Tera Patrick Interview (September 2004)
Who doesn't love Tera Patrick? We know we do, and that's why when her manager wanted her on our cover, we didn't hesitate to put her on there. That interview should also somewhat stand out in her career timeline since it was the first official interview she did after coming off a one-year hiatus. She gave us a good view of how the adult entertainment industry is, other people's perspective on her and even what her favorite position is. Although 2nr does a model interview every month, this particular one will stand out in editors' and readers' minds for years to come.
My Other Ride does 9's: Shawn Hillier's Civic (November 2005)
Due to the hastiness and popularity of online message boards, Import Tuner may not always be the first to report on all the new trends that occur in the import car world. But we at least like to take part in them and share with our readers the dope cars that we come across. When the Honda K-series swap started to appear, only a few people were able to partake in what the venerable engine had to offer. One of those lucky people was Shawn Hillier. This racecar driver for Skunk2's Project Delta was fortunate enough to get his hands on a JDM K20a and swap it into his 1999 Civic CX. The ultimate concoction graced our pages and wowed the readers with its JDM flare and unique heart transplant. This feature came out at the pinnacle of the JDM scene, and what better way to represent than with a Honda?
Exposed: The truth behind counterfeit parts (December 2006)
Buying cheap parts online; we've all done it at least once, whether drunk or sober. Sifting through the online auctions for cheap parts can be tempting and sometimes addicting. "But it's so cheap, and it looks like the real thing," you say, as you put down a bid of $5. But it's never really worth it, is it? In our counterfeit parts expose, we uncovered the truth behind some of the most common knockoff parts. Short shifters and even important parts like blow-off valves are very cheaply made and can fall apart after a short period of time. This story was a fun experiment and we compared the faux parts to their real counterparts. The Tein springs, for example, caught us off guard when we discovered the minute differences, and the muffler and the blow-off valve were a huge crack up when we saw the poor quality they possessed. This story was a definite hit and it made us proud to show you just what kind of crap is available on the Internet.
We Must Fight Back (November 2004)
What's the most common phrase uttered when our readers pass a black and white while doing 80 of the freeway? That's right, "F*ck the police." Here in California, the cops in San Diego have their very own Drag Net team that is devoted to stopping street racing and busting people for their car modifications. The Sergeant we interviewed enlightened the readers on what the cops look for and just how much they actually know. It's good for us to know these things, because as they say, "Know your enemy." Just keep in mind, don't street race, make sure your mods are state-legal and keep your car at monster-truck height; cops like that.
Standing Among Giants: Rotary Power RX-7 (July 2005)
We're usually pretty humble about our accomplishments and try to attribute most, if not all, of our success to the readers instead of the writing and fancy pictures. But in this issue, Feature Editor Joey Leh outdid himself by going one step further for the cover feature. Sure he's a brilliant writer, but this feature stands out on its own due its unique style. Joey decided to go with the choose-your-own-adventure format for this story, and it sure did add a nice touch. As if the model and car weren't eye catching enough, Joey's words made readers flip the pages back and forth as if it were a centerfold spread in Playboy Magazine. The feature still puts a smile on our faces today and we applaud its genius.
Do Girls Like Your Car? (April 2006)
If you drive a Miata, you're probably not dating one of the models we interviewed for this story. 2nr is known for featuring some of the hottest models in the scene today, and this was another way of bringing you some eye candy. We wrangled up Miss Lisa Kim, Vanessa Valdez, Angie Romasanta and Shae Norris to ask them what kind of cars they like. Just as you can imagine, they're into the higher end cars that most of us can't afford. But not to discredit them, they do have taste, and at least the girls knew what Altezza taillights are and that they're ugly. The interview just went to show that us guys need to put a little more effort into the cars we choose, and that just because your commuter car has power windows and sunroof, it doesn't qualify as a luxury car. As always, the hot chicks keep us in check.
Straight from the Soul (Feb. 2005)
Car and girls aside, we like music, and we know you do too. The interview with De La Soul was dedicated those who know a thing or two about real music and real musicians. And that's just how these guys were: real. After inviting us to chill in their hotel room while conducting the interview, Posdnous and Trugoy treated us like their friends, and not like the 16-year-old hysterical girl that we tried to hold back from becoming. It was an honor to hang with them and get to know them on a different level, as if their music wasn't deep enough.
By Joe Santos
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