It’s amazing how many haters are among us. Facebook and forums bring out the worst. Post a shot of a stanced-out ride, and you’ll hear about it from the self-proclaimed “racer” community (many of whom don’t, mind you). Post one of a track-prepped EVO and hoards of anonymous fanboys will promise that their Supra or Mustang (or their buddy’s, if they’re more honest) will walk all over it. Post a picture of a modified Civic—any modified Civic—outside a Honda forum, and you’re sure to draw 10 times the ricial slurs. But Jimmy Uy, the owner of this Civic, doesn’t care. Yes, everyone likes to shrug off public disapproval by claiming they don’t care, but Jimmy really doesn’t give a f*ck. His car sits exactly how he hoped it would when he started its build over four years ago, and he’s overcome far bigger obstacles along the way to consider anyone’s disapproval. But let’s hear it from him:
"I purchased the car in 2007 just to use as a commuter. At the time, I thought I was over cars because I had a lot of failed projects in the past, and never really wanted to modify another car. Then one day I saw a set of Sportmax wheels on a slammed CL. The car was otherwise stock from what I could tell, but the flush-fitting stance really transformed it—in a great way. I thought about my Civic, and figured, ‘Why not? It would just be a set of wheels and a suspension. Nothing major . . ."
I bought a set of Sportmax XXR 501s, rolled the fenders, slammed it, and really liked the way it looked, so I started doing other little things here and there. Then one day I met the guys from Vision Performance, who helped me do a little more. They introduced me to Memoryfab, where I met Dave and Daniel, who had a set of 15x8.5 +7mm Chevlon wheels for sale—legit, Japanese wheels with unique designs in the size I was looking for. I bought them on the spot. As soon as I was able to get the wheels to fit the way I wanted and still drive every day on San Francisco roads, everything started feeling ‘right’ again. My car was transforming for the better. I decided to build it, only this time to have it exactly the way I wanted, regardless of who liked it or not. Dave invited me to bring my car to Wekfest 2009, where I got my first experience with a big show. I was hooked all over again.
But then things started to go downhill. I was driving home one night, dozed off at the wheel, and swiped a center divider, damaging two of my wheels. Every wheel repair shop I contacted said it would be impossible to repair them, except my friend and forum buddy Michael “Heymikeyyy” Cristi, who brought them back from the dead after a few weeks. But once I got the wheels back and mounted on the car, I messed up one of its fenders the first time on the road. I guess I hit the divider hard enough to knock the alignment out. Searching for a shop to correct the suspension and handle the bodywork led me to Franklin Auto Body, and Sunny and Albert, who helped in that department.
Then things straight fell apart. On a random Friday night in 2009, a Hummer H2, driven by a relative of mine who I’d never met in my entire life (long story) hit my car. It was declared a total loss. Up until this point I’d met a lot of good shops and cool people. We all became friends and while cars were our common ground, our friendship became about more than just cars. We chilled together, shared other non-car interests, hung out at the same places, etc. I started feeling like I didn’t need the car. I was about to give up on it altogether. But then I sat down with Sunny and Albert and hatched a plan for a complete makeover.