The sisters alone took part for the first time in the ‘Milky Way’ rally, which they have participated in as a family since primary school

The Milky Way Blue Island Rally (‘Milky Way’), a historic car rally on Shikoku Road, was held on 11-12 November 2023. As the event has been held here for a long time, most of the entrants have aged along with approximately 30 years, and among them, we found two girls full of energy.

The Renault 8 Gordini is a family car that has been around since I can remember

When I pointed the camera at the French Blue 1967 Renault 8 (Uit) Gordini (“Gordini”), it was twin sisters Hazuki & Futaba Itoda who instantly smiled and posed for me. Hazuki says,

“This Gordini has been in our house since I can remember, it is a family car for us sisters and a car that we have always dreamed of. I am very happy to be able to drive this Goldini out on the Milky Way, which I love.”

And Futaba says,

“We have been participating in the Milky Way as a family since we were little, but this is the first time we are participating as sisters, and although I am a little anxious, I am deeply moved.”

For the sisters, the Milky Way, which they have participated in with their parents since childhood, is an event filled with special feelings.

“The first time I took part in the Milky Way was when I was in the first year of primary school, and I don’t remember it because I was asleep the whole time, but this is my ninth time. I remember that there was an incident on the ferry crossing to Shikoku where the wiring burned up! The rally is great fun, but I have many memories of the party, the fun of the planning, and the talks by the staff.”

“The seats were plush and it was certainly very easy to sleep on.”

Hazuki says that when she first practiced driving the Gordini after entering this year’s competition, she had a hard time even starting the car, but her parents’ words, “I never thought you’d get to drive a Gordini” and “It’s a great experience for the two of us to take part” also She was happy.

Hazuki was the driver for this competition, and Futaba was the navigator who read the frame diagrams, they enjoyed the two-day Shikoku road trip while sharing the roles.

Hazuki is studying to become a mechanic at an automobile college

At a checkpoint where many entrants are chatting and laughing, Hazuki opens the engine compartment, finds petrol seeping into the carburetor lid, and retightens it. She is currently a first-year student at an automotive college, away from her parents, we are told.

Mr. Maruyama, a fellow Gordini next door who has known the sisters since childhood, says,

“You’re trying to become a mechanic so that you can fix the car at home when it breaks down.”

And Hazuki says.

“Speaking of breakdowns, the first time I navigated was five years ago, when I was in the second year of junior high school, and I was overjoyed to finish second on the first day, but I still have the unfortunate memory of the second day when the cell motor broke and the car stopped working.”

We asked Hazuki if, as Mr. Maruyama says, the occasional problems unique to historic cars were the reason she wanted to become a mechanic.

“When I was in junior high school, I went to see the Super GT for the first time, and the mechanics looked cooler than the drivers, which is why I wanted to become a mechanic. In the future, I want to become a mechanic who can also handle historic cars. And since I have enjoyed living with historic cars since I was a little girl, I want to be able to convey that appeal to many people as a mechanic.”