With the recent announcement of the closing down of Honda Tuning & Import Tuner magazines, it brings shock to all of us in the automotive industry, as we have followed them for years just like we did with Modified Magazine, but I can assure you that Ohana Luxury Magazine Is here to stay… Our team has the dedication and passion to make this magazine the printed publication of choice. Being the first to specialize in vans, boxes and wagons also helps us in this niche market. Within the last couple of years, the automotive industry has seen some of its hardest times, but is slowly making a comeback. With that being said, the internet has come become very popular with online ads and blogs. Owning a printed publication makes it more difficult as a marketing platform. You might ask why I am telling you all of this. There is a good reason. Many companies have lowered or cut out their advertising costs. It may be due to the misconception that online marketing and advertising is the only way to go. If you went to a show or event, would you rather receive a printed magazine or a web address to read it online? If you pay money for something, don’t you want something tangible to take home? If you are a photographer, an editor or are featured in Ohana Luxury Magazine, don’t you want something in your hand to look at or show your friends and family? Not that the web isn’t a great place, but there is something special about flipping pages and sharing moments versus texting a link to a web address. Having a printed magazine with your published content brings creditability and professionalism. Let’s just say that a printed magazine will come out on top 9 out of 10 times over a website, online blogs, etc. #supportprint Putting together a printed publication has been one of the most time consuming things I have ever done in my life (besides taking care of my 5 beautiful children, lol). It brings me joy to know that I can bring happiness to our followers and readers, as well as help introduce a new segment to the automotive industry. The best part about doing a printed publication is the people who have come together to help and believed in Ohana Luxury Magazine. There is a long list of people who have turned my dream into a reality. Special shout out goes to: Lorenzo Hicks, Edna Vartanian, Chip and Maria Force, Rob Kimmel & the Chief Demarks. This is just a short list of people who have gone above and beyond what they needed to do for Ohana Luxury Magazine. That, for me is the soul meaning of Ohana. #ohanaisfamily
Ohana Luxury Magazine sean@oluxmagz.com
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Ohana Luxury Magazine (ISSN# 2292-5449) Is published 4 times a year by Ohana Luxury Inc. President - JEROME SMITH Senior Executive VP - LORENZO HICKS Lead Manager - CHIP FORCE CONTRIBUTORS ::: PHOTOGRAPHERS & WRITERS Rob Kimmel. Christopher James. The Chief DéMarks. Ivan Asuzano. Benjamin Garcia. Jose Torres. TJ Chun. Michael Maniscalco. Joe Alvarez. SALES & MARKETING ::: ART & DESIGN PRODUCTION Design & Art Director - WingKei LeeChoo Graphic Designer - Paul Renard ADMINISTRATION Chief Finance Officer – Catherine Ruscetta Chief Operations Officer – Edna Vartanian Chief Executive Director – Maria Force Senior Brands Manager – Kam Kaler Subscription Department: 1-888-406-OLUX subs@oluxmagz.com Ohana Luxury Magazine welcomes unsolicited Freelance Contributions including editorial stories, photography & etc.
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*The Material used in this publication is intended for information Purpose only. A sincere effort has been made to report details accurately, however as specifications and models vary from time and upgrades are constantly appearing on the market. Readers are advised to seek specialist assistant before acting on information offered in this publication. All text and layout remains copyright of Ohana Luxury Inc, unless stated otherwise. Ohana Luxury Magazine is fully independent and its views are not those of any company mentioned herein, nor part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission from the CEO of Ohana Luxury Inc.
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VOL 1 ISSUE 2
CONTENTS
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13 26
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FEATURES 09: WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE 13: MODEL: JOANNA MARGARET BIS
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17: SHARE YOUR PHOTOS WITH US 19: DARTH RAIDER 26: ART IN TRANSLATION 28: WORK WHEEL - OTAS HONDA ODESSEY RB1 30: FEATURED CLUB - BOXED LIFESTYLES 33: READER’S RIDES
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EDITOR NOTES Even as Ohana Luxury Magazine finds itself navigating around the sizable challenges that print media faces today, we cannot help but to lament the loss of marquee names like Honda Tuning,Import Tuner, and Automobile Magazine. The publisher of all three magazines termed it a consolidation but I just call it heart breaking. People get invested in their publications because they feel like they reflect their interest and the special things they care about. As a writer and a car enthusiast I followed David E. Davis for years when he wrote for Car and Driver. Therefore, I was one of the first people to subscribe when he started Automobile Magazine in 1986. I watched it grow and become a strong creative force in the automotive industry. Unfortunately, Mr. Davis parted ways with them several years ago due to creative differences and it was never the same magazine again. I’m still saddened to see his labor of love come to such an unceremonious demise. That’s why the creative process is so vital to the success of a publication. It’s essential to have a team of dedicated enthusiasts who are on the same page and share a mutual vision. Ohana Luxury Magazine is all about that and a lot more! Our CEO, Sean J. Smith, participates in every aspect of the creative process. And he’s smart enough to know that you don’t strangle that process and you can’t lead from the rear! His vision and guiding philosophy is what initially drew me to Ohana in the first place.It wasn’t just the creative outlet it provided, but the fact that they wanted to take the likes of vans, wagons and boxy vehicles upstream. Sean clearly saw a community of underserved owners and vehicles that rarely ever saw the pages of mainstream car magazines. His vision was to create an alternative universe where they became the focus instead of an afterthought! That alone was enough to makeme want to be a part of a new creative excitement that is ‘Ohana!’ Every car show that I’ve ever covered consisted of popular builds like sports coupes and sedans being the main course, while vans and the other non-popular build platforms were simply there as garnish.Ohana will become personally responsible for altering thatparticular perception of automotive beauty. And ‘the best of the rest’ will finally be able to proudly step forward from the shadows of mediocrity into the spotlight of ‘center stage’ excellence. You will learn about inspiring people like Bisi Ezerioha and his accomplishments. Not just the things he’s done at Bisimoto Engineering, but why he’s such an amazing person.Of course we will highlight the most exciting builds around and introduce you to the people who are doing them. We’ll take you behind the scenes ofsome of the most innovative shops that build custom vehicles for the rich and famous. Besides covering individual and corporate sponsored builds, we’ll also cover shows that feature the type of rides we want to see and we’ll share those with you too. In light of current events, someone asked me the other day…“Why are you guys doing this right now?” Well, I thought about it for a moment and then I remembered a line from a Robert F. Kennedy speech that said it all for me…”There are those who look at things the way they are, and ask why... I dream of things that never were, and ask why not?” Ohana loves innovators, so be among the first in your crew to get your own subscription to what, without a doubt,is going to be the finest organically grown automotive specialty magazine on the market! So until next time, just remember… ”I’ll see you out on the streets!!!”
P.M. “Chief” DéMarks Feature Editor
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Story by Rob Kimmel ::: Photography by Joss Weiss [Joss Weiss Photography] The well known children’s story “Where the Wild Things Are” follows the tale of a young boy named Max who wreaks havoc in a wolf costume throughout his household and is disciplined by being sent to his room. His agitation at his mother begins to transform his room into a mysterious jungle environment inhabited by large beasts known as the “Wild Things” whom Max intimidates into submission. Afterward the Wild Things hail Max as their king, the rightful ruler of a land with no rules and no boundaries; where imagination and passion can take flight and find their rightful place at the highest levels of acclaim and achievement.
Thomas Walker is a firm believer in keeping that quirky fun in his projects, creating builds that truly reflect the personality behind the wheel. Hailing from New Orleans, Louisiana, he grew up in an area of the nation with a tuner culture that focused on trucks and classics. This influenced his choices of earlier builds culminating in a fully restored and static dropped ‘87 S-10, a 4” lifted and overhauled ’73 VW Bug, and a shaved, dropped, APU ’00 Silverado. From the start, his imagination and passiondictated the direction and intensity of his vehicles, projects that for the most part were completely built with his own two hands.
At any point in history, from national history to children’s stories to the nature of the tuning scene, there are expectations and standards held by the majority; a belief that “this” way is the right way and “that” way is the wrong way, “that” is ugly and “this” is clean, or “this” is pure and “that” is unacceptable. So quick are we to dismiss something new oruntamed, like a mother sending an overly imaginative child to their room for letting their passions run free. Yet, there are times when that wild/fun style must take hold and shows you a whole new world of possibility.
When Hurricane Katrina hit Louisiana, Thomas lost both his S-10 and VW Bug to the power of the storm. Those of us that know the blood, sweat, tears, time, and love we put into our rides knows how devastated he felt at their loss. But sometimes being cut off from that joy, like a child being sent to his room, is only the beginning as a new transformation starts to take shape.While Thomas still had his Silverado, he noticed the developing stance scene popping up all over the internet and knew this was the direction he wanted to take his builds in the future. He knew it was time to move away from trucks and enter the tuner scene with a new car; an entirely new jungle of possibilities.
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Now a Nissan Cube is a special beast. I say special because it truly is a polarizing platform; you either love it for its econobox, quirky, asymmetrical style or you loathe it for the selfsame reasons (as a Scion xB owner myself, I freely admit it took awhile for me to come around to Cubes!). For Thomas it was love at first sight in 2009 when he ran across pictures of it in an online article talking about its impending release in the states. A trip that was meant to only be a test drive turned into Thomas driving home his very own Wild Thing, a pristine pearl-white Cube. Since 2010, the Cube has continually evolved. Because Thomas was being driven by the stance culture, each time he achieved a new “low”, he realized he was never low enough! From drop springs to cut springs to coilovers, none of these were good enough and reasonable for a daily driver in his opinion. A man of principle, if he couldn’t be as low as he wanted driving around but still wanted to live the slammed life, Thomas decided it was time for air suspension, specifically a K-sport air suspension system. Installed himself, this was a new experience for a man that had his hands in engine, body, and suspension work long before the Nissan came around. With his compressors, tank, air management, and second battery housed in a zebra upholstered area under a false floor in the rear, function and style are both present; the wild personality is bold in simultaneously subtle ways. But being low is only one side of the coin; wheel fitment is just as crucial. In the beginning, Thomas knew nothing of fitment and there was a steep learning curve, realized by all the memories of the camber adjustments, pulled fenders, fixing burnt paint on fenders, replacing torn up tires, and so much more. “It was a nightmare but totally worth it! I wouldn’t trade those trial and error days for anything. They taught me all I know today.” While he has shaved areas, added aero parts, bagged it, and moved up his fitment game, the main attraction is and will always be the unorthodox and unapologetic graffiti paint job. Thomas saw a ’71 Datsun 510 on Instagram with a graffiti paint job and knew without a shadow of a doubt that the feel of that look was exactly what he wanted for his beloved Cube. But he was no artist by any stretch of the imagination, so what to do? The internet once again came to the rescue. After sleeping on it, Thomas threw some photos of his car and his request on Craigslist to local New Orleans artists. Within a week he had 10 artists vying for the role, but the one that was the man for the job was named Cris Silva, an artist who also was a fellow lover of motorcycles and customization. It took 12 hours to transform a clean, pearl white Cube to the Wild Thing it is today and Thomas could not have been happier. With a wall-eyed stare that says “F**k you!” the Cube leaves an everlasting impression on all who gaze upon it. A joining of styles and influences is obviously present in this work of art, but the ones Thomas believes are the most prevalent are the blend of stance/fitment ideals, Bōsōzoku style out of Japan, rat rod elements, and OEM+ for the interior.
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In his time with his graffiti-infused revolution of a car, Mr. Walker has encountered the many strong feelings, both positive and negative, that come with having such a beast. Yet, at the end of the day, he knows to modify his car for himself, to curse it and love it with your own two hands. “While I understand that not everyone has the ability to work on their car on their own, I believe it is very important to take part in the customizing of your vehicle; you’ll be able to take more pride in what you have.”
MODIFICATIONS LIST EXTERIOR/ENGINE BAY - Full custom graffiti paint job - Krom option front lip KROM OPTION SIDESKIRTS - Rusted hood - Window tint - Wiper delete - Shaved emblems - Rolled and pulled fenders - B’s’zoku style dual pipe exhaust
There will always be those people who put down the wild and the free, who shackle themselves to the standards of the masses. These are the people who dismiss the creative, like Max from the story, to their rooms, believing them to be misguided and deviants of the tuning culture. This is a narrow-minded view that ignores the fact that almost every single development in the history of the scene was started by someone who was put down for their innovation and vision. Thomas knows these things and has his eyes wide open as he continues to improve his Cube inside and out, a build that already stands as a king among the Wild Things. We at Ohana Luxury would also like to congratulate Thomas on his marriage to Dariela (the wedding was scheduled for the weekend after this photoshoot and interview)!
INTERIOR/AUDIO - Crown Royal shift boot - Zebra print upholstered rear compartment - Custom false floor, upholstered in black - Custom rear door fiberglass enclosure housing two 10” JL subs - 700/5 JL digital amplifier - Dual battery setup; 0 gauge and battery isolator SUSPENSION/WHEELS/TIRES - K-Sport Pro Plus Air Ride - Custom welded rear brackets - XXR 535, 16x8 +20 - Yokohama Avid Ascend 185/55/16
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What are some of your main interests and hobbies? I grew up dancing, singing and playing the piano and was passionate for drawing and painting as well. I love all the arts but my main hobby is dancing, starting at the age of 4. I also love playing beach volleyball and soaking in the sun, but skiing and snowboarding are great sports in the winter. What’s your dream vehicle? Definitely the 2014 458 Italia Ferrari What is your favorite food? QUINOA SALAD If you could be any animal, what would it be and why? A cheetah because they are the fastest living land mammals and their super fierce. Describe yourself in three words. Creative, Optimistic, Outgoing If you could take a vacation where would it be and why? Rome, I want to visit the ruins and appreciate the history behind what happened there hundreds of years ago. How would you describe your professional interests? Dancing is definetly my main professional interest, because nothing is more fulfilling then performing and leaving your heart out on the stage. It brings me so much joy and happiness that I wouldn’t be able to find anywhere else. The fact that I am a paid professional dancer is a blessing and I am so grateful to be able to share my talents and be an entertainer. I also have recently found a passion for modeling. I absolutely love being behind that camera because I get lost in the lense and magic happens. To be able to work as a model is also a gift and I am thankful for every minute of it. Both of these professional interests are my passion and I am so blessed to be able to pursue what I love and what I am meant to do. What’s your background in modeling? When and why did you get started? Was it for the glamour? The money? Pure kicks? I started modeling about 3 months ago, but I very quickly realized the passion I had for it. My father being a photographer, we always had photoshoots when we went away for vacation but I never took it seriously until an artist messaged me asking me to do a photo/ music video shoot, asking if I was a model. This was my instigation that I needed to start taking it seriously. I hired another photographer and put together a professional portfolio and now here I am! Who are some of your favorite models and designers, and why? Gucci, Prada, Micheal Kors and Kate Spade are all great designers. They all share the same elegant and classy aspect which is what I strive for. One of my favourite model is Coco Rocha because she’s beautiful with a unique look and the fact that she’s Canadian is even better! (canadian pride woo!) How would you describe your style? I don’t have a set style, I love trying new things and playing around with different styles to create my own. I see beauty and potential in all elements of design and appreciate what each style has to offer. Being a hip hop dancer I bounce back between the classy bohemian look and hip hop styles, but then I change it up with high fashion looks as well. What advice do you have for other aspiring models? Don’t EVER think you’re not good enough to become a model or even take a beautiful picture. Every model has something to offer because everyone has their own unique look that will be noticed, appreciated and inspirational for other models. PUT YOURSELF OUT THERE. The only person holding you back is yourself. You will never be able to find yourself or your happiness without the confidence that you have what it takes to become who you want to be. Life is beautiful, embrace it and take advantage of the modelling opportunities and what the universe has to offer.
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I’ve been a part of the Southern California car scene for almost 50 years. I started out with American Muscle and Lowriders, then European, and finally the JDM scene. I watched as American Lowriders were sold and shipped to Japan back in the 70’s and how the Bippo/VIP scene there evolved from those same cars. I have personally restored and/or customized 53 vehicles since 1965. I don’t just write about automobiles, I’ve had a long standing love affair with them.I naturally lovewagons, vans and I have a special attachment to the array of boxy vehicles from Japan and Europe. So it was no accident that I wound up buying a Honda Element. My actual love affair with the Element started at the 2003 SEMA Show in Las Vegas. They had an Element ConceptVehicle that was just beautiful! I foolishly thought that when the Element hit the showroom floors it was going to look like that. So needless to say I was EXTREMELY disappointed when I went to my local Honda dealership and saw the actual production model. I obviously did not buy one, but I kept thinking about the one I saw in Vegas. In 2004 I went to the Chicago International Auto Show, and there it was again, the SEMA Show Element! After that I went to the dealership and looked at it again. It stayed on my mind after that, so I guess the third time is the charm, I returned to the dealership in 2005 and this time I actually drove out in a new Element EX!!! ;-) I even tried to psych myself into believing that I bought it justto be a daily driver that I would wash and wax it once in a while and just keep it looking nice. But being afflicted with “car disease” makes you think you can really do that while fighting a losing battle. Plus, it really bugged me how high up it sat. So I figured that I would just put a set of lowering springs in it, bring it down a little and that’s it! The rudest awaking I received was that I found out there was virtually no aftermarket support for the Element. You either had to fabricate something you needed or cross reference the other K24/K20 models and desperately trying to make it work. My first real modification was a set of Eibach Pro Lowering Springsto close some of the huge fender gaps that any stock Element suffers from.
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Being a real ‘car guy’I’ve never been one to believe in just Show with No Go! SoI have always started with the mechanicals on any vehicle I’ve owned. An engine should ready to perform at a moment’s notice and take you to the East coast and any parts in between without incidents. You always want your engine to breathe better; you want more power, and you want OEM reliability. The Element posed a real challenge for me because I didn’t just want more horsepower; I wanted legitimate mid-range power where the Element was sorely lacking. As with most people, the air intake and the exhaust system is where I started my engine build. They are the fastest ways to add some minor boost and make your ride sound better in the process! You obviously want any engine to breathe better, so that was my next move. The right engine and exhaust components are essential. I put in an air intake system, a cat back exhaust system, a high flow cat, a header system, high flow injectors, changed theoxygen sensor, and installed some performance spark plugs. I kept doing a little bit more and a little bit more, and before I realized it, the engine was half-way torn down. I was suddenly replacing the head, the cam shafts, the throttle body and the intake manifold. I added a fuel rail and re-flashed the ECU. Obviously, this when the S*#T got serious!I was now into major engine modifications and my power gains went from a mere160hp to 254hp with 230lb ft. of torque! But after such a major increase in power, I also needed a transmission that could handle it. So we dumped the 4 speed automatic transmission and replace it with a seriously re-geared 5 speed AT with Overdrive, out of a 2007 Element SC. The mid-range increases were dramatic!
From there I turned my attention to the suspension. The suspension was reinforced to insure that it responded to the increased power. This was totally reflected in the handling and responsiveness in curves and turns, when at speed. Handling, responsiveness and driving sensibilities are so important out on the road in in the way that a vehicle responds.I got rid of the lowering springs and went with a coil over set up, heavy duty shocks and springs, anti-sway bars, a sub-frame tie bar and countless alignments. I also went through four sets of wheels and tires before I finally got the right combination to work with the suspension set up. Once I could step on the gas pedal and smile, it was then time to turn my attention to the interior. I wanted to create an interior theme because I’ve always thought of the interior as where you figuratively live! The Element, other than the SC model, comes as a basic bare bones box with plastic floors, a plastic steering wheel, plastic shifter, waterproof cloth seats, and minimal creature comforts. So anything you change is going to be an improvement over what you began with. I pulled out the seats and had them custom done in a two-tone leather and then added a gray suede headliner. I added a 1965 Nardi classic steering wheel and an Element SC leather shift knob. I had an emergency hand brake leather boot custom made, and added a Billet emergency hand brake. Installed a custom carpeting kit, red JDM style gauge faces, custom gauge bevels, switch plates, door trim, center console trim, carbon fiber inserts, and a cargo cover. We installed a new navigation system with upgraded Pioneer speakers and a new subwoofer.It finally had the look and the feel that I was going for and that made me very happy! From there I wanted an “EYEGASMIC “exterior appeal, which for me is imagining the way my ride will look rolling down the street. The colors you pick out, along with the wheel and tire package you choose really reflect the personality of your ride. So needless to say, these are some of the most important choices you’re going to make. Since my Element came with partially painted areas and unpainted plastic panels, which is why I call it an “OLD SKOOL ELEMENT!” I also wanted to capture theessence of that concept vehicle I originally fell in love with. So I decided on a threetone paint job. I also wanted it to look a little sleeker and a little lower, so I changed out the EX roofline over to the Element SC roofline, which is 1 1/4” lower. I also changed out the rear EX bumper to the SC bumper which is 2” lower. I added the OEM side steps, using them for a ground effects look. This made the sides look lower and I covered up a very ugly Fuel Tank Guard Bar. I added a front bumper trim that added to the other aerodynamic pieces that gave my ride a little sleeker and lower profile. Looking at the paint job and the interior together is when I finally saw the reality of what is now “Darth Raider!!!” After the paint job was finally done (it was in the shop three months), I decided to change out my 19X8” SSR VF-1’s and go with a set of 20X9.5” DPE GT 10’s and I decided to also add an Accord EX style electric moon roof, the Webasto Hollandia 700 Series. It was finally ready for a quick trip down to San Diego to see Freddie and Elroy at Auto Fashion, USA to have my rear fenders cut out. They are also currently building me a custom front fascia with a built in JDM front spoiler. At that point I felt like a lot of the bigger stuff was done, but I also knew that there was still quite a bit that I wanted to do with it in the future. The Element really taught me patience because there’s not much out there for it, and it forced me to really step up my ingenuity and creativity. That’s why I always think of my ride as…”a work in progress.” In fact, I really get a big kick out ofthe rides you see with the ‘UNDER CONSTRUCTION’ decals on them because that’s what I’ve felt like for the last 9 years!!! ;-) I want to personally acknowledge Rodney Ty of Rodney Ty Photography who is by far one of the best photographers in all of Sothern California. Rodney took all of these beautiful shots and this article would not have been the same without him! “Thanks Rodney!” Ohana Luxury Magazine - www.oluxmagz.com
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MODIFICATIONS EXTERIOR: Three-tone custom paint, Mercedes Black overlaid in a Blue Pearl, Mercedes Arabian Gray center section, and Porsche Pearl Platinum Silver bottom section. Webasto Hollandia 700 Seriesfully automatic moon roof system. Genuine Honda JDM factory HID head lights and yellow JDM Honda Fog Lights.SCAAluminumFog Light Tunnel Sleeves.Billet Chromed Upper and Lower Front Grills with JDM Honda emblem. Element SC Roof Cladding. Element SC Tail Lights (with 5 Star LED’s), and SC Rear Bumper with body toned SC Rear Splash Guards. Honda JDM Front Fenderswith JDM (LED) Side Marker Lights (that blink sequentially with the turn signals).Weathertech Full Channel Side Window Visors. Body toned OEM Side Steps. OEM Front Bumper Trim, Rocker Panel Trim, OEM Rear Spoiler, 55 Watt PIAA Custom Fog Lights. OEM Bug Deflector. Custom Tinted Glass. Custom 3M 8mmInvisible Bra, Honda Element lettering in Japanese script. Custom Decals. Custom designed Two-Toned Pin Striping. WHEELS & TIRES: Chromed ‘two-piece forged 20X9.5” DPE’s(Dynamic Performance Engineering) with a custom 38.9mm off-sets, and DPE Limited Edition Red Crested Center Caps, with matching Red Lug Nuts. Wheels are wrapped in Toyo Proxes 4’s (225X35X20) front and rear.
ENGINE / DRIVETRAIN: 2.4 liter K24 A4 engine. Bore 83mm/ Stroke 87mm. TSX pistons and rings with a 10.2 compression ratio. Eagle “ESP” Connecting Rods; ‘One-off’ ARC Polished Aluminum Super Air Intake Box and custom ARC Polished Aluminum Cooling Plate. ARC Aluminum Radiator.ARC High Pressure Radiator Cap. Spoon Sports Oil Filler Cap. ARC Titanium Spark Plug Wire Cover. Okada Projects Plasma Direct Ignition Coils. Spoon Sports DC5 K-20 Valve Cover.SAMCO Silicone Hoses.JDM Oil Dip Stick.NRG Innovations Carbon Fiber Hood Dampers.Optima Yellow Top Battery with Kicker Bass Capacitors.TSX Z3 Ported and Polished Cylinder Head. Skunk2, StageII Camshafts.Skunk2 Tuner Series Valve Springs.Skunk2 TI Retainers.“Series K” Keepers.Beck Arnley Rocker Arms. Hybrid RacingTiming Chain Tensioner. DC Sports RSX 4-2-1 Type S Header System. TSX Ported RBB Intake Manifold. TSX Ported Throttle Body. K-Tuned Fuel Rail with Fuel Pressure Gauge.Ignalls Engine Torque Damper. FUEL / EXHAUST: NRG Innovations Oil Catch Can; CT Engineering High Flow Injectors. Pace Setter Performance High Flow Catalytic Converter; NGK Oxygen Sensor; Denso Iridium Power Performance Plugs; Ingen Technology Cat Back Exhaust System; ‘Sebring Tubing’ Double Wall Stainless Steel Exhaust Tip. ELECTRONICS / ECU: 2006 RSX Re-flashed ECU with a modifiedJet Performance Power Control Module and an RSX 02 Sensor.
TRANSMISSION: 2007 Element 5-speed AT swap. Plus, modified and replacedthe reverse gear, fourth gear, and the reverse selector on the counter shaft. Control Valve Assemblies were custom calibrated and new ‘sintered bronze’aftermarket bushings were put in. Installed a hardened differential cross shaft and replaced the reverse fork. New One-Way Clutches were installed. The main shaft, the counter shaft, and the secondary shaft were tested for stress with ultra sonic sound, as well as, the Transfer Gears and the Differential Ring Gear to reduce fracturing. SUSPENSION: Tein Basic Coil Overs with Heavy Duty re-valved rear shocks and 16kg springs (986 lbs), Suspension TechniquesAnti Sway Bars. Skunk2 Lower Control Arms, EibachRear Camber Kit, Ingalls Front Camber Bolts.TeinHeavy Duty Rear Suspension Package with 16kg springs (986lbs.) and Tein Re-valved Heavy Duty Shocks. BRAKES: Rotara 13” Two-Piece Drilled and Slotted Rotors. Rotara 4-Piston (two-piece) Calipers.H2 High Ceramic Carbon Brake Pads.Steel Braided Brake Lines.Carbon Steel Mounting Brackets. INTERIOR: Two-toned custom made Leather Interior. South Coast AccessoriesDeluxe Full Carpet Kit. Custom Brushed Aluminum Center Panel, Meter Panel, and Switch Panel Plates.Element SC Leather Shift Knob.NRG Brushed Aluminum Hand E-Brake Handle. Nardi Leather Steering Wheel, with custom made“H”Center Cap. NRG black Carbon Fiber Quick Release. OEM Cargo Cover and Cargo Mat. RazoAluminum and Carbon Fiber Gas Pedal, Brake Pedal and Dead Pedal Plate; Ursa Minor Dead Pedal. JDM Center Console Face Plate with OEM Honda S2000 Start Button; Red JDMEmergency Flasher Button.Custom fabricated Mugen brushed aluminum door sills. Custom Billet Aluminum Emergency Brake Handle ; Custom Emergency Brake Handle Leather Boot. OEM Black Storage Arm Rest; “Raiders” Carpeted Floor Mats & Elemental Motorsports Carpeted Cargo Mat. AUDIO: 2011 Honda Element OEMNavigation System with CD/MPC&XM Satellite Radio with custom installed Rear WindowBack-Up Camera; Upgraded Pioneer Speakers (TS-D1602R and TS-D1320C), with an Audiopipe 150 Watt Dual Voice Sub-Woofer; BloxRacing 2”Stubby Antenna. Entire interior doors, ceiling, and floors are all done in DYNOMAT. SPONSORS: Island Motorsports, Inc…Rotara Brakes…NRG Innovations…Interstate Tires (Toyo Tires)…South Coast Accessories… NPB Enterprises with special acknowledgments to Premier Auto Body…Auto Fashion, USA…SAMCO Silicone Hoses… J’s-Garage Export…Coach Auto Restyler, Inc…Portland Business Graphics…California Polishing and Plating…Whetstone Pinstriping…Fantasy Muffler. OTHER POINTS OF INTEREST: “DARTH RAIDER” was featured in a five page spread in the February 2013 issue of HONDA TUNING MAGAZINE. I also want to give grateful shout outs to my wife and son PJ;and to Regi& Liza at Island Motorsports,for always being there for me. I also want to acknowledge those who have either physically helped me with this build or just let me bounce thing off of them!Mucho thanks go out to Norm Buben; Joe Dixon; Jeff Smith; Maggie Navarro; Glen Villanueva; Matt Porter; Mike Brown; Al Loterina; Hector Consuegra;Robert Ramirez;and my buddy Jerry Kimmel over at South Coast Accessories. My license plate reads “YOKOKE” which is “Thankful” in Choctaw, and I truly am to everyone who helped make “Darth Raider” a reality!
Ohana Luxury Magazine - www.oluxmagz.com
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Story by Rob Kimmel Who remembers the kid in grade school that was always doodling; the kid who had a trapper keeper covered in sketches and filled with drawings both copied and imagined? Immersed in their own creative juices, these were the students that got in trouble not paying attention and were often told to stop wasting their time. Unfortunately, a lot of children listen; fortunately, Doug Breuninger, designer and concept artist of Galpin Auto Sorts was not one of them. At 28, Doug is living his dream as a professional designer. He started drawing cars as a boy in preschool, a pastime that became an obsession as he grew up through elementary and into high school (which of course led to some trouble with the local authorities/ teachers). Yet, even with all these signs it wasn’t until the culmination of Doug’s senior year in high school that “Car Design” became the career avenue he saw for himself. It is at this point that many people in a family may tell you that your dream or ideal career isn’t feasible for one reason or a pantheon of reasons. This is where Doug and many others differ. While his high school grades did not guarantee admission to most colleges, Doug’s mother believed in her son and enrolled him in classes at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California. To make a long story short, the day dreaming doodler started at the college in 2007, began an internship at Galpin Auto Sports in 2009, and graduated with a degree in industrial design in 2012! Doug enjoys the design process and channeling his creative energies, the greatest part of it all is seeing those designs become real at the hands of the builders of Galpin Auto Sports (if you are unfamiliar with GAS you should Google them, they have a fascinating history and have had quite an impact on the racing and tuning culture from as far back as the early 1950’s). This passion for designing cars is not limited to the workplace for Doug; he is also creating a Post-It series of successful and innovative designs for all different types and styles of vehicles. It truly shows how creativity and passion transform their energies in so many awesome ways; that’s the passion we want to see in every enthusiast’s eye!
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Buy, Sell & Trade Wheels Globally thewheelsanctuary.com
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OTAS Honda Odessey RB1
SHOP DETAILS ::: Establishment date: 2011/4 Owner’s name: Yuuki Sato Name of the shop is OTAS, common word inversion in Japan, like Uras for Saru (monkey) Shop location: Suzuka, Mie prefecture Shop specialty: Built and sales of customized cars, Especially VIP cars, OTAS Cars sells a couple of original body kits, but mainly built one off cars CAR DETAILS ::: (please fill in the spec sheet as well): Make/Model: Honda Odyssey RB1 Owner’s name (if different from shop): Makoto Fujikura Purpose of the built: Making a new kind of car, mixing different styles History of the built (start / versions / events /etc): The idea was to create something new in the Wagon scene. Being a fan of TRA Kyoto Miura-san’s Rocket Bunny kits and wanted to do the same on a Wagon. Key points: Beauty and perfect balance of the body Rewards: Many, can’t remember all of them How long you had it for? 7 years Why this particular car over others? Widebody wagon What’s your favorite thing about it? The one off rivet over fenders What was the biggest challenge you had with it? Did you run into any serious issues in the process? Reach a perfect balance with the body lines What future plans do you have for it? No plan for now, but as soon as I have a new idea, I try it! Anything else you wanna add? Maybe tell me a bit more stuff that gets overlooked by others, or really anything else you think the people reading should know about it. I love to experience new shapes and try different styles, no matter what people say. I follow my believes and built cars that will create emotions when you look at them JC’S WORD ::: Sato-san, 33 years old, has been into the car scene for a while but only recently created his own body shop. He is behind ismart (apparel shop), with Ichiraku-san (RAUH Welt Begriff Kansai) and Matsutanisan (manager of ismart shop). I think one young guy is working with him at the body shop. Looks like he works late every day, and has several projects running at the same time. First time I noticed one of his cars was at the Osaka Auto Messe. I was amazed by the exhaust system he made! Some crazy spaghetti shit! Must kill the engine but damn it looked funky! Hard to say how big is his reputation but he got an impressive group of friends/customers! So many cool cars I wanna shoot!
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FEATURED CLUB Q & A’s with BOXED LIFESTYLE 1. Tell us about yourself? I’ve been in the tuner scene since the early 90s. Belonged to at least three clubs. I’ve always wanted to create a great build worthy of having a spread in a magazine. I have an eye for detail and can picture a finished product before it’s even started. I love to promote. Even if I’m not asked. I feel that if we all are enthusiasts, why not help each other get to another level. By supporting each other with a business or even a club, to spread the word, eventually it all comes back to you. I have learned from my manager retail days to help others and better themselves. I pride myself that people that I help do well. To see my friends win an award make at shows is a big plus for me. 2. Where you from? Born in Puerto Rico, raised in NY and now living in Boynton Beach, FL. 3. How did You Get Started? And why? Boxed Lifestyle as a decal for my car. I created the crest from a Christian Fraternity that I saw. It was a personal decal I was making. From there I decided to create a group on FB (by the push of my friend Roland @drstickers) Boxed Lifestyle began to grow and spread. It began in South Florida. Next thing you know we have boxes representing the BL decal as far as Hawaii, California, Texas, Tennessee, Atlanta and a few more states. We have also gone international starting with Canada and then the ultimate… JAPAN. We have a member with a 2nd gen bB. 4. How long have you been doing this? Boxed Lifestyle began early 2013. 5. What do you enjoy the most about what you do? The best part about creating this group is helping the members. Helping them come together. When I see Cube owners talking or even liking xB boxes or Soul owners liking Element owner’s pics, is when I realize that I’ve done something that works. It’s bringing the love of different makes together. 8. What do you have to offer? This group offers a unity that proves that different makes can come together. All those memes out there that show two different makes and the drivers giving each other a fist pump. Well that’s Boxed Lifestyle living it.
9. Anything new that we can look forward to in the near future? An online BL store. BL car shows- trophy presentations 10. Does your business have an online presence on other social web spaces like: Facebook? YouTube? Instagram? etc. Boxed Lifestyle is a group on Facebook. www.facebook.com/boxedlifestyle On Instagram @boxed_lifestyle 11. Any shoutouts? Elemental Motorsports - Soul Hamsters - Modded Cubes - Wagon Lifestyle - bB Squad - The Square Squad - Vankulture Special Thank you/Shout Outs I’d like to thank:1st to all the members that have joined & represented BL with a logo on their box. We wouldn’t be in this mag without you. 2nd to Roland @ Drstickers.com for making the suggestion to make it a group on FB. 3rd to Danny for helping on starting the group. 4th to all my sponsors: D2BDmotorwerks, Beat Sonic & of course Drstickers.com & lastly a special thank you to Jay, Brittany & Luis @ JBL Productions for the amazing pics they took and where able to put together in such a short timeframe. Amazing work! Shout outs go to Ali, Alex, Javier, Scott, Armando, Skylar, Emilio, Mark, Jim & my beautiful girlfriend Raquel for coming out or helping represent and assisting in spreading the BL name. I would like to take this time and say thank you to Sean and Ohana Luxury Magazine. It is great that a magazine shows so much love to Boxes Vans and Wagons. I speak to a lot of people and they are amazed at how we are growing. Not just Boxed Lifestyle but the whole movement. People are noticing. This opportunity means a lot to me and my guys representing. Hopefully one day we can do a major car show meet with all main players bringing Boxes, Vans and Wagons together.
Ricardo Hernandez // Boynton Beach, Florida Instagram: @boxed_lifestyle Armando L. Cabrera // Ft. Lauderdale, Florida Instagram: @mandobb About Your Ride: 2006 Scion xB White w/Roof Rack Engine: Aftermarket intake and upgraded electrical Audio/Mobile Electronics: Imagine Dynamics subs in giant sub boxPioneer headunit – Cadence Amp/ JL Audio Interior: Custom painted dash pieces- JP accessories- JDM extended shift pole w/JDM bubble shift knob- Argyle JDM door panels Exterior: Custom roof rack- custom headlites Wheels Tire/Brakes: 15” Keskin wheels Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Coilover / Airshocks
About Your Ride: 2009 Scion xB aka Pure Elegance Engine: Tenzo R intake Audio/Mobile Electronics: Alpine System, 10” sub enclosure - Custom Speaker enclosure on tailgate Interior: Clazzio Diamond Stitch seat covers- Suede Headliner/PillarsBubble shift knob w/blue LED- Royal Crown shift boot Exterior: Five Axis molded Lip Kit- black mesh grille- NIA Eyelids Wheels Tire/Brakes: 19” Work Eurolines Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Airlift air bag kit- 2 Viair 380c compressors5 gal polished tank- V2 digital management
Ali Taheri // West Palm Beach, Florida Instagram: @hookah_this
Skylar Felder // Pembroke Pines, Florida Instagram: @skeezydollaz
About Your Ride: 2011 Scion xB aka Hookah This Engine: Stock Audio/Mobile Electronics: Custom Sub enclosure w/2 Alpine Type R 12” subs - 2300 watt Power Acoustic Amp Interior: Clazzio purple diamond stitched seat covers - Custom Hookah set up - Purple Suede headliner and door panels Exterior: Nia Eyelids- Underglows - LED round brake lights (swapped out stock reflectors) - Purple side mirror caps Wheels Tire/Brakes: 18” White Miro 398 - staggered fitment with stretched Nankang NS 20 tires Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Custom Dual straight pipe exhaust Raceland Coilovers
About Your Ride: 2006 Scion xB Silver Engine: Stock Audio/Mobile Electronics: Electronics 2011Scion Apline Premium set up Interior: JDM glovebox - Orataro Dash Table- Boo Boo door locks - JP curtains - JDM Kouki console - Suede Headliner Exterior: Aftermarket rainguards / visors Wheels Tire/Brakes: 17” STR 505 wheels 17x9 all around w/ -1.75 camber in front & - 3 camber on rear Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Airlift bag kit w/Auto pilot V2- Strup exhaust
Alexander Torres // West Palm Beach, Florida Instagram: @sleepless_cube Humberto Esquerra // Miami, Florida About Your Ride: Orange Scion xB1 Engine: Toyota Greedy Supercharged Audio/Mobile Electronics: Pioneer system Interior: TVs on headrests- dash pieces painted-custom box w/subs Exterior: Fabulous Body Kit Wheels Tire/Brakes: Chrome 20” wheels Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: TRD suspension Ohana Luxury Magazine - www.oluxmagz.com
About Your Ride: 2011 Nissan Cube aka Miku Engine: Custom teal painted engine cover Audio/Mobile Electronics: Kenwood headunit- Custom box w/ 2 10” SonyExplode woofers Interior: Custom anime wrapped dash pieces Exterior: 4 piece Billet Grille - Teal painted Sickspeed Horns - Teal Transformers medal emblem- Body color - Golden Ginger Pearl Metallic Wheels Tire/Brakes: 17” STR 606 wheels 17 x 8.5 all around - Teal calipers Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: D2 Racing Coilovers
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Emilio Mata // Royal Palm Beach, Florida // Instagram: @e_mata90 About Your Ride: 2004 Scion xB aka Panty Dropper Engine: Radiator Killer Glass- Injen air intake- Custom painted engine cover- Engine bay LEDs Audio/Mobile Electronics: Pioneer head unit- Powerbass speakers15”mmat sub-10”flipdown monitor Explode woofers Interior: Tiffany Blue NRG steering wheel & short hub- Custom dash pieces- LED gauge cluster swap- Custom fitted rear xb seat in front (custom bench seat in front instead of two seats) Exterior: Shaved chalk board hood - NIA eyelids - JDM bB grille- JDM back hatch - LED Spyder tail lights - multi-color LED underbodies Wheels Tire/Brakes: 15’ Avids 1 AV17 wheels 15 x 8 +15 Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Progrest Racing Coils in front & airshocks in rear - HKS exhaust
Javier Martinez // Miami, Florida // Instagram: @jserieshonda About Your Ride: 2006 Honda Odyssey BL Van Edition Engine: K&N drop in filter Audio/Mobile Electronics: Navigation system w/ flip down tv monitorsAlpine Type S speakers Interior: Full LED lighting- VIP’d Out VIP table (couture line) - Junction Produce Neck rolls - for the kids 2 Recarro baby seats Exterior: VIP puddle lights - OEM sunroof & window visors- 8k HIDs w/ all LED exterior lights- Sarona Carbon Fiber wrapped eyelids - Red Honda emblem Wheels Tire/Brakes: 20” TSW Carthage wheels 20x10 rear 20 x 8.5 front 245/40/20 Nankan Tires - EBC slotted/drilled discs front & rear Chassis/Suspension/Exhaust: Megan Racing Street Series Coilovers
JAMES CHURCH 707.592.27777 | VIPDOUT@GMAIL.COM
WWW. VIPDOUT .COM
Chauncey Custer Chattanooga, Tennessee
Description: 2014 WRX Airlift Struts Accuair Elevel Managment System Turbo XsDown Pipe Accessport V3 Stage 2 GFB Blow Off Valve
Ryan Description: Diamond Racing Wheels Raceland Coilovers Wheels Spacers from H&R, Crystal Shift Knob, Color Matched Interior Pieces and Black Metallic A, B and C Pillars
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Custom Printed Top-UPS Tents Our custom printed pop-up canopies come in any color and combination of panels. Top-UPS specializes in high resolution dye-sublimation printing for truly unlimited graphic designs! These are not your run-of-the-mill silk screen vinyl tents. We make our canopies of premium 600 denier polyester featuring UV, Rain, Fire and Tear Resistance. Our frames are high quality commercial grade and built for years of trouble-free use.
Custom Printed Flags
Our custom printed flags come in a variety of sizes and shapes. We have Japanese style Nobori flags, Mega Nobori aka “Giant Banner” flags, as well as Feather and Tear-Drop flags. Call us to discuss your specific needs.
Feather
Nobori
Mega Nobori
213.457.3857 • info@topups-store.com • 1820 W. 220th St. Suite 215 • Torrance, CA 90501
Vans to make them dance.