My weekend finished lovely in Englishtown, New Jersey at The NHRA Sport Compact Spring Nationals on Sunday May 5th 2002. A record turnout of fans (the aggressive, East Coast sort) enjoyed flawless weather. The vendor section was very dry, ho hum; the bikini show was like the pizza, to be avoided; but the hot moments were on the track, as it should be. A Summit Sport Sponsored $25,000.00 special purse for the first SC car hitting the 200-mile mark was won by the Turbonetics Celica! Kudos to driver Matt Scranton, and brother Jay Scranton, the crew chief. I spent the best part of the day with GM Racing's Don Taylor, drivers Marty Ladwig & Nelson Hoyos, (who both won their heats), and my girl at industry events, Karen Spisak, from the newly minted Modified Magazine of Canada. GM Racing is down with the spectators. Fans were hovering around the GM Team transporter. The open nature of the team is such that all the players involved, from the top down, really enjoy talking about how they modified the engines and cars in general with all the enthusiasts. It's a young team, they're not stuffed suits like you might imagine. Like I said, they're down. Team Toyota Racing Development came in a close second. Shout to Gary Reed, what up chief! Stay tuned for the latest words on the next go 'round.
Lots of activity since the weather broke, like Stacey Anzai (of the Kings Hill Krewe), who used to push buttons at Eibach. She is now shot callin' at Injen, hustling intakes. Hit her up in sales and order something in doubles, 'cause you should. Speaking of movin': I was treated to a most incredible moving experience in a Nissan Skyline that belongs to Sean Holloway (he's got the big leather chair in sales) of Apexi who was crazy to toss keys at us like that; but he's good with me now, and the reverse whiplash made my back feel great! Better than all that walking I did at the International Auto Salon last month. I saw a lot of faces there, the entire floor was looking good in Long Beach. Adam Saruwatari was holding court with long lines waiting at the Honda booth to get autographed posters. I still need to get one, hit me up Adam!
At Extreme Autofest held at Pomona Fairplex, big crews/car clubs hit the show hard. The professional judges of the ICSA were out doing their thing, scribbling, whispering and calculating. The High School Challenge sponsored by the good folks at Polk Audio was a refreshing socially responsible and simply cool event. Some of the live entertainment did make my ears bleed, but the B-Boy section had all eyes glued for most of the day. Lots of well tuned cars and tons of trophies. The car clubs really turn themselves out. Cali cannot be beat, as much as other states would like to front, Cali got it goin' on! The next event pops off July, check for it at www.extremeautofest.com
May 25th at the Anaheim Convention Center, it was the Import Revolution show. It's not about the show, because really, it's just folks, cars and parts in a big space, right? But it IS about the people, like Wayne Chen who markets for the Team Hybrid crew. They got quality rides with lots of work in them all! The committed Dennis Trilles from Import Culture (who recently had a huge party in the San Dee) was out doing his thing, as well as Dazz Motorsports. Dan Anzai hooked it up for Dazz, one of the few wheel companies with all posh luxuries poised behind velvet ropes, like Victor "All Access" Leong's Black Silk Escalade on 23 Maidos. LJ Garcia of Ichibahn was high post, shaking hands. Meanwhile the car show models were lined up in one bizarre row like it was Amsterdam. Primedia's own Eric Williams (Happy Belated Birthday Taurus) trooped out and debuted the Hyundai sponsored full-length transporter with graphic wrap. Hot!