PASMAG - Issue 136 - April/May

ONLY 9!

THE TUNER’S SOURCE FOR MODIFIED CAR CULTURE

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SHOW INSIDER

SPECIAL EDITION

2016 TUNER HANDBOOK

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FEATURES

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A P R I L

//

M A Y

CONTENTS tr.

Page

Page

62

66

TRENDING 17

HOT TOPICS Over 20 new Rocket Bunny kits for 2016, underglow making a comeback and a turbo-diesel Miata

21

INDUSTRY SPOTLIGHT:

HOW TO GET SPONSORED:

Daniel Covarrubias’ SEKRIT Manufacturing

The do’s and don’ts with Brian Fox

SHOW COVERAGE

Page

Tokyo Auto Salon 2016 Consumer Electronics Show 2016

32

Page

70

SPOTTER’S GUIDE

76

Latest & Greatest Tuner Canvases for 2016

36 38 42

LIFESTYLE PRODUCTS HOT NEW PRODUCTS 2016 EVENT LISTING

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS #LIVE WINNERS

ZIGGY STARDAST:

ALOHA SPIRIT:

Brian McCann’s Nissan 350Z

Alex Ching’s S13 Odyvia

44 2016 SEASON PREVIEW 46 DAREN SINGH’S Infiniti G37

47

CHOI DURANTE’S Honda Civic Si

48 ANDREW JUAREZ’S Scion tC2

50 JAGJIVEN DULKU’S Volkswagen Jetta

COLUMNS 52

SOUND ADVICE with Garry Springgay: Secrets of Car Audio Competition

58 LISTEN UP with David MacKinnon: Three Easy Steps to Awesome

TEST REPORTS 54

DIAMOND AUDIO DPAS10 Powered subwoofer enclosure

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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ISSUE PREVIEW

WHAT IS A

“TUNER?” “T

uner” is a word that’s used quite a bit in the scene and industry. It’s used to describe a small batch of enthusiasts, namely the ones in the Japanese sport compact niche. The word “tuner” brings back memories of The Fast and the Furious and bad exhausts and gaudy body kits. We at PASMAG feel that today, the term is misused.

“Tuner” shouldn’t just apply to one small part of this automotive lifestyle; we feel it should be akin to anyone fiddling with their vehicles. Why segment ourselves? We all like the same stuff, it just happens to be on a different chassis or under a different badge. “Tuner” should be broad, so we’re reclaiming the term.

We’re calling this issue the “Tuner Handbook” because it’s filled with some base knowledge that will be useful to today’s modern tuner, wherever your interests may lie. Whether you just want to keep up on the current trends, get into car audio competition, get sponsored or start your own business, it’s all in here – tips from people who have been there, done that and been successful.

Even our features have a grassroots element to them.

Alex Ching’s Odyvia (the beauty on the cover) was built almost exclusively in his backyard.

Even 2015 Tuner Battlegrounds runner-up Brian McCann’s insane 350Z was built by him in his garage with some handmade parts he fabricated.

Whether you’re high or low; truck or car; performance-, technology- or style-inclined, we’re all tuners. We daydream about our builds, show up to the events, turn our own wrenches, have our favorite spots to meet and absolutely love every minute of it. The only thing that separates us is what we drive, and when you really think about it, that’s not that big of a difference all things considered.

Stay busy. Stay passionate.

Stay tuning.

MICKY SLINGER

PASMAG EDITOR

C O N N E C T MAKING IT EASIER TO STALK US THAN EVER BEFORE!

pasmag.com

tunerbattlegrounds.com

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twitter.com/ pasmag

instagram.com/ pasmag

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blogs.pasmag.com

youtube.com/ pasnation

Download the iTunes app PASMAG+

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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PASMAG (ISSN # 1710-1573) is published 6 times a year by Performance Auto & Sound Inc. 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada SUBSCRIPTION RATES: (10 issues) Canada and USA: $24.99 (20 issues) Canada and USA: $34.99 (30 issues) Canada and USA: $42.99 Toll Free: 1 (888) 564-SUBS [7827] Email: subs@pasmag.com www.pasmag.com/subscribe GROUP PUBLISHER & CEO Tim Rutledge PUBLISHERS Blake Breslin & Perry Breslin FOUNDER & SR. VP BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Frank Spezzano

EDITORIAL EDITOR Micky Slinger GROUP MANAGING EDITOR Shaun Keenan EDITORIAL DIRECTOR Michael Bettencourt TECHNICAL EDITOR Garry Springgay DIGITAL COORDINATORS Nick Jambrosic, Adam Steinberg

CONTRIBUTORS

Daniel Covarrubias Alec Donaldson Brian Fox Robert Kochis David MacKinnon Terryka Mann Rob Oliver

Ranger Ramirez Jayson Santoyo Fardeen Shere Vlad Shurigin VinnyMac Photography Adam Zillin

ART & PRODUCTION CREATIVE DIRECTOR Queue Gonzalez PRODUCTION & SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Dinglasan SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Edward Shintani SENIOR ART DIRECTOR Patrick Beltijar GRAPHIC DESIGNER Mike Chan

S A L E S & A D M I N I ST R AT I O N DIRECTOR, AUDIENCE ENGAGEMENT Randi Bentia DIRECTOR, CLIENT SERVICES Richard Robles NATIONAL SALES DIRECTOR Frank Maguire SENIOR DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT Matthew Adolfo DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS Craig Sweetman SENIOR SALES ASSOCIATE Ken Rule CLIENT SERVICES Nicole Winters Performance Auto & Sound Magazine welcomes unsolicited contributions including stories (typewritten), photos, club news, events, etc. (Forward to PAS, 100A-219 Dufferin Street, Toronto, ON, M6K 3J1, Canada) Canadian Publications Mail Products Sales Agreement #40069655 PERIODICALS POSTAGE PAID AT NIAGARA FALLS, NY AND AT ADDITIONAL MAILING OFFICES. U.S.P.S. # 022-608 U.S. OFFICE OF PUBLICATION: 1855 Maryland Ave., Niagara Falls, NY, 14305 U.S. POSTMASTER SEND ADDRESS CORRECTIONS TO: Performance Auto & Sound, Box 1082, Niagara Falls, NY, 14304 Occasionally, we make our subscriber list available to carefully screened companies whose products and services might be of interest to our readers.

If you prefer to have your name removed from this list, please write to us at the address below and include your mailing label. For any subscription inquiries, including change of address, call 1 (888) 564-SUBS.

PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND Phone: (416) 922-7526 Fax: (416) 964-1836 Toll Free: (866) 737-8805 www.pasmag.com pas@pasmag.com

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TRENDING

H OT

H OT

TO P I C S &

F E AT U R E D

L I F E ST Y L E

NEW

P R E V I E WS ----------------

EVENTS ----------------

PRODUCTS ----------------

PRODUCTS ----------------

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21

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H OT

HOT TOPICS & PREVIEWS

OVER-FENDER OVERLOAD

“Kei Miura from Rocket Bunny looked genuinely weary in the lobby as he explained to me that 20 plus designs are coming in 2016. It’s not a typo; over 20 different cars are being ‘fendered’ this year. Miura was modest in reply to his rapidly increasing popularity, but there’s no denying that an increasingly larger part of the demographic are tiring of the ‘throw over-fenders at everything’ approach.” ~ Adam Zillin.

You heard it here first, folks: over 20 new kit designs are coming. While some of you may be jumping for joy, and others rubbing their temples in frustration, there’s just no stopping the juggernaut that is TRA Kyoto’s Rocket Bunny. But why the saturation in 2016? We’ve never seen a number like this being released before, especially over the course of one year. Is this in response to demand? Or is this Miura’s way of going out with a bang before moving on to his next project? I for one will never have the guts to cut into my metal, but I do enjoy seeing the new designs come out. The new Pandem line is actually fairly subtle next to Rocket Bunny and is catching my attention more and more. Let us know your thoughts here! What do you hope to see over-fendered in 2016?

UNDERGLOW RESURGENCE You may have noticed that the streets

for your smartphone. You can even set it to

are shining a little brighter these days.

strobe if you’ve got the option. Some have

That’s because, slowly but surely, underglow

always hated it, but we’re pretty stoked that

is clawing its way back into the limelight. We

underglow is back. There might be a couple

all like to cringe at the mid-2000s trend that

cars at the PASMAG office rocking it soon

saw tuners throwing neon under their cars

enough…

PHOTO BY VLAD SHURIGIN (INSTA: @ZUUMY)

Prime example: Steven Zheng’s (@frslawl

to light up the road. Now, its LED’s turn. It’s a

on Instagram) Scion FR-S glows from the

cleaner, brighter, longer-lasting solution that

front, back and sides!

has the ability to change color if you hook up a controller or have an applicable app

GET THE FULL PICTURE

INSTAGRAM.COM/PASMAG

PHOTO BY TERRYKA MANN (INSTAGRAM: @TMXNN)

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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HOT TOPICS & PREVIEWS

tr.

YOU PUT THE CUMMINS IN THE MIATA AND YOU SHAKE IT ALL UP Are you astounded by the images here? Yeah, us too.

Those are renderings mind you, but the idea is just so outlandish that you just have to love it. The guys at Pistonhead Productions are taking on the mad task of jamming a 4BT 3.9L I-4 Cummins turbo-diesel engine into an NA chassis Mazda Miata. Why? For a good cause.

Jacob Gettins, who’s helming this project, was inspired to work on cars from learning the basics in his highschool shop class. After seeing the decline of the program and lack of funding at the high-

FILL 'ER UP

PASMAG.COM

NEW MASTHEAD ADDITION: STAY CRUSHING

school in his community, he put this whole thing together to raise money for future gearheads. Once completed, the “Soot Salon” will be toured around different events in North America to show off and compete in drift. To date, the build has raised over $10,000 and will be taking place this June! Stay tuned for more coverage on this exciting project.

“What’s up guys? Here’s a little insight into something I am going to be doing with PASMAG this year. This year I’ll be tackling two builds: turning a busted, old MR2 into a budget track car and taking

A C C O R D . P A S M A G . C O M

mance’s air suspension system,

my FR-S to the next level. The goal

Forgeline three-piece forged

with the MR2 is to run it in various

wheels, custom 20 Hz wide fend-

amateur racing series around

ers, a full JL Audio sound system

California. To make it a little more

and a couple tanks of Nitrous

formidable, I’ll be swapping in a

Express nitrous for some extra kick

Honda K20 Type-R engine. My FR-S

were just the ticket.

on the other hand will be running a functional wheel/tire/suspension

PASMAG would like to thank all of our sponsors who helped

setup, a built engine and (drumroll,

We at PASMAG take pride in the close relationships we keep with

bring this build to life: Air Assisted,

please) Rocket Bunny’s V3 wide-

show organizers and the events they coordinate. So, when Honda

Wilwood, Continental Tire, Defcon

body kit. I’m stoked to be working

Canada approached us and gave us a 2016 Accord Touring V6 to build

Racing, Forgeline, Hondata, JL

with PASMAG on this and cannot

an eye-catching car for Honda’s floor presence on the Canadian auto

Audio, K&N, MagnaFlow, McGard,

wait to bring more content every

show trail in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver, we were all over it.

Nitrous Express, JD Graphics,

month to you all.” ~ Robert Kochis

So, what goes into a show car worth its salt these days? Most would

Velocity Autobody, Air Lift Perfor-

[We’re stoked to have Rob write

say air suspension, custom wheels, widebody, a nice audio system and

mance, XS Power, Mishimoto and

some stuff for us this year, too, es-

something extra under the hood. We agree. Hence, Air Lift Perfor-

SPC Performance.

pecially with a couple super exciting projects like those! We’re not sure he’d have the time, being an e-juice entrepreneur and Mod Expert at Mod Bargains, but he’s assured us that we’ll be right along for his 2016 adventures. Stay tuned!]

Note: Looks like the FR-S V3 kit will be among the 20+ Rocket Bunny kits released this year. You heard it here first, boys and girls.

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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FEATURED EVENT: TOKYO AUTO SALON

tr.

TOKYO AUTO SALON 2016 The Japanese tuning scene, all under one roof STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADAM ZILLIN

T

AS 2016 was a bit of a renaissance for me. It was the 10th consecutive time I’d visited the event since arriving in Japan in 2005. And whilst I wished for things to be totally different, I am glad that much of what I’ve come

to know and love hasn’t changed at all, whereas many other things have undergone transformation.

That’s not to suggest the Tokyo Auto Salon is stale in any way, but you do get used to the rhythm and tempo of the event after having visited it so many times. The same faces, the same names — all in familiar locations but crucially, in a constant state of flux.

A drastic evolution is what the Japanese scene is going through right now. Yes, there was a deluge of Rocket Bunny and Liberty Walk over-fendered machines present, but that would be taking away from the headline. The 2016 event was exactly what it needed to be. Potent.

Without needing to recount the entire backend of discussions I held with those inside and on the fringes of the industry during my four days there, I can admit that the event highlighted the fact that things in Japan, despite the naysayers, are very much alive and well.

Naturally, the newly released ND Mazda Roadster was quite popular this year, with GReddy/Trust showcasing an early prototype application of a bolt-on turbo kit that is due to go into production in the second half of 2016. Sources we spoke to within Trust claim the kit is good for up to 250 horsepower at the crank, which comes from the 1.5-liter engine, so we can only wonder what the American 2.0-liter will provide.

The overriding theme, echoed by mutual colleagues, was that the Tokyo Auto Salon has become something of a bolt-on festival where true artisanship has been usurped by off-theshelf approaches taken by the bigger fish in the game.

While I don’t personally aspire to this view, nor did I see it being predominant from my perspective, it is very true that Japan was, is and will continue to be a plug and play paradise for JDM enthusiasts everywhere. If there was one overarching theme to echo my colleague’s sentiments about the show, it would be that ease of use, practicality and

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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FEATURED EVENT: TOKYO AUTO SALON

tr.

instant gains in performance and

suspension additions. I expected

aesthetics are the go-to trends

a show and while we did get one,

currently gripping the “scene.”

it certainly felt like there was less

Like the instant gratification

craftsmanship on display and

tendencies that inhabit our every-

more off-the-shelf improvements

day lives, the “Salon” has increas-

taking center stage.

ingly taken on the persona of the

I couldn’t realistically apply that

guy looking to get the most work

to everyone in attendance, as the

done with the minimal amount of

guys at Kuhl racing really outdid

elbow grease. And, while this is a

themselves with a completely

given with Japanese machinery,

redone, hand-engraved and

it was especially prevalent in

gold-colored, 820-horsepower

the “Eurosphere” segment, with

R35 GT-R. This is true artisanship

Audi, BMW, Mercedes and even

at its finestn and the car is simply

Ferrari, Lamborghini and Maserati

exquisite. Turns out it took three

tuners looking at over-fender kits,

months solid to engrave. You can

fancy wheels or exhausts and air

have one made too — for half a million bananas.

Speaking of artisanship, my good friend Shoji Inoue of Star Road won an award for his stunning “Aston Green” S30Z concept.

The guy makes, builds and tunes the best Fairlady S30Zs on the planet. No contest. Right next door to him in the International Hall though was a Fairlady of a different kind; one that was absolutely torn to shreds by a 200-mph accident, but contained a cage so well built that it is the single biggest reason Daijiro Inada is still alive today. Look that smash-up on

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F E AT U R E D E V E N T: TO KYO AU TO SA LO N

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YouTube if you haven’t seen it.

It would also be amiss for me not to mention a particular fully custom, totally restored, suicide door-equipped, murdered-out 1963 Nissan Cedric on airbag suspension. I think that this car and the “Top Tuner Car” award-winning 13B-powered RE Amemiya Chantez were quite possibly the coolest cars at the show. I joked to the owners of the Cedric how it reminded me of something a Yakuza hitman would drive. They laughed and said, “Check this out.”

One press of a button swung the rear suicide door open and another push activated the rear seat, which lifted up and out to display the amplifiers for the extensive sound system underneath. “Ah, so that’s where they hide the bodies.”

Simply incredible.

Back in the main halls, it was also satisfying to see the actual manufacturers attending with updated releases fresh from their jaunts at the Tokyo Motor Show in November, 2015. As it were, Toyota, Mazda and Subaru were showing off the FT-1, S-FR, RXVision and BRZ STI concepts to the public.

Mazda’s RX-Vision, despite

to start the year. If you haven’t

codes are back in vogue this year,

winning honors for “Top

been to one, you need to start

too. Personally speaking, the FT-1

Concept Car” of the show, will

planning today! I’m used to the

was a non-starter (Toyota stated

probably never look the way it

place, its people and the sheer

categorically that they have their

does in the photos. I truly hope

size and scale of the event, so

own design in the works), but

I’m wrong.

perhaps my viewpoint is well-

It appears hyphenated model

the carbon-fiber-fed S-FR race

I can’t stress enough that

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seasoned, but that’s no excuse

concept gives hope of further

the Tokyo Auto Salon is the

for you not to get your asses

forward momentum for Toyota.

best way for any car enthusiast

over here next year!

THE LATEST TRENDS, FULL THROTTLE

FACEBOOK.COM/PASMAG

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

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2016-02-10 3:48 PM

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FEATURED EVENT: CES

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CES 2016

THE FUTURE LOOKS GOOD, SOUNDS GOOD, BUT DRIVES ITSELF. STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY MICKY SLINGER

CES was a different beast altogether this year. Last year’s show saw me lost in literal seas of people, being marooned near some HDTV from Malaysia and having to find my way across to the island of car audio and new car technologies. This year, however, it seems there was some memo sent out

by CES organizers that not everyone and their grandmother could attend. Walking in through those familiar Las Vegas Convention Center doors, I paused to enjoy the fact that I could breathe my own air and no one else’s. I could walk. I could see. CES 2016 was a good one for sure.

The other reason it was so very different from last year’s show was the composition of the North Hall, where I spent most of my time during the show. Usually full of aftermarket audio companies with a sprinkling of OEMs showing off new infotainment systems, the hall took an opposite turn with OEMs taking center stage and showing off some impressive futuristic technologies. It also made my job a little easier coverage-wise, as North Hall had 90 per cent of what I was really interested in: new car technologies. Yes, 8K TVs are impressive; yes, virtual reality is super cool, but I’m here to show you the coolest things I captured through my lens in the automotive sphere (the most important sphere).

FARADAY FUTURE FFZERO1 CONCEPT This was a big one. Faraday Future (or FF as people kept shortening it to) talked a lot of smack about the biggest player in the electric car game, Tesla, before the unveiling of their concept at CES. They said it wouldn’t only be more efficient, but it would be quicker as well. Four quadcore electric motors were to propel the FFZERO1 to over 200 mph, zero to 60 in less

than three seconds and boast over 1,000 horses.

When I got to FF’s display, it was packed. So many people standing around the FFZERO1.

So many people getting in the way of my camera… I couldn’t blame them too much though – I mean, just look at it. It’s gorgeous!

So, you may be asking, “When can we see one of these things on the road?” Well, the

answer is never. This concept doesn’t run and there is no production version planned.

What FF is planning, however, is a modular vehicle platform that can be extended or shrunk to accommodate a full vehicle lineup; from a sports coupe to a full-size SUV. They could be the company to give Tesla a run for its money – if they can produce something that runs by 2017, that is.

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CLARION BUILDS NSX We had such a good time working with Clarion on the Builds program last year. If you’ll recall, we did a really cool step-by-step feature with the BMW 2002 they built last year.

So when they told me they were planning to build an NSX, I was so damn excited!

As fate would have it, as soon as I walked out of the Westgate Hotel’s casino and into the walkway to the convention center, we locked eyes. I didn’t want to be rude, but I couldn’t stop staring. That new blue paint, those pop-up eyes, the gold Rays forged shoes, those OEM curves with Type-R in all the right places…

I had Clarion’s Merchandising Manager, Jubal Leierer, formally introduce the NSX and I. Under the rear hatch, a CT-Engineering supercharger is clutching onto the Honda V6. At the time, the Builds team was waiting on a custom K&N intake, which will undoubtedly look awesome.

Inside, the interior had been completely reupholstered and the seats have custom “Clarion Builds” logos stitched into the headrests. The audio, of course, had been completely revamped with Clarion’s new Full Digital Audio (FDA) system.

The FDA system is amazing!

It’s made up of a head unit,

component speakers, a digital processor and a subwoofer.

It’s not a hard-hitting system, it’s all about sound quality and balance. Let me just say that it’s crystal clear, easy to install and you should be pumped for it to be released to dealers in April.

Stay tuned for more on the Clarion Builds NSX!

RINSPEED ETOS

ORION AUDIO’S INSANE DODGE RAM If you’ll recall last year’s show, Orion had a crazy Jeep that was completely decked out with speakers. They actually repurposed TV swing mounts to get the peacock effect while deployed, as well as have them be able to stow away during transport. Well, this year they were back at it again.

CES 2016 saw a huge Dodge Ram take center stage at Orion’s show area. I went ahead and counted for you and, in the back alone, there are 28 speakers and six subwoofers. There’s

even a flat screen TV on top of it all! Around the sides of the truck bed, you can spot some of the batteries needed to power this thing, as well as some seriously huge HCCA amplifiers mounted between the cabin and the massive enclosure.

Inside is no slouch either. More screens are installed in the doors and a swing-out DJ table with all the fixings can be deployed from the rear seat on the driver’s side. This is the ultimate party truck, and it’s seriously impressive.

Rinspeed is a car builder from Switzerland that takes the automotive “what ifs” from your mind and then straight up makes them. Mashups, shooting brakes, a Tesla with a sitting room in it – Rinspeed has done it all. Usually, these creations are unveiled at Geneva, where people think attaching carbon fiber snow plows to the front of Lamborghinis is fashion. For 2016, Rinspeed felt that its Etos concept was so technologically advanced that it had to debut at CES. Who am I to disagree?

I came across the Etos off-site, at Harmon Kardon’s presence at the Hard Rock. This car really is something else, but not too otherworldly. If you can’t tell, the Etos is based off of BMW’s i8, except it’s supposedly faster and can drive itself if you want it to. With the push of a button, the steering wheel will fold away and you can take a nap at your leisure.

Since in the future, getting out of your car will be so overrated, Rinspeed has made it possible for you to never actually have to leave. Tap technology will actually allow you to pay road tolls without having to leave your car, and the rear of the Etos features an “H” landing pad where a drone can be deployed from, should you need to take a picture or give the finger to someone via video camera to anyone who cuts you off.

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FISH EDITION FORD EXPLORER

David “Fishman” Rivera is a mechanical mastermind. This guy does what no else does.

No one is doing motorizations anymore, but Fishman is cranking them out with every new build. His Ford Explorer took up residence at Arc Audio’s booth.

The maroon SUV had quite the crowd around it as I approached, as people stuck their heads inside the interior to get a look at the redesign that had taken place there. The seats are pushed farther back to allow for more luxury and comfort,

and custom machined raw metal door handles have been placed on every door.

The man himself is at the back, leaning against a table and controlling the transforming trunk.

The floor of the trunk comes out in a sliding block, which then splits into three arms: two huge amp racks to the left and right, while the middle pushes out to reveal a processor.

Meanwhile, a hydraulic arm props up a hidden display from on top, which is playing the music video to whatever songs Fishman has on his playlist. I must have watched this transformation happen about 10 to 15 times before I could even go over and talk to the guy.

TOYOTA’S WHOLE BOOTH

Can we talk for a second about how Toyota killed it at CES this year? Their whole floor presence was so cool and attention-grabbing.

It helped that they had some great tech on display as well.

Toyota has been toying with hydrogen as an alternative fuel source for quite some time now. The fact that they’ve actually brought the Toyota Mirai, their first ever hydrogenfueled vehicle, to market is some strong evidence that they're serious. Their FCV Plus concept looks kind of like if they dipped the Batmobile in white and it’s Toyota’s next step in hydrogen technologies. They’re toying with

the idea that the fueling system on the FCV Plus will be able to grab electricity directly from hydrogen stored outside the vehicle.

Toyota also announced AI research prior to CES this year, which turned out to be “Toyota Smart Center.” Toyota wants to see a connected mobility society that gets from point A to B as quickly and as efficiently as possible. The powerful, private, cloud-based computing system collects information from vehicles all around the globe and provides drivers with personalized, on-the-go service.

I just want to know if K.I.T.T. from Knight Rider can be ordered as a voice option.

VOLKSWAGEN BUDD-E CONCEPT Volkswagen has decided to play our heartstrings with a concept that harkens back to the VW Microbus. The Microbus is best known as a symbol of the peace movement through the ’60s and ’70s.

Some of you may have fond memories of road trips in them, while some of you might have even been conceived in the back of one (sorry). I digress…

The concept is called the BUDD-e - like it’s your buddy, but it’s also electric. Get it?

It houses a 101-kWh lithium-ion battery as a power source, which is supposed to generate enough juice for 233 miles of driving range on one full charge. Its two electric motors - one in the front and one in the back - make the van all-wheel drive.

BUDD-e is built on VW’s MEB (Modularer Elektrischer Baukasten) platform system that will basically serve as the universal build platform for all VW’s new electric vehicles. The proposed technology inside is the most exciting piece of the van, however.

Everything is a screen. Even the mirrors have been deleted from the outside to become “e-mirrors” inside. This multitude of screens can stream music, display gauges, provide GPS and connect to your smartphone to adjust your thermostat at home, if you’ve got that set up. You can even turn on the voice control system by saying, “Hello, BUDD-e!” Some of us already say that to our cars anyway, right?

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EVENT SPOTTER'S GUIDE

SPORT COMPS, PONY CARS AND HATCH BACKS, OH MY! THE LATEST AND GREATEST TUNER CANVASSES FOR 2016

BY MICHAEL BETTENCOURT

I

t’s impossible to say which cars will capture enthusiasts’ imaginations the most in 2016, but with a raft of all-new generation models for some of the most popular players in the tuning and sports car market for 2016, we’ve gathered up a cheat sheet of what you should know about each, as well as some baseline engine and power info on how they come from the factory.

Some of these 2016 models were introduced in calendar year 2015, and have built up some aftermarket support already, while others are just arriving at dealers recently. And while there are hot dream cars on the way that may become tuned Mona Lisas at some point – think ’17 Acura NSX and Ford GT – we’ve focused here on more affordable fun cars that are likely to sell in high numbers to generate plenty of aftermarket choices.

FORD MUSTANG ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

HONDA CIVIC There’s still no independent suspension all around, but after a few lacklustre makeovers, the Honda Civic finally emerges as a car that goes beyond basic transportation, with a new level of tuning potential brought on by a new turbocharged 1.5-liter mill that’s the new top engine, despite its smaller size. A recent stop-sale for the ’16 Civic with the 2.0L engine due to missing or misadjusted piston pin snap rings provides an incentive to step up to the turbo, even if the stock power or fuel economy gains aren’t huge on paper, though buyers who prefer a six-speed manual on the Civic sedan is currently only available on the base LX model with the 2.0. Sharper handling courtesy of a new multi-link rear suspension help make this car a pleasure to spin around. A Civic Coupe arrives this spring, and Honda has confirmed that a five-door hatchback and hot Type R will finally make it to North America at some point.

ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

2.0L I4, 1.5L I4 158 hp, 174 hp 138 lb-ft, 162 lb-ft front-wheel drive 6-speed manual, CVT

3.7L V6, 2.3L I4, 5.0L V8 300 hp, 310 hp, 435 hp 280 lb-ft, 320 lb-ft, 400 lb-ft rear-wheel drive 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic

The ever-popular Ford Mustang continues its strong run in 2016 with more models on offer than ever before, and another entry that offers a smaller but turbocharged engine as an uplevel option. Fastback coupe and convertible body styles are available with a 300-hp 3.7L V6, 310-hp 2.3L EcoBoost four-cylinder, 435-hp 5.0L Coyote V8 and a fully massaged 5.2L version of the latter in the all-new (coupe only) Shelby GT350 and racier R models. Choose between six-speed manual or automatics, with a bespoke Tremec manual available exclusively on the Shelby models. The Shelby GT350 runs from rest to 60 mph in about four seconds, or 1.5 seconds faster than the regular Mustang GT, while the priciest GT350R version further benefits from carbon fiber wheels that reduce unsprung weight, but also removes the rear seats and air conditioning.

GET THE FULL PICTURE

INSTAGRAM.COM/PASMAG

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SCION iM

A modified version of the global-market Toyota Auris, the iM shares its platform with the Corolla, with all the plusses and minuses that entails. Acceleration is far from breathtaking and you’ll have to plan your passing moves, but everything else works well, including a very quiet cabin, comfortable seats, a smooth ride, predictable handling, and a decent list of standard features. Take a look if you miss the practical Toyota Matrix, or if you’ve been intrigued by Scion and their laundry list of available TRD or aftermarket accessories.

ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

1.8L I4 137 hp 126 lb-ft front-wheel drive 6-speed manual, CVT

CHEVROLET CAMARO ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

GM’s pony car rival to the Mustang launched with refreshed versions of the same base V6 and V8 in the SS model, and will start offering a turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the spring, along with the convertible. Most notably different will be the handling, especially thanks to the available magnetic ride control that’s similar to systems on Ferraris and Corvettes, as 2.0L I4, 3.6L V6, 6.2L V8 well as a lighter platform that now 270 hp, 330 hp, 440 hp shares its lineage with the Cadillac 290 lb-ft, 285 lb-ft, 450 lb-ft ATS. A more modern infotainment system that runs Apple CarPlay rear-wheel drive 6-speed manual, 8-speed automatic and Android Auto is part of a major interior upgrade as well.

MAZDA MX-5 MIATA ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

2.0L I4 155 hp 148 lb-ft rear-wheel drive 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic

The hype is real: the Miata is back and better than ever. The MX-5 Miata finally revives its non-alphanumeric moniker that never really went away for its many fans, and is brand-new for 2016. Using a 2.0-liter four cylinder that produces 155 horsepower, a six-speed transmission, its smaller size and heavy use of aluminum help save on weight from its portlier predecessor. Don’t let to drop in horsepower over last year’s model fool you, the gearing will have you slapping through all six gears faster than you expected. The smaller size is also not a worry, as people up to six-foot-five can fit comfortably. Gone is the pricy hardtop option that also weighed it down, but you won’t want a hardtop – the soft top is just way too easy and fun to not be used.

THE LATEST TRENDS, FULL THROTTLE

FACEBOOK.COM/PASMAG

VOLKSWAGEN GTI / GOLF R ENGINE HORSEPOWER TORQUE DRIVETRAIN TRANSMISSION

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2.0L turbocharged inline 4 210 hp, 292 hp 258 lb-ft, 280 lb-ft front-wheel drive, all-wheel drive 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic

The legendary hot hatch is still going strong in its seventh iteration. Between the 210-horsepower engine, awesome handling and that classic plaid interior, what’s not to like? The 2016 model features some new tech in the form of VW Car Net App-Connect - allows you to pair your smartphone, no matter where your allegiance lies. The six-speed DSG with paddle shifters is the nicest version yet, and the electric assisted direct steering provides good feedback and response in concert with the sport-tuned suspension.

Either three- or five-door configurations are available on the GTI, while the rallyready all-wheel drive Golf R comes in fivedoor only, but now with DSG available as well. The GTI Performance models receive an electronically-controlled hydraulic limited slip differential, larger brakes, real time damper control and an extra 10 hp, though that sleeper Golf R is the beast of the lineup, boasting 292 horsepower and 280 lb-ft of torque.

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TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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HOT NEW PRODUCTS Wilwood DynaPro Rear Parking Brake Kit for 2006-2015 Mazda MX-5 From $1,791.93 | Wilwood.com Wilwood’s rear DynaPro 4R/MC4 parking brake kit is for the 2006+ Mazda MX-5 equipped with 17-inch or larger wheels. Calipers are available in either black or red powdercoat, with a choice of either SRP drilled and slotted or GT competition series face slotted rotors. BP compound SmartPads, hardware, stainless steel braided flexlines and a parking brake cable adapter kit are included.

Mishimoto Forgeline VX1 Monoblock Series Wheel Forgeline.com

Coolant Expansion Tank for BMW E46 (Non-M) $290 | Mishimoto.com

Forgeline’s VX1 wheel features a split five-spoke design, with a deep concave profile and radically-chamfered outer edges. Machined from a single forging of 6061-T6 aluminum, the VX1 is lightweight, stiff and has excellent fatigue strength. Available in 18, 19, 20 and 21-inch diameters and custom finishing, Forgeline wheels can be crafted to accommodate a variety of custom suspension, brake or body modifications.

Sylvania ZEVO HYBRID Sylvania.com

Mishimoto’s new aluminum coolant expansion tank is a direct fit for the 1999 to 2006 non-M model BMW E46 chassis. TID-welded for maximum durability during repeated hot and cold transitions, the tanks also includes a high-pressure 2.0 Bar rad cap for even more efficiency. This design also conveniently retains use of the stock coolant level sensor and work with both auto and manual models.

Sylvania ZEVO HYBRID gives users color personalization options with their headlight assemblies. A colored LED snaps onto the base of the 9005 high beam, 9006 low beam and 9145 fog lights. The LED shines all the way through the back of the bulb, filling the headlight assembly with colored light from within without impacting the color of the beam pattern. Different colors can be selected through the ZEVO smartphone app.

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“Longer than Prince William's forehead, sharper than Prince Charles’ lizard teeth, and with more punch than Prince Harry on a bender, it is now time for the secret to be revealed. Welcome: the Royals.” These open-ended lugs measure in at 66 mm (L) x 22 mm (W) with a 18-mm hex size. Switch out the looks of your lugs with either Royal Crowns or Royal Jewels.

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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HUBB Oil Filter HUBBFilters.com HUBB is a revolutionary, reusable, spin-on oil filter that eliminates the need to dispose of filters in landfills. Its patented filter-in-a-filter design is made of surgical stainless steel weave rather than paper. HUBB’s patented design also enables it to improve oil flow by five times, while capturing more contaminants from combustion, which keeps the oil cleaner, longer. All backed by a 100,000-mile performance guarantee.

Oracle Lighting RGB ColorSHIFT LED Light Strips $219 | OracleLights.com ColorSHIFT RGB LED strips are waterproof, colorchanging light strips that include a remote and controller, as well as 3M adhesive for installation. This package includes 200 inches of Oracle’s high-powered 5050 SMDs, which can be controlled within a radius of up to 100 feet. The user can select from a variety of up to 10 solid colors, as well as built-in presets.

DiamondBoxx Model L Wireless Sound System From $990 | DiamondBoxx.com DiamondBoxx was born out of two audio engineers who set out to build the ultimate wireless speaker system. Made up of two 5.3-inch woofers and two one-inch dome tweeters, each with their own dedicated Class-AB amplifier. With 40 watts to each woofer and 30 watts to each tweeter, plus 140 watts RMS with a 320-watt max, it’s safe to say the DiamondBoxx is loud!

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DEI Fuel Injector Reflective Heat Covers $12.49 to $42.03 | DesignEngineering.com DEI’s new fuel injection covers are designed to fit most factory and performance electronic fuel injectors. Available in packs of two, four, six and eight for any engine configuration.

DEI’s fuel injector covers wrap around fuel injectors and reflect radiant heat away. Cooler fuel injectors operate more efficiently and will help prevent vapor lock and heat soak.

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2016 EVENT LISTINGS

JUNE

MAY

APRIL

DATE

Apr 1-2 Apr 1-3 Apr 2 Apr 2 Apr 3 Apr 3 Apr 3 Apr 3 Apr 8-9 Apr 9 Apr 9 Apr 10 Apr 10 Apr 10 Apr 10 Apr 16 Apr 16 Apr 16 Apr 17 Apr 23 Apr 23 Apr 23 Apr 23 Apr 23 Apr 23-24 Apr 24 Apr 24 Apr 29-May 1 Apr 30 May 1 May 1 May 1 May 6-7 May 7 May 7 May 7 May 7 May 7 May 7 May 13-15 May 14 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 15 May 20-22 May 20-22 May 21 May 21 May 21 May 21 May 21-22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 22 May 27-28 May 28 May 28 May 28 May 29 May 29 May 29 May 29 Jun 3-4 Jun 4 Jun 3-5 Jun 5 Jun 5 Jun 5 Jun 5 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11 Jun 11-12 Jun 11-12 Jun 12 Jun 17-18 Jun 18-19 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 18 Jun 19 Jun 19

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SHOW NAME

StanceWars: Vegas DUB Show Tour: New York MECA: 3rd Annual Fight Against Autism IASCA: Nor Cal Mobilewarz dB Drag: Laughlin, NV Import Face-Off: Crofton, MD MECA: April Fool's Fest USACi: Bass Outlaws Formula Drift: Round 1 (Streets of Long Beach) Slammedenuff: Atlanta USACi: Prairieville, LA Import Face-Off: Atco, NJ Import Face-Off: Noble, OK Mitsubishi vs Subaru Spring Fest Car Show MECA: Bluegrass State Jam I MECA: Crutchfield Sound-off Series I USACi: Sherman, TX Import Face-Off: St. Louis, MO 742RACE.WARS: Gainesville, FL AutoCon: Los Angeles dB Drag: Bueno Vista, VA MECA: Bristol Sound-off Hot Import Nights: Honolulu USACi: TNT Import Face-Off: Hebron, OH Wekfest: Chicago MECA: Lone Star Super Nationals MECA: Car Wars I Import Face-Off: Ennis, TX Import Face-Off: Las Vegas, NV The Panda Junction Formula Drift: Round 2 742RACE.WARS: Fort Worth, TX Driven Show: Calgary Hot Import Nights: Monroe IASCA: Mobile Warz MECA: Tune-up In Torrance III Spring Bash 2K16 The European Experience USACi: Dual in the Desert CSCS: Race 1 dB Drag: Sacramento, CA Import Face-Off: Epping, NH MECA: Gary Killian's Wedding Bash Hyperfest Street Driven Tour: Virginia dB Drag: Sacramento, CA Hot Import Nights: Phoenix IASCA: Coal Country Regionals IASCA: Made of Steel Show MECA: Made of Steel DUB Show Tour: Dallas Fresh Meet: Atlanta Import Face-Off: Joliet, IL MECA: Coal Country Regionals Performance Motorsports Expo Warwick Airport Takeover MECA: Slammin & Jammin dB Drag: Dublin, CA Fitted: Toronto Wekfest: Long Beach Evolve: Slammed At The Beach Final Bout: Special Stage (West) Import Face-Off: Commerce, GA Import Face-Off: Woodburn, OR Formula Drift: Round 3 (Uncharted Territory) dB Drag: Fresno, CA Wuste European Car Festival All Stars Fitment Import Face-Off: Kent, WA Niagara Tuner & Truck Expo USACi: Thunder In the Heartland Honda Fest IASCA: Augieland IV IASCA: Slamology MECA: Slamology SQL Concert Car Showdown MECAL: Slamology SPL Smackdown Slamology Honda Fest Formula Drift: Round 4 (The Gauntlet) Eurokracy dB Drag: Sacramento, CA Extreme Autofest: Anaheim Hot Import Nights: San Jose MECA: Hot Import Nights Tuner Evolution: Daytona Beach dB Drag: Sacramento, CA MECA: Smokies Spring Slam

VENUE

Boulder Station Hotel & Casino Jacob Javits Center Walmart Liquid Trendz Sonic Fx Capitol Raceway James E Ward Ag Center Loud & Clear Car Audio Long Beach GP Street Course North Atlanta Trade Center MST Car Audio Atco Dragway Thunder Valley Raceway Park Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Western Technical College Appling Hi-Fi Crutchfield Nik's Audio Gateway Motorsports Park Auto Plus Raceway Los Angeles Convention Center Droppin Hz Car Audio Dashboard Audio Blaisell Exhibition Center Comanche County Fairgrounds National Trail Raceway Donald Stephens Convention Center Texas Motor Speedway Xtreme Vehicle Designs Texas Motorplex Las Vegas Motor Speedway Ripken Stadium Road Atlanta Texas Motor Speedway Olympic Oval Evergreen Speedway Audio Xperts Honda Motorcyle Napierville Dragway Hutchinson Island Sound Efx Canadian Tire Motorsport Park (DDT) Melos Auto New England Dragway Advance Auto Parts Virginia International Raceway Virginia International Raceway Gately Audio Westworld Building 24 Live Hillsborough County Fairgrounds Hillsborough County Fairgrounds Dallas Convention Center Gwinnett County Fair Route 66 Raceway Building 24 New Jersey Convention Center Warwick Airport James E Ward Ag Center Music N Motion Brampton Fairgrounds Queen Mary Short Beach Pat's Acres Racing Complex Atlanta Dragway Woodburn Dragstrip Orlando Speed World Dragway Jays Alarm & Car Audio Palace Station Hotel & Casino Lakewood Blue Claws Pacific Raceways Firemen's Park Loud & Clear Car Audio Autodrome St. Eustache Mobile Toys Inc Lucas Oil Raceway Lucas Oil Raceway Lucas Oil Raceway Lucas Oil Raceway Thompson Speedway Motorsports Park Wall Speedway ICAR Experience Gately Audio Angel Stadium Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Santa Clara County Fairgrounds Ocean Center Melos Auto The Sound Factory

LOCATION

Las Vegas, NV New York, NY Manassas, VA Modesto, CA Laughlin, NV Crofton, MD Lebanon, TN Kansas City, KS Long Beach, CA Norcross, GA Prairieville, LA Atco, NJ Lexington, OK Philadelphia, PA El Paso, TX Russellville, KY Harrisonburg, VA Sherman, TX Madison, IL Gainesville, FL Los Angeles, CA Bueno Vista, CA Kingsport, TN Honolulu, HI Lawton, OK Hebron, OH Chicago, IL Ft. Worth, TX Noblesville, IN Ennis, TX Las Vegas, NV Aberdeen, MD Braselton, GA Fort Worth, TX Calgary, AB H Monroe, WA Vacaville, CA Torrance, CA Napierville, QC H Savannah, GA Hobbs, NM Bowmanville, ON H Sacramento, CA Epping, NH Knoxville, TN Alton, VA Alton, VA Sacramento, CA Scottsdale, AZ Wyomising, PA Dover, FL Dover, FL Dallas, TX Lawrenceville, GA Joliet, IL Reading, PA Edison, NJ Warwick, NY Lebanon, TN Dublin, CA Brampton, ON H Long Beach, CA Stratford, CT Canby, OR Commerce, GA Woodburn, OR Orlando, FL Fresno, CA Las Vegas, NV Lakewood, NJ Kent, Wa Niagara Falls, ON H Kansas City, KS St. Eustache, QC H College Station, TX Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, IN Indianapolis, IN Thompson, CT Wall, NJ Mirabel, QC H Sacramento, CA Anaheim, CA San Jose, CA San Jose, CA Daytona Beach, FL Sacramento, CA Knoxville, TN

WEBSITE

HappenStanceEvents.com DUBShowTour.com MECACarAudio.com IASCA.com TermPro.com ImportFaceOff.net MECACarAudio.com USACIWorldwide.org FormulaD.com SlammedEnuff.com USACIWorldwide.org ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net EliteTuner.net Facebook.com page MECACarAudio.com MECACarAudio.com USACIWorldwide.org ImportFaceOff.net RaceWarsUSA.com AutoConEvents.com TermPro.com MECACarAudio.com HotImportNights.com USACIWorldwide.org ImportFaceOff.net Wekfest-USA.com MECACarAudio.com MECACarAudio.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net Tuner-Evolution.com FormulaD.com RaceWarsUSA.com DrivenShow.ca HotImportNights.com IASCA.com MECACarAudio.com HighSocietyMTL.com SOWOEuropeanExperience.com USACIWorldwide.org CSCS.ca TermPro.com ImportFaceOff.net MECACarAudio.com StreetDrivenTour.com StreetDrivenTour.com TermPro.com HotImportNights.com IASCA.com IASCA.com MECACarAudio.com DUBShowTour.com FreshMeetEvents.net ImportFaceOff.net MECACarAudio.com EliteTuner.net FormAndFunctionCrew.com MECACarAudio.com TermPro.com FittedLifestyle.com Wekfest-USA.com EvolveFam.us Final-Bout.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net FormulaD.com TermPro.com Wuste.com EvolveFam.us ImportFaceOff.net NiagaraTNTExpo.ca USACIWorldwide.org Autodrome.ca IASCA.com IASCA.com MECACarAudio.com MECACarAudio.com Slamology.com Facebook.com page FormulaD.com Eurokracy.com TermPro.com ExtremeAutoFest.com HotImportNights.com MECACarAudio.com Tuner-Evolution.com TermPro.com MECACarAudio.com

TYPE

Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Audio Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Audio Audio Drift Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Audio Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Audio Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Audio Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Time Attack Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Audio Road Race Drift Audio Show & Shine Audio Audio Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine Drift Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Drift Audio Meet Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio Show & Shine Drift Show & Shine, Drag Racing, Time Attack Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine Audio Audio

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

Event Listings.indd 1

2016-02-10 4:38 PM

tr.

JUNE

TYPE

Audio Audio Audio Audio Audio Time Attack Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Drift Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing, Autocross, Audio Show & Shine Audio Audio Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine Drift Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Drift Audio Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Drift Audio Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Time Attack Show & Shine Show & Shine Meet Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine Show & Shine Meet Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Time Attack Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Show & Shine Audio Drift Show & Shine, Drag Racing Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Audio Show & Shine, Drag Racing Drift Meet Time Attack Audio Show & Shine Drift Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Trade Trade Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Trade Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine, Drag Racing Show & Shine Show & Shine, Drag Racing

JULY

WEBSITE

TermPro.com MECACarAudio.com MECACarAudio.com ScrapInTheCoast.com USACIWorldwide.org CSCS.ca ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net EliteTuner.net TermPro.com Facebook.com page HotImportNights.com DrivenShow.ca FreshMeetEvents.net ImportFaceOff.net FormulaDriftCanada.com/ HotImportNights.com MECACarAudio.com Waterfest.net DUBShowTour.com HeatWaveShow.com USACIWorldwide.org RaceWarsUSA.com MECACarAudio.com ExtremeAutoFest.com Final-Bout.com StreetDrivenTour.com Tuner-Evolution.com Facebook.com page ImportFaceOff.net FormulaD.com USACIWorldwide.org MECACarAudio.com LXAndBeyondNats.com DUBShowTour.com Autodrome.ca USACIWorldwide.org Illmotion.com TorqueModified.com EvolveFam.us USACIWorldwide.org CSCS.ca DrivenShow.ca HotImportNights.com Southrnfresh.com StreetDrivenTour.com Facebook.com page HotImportNights.com Facebook.com page NorthernWorthersee.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net FormulaD.com HotImportNights.com BerlinKlassik.ca MECACarAudio.com ImportFaceOff.net CSCS.ca ImportFaceOff.net HotImportNights.com Import-Evolution.com MECACarAudio.com StreetDrivenTour.com ImportFaceOff.net MECACarAudio.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net MECACarAudio.com ImportFaceOff.net FormulaD.com Facebook.com page NOLA-SpeedAndStyle.com USACIWorldwide.org Tuner-Evolution.com Final-Bout.com Tuner-Evolution.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net DUBShowTour.com SEMAShow.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net DUBShowTour.com HotImportNights.com ImportFaceOff.net ImportFaceOff.net HotImportNights.com ImportFaceOff.net

AUGUST

LOCATION

Dublin, CA Noblesville, IN Charlottesville, VA Biloxi, MS Biloxi, MS Cayuga, ON H New Alexandria, PA Tulsa, OK Philadelphia, PA Fresno, CA St. Eustache, QC H Anaheim, CA Winnipeg, MB H Woodstown, NJ Indianapolis, IN St. Eustache, QC H Cicero, IL Russellville, KY Englishtown, NJ Houston, TX Austin, TX Austin, TX Irwindale, CA Lebanon, TN San Diego, CA Shawano, WI Madison, IL Oaks, PA Simcoe, ON West Lebanon, NY Monroe, WA Branson, MO Knoxville, TN Columbus, OH Phoenix, AZ St. Eustache, QC H Huntsville, TX Calgary, AB H Bowmanville, ON H North Haven, CT Kansas City, KS Grand Bend, ON H Edmonton, AB H Portland, OR Hampton, GA Hampton, GA Syracuse, NY Loudon, NH Milton, ON H Frankenmuth, MI Woodburn, OR Hebron, OH Fort Worth, TX Shakopee, MN Guelph, ON H Harrisonburg, VA Lexington, OK Cayuga, ON H Madison, IL San Pedro, CA Worcester, MA Noblesville, IN Las Vegas, NV McFarland, CA Lebanon, TN Baytown, TX Epping, NH Russellville, KY Chandler, AZ Irwindale, CA Bridgeview, IL New Orleans, LA Wichita Falls, TX Aberdeen, MD Canaan, NH Charlotte, NC Atco, NJ Montgomery, AL Las Vegas, NV Las Vegas, NV Ennis, TX Port Allen, LA Los Angeles, CA Tampa, FL Fontana, CA Las Vegas, NV Houston, TX Marion, TX

SEPTEMBER

VENUE

Music N Motion Xtreme Vehicle Designs Crutchfield Biloxi Coliseum Biloxi Coliseum Toronto Motorsports Park Pittsburgh Raceway Park Tulsa Raceway Park Simeone Foundation Automotive Museum Jays Alarm & Car Audio Autodrome St. Eustache Angel Stadium River Red Ex Salem County Fairgrounds Lucas Oil Raceway Autodrome St. Eustache Hawthorne Race Course Appling Hi-Fi Raceway Park Houston NRG Center Travis County Fairground Travis County Fairground Irwindale Event Center James E Ward Ag Center Qualcomm Stadium USA International Raceway Gateway Motorsports Park The Greater Philadelphia Expo Center Norfolk County Fairgrounds Lebanon Valley Dragway Evergreen Speedway Show Me Shakeup The Sound Factory National Trail Raceway Phoenix Convention Center Autodrome St. Eustache Walker County Fairgrounds Max Bell Centre Garnet B. Rickard Arena North Haven Fair Loud & Clear Car Audio Grand Bend Motorplex Grant MacEwan University Oregon Convention Center Atlanta Motor Speedway Atlanta Motor Speedway Long Branch Park New Hampshire Motor Speedway Country Heritage Park Bavarian Inn Lodge Woodburn Dragstrip National Trail Raceway Texas Motor Speedway Canterbury Park Guelph Lakes Island Crutchfield Thunder Valley Raceway Park Toronto Motorsports Park Gateway Motorsports Park Downtown San Pedro DCU Center Xtreme Vehicle Designs Las Vegas Motor Speedway Auto Club Famoso Raceway James E Ward Ag Center Royal Purple Raceway New England Dragway Appling Hi-Fi Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park Irwindale Speedway Toyota Park NOLA Motorsports Park J.S. Bridwell Event Center Ripken Stadium Canaan Motor Club The Park Expo Center Atco Dragway Montgomery Motorsports Park Las Vegas Convention Center Las Vegas Convention Center Texas Motorplex State Capitol Dragway Los Angeles Convention Center Tampa Convention Center Auto Club Dragway Las Vegas Motor Speedway George R. Brown Convention Center San Antonio Raceway

OCTOBER

SHOW NAME

dB Drag: Dublin, CA MECA: Car Wars II MECA: Crutchfield Sound-off Series II Scrapin The Coast USACi: Scrapin The Coast CSCS: Race 2 Import Face-Off: New Alexandria, P Import Face-Off: Tulsa, OK Street Kingz Nissan X Infiniti db Drag: Fresno, CA So Clean. Show Hot Import Nights: Anaheim Driven Show: Winnipeg Fresh Meet: Summer Bash Import Face-Off: Indianapolis, IN Formula Drift: Round 5 (Canada) Hot Import Nights: Chicago MECA: Bluegrass State Jam II Waterfest DUB Show Tour: Houston Heat Wave: Austin USACi: Heat Wave Austin 742RACE.WARS: Irwindale, CA MECA: Summer Jams Extreme Autofest: San Diego Final Bout: Special Stage (Central) Street Driven Tour: St. Louis Tuner Evolution: Philadelphia Summer Showdown Import Face-Off: Albany, NY Formula Drift: Round 6 (Throwdown) USACi: Show Me Shakeup MECA: Smokies Summer Slam LX and Beyond Nationals DUB Show Tour: Phoenix JDM Fest USACi: Texas Wake N Scrape illmotion: Sunday School Torque Modified Slammed At The Fair USACi: Loud & Clear Bass Outlaws Fall Finale CSCS: Race 4 Driven Show: Edmonton Hot Import Nights: Portland Southrnfresh: Atlanta Street Driven Tour: Altanta Street Scene 2016 Hot Import Nights: Loudon Northern Showdown Northern Worthersee Import Face-Off: Woodburn, OR Import Face-Off: Hebron, OH Formula Drift: Round 7 (Showdown) Hot Import Nights: Minneapolis Berlin Klassik MECA: Virginia Soundfest - State Finals Import Face-Off: Noble, OK CSCS: Race 5 Import Face-Off: St. Louis, MO Hot Import Nights: Los Angeles Import Evolution MECA: Car Wars III - Kentucky Soundfest Street Driven Tour: Las Vegas Import Face-Off: Bakersfield, CA MECA: Tennessee Soundfest - State Finals Import Face-Off: Baytown, TX Import Face-Off: Epping, NH MECA: Kentucky Soundfest - State Finals Import Face-Off: Chandler, AZ Formula Drift: Round 8 (Final Fight) Windy City Motorsports Festival & Car Show NOLA Speed and Style USACi:World Finals The Panda Junction Final Bout: Special Stage (East) Tuner Evolution: Charlotte Import Face-Off: Atco, NJ Import Face-Off: Montgomery, AL DUB Show Tour: Las Vegas SEMA Show Import Face-Off: Ennis, TX Import Face-Off: Baton Rouge, LA DUB Show Tour: Los Angeles Hot Import Nights: Tampa Import Face-Off: Fontana, CA Import Face-Off: Las Vegas, NV Hot Import Nights: Houston Import Face-Off: San Antonio, TX

NOVEMBER

Jun 25 Jun 25 Jun 25 Jun 25-26 Jun 25-26 Jun 26 Jun 26 Jun 26 Jun 26 Jul 2 Jul 2-3 Jul 4 Jul 9 Jul 9 Jul 10 Jul 15-16 Jul 16 Jul 16 Jul 16-17 Jul 17 Jul 22-24 Jul 23-24 Jul 23 Jul 24 Jul 30 Jul 30 Jul 30 Jul 30 Jul 30-31 Jul 31 Aug 5-6 Aug 6 Aug 7 Aug 12-13 Aug 13 Aug 13 Aug 13-14 Aug 14 Aug 14 Aug 14 Aug 14 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 20 Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 27 Aug 28 Sept 4 Sept 9-10 Sept 10 Sept 10-11 Sept 10 Sept 11 Sept 18 Sept 18 Sept 24 Sept 24 Sept 24 Sept 24 Sept 25 Sept 25 Oct 2 Oct 9 Oct 15 Oct 16 Oct 7-8 Oct 8 Oct 8-9 Oct 8-9 Oct 9 Oct 15 Oct 22 Oct 23 Oct 30 Nov 1-4 Nov 1-4 Nov 6 Nov 13 Nov 18-27 Nov 19 Nov 20 Dec 4 Dec 10 Dec 11

DEC

DATE

H CANADIAN ONLY EVENTS

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

Event Listings.indd 2

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2016-02-10 4:38 PM

N O S EA EW S 6 I 201 PREV

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS IS AN ONLINE COMPETITION PORTAL HOSTED

BY PASMAG WHERE AUTOMOTIVE ENTHUSIASTS VOTE FOR THEIR FAVORITE MODIFIED VEHICLES IN HEAD-TO-HEAD BRACKET COMPETITIONS.

HERE’S THE SPIN - Rather than PASMAG staff selecting the ‘Best in Class’ show winners, the judging responsibility is shared with the audience (the fans, show-goers and friends and family of the competitors). With a click of a button or new post on social media outlets (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram), the audience will be able to vote and select their favorite entry from round to round.

WHEN DOES IT HAPPEN?

Hundreds of potential competitors are currently submitting their profiles via an online registration form at TunerBattlegrounds.com. Competitors can enter local Tuner Battlegrounds: #TBGLIVE events, as well as the year-long online competition, Tuner Battlegrounds: Championship.

WHERE DOES IT TAKE PLACE?

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS CATEGORY BATTLES

The online voting takes place at TunerBattlegrounds.com. In the initial stages (rounds), voters simply sign-in with their existing Facebook accounts and can vote once each day. In the final stage, voters must generate a new post on their Instagram and/or Twitter accounts and use a dedicated hashtag of the final competitor they wish to vote for. The votes are tallied and the winner is announced at the event and on our social channels.

The Category competitions provide partnered automotive aftermarket manufacturers with an opportunity to engage the tuners and competitors with a category-specific online battle. Similar to the #TBGLIVE and Championship competitions, the registered competitors battle head-to-head for online votes during a specific timeframe. The tuner/competitor that wins a Category competition receives a product sponsorship for their vehicle from the partnered manufacturer, and a (spotlight) feature in an issue of PASMAG. In addition, the partnered manufacturer is able to provide an online discount code to activate instant savings to the competitors and/or voters.

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS:

TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS

#TBGLIVE

2016

#TBGLIVE provides regional competing opportunities for event promoters and competitors.

Competitors who wish to participate in #TBGLIVE must advance/pre-register to compete in the #TBGLIVE affiliated event(s). Online voting takes place on Facebook the week leading up to the #TBGLIVE-affiliated event, narrowing the final competitors to two (2). On-site (at the event), the two finalists battle head-to-head by encouraging supporters to generate a new post on Instagram and/or Twitter with a dedicated hashtag (announced before the final stage of voting). The winner of the #TBGLIVE competition receives a print-feature in PASMAG. For 2016, #TBGLIVE will take place at more than a dozen events across North America. Competitors have the opportunity to earn points for the Tuner Battlegrounds Championship Top 32 Tournament bracket.

CHAMPIONSHIP

The Championship competition provides tuners/competitors with an opportunity of a lifetime. Their dream to have their vehicle on the cover of PASMAG can become reality. Online voting for the Championship competition takes place between September and October (subject to change), with the winner receiving a vehicle cover feature in an upcoming issue of PASMAG and a VIP Experience that includes, but is not limited to, flight, hotel, credentials and vehicle transportation and display at the PASMAG booth at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, Nevada. Seeding for the 2016 Championship Tournament begins immediately, and inUSERS REACHED clusion and placement within the Top 32 depends on points earned throughout the season IMPRESSIONS (#TBGLIVE).

1,404,715

5,535,038

BRIAN McCAN SEED NUMBEN SCOTTSDALE,R 17 AZ, USA

2005 NISS AN 350Z

N IN TRA JAM BER 10 BEN NUM SEED , CANADA MB

TSX URA 04 AC NIPEG,

WIN

20

2015

479

BUSINESS CARD VOTES

E

PIONSHIP BATTL

EGROUNDS CHAM 15 TUNER BATTL R 3-6, 20 NOVEMBE SEMA SHOW

44

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

TBG 2016 Season Preview.indd 1

BOOTH #20125

CENTRAL HALL

TION CENTER

LAS VEGAS CONVEN

TLEGRO T U N E R B AT

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA

UNDS.COM

grounds

#tunerbattle

2/10/2016 4:11:00 PM

Untitled-1 1

11/10/2015 10:34:58 PM

COMPETITION

@tunerbattlegrounds

ESSENTIALS LOCATION: Ajax, Ontario, Canada ENGINE: Nissan VQ37VHR 3.7L V6 HORSEPOWER: 330 hp SOCIAL MEDIA @daren_ipl @boostedcoupe

ENGINE ∂ Takeda dual cold air intakes ∂ Status Elite carbon fiber engine bay covers ∂ Nissan R35 GT-R injectors ∂ Motordyne intake manifold ∂ ZSPEC engine bay bolts ∂ Custom 6-point grounding system ∂ Walbro fuel pump EXHAUST ∂ Megan Racing cat-back exhaust system ∂ GT Speed mid-pipe

DAREN SINGH

2012 INFINITI G37 COUPE

BY ADAM STEINBERG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ROB OLIVER

JUNE 7, 2015 // NIAGARA FALLS, ON

#TBGLIVE

WINNER NIAGARA TNT EXPO @niagaratntexpo

61 %

OF THE POPULAR VOTE

O

nce an Infiniti owner, always an Infiniti owner. At least that’s the case for Daren Singh.

As the story so often goes, Singh’s passion for sports cars and high-horsepower engines comes from the time he spent as a young child in the garage with his father.

“My dad would show me things on the car and how to fix it,” recalls Singh. “I took his knowledge and put it towards my car.”

This originally translated into a 1998 Infiniti QX4, but eventually Singh began looking for a new challenge and a pristine show car. After hours of research he finally made the move on a 2012 Infiniti G37 Coupe, fresh off the lot.

Sometimes though, the knowledge you’ve gained isn’t enough to realize your dream, and that’s where Team Mayzn comes into play.

“In 2013 I joined Team Mayzn (an elite show car team), and with the help of Jagraj Grewal and his team at Co-Up Auto Body, they took my vision and completed it,” says Singh.

46

What exactly was this vision?

Before we get into the engine and suspension, his audio and multimedia setup demands attention. It starts with four 6.5-inch Polk Audio speakers enclosed in a fiberglass pod, which is then matched by Focal three-ways and complemented by JL Audio subwoofers and Kicker amplifiers. Finally, the pièce de résistance: four seven-inch LED LCD screens mounted on the trunk lid and hooked up to a secondary DVD player.

The engine is pushing Takeda dual cold air intakes, R35 GT-R injectors, a custom grounding kit and a carbon fiber-clad engine bay. An Airlift Autopilot v2 digital management system, dual 400 compressors and a custom painted 5-gallon air tank control the suspension.

All of this is rolling on Concavo wheels and Nankang NS2 tires. The G37 is custompainted in gunmetal and red pearl with metal flakes and a matching IPL body kit.

A carbon fiber dash kit and gauge trim sweeten the interior.

The work has not been in vain, as the car has claimed over a dozen awards and counting.

Four years of building and $19,500 later, it’s fair to say this G37 Coupe has met its match with Singh and his team.

“With the intention of building a full show car, I can proudly say I have achieved my goal,” he concludes.

DRIVETRAIN ∂ Transgo transmission kit WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ Concavo CW-S5 wheels (paintmatched powder-coat) - 20x10.5 +25 (f/r) ∂ Nankang NS2 tires - 255/35/20 (f/r) ∂ Akebono (4-piston calipers (f), 2-piston calipers (r)) ∂ StopTech braided brake lines CHASSIS / SUSPENSION ∂ Airlift Autopilot v2 digital management ∂ GTSpec strut bar ∂ 5-gallon air tank ∂ Dual 400c compressors ∂ Megan Racing control arms ∂ Hotchkis sway bars (f/r) ∂ SPL endlinks ∂ Whiteline rear differential bushing EXTERIOR ∂ Custom paint job (gunmetal, red pearl w/ metal flake) ∂ Inifinti IPL body kit ∂ Zele grille ∂ 8000k HID fog lights ∂ Diode Dynamics (LED turn signals, LED reverse light) INTERIOR ∂ Carbon Fiber Element (dash kit, gauge trim) AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA ∂ JL Audio 12-inch w6v2 subwoofers (3) ∂ Kicker (2000.1 monoblock amplifier, 600.4 4-channel amplifier, 200.4 4-channel amplifier) ∂ Focal 3-way speakers ∂ Polk Audio (6.5-inch component speakers (4)) ∂ Audiocontrol LC2i line converter ∂ 7-inch LED LCD screens (4) ∂ Sony DVD player SPONSORS ∂ Autoglym, Co-Up Auto Body

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

TBGLIVE Winner - Daren Singh - 136_TunerHandbook.indd 1

2016-02-10 3:54 PM

COMPETITION

@tunerbattlegrounds

ESSENTIALS LOCATION: Philadelphia, PA CLUB AFFILIATION: 9GensoSiety HORSEPOWER: 287 hp SOCIAL MEDIA @choidurante

ENGINE ∂ CT Engineering supercharger ∂ K&N Typhoon 69 short ram intake ∂ Password JDM (carbon fiber coil pack cover, battery cover, cooling plate, fuse cover, ECU cover, pulley cover, blue washers, screws) EXHAUST ∂ Skunk2 70mm MegaPower RR 3-inch exhaust system WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES ∂ Avant Garde F110 - 18x9.5, red velvet face paired with mirror-brushed chrome (f) ∂ Avant Garde F241 - 18x9.5 turquoise face paired with mirrorbrushed chrome (r) ∂ Achilles Tires 205 35 r18 (f/r)

CHOI DURANTE 2014 HONDA CIVIC SI

CHASSIS / SUSPENSION ∂ Air Force suspension (struts (f/r), bags, springs (f/r))

BY ADAM STEINBERG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY RANGER RAMIREZ

AUGUST 23, 2015 // SIMONE FOUNDATION AUTOMOTIVE MUSEUM, PHILADELPHIA, PA

#TBGLIVE

WINNER A HISTORIC CAR SHOW @elite_tuner

77 %

OF THE POPULAR VOTE

B

uilding your first car is a lot like raising your first child: time and effort seem immeasurable, mistakes made seem irreversible, and its success on the street relies on support received at home.

The relationship between Choi Durante and his 2014 Honda Civic Si is no exception. The Si is not only his first build but also his favorite model, and growing up as a child in the Philippines, Durante knew from a young age what would be his first purchase in America.

“When I bought the Si, I told my parents that I will just put tints on it,” Durante recalls. “Then I bought lowering springs, after that [came the] wheels and then the air suspension. Everything was a challenge to me. It was my first time in the car game – I’ve never built a car before.”

This is where Durante begins to differentiate from the mod scene, because unlike most, his passion derives from a must different source.

“I’m not actually a car enthusiast; I classify myself as an artist and building this car is

the form of art for me. I’m not really after the performance parts.”

Well, if Durante isn’t chasing performance parts, where did all the time (six months) and money go?

Take a peak inside the interior and you’ll find it’s entirely wrapped in Porsche leather and Ferrari alcantara trimmings, from the headliners and pillars to the door inserts and dash. His audio game is on point as well. A two-piece Kicker CompR subwoofer, 8 and 10 inches, is protected by a customized enclosure and is coupled with Alpine amplifiers. The trunk has also been installed with a Lenovo 19-inch, all-in-one tablet.

Then there are his blue and red Avant Garde F241 and F110 wheels, mirror-brushed chrome.

Being new to the scene, there are a few people to whom Durante would like to give a shout out on the East Coast.

“The owner of Modified Concepts, Danny, is an amazing guy! He helped me pick out the best wheels, because as I said, it’s my first season, [so] Danny did the sizing for me and gave me a great hook up,” Durante goes on to say. “Ryan from Exact Art worked by himself in building the whole interior – he is a beast!”

“Thank you to all my crewmembers from 9GensoSiety for pushing me…and shout out to my mom [for being] there for me.”

As is also so often the case, one build is not enough, so keep your eyes open for his 2016 Subaru WRX STi.

PERFORMANCE ELECTRONICS ∂ Hondata Flashpro ∂ AutoPilot V2 Air Management EXTERIOR ∂ Honda Factory Performance body kit (front, sides, rear, under-spoiler) ∂ Custom Type R headlights ∂ Audi LED strip ∂ Toyota Avalon projectors INTERIOR ∂ Custom VIP interior with Porsche red leather (dashboard, seats (f/r), door panels) ∂ Ferrari alcantara (trimmings, headliner, pillar, inserts) ∂ Custom stamps of SRS Airbags ∂ Custom "Si" embroidery ∂ Custom fading hexagon patterns ∂ Custom neck pillows with custom fading hexagon stitching ∂ Custom Porsche leather door panels AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA ∂ Kicker (speakers, tweeters, amplifiers (3) CompR 10-inch and 8-inch subwoofers, equalizer) ∂ Custom enclosure ∂ 19-inch Lenovo tablet SPONSORS ∂ Exact Art Interiors SHOPS ∂ Exact Art Fabrication, Procom Racing, Modified Concepts, Inshalla Motorsports

TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016 PASMAG

TBGLIVE Winner - Choi Durante - 136_TunerHandbook.indd 1

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2016-02-10 3:57 PM

COMPETITION

@tunerbattlegrounds

ESSENTIALS LOCATION: Anaheim, California, United States CLUB AFFILIATION: Team Elevate ENGINE: Toyota 2AR-FE 2.5L I-4 HORSEPOWER: 200 WHP TORQUE: 200 LB-FT SOCIAL MEDIA @drew_tc2 @vinnymacphotography

ENGINE ∂ Injen air intake EXHAUST ∂ GReddy RS cat-back exhaust system WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES ∂ Work Emotion XD9 wheels 18X10+38 (f), 18X10+18 (r) ∂ Continental ExtremeContact DWS tires - 235/40 R18 (f/r) CHASSIS/SUSPENSION ∂ Allred Motor Company custom air bags (f/r)

ANDREW JUAREZ 2012 SCION tC

BY ADAM STEINBERG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY VINNYMAC PHOTOGRAPHY

EXTERIOR ∂ Seibon Carbon (hood, front lip, rear lip, side skirts) ∂ APR (custom splitter, GTC2000 carbon fiber spoiler) ∂ NIA eyelids ∂ Spec-D HID taillights ∂ Gloss Tiffany Blue wrap INTERIOR ∂ BRIDE (shift boot, e-brake boot, headliner, sun roof covers, pillars, door panels, trunk) ∂ Cusco BRIDE Zeta III seats ∂ Takata Drift III harnesses

AUGUST 8, 2015 // IRWINDALE, CA

#TBGLIVE

WINNER 742RACEWARSLA USA @officialracewarsusa

T

28 %

OF THE POPULAR VOTE

he 2012 Scion tC is Andrew Juarez’s first build.

Intending to keep the tC stock until finding the perfect project, Juarez began simply enough by bolting on rims and installing a body kit. That is, until he found himself working toward a new vision: “To turn this ordinary car into a one-of-a-kind masterpiece.”

Juarez recalls his first show at Toyotafest 2014 where he met Kelvin Pham, Randal Trice and their two beautiful Scion tCs. It’s these two, coupled with Team Elevate, that push him to pursue his vision and accomplish his goals.

Of course, being his first build, the tC did present its own challenges. One that stands out in Juarez’s head is the first time he purchased

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a set of Tenzo Type M wheels. At the beginning of installation, Juarez quickly realized that not only was the fitment wrong, but it wasn’t as flush as he expected. Not knowing much about sizes and offsets at the time, he thought spacers would do the trick but realized quite quickly those just weren’t going to cut it. A little research here and a little saving there, Juarez finally found the perfect fit with some WORK Emotion XD9s.

Ask Juarez to direct you to his favorite aspect of the build and he’ll immediately point at the glossy Tiffany blue wrap. “The best part,” he says, “is cruising down the freeway and watching everyone breaking necks, admiring [the] build.”

Three years later, the fun has just begun with a lot more ideas coming to fruition.

Although he says the car couldn’t have become what it is today without the help of a select few.

Juarez wants to give a shout-out to his brother Harvey Juarez, friend Giovanny Ayala, his girlfriend Jocelyn Montenegro and his Team Elevate family for “being there for me from the start.”

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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COMPETITION

@tunerbattlegrounds

ESSENTIALS LOCATION: Mississauga, Ontario, Canada CAR CLUB: 2LO Crew/Krazyhaus ENGINE: Volkswagen VR6 3.2L 24V V6 HORSEPOWER: 250 HP SOCIAL MEDIA @jivendulku

@datkidfromto

ENGINE ∂ Volswagen 2004 R32 VR6 motor swap ∂ Shaved bay ∂ INA (machined billet water pump pulley, AN heater core conversion fittings) ∂ A/C delete w/ Continental belt ∂ Russell AN fuel and coolant line conversion ∂ Custom (firewall bulkhead plate, intake pipe) ∂ Haggard Fab custom (coolant overflow tank w/ AN ports, brake reservoir tank) ∂ VF-Engineering (polished engine mounts, black bushings) ∂ Gruven Parts oil dipstick ∂ K&N air filter ∂ United Motorsports Performance swap file

JAGJIVEN DULKU

2 0 0 0 VO L KSWAG E N J E T TA G L S

BY ADAM STEINBERG | PHOTOGRAPHY BY SHERE PHOTOGRAPHY

JULY 11, 2015 // OTTAWA, ON

#TBGLIVE

WINNER FITTED LIFESTYLE @fittedlifestyle

61 %

OF THE POPULAR VOTE

O

ften times when a person reaches the finish line, achieving a goal they’ve set out for themselves years in the past, it becomes undoubtedly clear that the path they’ve taken was not the one originally laid out. No example of this lesson can be more clear than with Jagjiven Dulku and his 2000 Volkswagen Jetta GLS. Winning nearly a dozen awards, essentially landing in the top three each time, most people would conclude the Jetta was intended to be a show car, but as Dulku explains, that wasn’t always the case. It began, simply enough, with a new set of headlights and some fresh taillights, with the real game changer coming in 2011, four years after the initial purchase.

“That September, I left for H2oi in Ocean City, Maryland, with my 2LO Crew,” Dulku recalls. “We worked on my car from 10 a.m. until about 11 p.m., went home, showered and then left for Ocean City. It was the craziest road trip! No sleep, exhaustion, but we came back with hardware. I placed at my first of-

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ficial show [with] second Place Jetta Mild.”

The 2LO Crew is based in Montreal, Canada, and has helped Dulku with his initial build. This simple bond between car enthusiasts living in neighbouring provinces eventually formed into the birth of an Ontario Chapter — known today as Krazyhaus — whose co-founder and co-president is the man you are reading about today.

“The two biggest influences would definitely be Kurt from Krazyhaus and Jujhar from RedBubble Designs. Kurt has helped me push the bar as to what is possible... inspired me to look beyond the typical tuner world and toward the guys who have been doing this far longer than us, such as the hot rod, muscle car and mini truck worlds.”

Much of the build has remained OEM at Dulku’s desire to preserve the tailored look and feel of the Jetta. He, of course, has made some additional purchases for performance and style, like a Ride Tech E3 Pro air management system and limited edition Carline CM2 wheels.

“The build has always been important, but the motor that has kept me going has been the life lessons and friendships that I have developed along the way,” Dulku concludes. “My car clubs have become more than just a group of friends hanging out on a Friday night; they have become the family I chose to have in my life.”

EXHAUST ∂ Techtonics 24V down-pipe ∂ Vibrant high-flow catalytic converter mid-pipe ∂ MagnaFlow (2.5-in. cat-back, single 4-in. polished tip) DRIVETRAIN ∂ 6-speed O2M 24V transmission swap ∂ Quaife limited slip differential ∂ 6-puck hybrid ceramic clutch ∂ B&M short shifter ∂ Diesel Geek short shift linkage (polished) ∂ Raxles driveshaft WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ Carline CM2 Wheels (mirror polished) - 18x8.5 (f), 18x10 (f) ∂ Nankang NS20 Tires - 215/35-18 (f), 215/40R-18 (r) ∂ RedBubble Designs custom center caps ∂ Radinox stainless steel wheel lips w/ plexi & functional fill valve ∂ Stripping Technologies powdercoated black barrels ∂ Stainless Steel wheel hardware ∂ Schmidt stubby valve stems ∂ Audi TT brake upgrade ∂ Adam’s Rotors slotted rotors ∂ ECS stainless brake lines ∂ Hawk Performance brake pads ∂ Custom camber and tow rear correction plates CHASSIS / SUSPENSION ∂ RidePro E3 Management w/ level sensors ∂ Air Zenith OB2 compressor ∂ 4-gallon seamless tank (2) ∂ Stainless hardlines ∂ Russell AN (braided airlines, hardline fittings) ∂ AirLift Performance (air struts, camber plates) ∂ Firestone (sleeve bags, AAC brackets) ∂ Koni Yellow sport shocks ∂ IDF tubular control arms ∂ ECS beam relocation plates ∂ Audi TT drop spindles ∂ Frame C-notch ∂ LED accent lights in the trunk ∂ Custom C-pillar bar EXTERIOR ∂ Volkswagen (GLI front lip, GLI side skirts, GLI rear valence, polished trunk gas struts, Euro rub strip, black grille, R32 polished hood gas strut) ∂ R/S/R/S taillights ∂ Lexan headlight covers ∂ Smoked crystal headlight markers ∂ Power Japan Bora stubbies ∂ Volx Tuning OE replica glass lens headlights ∂ Morimoto D2S HID system ∂ Shaved and filled door strips INTERIOR ∂ Volkswagen (GLI headliner, brushed aluminum trim, cup holder delete, center console, Mk6 Euro nonmultifunction steering wheel, button relocation kick panel, R32 leather seats, R32 cluster, R-line OEM+ pedal set, R-line carpet mats, VW Anniversary Edition shift boot) ∂ B&M shift knob ∂ Air ride controller vent pod ∂ P3Cars integrated digital interface ∂ Seat Skoda (headlight switch, HVAC controls) ∂ Custom Pearl Black w/ Silver Grain wood floor AUDIO / MULTIMEDIA ∂ Pioneer AVH-P8400BH head unit ∂ JBL (1004 4-ch. amp, 14001 mono amp, P660i component speakers (f/r)) ∂ Custom-polished tie-bar amp rack ∂ 0-gauge wiring ∂ Custom digital coax signal wires ∂ 14-gauge speaker wire ∂ Dynamat sound deadening ∂ Viper 5902 alarm ∂ Pioneer slim-line subwoofer ∂ Optima Yellow Top battery ∂ JL Audio battery terminals SPONSORS ∂ Krazyhaus ∂ Trackwerks ∂ AirAssisted ∂ Auto Haas ∂ Strasse Autowerks ∂ RedBubble Designs ∂ Big Red Customs ∂ Stance Dubs ∂ Humberview Volkswagen

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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ROUND

01

2016 SEASON SCHEDULE ROUND 01

ROUND 05

JPN ROUND 01

APRIL 8-9 LONG BEACH, CA.

JULY 15-16 MONTREAL, CANADA

MARCH 12-13 MIE, JAPAN

ROUND 02

ROUND 06

JPN ROUND 02

MAY 6-7 ATLANTA, GA.

AUGUST 5-6 MONROE, WA

MAY 21-22 FUKUSHIMA, JAPAN

STREETS OF LONG BEACH - LONG BEACH GP COURSE

ROAD TO THE CHAMPIONSHIP - ROAD ATLANTA

CANADA - AUTODROME ST. EUSTACHE

THROWDOWN - EVERGREEN SPEEDWAY

SUZUKA TWIN CIRCUIT

EBISU NISHI CIRCUIT

ROUND 03

ROUND 07

JPN ROUND 03

JUNE 3-4 ORLANDO, FL.

SEPTEMBER 9-10 FORT WORTH, TX.

AUGUST 20-21 OKAYAMA, JAPAN

ROUND 04

ROUND 08

JPN ROUND 04

JUNE 17-18 WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ.

OCTOBER 7-8 IRWINDALE, CA.

OCTOBER 15-16 SHIGA, JAPAN

UNCHARTED TERRITORY - ORLANDO SPEEDWAY

THE GAUNTLET - WALL SPEEDWAY

SHOWDOWN - TEXAS MOTOR SPEEDWAY

FINAL FIGHT - IRWINDALE SPEEDWAY

OKAYAMA INTERNATIONAL CIRCUIT

OKUIBUKI STREET

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2/4/16 1:25 AM 2016-02-09 5:30 PM

WITH

Garry Springgay BE A GOOD LISTENER

SOUND ADVICE cogentaudiolabs.com garry.springgay

THE SECRETS OF CAR AUDIO COMPETITION

I have been involved with car audio contesting since it was invented. My first experience was in 1986 with the Alpinesponsored CAN (Car Audio Nationals), which then merged with NACA (National Autosound Challenge Association) to eventually become IASCA in 1988. Over the years, I judged a lot of IASCA and dB Drag Racing shows, and did some competing myself.

I

n my retail days, I had customers who were serious about competing and expected to place well in every contest, if not win it outright. Here, I’ve written what I would tell anyone who was serious about competing.

BENDING THE RULES To compete in any organized event, you first must read and understand the rules.

If you ask any successful competitor from IASCA to NASCAR, they will tell you they strive to gain as much advantage as possible over their competition, without breaking the rules. This means that you need to push the boundaries a little sometimes, and as such, I have seen a lot of very creative interpretations of the rules over the years.

In the early days, classes of competition were divided by amplifier power. When the rules were written, everyone assumed the manufacturers’ advertised power was the limit of the amplifier’s performance. Soon, manufacturers and competitors found they could gain an advantage by under-rating the product, or by building the product to work into lower impedances, which could more than double the available power from what was advertised. Another method of circumventing the rules was to rate the amplifier’s power at a lower voltage than normal, but operate it at as high a voltage as possible for maximum advantage. In recent years, these advantages have been pretty

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much eliminated through rule changes and third party verifications of products, but it doesn’t mean you can’t push the envelope wherever possible.

FAKE IT ‘TIL YOU MAKE IT One of the most successful competitors in those days would use his knowledge and technical expertise to intimidate the judges, who would then “hear what he told them to hear” when listening to the car.

Another competitor, who went on to win many prestigious contests, would frequently lose points for not having a “strong center image.” He noticed that most of the cars beating him were using center channel speakers, so he redesigned his system with a really prominent center channel speaker on the top of his dash and his car always got maximum points for a strong center image. What judges didn’t realize was that his car had great left and right speaker positioning, but no speaker at all under the grille in the middle of his dash.

The IASCA rules in the '90s gave points for having “front stage with rear fill.” Several competitors found that having sound coming from the rear of the car would seriously detract from their staging score. Their solution was to have rear speaker grilles in place, and in some cases actual speakers installed, but no connections. Judges would be fooled by the presence of the grilles or speakers and give them the “rear fill” points.

Being a craftsman and turning out amazing installations is one thing, but you need to also spend time learning what your music is supposed to sound like.

You’ll need a decent home audio system so you can learn and memorize the way the music is supposed to sound. This way, you can instantly recognize a problem.

For example: I was asked to help tune a car for a competitor at the 2001 IASCA finals. The car had completed a successful year of competition and the owner simply wanted the tune polished a little. So, I grabbed my sleeve of CDs and jumped in the driver’s seat. Within the first 10 seconds of the first track, I shut off the system and told the competitor that his left and right channels were backwards. He looked at me like I had three heads and exclaimed, “There’s no way! I competed all year like this and I haven’t made any changes!” I told him I knew for a fact the channels were backwards and I could prove it to him. We went to the home reference system we had set up, took a listen, and sure enough, I was right. He asked how it was possible that no one had caught it all year, and I heard it almost instantly. I said, “I have that song and a few others completely memorized. The finger snaps always come from the left channel and the acoustic guitar is always full right.” His car was backwards because of an accidental swap of color-coded RCA ends on his custom cables. I learned months later that two judges who had scored his car earlier in the season had not deducted points because he was a famous competitor and they didn’t think it was possible for him to make such a basic mistake.

For anyone who is contemplating participation in these contests, you need to know everything about what you are being judged on. You need to know your car, your system and your music, inside out and backwards. Be prepared to answer any question and do it with confidence.

The people who win are the competitors who fully understand the rules, pay close attention to their scoresheets, as well as the scoresheets of the people who are beating them. By really understanding what the rules mean, and by giving the judges what they are looking for, you’ll soon learn what is required to get maximum points. This isn't cheating; you're simply figuring out ways to use the rules to your advantage, without blatantly breaking any.

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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“THIS TRULY IS A BLACK BOX FULL OF DIGITAL MAGIC...”

GARRY SPRINGGAY, TECHNICAL EDITOR PERFORMANCE AUTO & SOUND MAGAZINE

PS8 PROCESSOR THE WORLDS MOST ADVANCED MOBILE AUDIO SOUND PROCESSOR D E S I G N E D A N D M A N U FA C T U R E D I N T H E U S A !

WWW.ARCAUDIO.COM

ARC Audio_v3.indd 1

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TEST REPORT

BY GARRY SPRINGGAY

Diamond Audio DPAS10 Amplified Subwoofer System Review

Not enough space for some bass? Nonsense.

As long as they aren't bolted to the floor, the DPAS10 can fit under your seats!

QUICK TECH SPECS

Advertised Power

150 Watts RMS

Frequency Range

40 Hz –150 Hz

Bass Boost

0 to +12 dB @ 55 Hz

Input Sensitivity

123 mV to 3.5 V (RCA) 2 V to 20 V (Speaker Level)

L

et’s face it, listening to music without some decent bass just isn’t much fun. As I heard one salesman say, “Unless all you listen to is talk radio, you absolutely need a sub!”

Not everyone has the room however, or wants to see a bulky woofer enclosure every time they open the trunk. What’s needed here is something unobtrusive and easily concealed. If that sounds like what you need, I have good news: the folks at Diamond Audio have a solution.

By incorporating an amplifier, subwoofer and passive radiator all into one cast-aluminum chassis, Diamond has a brilliant small and shallow 10-inch subwoofer system, called the DPAS10.

FEATURES The complete system is incredibly small, measuring just 14.375 x 9.875

54

x 3 inches! With such a small footprint and very low height, the unit should fit behind the seat of even the tightest pick-up cabs or under the seat of most cars. The cabinet is constructed almost entirely of solid extruded aluminum for strength and a low resonant frequency, and because of the extruded aluminum enclosure design, the enclosure does double duty as the amplifier’s heatsink. Thanks to the high efficiency Class-D design, the amplifier draws less current and generates less heat than a conventional amplifier.

An ultra-slim-profile woofer that was specifically designed for this product is utilized, and it is driven by the 150-watt built-in amplifier. Like the woofer, the amplifier has also been designed specifically for optimum performance in this enclosure with this woofer.

All of the controls and connec-

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For more test reports, download the PASMAG+ tablet app for free from the App Store.

TEST REPORT DiamondAudio.com

@DiamondAudio1

@DiamondAudio

DiamondAudio

tions are located on one end of the amp, with the opposite end used for the output of a cleverly integrated passive radiator to augment the system’s output via a port opening in the end of the housing. The Diamond Audio DPAS10 can be driven with either high-level signal directly from the car’s radio or conventional RCA inputs. Power connections are made via set screw-type terminals that will accept up to eight-gauge cable. There is also the choice of a conventional remote turn-on wire, or for compatibility in virtually any system, the unit is also equipped with signal sensing turn-on functionality.

Installation is a simple matter of choosing a location, running power, ground and input signal wires and then tuning it for the vehicle. Tuning is accomplished via a full set of controls including gain, variable crossover with a range of 80 to 150 Hz, a bass boost function with up to 12 dB of available boost, and a 0-180-degree phase switch.

LISTENING TO THE LATE GREAT JOHN ENTWISTLE AND HIS MINDBENDING, GIANT BASS LINES IS A REAL TREAT, AND YOU CAN EASILY FORGET YOU ARE LISTENING TO A VERY DISCREET SUBWOOFER SYSTEM.

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LISTENING With the DPAS10 connected to my reference system, I sit down to see how it will perform. My expectations are that it will be decent, but not like a “real” subwoofer. I figure you simply can’t expect big, rich bass from a complete woofer system that is smaller than some amplifiers. However, after getting it connected and tuned to suit my room and the rest of my system, I’m quite surprised at the overall quality of the sound.

I begin with Level 42’s World Machine and a couple of my favorite tracks from Yello’s Essential. On these intentionally bass-heavy tracks, the diminutive woofer system provides good output, lower frequency output than I expected, and handles the built-in power well. I move on to some classic rock tracks from Rush, Deep Purple and The Who. Listening to the late great John

Entwistle and his mind-bending, giant bass lines is a real treat, and you can easily forget you are listening to a very discreet subwoofer system. The Diamond system sounds really good!

As you expect, the laws of physics still apply, so the system lacks a little overall output when compared to a big woofer in a big box with a big amp, but the performance it delivers is a hell of a lot better than having no woofer at all. Overall, I’m quite impressed with the sonic performance of the woofer and I think it will surprise more than a few people when heard in a car, where the vehicle’s transfer function will increase the output of the lowest octaves.

source of the bass. Because of its size, it can be easily hidden in a trunk, or even better, under a seat.

Make no mistake, if you are trying to have your bass heard a block away, this system isn’t going to satisfy you, but if you simply value sound quality without obtrusive equipment and need a product that has great flexibility in connections and tuning ability, this might be the perfect choice.

CONCLUSION The Diamond Audio DPAS10 powered woofer is a good choice where space is very limited, or you simply don’t want to see the

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U N M A T C H E D

I

Q U A L I T Y

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D U R A B I L I T Y

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DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME

2015-12-04 2:29 PM

WITH

David MacKinnon (Of Sound Mind Labs)

LISTEN UP osmlabs.com

THE CLARION XC7520 IS A FIVE-CHANNEL AMPLIFIER WITH INTEGRATED SIX-CHANNEL DSP. A GREAT SINGLE-AMP SOLUTION FOR ALMOST ANY SYSTEM.

Osmlabs

THREE EASY STEPS TO AWESOME STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY DAVID MACKINNON

I used to have a simple and effective upgrade path for people wanting to improve the performance of their factory car audio systems. With the complexity and integration level of the radios that come in new cars today, my plan has had to evolve dramatically. In this installment of Listen Up, we will look at a modern approach to upgrading your factory audio system.

1

2

ONE If you ask any music enthusiast what is lacking from most factory-installed audio systems, their answer would be bass.

Now, don’t start imagining a wall of woofers and banks of batteries; that’s not what I’m talking about. It takes a dedicated speaker in an appropriate enclosure with an adequately powerful amplifier to reproduce the bottom octave of the music we listen to with any semblance of realism. Even the eight- and

58

10-inch “subwoofers” many automakers include in their vehicles can’t hold a candle to what can be achieved in the aftermarket. So, step one is to add a good quality subwoofer system to your vehicle. Having a subwoofer in your system relieves the small factory-installed midrange speakers from the strenuous duty of trying to make bass. This allows them to play midrange frequencies louder, and sound better!

THIS IS THE OUTPUT OF AN AMPLIFIER IN A VEHICLE WITH A FOUR-WAY SPEAKER SYSTEM. YOU CAN SEE THE DIFFERENT LEVELS USED TO COMPENSATE FOR SPEAKER EFFICIENCY AND LOCATION.

TWO Once you have a nice subwoofer added to your system, you may find that the little amplifier that is in your radio can’t keep up adequately. Step two is to upgrade the amplification to the rest of the speakers in your vehicle. With more power, not only will they play louder, but the music will be more dynamic. Think of it like having an extra 100 lb-ft of torque at idle! Look for an amp rated at somewhere between 50 and 100 watts per channel, and that is compliant to the CEA-2006A rating system. If you want to combine this step with the first, there are some great five-channel amplifiers available that will run your entire audio system.

PASMAG TUNER HANDBOOK // APRIL // MAY 2016

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WITH

David MacKinnon (Of Sound Mind Labs)

LISTEN UP

3

THREE Now that we have a solid foundation for the system, it is time to upgrade the most important and critical component – your speakers. Anyone that knows me has heard me say a few hundred times: “You can have the best electronics in the world, but if you don’t have good speakers, your system still won’t sound good.” Picking speakers is much simpler than people think. A good speaker sounds good with all music, and at all reasonable volume levels. If the sound of the speakers you are auditioning

changes as you turn them up, keep looking. If the instruments and voices you hear don’t sound natural and realistic, keep looking. If any portion of the spectrum seems over-emphasized or missing, keep looking. Work with your local car stereo specialist retailer to pick speakers that will fit into the factory locations in your vehicle, but be sure to discuss different mounting options.

For example, you could relocate tweeters to the A-pillars to improve staging and imaging.

THIS IS THE OUTPUT OF A PROCESSOR THAT CAN SUM FOUR SIGNALS TOGETHER AND UNDO THE EQUALIZATION THAT WAS APPLIED TO EACH SIGNAL. BECAUSE OF TIME ALIGNMENT, THERE ARE SOME NASTYSOUNDING ISSUES AROUND 2 KHZ.

A PAIR OF AUDIOMOBILE SUBWOOFERS IN A CUSTOM UNDER-SEAT ENCLOSURE IN THE BACK OF A QUAD-CAB TRUCK. A GREAT WAY TO ADD BASS WITHOUT LOSING ANY STORAGE SPACE.

HERE'S THE OUTPUT OF THE JL AUDIO FIX-82.

THE INPUT SIGNALS ARE ADJUSTED FOR LEVEL AND HAVE HAD THE TIME-DELAY REMOVED. THE RESULT IS FLAT FREQUENCY RESPONSE ACROSS THE ENTIRE AUDIO BAND. THIS IS WHAT YOU WANT.

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Untitle

AUDIOFROG GS62 6.75-INCH COAXIALS ARE A GREAT UPGRADE SOLUTION FOR ANY SYSTEM. THEY OFFER SMOOTH FREQUENCY RESPONSE AND EXCELLENT DYNAMICS.

BONUS BASICS Building an amazing audio system is really just that simple – good amplification and good speakers. There are enough interfaces available today that you can leave your factory radio in your dash alone. JL Audio recently introduced an interface processor called the FiX-82 that can sum signals together from your factory woofers, midrange and tweeters and undo time-alignment. The result is a full-bandwidth, flat response signal that can be fed to aftermarket amplifiers and processors.

In terms of acoustics, your car or truck is a pretty harsh environment. There are many different reflective materials like plastic, vinyl and glass in your vehicle that can wreak havoc

with the frequency response of your system.

The small size of a vehicle interior also has a dramatic effect on how your music sounds.

Implementing a good signal processor that allows your installer to compensate for the environment can have a stunning effect on the performance of your audio system. These processors include crossovers to ensure each driver is operating in the frequency range for which it is designed, equalization to compensate for acoustic issues and time alignment to correct for speaker placement.

If you haven’t heard a car audio system with a properly configured DSP processor, then you owe it to yourself to check one out. Call that your homework.

F���������� �����������

Home & Mobile Audio Accessories

T������������������������� Accepts up to five 1/0 Gauge Terminals

Optional Top Post Mount Connects Factory Battery Terminal

Bassik 3 Ring Port Battery Terminal

Untitled-3 Listen Up - 136_TunerHandbook 1 v3.indd 3

Ultimate Battery Terminal with Ring Terminal Mount

0 / 4 / 8 Gauge Ports

2015-11-23 1:49 2016-02-12 4:48 PM

INDUSTRY

SPOTLIGHT STORY BY

Micky Slinger

PHOTOGRAPHY BY

Daniel Covarrubias

SEKRIT MANUFACTURING In the tuning community, the name “Killagram” is instantly recognizable. What some people don’t know is that behind the massive name, there’s a regular guy named Daniel Covarrubias, who’s skipping meals and sleep to put his dreams to work.

When he told us he was launching a design/manufacturing company, with his infamous chassis-mount wings serving as the basis, we were pretty stoked. So, we held him hostage for a while and got him to answer some questions about how he’s making the transition from show goer to parts thrower.

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MICKY SLINGER: So far, you’ve had a very successful career in the automotive industry. As a car enthusiast, what made you want to get into the manufacturing side of things?

DANIEL COVARRUBIAS: Essentially, I could never buy what I was looking for. That’s what it comes down to. I wasn’t necessarily wanting to start a brand or anything like that, I just wanted the parts for my car.

It’s all a coincidence. People managed to like what I was building and we just decided to go for it. I saw an opportunity, growth, a lot of things. It’s pretty much down to the partnerships that we’ve developed within the last year who have helped get us to where we are today.

I’m not saying I’m anywhere close to where I want to be, but I think we are able to actually make something successful out of it.

What made it possible for you to launch an endeavor like this - essentially taking on your own brand, your own manufacturing company?

I would say it’s not exactly a manufacturing company. We are something like a design firm because we want to build everything. We even have a whole other side planned that’s not automotive related. If I wasn’t into cars, it would be pursuing architectural and product design.

The partnerships we've developed within the last year have really helped us get to where we are today.

“QUOTES ON QUOTES ON QUOTES. JUMP UP! YOU MADE BRO. GOING UP!” NAME IF THERE IS ONE

What’s the meaning behind the name? It’s spelled unusually and you’re using accents over some of the letters.

1995 Nissan 240SX (S14)Is there a reason for it being likeDRIVER: that,Alec orHohnadell is just a stylistic LOCATION: Miramar Beach, FL choice?

Why SEKRIT?

ESSENTIALS

ESSENTIALS

BUILT BY: Forrest Wang, Garret Nikolich

OWNER: Salik Zaki CLUB AFFILIATION: TeamECR ENGINE: 1.5L I4 HORSEPOWER: 130 hp TORQUE: 105 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm

ForENGINE: SEKRIT, the 6.2L main Chevrolet LS3thing V8 HORSEPOWER: 887fact hp that we just behind it is the TORQUE: 845 lb-ft want to build something original and unique. Obviously, that’s the SOCIAL MEDIA goal with every brand. A huge @AlecHohnadell thing /Alec for me is a quote I live by – Hohnadell I’ve told you before – “you can’t 11Racing.com influence the world by trying to be ENGINE like it.” If you look “secret” up in Chevrolet 6.2L LS3 swap the∂ dictionary, thisV8isengine the phonetic ∂ Holley ECU tune ∂ Insane Power pronunciation of the word.

That’s camshafts ∂ Trick Flow (LS1 aluminum & polish) justheads, howport I saw it. ∂ Edelbrock throttle body ∂ Ignite race fuel ∂ Injector We want to dofuel diff erent∂things Dynamics ID-1000 injectors MagnaFuel Pro Star EFI fuel pump and have a unique style.

I’ve no& regulator ∂ Magnuson TVS 2300 supercharger ∂ Eaton supercharger ticed that a lot of people actually rotor have the same vision as we do, butEXHAUST in the end, I really feel people ∂ Hooker long tube headers ∂ Custom areoval-shaped just scared to actually exhaust system pursue it because they are too worried DRIVETRAIN about other opinions. ∂ G-Force GSRpeople’s dog box transmission ∂ axles It’sDriveshaft just an Shop opinion.

I don’t want to CHASSIS/SUSPENSION have anybody slow me down. ∂ Stance Pro Comp 2 coilovers ∂ Wisefab (angle kit, rear suspension kit) ∂ Custom 1.75-inch CDS roll cage WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ Cosmis XT 206R wheels – 17-inch (f), 18-inch (r) ∂ Achilles 123 tires – 235/45 R17 (f), 265/35 R18 (r) ∂ Wilwood brakes – dual caliper (r)

I WOULD SAY IT’S NOT EXACTLY A MANUFACTURING WE ARE “GET NUTS LABORATORYCOMPANY. IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WORKED SOMETHING LIKE A DESIGN FIRM BECAUSE ON MAKING HOHNADELL’S CAR WERIGID, WANT TO BUILD EVERYTHING. NOT ONLY BUT SAFE.” EXTERIOR ∂ Super Doof body kit ∂ Ray’s Factory wing ∂ Livery design by Andrew Stewart (AWS Graphics) ∂ Custom wrap by Las Vegas Car Wraps INTERIOR ∂ Racetech 4119HRW seats ∂ Takata Race SFI harnesses ∂ Grip Royal steering wheel ∂ Stack Pro-Control gauges ∂ Fire Sense SPA 4L electric Multi-Flo fire system

2005 Scion xA

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 EXHAUST SYSTEM ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 EXTERIOR ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SUSPENSION ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 INTERIOR ∫ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∫ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∫ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∫ Turbosmart blow-off valve MOBILE ELECTRONICS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SPONSORS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SPECIAL THANKS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200

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INDUSTRY

SPOTLIGHT

What is your end goal, or somewhere that you’ll be happy to see yourself, down the road with SEKRIT? With SEKRIT, we really want to create high-quality, original product and really support our partners. We want to integrate other people’s products as well, because honestly, they’re the ones that made this possible.

I want to build a relationship with these people. I’m not just here to make money. That’s why I say this is a movement. It’s not just a brand or a company trying to find where there’s a market and make a ton of money. I want to support our youth and everyone else and be able to push them further. To me, it’s not a competition; I want us all to make it.

WE’RE EVENTUALLY GOING TO BE DOING CHASSIS BRACES, FULL BOLT-IN CAGES, SHIFTERS, WHEELS, STEERING WHEELS PRETTY MUCH EVERYTHING THAT YOU USE ON A REGULAR BASIS, SO YOU CAN GET THE BEST QUALITY THAT YOU POSSIBLY CAN EVERYWHERE THROUGHOUT YOUR CAR.

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One of your products that you’re very well known for is your chassis-mount GT wing.

When you made that first one for your car, did you always have it in mind that you were going to be making more at some point?

Not exactly. I knew we were going to revise my personal chassismount GT wing. Our first one was an inch and three-quarters taller, eighth inch thinner, and two inches further back from the car. We actually switched to 6061 aluminum with our second version and we noticed that there was a little bit of shaking.

It wasn’t excessive, but it wasn’t perfect, so we brought it down an inch and three-quarters, made it an eighth inch thicker and pushed it in two inches closer to the car.

Now it doesn’t even need trunk support, so we don’t have any braces going to the rear anymore.

There was demand for the wing. Many of my buddies brought it up and said, “Let’s just do it,” so we tried a few out. Now we have five in Southern California. There’s going to be, shortly, another one in Canada, which will be sweet. I like to install the wings personally and build that relationship and let them know it means more to me.

I’m not going to be making a whole lot of these things. We’re probably going to make a couple more and then wrap it up with a new design and new applications.

What other products do you have in the works for SEKRIT right now? Why did you choose those specifically?

We’re developing a full exhaust system for the ZN6 (FR-S and BRZ) chassis right now. We just finished the headers and we’re developing our axle-back right now. We’re actually deciding on exactly what material to keep them. Right now, they’re all stainless, but we’re actually thinking of going full titanium. For me, it’s all about quality, and I would rather sell a few titanium ones than a 1,000 stainless ones, just because I don’t want anything on my car or other people’s cars other than the best.

We’re eventually going to be doing chassis braces, full bolt-in cages, shifters, wheels, steering wheels - pretty much everything that you use on a regular basis, so you can get the best quality that you possibly can everywhere throughout your car.

The plan is to -- within the next three years -- switch the focus to BMWs. I am huge BMW fan. I’ll never forget my roots and where I came from with the ZN6 chassis and S13. Of course, we’re going to be doing more of that stuff, but within the next few years, we would like SEKRIT to be manufacturing a lot of BMW products.

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ESSENTIALS

ESSENTIALS

DRIVER: Alec Hohnadell LOCATION: Miramar Beach, FL BUILT BY: Forrest Wang, Garret Nikolich ENGINE: Chevrolet 6.2L LS3 V8 HORSEPOWER: 887 hp TORQUE: 845 lb-ft

OWNER: Salik Zaki CLUB AFFILIATION: TeamECR ENGINE: 1.5L I4 HORSEPOWER: 130 hp TORQUE: 105 lb-ft @ 4,200 rpm

1995 Nissan 240SX (S14)

Why don’t you take me through your creative process? How do you start with an idea for a part and eventually physically produce it?

ENGINE ∂ Chevrolet 6.2L LS3 V8 engine swap ∂ Holley ECU tune ∂ Insane Power camshafts ∂ Trick Flow (LS1 aluminum heads, port & polish) ∂ Edelbrock throttle body ∂ Ignite race fuel ∂ Injector Dynamics ID-1000 fuel injectors ∂ MagnaFuel Pro Star EFI fuel pump & regulator ∂ Magnuson TVS 2300 supercharger ∂ Eaton supercharger rotor EXHAUST ∂ Hooker long tube headers ∂ Custom oval-shaped exhaust system

IF what THERE ONE allowed NAME me to do I’mIS doing now. There are a lot of guys that help me out with the product. It’s not a sponsorship to me; it’s a partnership. I’m going to help you just as equally as you’re going to help me.

Just stay humble. Don’t forget who you are, why you’re doing this and don’t do it for more money.

You need to figure out what your goal is and see if it’s possible to turn your hobby into a career.

Never strive for instant gratification. Always invest in the long-term outcome because that’s what will honestly make you successful. We weren’t born to just pay bills and die. We are here to live a life, and we all choose what we make of it. The moment people stop comparing, is the moment they will realize comparison kills creativity.

Almost always, the creative and dedicated minority has made the world a better place.

“GET NUTS LABORATORY IN LAS VEGAS, NEVADA, WORKED ON MAKING HOHNADELL’S CAR NOT ONLY RIGID, BUT SAFE.”

Is there any advice that you’d like to share with a budding automotive entrepreneur out there?

A lot of people ask me, “How are you doing what you’re doing?

What made you be able to do this stuff?” Honestly, it all comes down to building relationships naturally.

I have this thing about me that whenever somebody needs help with something, I’m always like, “Yeah, let’s do it,” before

EXHAUST SYSTEM ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200

JUST STAY HUMBLE. DON’T FORGET WHO YOU ARE, WHY YOU’RE DOING THIS AND DON’T DO IT FOR MORE MONEY.

think about how much “QUOTESI even ON QUOTES ON I normally sketch my designs on time I have to do it. But it’s those QUOTES. JUMP UP! YOU MADE some graph paper, which then relationships and the people that BRO. GOING leads to rendering those designs I've sacrificed my time forUP!” that in Photoshop. Then we mock some stuff in styrofoam. We just stay creative and start marking some stuff up. Then it gets put into solid works and then we get it machined. It’s not all about what I like; we try to get a group of suggestions so we can please everyone as well. We don’t have too many products right now to please everybody, but it’s in the works.

ENGINE MODIFICATIONS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6

SOCIAL MEDIA @AlecHohnadell /Alec Hohnadell 11Racing.com

Are there going to be any other platforms, like the S-chassis and ZN6, that you’ll focus on between now and then?

Yeah! On top of the ZN6 and S13, we’ll be doing some S14 stuff, BMW stuff, we’re going to be working on a 2015 STI and some S2K stuff.

2005 Scion xA

DRIVETRAIN ∂ G-Force GSR dog box transmission ∂ Driveshaft Shop axles CHASSIS/SUSPENSION ∂ Stance Pro Comp 2 coilovers ∂ Wisefab (angle kit, rear suspension kit) ∂ Custom 1.75-inch CDS roll cage WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ Cosmis XT 206R wheels – 17-inch (f), 18-inch (r) ∂ Achilles 123 tires – 235/45 R17 (f), 265/35 R18 (r) ∂ Wilwood brakes – dual caliper (r) EXTERIOR ∂ Super Doof body kit ∂ Ray’s Factory wing ∂ Livery design by Andrew Stewart (AWS Graphics) ∂ Custom wrap by Las Vegas Car Wraps INTERIOR ∂ Racetech 4119HRW seats ∂ Takata Race SFI harnesses ∂ Grip Royal steering wheel ∂ Stack Pro-Control gauges ∂ Fire Sense SPA 4L electric Multi-Flo fire system

EXTERIOR ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator WHEELS/TIRES/BRAKES ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SUSPENSION ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 INTERIOR ∫ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∫ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∫ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∫ Turbosmart blow-off valve MOBILE ELECTRONICS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SPONSORS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark plugs, EVC 6 boost controller) ∂ Jotech (air filter, fuel rail) ∂ Ferrea (stainless valves, titanium retainers, dual valve springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200 SPECIAL THANKS ∂ HKS (GT1000 turbo kit, intercooler, hoses, GTII wastegate, Iridium spark springs) ∂ Turbosmart blow-off valve ∂ Aeromotive fuel pressure regulator ∂ Kelford camshafts ∂ ID200

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INS AND OUTS OF LANDING A SPONSORSHIP STORY BY MICKY SLINGER | PHOTOS COURTESY FOX MARKETING

H

ere at PASMAG, we get endless amounts of questions about sponsorships. It’s like some of you guys think we give them out sometimes, I swear. To be honest, our knowledge on the topic of sponsorships was getting a little foggy, too, so to clear the air, I sat down with Brian Fox, the head honcho over at Fox Marketing, and asked the master himself about the art of sponsorship.

Why Brian Fox? Fox has been on both sides of the sponsorship spectrum. He manages high profile accounts like Takata and BASF, so he knows what he wants when he’s looking to sponsor. Alternatively, he also chases sponsors as he builds for clients like Lexus, Nissan, Hyundai and Ford to build standout show vehicles. Throw in over 16 years of industry experience, and who else would you think to ask, really?

MICKY: How can you make yourself stand out from the crowd when applying for sponsorship?

BRIAN: I think it really has to do with the opportunity that you present to a specific company. It’s all about being unique at the end of the day.

Creating your own unique look, looking at the trends that are going on, looking at what the magazines are featuring - you have to really do your research. You have to size up the competition. Look at all the cars that were built in that category and make yourself different. Don’t try and imitate; innovate. That is the best thing that you can possibly do. Try and be the first to market with something.

M: Say someone's got an older model year car that’s not necessarily the hottest car out there.

What would be the best way of getting that car noticed?

B: If you’re building the most awe-

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some thing out there, it’s going to get attention, right? If you’re building something that looks like a car that was done 10 years ago, what’s the selling point here?

We're visual. We're attracted to things. That’s why we love cars.

That’s why renderings are so important to capturing your idea and getting it canvased.

There are marketable vehicles and there are not marketable vehicles. You have to look at the companies that are making aftermarket parts. If it’s a car that’s selling a lot of those said parts, then it's way more marketable than a vehicle that nobody else is hooking up. It’s good to be unique within your chassis, but you also need to be realistic.

Look at the Scion FR-S. There’s a ton of them at shows. That might give you a little bit better opportunity to get sponsorship, but the competition is a hell of a lot harder, too. You’ve got to find

that happy medium. Look into magazines. Look online. Google is your friend. Use your friend. Do your research and create something awesome!

M: What’s the best way to approach a company about a sponsorship?

B: It’s all about your vision, your plan, your rendering and your concept. Take that concept and make it sales-driven. I want to know about that person’s network.

They might belong to a local car club or have a great reach. You need to tell us about your reach.

How is your reach going to help me impact my sales? Paint isn’t cheap. When I sponsor somebody, it’s a $3,000 to $5,000 investment. That’s a lot of cake, so I better sell 10 paint jobs off of that and you better have a plan to do that. That’s what I want to see.

You’ve got to understand business and how it operates. You’ve

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got to work for it; it’s not just a free handout.

What are you going to do for that manufacturer? What are you going to do to help the local business that’s helping you out with discounted labor? Think about it locally and on the national level.

M: So, at the end of the day, it's all about Return On Investment (ROI)?

B: I don’t really like all those fancy marketing terms, like exposure, branding and ROI. If that vehicle creates a lot of attention, you’re going to get exposure and that person looking to sponsor you should have enough vision to see that. You’re going to get ROI because the opportunity (if right) will automatically provide that for the brand.

It is going to help you drive sales because that’s its job.

The business also has to activate its sponsorship. It has to use it in its marketing and you should be discussing that plan.

It has to be an active partnership with the person. Truly, sponsorship is a partnership; a partnership between two parties that are equally vested in that said opportunity. Have the mindset of talking partnership, NOT sponsorship. There is a difference.

M: What differences in the sponsorship world have you noticed today compared to when you started?

B: When I first started out, you had to have confirmed magazine exposure. If you weren't going to get in a magazine with a major feature, you weren't getting anything from anyone.

So, depending on what chassis I was building, I'd contact the editor first. I'd put together my proposal and I'd send it right over to the editor. I'd say, “Okay, this is what I'm building, but I'm building it for your magazine.” You’d have to get that feature guarantee.

They have to know you can deliver and where you’re going to have it debuted.

When is it going to be done? I've done 76 cars in 16 years, and there hasn't been one that wasn’t debuted when I said it was going to be debuted. Your name is everything in this industry, but your team you work with needs to know that as well. It’s your name on the line and you only have one chance to make a first impression.

HAVE THE MINDSET OF TALKING PARTNERSHIP, NOT SPONSORSHIP - THERE IS A DIFFERENCE

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M: Now, there are a lot of cars that have never had any magazine involvement, and they're getting sponsorships because they purely have thousands of followers on Instagram. Can you speak on that?

B: As a sponsor, you have to look at that person’s reach or network, and in some cases that can help obtain a sponsorship. A lot of companies make mistakes and sponsor people they shouldn’t just because they have this huge following. I look at the network that person has, the interaction on their account to see what is real and what is not. Personally, I don’t just sponsor someone because of their Instagram account. Sorry, but I need more exposure than that.

M: Are there companies that prefer that you are only sponsored by a minimal number of other companies, or is it the more the better?

B: I do not like a vehicle that is sponsored by 30 people.

You get lost with all the other brands on board. How is your brand going to stand out? They really need to get creative on how they’re going to market and expose my product, and how they’re going to sell my product at the end of the day. I look for the guys that have maybe five or 10 partners, or someone who has an awesome car with no support. Those guys really appreciate things.

Sometimes what I do is call some of my industry partners and I’m like, “Dude, this guy is building something pretty epic here.” I’ll get them involved, too. I’ll get them sponsored by somebody else because that’s more marketing for the company that I’m representing, as well. It gives us more legs. The more marketing and the more help we can get from the industry, the better.

It’s about the partnership at the end of the day.

M: Should you tailor your proposal depending on what parts you’re after?

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B: I get universal proposals all the time. They never tell me what they’re looking for. They never tell me what I’m going to get out of it. They’ll send it to a tire company.

They’ll send it to a harness company. They’ll send it to a wheel company. You put no thought into this. You really don’t care. You’re just looking for free parts. Do your research on the company first, please!

I want to make sure that people that I work with are educated on my product so you don’t sound like a quack when you’re standing next to your car. This is not a bragging contest, like telling everybody that you’re hanging out with that you’re sponsored by Rockford Fosgate, for example. I want a person to SELL my product and tell them what kind of amp it is, how much wattage it’s got, why you selected it in your car.

You’ve got to interact with people. If you’re not trying to interact with people and have fun with this stuff, why are you at a car show? Fellow enthusiasts ask questions because they want to learn what to do with their car. Help them!

M: Does gender have any effect on getting sponsorship at all? Should that info be included in a proposal?

B: Absolutely. Look at it. This is a male-dominated industry, right? You go to SEMA or any car show and it’s dudes everywhere. The most marketable thing in the automotive industry is an awesome girl that’s got a badass ride. She’s going to get more exposure than any dude can possibly get because she’s a girl. It just adds to that uniqueness factor.

The more women in the game, the better. It also has to do with how she presents herself. There are a lot of criteria involved. I get requests from females a couple times a year. There are some that just catch my eye. If she presents herself well, she can represent my brand well.

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There’s a girl that I work with; her name’s Danielle Murphy. She’s a professional drifter over in Ireland. I sponsored her years ago with Takata and she’s done a fabulous job, even on the global standpoint. She’s a good person. She’s into the game. She’s a great drifter. She does a better job than most of the guys I sponsor.

MICKY: How about what not to do?

BRIAN: Here's something that drives me insane. Somebody will send me an email and tell me this five-paragraph story about all this stuff. I’ll never read it because you know what? I didn’t ask you for an essay, dude. I asked you for a proposal.

I’ve gotten five sponsorship requests since I started talking to you, and not one told me what they want. Here’s one from Chicago: he has a Skyline and wants some racing seats.

Okay then. I make three different racing seats. Which one do you want? Do you need a recommendation? It just drives me insane, dude. Would you go to a wheel company and say, “Hey, I want some wheels?” That really narrows it down…

Be specific! Go to the company’s website and do your research. You need to educate yourself on the company before you go to them. Figure out what the product’s retail value is.

And don’t be afraid to pick up the phone! I don’t do business via email all the time. I get 400 emails a day. It takes too long. Call me. That’s your best bet if you want an answer and to close the deal.

M: What’s your best advice to someone looking to acquire sponsorship(s)?

B: Don’t ever think just because you haven’t built anything before, that you don’t have a fair shot because you really do. You’ve just got to prove yourself.

Most importantly: in this industry, if you burn your name, you're done. You're out because everybody knows everybody.

You're only one person away from knowing someone else. All potential sponsors - we all know each other. We're only an email away from contacting each other.

Do we do background research on you?

Absolutely! If I don't know you, then I'm going to find someone who does and what they have to say about your reputation.

If you start name dropping that so-and-so's sponsoring you, it better be what you said it is. So many people blow smoke and play it off like they're fully sponsored, but the guy got a 10% discount on some parts. That's not a sponsorship, so don't front like it is.

There goes your credibility. Now, you're done. I'm not working with you.

Once you get sponsored, update your sponsor with video and pictures from each show you attended the day after your event. Did you win any awards? Are you talking to a magazine? You have to update people and let them know what’s going on. Send them pictures and you’re more likely to be on their social media channels, growing your network. Think about what you can do to help them, and they’ll help you in return.

THE MOST MARKETABLE THING IN THE AUTOMOTIVE INDUSTRY IS AN AWESOME GIRL THAT'S GOT A BADASS RIDE

DON'T EVER THINK JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVEN'T BUILT ANYTHING BEFORE, THAT YOU DON'T HAVE A FAIR SHOT BECAUSE YOU REALLY DO.

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ONE OF A KIND AND FOR GOOD REAS REASON ON

STORY BY MICKY SLINGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALEC DONALDSON

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ZIGGY

STARDAST

THERE’S A TURNING POINT WHEN SOMETHING THAT STARTED OUT AS A HOBBY BECOMES A LIFESTYLE; WHEN SOMETHING YOU LIKE OR ARE INTERESTED IN BECOMES SOMETHING YOU LOVE. TUNING VEHICLES IS SUCH A GREAT EXAMPLE OF THAT. YOU START OUT SMALL AND WORK YOUR WAY UP UNTIL THE SCENE EVENTUALLY SWALLOWS YOU WHOLE – NOT THAT YOU PUT UP A FIGHT TO STOP IT. YOU COMPETE, YOU LOSE, YOU LEARN, YOU MAKE YOURSELF BROKE, AND YOU COULDN’T BE HAPPIER.

N

ot only is Brian McCann a textbook example of someone who has dedicated his life to the scene, he’s also built the most insane and exclusive Nissan 350Z that we’ve ever seen. It’s no wonder that he made it all the way to the final round of Tuner Battlegrounds and was able to show his car off at SEMA. It fit right in amongst all the other “out-of-this-world” builds at the show. I might have even seen some of them blushing.

“I’m a normal, part-buyer and car-builder kind of guy that found himself getting connected into the industry,” says McCann. “Right now, I own AZEXILED, which is a small, relationship-based reseller and importer of JDM parts.”

Stardast, if you didn’t know, is the name of wide hip kit on McCann’s Z and one of the companies he distributes for. He was actually among the first three people in North America to get the widebody kit for his 350Z – one owner in Las Vegas, Al Vincent in Manitoba, Canada (also a TBG competitor) and McCann in Arizona. The transaction ended with McCann receiving an exclusive kit and a working relationship with Stardast in Japan.

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“There were many late night/ early morning messages to Japan, and after overcoming our communication barrier, I ended up becoming great friends with Kenichi Nezu, CEO of Stardast, and actually became their global distributor for everywhere outside of Japan,” McCann recalls.

Before the Stardast-clad 350Z that most of you, and everyone on the SEMA floor, are familiar with, McCann took it through a couple changes. The first iteration was built up with exclusively aggressive Weber parts in 2010 and 2011.

The next major change came in 2012 and 2013 with the addition of the controversial VeilSide kit, flat black paint job and what McCann painfully describes as a “two-year engine build saga.”

What most don’t realize is that McCann’s 350Z has been with him for the long haul. As a guy in his mid-20s, who just started making a bit of extra money, he purchased the car brand new off the dealership lot in 2005. It started out with small things, like stickers and eventually steering wheels, but we all know how quickly that can snowball.

“You do basic stuff because it looks good enough and it’s cool for you and keeps things simple, but then that one cool mod will roll around that brings up the level of the car,” McCann explains. “Then you sell everything you put on the car and level up those mods to match.”

After deciding he was over the VeilSide kit and acquiring the Stardast one, it was time to level up the rest of the car to match the transformational widebody.

McCann enlisted the help of his friend Niko Markovich, who just so happens to be a very talented rendering artist. Through Markovich’s skill to render accurately, McCann was able to see which parts would mesh and which ones wouldn’t before dropping the cash on them to be modified by Division Autosport and Extreme Auto Concepts.

Through this whole planning and design process, McCann took huge inspiration from two particular cars that he spotted at the Tokyo Auto Salon in 2014.

“The car itself is a blend of the two cars that Stardast had at Tokyo Auto Salon,” reveals McCann.

“They had their white 350Z sharing

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“YOU CAN’T JUST BUY THE SAME STUFF I DID AND PUT IT TOGETHER.”

ZIGGY

STARDAST a booth with the FD RX-7 from Car Shop Glow.

I have pictures of both of them together and made mash-up pictures of my car as a literal blend between the two.”

Inspired by the RX-7’s radical splitters and canards, McCann set out to give his Z the same feel, but with no splitters on the market for the Z that fit with his aggressive vision, he ended up taking the good old DIY approach. Taking sheets of alumalite, McCann cut them to proper size and design for his car, made them chassis-mount for extra stability and bent them into shape. Best of all, it’s all functional!

“I didn’t want to build a car that looks like a race car, but have it not function like one, so nothing on the car that looks functional is skin deep,” McCann reveals.

On top of the handmade splitters on the front and sides, Garage Mak GT wing, C West canards, and even then Garage Kagatoni diffuser – originally meant for an FD RX-7 – are all functional pieces on the 350Z. It’s a good thing, too, because the built engine, with parts from names like Brian Crower, CP Pistons, Mishimoto and Precision Turbo, combine to give McCann 650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. It’s best to make sure the car is planted in any way possible.

After drooling over rare JDM parts and taking many a picture of the Niche Targa threepiece forged wheels, SEMA show goers next turned their attention to the outstanding body on the Z. Under the Stardast over-fenders and Avery Dennison Midnight Sand wrap are more imported beauties, like the JP Vizage front bumper, Do Luck rear bumper and Amuse 380RS fenders and skirts. Technically, you could buy all of this and put in on a 350Z, but it would never look anything close to McCann’s Z. That’s because of the extensive custom work it took to satiate his artistic vision.

“You can’t just buy the same stuff I did and put it together,” McCann says. “It’s not a ques-

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tion of just filling a gap; it’s sectioning multiple pieces, cutting the wheel arches out of the front bumper and moving them forward or backwards to create better radiuses, changing the overall shape of the nose on the bumper.”

It took 12 hours worth of labor to modify the VIS Racing hood to fit around the additions to the engine. That’s the kind of work that McCann is willing to put in to perfect his vision. That’s also something that gets lost behind a build that is high profile like this.

McCann turned wrenches on this car, he didn’t just drop it at a shop with a check and then pick it up a couple months later. When he needed help, he employed his friends.

“If I couldn’t turn a wrench or if I couldn’t do the bodywork, there’s no way I could trust just anyone with my vision,” McCann says. “Yes, I did a lot of the work myself and this is my work of art, but it was carried out by the hands of my friends, who were my surgeons.”

When this hobby becomes a lifestyle and this interest becomes a love, it’s important to keep track of your roots. Doing things yourself and doing them with your friends are really some of the most important things you can do to keep this whole tuning thing alive, especially when it becomes part of your livelihood.

With that said, it’s safe to say that the tuning fire is burning bright at McCann’s camp. You can bet that when he goes even more functional this year with Voodoo13 billet suspension arms and Stance Supersport coilovers and air cup system, his friends will be ready to help him put that monster together.

ESSENTIALS 2005 Nissan 350Z OWNER: Brian McCann LOCATION: Scottsdale, AZ CLUB AFFILIATION: AZEXILED ENGINE: Nissan VQ35DE 3.5L V6 HORSEPOWER: 650 hp TORQUE: 650 lb-ft BUILT BY: SAAD Racing, Intense Motorsports, Extreme Auto Concepts ENGINE ∂ Ported & polished heads ∂ Brian Crower (valve springs, valve retainers, Sportsman piston rods) ∂ CP Pistons forged pistons ∂ Powerlab (turbo kit, plenum spacer) ∂ Precision Turbo CEA 6266 turbocharger ∂ Mishimoto (intercooler, power steering cooler, oil cooler, hoses) ∂ TiaL (blow-off valve, wastegate) ∂ Nitrous Express wet kit ∂ K&N air filter ∂ Universal air intake ∂ CJM Stage 0 RFS fuel system ∂ Walbro 400 fuel pump ∂ ID 850 fuel injectors ∂ DressUpBolts.com anodized titanium hardware ∂ TiBurnt. com burnt titanium hardware ∂ Evo R polished & burnt titanium accents ∂ Extreme Auto Concepts full wire tuck ∂ ARC (polished catch can, oil cap) ∂ PTP Lava turbo blanket ∂ Project X Customs polished valve covers EXHAUST ∂ Tomei Expreme titanium single-exit exhaust system ∂ Powerlab shorty header ∂ Custom (up-pipe, 3-in. down-pipe, 14-in. down-pipe resonator) DRIVETRAIN ∂ Jim Wolf (semi-metallic full-face spring disc clutch, lightweight flywheel) ∂ Stainless steel clutch lines ∂ TWM modified short shifter ∂ RJM clutch pedal bracket ∂ Quaiffe differential WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ Niche Targa modular forged wheels – 19x11 -7et (f), 19x11 -44et (r) ∂ Toyo Proxes R888 tires – 295/30 R19 (f/r) ∂ Akebono - 4-piston calipers (f), 2-piston calipers (r) ∂ StopTech stainless steel brake lines ∂ Amsoil brake fluid CHASSIS / SUSPENSION ∂ Stance LX coilovers ∂ Accuair (eLevel rocker air suspension system, Exo mounting system) ∂ Viair air compressors (2) ∂ UAS Aero Sport air bags ∂ Stillen sway bars ∂ Whiteline urethane bushings ∂ Energy Suspension urethane bushings ∂ Cusco front strut bar ∂ Megan Racing rear control arms ∂ GTSPEC (front fender braces, rear lower subframe tie brace, front splitter chassis mount, rear diffuser chassis mount) EXTERIOR ∂ JP Vizage front bumper ∂ Do Luck Aero Wivern rear bumper ∂ Amuse 380RS Superleggera (fenders, side skirts) ∂ Stardast wide fender flare kit ∂ VIS carbon fiber (Jun Racing Hyperlemon replica hood (heavily modified), roof cap, tunnel hatch) ∂ Aerocatch hood pins ∂ Craftsquare carbon fiber side mirrors ∂ Garage Mak (GT wing, carbon fiber duckbill lip spoiler) ∂

Top Secret titanium badging ∂ C West front canards ∂ Password JDM dry carbon fiber winglets ∂ Custom alumalite (front splitter, side splitters) ∂ Fully Torqued Racing splitter support rods ∂ Garage Kagatoni FD RX-7 carbon fiber rear diffuser ∂ Nissan 2006 350Z (bi-xenon headlights, LED taillights) ∂ EVO R (370 LED fog/F1 light, carbon fiber door handles) ∂ Black painted headlight housings ∂ XB35 HID 6000k headlight retrofit ∂ The Retrofit Source Inc 5Five 50-watt ballasts ∂ Z-LEDS (LED switchback side panels, red ring demon eye) ∂ Custom 10-watt Cree LED DRLs in the bumper ∂ Avery Dennison Supreme Midnight Sand matte metallic wrap ∂ John Deere Blitz Black paint ∂ Vintage Wood & Decal Bar vinyl graphics ∂ Division Autosport custom blending & sectioning bodywork INTERIOR ∂ EVO R (Alcantara dash, carbon fiber dash pieces, hood-mount gauge pod) ∂ TWM (M1 Abrams shift knob, shift extender) ∂ Nardi Deep Corn Black Edition steering wheel ∂ TiBurnt burnt titanium steering wheel hardware ∂ NRG short steering wheel hub ∂ Top Gaiters UK (leather shift boot, aluminum gauge trim) ∂ Marshall amber gauges ∂ Speedhut (custom electronic 52-mm gauges, machined billet bezels) ∂ GaugeCraft RGB main cluster ∂ AEM (TrueBoost gauge, UEGO wideband gauge) ∂ Crawford dash-mount gauge cubby ∂ ATI column-mount gauge pod ∂ Stillen carbon fiber pillar-mount gauge pod ∂ Sparco Chrono Road seats ∂ American Motorsports modified planted low seat bases ∂ Takata Drift 3 black harnesses ∂ Enjuku Racing harness bar ∂ Nismo floor mats ∂ Momo aluminum heel plates ∂ Wicked CAS door speaker pods ∂ Carbon fiber door panels ∂ Alcantara headliner ∂ 380RS pedal set ∂ DEFI VSD Basis HUD MOBILE ELECTRONICS ∂ Alpine (IVA W505 head unit, Imprint processor, PDX 1.1000 sub amp, PDX 4.150 sub amp) ∂ JL Audio 13TW5 subwoofer ∂ False floor style sealed MDF enclosure ∂ Boston Acoustics Pro60SE component set ∂ Optima YellowTop battery ∂ DC Power Inc 250-amp billet HOA alternator ∂ Stinger (distribution blocks, 10-farad hybrid capacitor) SPONSORS Toyo Tires, Mishimoto, Niche Road Wheels, Accuair, Stardast Japan, Amsoil, Apex’I, Speedhut Gauges, Concept Z Performance, GTSPEC, VIS Racing, Fully Torqued Racing, Extreme Auto Concepts, Division Autosports, The Retrofit Source Inc, Z-LEDS, AZEXILED, TiBurnt

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T H E H A W A I I A N B A C K YA R D - B U I LT O D Y V I A STORY & PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAYSON SANTOYO

ALEX CHING PURCHASED THE BARE SHELL OF THIS 1989 NISSAN 240SX IN 2011 AND, THOUGH IT LOOKED LIKE A WRECK, HE AND HIS FRIENDS WENT RIGHT TO WORK TO BRING OUT ITS FULL POTENTIAL INSPIRED BY PAST BUILDS.

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S

o what makes this build different from the others?

What makes this car fall into the rare category of “built not bought?” Craftsmanship. The tedious craftsmanship and dedication that lies behind the custom parts and project as a whole puts Ching’s 240SX at the top.

The 26-year-old car skeleton had no interior whatsoever and was completely covered in rust. Off to the side was a rebuilt motor, while the transmission sat in the trunk.

Though it looked like a wreck, Ching and his friends went right to work and brought out its full potential.

Within months of the initial purchase, Alex had rebuilt the car by adding a new S15 front end and a turbo. Most S-chassis in Hawaii get fitted with the infamous SR20 from

Spirit

T H E H A W A I I A N B A C K YA R D - B U I LT O D Y V I A

“THE 26-YEAR-OLD CAR SKELETON HAD NO INTERIOR WHATSOEVER AND WAS COMPLETELY COVERED IN RUST. OFF TO THE SIDE WAS A REBUILT MOTOR, WHILE THE TRANSMISSION SAT IN THE TRUNK. ” Japan, but Ching decided otherwise. Having previous experiences with other 240SXs, Alex chose to turbocharge the KA and stick out from the normal fanboy fetish.

Everyone does SR swaps in Hawaii,” says Ching. “My KA-T is just as powerful with fewer headaches.”

In America, 240SXs come factory-equipped with a KA24, which is 0.4 liters bigger than the JDM SR20. A great advantage with keeping the original KA motor is that parts are available and usually readily in stock if needed. Living

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in Hawaii, most things may take a while to arrive, so accessible parts were in Ching’s best interest. The intent was to hit numbers around 300 horsepower. With the new Xcessive intake manifold, 550 cc RC top feed injectors, Super T70 turbo, DOC race exhaust manifold and a three-inch XS intercooler, reaching over 300 horsepower wasn’t even a problem. Ching’s 240 actually makes over 400 horsepower now!

The custom fitment and paint was done by hand at home by Ching himself. His backyard garage was set up with a makeshift paint booth made from a portable tent and canvas. Even after fresh paint and switching between two sets of wheels, the 240SX did not place in any of the car shows it was entered in. Unsatisfied with the outcome,

Ching decided to go a different route. He sold the S15 front end and settled on a JDM S13 front end. That didn’t last long after an accident, leaving him with a faceless chassis and condemned to retirement for over a year.

“Five years ago, after my accident in another 240, I told myself to stop working on cars,” Ching recalls.

Yet, the love for the scene kept him against his word. After seeing a photo online of an Odyssey conversion on an S13 just like his, he was inspired to rebuild his car again. Ching was going to build the famed Odyvia.

In addition to working full time, he worked various side jobs to help fund the parts he needed.

No job was too much for Ching;

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he gained skills for painting cars and making minor mechanical repairs in and out of an autobody repair shop. Prepping and painting over 10 cars by himself in his backyard also gave him the experience he needed to take on the Odyvia project.

Ching welded together his own all-metal front fenders using scraps from the S13. The hood was shaved to fit the Odyssey headlights. The rear fenders were pulled and flared to accommodate the flush stance of the aggressive CCWs. He also fabricated an S13 fastback third brake light on his coupe trunk. Using all metal pieces reduces the risk of paint cracking, which is prone to happen with fiberglass parts. This was necessary considering how low the 240 was going to be set on its new Fortune Auto suspension.

Sitting as an empty shell, within three months, Ching’s goal was to enter his car in HIN December 2014. Even after a career change into Civil Engineering, Alex spent most of his off-duty hours prepping the 240. Thanks to his friends and a hefty sponsorship, the 240 quickly came together. The paint and bodywork was mostly finished, the engine was overhauled and equipped with new parts. OEM Nissan glass, Sparco interior parts and the fourth time re-barreling the original CCW LM20s he started with rounded out this iteration of the build.

“If I was never into painting, my car would have have never looked like this,” states Ching.

Even before wet sanding and buffing, the new blue paint looked 80

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“EVERYONE DOES SR SWAPS IN HAWAII. MY KA-T IS JUST AS POWERFUL WITH FEWER HEADACHES.”

ESSENTIALS 1989 Nissan 240SX

OWNER: Alexander Ching VEHICLE: 1989 Nissan 240SX LOCATION: Kailua, Hawaii, USA ENGINE: Nissan KA24DE 2.4L I-4 HORSEPOWER: 400+ (est.)

ENGINE ∂ Super T70 turbocharger ∂ XS Power intercooler ∂ OBX Racing hoses ∂ Blitz VD blow-off valve ∂ Turbonetics wastegate ∂ Infiniti Q45 throttle body ∂ Xcessive Manufacturing intake manifold ∂ Turbo 240 fuel rail ∂ AEM fuel pressure regulator ∂ Walbro 255 fuel pump ∂ RC 550 cc top feed fuel injectors ∂ NGK BKR6 spark plugs ∂ ECU tune EXHAUST ∂ Apexi N1 Turbo exhaust system ∂ DOC Racing header ∂ Custom down-pipe

flawless, with straight bodylines and no trace of orange peel.

Of course, rushing a build like this comes with consequences. His backyard paint booth was fighting with the stormy, tropic Hawaiian weather, so all work toward the project was put on pause. Ching felt if the car wasn’t up to his standard, he didn’t want to showcase it. As such, the 240 wasn’t finished on time for HIN 2014, but a new goal was set as the Odyvia’s debut.

The new goal was to take time to perfect the Odyvia to enter Hawaii’s biggest car show, Spocom, in August 2015.

A three-month build would’ve been amazing considering where and how the car was assembled, but quality was the highest priority. Ching fine-tuned the car and repainted pieces that he thought weren’t exactly perfect, and at Spocom Hawaii 2015, Alex’s KA-T

Odyvia took home first place for Best Nissan and the Super Street award.

“My car never placed at previous car shows, so one of my dreams was to win and I finally did it thanks to my friends,” Ching says.

A backyard build like Ching’s Odyvia is an inspiration to all enthusiasts around the world. The fact that it came together through great comradery and support of his friends just makes Ching’s success even sweeter.

“I didn’t come up with everything,” Alex says humbly. “I had my friends guide me with their second opinions about plans for the Odyvia. If I needed something, my friends would help me and we wouldn’t charge each other or expect anything in return.”

The perfect example of the Aloha Spirit in Hawaii.

DRIVETRAIN ∂ Competition Clutch (Stage 3 clutch, 6-puck flywheel) WHEELS / TIRES / BRAKES ∂ CCW LM20 wheels – 18x11 (f), 18x12 (r) ∂ Nexen SU1 tires – 225/35 R18 (f), 245/40 R18 (r) ∂ Infiniti Q45 2-piston calipers (f) CHASSIS / SUSPENSION ∂ Fortune Auto 500 coilovers ∂ SPL RUA S13 (rear upper control arms, lower control arms) EXTERIOR ∂ Spirit Rei Odyvia front bumper ∂ Vertex rear bumper ∂ Custom (grille, all-metal fenders, third brake light, hood, rear quarter panels, trunk) ∂ Honda Odyssey RB1 headlights ∂ HID conversion ∂ Blue paintjob INTERIOR ∂ Nismo shift knob ∂ Sparco (Lap 5 Street steering wheel, R100 seats, 4-point harnesses) ∂ Gauges (boost, temperature, wideband) SPECIAL THANKS ∂ PASMAG ∂ Jayson Santoyo ∂ Brandon Chang ∂ Cory Chung ∂ Colby Mira ∂ Candace Izumi

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