Spocom Show
All tuning enthusiasts within flying distance of SoCal, read the following: Tired of seeing event coverage from shows like SEMA and Tokyo Auto Salon that are either halfway around the world, or not open to the general public? Well we've found something for all of us: SpoCom-the tuning industry's only grand-scale combination of automotive tradeshow and nightclub-esque car show, located in sunny SoCal, and open to the public. Fueled by last year's rampant success, SpoCom returns for its second year of inviting absolutely anyone to mix it up with the industry's top Japanese and domestic parts manufacturers, OEMs, professional racers, car show competitors, models, DJ's, and of course, your favorite magazine editors, to SoCal's Long Beach Convention Center on June 22nd beginning at 11am. Show entrants will be judged in only 10 categories-meaning more prize money and respect for the winners, and for the losers...well, you'll get a ton of free schwag at the door just like everyone else. Looking for sponsorship for your project car, or seriously discounted performance parts? Come to SpoCom. Dreaming of a six-page spread of said project car in your favorite magazine? Come to SpoCom (but drop a line to 2NR first).
www.spocomusa.com
Continental Tires Giveaway
Continental Tires, headlining sponsor of 2NR's upcoming '08 EVO versus STI Shootout, recently fronted some serious bank for West Coast Customs to build and give away a custom '07 Charger en lieu of the latest Fantastic Four flick: The Rise of the Silver Surfer. Four-cylinder, all-wheel-drive time attackers take note: There's no telling what good things are in store for you from Conti, should you manage to qualify for our shootout later this year!
www.conti-online.com
Roots
Hard Launch Of The Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution I
Despite its extreme popularity in the modern tuner industry, Mitsubishi's Lancer Evolution is a bit of a black sheep when compared to many of our more traditional platforms. While a lot of our commonly modified cars were designed for functional practicality, with any propensity for performance coming secondarily, the EVO was intended to be a performer from the start; doubling as a great commuter car was mere coincidence.
The first generation EVO was announced in 1992 for the sole purpose of continuing Mitsubishi's World Rally Championship (WRC) racing effort. At that time, all WRC entrants were governed by "Group A" homologation rules, mandating each competing car to be one of a 2,500 car-per-year trim level of a 25,000 total-car production model. Previous Mitsu racing efforts were based on the company's VR-4 trim of the Galant model, but the bulky platform grew uncompetitive with age and the need to adapt to the competition increased. Mitsubishi's fifth-generation Lancer was sold widely enough to fit well within Group-A requirements, and while its smaller, more nimble size was also more ideal than the Galant's, modifications needed to make the car competitive weren't permitted. But in 1991, when the WRC's FIA governing body created an allowance for modified homologation cars that were produced in batches as little as 500 cars-per-year, the Lancer lineup added a new trim-the Evolution-and one year later, a fully built, mass-produced race car engineered specifically for global rally domination was available for street use directly through Mitsubishi dealerships.