One of the surprise hits of this summer's movie season was Universal's The Fast and the Furious, which dramatized a new kind street racing utilizing import cars rather than rebuilt hot rods or classic American muscle cars.  This kind of street racing actually started in Japan, where it has developed cult status thanks at least in part to those sexy Asian Race Queens (see 'Tokyopop Adds Soundtracks, J-Idols, Race Queens').  Now Tokyopop is releasing two documentaries that explore Southern California's street racing culture.  Both Street Fury-Gold and Street Fury-Red are available on DVD (at $19.95) and VHS ($14.99).  Each volume contains tips on enhancing cars, racing footage, and a cutting edge mix of sexiness and Jackass-style comedy.

Street Fury-Gold

The first volume in the series takes you straight to the center of Southern California's import car racing scene.  With an in-depth look at the rides, the events, clubs, shops, and girls that make the import 'lifestyle' so irresistible, Street Fury Gold provides an overall picture of the scene as well as some close-ups of Race Queen Aiko Tanaka.

Street Fury-Red

Street Fury-Red will debut a month after Gold -- and if anything this is a 'racier' documentary that concentrates on the illicit side of the Import Car scene -- the late night street races and the outrageous after parties.  Of course there are still more tips on modifying cars for top performance.

These documentaries represent Tokyopop's first attempt at producing live action cinema set in the U.S.  The Spangler Brothers, Tyler and Travis, directed both of the Street Fury films, which were produced by Christopher Coppola, Joel Baral, and Tokyopop founder Stuart Levy.  It may seem that the Street Fury documentaries are quite different from the anime and manga titles that Tokyopop has imported, but this entire SoCal scene is actually an import from Japan, where these kinds of 'car clubs' have been active for years.