DUB Magazine Issue 60 by DUB Publishing Inc.

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*Use only GM-approved tire and wheel combinations. Unapproved combinations may change the vehicle’s performance characteristics. For approved tire and wheel combinations and other important information, go to gmaccessorieszone.com or see your dealer for details. ©2009 GM Corp. All rights reserved. Cadillac® Cadillac logo® Chevy™ Chevrolet logo® GM® GM logo® GMC® GMC logo®

DUB MAGAZINE ISSUE 60 MAY / JUNE 2009 CONTENTS

ICE CUBE TAKES OVER THE L.A. STOP

28 13 14

MONSTER ENERGY 2009 DUB SHOW TOUR L.A.

POWER PLAYERS: HACK SHACK

INTAKE DUB DAILY

NIGO’S 300SL GULLWING, 2010 BMW X5M AND X6M REVEALED

2009 SHINE GUIDE DETAILING MADE EASY

VOLUME

MOBILE VIDEO EXCLUSIVES TO ENTERTAIN YOUR BACKSEAT PASSENGERS.

20 GREEN STREETS EETS CHEVY VOLT NAMED 2009 GREEN CAR VISION AWARD WINNER, R, ETHANOL-FUELED ECO BENTLEYS COMING SOON

FRESH SH H MOBIL 1 RACING ING OIL OIL, L, NITTO TIRE NT05, SLAM SPECIA SPECIALTIES ALTIES

22 2 DRIVEN TAPOUT’S CHARLES “MASK” LEWIS JR.

EDITOR’S NOTES The 2009 Monster Energy DUB Show Tour is underway, and our recent L.A. stop kicked our automotive drive into high gear, leaving us more eager to embark on the rest of the city stops. Not only did we house the best of West Coast car culture, but we also had one of its hip-hop pioneers headline the show. Check out our exclusive Ice Cube feature that details his explosive performance and his thoughts on attending his very ﬁrst DUB Show, along with other photos depicting how car culture on the left side of the country stands alone. It’s not difficult to understand why Cube believes no one does it quite like the West, as we lay out the L.A. show coverage, featuring news on the new Ball Up tour, backstage happenings and the VIP red carpet. A picture tells a thousand words, but there’s nothing like experiencing a DUB Show Tour in person, which is why you better hurry and get your tickets for the closet stop to you, so that you don’t end up missing out on all the automotive mayhem.

Although, we love the West Coast, we’re not one to be biased since we appreciate all things automotive across this Planet of ours, and we are pleased to show you how Texas does car culture with our Power Players feature on Hack Shack. “From air suspension to body drops, if your ride needs it, we can do it,” says owner Jay Ivey.

Summer means car shows, cruisin’ and keeping your ride right. Our 2009 Shine Guide will put you in the know of the latest offerings straight from the experts who keep their rides in showroom condition for a living. The explosive popularity of Mixed Martial Arts grows larger with each UFC Pay-Per-View fight and each season of “The Ultimate Fighter” on Spike TV, making it a sleeper sport that’s coming out of the shadows and taking the world by storm. We’ve teamed up with Toyo Tires to bring you the “Driven To Perform” MMA Edition to find out what drives the top fighters to be the best in the sport. The Edition includes interviews from some of the biggest names in the sport, such as Anderson “The Spider” Silva, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson and Rashad “Sugar” Evans, just to name a few. We’ve also included MMA Style 101 with some tips on how to hold your own in the Octagon, as well as a peak into how MMA champion-turned-boxer Andrei Arlovski gets around in Chi-Town. Our TapouT feature is both bittersweet and inspiring. It tells the story of a vision Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr., co-founder Punkass and crew member Skyskrape each had to build not only a clothing brand, but a unifying force within the MMA community. Only hours after our cover shoot with the TapouT crew, Mask was killed in a tragic car accident, leaving behind a legacy that will never be forgotten. Read how they struggled in the company’s early years, sleeping in cars an enduring police raids, to follow a dream that lead to a multi-million business that is synonymous with the UFC and MMA itself.

DUB MAGAZINE & EVENTS STAFF Kristie Bertucci | Features Editor / Copy Editor | kristie@dubpublishing.com Kiani Tran-Boutros | Human Resources/Accounting Director | kiani@dubpublishing.com Jeanette Palmerin | Office Administrator | jeanette@dubpublishing.com Mike Shaughnessy | mike@dubpublishing.com Sean Dowd | sean@dubpublishing.com Walter Segovia | walter@dubpublishing.com Ryan Dobkin Manuel Oros Edwin Quiroz Victor Herrera TRANSPORTATION OPERATORS Andrew “Old Skol” Canales Tim Slayton CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS Jay Canter / Greg B. / Bobby Stewart / Elle G. / Joe Greeves / Vi Peou Jae Bueno / Matt Campbell / Tony Chavez / Verone Pangilinan

Stay entertained this summer with our picks on the ﬁnest tequilas on the market, the newest head rest monitors to keep your passengers entertained, and our picks on the newest digital camcorders to record it all. Summer is upon us, and DUB is bringin’ up the heat with Issue 60!

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Jay Canter / Nick Halili / Deanne DeLuna

ISSUE 59 CORRECTIONS: On page 50 of the Mar/Apr 2009 edition, DUB published an article headlined, “Mobile Electronics Guide 09,” containing the following errors: All the prices for the Security Systems and Bluetooth Connectivity Devices were wrong. The following list reﬂects the correct price for each item in the Security and Bluetooth categories.

DUBPAGES.COM MAKE YOUR OWN PAGE AND SOCIALIZE!

DUBPUBLISHING.COM CARS | CELEBRITIES | GEAR | FASHION

subscribe at dubmagazine.com or call (760) 291-1552

SECURITY: Autopage RSTKE-900 $499 Viper 7901 $649 Zenesis ZN-502 A/S/AS $349

DUBDAILY.COM DUB’S DAILY BLOG ON CAR CULTURE

ALSO

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BLUETOOTH CONNECTIVITY: Alpine KCE-400BT $180 EGO Flash $279 Parrot MINIKIT Slim/Chic $100 Scosche BFTA $349 SoundGate iO Play $269

DUBMAGAZINE.COM/DUBSHOW DUB CUSTOM AUTO SHOW & CONCERT TOUR

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AUBREY OH-DAY! You guys don’t have many chicks on your covers, but when you put them…DAMN! Aubrey O’Day looks hot on the cover off Issue 59. I never thought she was all that, but after checking out the photos in her feature and her Playboy pics…I’m all over her fine ass. Nothing beats a hot chick sitting on top of such a fine ride like that classic Chevelle. Jorge U. Via e-mail Aubrey O’Day does indeed look hot on the cover of our last issue, Jorge. Not only is she talented and gorgeous, but she also has fine taste when it comes to her cars. Besides her classic Chevelle, she has two Bimmers. Don’t worry, Jorge, you’ll see more fine ladies on the cover with beautiful rides just like them!

SHAUN WHITE: ALWAYS ON THE GRIND

I never knew how busy Shaun White was until I read his feature in Issue 59; that dude is mad busy year round! He’s deﬁnitely a true athlete, having mastered both skateboardingg and snowboarding. I wish I had his talent to buy two luxurious Lambos like his. I deﬁnitely would have gone with a black one again, but that’s just my personal opinion. Nick C. Via e-mail Shaun White is a busy man indeed, Nick. Trying to set up the shoot and interview was pretty hard given his intense year-round schedule. Being such a talented athlete takes a lot of hard work and devotion, and the fact that he excels at both snowboarding and skateboarding means he appreciates any time he gets with his sweet Lambo. No matter what color a Lambo is, just the mere luxury of having one is good enough for us!

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BAPE CREATOR NIGO’S 300SL GULLWING BAPE (A Bathing Ape) designer Nigo has given his unique design style to some expensive cars like the Rolls Royce Phantom and the Bugatti Veyron. Now Nigo has paid to have the MercedesBenz’s tuning division AMG style up the classic 300SL Gullwing. The vehicle is said to be a 1954 Mercedes-Benz 300SL that has had a 6.0-liter, V8 placed under the hood. The car also features a custom interior. The designer has stated that the 300SL is his dream car.

TESLA’S MODEL S GETS 520 PRE-ORDERS Tesla recently has unveiled it’s Model S sedan T llast week and began taking reservations for the vvehicle. The car hasn’t gone into production yet, but that hasn’t stopped 520 people from putting b down the $5,000 deposit necessary to reserve d tthe vehicle. The deposit money from all 520 spots has raised $2.6 million for the car’s development. h The number of reservations surpassed Tesla’s T eexpectations. This is important because in order tto build the new Model S, Tesla will have to build a new plant. Tesla is also going to build a Model S Signature Edition that will be made in runs of 22,000 units that will dispersed evenly between tthe U.S. and Europe. The Signature Edition models will be the ﬁrst cars built and will have m unique exterior and interior features. In order u tto reserve this vehicle, Tesla requires a $40,000 deposit. The Model S is priced at $57,500. d

2010 BMW X5M AND X6M OFFICIALLY REVEALED BMW has officially swiped the covers off its ﬁrst ever M-prepped “X”models: the X5M and the X6M. Without any doubt, these are the most unique models ever to wear the M badge. However, BMW vows that both crossovers feature all the typical sport characteristics one would expect from an M-badged model. Under the hood, this translates to an all-new 4.4-liter, twinturbocharged V8 engine that cranks out 555 horsepower at 6,000 rpm and a whopping 501 lbs.-ft. of peak torque available between 1,500 and 5,650 rpm. In terms of performance, both M models accelerate to 62 mph, 0 to 4.7 seconds with an electronically limited top speed of 155, or 171 mph with the optional “M Driver’s Package.”

14 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

2010 BMW X5M

2010 BMW X6M

SLAM SPECIALTIES WWW.SLAMSPECIALTIES.COM | (888) 352-5225

Slam Specialties has released the ﬁrst 100 percent bolt-in Air Suspension Kit for the Chrysler 300C, Dodge Magnum, Charger and Challenger. Powdercoated steel construction, featuring new hardware and shocks (front and rear) provide the best riding kit available. Used in combination with Slam Specialties’ Airsprings, this kit boasts a 200psi pressure rating and, as always, internal bumpstops.

MOBIL 1 RACING OIL

NITTO TIRE E NTO5

WWW.MOBIL1RACING.COM ING.COM

WWW.NITTOTIRE.COM OM

Mobil 1 Racing oilss ack help bring your track ak vehicle to the peak of its performancee potential. Not recommended forr ve general automotive street use, Mobil 1 Racing is availablee Win 0W-20 and 0Wd 30 viscosities and ven utilizes race-proven technology that helps deliver performance and protection for some of the most demanding race conditions. Mobil 1 Racing oils are now available at the new Mobil 1 Racing Online Store.

Nitto Tire has released its new max performance tire, the NTO5, which is the company’s most aggressive, non-competition as street tire that was st created with the performance-driving enthusiast in mind. The NT05 was developed through extensive computer simulation modeling and on-track testing. These rigorous quality standards helped produce a street tire that provides precise and responsive handling and performance. The NT05 will be available in popular sizes for high-performance vehicles.

RANCHO ROCKGEAR ACCESSORIES ORIES FOR POLARIS RANGER RZR AND YAMAHA RHINO WWW.GORANCHO.COM

Rancho RockGEAR, a new line of off-road accessories for 2004-08 Yamaha Rhino and 2007-08 Polaris Ranger RZR models, offers extra protection and convenience for today’s challenging UTV environment. Rancho RockGEAR UTV accessories are ﬁnished in a durable, textured powder-coated black. Rancho RockGEAR includes a wide variety of core off-road accessories, such as: front and rear frame stiffeners for the 2007 Yamaha Rhino and 2007-08 Polaris Ranger RZR, featuring heavy-duty steel construction for added strength; and front and rear bumpers for the 2007 Yamaha Rhino and 2007-08 Polaris RZR. Each provides extra armor and enhanced protection through robust steel construction. The rear cage for the 2007 Yamaha Rhino and 2007-08 Polaris RZR, provides extra support and convenience that is fully compatible with several RockGEAR

16 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

ed storage options. They also have two race-inspired suspension systems engineered to conquer any type of terrain—sand, rocks or off-road trails— R tackled by drivers of 2008-09 Polaris Ranger RZR and 2004-09 Yamaha Rhino vehicles.

ENTERTAIN YOUR PASSENGERS WITH THE LATEST MOBILE VIDEO PRODUCTS FOR YOUR RIDE!

SAVV UNIVERSAL OEM HEADRESTS WWW.SAVV.COM

Savv has introduced the most affordable 7- and 9-inch OEM colormatched headrest packages that feature universal posts that will adjust to almost any vehicle on the market today. Headrests will be available in four of the most popular interior colors and feature a high deﬁnition, low reﬂection TFT LCD

monitor with a fully integrated DVD player. The headrests also come with media inputs for a USB and SD card, as well as a built-in FM transmitter.

CLARION VMA570 HEADREST STAND-ALONE LCD WIDE MONITOR WWW.CLARION.COM

Driving doesn’t have to be a voyage from point A to B; it can be a journey full of vivid imagery and sound in your rear seat. Have your favorite movies and video games waiting for you whenever you are ready with Clarion’s VMA570 Headrest/Standalone LCD monitor loaded in your vehicle. Your back seat might become your home away from home. The 5.6-inch VMA570 LCD Wide Monitor features: 6:9/4:3 adjustable screen format; on-screen display with two

SONY XVM-B62 AND XVM-H65 HEADREST MONITORS WWW.SONYSTYLE.COM

AV inputs; built-in dual IR output for headphones; and an easy-ﬁt universal mounting bracket is included.

For your in-car entertainment needs, Sony has two headrest monitors that provide endless video to entertain your backseat passengers. Its XVM-B62 model retails for $260 and features: a 6-1/4-inch Widescreen TFT monitor; 16:9 aspect ratio widescreen display; wide-viewing angle with two A/V p inputs; and the headrest housing and m mounting plates are included. The 6. 6.5-inch XVM-H65 model retails for $40 $400 and comes with a power supply for your PlayStation console,

as well as two A/V inputs and one AV output. The model features a thin ﬁlm transistor active matrix design and a 1-inch depth for versatile headrest mounting.

ALPINE PKG-RSE2 DVD REAR-SEAT ENTERTAINMENT PACKAGE WWW.ALPINE-USA.COM

Entertain those in the backseat with Alpine’s PKG-RSE2 DVD Rearseat Entertainment Package that features a 10.2-inch ﬂip-down WVGA monitor that boasts 1.15-million pixels for excellent picture quality; auto-DVD Play function allows users to skip the DVD’s previews and menu and go directly to the start of the movie; top panel controls that

offer easy accessibility for rear-seat passengers; and comes with one pair of wireless headphones and a RUE-4159 universal remote control. Alpine’s video and rear-seat products ﬁt in various vehicle set-ups and can handle almost every entertainment source—from DVDs to iPod Video content—with plug-and-play ease. Available now for $800.

THQ’S UFC 2009 UNDISPUTED AVAILABLE MAY 19TH

18 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

CHEVROLET VOLT NAMED RD WINNER 2009 GREEN CAR VISION AWARD

WHEEGO ELECTRIC CARS LAUNCHES U.S. DEALER NETWORK

The T Chevrolet Volt has been named the 2009 Green Car Ca Vision Award winner by Green Car Journal. Competition for the award was keen, with plug-in Co hybrid, extended-range electric, battery electric, and hy hydrogen fuel cell vehicles vying for the prize. Among hy them: the Fisker Karma, launching late this year; the th Honda FCX Clarity, a sleek, fuel-cell sedan; the MINI H E, E an electric version of the conventional internal combustion MINI Cooper; and the Mitsubishi I-MiEV, co a battery electric city car based on a popular internal combustion model in Japan. The award recognizes the co most important vehicle in an award year that best envisions the road ahead, but is not yet on sale.

NEW GOODYEAR TIRE CONTRIBUTES TO EFFICIENCY OF CHEVROLET VOLT

Wheego Electric Cars, a division of RTEV, Inc., has announced the official launch of its U.S. car dealer network. Wheego plans to launch their ﬁrst electric car, the “Wheego Whip,” with a target of 50 U.S. car dealerships. These will be a combination of traditional car dealers, as well as a new type of dealer who exclusively sells electric vehicles and combines several manufacturers, such as ZENN, ZAP, and MILES in one dealership.

As the chosen exclusive tire on the 2011 Chevrolet Volt, the Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max offers a breakthrough in efficiency combined with all-season driving conﬁdence. Compared to the original Goodyear Assurance tire, the newly announced Assurance Fuel Max provides 27 percent less rolling resistance, which equates to a 4 percent improvement in highway fuel economy. In essence, this greater fuel efficiency means drivers can potentially save 2,600 miles worth of gas over the life of the tire on a conventional vehicle.

E ETHANOL-FUELED ECO BENTLEY COMING SOON

DEMAND FOR HONDA INSIGHT HYBRID SOARS Ten days after it went on sale in Japan in February, the all-new Honda Insight Hybrid has already received orders for more than 10,000 units. That ﬁgure is more than double the monthly sales goal for the cheapest hybrid vehicle on market, which was unveiled at Detroit Auto Show in January. It starts at only $21,000 in Japan, while Toyota’s Prius—the most popular hybrid—sells for $22,000 in the U.S. Honda wants to price its Insight Hybrid under $20,000 in the U.S. and may consider building it here if annual North American sales stabilize at its lofty target of 100,000 units.

20 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

Bentley CEO Franz-Josef Be z-Josef Paefgen promised an allnew ne more efficient nt powertrain for his lineup in 2012 and an acknowledged d that bio-ethanol is an important steppingstone to a greener future as is lighter st weight. Bentley introduced w ntroduced its latest model at the th Geneva Motorr Show in March, a project that started 24 months ago as an exercise in mass reduction, n, which yielded savings of 242 lbs. s. off the portly Continentall coupe. Under the hood, the usual ﬂex-fuel bits havee been added to the twin-turbo n-turbo W12, bringing the output ut up to a massive 621 horsepower. epower. That’s enough to push the Continental ntal Supersports to 204 04 mph.

Simply Believe A Celebration of Charles ‘Mask’ Lewis Jr., 1963-2009 “The people who get on in this world are the people who get up and look for the circumstances they want, and if they can’t ﬁnd them, make them.” - George Bernard Shaw

o-founder and co-owner of iconic MMA clothing line TapouT, Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. was the perfect description of the person Shaw was referring to in his quote. Lewis had a vision, went after it despite the many struggles to see it through, and in the end, paved his own road to success with the help of TapouT cofounder Punkass and crew member Skyskrape. DUB was honored to have been in the presence of such an extraordinary person, and we are deeply saddened by his tragic passing only a day after our photo shoot and interview, which sent shock waves throughout the MMA world. His presence in this world will truly be missed, and this Driven is dedicated to the memory of a truly inspirational ﬁgure within the MMA and clothing industry that will forever be missed.

PHOTOS: GREG B.

“All About TapouT” from Mask’s perspective from www.tapout.com Life is full of inﬂuences, it’s your application that sets you apart. That’s something I wrote to myself and completely believe in. You can’t be scared to set out to do something in life because you believe it may be similar to something, or because you don’t know the clear cut path on how you’re going to accomplish your goal or dream! Just take a step towards your belief daily—fearlessly,

22 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

wholeheartedly, digging and dreaming within yourself, believing that as you push on through sacrifice, you will one day stand alone on top of a hill that you created that now encourages and inspires others to chase their dream. Knowing that through tenacity and patience anything can be achieved. If you simply believe… (An excerpt from Mask’s final interview from the TapouT feature on page 38 on the flip side) Was there a point when the sport was having hard times, and you thought that you were going to have to leave the business? What made you decide to stick it out? Inevitably, you choose to believe in something and go forward. How did you know TapouT was going to take off, even doing what we did? Sometimes you just believe. Regardless of any outside circumstances, you choose to believe— believe in your vision. I go, “I got this thing inside, I believe it, and I can see it; I’m just gonna go with it.” When you see something on the inside, and you just believe it, you just continue to go with it. I was living out of a car, and I’d go into Barnes and Noble, and I’d read, like, Dale Carnegie’s

“How to Win Friends and Influence People.” I’d read these self-help books, these dream books, like Michael Jordan and all these guys that had a dream, and I’d go, “You know at the end of the day, the world’s gonna know my dream.” One day I will say that I just believed that I was gonna believe and chose to believe it. And I’ll be able to tell other guys, “Hey, man, you all have something on the inside of your chest that is your GPS and your roadmap. Nobody might ever get there but you. Everybody’s given their own GPS to some dream that they’re chasing. It’s your vision, your dream. Only you are going to have the fog lights when it gets foggy to see down that road.” And that’s just what it is. I believe it was that way with TapouT. And, I’m 100 percent behind being an underdog, and being a team player to the sport and to the fighters. I like taking guys like Damacio (Page), Cowboy (Donald Cerrone), and Chuck Liddell—our friends— and finding them and being beside them when they weren’t who the world knows them to be now. And now, the world knows who they are, and we’re just there [being] supportive. “And if they don’t know, now you know…I am Mask. That’s straight…that’s TapouT.” - Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr.

INVADES THE L.A. MONSTER ENERGY DUB SHOW TOUR

WORDS: KRISTIE BERTUCCI PHOTOS: GREG B.

he L.A. kickoff for the Monster Energy 2009 DUB Show Tour was an automotive enthusiasts’ dream: the tribute to lowriding provided the perfect trip down memory lane and was a wonderful display of automotive history strategically placed among many of today’s most popular rides in top-notch, customization form—the future of car culture. The various booths that housed luxury and exotics provided eye candy and dreams of one day having such a vehicle sitting in the driveway. To top it all off, a plethora of beautiful women were spread across every inch of the Convention Center, proving that women and fine cars will always be the perfect combination. However, the icing on the cake was the headlining act for the concert part of the show: Mr. West Coast himself, Ice Cube (Yay-Yay). The buzz surrounding the iconic West Coast legend was all about what hits he’d perform on stage, given he’s had so many in his 20-plus year career. Would he bust out his classic hits like “It Was A Good Day,” or would he just do songs off his latest album, Raw Footage, that dropped last summer? After other show performers like Colby O’Donis and Jim Jones got the fans all warmed up, it was time for Cube to take the stage. Once his name was announced by L.A.-host, DJ Felli Fel, the crowd went wild, as fans rushed to the concert stage to be closer to see one of the forefathers of West Coast rap perform. The minute Cube stepped on stage, cheers and screams echoed within the Convention Center, louder than the underlying beats of Cube’s DJ Crazy Toones. “W” finger signs were immediately thrown in the air, as the crowd waved them back and forth to Cube’s greetings. What happened next was an amazing 45-minute set that no one who was there would soon forget, as Cube killed it with his hits and even brought along former West Side Connection member, WC. “It was a packed house,” Cube says about his experience at his first DUB show. “It was dope. The crowd seemed happy and satisfied with everything, especially the concert. The people really responded to the songs I did.” And

24 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

HAVING RECENTLY DEBUTED AT THE 2009 CHICAGO AUTO SHOW THIS PAST FEBRUARY, FORD CHOSE DUB TO BE FIRST TO UNVEIL A MILDLY MODIFIED VERSION OF THE ALREADY STUNNING 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO. TO COMPLEMENT THE THE ALREADY SLEEK LOOK OF THE CAR, WHICH FEATURES A SCULPTED HOOD, PRONOUNCED FRONT FENDERS AND A CHARACTER LINE THAT RUNS FROM THE SIDE VENT TO THE TRAILING EDGE OF THE REAR FENDERS, A MORE AGGRESSIVE LOWERED STANCE AND FENDER FILLING 24” DROPSTARS WHEEL AND TIRE PACKAGE WAS ALL THAT WAS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THE LOOK VISUALLY.

why wouldn’t they? After all, many of Cube’s songs contain lyrics dedicated to West Coast car culture, given he’s an avid fan himself. “It goes hand-in-hand,” he says about the relation between the two. “Everybody knows Cali is the place to ride top down. It brings that atmosphere with the music. Cars and cruising are a big part of the hood; it’s like the hood’s pageantry—our parade, so to say. It also brings people together. It’s always great to see Blacks and Mexicans come together in terms of cars. They seem to put down any differences when it comes to car culture and music. It’s like the Lakers, it holds the city together.” On any given day in L.A., you can hear an Ice Cube song blasting from someone’s car, which just goes to show how much of an inﬂuence he and his music

has on the West Coast’s car scene. Cube’s love of automotives spawned at a young age growing up in South L.A. He recalls always seeing his uncles cruising the streets in muscle cars from the ’70s. “It’s always been a part of neighborhood,” he says. “It was everybody’s dream to have a Rolls-Royce and a lowrider, and that’s just been part of my life since day one. I remember the headlights of lowriders lighting up the night, as they cruised down the streets…that always sticks out in my mind.” Given he speaks so passionately about lowriding, you would think he’s had one, or even a couple…but you’d actually be mistaken. Despite his love of ﬁne rides, Ice Cube doesn’t own a lowrider. Even though he prefers them to modern cars and is often seen driving one in music videos and photo

CUBE WAS QUITE IMPRESSED WITH THE 2010 FORD TAURUS SHO. “I LIKED IT; IT MATCHED MY OUTﬁT.”

shoots, he still hasn’t found one that he truly likes. “In a way, I just don’t have the time to do it how I would want to do it,” he says about his lack of a lowrider in his car collection. “I don’t want to have it parked and just sitting in my garage. I’d really want to get a ’57 Chevy convertible, but right now, I’m a spectator of the game.” Although, he’s sitting on the bleachers of the lowrider game, he definitely has his modern car game up to speed. “Got my new Maserati [Quattroporte] four door right now,” he says. “I’m pretty satisfied now. I’ve been in and out of cars for a long time that you get to a point where you get satisfied with one. I don’t buy cars as much as I did before.” Quite happy with what he has at home, Cube did comment that all the cars he saw at the show were quite impressive, even the all-new 2010 Ford Taurus he was shot with. “I liked it; it matched my outfit,” he says, wearing a beige shirt with matching pants, similar to the color of the car. “The car game out here in the West Coast is major; it’s bigger than any other place in the country. The people who customize the cars are unmatched in Cali. Everybody else is trying to keep up since we are the best of the best.” And there’s no disputing Cube’s comment after walking the floor of the convention center. Everywhere you looked featured a customized ride that demanded your full attention—that is, until Ice Cube hit the stage.

THE FOURTH ITERATION OF THE TAURUS SHO (SUPER HIGH OUTPUT) IS AWD AND FEATURES A 3.5 LITER DIRECTINJECTED TWIN-TURBO ECOBOOST V6.

Once his set was done, it was obvious the crowd wanted more from Cube. Forty-ﬁve minutes just wasn’t enough for him to really pack that musical punch such a legend gives, given he’s had just so many memorable hits. But, it was time for the show to end, and Cube’s performance deﬁnitely didn’t disappoint. It was quite evident West Coast rap is still dominant in people’s hearts despite the evolution of the genre and the music industry as a whole. Hitting the big “4-0” this June, Cube still

MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 25

“AS LONG AS MY TONGUE STILL WORKS, I GOT AS MANY ALBUMS IN ME AS I WANT TO DO.”

has years of rapping inside him. “As long as my tongue still works, I got as many albums in me as I want to do,” he says. “I still like writing raps and have a European tour coming up. I’m also putting something together for summer.” West Coast rap hit it’s peak in the early-tolate-’90s, and Ice Cube’s association with N.W.A. and Westside Connection made him a prominent figure in it’s rise to popularity. But like all things, the music industry has changed, and along with it, West Coast rap. According to Cube, rap is heading right where it started and should have always been—in the streets. “Rap went from underground to above ground to mainstream. Then it went corporate, and they had a hold on it for a while,” he explains. “But now, it seems, they are abandoning it, and it’s going back to the streets where it should be. I feel like I’m submitting myself in the game. It’s hard to sum up everything that I’ve done to help my history in the game. I feel like people respect me, and that’s all a rapper can really ask for in this world.” But Cube has more to be appreciative of, given he also has a successful acting career in conjunction with his ongoing music one. He actually has a film coming out this summer with fellow Next Friday and Friday After Next star, Mike Epps. Despite appearing in various films throughout the years, his favorite is still the original Friday. “We had so much fun making the movie,” he describes. But for all of you expecting a fourth installment in the series, don’t hold your breath. “We won’t make a new one any time soon,” he says. “I want Chris Tucker in the movie, so I won’t do it unless he says yes.” Guess we’ll all have to make do with watching the first three to get our Friday fix. Fans walked away from Cube’s performance satisfied and happy to have seen such an iconic rapper from the West still embedded in the scene. With so much to see and experience at the L.A. DUB show, in the words of Ice Cube, “It Was A Good Day.”

26 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

Explosive sound. Sony® Xplod® GT Series car stereos deliver a sonic punch like you’ve never heard before. Throw in Xplod amps and subwoofers and you’ve got a system that not only thumps, it detonates. Learn more at sony.com/xplod

1. 1. Ice Cube and WC 2. Jim Jones 3. BMX biker Rick Thorne 4. Ron Browz 5. The Power 106 crew: Tattoo, Big Boy, Luscious Liz and L.A. show host DJ Felli Fel 6. Sleepy Brown 7. The Archbishop Don Magic Juan 8. Mateo 9. Paciﬁc Division 10. The Monster Energy girls are always fan favorites. 11. Rockstar’s Midnight Club: Los Angeles Gaming booth provided gamers with hours of entertainment. 12. Aubrey O’Day and her Maltese, Ginger, co-hosted the show with DJ Felli Fel. 13. Colby O’Donis

10.

otorspor platinum m

R8 with et, such as a 2009 Audi s automobiles on the plan W175; and pe with 22-inch Agetro some of the most luxuriou of Cou lay GT disp tley le Ben 8 vab 200 elie ays brings out an unb a Premier 4509 body kit; Platinum Motorsport alw i Murcielago LP640 with els; a 2008 Lamborghin 20-inch Agetro M140 whe nch Agetro F100 wheels. a Maybach 57 with 22-i

28 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

PHOTOS: GREG B, JAE BUENO,TONY CHAVEZ, MATT CAMPBELL, VERONE PANGILINAN, R. DOBKIN, R. RACELA

9. 12.

11. VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM

13.

TOS & VIDEO FOR MORE DUB SHOW PHO

sports galpin auto

ch included the

s at their mega booth, whi a huge display of ďŹ ne ride w. Galpin Auto Sports had d at the 2008 SEMA sho eile unv was t tha car t $2-million Scythe concep

MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 25

1. 1. The beautiful Esther Hanuka 2. Motorpsycho Magazine brought out customized machines on two wheels. 3. Corrissa Fur at the Motevo booth. 4. A & G Wheel’s beautiful model. 3.

ubs nest car cl so. cal’s ﬁ

lowriding tribute to

in lowriders. The car clubs So Cal’s most exclusive y car clubs and featured iacos. man Man out t and er ugh eth bro Tog ng” cs, The “Tribute to Lowridi eles, South Side, Stylisti style, Majestics, Los Ang Groupe, Techniques, Life

30 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

attendance were:

1. The Qwest Crew, winners from “America’s Best Dance Crew” at the Metro PCS Lounge. 2. Aubrey O’Day at the Xbox 360 booth displaying their latest game, Lips. 3. The Ford booth displayed its new crossover Flex. 4. Scion’s fully customized street arsenal 5. 2K Sports’ models got just as much attention as the games. 6 to 7. The Ninja Underground show featuring the Kawasaki street bike team. 8 to 9. The State Farm booth featured P-Rod’s Chevy Avalanche and autographed board and Nike SB giveaways. 10. Back from last year was NASCAR’s “Tire Change Challenge.” 11 to 12: Giovanna Wheels’ booth features ED Hardy Smart cars and a head-turning SLR. 13 to 14. Forgiato brought out some of their best exotics like the Audi R 8 and hottest new wheel designs.

8. 11.

12.

13.

17.

15. ball up

ballers ,” and many other star “The Professor”, “Mr. 720 ers, such as actor Donald ars, such as “Assassin,” erst play y sup brit ball cele et d stre ure re feat e r is the Ball Up Tour whe The action-packed gam Tyrese. New to the DUB Show Tou of actors and celebrities. er than actor and artist rt against the E-League n all hosted by none oth inso Rob th Kei r nge battled it out on a full-cou r/si Manny Pacquiao and acto Faison, champion boxer

32 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

” Jackson.

mpage UFC ﬁghter Quinton “Ra Dodge Challengers. 18. off three of his wide-body made an appearance at the show. wed sho o Top izer tom 15 to 17. Cus ce of Bel-Air” wn from “The Fresh Prin 19. Tatyana Ali, best kno 16.

10. 14.

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM

TOS & VIDEO FOR MORE DUB SHOW PHO

18.

19.

EVERYTHING IS BIGGER IN TEXAS

G. STEWART INTERIOR SHOP PHOTOS: ELLE WORDS: DeANNE DeLUNA PHOTOS: BOBBY

“E

verything is Bigger in Texas,” is a popular colloquialism about the Lone Star State and it certainly applies re. to the state’s vast and growing car cultu ry’s) Hack Shack is one of the state’s (and count their notable customization shops, known for ed extraordinary jobs and superior service. Locat Shack Hack y), count s Dalla d idere in Garland (cons lly is a one-stop customization shop that litera drops, if does it all. “From air suspension to body owner your ride needs it, we can do it,” explains some of Jay Ivey. “The Hack Shack has turned out s quite the most tricked-out rides in Texas.” That’ ot an accomplishment for the 10,000-square-fo and oyees empl nine t abou s house facility that . has been in business for the past nine years When Ivey was barely 21, he decided to follow shop in his dreams and open up a customization had cars ng buildi for ation reput 2000, given his he preceded him, and he needed a place where people could do all the work. “I got more and more da asking me to work on their cars, and I neede stuff ng buildi was “I says. place to do it,” Ivey do, so I other shops didn’t want to do or couldn’t needs.” needed the space to fulﬁll my customers’ nsion suspe arket afterm an as out d What starte lown specialty shop has now turned into a full-b its shop that does everything in-house from us for custom suspension work the shop is famo ile/mob stereo and ce rman perfo m to its custo entertainment installs. Given automotive culture in Texas is really diverse, according to Ivey, Hack Shack does trucks everything from high-end luxury cars to a and even classics. “We never know what do it customer will walk in wanting, but we’ll that all,” Ivey says. “We have a diverse clientele s. No ranges from average Joes to celebrity client our matter who the customer is, we are fair on s.” prices and never overcharge those with statu at Hack mized custo get to car your g takin When and Shack, you won’t be displeased since Ivey

36 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

“FROM AIR SUSPENSION TO BODY DROPS, IF YOUR RIDE NEEDS IT, WE CAN DO IT.” best, his team make sure to give each job their time. which means quality results each and every Ivey ” work, of ty quali t abou all is Shack “Hack custom says. “With our years of experience in the that automotive market, you can be assured when your vehicle will leave our shop better than out in stand will it that and us to it ht broug you we a crowd. Customers give us their ideas and create their visions.” Right now, Ivey is restoring a couple of ffs. classic cars rebuilding them to be true one-o are we that shop the in ce “We have a ’75 Capri ff, fully rebuilding. We’re doing everything one-o to be in a from the interior to the frame; it’s going seen class of its own.” Currently, Hack Shack has ions, a lot of requests for Donk-style customizat ls. as well as custom-painted three-piece whee With their numerous years in the industry, sts, Hack Shack has seen its share of odd reque

s but Ivey says the oddest has to be when client big started coming in, asking for lifted cars on e of wheels when the trend first started a coupl years back. “Lifting cars with big wheels was ins. “It pretty much unheard of before,” Ivey expla we was odd how to engineer suspensions where ging it can lift these cars to the max without dama the for everyday use. We got a lot of re-dos when know didn’t shops other since d trend first starte team for how to do it right.” Ivey likes to credit his their the shop’s superior customizations, given ent excell s create what is ledge know al ssion profe s alway I and ort, eff team a is jobs. “Hack Shack work attribute our success to the employees’ hard and dedication to their work.” Their reputation for being able to do the is impossible to cars spread like wildfire, which While what has helped build the shop’s clientele. selves, Hack Shack does no real marketing them

their ever-expanding Rolodex of clients grows . Hack on word of mouth from happy customers y Keno was client rity celeb big Shack’s ﬁrst er Kennedy, who played safety for the Denv his Broncos and Detroit Lions. “We ﬁrst did we’ve then, since and l nenta Conti ln Linco 1962 latest done several others of his, including his of his Mercedes-Benz S550,” Ivey says. “A friend shop told him about us and he then referred the ies.” budd g playin other his of to some Hoping to one day expand Hack Shack to is include more stores across the country, Ivey it evolve focused on building the shop and having best with the times. “We can only hope for the g and see where that goes. We’re always lookin the to increase our shop’s machinery to have r capability to build more cars. Getting bigge And s.” build more s mean ment equip r and bette bigger is always better in Texas…

MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 37

EXTERIOR

-FINISH 24-INCH FORGIATO RASOIO • TWO-TONE, SATIN-BRUSHED AND BLACK WHEELS WITH CHROME OUTER LIP • 24-INCH TOYO PROXES 4 TIRES • STRUT UPPER AND LOWER GRILLE KIT WITH BLACK BODY SPEARS TWO-TONE SILVER AND CHARCOAL PAINT

INTERIOR

LEATHER AND SUEDE SEATS WITH • CUSTOM DIAMOND-CUT GREY-SLATE “HACKSHACK” LOGO SLATE INTERIOR • CUSTOM SUEDE HEADLINER AND FULL • BILLET TECHNOLOGY BILLET KIT. • BILLET RAPTOR PISTOL GRIP SHIFTER. WITH SHADES • PANORAMIC FULL-MOTION MOONROOF

I.C.E.

OOFERS • 4 MTX THUNDER 7500 10-INCH SUBW AMP SUB 9501D MTX 1 • • 1 MTX 7501 AMP • ECLIPSE HEAD UNIT WITH NAVIGATION • FOCAL UTOPIA COMPONENTS • CUSTOM KICK PANEL RESTS • TWO 7-INCH MONITORS IN THE HEAD WINDOWS FACING OUT • TWO 8-INCH MONITORS IN THE REAR K TRUN THE IN TORS MONI H 11-INC • TWO • ONE 19-INCH MONITOR IN THE DECK LID • DAKOTA DIGITAL VOLTMETER. PERFORMANCE & SUSPENSION • AIR AID INTAKE SYSTEM • SUPERCHIPS PROGRAMMER MAGNAFLOW EXHAUST • LONG TUBE HEADERS, X-PIPES, AND 8 VALES DUAL COMPRESSOR AND 5 WITH /S/ F/B/S NSION SUSPE • AIR RIDE HBOX SWITC 7 ME CHRO GALLON TANK

38 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

HACK SHACK 4635 NORTHWEST HIGHWAY GARLAND, TEXAS 75043 (972) 270-4225 WWW.HACKSHACKTEXAS.COM FORGIATO WWW.FORGIATO.COM TOYO TIRES WWW.TOYO.COM STRUT WWW.STRUTWEAR.COM

BILLET TECHNOLOGY WWW.BILLETTECHNOLOGY.COM MTX AUDIO WWW.MTX.COM ECLIPSE WWW.ECLIPSE-WEB.COM DAKOTA DIGITAL WWW.DAKOTADIGITAL.COM MAGNAFLOW WWW.MAGNAFLOW.COM

detailing made easy

fter working like a dog ﬁve days a week, who really wants to spend end two to three hours of their weekend to completely detail a car? ob Although, going through an automated car wash may get the job or done, the risk of paint scratches and scraped wheels is not an option for those who want to keep their vehicles looking like they just came off the showroom ﬂoor. So, whether you own a trailer queen or a daily driver, here are some cleaning tips from car care pros and a list of products that you should always

have in hand to pamper your vehicle to a showroom shine in half the time. No one cares about your vehicle more than you do, so it’s best to clean it yourself and invest in quality and trusted brands of car care products.

surf city garage cleaning tip DAMAGE-FREE DETAILING Detail the right way and your ride will look great and have long-lasting protection from the elements. Here are three detailing traps that can seriously harm your paint, wheels and leather, and how to avoid them. 1. THE WASHING YOUR RIDE TRAP Did you know that washing your car is really your first opportunity to scratch it? Cheap discount brands are almost all water and no soap. The solution: Look for a top-quality, thick, concentrated wash, preferably one with protective wax in it. Then get as much product as possible between your sponge and the surface. 2. THE CLEANING YOUR WHEELS TRAP Drill-operated foam polishers work fine the first time, but when the polish dries, it

interior:

turns into an abrasive. The next time, it will be like applying sandpaper to your wheels and they will be seriously scratched forever. One solution is to thoroughly clean the foam immediately after each use. But the easiest and best solution is to use a topquality, spray-on/wash-off wheel cleaner. 3. THE CLEANING YOUR LEATHER TRAP Most people clean their leather and think they’re done. But cleaning is only a ﬁrst step that removes the oils from leather, causing it to dry, crack and age. To prevent this damage, you need a second step—applying a top-quality leather conditioner/rejuvenator. This will replace the essential oils lost and keep your leather in like-new condition.

LEATHER / VINYL / RUBBER CLEANER & PROTECTOR

01. GRIOT’S GARAGE LEATHER CARE SPRAY WWW.GRIOTSGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $24.99 Replaces vital nutrients, dries clear on perforated leather, non-greasy and smells like new leather. With this product, you’ll be preserving your ﬁne leather for a long and supple life.

02. SMARTWAX SMART LEATHER

01.

WWW.SMARTWAX.COM | RETAIL $16.95

03.

Smart Leather is a premium dry-to-touch leather cleaner and conditioner with pleasant leather scent. It’s pH balanced formula replenishes the essential, natural nutrients that keep natural leather soft and supple.

02.

03. BLACK MAGIC PRO SHINE PROTECTANT WWW.BLACKMAGIC.COM | RETAIL $6.99 The Black Magic Pro-Shine Protectant provides excellent protection for all surfaces. The easy-to-apply spray contains Fadeblok-an exclusive component that provides protection against the sun’s rays, which can cause fading, dying and cracking.

04. TURTLE WAX ICE TOTAL INTERIOR CARE WWW.TURTLEWAX.COM | RETAIL $9.99 ICE Total Interior Care is a multi-surface cleaner that conditions, restores and protects all interior surfaces, including plastic, vinyl, leather, rubber and glass.

05. MOTHER’S PROTECTANT WWW.MOTHERS.COM | RETAIL $10.29 - $12.79 Protectant is a non-oily dressing and UV blocker for rubber, vinyl and plastic that reconditions and maintains the original condition and appearance of dashboards, bumpers, trim, tires and more.

44 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

04. 05.

interior

cont’d

01. SURF CITY VOODOO BLEND LEATHER REJUVENATOR WWW.SURFCITYGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $12.99 Brings even cracked, faded, old leather back from the dead. Conditions, protects and waterproofs all leather, new or old. Works like magic on vinyl and plastic, too.

01.

02. MEGUIAR’S SUPREME SHINE

02.

03. 04.

WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $6.99 To maintain a rich ﬁnish on your dashboard, trim, door panels, plastic bumpers and tires, Supreme Shine will restore and protect without leaving an artiﬁcial plastic or greasy look.

03. TURTLE WAX OXY POWER OUT! CARPET CLEANER WWW.TURTLEWAX.COM | RETAIL $4.99 Features advanced deep cleaning formula that also provides a soil repelling silicone shield of protection, as well as Odor-X to remove odors caused by pets, cigarette smoke, food and mildew.

04. MEGUIAR’S QUIK OUT CARPET & UPHOLSTERY CLEANER WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $4.99 Quik Out is the fast and easy solution to carpet and upholstery looking like-new. It dries quickly without leaving anything behind so carpets and upholstery are left fresh.

05. GRIOT’S GARAGE INTERIOR CLEANER

05.

WWW.GRIOTSGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $9.99 No dyes or chemicals that could alter the color of the surface you are cleaning. Use on leather vinyl, cloth and carpet. Oil, dirt and other stains lift right up.

griot’s garage cleaning tip CLEANING AND PROTECTING YOUR CARPET & UPHOLSTRY The first step is a complete vacuuming. Start with the headliner if it’s a felt or fabric material. We don’t recommend that you vacuum the headliner every time, but it’s worth doing a couple times a year. Use a brush attachment to lightly pull out the dust and dirt. Too much suction can cause the fabric to pull or stretch. Use our micro brush attachments on the vacuum to clean vents, dashes, consoles, and other nooks and crannies. The wood and plastic trim in most vehicles is covered with clear coat, lacquer or polyurethane, which is very easy to scratch. Vacuum gently then use a micro-fiber cloth, or a damp, soft cotton towel to remove any smudges. Working down, attack the seats next. If the seats are leather or vinyl, use a soft horsehair brush to loosen the dirt and crumbs that are trapped in the seams. For cloth seats, it’s best to use a nylon brush to get the fibers raised, so the vacuum can pull out more dirt and dust.

46 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

The floor mats should be removed, shaken, and then the fibers roughed up a bit with a nylon brush, so the vacuum can pull up debris from deep down at the base of the fibers. If any stains or grease spots exist, spray some Carpet Cleaner on them and scrub with the nylon brush. Wipe the spot with a damp towel to remove as much of the Carpet Cleaner and foreign residue as you can. Continue to clean and dry the spot with a different dry towel. We recommend using a white terry cloth towel to see how much of the dirt you’re pulling out. Allow the floor mats and carpet to air dry before returning the mats to the vehicle.

car wash solution 01. EAGLE ONE EASI-DRI CAR WASH WWW.EAGLEONE.COM | RETAIL $5.99

02.

Developed with unique sheeting action technology, product saves time and effort by sheeting water off the ﬁnish as you rinse with no hand drying required. Results in shiny, spot-free ﬁnish.

03.

02. VOODODO RIDE JUJU CAR WASH CONCENTRATE WWW.VOODOORIDE.COM | RETAIL $7.99 Juju car wash is a concentrated, biodegradable wash soap that contains a high quality carnauba wax and is safe for all ﬁnishes, performing as a one-step wash and wax solution.

01.

03. SURF CITY PACIFIC BLUE WASH & WAX WWW.SURFCITYGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $12.99 Super concentrated formula-32 car washes in 32 oz. Contains No. 1 carnauba wax for high lubricity. 100percent safe, no scratch formula.

05.

04. SMARTWAX WATERLESS WASH+WAX WWW.SMARTWAX.COM | RETAIL $12.95 Waterless car wash, wax & sealant in one. The ﬁrst environmentally friendly, one-step answer to achieving a show perfect shine effortlessly and without water.

05. TURTLE WAX ICE CAR WASH

04.

WWW.TURTLEWAX.COM | RETAIL $7.99 ICE Car Wash is formulated with lubricating agents, paint conditioners and gloss enhancing polymers that gently wash away dirt, road grime and dust, leaving an incredible, sparkling clean shine.

06. MOTHER’S CALIFORNIA GOLD CAR WASH

06.

WWW.MOTHERSCALIFORNIAGOLD.COM | RETAIL $5.49 - $11.09 California Gold Car Wash washes away dirt, road ﬁlm, bugs, bird droppings and airborne pollutants, without removing wax or dulling the paint-it resists water spots, too.

07. MEGUIAR’S NXT GENERATION CAR WASH WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $7.99 This synthetic car wash loosens and emulsiﬁes even the toughest dirt and road grime. Its non-detergent formula won’t strip off wax and is gentle on all painted ﬁnishes.

07.

meguiar’s cleaning tip Meguiar’s recommends washing your car using the two-bucket method. Fill one bucket with water and soap, the other with plain water. After soaking the mitt in the soapy water and wiping the car, rinse the mitt in the plain-water bucket. That way dirt picked up by the mitt is left in the rinse bucket and won’t contaminate the soap bucket, reducing the risk of that very same dirt being wiped back on the car. When it’s time to rinse, hose off the car using high water pressure, then do a ﬁnal rinse with a low-pressure stream. You’ll be amazed at how the water sheets off the car, and how much quicker and easier it will be to dry.

MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 47

exterior:

wax & spray detailers

01. MEGUIAR’S NXT GENERATION TECH WAX 2.0 WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $17.99 NXT Generation Tech Wax 2.0 is a scientiﬁc breakthrough that introduces a new dimension of gloss and protection. This improved formula produces unbelievably deep, vibrant color and a dramatically clear wet-look. New Hydrophobic Polymer Technology provides relentless water beading and protection against oxidation, corrosion, UV rays and surface degradation. “Hydrophobic” means “water-fearing,” and this new breakthrough technology builds such incredible protection and surface tension that water beads up and just glides off your paint ﬁnish, wash after wash!

02. MOTHER’S CALIFORNIA GOLD CARNAUBA CLEANER WAX WWW.MOTHERS.COM | RETAIL $9.29; $15.39 Carnauba Cleaner Wax cleans and protects all paints in just one application. Brazilian No. 1 yellow carnauba combined with a light polish smoothes minor ﬂaws and makes your paint snap.

02.

01.

03. EAGLE ONE NANOWAX SPRAY WWW.EAGLEONE.COM | RETAIL $5.99 Nano-sized carnauba wax particles conceal unsightly swirl marks and hairline scratches and provide long lasting protection and a deep, glossy shine. Spray on and wipe off; no buffing required.

04.

04. WAX MY WHIP WHIP GLOSS INSTANT DETAILER WWW.WAXMYWHIP.COM | RETAIL $14.95 Whip Gloss was formulated to work on all painted surfaces, as well as ﬁberglass, chrome, plastic and, yes, even glass. Spray it on and wipe it off! Its that easy!

05. MEGUIAR’S ULTIMATE QUIK WAX

03.

05.

WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $9.99 Meguiar’s Ultimate Quik Wax is the fastest way to a dazzling, show-car shine! Their new technology leaves no residue no plastic and trim, and can be applied in direct sunlight.

07.

06. POLYMATRIX ULTRA COAT WWW.PROTECTIVECOATINGSYSTEMS.COM | RETAIL $99.95 Polymatrix Ultra Coat is the world’s most advanced protectant. The application produce produces a highly reﬂective, durable ﬁnish. Lasts for months and months, and does not wash off. For Extreme Bling, Polymatrix is king!

06.

07. SURF CITY GARAGE BARRIER REEF CARNAUBA WAX WWW.SURFCITYGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $19.99 Easiest to apply. Easiest to remove. Longest-lasting. Highest gloss. Their secret is a super-high concentration of the ﬁnest carnauba wax in the world—No. 1 Brazilian.

surf city waxing tip PREPPING YOUR RIDE BEFORE YOU WAX Start with a top-quality car wash, preferably one with protective wax in it to prevent the sponge from scratching the surface. Next, check for contaminants by running the back of your ﬁngers against the surface. If the surface is rough to the touch, you have contaminants present, and you’ll need to remove them before polishing. At our shop, we use Beyond Clay with a low-speed buffer to remove contaminants, overspray, swirl

48 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

marks and surface scratches. Beyond Clay is unique because it does everything a clay bar does and it also polishes. This avoids the time, expense and difficulty of using a clay bar and a polish separately. Once you’ve polished, the next step is to get maximum protection by using a super-premium sealer to seal all the pores in your paint. This will maximize your shine, too. Once this sealing is complete, you’re ready to wax.

tires & wheels:

01.

02.

cleaners & dressings

03.

04.

01. SMARTWAX RIMWAX WWW.SMARTWAX.COM | RETAIL $16.95 RimWax provides extreme shine and protection for all wheel ﬁnishes. The anit-static formula helps repel brake dust and reduces dust buildup by as much as 75 percent.

02. TURTLE WAX ICE WHEEL & TIRE CLEANER WWW.TURTLEWAX.COM | RETAIL $7.99 An all-in-one solution to wheel and tire care, this product quickly and easily cuts through even the toughest brake dust and road debris for a deep, sparkling clean.

03. MEGUIAR’S HOT SHINE TIRE GEL KIT WWW.MEGUIARS.COM | RETAIL $9.99 Meguiars Hot Shine Tire Gel Kit delivers long-lasting, high gloss shine. The new kit includes a convenient zero-mess applicator that allows fast, even application of the concentrate gel.

04. VOODOO RIDE SHOQ-WHEEL & TIRE CLEANER WWW.VOODOORIDE.COM | RETAIL $9.99 Shoq is an excellent wheel and tire cleaner all in one. Shoq is safe on any surface, with no etching, or corrosive side effects.

05. EAGLE ONE KEEP CLEAN WHEEL WWW.EAGLEONE.COM | RETAIL $6.99 Proprietary technology provides a protective barrier agains corrosove brake dust and road grime to keep wheels clean and shiny for up to two weeks. Safe for all wheels, including clear coats.

06. NO TOUCH SERIOUSLY WET EXTREME TIRE SHINE WWW.BESTDRESSSEDNATION.COM | RETAIL $4.99 - $6.99 Serious tire shine for serious car enthusiasts. Just spray and walk away for an exceptionally high gloss ﬁnish utilizing 100 percent active shine ingredients. Protects tires from UV and ozone damage.

05.

06.

07.

08.

black magic tires & wheels cleaning tip PROTECT AND CLEAN YOUR CAR’S WHEELS AND TIRES A set of clean, polished wheels and tires can make any car look better. Today, wheels are made from many different materials and can require the use of specific cleaners or polishes to keep their finish. Follow these five simple steps to keep your wheels and tires looking like new, and to prevent any possible damage to both. Avoid using any type of household product—dish pads, steel wool, sponges, and detergents all can permanently damage the wheel’s surface. TO CLEAN WHEELS AND TIRES: • Hose off the tire and wheel surfaces. This will remove all loose salt, dirt and brake dust. WIPE THE TIRES CLEAN • Use a product specially designed for cleaning tires; spray directly onto the sponge or cloth used to avoid overspray to the wheel. Brush or wipe road grime from the sidewalls. CLEAN THE WHEELS • Be sure to use wheel-specific cleaners that will remove brake dust and road grime, but will not harm the wheels. Use either a wash mitt or a soft brush, never a tool with metal bristles. • Clean only one wheel at a time, and never allow the cleaners to dry on the wheel. PROTECT THE WHEELS • You can use the same wax that you use to polish and protect your car’s paint, to protect your wheels. It will ease the cleaning process the next time around, and will bring out the same metallic shine. Do not apply wax to textured or matt finishes because this could leave a white residue. PROTECT AND DRESS THE TIRES • Use a tire-specific product on a cloth or mitt to treat the sidewall, and bring out the tire’s black luster and compliment the look of the wheels.

07. BLACK MAGIC TITANIUM MATTE TIRE FINISH WWW.BLACKMAGICSHINE.COM | RETAIL $6.99 The Black Magic Titanium Matte Tire Finish provides enthusiasts with an alternative to the “wet shine” look currently available. It helps transform tires to their original sheen, providing a rich, black, low-gloss ﬁnish.

08. GRIOT’S GARAGE CHROME WHEEL CLEANER WWW.GRIOTSGARAGE.COM | RETAIL $9.99 We’ve taken the natureal approach to remove brake dust, road oils and other contaminants on your chrome wheels with the natural power of citrus oil. No offensive smell either!

MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 49

AD INDEX 15 Aicona Wheels www.aiconawheels.com 9 Asanti Wheels www.asantiwheels.com 39 Black Ice www.tradeunion.com 42 Carlisle Events www.carlisleevents.com 4 Dropstars Wheels www.dropstars.com 34 DUB Air www.dub-air.com 35 DUB Show www.dubshowtour.com 2-3 GMC Accessories www.d20edition.com 33 Hack Shack www.hackshacktexas.com 11 Hankook Tires www.hankooktireusa.com 8 Lexani Wheels www.lexani.com 12-13 Meguiar’s www.meguiars.com

43 Metal FX www.wheeldg.com 40-41 MHT DUB Wheels www.mhtwheels.com 7 Modular Society www.modularsociety.com 19 MOZ Luxury Wheels www.mozwheels.com 23 Nitto Tire www.invotire.com 17 Savini Forged www.saviniforged.com 27 Sony Xplod www.xplodsony.com 45 Surf City Garage www.surfcitygarage.com 31 Status Wheels www.statuswheels.com 5 TIS Wheels www.tiswheels.com 21 Universal Air Suspension www.universalairsuspension.com 29 Universal Car Lifts www.universalcarlifts.com

45 Blaque Diamond www.blaquediamond.com 26 Borla Exhaust www.borla.com 20-21 Diablo Wheels www.diablousa.com 37 Dolce Wheels www.dolcewheels.com 8 DUB Shop www.dubshop.com 18 Gazario Wheels www.gazariowheels.net 22-23 Gianna Wheels www.giannawheels.com 41 Hipnotic Wheels www.hipnoticwheels.com 13 Lugz www.lugz.com 4-5 Midnight Club LA: South Central www.rockstargames.com/ 16 MKW Wheels midnightclubla 11 No Touch Tire Care www.mkwalloy.com

DUB ONLINE INDEX

DUB Magazine is all over the web. Visit our sites for even more DUB content and friend us up on your favorite social network. Also follow us on Twitter to stay in touch with everything happening at DUB!

7 Pirelli Tires www.blaquediamond.com 49 Pitfall Kennels www.borla.com 31 Starr Wheel Group www.diablousa.com 36 Superbuy Tires www.dolcewheels.com 9 TapouT www.dubshop.com 2-3 Vossen Wheels www.gazariowheels.net 15 Weizhi www.giannawheels.com 25 Whips in the Street www.hipnoticwheels.com 29 Zinik Wheels/Avarus Wheels www.lugz.com

Website: dubmagazine.com

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YouTube Channel: youtube.com/dub

DUB Show Tour: dubshowtour.com

Blog: dubdaily.com

Facebook Fan Group: facebook.com/pages/DUBMagazine/5705118871 (or search “DUB Magazine” in Facebook)

Official Store: dubshop.com

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Social Network: dubpages.com

FAST FORWARD

P - ROD A GLIMPSE INTO ISSUE SIXTY-ONE

PHOTO: GREG B.

DOWNLOAD WWW.ROCKSTARGAMES.COM/MIDNIGHTCLUBLA

NOW

ADD-ON CONTENT. MIDNIGHT CLUB LOS ANGELES REQUIRED TO PLAY. © 2006-2009 Rockstar Games, Inc. Rockstar Games, the r logo, Midnight Club and the Midnight Club South Central logo are trademarks and/or registered trademarks of Take-Two Interactive Software, Inc. “PlayStation,” “PLAYSTATION,” and “PS” Family logo are registered trademarks of Sony Computer Entertainment Inc. Microsoft, Xbox, Xbox 360, Xbox LIVE, and the Xbox logos are trademarks of the Microsoft group of companies and are used under license from Microsoft. The ratings icon is a trademark of the Entertainment Software Association. All rights reserved.

DUB MAGAZINE ISSUE 60 MAY / JUNE 2009 CONTENTS

TAPOUT

DRIVEN TO PERFORM MMA EDITION

ANDREI ARLOVSKI

NEXT LEVEL

50 TASTE

MONTHLY DROP OP

20 READER’S RIDES R

• THE LATEST CAMCORDERS TO CAPTURE ALL YOUR SUMMER FUN • FOUR ADDICTING VIDEO GAMES FOR YOUR GAMING PLEASURES

ALEXANDER AND HER TRANSPARENT SYSTEMS TEMS

• BLACK EYED PEAS AND LMFAO: O: TAKING DANCE MUSIC TO NEW HEIGHTS A • SUMMER’S TASTIEST TEQUILA • MMA STYLE 101

“ORANGE KRATE” CAR DOMAIN WINNER

DUB REPORT 60

The Monster Energy 2009 DUB Show Tour has begun, and we’re pumped to hit each city, bringing with us all the excitement, entertainment and hotness that the Tour is known for. To switch it up a bit, this year’s tour has some new features, such as the Ball Up Tour that matches up some of the most well known, most skilled street ballers in the world with surprise celebrity opponents.

NEW 2009 TOUR SCHEDULE*

March 22, 2009 April 18, 2009 May 16, 2009 May 30, 2009 June 6, 2009 June 13, 2009 June 20, 2009 August 1, 2009 August 15, 2009 August 23, 2009 September 5, 2009 October 10, 2009

L.A., CA Memphis, TN Atlantic City, NJ Detroit, MI Dallas, TX Phoenix, AZ Charlotte, NC Chicago, IL Atlanta, GA Houston, TX San Jose, CA Miami, FL

We’ve also answered the demand to diverse our awards classes and added new categories to compete in for lowriders and motorcycles. Since our last DUB Report in Issue 59, some of the show’s stops and dates have changed, so be sure to check out www.dubshowtour.com for all the latest info. The site is also the place to learn how to register your vehicle for competition, keep up to date on concert information and, most importantly, how to purchase tickets. Besides checking up on www.dubshowtour.com, make sure to also bookmark www.dubmag.net to read the continuation of stories you ﬁnd in the magazine, and check out exclusive online reads and features. To get your daily ﬁll on all DUB-related news, make it a habit to visit our blog at www.dubdaily.com, as it is always being updated with the latest news within the automotive scene and entertainment community.

* Dates and venues are subject to change. Make sure you check with dubshowtour.com often to stay informed on the tour’s happenings. Also, friend us up on Myspace.com/dub and Facebook! (Google “DUB magazine, facebook” for the fan page link.)

Company Information DUB Magazine® is now published 6 times per year. Subscriptions are now $20.00 for 6 issues. DUB® is the Original Automotive Lifestyles Magazine™ and is published by DUB Publishing, Inc. in the City of Industry, CA. DUB® Magazine was established in the year 2000. To place an ad in DUB Magazine, please contact the Ad Sales department at (626) 336-3821 The 8th annual DUB Show Tour Custom Auto Show & Concert features the nation’s best custom cars and also features an all-star line-up of performers. For more information, visit www.dubshowtour.com DUB® is also a design, marketing and promotions team, responsible for the development and marketing of many licensed automotive goods, collectibles, and apparel, as well as our sponsor’s key products. Contact: marketing@dubmagazine.com

Get the word out and get free stuff! For more info, email: john@dubpublihsing.com Bring on the Letters! We’re now accepting letters to DUB Magazine. Send your rants or raves to intake@dubmagazine.com. Your letter may end up in an issue of DUB!

National & International Newsstand Distribution: Curtis Circulation Company Promotional Printing: Smart Levels: (800) 465-1746 www.smartlevels.com All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced without written permission. This book is purchased with the understanding that the information presented is from many varied sources from which there can be no warranty or responsibility by the publisher, as to accuracy or completeness.

©Copyright 2009 DUB Publishing, Inc. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED • PRINTED IN THE USA “DUB” (ISSN 1536-3562) is published bi-monthly (6 times annually) by DUB Publishing, Inc., 16815 E. Johnson Drive, City of Industry, CA 91745-2417. Subscription rate is $20.00 for 6 issues. Periodical Postage is paid at City of Industry, CA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DUB, P.O. Box 469065, Escondido, CA 92046-9095.

Event Contacts

Sponsorship & Event Planning Myles Kovacs: (626) 336-3821 myles@dubpublishing.com Car Show Planning/Media Information John Ramos: (626) 336-3821 john@dubpublishing.com Vendor Booths: (626) 336-3821 John Ramos john@dubpublishing.com Jeanette Palmerin jeanette@dubpublishing.com Mike Shaughnessy mike@dubpublishing.com All Other Inquiries info@dubpublishing: (626) 336-3821

CAPTURE YOUR FAVORITE MOMENTS WITH THE RENTLY COOLEST AND LATEST CAMCORDERS CURRENTLY ON THE MARKET.

KODAK ZX1 WWW.KODAK.COM

PANASONIC SDR SDR-H80 H80 0 AND SDR-H90 SDR H90 WWW.PANASONIC.COM

Both models are new for 2009 and feature the world’s ﬁrst and most powerful 70x optical ultrazoom lens. They also include an advanced Optical Image Stabilization n (O.I.S.) system which helps reduce blur caused by a shaky hand and Panasonic’s proprietary Intelligent Auto (iA) technologies, making the camcorders easy to use. The SDR-H90 can capture and store video to an SD/SDHC Memory Card or its 80GB internal HDD, which can record up to 72 hours (in LP mode), while the SDR-H80’s 60GB

Never miss a moment with pocketable and weather-resistant istant video companion like Kodak’ss new Zx1. It’s a compact and rugged d digital device that enables “go-anywhere” here” High Deﬁnition recording. The Zx1 allows users to shoot and sharee high-quality video quickly and simply, with 720p HD video capture— ure— at 60 or 30 fps—a vibrant 2.0-inch h LCD screen, and built-in software for easy editing and sharing of content nt to YouTube and other social media and networking websites. It will retail for $149.

internal HDD can record up to 54 hours (in LP mode). The SDR-H80 has a suggested retail price (SRP) of $449.95 and will come in four colors, silver, black, red and blue models; while the SDR-90 has an SRP of $499.95 and will come in black only.

SAMSUNG HMX-H106

JVC EVERIO GZ-HM200 WWW.JVC.COM

WWW.SAMSUNG.COM

The new JVC Everio GZ-HM200 camcorder offers a compact, stylish design that will meet all your recording needs. The GZ-HM200 offers dual SD card recording, with continuous recording from one card to the next, and is one of the smallest and lightest full HD camcorders available. It also makes it easy to watch videos on an iPod or iPhone by exporting videos to the user’s

The HMX-H106 is the world’s ﬁrst camcorder to feature a 64GB internal SSD and is part of Samsung’s new H-Series of camcorders. Samsung’s new H-Series offer users highperformance, full HD video, a

iTunes library with the new One Touch Export function provided by bundled software for Windows. This joins the One Touch Upload function for uploading to YouTube, too. ($TBA)

SONY WEBBIE HD CAMCORDERS WWW.SONYSTYLE.COM

The $200-MHS-CM1 Webbie HD has a miniature, camcorder-like shape and offers a 5X optical zoom, 5-megapixel stills, a MemoryStick slot, a 2.5inch LCD screen, and Sony’s Picture Motion Browser software embedded in the camcorder for clip management and easy uploads. The slightly more compact MHS-PM1 Webbie HD ($170) is “about the size of a BlackBerry,” according to Sony. It offers a swiveling lens, captures 5-megapixel stills, and has Picture Motion Browser and a MemoryStick slot.

10 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

renowned Schneider Kreuznach Varioplan HD lens with Optical Image Stabilization, and an industry leading design. However, most notable is the use of internal Solid State Drives to provide onboard memory. ($TBA)

Dress to impress. Dress to excess. And dress to profess your admiration for a tire shine so potent, so arrogant, and so serious it could only be No Touch® Serio Seriously Wet.™ Stop by your local auto supply store to drench dren nch your tire tires with Seriously Wet and soak up all the attention. And visit

BestDressedNation.com

weekly for your chance to win a $100 gift card. w Available at:

Permatex No Touch Gift Card promotion is open to legal US residents, 18 or older. Void in Puerto Rico, outside the US and where prohibited by law. No purchase necessary to enter or win. Promotion starts 3/23/09 12:01pm ET and ends 10/31/09 12:01pm ET. Subject to ofﬁcial rules available at www.bestdressednation.com. No Touch and Seriously Wet are TMs of Illinois Tool Works Inc. Copyright © 2009 Permatex, an Illinois Tool Works company. All rights reserved.

MIDNIGHT CLUB: LOS ANGELES SOUTH CENTRAL UPGRADE GAMING NEWS

Update your Midnight Club: Los Angeles experience with the South Central Premium Upgrade and Map Expansion. The South Central Map Expansion is available for download—free of charge—on PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE. The expansion adds an entire extra 1/3 of L.A. territory to the already massive in-game map. Four distinct neighborhoods: Baldwin, Crenshaw, Exposition and Huntington are available, along with iconic

landmarks like the USC campus, Shrine Auditorium and Crenshaw Plaza. The South Central Premium Upgrade will be available for $9.99 on both the PlayStation Network and Xbox LIVE. The kit includes nine new licensed vehicles, including classic lowriders like the 1964 Impala and mean luxury SUVs like the Range Rover Supercharged, plus tons of new races, battle maps, delivery missions, red light races, vinyl packs and aftermarket parts and new music.

SPLIT/SECOND PUBLISHER: 2K GAMES | DEVELOPER: BLACK ROCK STUDIO PLATFORM: XBOX 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PC | WWW.DISNEY.GO.COM/GAMES

Split/Second, an intense action racing game set within the world of a hyper-competitive reality television show. Competitors vie to be the ﬁrst across the ﬁnish line in a made-for-TV city built for destruction, with the ultimate goal of becoming the season champion. Competitors in Split/

Second don’t just collide with other vehicles to knock them from the track—they can also trigger explosive events that drastically alter the dynamics of the race. Players must use strategy and pinpoint timing to derail opponents, tactically alter the track or create entirely new routes.

UFC 2009 UNDISPUTED

THE CHRONICLES OF RIDDICK: ASSAULT ON DARK ATHENA

PUBLISHER: THQ | DEVELOPER: YUKE’S MEDIA CREATIONS PLATFORM: XBOX 360, PLAYSTATION 3 | WWW.UFCUNDISPUTED.COM

PUBLISHER: ATARI | DEVELOPER: STARBREEZE STUDIOS/TIGON STUDIOS PLATFORM: XBOX 360, PLAYSTATION 3, PC | WWW.RIDDICKGAME.COM

UFC 2009 Undisputed is an explosive fighting game detailing the action, intensity and attitude you’d expect from inside the Octagon. Featuring an authentic and comprehensive UFC atmosphere, including an extensive roster of the best mixed martial arts fighters in the world. Players will push the envelope with a powerful new game engine and put their best fighting disciplines to the test in the world famous Octagon, as they battle it out to be the ultimate championship. UFC 2009 Undisputed features a

Previously announced as a remake to the hit title The Chronicles of Riddick: Escape from Butcher Bay with added content and expanding on the blockbuster prequel videogame in the Riddick franchise, this expanded version brings back the proven gameplay and adds in a number of new features for nextgen consoles. In The Chronicles of Riddick: Assault on Dark Athena the player takes the role of Riddick, as played by Vin Diesel, using stealth and action to overcome the merciless

12 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

deep roster of more than 80 top names in UFC competition across ﬁve weight classes and enter the Octagon surrounded by the sport’s popular commentators, announcers, referees, trainers, Octagon girls and more. Take down opponents and get the submission with a variety of mixed martial arts disciplines, including Judo, Muay Thai, Wrestling, Kickboxing, Boxing and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. Players will also view amazing ripple effects across the faces and bodies of their ﬁghters from the impact of devastating punches and kicks.

crew of the predatory Merc-ship Dark Athena, which awaits its prey in the dark reaches of space. Cheating death through a series of spectacular battles and events, Riddick will fight for his life amid a storm of malevolence and horror. The Chronicles of Riddick series of games takes the player deeper into the universe of Universal Pictures’ films The Chronicles of Riddick and cult classic Pitch Black, which first introduced Vin Diesel as enigmatic anti-hero Riddick.

When developing the concept for your line, what did you ﬁrst want to incorporate in your clothes? Nature. My logo is actually a tree and one of my classic prints is an elephant. I just believe an elephant is, like, this raw form of compassion. It’s this huge animal that can hurt you, but at the same time it’s really soft. I liked that appeal. Right now, I have items for men and women that are mostly tees and hoodies. I have a lot of jackets, some tanks and the like. How would you describe the people who wear them? Anybody who wants diverse clothes. You can either dress it up or dress it down. Some pieces, like the moto jackets and sexy long tanks for girls, can be dressed up. It’s for those who like funky and edgy clothes, but not really overdone.

TRANSPARENT SYSTEMS NAME: AGE: LOCATION:

RAINBOW ALEXANDER (YES, THAT’S MY REAL NAME; CHECK MY BIRTH CERTIFICATE!) 26 ORIGINALLY FROM SANTA ROSA, CA, BUT REPRESENTIN’ FOR THE VALLEY

How do you go about creating your designs? Whatever I’m interested in. I just collaborate with my graphic designer. I more or less translate what I want to the designer, and he makes it happen. What type of clothing would your line be classiﬁed in? I call it “street couture.” You can wear it with some fresh kicks or dress it up with heels for chicks, while guys can do the kickback look with kicks or dress it up with a vest or blazer.

esides being the fiancé to skateboarder and streetwear influencer, P-Rod, Rainbow Alexander is paving her own way within the sweetwear fashion world. Launching her own line, Transparent Systems, earlier this year, the young and talented (as well as new mom; the couple had their first child, Heaven Love Rodriguez, in December of 2008) Alexander said screw fashion school and decided to follow her dreams of becoming a designer. Transparent Systems is a fun-feeling street couture line with edge, funk, quality and class that will you will definitely be hearing more about in the future. So before we get into the line, is Rainbow really your name? Yup, Rainbow Nicole Alexander. I’m Native American, and my parents said that before I was born there was a double rainbow and that it was a sign from God. CLASSIC TS BLACK AND GOLD TRACK JACKET; CLASSIC TS BLUE LOGO TEE | PHOTO: GREG B.

Tell us how you went about snagging such as catch as P-Rod? Paul and I met when he was 14 and I was 16. He used to come over to visit my brother. Back then, he was far more interested in his skate videos than me. It wasn’t until a few years later that he started noticing me more and more. But actually, we became really close friends first. We were best friends with no romance at all for two years. Then finally I attacked him. I couldn’t handle it anymore and was, like, “You’re cute.” We’ve been together ever since and had Heaven. How did you first become interested in fashion? I’ve actually been interested in fashion since I was about 10. My stepmother was a high-fashion model, so seeing her going to her photo shoots and that kind of got me linked up with checking out the hot lines. I’d look at something and like it, but would then want to alter it and kind of make it my own. She also pushed me to start sketching designs. My mother was also into making our clothes. She had a passion for sewing and making personal creations from fabrics. I then began cutting up clothes and layering them to create my own style in my early teens. I’d also personalize my outfits with my homemade leather cuffs. Why did you want to start your own brand? It’s taken about a couple of years to start it. I wanted to start it ’cause I’d seen so many things I’d like, but then the fit would be wrong. Or, I thought it was a little too over accessorized. So, I thought, “Why don’t I just do something myself?” So that’s what I’ve been doing, and I’ve been getting good feedback on it. It’s just been growing and growing. How did the name come about? Transparent Systems came about when I was brainstorming for a name for the line, and I actually started thinking about how I was going to go to school and start my company at the same time. I was looking to go to FIDIM (Fashion Institue of Design & Merchandising). As I was doing that, I was thinking about how, naturally, most people go to school then intern, and then a lot of the time, unfortunately, people don’t get their credit for working beneath somebody, and I saw that as a transparent system. It was something I really wanted to avoid and decided to do my own thing.

14 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

WWW.MYSPACE.COM/TRANSPARENTSYSTEMS WWW.PRIMITIVESHOES.COM VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE ON RAINBOW!

As the summer months approach us, we’re giving you a peek into two of summer’s hottest acts: The Black Eyed Peas and LMAFO both have albums dropping, with numerous hit singles just waiting to be blasted in your ride.

BLACK EYED PEAS

THE E.N.D. (THE ENERGY NEVER DIES)

t’s been four years since we’ve heard anything from hip-hop/pop group Black Eyed Peas since dropping their 2005 Monkey Business. All four members of the group are back and have created their best piece of work thus far. If the ﬁrst single, “Boom Boom Pow,” is any indication of what the rest of The E.N.D. will sound like, expect an up-beat album that’ll keep you moving and grooving. Out in June, DUB has already gotten a sneak preview into the rest of the album during a small listening session with will.i.am while in Miami for the Winter Music Conference. All we can say is that you are in for one hell of a musical treat! will.i.am personally sat at his computer in a small room of about 10 people and played a mix of songs recorded for the album. “We recorded more than 100 songs for this album, which is, like, two year’s worth of songs,” he said at the beginning of the session. “Only a handful will make it on the album, but the rest will go up on dipdive.com,

LMFAO

PARTY ROCK INTERSCOPE RECORDS, 2009 WWW.INTERSCOPE.COM

f you haven’t heard the song, “I’m In Miami Bitch,” then you’re probably living under a rock ’cause this joint has been a club and radio hit (“I’m In Miami Trick” for radio) since last year. After a year of self-promoting, the uncle/nephew electro-pop duo of LMFAO have ﬁnally made it big with the release of their Party Rock debut album. LMFAO, comprised of Redfoo and Sky Blu, are electro party animals out of Hollywood, CA and are going to make your body rock with each and every joint they have on their new album. Having already produced remixes for the likes for

my social networking site.” “Boom Boom Pow” started the mix, and what followed was about an hour-and-a-half worth of incredible music that had everybody in the room (even will) dancing in their seats. It was literally like a personal rave, with will.i.am the DJ, as he demonstrated what types of songs the group worked on. He then went on to explain how each month after the album was released, iTunes would feature a special mixed version of The E.N.D. by guest DJs. The day before the intimate preview session, all the Black Eyed Peas made an appearance at the 2009 Ultra Dance Festival (where they closed night one on the main stage) and hosted a special media conference, regarding their album’s new sounds. will.i.am mentioned the current

global trend toward dance-infused music for the album’s musical inspiration. “Dance music is taking off,” he replied, noting the album has guest producers like DJ/producer David Guetta. “We wanted to make songs that had different beats in it, so that the DJ can play the entire song instead of just the first couple of verses. We treated each song as if it was a continuously mixed set by a DJ. The DJ is the most important part in promoting music. At the end of the day, we are making records to make people feel good, and the DJ is the middleman in the process.” Expect to hear tons of musical influences on The E.N.D, such as early-’80s hip-hop, electro, house, indie, alternative, rock and so much more. It’s definitely going to be one album you’ll play continuously from beginning ’til end.

Kanye West, Fergie and Katy Perry, LMFAO are on a mission to make your summer sizzle with each dance track off of Party Rock. DUB was able to catch up with the guys, right before they went on their Spring Break Tour in March.

Sky Blu: A big inﬂuence for us is DJ AM because he gave Redfoo a CD back in 2007 that had a bunch of electro and dance music. We started going to DJ AM’s Club LAX on a night called “Banana Split Sundaes” and went up in there and got this dope vibe. The music and people were amazing…we took our experiences there and infused it with what we experienced in Miami at the WMC. We heard about the Winter Music Conference, so in 2007, we went down there and right before we went, we made the song. It took off from there.

You’re ﬁrst hit single, “I’m in Miami Bitch” has been on the radio for quite a while. Why did it take so long for you to release a record? Redfoo: It took us a while because everything that we were doing before we signed with Interscope was independent, and when you’re using your own money, you have to really set it up right. So, we started getting in with a lot of the club DJs, and it started building up in the clubs. We didn’t intentionally take it to the radio as a single. We thought it was just a party song for the clubs, but DJs Eric D-Lux and Big Sphye from Power 106 came up to us and said, “Yo, ‘I’m In Miami Bitch’ should be your single because we love it, and we want to play it, but there’s one problem…that we had to make a clean version. We said okay, we’d just bleep out the bitch. They said, “No, I’m In Miami TRICK!” After that night, we went back into the studio, and they were the ﬁrst persons to play it on the radio in L.A. It didn’t catch on very fast, but it had been building up in the clubs, the Internet, MySpace, and it eventually started spreading…now it’s just all over. How did you guys go about approaching the sound you wanted to create for the album, and why the name Party Rock?

What can fans expect from it? Sky Blu: It’s an album you can play from front to back, when you’re partying, when you’re clubbing...in the bed, too. It’s a versatile record, you know. Redfoo: You can also ﬂip that question around and ask us what you cannot expect from it. You cannot expect many slow songs, or to play the album and stand still and get your homework done. Basically, don’t expect to not want to party! You guys are described as an “electro-pop” group. Do you guys consider yourselves this? Or, do you think of your music as something else? Redfoo: I like to say we are party rockers. It’s party rocking music, designed for the party and for the clubs. If our songs are popular, so be it! If they’re calling it electro-pop, then that’s what they’re calling it. We’re calling it party rock ’til you don’t stop! MAY / JUNE 2009

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE FROM THE BLACK EYED PEAS AND LMFAO

INTERSCOPE RECORDS, 2009 WWW.INTERSCOPE.COM

DUB MAG 17

tequila The Devil’s Water

What can be said about tequila that you don’t already know? Let’s see…it’s a Mexican spirit that is notorious for its inebriating effects (you know the whole, “One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, floor!”). The Agave-based spirit is primarily in the area surrounding of tequila, Mexico, but Mexican laws state that tequila can be produced anywhere in the country. The tequila that is popular today was first massproduced in the early 1800s in Guadalajara, Mexico. While tequila is mainly drank straight (with salt and lime, of course), it’s also popular in a variety of concoctions. Here are a couple of tequilas you’ll definitely want to do body shots with.

know your tequila BLANCO OR SILVER This is the traditional tequila that started it all. Clear and transparent, fresh-from-the-still tequila is called Blanco (white or silver) and must be bottled immediately after the distillation process. It has the true bouquet and flavor of the Blue Agave. It is usually strong and is traditionally enjoyed in a caballito (2 oz small glass). ORO OR GOLD Is tequila Blanco mellowed by the addition of colorants and flavorings, caramel being the most common. It is the tequila of choice for frozen Margaritas. REPOSADO OR RESTED It is Blanco that has been kept (or rested) in white-oak casks or vats called pipones for more than two months and up to one year. The oak barrels give Reposado a mellowed taste, pleasing bouquet, and its pale color. Reposado keeps the Blue Agave taste and is gentler to the palate. These tequilas have experienced exponential demand and high prices. AÑEJO OR AGED It is Blanco tequila aged in white-oak casks for more than a year. Maximum capacity of the casks should not exceed 600 liters (159 gallons). The amber color and woody flavor are picked up from the oak, and the oxidation that takes place through the porous wood develops the unique bouquet and taste. RESERVA OR RESERVED Although not a category in itself, it is a special Añejo that certain distillers keep in oak casks for up to eight years. Reserva enters the big leagues of liquor, both in taste and in price.

AZUÑIA

WWW.AZUNIATEQUILA.COM

The authentic choice for a refreshing ultrapremium tequila. Made with 100 percent Weber Blue Agave from Amatitan, Mexico and imported by Intersect Beverage. Relish it’s smooth and drinkable taste in an authentic Azuñia Margarita on a Sunday afternoon. For recipes and more information on Azuñia Ultra-Premium Tequilas, visit their website.

CASA NOBLE

WWW.CASANOBLE.COM

Casa Noble ultra premium tequilas begin as carefully selected mature Blue Agave plants. Employing only traditional methods and slowcooking their rich Agave pinas for 38 hours in stone ovens, Casa Noble uses only the core and hearts of the Agaves to extract their sweet nectar. Their fermentation process is 100 percent natural, followed by a triple distillation. The result is a tequila so pure and full of Agave ﬂavor that it has elevated the concept of tequila to new levels around the world.

XXX SIGLO TREINTA WWW.XXXTEQUILA.COM

Tequila, elixir of the Gods, is now reborn with XXX Tequila. Whether you enjoy it straight or prefer a premium mixed drink, XXX Siglo Treinta allows you to experience all the fire, without the burn. It’s bold attitude, smooth taste, and full sensual flavor, is what sets XXX Siglo Treinta far above its rivals. XXX uses only the finest Blue Agave that is cooked slowly in stone ovens, producing the sweet honey that has been part of the history of Mexico for centuries.

MILAGRO

WWW.MILAGROTEQUILA.COM

Spanish for “miracle,” Milagro Tequila is a spirit that embodies the wonderful flavors expected of a premium tequila. Unlike other brands that are merely “fire water,” Milagro Tequilas are crafted in small batches from estate-grown, 100 percent Blue Agave that is hand-selected in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. A a triple distillation process gives Milagro Tequila its smooth taste and superior finish. The Milagro super premium line features Silver, Reposado and Añejo varieties (the latter two being oak-aged for six and eighteen months, respectively).

CARAMBA

WWW.CARAMBATEQUILA.COM

Considered the world’s sexiest tequila, Caramba is dedicated to keeping their tequila as pure as possible, but still adds their own special touches to the aging processes by blending craftsmanship from across the globe to bring a new blend of ultra premium tequila. From the famous region of Jalisco, abundant components, such as adequate altitude, rich soil and the right amount of humidity combine to permit their Blue Agave to ﬂourish. MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 19

mma style 101 Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) has its roots embedded deep in history, even as far back as the ancient Greek pankration (a combat sport that mixes boxing and wrestling). Modern MMA, however, has evolved to more than just boxing and wrestling. It encompasses martial arts traditions, such as Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Muay Thai kickboxing, Sambo, Taekwondo, wrestling, and even straight-out street brawling. Just like the sport itself, MMA clothing is a mixture of different fashion genres. It’s streetwear infused with warrior iconography from Asian and Mediaeval cultures. It’s couture fashion with images symbolizing slaughter and casualty. It’s cut and sew fashion mixed with religious metaphors. It’s a fusion of the current and the past, and just like the sport it represents, MMA fashion varies in style, but all are rich in tradition.

CAITLIN

TIFF

SARAH

AMERICAN FIGHTER WWW.AMERICANFIGHTER.COM | CONTRACT KILLER WWW.CONTRACTKILLERCLOTHING.COM | SINISTER BRAND CLOTHING WWW.SINISTERBRAND.COM SERIOUS PIMP WWW.SERIOUSPIMP.COM | ETERNAL UNLIMITED WWW.ETERNALUNLIMITED.COM | FULL CONTACT FIGHTER WWW.FCFIGHTER.COM ECKO UNLIMITED WWW.ECKOUNLTD.COM | LABELED INSANE WWW.LABELEDINSANE.COM | HITMAN FIGHT GEAR WWW.HITMANFIGHTGEAR.COM HOSTILE FIGHT GEAR WWW.HOSTILEFIGHTER.COM | TAPOUT WWW.TAPOUT.COM | SILVER STAR WWW.BUYSILVERSTAR.COM

24 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

SHANE

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE MOVES AND FIGHT GEAR!

ZULEYKA PHOTOS: VI PEOU SHOT ON LOCATION AT: Team Oyama MMA & Fitness 16782 Hale Avenue, Unit C Irvine, CA 92606 949-250-3117 www.teamoyamamma.com

LYNHTHY MODELS: Tiff Damian, Zuleyka Silver, Sarah Thompson, Caitlin Litzinger, Lynhthy Nguyen and WBC Muay Thai World Heavyweight Champion Shane Del Rosario MAKE-UP for Tiff, Caitlin and Lynhthy provided by Jessica Warren www.makeupbyjess.com

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESY OF CARTER GIBBS FOR SINISTER BRAND CLOTHING

WWW.TOYO.COM

DUB Magazine and Toyo Tires have teamed up to bring you the Toyo Tires “Driven to Perform” MMA Edition. Toyo Tires has been a proud sponsor of the UFC and supporter of mixed martial artists for several years. Read up on champions and legends in the sport, known as “The Spider,” “The Natural,” “Ace,” “The Prodigy,” “Sugar,” “The Axe Murderer” and “Rampage,” and why they are Driven to Perform each time they step into the Octagon.

DATE OF BIRTH:

4-14-75

HEIGHT:

6’ 2”

WEIGHT CLASS:

MIDDLEWEIGHT, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

23-4-0

FIGHTING OUT OF:

CURITIBA, BRAZIL

TITLES:

THE LAST CAGE RAGE MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION; FORMER SHOOTO MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION; AND CURRENT UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION.

WWW.SPIDERSILVA.COM

or the past three years, Anderson Silva has cut a swath of destruction through his weight class, leaving foes and fans, alike, thinking, “How do you beat this guy?” Although he started out as a Muay Thai fighter, Silva has beaten MMA’s who’s who in the middleweight division in almost every way possible: he’s knocked out iron-chinned Chris Leben; he’s grounded-and-pounded elite grappler Nate Marquardt; he’s outstruck top striker Rich Franklin; and he’s submitted Jiu-Jitsu black belt Travis Lutter and Olympic wrestler Dan Henderson. At this point in his career, the questions left for Anderson Silva to answer are about what his place in mixed-martial arts history will ultimately be, and what challenges in the sport he has still to conquer. DUB quickly caught up with UFC’s reigning middleweight champ in the midst of his intensive training schedule to ask him about what his plans are for the upcoming year and his next fight. (At the time of the interview, Anderson was prepping for UFC 97 on April 18, so the Portuguese-speaking Anderson couldn’t go into too much detail, given his rigorous training.) What is your strategy for fighting Thales Leites at UFC 97? Are you concentrating on anything in particular to get ready for him? I don’t adapt my training to my opponents. Whom are you currently training with? I train with the same guys: Antônio Rodrigo Minotauro Nogueira, Rogério Minotouro Nogueira, Josuel Distak, Daniel Woirin, Rogerio Camoes and Andre Galvao.

Please describe your weekly training schedule. I train everything every day. If you defeat Thales, who do you think is next in line for a shot at your title? That’s not for me to decide. I will fight who ever the UFC puts in front of me. Who is the most difficult match up for you out of these contenders: Demian Maia, Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami? What other tough opponents do you see in your weight class? There are a lot of tough guys in my weight class. They all possess their difficulties. Do you want to stay at middleweight, or would you move to light heavyweight? We will have to wait and see. But, I want to stay in my weight class and defend my 185-lbs. belt. Do you still train with undefeated UFC light heavyweight Lyoto Machida, and would you fight him if Dana White made it a main event or title fight and paid both of you generously? There is no chance of Lyoto and I fighting. How do sparring sessions go with Lyoto? Our training is as usual; we are friends and train together whenever he is in Rio. Do you consider yourself the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world? I don’t think I am the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Maybe some day, when I retire, I will be able to look back at my career and think that, but I can’t consider myself the best yet; there is always something to improve on. How do you feel about the possible champion vs. champion matchup with Georges St-Pierre, if he moved up to middleweight to fight you? I train to fight the best in the world; if it happens, we will have to wait and see. It’s been said that you are interested in fighting Roy Jones Jr. in a boxing match. If you eventually run out of challenges in MMA, would you be interested in such a fight? It’s been a personal wish of mine to do an international boxing fight some day. Maybe one day it will come true…who knows? For now, I am focused on the UFC and defending my belt. Many fighters teach at gyms or academies in addition to fighting. Are you currently an instructor at an academy? If so, could you tell me more about the school, what you are teaching, etc.? I am not a full-time instructor, but I am always at the gym, and I love teaching and coaching my teammates. What people and sponsors would you like to thank? Do you have a website you want your fans to check out? I would like to thank my sponsors: Silver Star, Sinister and Nutrabolics. MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 27

12-13-78

HEIGHT:

5’ 9”

WEIGHT CLASS:

LIGHTWEIGHT, WELTERWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

13-5-1

FIGHTING OUT OF:

HILO, HAWAII

TITLES:

FIRST NON-BRAZILIAN TO WIN THE BLACK BELT DIVISION OF THE WORLD JIU-JITSU CHAMPIONSHIP (A.K.A. THE MUNDIALS) IN FEATHERWEIGHT CLASS; FORMER UFC WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION; AND CURRENT UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION.

WWW.BJPENN.COM

f there is one mixed-martial arts fighter that you could call “The Kobe Bryant of MMA,” it has to be BJ Penn. Both athletes have shown freakish abilities at a young age: “The Prodigy” won the Mundials (the Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu World Championships) after training for only three years, while “The Black Mamba” jumped from high school straight to the NBA. Both have reached the absolute pinnacle of their chosen professions: Penn has previously won both the Lightweight and Welterweight Championships in the UFC, while Bryant has won three NBA Championships with the L.A. Lakers. Both have an indomitable belief in themselves and their abilities. But, above all, what these two superstars have in common is that they are arguably the most talked-about athletes in their respective sports. Their fans consider them among the greatest competitors in the game, yet their haters accuse them of being vastly overrated, selfish and egomaniacal. But, although, Kobe’s greatest controversies appear to be behind him, BJ is right in the middle of the biggest one of his career. Dubbed “Greasegate” by MMA fans, Penn is embroiled in a dispute stemming from his loss at “UFC 94” against the organization’s current Welterweight Champion, Georges “Rush” St-Pierre. According to Penn, St-Pierre had his trainers illegally apply Vaseline to his back, shoulders, and chest, allowing him to slip out of Penn’s submission holds and inflict severe damage on the Hawaiian, while fighting on the ground. On MMA forums, such as Sherdog.com and The Underground (mixemartialarts.com), fans debate endlessly about whether this significantly affected the whole outcome of the fight or is just an excuse by Penn to explain his defeat. DUB spoke to BJ about his career and how this current controversy may affect his immediate future in The Octagon. What motivates you to fight? I was just into fighting my whole life, and I love the competition of this sport. What is the ultimate goal for you in MMA? To get perfection for yourself—self-perfection in your technique and how you prepare. It has been said that, unlike most fighters, you don’t really have to fight for a living because you come from a wealthy family. How accurate is that statement? Haha…the whole thing is, like, a joke, you know? My parents came from humble beginnings; they’re real hard workers, so they’ve done real well

28 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

for themselves. But we’re not riding around in limos or flying around in jet airplanes or anything. You gotta earn my dad’s respect in the house; you can’t just sit around and do nothing. What would you like to say about the “Greasegate” controversy with GSP (Georges St-Pierre)? If I didn’t think that it was intentionally done, we wouldn’t have filed a formal complaint with the [Nevada] Athletic Commission. How did it affect your game plan during that fight against St-Pierre? I had practiced a lot off my back with a new partner every round; people trying to ground and pound me. I wanted to show [St-Pierre] that there’s no reason to take me down because when you get me down, you’re not going to be able to do anything. I’m just going to kick your butt from off my back. That was one of my game plans. You are often in the conversation when MMA fans discuss the best poundfor-pound fighters in the sport. In your opinion, who are the best poundfor-pound fighters in the world? I’m not going to include myself, but Fedor [Emelianenko], Anderson Silva, you know, GSP was; I had a lot of respect for him, but if this comes out true and he did cheat, I’m not going to have the same amount of respect for him as I did. Love you or hate you, you’re always one of the most talked about fighters in the sport. Why do you think that is the case? I think they can see that I’m passionate. So, if they’re with me, they’re passionate about it. If they’re not with me, they’re still passionate about it. Perhaps your exposure on TV in shows, such as “The Ultimate Fighter” or “UFC Primetime” has affected how fans see you. Can you describe your experiences on those shows, and whether they depicted you accurately or not? I thought the “Ultimate Fighter” show was pretty accurate. Some stuff was editing, but it wasn’t too bad. But the “Primetime” show, I didn’t feel that it was that accurate. We were training real hard. We got a bad rap for that one. We did a lot of good things when “Primetime” was out there filming. Too bad the things that made it on air were some of the bad things: profanity and stuff like that. I could say 100 “I love yous” and one “I hate you,” and the “I hate you” would be on there in a second. Although, you may want a rematch with GSP first, what do you think your next fight will be and when? I could see me fighting Kenny Florian pretty soon. What are your thoughts on Florian as an opponent? He’s got good striking, good takedowns and good Jiu-Jitsu. I think he’s a very good opponent. Any final comments for your fans, or maybe even your haters? I just want to thank all the fans of MMA, whether you are a fan of BJ Penn or not, and to check out BJPENN.COM. To all my fans, I want to thank you for all the support through the years. And if you’re a hater, I got nothing bad to say except if you got a problem with me filing a formal complaint against someone that is accused of cheating, what does that say about yourself?

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESY OF WWW.BJPENN.COM

DATE OF BIRTH:

nlike Roy Hobbs, the fictional baseball player he got his nickname from, Randy “The Natural” Couture did not merely make history in his chosen sport at an advanced age, but he did it five times. Starting his fighting career just shy of his 34th birthday in 1997, Couture beat a fighter, who was at the time, considered the future of mixed-martial arts, Vitor Belfort. Couture defied the odds again at age 40 when, in the span of just four months, he defeated two of the biggest names in all of MMA: Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and Tito Ortiz, thus becoming the organization’s undisputed light heavyweight king. Finally, at 45, the man also known as “Captain America” regained the UFC’s heavyweight title as a huge underdog against the mammoth 6’7” champion, Tim Sylvia. As one of the most influential fighters in the history of the sport, Couture is not ready to round the bases for that final time just yet. With his legacy in MMA cemented, Couture’s ambitions in the fight game no longer revolve around winning titles; he fights simply because he enjoys it. And the work ethic that has always been one of his greatest attributes as a fighter has also led him to branch out into other fields, from training the next generation of mixed-martial artists to starting a burgeoning career in acting. When DUB caught up with “The Natural,” he was balancing all three facets of this career: heading up his elite MMA gym, Xtreme Couture; getting ready to go to South America to shoot a new action movie with Sylvester Stallone; and looking forward to his next challenge at this August’s UFC 102 against Rodrigo “Minotauro” Noguiera. As a UFC Hall of Famer and multiple-time champion, what do you feel you have left to accomplish in the sport, and how much longer do you plan on fighting? My goal is just to have fun. I’m getting the chance to continue to do what I love to do. I enjoy the training; I enjoy getting better, learning new techniques and competing. I’m taking it one fight at a time. What challenges do you expect to face from your opponent at UFC 102, “Minotauro” Noguiera? He’s very durable and has tremendous ability on the ground as a submission fighter. Without giving away too much of your strategy, where do you feel you have an advantage over Minotauro? Probably in the clinch and in striking. Going forward, what other fighters would you like to test yourself against? Obviously, everybody in the heavyweight division wants to fight Fedor. He’s explosive, got great submission skills, he’s well-rounded, and has had a lot of dominant performances.

What are your future plans after your ﬁghting career is over? Xtreme Couture is not going to go away after I retire. I’m going to continue to perpetuate the brand that I’ve built over the years and work in the (MMA) industry. I want to get back to commentating, and I want to try to continue to pursue acting.

DATE OF BIRTH:

6-22-63

HEIGHT:

6’ 1”

WEIGHT CLASS:

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT, HEAVYWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

16-7-0

FIGHTING OUT OF:

LAS VEGAS, NV BY WAY OF EVERETT, WA

TITLES:

UFC 13 HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT WINNER; TWO-TIME UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION; INTERIM UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION; THREE-TIME UFC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION; UFC HALL OF FAME; FIRST SIXTIME CHAMPION IN UFC; AND FIRST FIGHTER IN UFC TO HOLD BOTH LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT AND HEAVYWEIGHT TITLES.

WWW.RANDYCOUTURE.TV | WWW.XTREMECOUTURE.TV

30 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

Compare how the different challenges you face when fighting versus when you are filming a movie. Are there any similarities between the two? Actually, the similarities are being focused, being coachable and listening. It would surprise people how hard you work [in acting]. It’s a different kind of work than fight training. Training is very physical. Being involved in a picture is long, kind of a grind. Long days, long weeks. But it’s a little easier than getting punched in the head. Are there any upcoming film projects your fans should look forward to? I’m getting ready to do my eighth picture. It’s a movie called The Expendables with Sylvester Stallone. It’s going to be an action flick about a team of mercenaries. I’m trying to stay away from fight movies. I think they’d be easy to do. I’m more interested in a challenge and in a good story. Looking back to the mid-’90s when you started up in MMA, did you envision the sport to be where it is today? We all had hopes. We all thought there was something special about this sport. But you just never know what’s going to happen. It’s gone way further than I expected.

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESTY OF XTREME COUTURE MMA

Tell me more about your gym, Xtreme Couture. Many consider it one of MMA’s most talent-rich and prestigious camps. How involved are you in training the young ﬁghters there? We’re a team in that aspect. We all help each other as much as we can. I run some of the practices, and my staff are all experts in their individual ﬁelds.

Describe how you feel when fans recognize you and approach you when you are out living your everyday life? I’ve run into fans that I’ve met before who say, “Hey, I met you before at the MGM, and you stopped and talked to me and my wife for 10 minutes and took time out of your day. I really appreciate it.” That holds a lot of value to me, but at the same time, there are days when you’re in a hurry, and it’s unfortunate. Tell me about your upcoming fight against Wanderlei. What are your thoughts about him as an opponent, and about the fact that the fight will be at a 195-lbs. catchweight? He’s aggressive, a dangerous striker, got a good clinch and has heavy knees. He’s definitely a tough opponent. I would rather have it at 205, but making 195 won’t be nearly as difficult as making 185. We did that, I guess, because Wanderlei is making his way to 185, and he didn’t want to fight at 205 anymore. Describe your approach to preparing for your opponents. You can look at one of my fights and it’s pretty much the same stuff every time. I go out, I like to throw punches, and I like to knock people out. My gameplan stays the same; it’s just slightly tweaked from opponent to opponent. How do you feel about fighting in the light heavyweight division again after many successful years as a middleweight? I think I had a little bit of reservations…with perhaps, my opponents being a lot bigger than me or a lot stronger than me. But two fights in (one against Matt Hamill, the other against Dan Henderson), I didn’t feel outmatched or out-strengthed in either one of those fights. Who is your toughest competition at light heavyweight? I don’t know. The cream-of-the-crop in that weight class seems to be Forrest Griffin, Rashad Evans, Quinton Jackson and Lyoto Machida. These are the names of the guys that are probably ahead of me, as far as title shots go.

10-5-74

HEIGHT:

6’ 1”

WEIGHT CLASS:

MIDDLEWEIGHT, LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

24-4-0

FIGHTING OUT OF:

CINCINNATI, OH

TITLES:

FORMER UFC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPION.

WWW.RICHFRANKLIN.COM

ack in high school, there was probably that one teacher who was always on your back and you’d always tell yourself, “Man, I’d love to knock that guy out!” While such a thought is always a bad idea, it would have been even worse if you were a math student at Oak Hills High School in Cincinnati a few years ago. It’s pretty safe to say that Rich Franklin, a.k.a. “The Baddest High School Teacher on the Planet,” would not be a wise choice for you to try out that sweet, new move you learned in Taekwondo class. Fast-forward just a few short years later, and this same former teacher, who once taught algebra and trigonometry, has emerged as one of the most well-known and accomplished fighters in the UFC today. Franklin has been the UFC champ at middleweight (185 lbs.) and now is back at light heavyweight (205 lbs.) where he started his career to fight the biggest and best that the division has to offer. With a nickname like “Ace” (due to a resemblance to Jim “Ace Ventura” Carrey), this good-natured, family man and born-again Christian seems an unlikely candidate to be a world-class fighter. However, his calm, cool exterior belies a competitive drive that already has him studying film with his coaches and preparing for his next fight in June against fellow superstar Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva at UFC 99. How significant was that fight on the live season finale of the first “Ultimate Fighter” against Ken Shamrock? It wasn’t a month after that things just blew up! Next thing you know, I have a little bit of trouble going to the mall or the grocery store. I’m not Brad Pitt-famous…but it’s definitely made a difference in my life.

32 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

As a devout Christian, how do you reconcile your beliefs with your chosen profession as a fighter? Honestly, I don’t feel like I have to reconcile anything. I believe that God has put me in the position that I’m in to be a witness to him on a larger platform than I would’ve been as a teacher. What I do is my job, but there’s no malice in my heart at all. Even though I’m a bit upset about my last fight, I don’t hate Dan. Explain the importance of this quote from Psalm 144 to you: “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teaches my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.” Having that Bible verse on my shorts is a subtle way for me to let people know that I’m a Christian. Perhaps someone’s watching the fight and they say to themselves, “You know, I want to look that verse up.” Then suddenly, you spark some curiosity in a person who was never before interested in the Bible. Have you ever run into former students or teachers from your old school? I ran into one of the guys that I taught with. He said to me, “It was so funny when you quit your job. I was thinking, ‘He’s messing up his retirement and everything else!’ I guess you showed us!” You acted in an action movie called Cyborg Soldier with “Saved By the Bell’s” Kelly Kapowski (Tiffani-Amber Thiessen). Describe that experience? I was telling all my buddies, “Yeah, there’s a big make-out scene.” They were like, “Man, you’re so lucky!” I ended up telling them right before the movie came out, “Yeah, ok, so I was lyin’.” When you’re not training or fighting, how do you have to help you unwind? I like to play drums, and I study Portuguese, as well. I was a teacher, so I guess it’s kind of in my nature to want to learn. I’m like a big goofball. I like to do pranks and clown around. I’m real sarcastic with my humor. People don’t get it oftentimes. Most fans might not really know that about me. Do you have any final comments for your fans? First, I’ll always say thanks to God for blessing me for everything he’s blessed me with. But, I’ll tell you what, I’d like to say thanks to the troops overseas.

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESY OF DAMAGE WEAR INC. / AMERICAN FIGHTER

DATE OF BIRTH:

You’ve only lost to Anderson Silva, Lyoto Machida and Dan Henderson in your entire career. Which of those guys do you want another shot at the most? I had two shots at Anderson, and I didn’t beat him, so shame on me. I can sleep well at night knowing I at least tried, but came up short. Lyoto beat me fair and square. Dan, on the other hand, I feel like I won that ﬁght. Lord willing, I hope the rematch comes back around for the two of us.

frightened 13-year-old who had just started training in Muay Thai kickboxing is told by his coaches that he must practice full-contact for the very first time. After throwing a kick at his older opponent, the boy is hit square in the jaw and is knocked out cold. When he comes to, he remains determined not to quit despite this inauspicious beginning. It is Curitiba, Brazil, circa 1989. The boy’s name is Wanderlei Silva, and one day, he will become one of the most aggressive, most feared and most exciting fighters in the history of mixed-martial arts. The boy who would later be known as “The Axe Murderer” started strictly as a Muay Thai fighter, but by his late teens transitioned to Vale Tudo fighting. Portuguese for “anything goes,” Vale Tudo had far fewer rules than today’s MMA fights—fighters wore no gloves, were allowed to headbutt, and could soccer-kick a prone opponent who was on all fours in the head. Vale Tudo would eventually reach America in the form of UFC 1 and later evolved into modern MMA. But, Wanderlei would take a different path, starting with those brutal Vale Tudo fights in Brazil, continuing with his legendary run as world champion for the PRIDE Fighting Championships in Japan, and eventually culminating with his move to America to open up his own gym and fight in the UFC. Although he’s had his share of wins and losses lately, the same tenacity that drove him to get up from that first knock-out as a teen is as unyielding as ever. DUB caught up with Wanderlei, as he gets ready for a main-event clash at UFC 99 in June against Rich Franklin at his gym, Wand Fight Team. Your first sparring session didn’t go too well. How did your first real fight go? In my first fight, there were 200 people watching. I was so nervous and so afraid. I closed my eyes and went punch, punch, punch, punch, and beat the guy in 30 seconds. I was 72 kilos (158 lbs.). I was a little fat and had a big head. Every time I fought guys that were older. I started training Jiu Jitsu when I was 17. What are your favorite techniques in Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu? [In Muay Thai] I love the knee and kicking the legs. Knees are my best technique—knees in the clinch. In Jiu Jitsu, I like the armlock and triangle [choke]. I like the top because I use Jiu Jitsu to hit the guy. After you learned both Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu, you started fighting Vale Tudo, where they allowed both stand-up and ground fighting. What’s the biggest difference between Vale Tudo and modern MMA? The big difference now is that they have more rules to protect the fighters. Now, they have judges, have a time limit and it’s more professional. You became a superstar and dominated PRIDE Fighting Championships for years. What was your favorite thing about fighting over there in Japan? I like to kick the guys on the ground…I miss it.

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: MIKE SHIN FOR TOYO TIRES

The UFC does not allow you to soccer kick opponents in the head or knee their heads on the ground like in PRIDE and in Vale Tudo. How do you feel about this? I think in the future, they will change the rules [to allow] for knees on the ground. The kick is too aggressive, but the knees, I think they will change. But, I like the rules in the UFC, too. It’s possible to protect the fighters more. Here, it’s harder to have bad injuries. What is your favorite thing about fighting in the United States for the UFC? I love walking to the Octagon. You go in and everybody touches you and the crowd…man—the crowd is amazing! It shakes my body! I love it! It gives me incredible energy to fight…incredible motivation! It’s like they’re fighting with you. How has your life changed since you moved from Brazil to America (Las Vegas)? I moved here two years ago with my wife and my son. The quality of life in the United States is very good. Here I have a good car, a good home, more security. The cars are much cheaper here [in the U.S.]. I am so happy now with my gym, Wand Fight Team. All my life, I wanted my own gym, and now I have a big gym with a real octagon. It’s unbelievable for me! What do you miss the most about Brazil? My family. I have a daughter in Brazil and my parents. How do you feel about your next opponent, Rich Franklin? He is complete. I watch tapes and study his game—good boxer, good kicks, good defense of takedown. What I like is that he is not afraid to fight stand up. He stays in front of you. I love to fight guys with this style. I love a duel.

DATE OF BIRTH:

7-3-76

HEIGHT:

5’11”

WEIGHT CLASS:

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT, MIDDLEWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

32-9-1

FIGHTING OUT OF:

LAS VEGAS, NV BY WAY OF CURITIBA, BRAZIL

TITLES:

FORMER INTERNATIONAL VALE TUDO CHAMPIONSHIPS (IVC) LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION; FORMER PRIDE MIDDLEWEIGHT (205 LBS.) CHAMPION; AND PRIDE 2003 MIDDLEWEIGHT GRAND PRIX CHAMPION.

WWW.WANDERLEISILVA.COM.BR | WWW.WANDFIGHTTEAM.COM

How do you plan to attack Franklin? Where do you think you have an advantage over him? This is a secret! [Laughs] How do you feel about fighting him at a 195 catchweight instead of at light heavyweight (205 lbs.) or middleweight (185 lbs.)? This is a very good idea. Maybe, this will be the first fight of a new division. There’s a lot of guys in my situation and his situation; to cut to 185 is a lot, and to fight at 205, the guys are a lot bigger and stronger than you. Whom else would you like to fight in the UFC? One guy I really want to fight is Dan Henderson. My last fight with him, I was so sick. I went to the hospital. I drank a lot of medicine. I was not in the best condition. I want to fight with him again, because he’s such a great fighter. I want to fight with Michael Bisping, too. You’ve won championships and have become a star in America, as well as in your homeland of Brazil and Japan. What do want to accomplish before you finish your career? I want to win the UFC belt. I have had opportunities to be close to fighting for the belt, but every time, no go! But, one day, I will have the belt of the UFC. Never give up! MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 33

knowing what’s going to happen. You do anything in life, and no matter how minimal the task is, if you don’t know the outcome, you approach the situation with some kind of nervousness in your stomach. And to overcome those feelings of not wanting to face it—it’s an amazing process each time because every time you go through the process, it lets you know a little bit more about who you are. You seem to have more swagger than almost any fighter in the game today. Do you still get nervous before your fights? Absolutely. I learned something from one of my coaches. He said, “Whenever you’re tired, act like you’re not. Whenever you’re nervous, pretend you’re not nervous. Then pretty soon, you’re gonna forget that you’re fakin’. Fake it ’til you make it.” Which fight in your career, so far, has tested you the most psychologically and physically? I think there’s a point in almost every single fight where I have to will myself to win. There’s always that point when you’re exchanging for a second, and you get caught with a good shot, and you’re thinking, “Man that really hurt. I can try to not get hit with that again, and maybe not hit him again.” Or, I can say, “You know what, you’re gonna have to take a lot harder shot than that to make me wanna stop trying to beat your ass.” A lot of people can’t take it. It’s like a nightmare when you hit someone as hard as you can, and they keep getting up. What has been the toughest fight in your career so far? My fight on the [“Ultimate Fighter”] show with Keith Jardine. I say that not just because we’re teammates, but early in that fight, he swelled up my left eye. I couldn’t see anything out of it at all. Every time he’d hit me with his right hand, since I couldn’t see it, I would know because I would black out. Just before I was finished off, I would come to. One time, he hit me with it, I dropped to the ground, and I was like, “Is the fight over?” But the fight wasn’t over.

9-25-79

HEIGHT:

5’11”

WEIGHT CLASS:

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT, HEAVYWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

13-0-1

FIGHTING OUT OF:

LANSING, MI BY WAY OF NIAGARA FALLS, NY

TITLES:

GLADIATOR CHALLENGE LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT TOURNAMENT CHAMPION; “THE ULTIMATE FIGHTER 2” HEAVYWEIGHT WINNER; AND CURRENT UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION.

WWW.RASHADEVANS.TV

“I’

m an artist,” Rashad Evans smoothly asserts, referring not only to his little-known hobby of sketching portraits, but also to his approach to fighting in the UFC. However, with some of mixed-martial arts’ most exciting finishes on his record, it is difficult to decide what the undefeated light heavyweight champion’s Mona Lisa truly is. Would it be the devastating head kick on Sean Salmon? Or the brutal overhand right that crumpled UFC legend Chuck Liddell? Or maybe it’s the ground-and-pound clinic that left previous champ Forrest Griffin on the mat unable to defend himself? Evans just might be painting his masterpiece when he faces, arguably, his greatest challenge yet, fighting against the undefeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 98 this May. The former Michigan State wrestler made his initial splash by winning the second season of the UFC’s “Ultimate Fighter” show, then took his career to the next level by joining Greg Jackson’s Submission Fighting camp, where he’s trained with standout fighters, such as Keith Jardine, Diego Sanchez, Nate Marquardt, and Georges St-Pierre. Although, noted by fans for his explosiveness and athleticism, Evans (who studied psychology at MSU) is fascinated by the mental aspects of the fight game. Rashad talked to DUB about this, his heated words with fellow UFC superstar Quinton “Rampage” Jackson at UFC 96 in March after Quinton defeated Jardine and about his upcoming title defense against Machida. What is the most appealing thing to you about competing in MMA? I love the feeling of going against somebody and facing your fears of not

34 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

What are your thoughts about your upcoming fight with Lyoto Machida? He’s a very dangerous striker, and he has a very big heart, like myself. He presents so many problems, and he does so many things well. He’s a cerebral fighter. It’s gonna be a chess match until someone finds a chink in the armor, and I think we’ll find a chink in his armor first. Tell me about that heated staredown with Rampage after he defeated your friend and teammate, Keith Jardine, at UFC 96. It kinda got me all lathered up that he beat my guy. Then, afterward, he was talking sh*t. He said, “I’m gonna get my belt!” I said, “Motherf*cker, this ain’t your belt! I had to work hard to get this belt.” Then he started saying stuff like, “I’m gonna be well-rested for your ass! I was overtrained for Jardine.” He’s gonna start discrediting my man right now after he just gave him a tough fight?! I didn’t like that. You bring a unique, flamboyant style to your fighting, from the head bobbing and weaving on the “Ultimate Fighter” show to the crotch-grab against Forrest Griffin. Where did that originate? When I wrestled in college, I wrestled the exact same way that I fight. A lot of movement, I would get down on my knees like I was Spiderman. I always had some kind of funk with me whenever I competed in any sports. I kinda think of it like I was an And 1 basketball player, and my name is “Hot Sauce” or something. Hit ’em with a nice crossover, and I wanna just look at ’em and smile. What do you want to say to those who accuse you of showing bad sportsmanship whenever you do something flashy like that? I get that all the time. I see it like this: If I can’t be true to myself, then it really doesn’t matter how true I am to everybody else. My style is just an expression of a part of me. That’s not all of me, but a part of me is kinda flashy, silly and things like that. I can’t divorce that part of me because other people don’t like it. Every time I go out there and compete, I ask for two things: that me and my opponent don’t get hurt, and that God allows me to fight with all of me—with my whole heart and with all of my abilities. As long as I fight and do that, I can handle any outcome.

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESY OF ERIC WILLIAMS WWW.ERICWILLIAMS.LA

DATE OF BIRTH:

Explain how you joined Greg Jackson’s camp in New Mexico. Did you know who he was beforehand? I didn’t know who he was. [Laughs] I thought Greg Jackson was Black. I forgot who I was talking to, but I told him, “Yeah, I’m gonna go to Greg Jackson’s camp to train,” and he said, “Yeah, that’s right, man, keepin’ it with the brothas!” Keith Jardine introduced me to Greg Jackson and the whole camp out there.

“I’

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTO: COURTESY OF JOHN CHOI WWW.JOHNCHOIPHOTGRAPHY.WORDPRESS.COM

m getting that belt back! Think about it, know it, see it! Rampage gettin’ his belt back!” These were the words that former UFC light heavyweight king, Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, uttered to the current champ,“Sugar” Rashad Evans, at UFC 96. Rampage had just defeated Evan’s teammate and friend Keith Jardine in a hard-fought battle to secure a shot at the belt he had lost last July, which resulted in an intense post-fight staredown that neither man had anticipated. But even though this moment, seen by hundreds of thousands on Pay-Per-View, created an immense amount of hype for a Jackson vs. Evans showdown, the fight may never happen. Rampage decided to wait for his title shot, ceding his spot in UFC 98’s main event to undefeated contender Lyoto Machida. Slated for May, an Evans vs. Rampage clash would’ve been Jackson’s third fight in five months. To give himself an opportunity to rest from the grind of training and recover from nagging injuries, Jackson, instead, decided to let the two undefeated fighters battle for supremacy next month at 205 lbs. When the smoke clears, whether it is against Evans or Machida, Rampage wants the next title shot. The only question is, can the sequel live up to Jackson’s first rollercoaster ride to UFC superstardom? Since DUB last spoke to him in early 2007, Rampage has gone from a fighter making his UFC debut to one of the most recognizable names in mixed-martial arts. At that time, he had not yet knocked out Chuck Liddell to win the UFC belt for the first time or avenged two of the most brutal losses in his career with a knock out victory over Wanderlei Silva. He had not yet defeated the only man to hold PRIDE Fighting Championship titles in two weight classes, Dan Henderson. Nor had he been seen on national television every week as one of the coaches for the UFC’s reality TV show, “The Ultimate Fighter.” But the road to stardom has not been without its pitfalls. He would lose his UFC title to the perennially popular Forrest Griffin by decision, part with his long-time trainer and manager Juanito Ibarra and encounter legal troubles, resulting from a high-speed chase with authorities in Southern California. However, it is the hallmark of a true champion to overcome adversity, something that Rampage is seeking to do as he talks about his next run at the UFC light heavyweight championship and about the changes that have occurred in his life these past two years. What are your thoughts about your most recent victory at UFC 96 and your opponent, Keith Jardine? He’s tough. What’s tough about him is that he’s awkward. He comes at weird angles. It’s kind of hard to prepare for a guy like that. After you rest and let some nagging injuries heal, when do you expect to be back in the octagon again? I really had my heart set on fighting in UFC 100 (in July). I might fight on UFC 101 (in August) instead, but that’s cool, because UFC 101 means I’m gonna take somebody to school! Recently, you left your former coach and started training at the United Kingdom-based Wolfslair Gym. Who have you been training with, and how has it been going? It’s going really good. Excellent coaches. Excellent training partners: (“Ultimate Fighter 3” winner and UFC middleweight) Michael Bisping, (UFC heavyweight) Cheick Kongo, (UFC welterweight) Paul Kelly. We all train together. Sometimes, I like to train with smaller guys for speed and bigger guys for power, but it all works out. What is it like going to Great Britain to train as opposed to your training camps up at Big Bear, CA? It’s different. Different is good. The people are really nice. It’s really nice to be in the city instead of always being up in the mountains. I’m recognizable in the UK, but not with as many people. Immediately after the Jardine fight, Rashad Evans came into the ring for a staredown with you that got pretty heated. How did that go down? I was totally shocked. Rashad and I never had beef before. I guess he was trying to hype himself up. I thought it was pretty disrespectful because that was my moment. Even though (Jardine) was his teammate, I don’t think it had anything to do with him. He knows who’s belt it is, and I said, “I want my belt back!” Toward the end, I got angry; that’s why I walked out of there. Who do you think is going to win the fight between Rashad Evans and Lyoto Machida at UFC 98? I don’t know. It might make for a boring fight. They both might be scared of getting their first loss. A lot’s on the line. If I fought Machida, it would be a boring fight, as well, because I wouldn’t fight his fight.

DATE OF BIRTH:

6-20-78

HEIGHT:

6’1”

WEIGHT CLASS:

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT

MMA RECORD:

30-7-0

FIGHTING OUT OF:

IRVINE, CA BY WAY OF MEMPHIS, TN

TITLES:

FORMER UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION; UNIFIED UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT (205 LBS.) AND PRIDE MIDDLEWEIGHT (205 LBS.) CHAMPIONSHIPS.

WWW.ALLRAMPAGE.COM

What do you think of Rashad and Lyoto as ﬁghters? I think Rashad’s biggest strength is he’s well-rounded. I think his weakness is he hasn’t been tested. I don’t think he’s been hit really hard yet. (Lyoto’s) biggest strength is his awkward ﬁghting style. His weakness is that he drinks his own urine!* How has becoming a star in the UFC changed your life? It’s easier to support my family because I make more money. I got the Audi R8 since the last time you saw me—it’s black. I don’t even want to drive my other cars sometimes. What’s the toughest part about your increased fame? It’s crazy. I can’t even eat in restaurants anymore. That’s the worse time to talk to me because I’m a germ-freak. People try to shake my hand and get autographs. I’m just really weird about that. If they wait downstairs until I’m done with my food, I’m all good. You’ve had some great times, but have also gone through some struggles like the loss to Forrest and your legal troubles. How do you feel about the criticism you sometimes receive on the Internet and on MMA forums because of these things? It doesn’t matter. I don’t even go on those forums, so I don’t know when they’re talking bad about me. I don’t participate in no negativity. I’m not perfect by any means, but I’m trying to be a positive role model. *Lyoto Machida disclosed to TATA Magazine in March that he drinks his own “urine every morning like a natural medicine.” MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 35

38 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

WORDS: NICK HALILI PHOTOS: GREG B.

MASK’S OFFICE IS A COMBINATION OF SUPERMAN’S “FORTRESS OF SOLITUDE” AND KING ARTHUR’S ROUND TABLE, FEATURING A GLASS ROUND TABLE; HUGE, WHITE THRONE-STYLE CHAIRS; AND GLACIER-LIKE SCULPTURES ON THE SOFT BLUE WALLS.

Never Submit

apouT. To those who know mixed-martial arts (MMA), this word signiﬁes the action of one ﬁghter making the other submit. But it’s actually one thing Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. and his long-time friends and business partners, Dan “Punkass” Caldwell and Timothy “Skyskrape” Katz, have never done. At a time when they were selling shirts out of the back of a car, when they had to drive all night long just to promote the company at the next event, when

MMA was on the verge of dying out altogether, the founders of TapouT never submitted, gave up or quitted. And, although, Mask recently passed away in a tragic auto accident, his determination and his tenacity have been forever imbued in his MMA clothing company founded more than a decade ago. In his ﬁnal interview, he shared his dreams, his passion for his sport and his love for the company he built with his closest friends. The company is so inextricably linked to

the history of MMA, that to discover its roots you must go to the very origins of the sport in North America itself. It all started in 1993, when the man, later-to-be-known-as “Mask”, saw a pay-per-view event on TV that changed his life forever. It was a no-holds-barred ﬁghting tournament where a skinny, Hispanic-looking guy wearing, what appeared to be, plain white pajamas proceeded to dismantle opponent after opponent—all of whom were far bigger and stronger than he was. That man was Royce Gracie. His martial art was named Brazilian JiuJitsu, and the event was UFC 1. “Did you watch this thing on pay-per-view? You gotta check this out!” Mask exclaimed to his close friend, Punkass. At the time, both were already training; Punkass studying boxing, while Mask practiced kickboxing. However, once they discovered that Royce and his brother, Rorion Gracie, had a Torrance, California academy about an hour away from their San Bernardino hometown, they had to check it out for themselves. “After he beat us both up, we signed up that same day. We fell in love with the sport right away,” Punkass recalled. The Gracies, who helped start the UFC to prove the superiority of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), were huge inﬂuences on Mask and

THE INNER SANCTUM OF TAPOUT’S WORLD HEADQUARTERS IS LIKE ANOTHER REALITY. EVERY FACET OF THEIR OFFICE HAS A UNIQUE LOOK, BUT ALL SHARE THE TAPOUT THEME.

Punkass in more ways than just ﬁghting. “When I met Royce and Rorion, I’d never met nicer guys in my life,” Mask stated. “And, if you look at us three to this day, whenever we meet and greet ﬁghters, that’s where the handshake and the hug comes from.” The inspiration to make MMArelated clothing also came from the Gracies. “I remember buying every Gracie shirt there was because, man, I just wanted to be affiliated with it,” Mask declared. “Inevitably, that just transferred into wanting to do a shirt for just MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 39

SKYSKRAPE me and my boys [while] training in the garage [because we] wanted to identify with the sport.” In 1997, they had become friends with Skyskrape and started making and selling T-shirts at MMA events. The guys had then adopted their larger-than-life personas—“Mask,” “Punkass,” and “Skyskrape”—in order to have an iconic look that would not be easily forgotten by fans. However, by that time, the landscape of MMA had changed. Fighting styles, such as Muay Thai kickboxing, wrestling and boxing were being more closely incorporated with Jiu-Jitsu to make MMA an entirely unique sport. However, even as the sport was evolving, it teetered on the brink of extinction. Lawmakers, such as John McCain, had declared that it was too barbaric to continue. UFC events were being taken off of pay-per-view. The sport was still not legally sanctioned by many state athletic commissions all over the country.

It was a treacherous climate in which to start a business. But, the brazen attitude that has always deﬁned TapouT could not be denied. The three friends fondly look back at those formative years, and not only marveled at how they got by with so little, but treated those days as scars of battle that helped forge them into who they became. “I remember going to Compton, and it was in this big warehouse. It was a U-Haul rental place. You’d go up there like you were renting a U-Haul and give them some password. They’d let you in, you’d go in the back and there was a cage setup. That’s how underground MMA in Southern California started,” Punkass recalled. “And cops would come in and bust us, and we’d all pretend like it was a wrestling exhibition or, like, a kickboxing match,” added Skyskrape. Punkass recalled a seminal moment when he got arrested, as the police raided an underground

fight in their hometown where they were selling their clothes. “We had so much gear on the table. (I thought) I’ll stay here and try to walk out with it, like, I’m not leaving all this sh*t here. We couldn’t afford to at the time. We had no money. This was our savings here. It was all we had. I started trying to get it out of the place, and they caught me.” Skyskrape recalled the event and remembers Punkass’ arrest. “He actually has the ticket from being arrested framed,” he said jokingly. Punkass then continued to describe what that arrest symbolized. “It was that time in our lives, you know—that was how small it was. It was us, two bins and some clothing showing up on a table. Life was simple, but it was complicated because we had no money, and you would just put one foot in front of the other and just keep going no matter what happened.” But they soldiered on, not allowing most fans or even fighters to see their struggles through all their challenges. Long after the Gracies had left the UFC, TapouT kept close ties to the organization. By UFC 18 in 1999, they were sponsoring fighters, such as former UFC champion, Pat “The Croation Sensation” Miletich. Punkass remembered how the early fighters reacted to their sponsorship offers. “They were like, ‘Oh, sh*t! I get free clothes and free shorts?’ So, we’d give them free clothes and like $300, and they’d wear our sh*t in the UFC. And people would be like, ‘Aw, man. I’ve seen your clothes on the UFC.’ They didn’t know he [pointing at Mask] was sleeping in his car.” Slowly, but surely, their little company started to prosper. In 2001, casino owners Frank and Lorenzo Fertitta bought the UFC and put their close associate, Dana White, in charge, who worked tirelessly to get MMA sanctioned and on TV. The TapouT crew continued to work closely with the new owners, just as they had the previous ones. Then, in 2005, the pivotal moment that shot the MMA world and TapouT into the stratosphere occurred on the very same night. The live season one finale of UFC’s reality show, “The Ultimate Fighter,” aired on Spike TV. “That finale hit and had Rich Franklin wearing a camouflage [TapouT] T-shirt with a white logo. And, Diego [Sanchez] was fighting, and his pop was wearing the same shirt in the crowd,” Skyskrape explained. Punkass continued describing the historical moment in the company’s history. “It was crazy. At one point, we were getting like 3,000 orders an hour. And, it literally just collapsed our website. We were on the phone until, like, four in the morning, trying to get the site back up and capture those credit cards.” Mask smiled broadly and continued telling the story. “Now, we weren’t doing 500 [orders] a day before that.”

SKYSKRAPE’S 1963 CHEVY BEL AIR WITH ORIGINAL 15-INCH RALLY WHEELS, AND HIS FAVORITE RIDE, A 1966 CHEVY NOVA. TRULY A GEARHEAD, SKRAPE WRENCHES ON HIS CLASSICS WHENEVER HE GETS A CHANCE.

40 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

“When you ﬁnally get some good money, you end up buying cars cause that was the sh*tty sh*t about your life.”

PUNKASS “Five-hundred a day?” Punkass laughed as he commented on Mask’s remarks. “We were doing maybe 40 [orders] a day. It just went out to space that same night, and we would never be the same after that. Obviously, we had been working hard and growth was there. Our company has always had, 3-to 500-percent growth every year since it’s inception. So we’ve always been growing. But at that point—when that show aired—it put us on another playing field. America finally knew what MMA was about.” Four years later, as one of the founders of the now $100-million company, Punkass explained what his current collection has to do with his past struggles. He recalled his youth, as he showed his black 2009 Mercedes-Benz S63 AMG with 21-inch MHT Fuego wheels, saying that his family would have names, such as “Blue Bomber” or “Yellow Lemon” for the old beaters they’d owned through the years. “When you finally get some good money, you end up buying cars ’cause that was the sh*tty sh*t about your life. Pulling up to school, making your parents drop you off a block away, so your friends didn’t have to see what kind of car you were driving up in,” Punkass said. That embarrassment is something that is no longer a concern when pulling up in his black 2006 Lamborghini Gallardo, with its custom carbon fiber Cargraphic exhaust. His black 1999 Hummer H1 is influenced by the military-like mentality he and the guys had when fighting to keep their company and dream alive. In addition to his impressive fleet, he rides a custom built CFL-framed, flat-black West Coast Choppers motorcycle. He made the point of saying not only how sick it looked, but that he got it for a great deal. As much as Mask was the

42 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

PUNKASS GOT HIS CUSTOM-BUILT CFL-FRAMED, FLAT-BLACK MOTORCYCLE FROM WEST COAST CHOPPERS. WHEN ASKED ABOUT THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE “13S” ON THE SADDLE, HE JUST GRINNED AND SAID, “IT WAS MADE FOR SOMEONE ELSE, BUT THEY ENDED UP NOT LIKING IT. I JUST THOUGHT IT LOOKED COOL, AND I GOT A GREAT DEAL ON IT.”

PUNKASS IS NO LONGER ASHAMED BEING SEEN IN HIS RIDES, ESPECIALLY WHEN HE OPTS TO ROLL IN HIS 2006 LAMBORGHINI GALLARDO, WHICH IS FITTED WITH A CUSTOM CARBON FIBER CARGRAPHIC EXHAUST.

dreamer, the visionary that got TapouT off the ground, Punkass was the sharp business-mind, the realist that kept it going through lean times. When asked about his tendency to keep his mods subtle, he answered with another question: “Why mess with perfection?” His signature mod since high school was always making sure all his rides were “murdered out” in all black, to match his own clothing and menacing persona. “Shows like Knight Rider…ninjas are black…black belt… everything about black is hard.” Skyskrape also recounted how his own

childhood in laid back Southern California is reﬂected in his taste in cars. “My dad was the one that got that old school car-thing instilled in me,” he stated as he showed his dark-blue 1963 Chevy Bel Air, which features a custom painting on plexiglass inside his trunk. The undisputed gearhead of the trio explained how he does almost all the wrenching on his own cars whenever he has the time. Similar to Punkass, he keeps exterior mods to his cars to a minimum, down to the original 15-inch Rally Wheels he sports on his favorite ride: a red 1966 Chevy Nova

PUNKASS’ 1999 HUMMER H1 IS INFLUENCED BY THE MILITARY-LIKE MENTALITY OF ALL THE GUYS, WHILE HIS 2009 MERCEDES-BENZ S63 AMG IS BLACKED-OUT LIKE THE REST OF HIS RIDES AND FEATURES A RENNTECH LOWERING MODULE, 21-INCH MHT FUEGO WHEELS WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES AND SMOKED TAILLIGHTS.

Wagon. As a future project, Skrape plans on dropping an LS1 Corvette engine in it. Now, that doesn’t mean that Skrape is completely averse to modern cars. He did roll up in a black 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 AMG that he considers his “business suit” (since he never wears a suit to work). The one theme that ties all his cars together is the TapouT logo, either stitched to the headrests of his seats or even replacing the Mercedes’ stock hood emblem. Although Mask didn’t link his childhood experiences to his preference in rides, as he showed off his red 2005 Porsche 911 Turbo S Cab o et, hee did Cabriolet, d d tell te a heartfelt ea t e t story sto y behind be d hiss black 2004 Bentley Continental GT. “I gotta put Chuck ‘Iceman’ Liddell on blast,” he began. Mask explained how he was looking for his first car in nine years. Chuck, who was a good friend for many years, offered to help him find a car. Mask had singled out a base-model Mercedes-Benz that he had his eye on, but his credit was no good, and his business had not yet completely taken off. However, “The Iceman” called him up one week and told him that his credit was good now and to come down to a nearby San Luis Obispo dealership. Chuck had put down $55,000 on the 2005 Bentley Coupe for him, adding that with the down payment, Mask would now be able to m make his monthly payments. He admitted to o beginning to cry at this gesture, saying, “I trry to pay him back all the time, but he says, ‘Givve me what you want; I’m going to take the cheeck and rip it.’” As he proudly showed off his 22-in nch matte-black HRE Wheels with black polished lips, and the custom stitched black-an nd-brown interior, he made one final comment about his favorite car—which he swore that he would never sell. “Whether he’s w with me or not, I feel like I’ve got ‘The Icemaan’ rolling with me whenever I’m in the ‘B Batmobile.’” That type of pride and affection Mask T felt for those close to him was abundantly clear thrroughout the conversation that day. “No obody can replace these two guys in the world ffor me. They couldn’t!” he proudly exclaimed in his distinctive booming voice. “Punkass…119 years. Skrape…12 years. This kid [Punkasss] brings out sh*t in me; always believes in m me when everybody else doesn’t! He, [Skyskrape] makes me comfortable doing all the far-fetched, crazy sh*t that I do!” Earlier, MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 43

“Whether he’s with me or not, I feel like I’ve got ‘The Iceman’ rolling with me whenever I’m in the ‘Batmobile.’”

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE TAPOUT PHOTOS & VIDEO

MASK

2005 PORSCHE TURBO S

WHEELS/TIRES: CUSTOM 19” MATTE GREY CENTER/ GLOSS BLACK OUTER ZONE RACING WHEELS WITH MICHELIN PILOT SPORT TIRES PERFORMANCE: H&R COIL OVER, DTE SYSTEMS ENGINE SOFTWARE, THROTTLE BODY KIT AND TUBI EXHAUST SYSTEM INTERIOR: TWO-TONE RED & GREY LEATHER INTERIOR W/ TAPOUT HEADRESTS, SUEDE STEERING WHEEL

2005 BENTLEY COUPE

WHEELS/TIRES: 22” HRE 948R WHEELS WITH SATIN BLACK CENTER AND GLOSS BLACK OUTER WITH PIRELLI P ZERO NERO TIRES. PERFORMANCE: CARGRAPHIC ELECTRONIC LOWERING MODULE, FABSPEED EXHAUST SYSTEM AND DTE SYSTEMS ENGINE SOFTWARE EXTERIOR: BLACKED OUT EXTERIOR TRIM, CUSTOM ROOT BEER COLORED BRAKE CALIPERS, MANSORY REAR DECK SPOILER INTERIOR: CUSTOM DIAMOND-TUCKED 2-TONE LEATHER SEATS DRIVER SIDE IN BLACK AND CARBON TAN AND PASSENGER SIDE IN CHOCOLATE AND CARBON TAN WITH TAPOUT LOGO EMBROIDERED ON HEADRESTS, SUEDE STEERING WHEEL

he had recounted what made him start dressing and acting in that far-fetched and crazy way mentioned earlier. He described a show he went to, of when he passed out his stickers and saw those stickers thrown nonchalantly on the ground. He heard people ask, “What’s TapouT?” And, it made him want to cry. That day, he swore he’d never go anywhere again and have somebody say, “What’s Tapout?”

TAPOUT WWW.TAPOUT.COM

MHT WHEELS WWW.MHTWHEELS.COM

PIRELLI WWW.US.PIRELLI.COM

UFC WWW.UFC.COM

WEST COAST CHOPPERS WWW.WESTCOASTCHOPPERS.COM

RENNTECH WWW.RENNTECHMERCEDES.COM

MICHELIN TIRES WWW.MICHELINMAN.COM

CARGRAPHICS WWW.CARGRAPHIC.DE

SHORELINE MOTORING WWW.SHORELINEMOTORING.COM

HRE WHEELS WWW.HREWHEELS.COM

ZONE RACING WHEELS WWW.ZONEWHEELS.COM

44 DUB MAG MAY / JUNE 2009

Despite his outlandish clothes, face paint, over-the-top personality or attention-getting laugh, Mask will always be remembered in MMA history and culture for his devotion to the sport he dearly loved. All the friends he made throughout his days on this Earth will ensure that Charles “Mask” Lewis Jr. will never be forgotten, while TapouT continues the legacy that the Mask help start.

t a prototypical 6-foot-4, 240 lbs., Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski is considered to be one of the top heavyweight mixedmartial arts (MMA) fighters in the world. A perfect combination of size, power, speed and skill make him one of the most intimidating fighters on the planet. But despite his imposing stature in the ring, his quiet and personable demeanor outside of it is the complete opposite. A career in MMA wasn’t Arlovski’s first choice as an occupation. At 16 in his native land of Minsk, Belarus, while attending the police academy, was when his interest in martial arts was sparked. “While in the academy, I studied the Russian martial art of Sambo and became a member of the national team,” he says. He was a natural at the Soviet-developed grappling/wresting style and went on to compete and win many Sambo tournaments and championships. Arlovski later

WORDS/ PHOTOS: JAY CANTER

“I had some success, and was approached and asked to try myself in MMA. I said, ‘Why not?’” developed his kickboxing and striking skills under the tutelage of former Soviet Union kickboxing champion Dmitry Stepanov. With his now mixed arsenal of skills, Arlovksi was ready to take the next step. “I had some success, and was approached and asked to try myself in MMA. I said, ‘Why not?’” At the age of 20, Arlovski started his MMA career with a KO loss in his first professional fight at the Mix Fight M-1 in St. Petersburg, Russia. He would return and, eventually, become the M-1 MFC European Heavyweight Champion, setting the stage for a move to the UFC. The UFC would launch the Belarusian’s career in the burgeoning American MMA arena. Arlovski’s 14 fight stint with the UFC amassed an impressive 10-4 record with title defenses as the interim UFC Heavyweight Champion, and as the undisputed UFC Heavyweight Champion before eventually losing the title to Tim Sylvia, whom he originally defeated for the interim UFC Heavyweight title. Arlovski later left the UFC based on “a business decision” and is currently competing in the popular clothing line-turned-fight-promotions company Affliction. “Fighting is fighting, “ he describes. “It doesn’t matter which organization you are with. There were small changes that I had to make while fighting for Affliction, such as fighting in a ring instead of an octagon like in the UFC.” In January 2009, Arlovski fought in arguably the most highly anticipated bout of the year with World Alliance of Mixed Martial Arts (WAMMA) Heavyweight Champion, Fedor Emelianenko. Arlovski had early

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ANDREI ARLOVSKI

THE PIT BULL

2007 mercedes-benz s550 The 2007 Mercedes-Benz S550 is fully ’kitted up with the Lorinser body package that includes front and rear bumpers, side skirts, deck lid wing, fenders and fog lights. Lowering the S-Class is a Lorinser module. The front grille has been painted to match the body panels,

and all Lorinser grilles were powder-coated white. Rolling on chrome Giovanna Dalar wheels measuring 22”x9.5 up front and 22”x10.5” out back, the faces are color-matched to the vehicle. These rims are wrapped in Pirelli P Zero tires.

2 2007 Range Rover s sport Supercharged During Dur the harsh winter months in the “Windy City Arlovski rolls around in a 2007 Range Rover City,” Spo Supercharged. All the body panels have Sport bee color-matched. It features a Strut package been wit a front grille and side panel inserts, a Project with

Kahn exhaust system and lowering module, custom-made clear side markers, custom-tinted taillights and a NavTV unit with DVD. It rides on 22-inch Giovanna Sabina chrome wheels wrapped in Nitto tires.

All of Arlovski’s custom jewelry is made by Geneva Seal in Chicago. His custom watch is ﬁtted with diamonds that measure 53 millimeters around and features three time zones running on separate d ia m o motors. Arlovski’s one-off pendant features a split face of a dog and a man set inside the octagon. T he dog represents Arlovski as the “Pit Bull” inside the octagon, while the face is his image outside of The tthe he octagon. The crown that is inset to the piece has more than 300 pave-set diamonds and is more tthan ha ﬁve carats in weight. The dog’s eyes are set with cabochon rubies and its two, large teeth are m a of natural red corral. The collar is set with natural black diamonds. made MAY / JUNE 2009

DUB MAG 47

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE FROM ANDREI ARLOVSKI

success against Emelianenko until he was caught and knocked out with a counter overhand right 3:14 into the first round. “I made a mistake and paid for it,” he says. “I wanted to do something flashy by doing the flying knee, and it didn’t go my way; I got caught with his punch. I should have stuck to my game plan, but I allowed my emotions to interfere with my game plan.” Accepting defeat is part of the fight—you learn from your mistakes and plan and train accordingly. Arlovski admits to “always finding ways to improve his boxing, Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling skill sets.” Having recently signed a boxing contract with Oscar De La Hoya’s renowned Golden Boy Promotions, Arlovski still plans to compete in MMA while growing a career in boxing. “In the future, I plan on doing both,” he says. “As usual, I’ll take one fight at a time. I am going to do everything I can do to be victorious in every fight.” Arlovski refines his boxing with legendary boxing trainer Freddie Roach at Roach’s Wild Card Gym in Hollywood, CA, but currently resides and trains for MMA in Chicago, Illinois with his trainer Mike Garcia at Jabb Gym. To reward himself for his success, Arlovski has obtained an impressive car collection, in which he goes to Leon Bilis and Arthur Friedman at Prestige Auto Gallery for all his automotive needs and has all his custom work performed by Larry Chacko at Auto Art, who at the time of the shoot, was the owner of Autowerks “Larry really understood what I was looking to do,” he explains. “I did not want anything over the top. I guess you could say that I wanted understated class. As you can see, they were all done with amazing colors, design, and I handpicked the rims.”

As the weather starts to warm up in Chi-Town, Arlovski moves on to something more fit for some aggressive driving like his 2005 BMW 645Ci. This BMW is ’kitted up with a Hamann body package, which includes a front and rear bumper spoiler, as well as side skirts, exhaust and BAV ignition coils. Also adorning the body is a Vorsteiner carbon fiber hood, custom carbon fiber emblems, and a Hamann roof wing. Lowering the 6-Series comes way of some Eibach lowering springs. Under the hood boasts an upgraded throttle-body, stage 3 ECU carbon fiber intake and strut tower bar, all courtesy of Dinan. All this helps produce power figures of more than 500 horsepower. Keeping that power on the road is easy with 20”x9.5” up front and 20”x11” rear Radenergie R10 rims wrapped in Dunlop rubber. The inside has not been left out of the mix either with custom carbon fiber panels, dash and doors. The interior features a custom red leather Hamann steering wheel, pedals, dead pedal and shift knob, which all make for one fast and comfy ride.

GENEVA SEAL JEWELERS INFO@GENEVASEAL.COM 312.944.3100 LORINSER WWW.LORINSER.COM/

STRUT WWW.STRUTWEAR.COM

EIBACH WWW.EIBACH.COM

DUNLOP TIRES WWW.DUNLOPTIRES.COM

GIOVANNA WWW.GIOVANNAWHEELS.COM

PROJECT KAHN WWW.KAHNDESIGN.COM

VORSTEINER WWW.VORSTEINER.COM

RADENERGIE WWW.RADENERGIE.COM

PIRELLI WWW.US.PIRELLI.COM

HAMMAN WWW.HAMANN-MOTORSPORT.DE

DINAN WWW.DINANCARS.COM

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DUB AND CARDOMAIN.COM COLLABORATION CONTEST More thank 1,600 CarDomain members registered their rides for a chance to be featured in the pages of DUB. Starting in March 2008, DUB picked out one car each month until December. CarDomain members voted which of the Top 10 rides they liked most in January 2009, and top honors goes to Bud Burk’s 2007 Ford “Orange Krate” Mustang, which seems unbeatable, having won several contests on CarDomain within the past 12 months.

TECH SPECS: 2007 FORD RONAELE MUSTANG BRAGGING RIGHTS: 605 horsepower MAJOR UPGRADES: supercharger, bore-increase, port and polish, stroke-increase PERFORMANCE PARTS: custom intake; SLP Performance Parts header; MagnaFlow exhaust; Kenne Bell engine comps.; Ford Racing ignition; Ford Racing shocks; Ford Racing springs; Ford Ra Racing strut bars; Baer Racing brakes; Ford Ra Racing transmission CA CAR AUDIO & VIDEO: Kicker sound processor; Kic Kicker speakers; Kicker subwoofers; custom sub en enclosure; Kenwood video; Viper Security; Stinger Wi Wiring; Kicker tweeter; Kenwood head unit; Kic Kicker ampliﬁer WH WHEELS AND TIRES: 20-inch Legend Wheels; BF Goodrich 265/30R20 front and 385/20R20 rea rear tires INT INTERIOR: Custom orange and white leather sea seats; Ford Racing shift knob; custom pedals

NAME: BUD BURK | LOCATION: DELTONA, FLORIDA CAR: 2007 FORD RONAELE MUSTANG “ORANGE KRATE” | WWW.CARDOMAIN.COM/RIDE/2927485

PHOTOS: JOE GREEVES

urk’s “Orange Krate” story began in February 2007, when he finally bought his dream car for $36,500 after 20 years of saving for it. “I knew it would be a Mustang, but never knew the year or who would build it,” Burk explains. After surfing the Internet, he stumbled upon the picture of the 2006 Ronaele 450R Mustang Convertible (It’s actually “Eleanor” spelled backward). Burk tracked down the owner of Ronaele Mustang and began to disclose his ideas for his dream ride. “I wanted the car to be based around a Schwinn bicycle I had always wanted when I was a kid. It was called ‘Orange Krate’ and at that time (1960s), it was by far the best looking orange bicycle on the planet.” Finally, finding the perfect orange color (he saw it on a 1969 Z-28 Camaro painted Hugger Orange), Burk purchased a white 2007 Ford Mustang GT and then took it to the shop. “Now with the color scheme nailed down, the ideas just started flowing, and between Ronaele and me, and we came up with a ton of them. I wanted to not only do the outside, but I want the engine to roar, the suspension to be top notch and the interior to flow.” The transformation was underway and after six months, “Orange Krate” was about 70 percent done. Not fully running yet, Burk took it to the 2007 Turkey Rod

Run for its debut. “It was incredible how fun it was to see other’s think that my dream car was cool to them.” The car was finally delivered in September 2008, but Burk continued to add more customizations to perfect the “Orange Krate.” The final price for all the customizations came to a total of $110,000. Burk would like to thank: Ken and Joe @ Crusin Concepts located in Deland Florida; Jud @ Advanced Automotive Repair in Deland Florida; Chris Cruz @ Chris Cruz Artistry in Deland Florida; Dittmore Painting in Tampa Florida; Justin @ VMP Tuning in Deltona Florida; Richie @ Richie’s Custom Detailing; and, finally, Ronaele because without them, the car would have never been finished.

VISIT DUBMAGAZINE.COM FOR MORE OF THE 2007 FORD RONAELE

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