Lone Racer - MR2 Short Film

[@RetraCast]

Thanks to Cxldr3 for doing the music on this one. Check his channel out if you’re into retro game soundtracks like Jet Set Radio and Ridge Racer. And special thanks to Maddie for bringing her Miata out too. Overall a chiller and more low key cinematic compared to Midship Retra, but I had fun experimenting with different kinds of shots and styles. Also a fun behind the scenes fact is the video originally had a film grain applied to it but KZbin compression absolutely killed the look and made it blocky and messy. So I had to remove it in the end. The Celica was also meant to star as the main car, but it wouldn’t start when I went get it. So my dad’s MR2 was used. I know it’s been a long gap since Midship Retra, but coming next, I have a bit of a channel style rebirth in the works. I hope I can nail it down how I want, but we’ll see when we get there. Either way, expect some new videos coming hopefully soon.

[@gerrittosborne633]

This is by far the my favorite video you’ve put out. Hit me in da feels and got me to laugh when you sprinted back to the car to chase the miata lol

[@ryanm.9363]

I JUST got myself an MR2 and of course in my months of bumming around on the internet trying to learn about them in advance of my purchase I found your channel and your slow resto project on yours. Really appreciate the vibes of your journal entry type videos that just take people along on your journey without polishing the "what happened" part out and making the presentation clean. I look forward to tackling a lot of the same things you did, so big thanks to you for your time invested! While that's what brought me to you, it's cool seeing you trying to broaden your creative horizons with your more recent content, like this one. Whatever direction you take this, I hope you take your time and enjoy the journey it takes you on! I'll be checking in regularly to see :)

[@stevendixon6057]

I'm a relative old-timer, and this captures so much of the experience of being a JDM-loving car guy in the late 90s and early 2000s. Me and a few pals battling on empty country roads in our shitboxes, our cars being our only escape from small town boredom. The endless hours parked at Buzzard Bay watching for headlights, and hoping they weren't attached to a Crown Vic or Impala. Even having "that cassette" in the glovebox, though it was a lot more likely to be Zeppelin or Deftones than gamer vibes or Eurobeat back in the day. At the time, we felt like such odd ones out: we were driving Japanese cars because we couldn't afford Camaros like the cool kids, anime was still called "japanimation" and was passed around on bootleg VHS tapes, and we lugged around massive CRTs to play N64 and eventually Xbox at our friends' houses because ain't nobody in rural America buying a flat panel TV in 2002. It's surreal but amazing to see that era -- the "80s kid experience" -- being viewed through the lens of a new generation as a special time and place, because in hindsight, it really was.

[@RetraCast]

This is very much the vibe I was going for story wise but as you said, from a newer generation of people. Just the feeling of nostalgia for an era and place you didn’t even live in.

[@daddylonglegs2518]

@@RetraCast good ol anemoia

[@Traspable]

Hell yeah, as a 21 year old I love listening to Deaftones on the Touge.

[@clevertechbot]

this is beautiful writing

[@ryanm.9363]

Well said; not a rural kid and I was born 89, but the vibes on the CRTs and bumming around with buddies as the odd ones out definitely hit for me too. Thanks for sharing your experiences

[@Cxldr3]

happy you chose me to contribute! thanks again

[@suderp8583]

man this video hits home. with school and living far from where the usual meets take place, it does get pretty lonely haha. keep up the vids, frickin love them!

[@enigmajoe]

This hits my nostalgia pretty hard - you invoked a sense of loss for me. I still have my MR2, just different times that go along with it. The lone racer vibe happens all too often nowadays.

[@threeam____]

Great story telling. So much said without a single word being spoken.

[@ValentineC137]

0:10 Me when I get a notification about a new Retra video

[@clevertechbot]

wow rly impressed w Retracast’s cinematography skills. dude is one of KZbin’s rising stars.

[@Kosoku63]

it's a good day when retra uploads

[@warwiki4907]

I swear this channel deserves so much more attention the videos like these, while time consuming are just beautiful

[@amitdhanda6482]

Bruh I just randomly came across your page because I wanted to see what a Fiat 124 Spider looked like but now I’m in love with your videography skills. Really don’t understand how you’re so underrated.

[@80hdpadre66]

There’s… there just so much to love and gasp in happiness/nostalgia in this. Thank you

[@eVerProductions1]

The music for chasing the Miata is really quality

[@mohammadyahyabhoja116]

Loved the cinematics, the plot and everything about this video is so nostalgic and good. Great work and more to come for sure!

[@TheBilliardCorner]

Very well made, love the cinematic!

[@TerranceMoore]

You have an amazing aesthetic to your videos… love it 🔥

[@thegamingguy1]

This video spoke to my soul

[@ComicalSpy]

God I just absolutely love watching these

[@Nvdp0103]

Not one word was said, yet an entire story was told. Good job man.

[@deletemii3312]

I just got a shitty 92 civic and your videos of working and restoring the mr2 have definitely inspired me to work on this car

[@Mike-rk8px]

Great movie, great car! It’s hard to fault the MR2 (as long as it isn’t in bad shape) because it just does everything so well. Have you ever considered getting a second generation MR2? They were made from 1990-99 and are really incredible to drive. They extreme sharp lines and squareness of the series one is gone, it often got called a “baby Ferrari”, which it does look like. It’s faster than the series one, better built, bigger, has a much better suspension, handles better. The turbo version is very fast, but even the normally aspirated engine is fast.

[@RetraCast]

I’m fully aware of the second gen. I don’t have one or plan on getting one, but my friend has a one that he swapped a Beams engine into. I filmed a series on the process which you can find on my channel. The car also appears in my last video, Midship Retra. Both our MR2s race each other at the end.

[@GlideorDieSwimbaits]

this guy should have way more then 5.7k subs

[@madisonmoore5508]

So fun Josh!!! Glad I got to help!!! 😊

[@RyanFooproof]

Excellent storytelling! Your work never fails to amaze me.

[@patrick3217]

This was beautifully done!

[@siggy2609]

Bro you're never going to believe this. So for context I've fallen in love with the aw11 in the past few months and your videos have been a massive influence on that, and I've been considering getting one when I can afford both the car and the insurance. I'll be turning 21 next year meaning I'll be able to do takeaway deliveries after work to raise funds for an mx5 as my first sports car and then the aw11. Now here's the kicker. Today I discovered that behind a wall at my work there's a white aw11 and a silver 1st gen roadster. Now, both are in extremely rough shape, the aw11 more so than the roadster. However I am still going to ask the landlord if I could go into that yard and check both cars out, and if he has the keys I'll inspect them as close as I can and get some people i know to help with identifying problems. However I'm not holding out too much hope as 1) the place they're sitting in used to be a breakers yard and 2) the yard has been flooded pretty heavily in the past so the cars may be just too uneconomical to repair. I'm not that concerned about spending more money than I'll get out, but if I have to go over literally the whole car then there's just no point, as sad as it may be. I suppose if they're still there by the time I do get an mx5/aw11 I could just use them as donor cars

[@RetraCast]

Sounds like a movie if it all works out

[@theredshift180sx]

Did you get your mr 2 painted blue?

[@SunogPunch]

So good

[@butterfliesandtape]

Mega, and leaving me so confused. Is this a new addition to the garage or a wrap, or ??? Top work. Love this movie ❤

[@drivewithanam]

Man, I knew this video was gonna be good without even watching it! Now that I watched it, I couldn't help but relate to it! Awesome job, and all the best for future videos!

[@Jrggr05]

Amazing video loved the vibes on this one

[@thegamingguy1]

Had to come back and revisit this one 🙏 hope to see more from you soon!

[@RetraCast]

Been busy with work but I’ve had a few things cooking in the background. Hoping to make a regular schedule return by the end of the year.

[@CascadePanda]

Amazing work as always!

[@MasonFPS]

So...you bought another AW11? Great videos man! Found you from the Woodsport BC lip install video (I'm installing one on mine currently) and I binged every one of your videos! Keep it up man, great stuff!

[@RetraCast]

The blue one is actually my dads, he bought one after me.

[@MasonFPS]

@@RetraCast oh, nice! Red vs Blue!

[@Josstuka]

Art

[@triston5540]

This was pretty dope! Live action initial d basically, and it was pretty cool

[@aleqs1712]

i miss you

[@maxsanchez4256]

I like the film, especially all the racing and car stuff. I'm Initial D fan, and I found this film on initial d reddit. Keep up the good work in a healthy way. Good job af!

[@RetraCast]

Thanks man, if you’re an Initial D fan though you should see my last video, Midship Retra if you haven’t yet. Compared to this it’s basically a live action Initial D attempt

[@maxsanchez4256]

@@RetraCast checking it out now

[@fourexample7448]

Just found your channel recently. Super good work man

[@isaiahm6241]

so underated

[@mvaldez5626]

gotta love toyotas!!

[@dan-othemando7958]

I wish I knew more about fixing cars....I can only do Maintenance......But seeing you restore an Mr2 gives me hope!! Also My Aw11 High beam indicator on my dash doesn't work anymore I have changed the bulb and cleaned out the contacts still nothin, I took the turn signal bulb which works and switched them still nothing maybe the polarity tried flipping still nothing....My only guess is its the turn signal Stalk itself but im too afraid to take that apart and that part is kinda expensive....Any Thoughts? Thanks Lots!!

[@angelgutierrez8235]

God bless you

[@CuleradiPL]

Amazing video Josh! Keep it up!

[@sethwynn6569]

This is the most relatable thing I ever seen great video 👍⛩👺

[@panthermodern6572]

This is awesome! I'd add more engine sounds if I were you, but otherwise it's perfect!

[@RetraCast]

That is my goal moving forward. I tried it a bit this video but it was more a test than anything

[@panthermodern6572]

@@RetraCast I'd give my five cents, if you don't mind: try also taking some techniques from driving scenes in anime/movies. Edgar Wright's Baby Driver is a must-watch in that case, dude absolutely nailed car cinematography. The way he shows how road situation affects the driver's actions and how driver's actions then affect the car is incredible. Looking forward to your new videos!

[@RoushiTei]

Bro i want a full series or something.

[@tommyshommy]

Amazing 🤩

[@shidanli]

well done.. miss my mr2s.. T.T

[@adam.mai_9075]

Great video!Want to travel to the80s/90s sooo bad T_T

[@NotMellon]

AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH THE VIBES ARE SO FUCKING GOOD

[@7tj637]

Can u make a video on How you imported your Zhiguli and What apps u used to buy the parts for your car? Btw I’m also from WA.

[@WildKingGorilla]

sick

[@goos6168]

Awesome work, i really think your videos could benefit from little flashy animations

[@owoitsurmom]

this is actually so fucking cool

[@B_-.-]

I've met so many cool people, but I can never make it stick for more than about five minutes.

[@racingsnipes]

You made a short documentary on me hahahaha

[@kyoto3303]

Dude this is sick! What camera did you use it looks amazing! Dope video 👍

[@RetraCast]

My Fujifilm X-T4

[@therealboofighter]

So sad......

[@maxsinventions8913]

Oh and that Miata. It was a 60yo lady , and worst of all, it's an auto and they don't even know the name of the engine.

[@maxsinventions8913]

I'll drive with you bby

[@user-jj6xd9vj7x]

first 🫡,