When I first spoke with Ming Hang Ng over the phone, I was on a trip to Southern California, six hours away from home. I was looking forward to speaking to him about his successful business and, of course, about his beautiful S15 (gracing the pages of this issue). Upon our introduction he said that he was getting married the next day. So, first and foremost, I would like to congratulate Ming and his wife on their marriage and wish them a long and prosperous life together.
Growing up in Hong Kong for the first 10 years of his life, Ming was constantly around modified Japanese cars, which he quickly realized he had a passion for. His father would often bring him toy Tomica cars and automotive magazines, which only fueled his interest. After moving to Chicago at the age of 10, he never lost sight of his dream to one day make a car his very own. Immediately after graduating high school he purchased his first car, a brand-new ’00 Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS. Never forgetting the automotive culture in Hong Kong, he immediately started sourcing parts for his Impreza. At the time, Ming was working at a small automotive shop, so naturally he bought parts through his work. He ordered so much, so often, that his boss gave him the contact information for Fizz Autosports with instructions to deal with them directly. Fizz Autosports, based in New York, was the distributor/importer that the shop was getting Ming’s parts from. Armed with his newfound ability to order parts on his own agenda, a whole new world of possibilities opened for the budding car enthusiast. Coincidentally this is how he met Robert Chae.
Chae founded Fizz Autosports in New York when Ming was just a teenager in Chicago experimenting with his first car. Chae and Ming quickly became friends through their countless phone calls organizing the exchange of parts and money. Ming was often invited by Chae to bring his car out to shows in New York, likewise Chae along with other enthusiasts from his area would make the drive to Chicago a few times a year. The friendship Ming and Chae shared was built on a foundation of business and would continue on a professional level. During Ming’s final year at the University of Illinois he entertained the idea of making a career out of his hobby. He contemplated the possibility of opening up a shop of his own, hoping to focus on importing quality parts from Japan. However, he faced the hurdle of opening accounts with companies he had never directly dealt with—a daunting task especially considering the language barrier and distance.
Ming rethought his business plan and decided to approach Chae with a proposition: an expansion of Fizz Autosports. Ming would partner with Chae and open up a new shop in Chicago under the same name. As a branch of Fizz Autosports this would allow him to sell the same parts that the original shop carried, while allowing the company to grow as a whole. The choice was obvious for both parties and Ming became the proud new owner of Fizz Autosports Chicago. Soon after, Ming sold his Impreza, which had been featured in magazines and online websites, and was well known in the automotive community. He set off in search of a car to build as his personal project to represent Fizz Autosports. The choice was obvious; he had his heart set on owning an S15 Nissan Silvia, having been a fan of the chassis since it’s introduction in 1999.