April
The first, true plug and play ECU is introduced to the States thanks to A'PEXi with the Power FC. The application? The FD RX-7.
May
May 8: Ed Bergenholtz is the first uni-body Honda to break into the 9s with a 9.875 @ 147 mph pass at the Pomona Street Legal Drags.
July
Import Tuner goes monthly
July 24: NOPI launches Drag Wars drag racing series.
Sept
Ed Eng is the first official editor of Import Tuner
September 9:The video game Tokyo Xtreme Racer presented by none other than us, Import Tuner drops for the shortlived Sega Dreamcast.
September 17: Honda goes topless and RWD with the introduction of the S2000.
Nov
November 15: The first Skyline GT-R passes U.S. legalization through Motorex: a silver R32 dubbe d the "McNasty."
November 27: Tony Shagday and the Skunk2 team breaks into the All-Motor 10s with a 10.98 @ 122 mph pass.
Dec
December 7: Perfecting, perfection, Gran Turismo 2 for the Playstation drops.
Sasha Singleton
Issue: February 2000
Measurements: 34D - 25 - 34
Hometown: Westchester, CA
Website: www.cybersasha.com
What have you been up to since 2NR:When my cover came out, the response was overwhelming. Around the same time, my Playboy and Hustler spreads came out and I also won the title of the first "Miss Hot Import Nights" in 2000. After that, I was a busy bee...I started my own website, a lingerie line, did some TV work for Comedy Central, Playboy TV, MTV & FX. I appeared in many more issues of Playboy, tuner magazines, calendars, and just recently, Penthouse magazine!
Do you remember when you first saw your issue?:2NR was my first magazine cover and I remember seeing it on the newsstand. It was surreal. I was so proud of my cover. I still have it framed on my office wall! Plus, my spread in the magazine was right when the editors were changing the 'look' of the magazine, so it was a little more risque and sexy. People still comment on the implied shot that was in the article!
How has 2NR impacted your life?:2NR opened a lot of doors for me in the import scene. It is the best of the best. Once you land a cover of 2NR, you have reached the top of the industry standard. 2NR helped launch my successful career into the household name that I am in the import scene. Thank you for having me on your cover!
Thank you list:Import Tuner of course, my wonderful family, HIN for helping my import career become what it is today, my fabulous and supportive boyfriend Eric, my best friend, Cho, all of my friends who I treasure, and of course my awesome fans who have been there to support my career since day one!
2000
April
April 6: Hasport is the first to release a commercially available, billet aluminum engine mount kits for Honda swaps.
May
May 14: Maplegrove, PA. Steph Papadakis and his Civic are the first to break into the 8s in a FWD with an 8.93 @ 164 mph at a NIRA event.
June
Lexus launches the IS300.
Ed Bergenholtz's CRX lands the cover of Road & Track magazine.
Oct
Honda drops the 7th gen Civic coupe (EM2).
Natasha YI
Issue: April 2001
Measurements: 34 - 24 - 34
Sign: Aries on a Pisces cusp
Hometown: I grew up like a gypsy...all across the nation, so it's difficult to say a 'hometown'.
Website: www.natashayi.comwww.natashayionline.com