The Trend is Not Being Trendy
Bike racks, surf racks, snowboard racks, luggage racks? Nowadays everyone has some sort of rack mounted on their cars. Most of us won't second guess SUVs hauling luggage from coast to coast strapped to the roof, but since when did having a rack become such a cool and oh-so-trendy fad in the import scene? Last week, I ran into a buddy driving a fixed-up Civic equipped with a Thule bike rack. I never expected him to be a cyclist, due to his feathery 400-pound frame, so I politely asked, "Sweet car . . . that's a clean looking Civic and all but where's the bike? Do you know it's the dead of winter, or is this one of those trends you're trying to follow?" Obviously offended, he informed that the bikes were on special order and the roof rack was installed in anticipation for an upcoming car show. Was I being too abrasive? I felt bad, so I told him to make sure to reference the bike rack as a "major" modification to impress the judges. I'd admit, there are times when roof racks come in handy when put to use. But for the remainder of you owning up to a false sense of style, remove those racks and give it a rest!
Senior Editor
Scott Tsuneishi
scott@importtuner.com
Living
Riding Shotgun With The Editors
Royce Potatochip Chocolate
The last time FD drifter and good friend Dai Yoshihara came back from Japan, he brought back a box of JDM Royce Potatochip Chocolate. What, pray tell, is a Potatochip Chocolate? If Ruffles and Hershey had a bastard lovechild, well, that's what this would be. But why take a perfectly good potato chip and coat it with a layer of chocolate? According to the box, and I quote, verbatim: "By breaking down old customs and producing consistently original items, we are pursuing a new level in chocolate enjoyment." Original, yes. Enjoyment, not so much. At first bite, the creamy richness of the chocolate contrasts the crispiness of the chip, similar to that of a wafer (think Kit Kat). But upon further chewing, the palate becomes confused as a wave of brined starchiness overwhelms the sweetness of the cocoa, turning it into a salty-sugary mash (think Kit Kat plus bacon). Don't get me wrong, the thoughtfulness of the gift-sweet . . . like the flavor spectrum Royce should've kept their "original item" in.
Editor
Carter Jung
'95 Civic DX
Who needs a roof rack when you can haul shit using a set of ratcheting straps?!
Senior Editor
Scott Tsuneishi
7 7/8 x 31.5 Gadget Import limited-series deck
Now that shooting, writing about, and wrenching on cars takes up every second of my life not spent sleeping (four hours on a lucky night), scarfing down fast food (30 seconds per meal) or editing everyone else's work, it's easy for me to forget the good old days of my youth, when four urethane wheels, two aluminum trucks and seven cross-laminated plies of Canadian maple were all I was concerned with. Having grown up on the East Coast, I enjoy nothing more than blowing off my responsibilities in the dead of winter to session Cali concrete in 70-degree sun. Especially when my project cars are out of commission (see page 68). Slamming hurts a little more without the bundled clothing, but I'm getting used to it :-)
Tech Editor
Luke Munnell