Welcome to the Fantasy Zone
This Zone is dedicated to the lesser known elements of anime hosted by the cast of Victory Script.
What weapon is the best?
Who will win in this Death Battle?
Is this costume practical?
You name it, it's all covered here in the Fantasy Zone!
Anyone with an interest in racing games may have at one point played Wangan Midnight or Shutoku Battle on the PlayStation; a few years ago an anime series surfaced about the exploits on the Highway of these drivers but what if I was to tell you it was based on true events?
In 1982 a racing club was formed known as Midnight Club, but it was governed by some strict laws within; first the car you use has to be capable of doing over 250 km/h as it was common for most races to run at 300 km/h, this was to avoid police who had speed limiters at 180 km/h in those days.
All meetings took place at Midnight until Dawn at the Bayshore Wangan route hence the title of the franchise. Members would often use classified coded local newspaper adverts to arrange meetings away from the eyes of Police. Members would also go by titles as to avoid being identified by their real names.
Membership is small and if you are a danger to the public or other members you were kicked out as it is club policy not to endanger the public.
The anime features prominently two cars known as the Devil Z and the Blackbird, an old gen 1 Nissan Z and a Porsche 911 respectively, both cars were in the real Midnight Club.
Above is a replica of the Devil Z as shown in the anime, Below is the real life Devil Z.
But this Club doesn't have a happy ending. In 1999 an encounter with a Bosozoku gang, (basically a neon lit Hell's Angels) ended in a massive highway accident killing two and injuring six others. The club disbanded afterwards and never reformed as their code of safety for the public was broken and the disgrace was too much for them. Surviving members tend to keep quiet about Midnight Club, either staying away from cars or do car tuning as a profession.
It's legacy gave birth to other Street Racing Clubs and I dare say a certain Street Racing movie franchise, heck Dominic Toretto's cursed car is basically an American Devil Z.
Regardless, all Street Racing culture exists because of Midnight Club and the real Wangan Midnight.
End
