchanged greetings.

Then, the moment came – the start.

Watching the Land Cruiser 45 surge forward across the white expanse, I was struck by the vastness of America and the depth of its automotive heritage.

Rob’s record that day: 87.79 mph (141.3 km/h) – an impressive feat for a Land Cruiser 45.
His driving – shaped by his off-road racing background – and the durability of his machine left a lasting impression.

After witnessing the competition, we returned to Salt Lake City.
That evening, we attended the VIP premiere of "Expedition GREENLAND", the official pre-event for the next day’s Cruiser Fest 2025.
The film captured the challenge of venturing into Greenland’s icy wilderness, radiating a spirit of adventure and courage.
The determination to face harsh environments mirrored the Land Cruiser’s ethos – a commitment to keep challenging, no matter the terrain.

And so, our first day in America came to a close – a day spent in the sacred land of speed, encountering the people and connections that orbit around the Land Cruiser.

Next, We’ll bring you the story from CruiserFest 2025 in Salt Lake City.