Articles

MEDIA SPOTLIGHT: JC MEDIA WORKS

Aug 27, 2026Jesse Herbert

Justin Cerato is a highly accomplished cinematographer and photographer with over 20 years of passion and dedication to visual storytelling. What began as a hobby has evolved into a prolific career spanning thousands of hours behind the lens. A summa cum laude graduate of Bond University (2007), Justin holds a Bachelor of Film, TV & Screen Based Media, majoring in Cinematography. Since then, he has worked in head-of-department roles across feature films, commercials, music videos, photography, and short-form social media content. His extensive experience in editing, compositing, and visual effects allows him to seamlessly handle multiple roles from capture through to final mastering, even on smaller crews. Justin’s work is defined by an authentic edge and a deep appreciation for Brutalism, an aesthetic that embodies simplicity, directness, sharpness, and timelessness. This philosophy shapes his approach, resulting in bold yet understated visuals that cut through the noise. He is currently focused on creating compelling narrative-driven content and greatly enjoys his ongoing collaborations with GNTLMNCLUB and Clubhouse Works on short-form social media projects, with exciting larger-scale work on the horizon. Looking ahead, Justin aims to push creative boundaries through experimental and avant-garde techniques. He is particularly excited about exploring hybrid media, including the fusion of AI visual effects with live-action footage. Long-term, he seeks to build a stronger body of published and licensed work that tells meaningful stories for brands, artists, and publications. Get in touch with JustinInstagram: @jc_media_works (preferred) | Email: info@justincerato.comJustin’s distinctive style and technical mastery continue to elevate the Clubhouse Works spotlight series, delivering visuals that are both striking and enduring.

FIRST LOOK: GCORP S13

Aug 27, 2026Jesse Herbert

The S13 platform has a way of locking people in. For this owner it started the usual way. Longtime love for the s-chassis, constant back and forth between a proper Silvia and a 180SX, then the post-COVID hunt for something that had not been driven into a wall sideways. He found this one up in Melbourne, made the trip, and drove it home. It has not missed a beat since. Under the bonnet sits a still-stock block SR20DET. A Gen 2 2860 sits on top of it, feeding a 45 mm Turbosmart external wastegate and making 225 rwkw. An Apexi Power FC keeps everything in check. Chassis work is straightforward and effective: full set of GKTech adjustable arms and HSD coilovers. The body wears Deep Crystal Blue with a full GCorporation aero package, front bumper, rear bumper and side skirts. Eighteen-inch Enkei ABC Exclusive Glanzens fill the arches. Money is the constant battle. Keeping a 34-year-old Japanese Nissan alive and improving it in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis is not cheap. Then there is the usual detective work that comes with any used S13: tracking down what previous owners did, dealing with rust, and replacing parts that have simply reached the end of their service life. Leaks have been a regular companion. They have at least forced a full refresh of the original lines, but the owner is getting tired of reversing out of the driveway and finding fresh puddles underneath. The car lives mainly as a street machine that still turns up at shows when the schedule allows. A second car is planned for proper drift duty, so this one will stay clear of the track for now. Immediate plans are bigger. The SR is coming out for a 1JZ paired with an 8HP70. A Pulsar 3071, external gate and Haltech will bring power up to around 300 rwkw, more than enough for a car sitting just over a tonne and used mostly on the road. The bay will be shaved and cleaned of everything that does not need to be there. Further down the road the body gets a Spirit Rei Miyabi kit with wide fenders and a more aggressive wheel package. A set of VSKS wheels already sits waiting, currently too extreme for the existing fitment. A vented bonnet, brick headlights, Ganadors and the usual small details will follow. Before any of that the shell comes off for a full rust inspection, welding of unnecessary holes in the bay, and a complete respray in light pastel pink, possibly with a chrome livery. The interior is next on the list and is due for a birthday in time for the Octane event on the 12th of September. Right now the owner is content. The car looks and drives the way he wants it to. Big plans exist, but they sit further down the timeline. What he enjoys most is the simple pleasure of ownership: the reactions from other people, the conversations at cars and coffee meets, working on it with mates, and the daily contact with the Clubhouse crew. It is smiles all round. Tyler and his S13, GCORP, are the first 'FIRST LOOK' to feature on our blogs, with many more drivers and cars lined up. Stay tuned. Special thanks to Ricky Tran for the photography.

STATUS: THE FD3S - REBUILD

Jul 30, 2026Jesse Herbert

The FD3S rolled into REVS Rotary Performance as a clean Japanese import. 2002 model, original motor, 260,000 kilometres on the clock. No major failures yet, just the usual rotary clock ticking louder with every kilometre. Pre-emptive rebuild was the plan. Get ahead of the inevitable before a roadside grenade forced the issue. Jas had the car on the shop floor when the cooling system decided to empty itself. Full dump. Coolant everywhere. Water seal failure was the immediate call, and the teardown confirmed it. Motor out, stripped to the housings. Multiple water seal failure points showed themselves straight away. Bearings and housings worn in the classic pattern of a high-kilometre 13B that has done its time. Nothing dramatic, nothing unexpected. Just the honest wear of age and distance. That is the state of play. The rebuild starts here. Stand by for the updates. Mini doco series coming on the full strip, the upgrades, the work at REVS, and the road back for this FD3S. Photo's kindly supplied by Jas, REVS Rotary.

PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT: THRYVE MEDIA, ADELAIDE

Jul 30, 2026Jesse Herbert

Thryve Media is a rising automotive media company based in the Adelaide Hills, specialising in high-quality photography and videography that celebrates car culture. The photographer behind Thryve, Ed Eastwood, first picked up a camera over 10 years ago, focusing on nature and wildlife. After an extended break, he returned to the craft two years ago with a fresh passion for automotive and modified car photography. Today, Thryve Media is focused on creating dynamic visuals for private car owners, motorsport events, and commercial clients. With a growing emphasis on videography alongside stills, they capture everything from raw track action to lifestyle shoots that showcase cars in their natural environment. What drives the work is a deep appreciation for the personality of each car and the culture surrounding it, the intricate details, the chosen locations, the stories of the builders and owners who pour their hearts into their builds. Every image and video aims to honour those elements and present vehicles the way they deserve to be seen. Looking ahead, the goal is to grow Thryve Media into a go-to media partner for dealerships, event organisers, and enthusiasts alike. Whether it’s professional stock photography for sales, capturing unforgettable memories on and off the track, or simply helping owners show off their pride and joy, Thryve Media wants to make quality automotive content accessible and impactful. Get in touch with Thryve Media:Website: https://www.thryvemedia.com.au/Instagram: @Thryvemedia_ (DMs open) With a keen eye for detail and a genuine love for the scene, Thryve Media continues to deliver standout visuals for the Clubhouse Works spotlight series and beyond.

PHOTOGRAPHER SPOTLIGHT: THRYVE MEDIA, ADELAIDE

STATUS: THE FD3S

Jun 23, 2026Jesse Herbert

I have owned a few cars over the years, but the FD3S has always been one of those that stays with you. This particular example is a 2002 model, imported from Japan in impeccable condition. No sunroof, factory blue paint, and still fitted with its original ETC toll machine. Small details that remind you where it came from. Under the bonnet sits the well known 13B REW twin turbo rotary. These later Series 8 cars left the factory producing 280 PS (206 kW) and 314 Nm in stock form, with the characteristic high revving nature that made the FD famous. It is paired with a 5 speed manual transmission, which is exactly how I prefer to run it. The current setup includes a Bride Zeta IV drivers seat, Works Bell Rapfix quick release, Dasai steering wheel, slotted brake rotors, Trust coilovers, and Work Meister S1 wheels. The Car Shop Glow LED tail lights and Option Howakan extras round out the look. It is a clean, usable street car that still wears its age well. The FD3S was always one of Mazdas most focused machines. Lightweight, sharp handling, and built around that unique rotary character. At just over 1,280 kg in standard form, with double wishbone suspension front and rear, it remains one of the best balanced sports cars of its era, and still sets and holds TimeAttack records around the world to this day. Right now the car is undergoing a significant amount of work. Over $30,000 worth. That story will come in future updates. For now, this is simply an introduction to the car that sits at the centre of what we do at Clubhouse Works. It is not a show queen and it is not finished. It is a living project that gets driven, modified, and documented in real time. There is something honest about these cars. They demand respect, they punish mistakes, and they reward proper maintenance. That is the kind of relationship we understand here. More to come.

A New Chapter for Clubhouse Works

Jun 18, 2026Jesse Herbert

After more than twenty years in the JDM scene, I’ve seen how things come and go. Trends, shops, cars - some last, most don’t, and some.. like 2001 sexspec, make a return. What stays is the work you put in and the culture you actually live. Clubhouse Works started as a printing service for merch, stickers, and signage, built around real JDM cars and the people who build them. We run an extensively modified FD3S and a ground-up RA23 project. We handle DTG, DTF, solvent printing, screen printing, embroidery, and vacuum forming. Nothing fancy, just honest work and a genuine love of cars... and workshop dogs! For a long time we operated quietly, focused on getting things done. Now we’re rebuilding the website with a clear direction: media and content first. The new site will be built around proper photography, detailed blogs, and features on the people who matter - the photographers documenting the scene, the car builders putting in the hours, the speed shops making reliable power, and our own ongoing projects, with the view to cover time attack news as the FD3S progresses in that direction, and the realities of building cars in Australia. Along with the new site, we’re launching a monthly email newsletter called Touge. It won’t be another generic mailing list. Think of the old Option Magazine and Drift Tengoku era, proper dispatches with early access to news, upcoming drops, event dates, and previews of the month’s blogs and features. If you want to stay properly informed, this is the way to do it. Subscription signup is required. This rebuild isn’t about chasing clout or pretending we’re something we’re not. It’s about creating a proper home for the kind of content and conversation the Adelaide JDM scene actually needs. Less noise, more substance. If you’ve been around the scene for any length of time, you already understand how this works. We’re here for the long haul, building, printing, and documenting what actually matters. Welcome to the new Clubhouse Works.