Imports UCI
Thanks to the efforts of ImportsUCI.org and vendors like Panda Garage, Tustin Mazda and OC Mazda Huntington Beach, to name a few, students of the University of California at Irvine receive this year's title as hosts of the First Badass Import Meet of the Summer Season, by throwing their UCI Annual Import Meet earlier this year. Participation, pizza and refreshments were all provided free of charge, as was DJ entertainment, but what really caught our attention was the turnout by tuners reppin' ClubLexus.com, Honda-tech.com and NewCelica.com, to name a few--we're keepin' an eye on these guys.
www.importsuci.org
Mazdaspeed Lunch
In these times of waning OE involvement in motorsports, it's refreshing to see at least one major carmaker sticking to their performance guns. In throwing their annual Motorsports Media briefing earlier this year, MAZDASPEED announced its partnership with Dyson Racing, Michelin and BP Energy to campaign Mazda-powered Lola coupes in Le Mans P2, and reaffirmed its commitment to driver development with improvements to its acclaimed ladder program, culminating in a $1 million prize for this year's Formula Atlantic winner--a prize Malcom in the Middle's Frankie Muniz and Team Stargate Worlds have their sights set on, among others. On a more grassroots level, the Playboy MX-5 Cup also gets a bump in prize money this year, and will be adding Team Champ and Rookie of the Year awards. Flip to 411 in 2NR's April '09 issue to see why we're placing our bucks on Justin Piscitell to wrap up this series, then visit www.mazdamotorsports.com to get started racing.
Tunerwars
While those of us in Cali were waiting for our sunny, 70-degree weather to turn to sunny, 80-degree weather, cabin fever-struck East Coast tuners braved freezing temperatures to throw an event of their own, at PA's Harrisburg Farm Show Complex. Back again, this year's Tunerwars event marked the debut of F4Challenge.com's newly revised judging criteria; something that promises to favor rides modified in ways complimentary to performance and original design, than overstated flare--something we like. Stand-outs include Tjin Edition's R34 Sedan that continues to get better with age, ACV's 500+whp STI (featured in the Jan '08 issue of 2NR), and New Images' turbo KA24-powered S14 drifter--so over-the-top that we actually like it!
www.f4challenge.com
Greddy Back In Black
So in case some of you were freaked out when GReddy's parent company, TRUST Co., LTD filed for bankruptcy in Tokyo court a few months back--don't be. TRUST has recently made public the details of its restructuring, and promises that GReddy, an independent, California-based subsidiary of TRUST, will remain a profitable enterprise in the foreseeable future. The short end of it: quality bolt-on turbo kits, titanium exhausts and intelligent engine diagnostic equipment will continue to roll out!
www.GReddy.com
Deer-Deck Xover
Remember "Rob and Big", that MTV show about the crazy white cat and the gentle giant of a big, black, best friend/bodyguard of his? Since most of you who read 2NR also skateboard or have at least owned a pair of DC shoes at one point, we're sure you're a fan. And good for you, because you have us to give you the latest on Rob D's newest endeavor: "Rob Dyrdek's Fantasy Factory"--an MTV original series that will document his attempts to turn all his dreams into reality, beginning with a foray into the great sport of Rally, courtesy of DC Shoes co-founder and boardman-turned-wheelman Ken Block. 2NR was lucky enough to have sat in on the first round of filming, and after seeing some severely overshot attempts at long-jumping Ken's STI, we're thinking this just might prove to be Rob's most challenging adventure yet . . . and most entertaining for us!
www.mtv.com