its freaking 2012

i'm getting old. or i've been in this so called "import car scene" for too long. i can go on and on about everything i hate about this import car scene from drifting to car shows. but i'm not instead i want to point out some of the most important part with playing or tuning or modding cars is to HAVE FUN. either you can afford really nice overpriced parts or simple knock off. we all have taste, style. that is what makes us different. another thing i kept hearing everyone say is that copying or knock off products are hurting japanese companies. but the sad truth is that if you have a company and are now entering a different market in a different country. and you want to survir, you should know how to target and make the money you need to make to keep things going. for an example, greddy or trust. they are going back to the motorsports route and making thing more afforable for the us market. i came across an old blog from one of the editors of speedhunter. his words are true and puts things in prespective.

It’s not easy to be a modifier these days. While our scene has finally gone from underground obscurity to mainstream acknowledgment (modified cars have infiltrated television, toys, video games, movies, fashion and music), we are now facing a growing number of obstacles. On one side enthusiasts face tough lifestyle decisions that didn’t exist before. Do we want an exhaust or an iPad? Do we spend the weekend at a track day or a music festival? These new temptations have all had an impact on the aftermarket industry, which has also been battered by the financial crisis. Then there are the seemingly never-ending pressures from society. While our car culture may be recognised by the mainstream, it doesn’t mean we’ve been accepted. The media continue to circle above us, waiting to pounce the moment there’s a car crash involving a modified car or young driver. This in turn compels politicians – vying for the public’s vote – to put pressure on the Authorities to clamp down on us with stricter regulations and harsher penalties. When you look at all the above as a collective, it’s easy to see why many believe the outlook for our scene is dire. Indeed, many of the conversations I have with readers at a car meet or with industry folk at events revolve around the future of this generation of modifiers. And while consumerism, the rise of hybrid technology and pressures from the Authorities have all had impacts on our scene, I’m certain none of these will cause our demise. Modifying cars has been around since the automobile was invented, and so too have these social and political pressures. Technology will always advance and the Authorities will always be influenced by the outcries from the public and media. In my opinion, the real threat to our scene is ourselves. Let me explain. As our scene exploded into popularity, so too did the number of styles that fall under the late-model modified car umbrella. There are now dozens of interpretations of how cars should be modified. To some, matte black is the shit. To others, candy paint is cool. Some like massive wings, others delete them. This diversity is supposed to be the greatest thing about our generation, but it might well prove to be our downfall. The biggest problem is how enthusiasts are starting to view one another. In the past, there was always an ‘us’ versus ‘them’ mentality; where late-model car modifiers stuck together as a unified front, irrespective of whether we drove mini-trucks, Honda Civics or Lancers. In our scene’s infancy we fought together, as a unit, for recognition. In Australia, we were up against some of our street machine and hot rod predecessors, who viewed anyone with a Japanese modified car as a tasteless rich kid, with no idea of what innovation and build quality stood for. In the States, it was the domestics who laughed at the import tuner generation, labelling them as a bunch of ‘rice boys’ playing around with grocery getters. Back then we all fought tooth and nail to establish our scene, to gain credibility and to earn recognition. Having finally accomplished this, we’ve now begun to turn on ourselves. If a car show enthusiast accidentally jumps onto a drifting forum, chances are he’ll be annihilated within minutes of his first post. If a drag racer tries to show off his latest creation on a forum full of J-style worshippers, there will probably be a pack of keyboard warriors ready to flame him for building a car that’s only fast in a straight line. And what’s even worse is that traces of racism are starting to surface as people pigeon-hole specific car trends to ethnicities. Even if an outsider can appreciate the style and beliefs of those in that forum, it’s rare for such acceptance to be reciprocated from that forum’s community. If your car isn’t modified the way they think it should be then f**k off. That’s the mentality I’m seeing today. Not everyone on a forum does this of course – in fact the majority are innocent bystanders – just a few bad seeds are enough to scare away those of differing modifying religions. And this is the equivalent of erecting huge walls around each online community to keep intruders out. Everyone is entitled to an opinion, but an opinion doesn’t entitle us to turn on our own kind. Any of us can insult someone online and take comfort knowledge they won’t be punched in the face. However the old adage ‘for every action there is an equal and opposite reaction’ still applies; we might not face recourse for our actions directly, but we’re still inflicting damage to our scene as a whole.Perhaps i’m just dreaming of a far-fetched automotive utopia, where modifiers of all types can appreciate each other’s tastes – even if it isn’t keeping with your own personal modifying ethos. Where an airbrushed, chrome-wheeled show stopper can rub shoulders with a sleeper GT-R and still be appreciated for what it is. But if you think about it, such an oasis already exists. One of the most ironic – and frustrating – things is how so many enthusiasts now draw inspiration from Japan’s car culture. This whole ‘JDM’ thing has been revolutionary; it is actually the first time a single trend has swept to all corners of the globe, overriding the unique modifying flavour each country used to have. You can be in Finland, Hong Kong, South Africa or New Zealand and you’ll see J-style cars cruising the streets.But what people need to realise is that “JDM” is not the definition of Japan’s scene. Not even close. Japan’s scene isn’t just about functionality over form; it isn’t solely based around performance over aesthetics. It’s not about modifying ‘purity’. What’s great about Japan’s culture – and it’s this aspect we all seem to overlook – is that anything and everything is accepted. If you want to see horrific rice boy creations, go to Japan. If you like a hundred neon lights, over-sized chrome wheels and a fish tank in the boot, go to Japan. Airbag suspension on a scooter? Japan. Triple stacked wings, pink paint and ludicrous body-kits on a van? You guessed it, Japan. If we’re going to to draw inspiration fro the land of the rising sun, we shouldn’t just look at their hard-tuned street culture. We should look at Japan’s scene as a whole: how they can appreciate and embrace such an eclectic array of styles. We should be throwing out the welcome mat whenever we find someone who likes modifying, rather than slam the door if their ride doesn’t meet your stringent criteria of how it ‘should be done’. I know forums are designed so you can meet like-minded people and build communities. But as our scene’s growth has risen, we’ve begun segregating our own kind; creating niches within a niche. The hated have become the haters. That’s the real danger. Even if the Authorities put speed limiters on everyone’s cars, the media continues to paint us with that social menace brush and our race-tracks make way for residential developments, modifying cars will still continue on. While our scene may never have the attention to detail of the hot rod builders, or the faultless quality of street machiners, what we do have is our innovation and diversity. And if we strip that away from ourselves, what are we left with? Nothing.

-Charles Kha, Autosalon Magazine, Issue 85, 2010.

with that being said. i'm hungry, tired, and my dogs needs to go pee.

Via la las Vegas

I hate Vegas, besides food, I hate Vegas. Only looking forward to seen friends and maybe cool stuff in sema.

KR VS JP...

MUSIC

kr


jp

CARS

kr


jp

one is the new kid on the block. the other still the O.G.

movement...

KNOCKING OFF THE KNOCK OFFs, YOU SHOULD KNOCK IT OFF...

NICE AD. FUNNY TOO. THANKS TO MY BUDDY GARRET FOR THIS PICTURE.
HAPPY FRIDAY!

ITS SO SAD THAT YOU ARE LEAVING...

HKS, ARC, NOW FUJITSUBO. another top quality company leaving the us. i'm glad i was able to sell a few of these babies before they are gone.

the offical "dear john" letter...

ALMOST ENDED MY ANTI-GERMAN CAMPAIGN...

ALMOST...

you may be thinking "what the hell is a anti-German campaign"? well, allow me to explain it to youse. back in the day when i was less broke. all the cars i could of brought in german, but i choose to stay with Japaneses imports. i guess it just suits me better. but now i'm older i've been thinking about building rat rods or even save up and buy a shiny cock for a car like an audi r8. chances are i'll build the rat rod before i'll buy a r8. haha

hot...

i find women who can drive stick shift hot and sexy. just something about it.
but women who can drive manual and drift?! SUPER HOT AND SEXY!

one thing i really hate...

i try not to use the word hate too much, but there is one thing i hate. when people talk shit. i mean really?! seriouslly?! so this guy, lets call him bacon. all i know he is one of those crimal background, selling fake boots and northface and broken down cars decides to call my friend mike and i out on facebook. bragging about how he is building a sc400 that is going beat ours. calls it "project shit on" then he goes on and on about where i work and how we don't fabricate anything so thus we are not a real shop and how i'm just a parts slinger and i don't know shit. puts a picture of my car when my friend owned it and saying that i told everyone i build that car. well, no, because that was taken way before i even owned the car. lies, lies, lies. seriously, east coast hood full of dumbshits. rich people too cheap to buy real stuff. what the fawk. so i guess now i'm gonna have to build my sc300 to shit on him just to prove a point. game on!

I WAS THERE FROM THE START...

BILL'S CAR. SHARP, JDM. LOVE IT.

DON'T MIND THE KAIZEN STAMP. I DIS-LIKE THEM, I JACKED THIS PICTURE. HAHA

industry track day 2011

i showed up late as usual for just about everything not business related. but its quite a bit of a drive from chino hills to B.F.E! it was a pretty melo day. everyone seems pretty chill. i didn't get to drive and by the time i got there it was too late to get a ride around the course. boo... i did get a chance to play with my friend's camera. took some shots with my own little toy cam. here a peak of what i got.

my plan is to ship my z out for next year. its gonna be one freaking expensive trip...

got to met new people, catch up with some friends. all in all a great time.

socal

its been relaxing the last few days. not have to worry about a thing besides what to eat or don't spent too much money. i got to visit friends in the car industry, 14hrs in disneyland. hanging out with family from all over the place even from u.k. for my cousin's wedding. so much to do so little time. today was the only day where i can really sit down and write all this. tommorrow, more bugging friends at their jobs. hahaha

NORCAL

first stop norcal, staying with my cosuins in piedmont. close to oakland and sf.
its always great to see my cousin. not only i get to shoot my guns. i got to eat home made food from my auntie. i had to stop by japantown and also visit fatlace.
i love it. but i think i'm more of a socal guy. weather was beautiful there. always around 60. i didn't do much this time around because i lived there before. i just needed to relax and play 2 days worth of dead island haha.

M.I.A

i've been busy...

moving back to cali.

taking care of business.

i can't wait...

NEW!!!! VOLK RACING G12 FOR NISSAN SIZING!

Model:VR G12 for NISSAN
Exclusive Limited Color: Double Machining / Black Clear
Includes: Exclusive Red Ring Center Cap, Air Valve
Features: Hubcentric 66.1mm, Anti-Tire Slip (Knurling finish)
Clears: Z33, Z34, CKV36, GTR calipers
Sizes: 20x10, 20x11, 20x12

GANGSTER!!!

my early gtr-r35 memories...flash back 08...

TGIF

ITS A CE28N F-ZERO BLUE FRIDAY!

Mastermind Edition Odyvia s13

small world... i know those guys. takeshi is now mastermind?! nucking futz! haha

DIRECT INSULT...

the victum... tomei...



this is direct insult. copy of the orginal product straight to the label and instructions.

The signs of a fake Tomei Fuel Pressure Regulator

- Price listed under $108.00 USD for the Fuel Pressure Regulator alone.

- Free Pressure gauge offered

- Free shipping

- Sellers Location (Singapore, Malaysia and any Asian countries in that region are a good sign of a fake item source) But recently eBay sellers in the UK, the USA & Australia are buying from those sellers and relisting on ebay in other countries.

i love ebay. hahahaha

real shit v.s. fake shit.

PROJECT MU!!!

for reasons i cannot say, with pictures i cannot show. all i can do is be proud of my project mu brakes. such an awesome, hardcore, advance company. i rock my shit and sell pmu with pride. mad pride!

MORE JDM CRAP.

TRAFFIC STAR STR!

20x9.5 +30 front

20x10.5 +29 rear

tein comfort sport.