Investigation By Pearl Nalani and Carter Jung
I'm stumbling through a pitch black hall brimming with people. In my left hand is my Canon 5D and in my right, a Gitzo tripod that grows increasingly heavy. Bright flashes of light and pulsing music fill the air. A few feet in front of me is, or at least was, import model Pearl Nalani. Normally I don't stalk models-in public, at least-but this is different. We're working.
I quicken my pace to try and catch up with Pearl, but she's on a mission. Like a hunter is to its prey, Hillary Clinton is to a democratic candidacy, or Michael Jackson is to a McPlayground, she's on the hunt amidst the throbbing mass. I break through a circling crowd and spot Pearl with fellow Source Interlink staffer Derrick Yee standing in front of a white Bippu Lexus LS430 tucked on huge 20-inch wheels basking in pink neon lights. On the hood is a graphic silhouette of Joyce Lex.
"This one. This Lexus is definitely one of the twenty hottest cars of HIN Los Angeles," Pearl says.
One down, nineteen more to go.
-Carter Jung
Hot Import Nights Los Angeles is one of the most coveted shows for everyone involved in this crazy world we call the Import Scene. Weeks before the show, the hype on the radio, mass flier blasts, and chatter amongst West Coasters make me giddy with anticipation. From the car competitors to the models to the show spectators and the talent, HIN LA is the show everyone talks about and looks forward to year after year. People from all over the country make the trek out to the West Coast to see what LA has to offer: sick cars, hot girls, and, oh yeah, bacon-wrapped hot dogs! For the concert, they couldn't have picked a more fitting artist for L.A., The Game, in his first performance after being released from jail.
I've been lucky enough to be on tour with Boost Mobile and HIN for the last year and have gotten to travel to all corners of the country, from the rolling green grass in North Carolina to the palm trees on Waikiki Beach in Hawaii. Meeting fans and signing autographs is usually what I do at the shows, but for this one, I actually got a chance to walk the show floor with Carter and Derrick from Import Tuner and got to know the car competitors and their cars. The hard work and dedication these guys put into their rides often goes unnoticed so we picked out our favs and showed them some love in our Top 20.-Pearl Nalani
 Car: '74 RX-4 Owner: JRX Rotary...  Car: '74 RX-4
Owner: JRX Rotary
Carter: Supercharged, bridgeported 13B on Epsilon wheels. Cleanest Stateside RX-4, ever.
Pearl: Can't go wrong with two sets of headlights. Oh wait those are foglights. I do like the color and the wheels, though. |  Car: '01 Lexus LS430 Owner:...  Car: '01 Lexus LS430
Owner: Freddie Fernandez
Carter: Junction Produce body kit, Air Runner bags, 21-inch Leon Hardiritt wheels and fox fur that cost a grand per seat; Freddie's ride is straight Bippu and bad. Let's hope its fast enough to evade PETA.
Pearl: Joyce Lex on top! And girls, let's give Freddie some love. He's looking out for us on those hot, burn your ass on the leather seat days with that chinchilla fur! |  Car: '90 Honda Civic Si Owner:...  Car: '90 Honda Civic Si
Owner: Lenin
Carter: EF rocking Mugen parts, 'nuff said. The wheels? From a Mugen Fit.
Pearl: Old school but clean looking. The Mugen sticker is so cute! |
 Car: '01 Lexus GS300 Owner:...  Car: '01 Lexus GS300
Owner: Kevin Peverill
Carter: Supercharged with front-mount intercooler and leather-wrapped Recaros.
Pearl: I heart big, fat staggered wheels. The JP knot on the mirror is a nice touch. |  Car: '93 Acura NSX Owner:...  Car: '93 Acura NSX
Owner: Garrie Yeo
Carter: Veilside Fortune kit, supercharged with forged Cognac rims with mad lip.
Pearl: We measured the lip, 7 inches! Size, in this case, matters. |  Car: Eric Navales Owner: '07...  Car: Eric Navales
Owner: '07 Lexus IS350
Carter: Ings body kit and Endless brakes sitting behind 19-inch AMEs.
Pearl: The blue Endless brakes caught my eyes and it has Pearl paint, just like my name |