the MIRROR
| LIFESTYLE |
FALL 2023 | 11
PHOTOS COURTESY | WARRAKAN NATE REIWTAVEE
He built a
car with his bare hands
BY OLAMIDE OLUMIDE
A
THE MIRROR NEWS & FEATURES EDITOR
person's relationship with their car tells you a lot about them. For senior Warrakan Nate Reiwtavee, his car is his whole life. Unlike most people, he made the decision to build his car from scratch instead of simply buying one. It took the teen about a year to build his 1991 Nissan 240sx during quarantine. His interest in automobiles began when his dad sold his old drift car when Reiwtavee was 12. Reiwtavee’s passion for cars sprayed through his interest in drifting. “My main goal for that car was to be a car that could be used daily that can still drift around,” he said. Japanese drifter Keiichi Tsuchiya is one of Reiwtavee’s role models. He says that seeing how Tsuchiya drifts and manipulates his wheels is really inspiring. “He's named the Drift King, and seeing him drive his car and drifting it on the track is really cool,” the teen said. “In my spare time I like to study the techniques of different drifters because they all drive differently and sometimes have completely different methods for initiating the drift.” The journey of building his car wasn't smooth. He faced many challenges along the way, but persevered with his end result in mind. “There hasn't been a point where I fully gave up on my car,” he said. “But there would be days when a problem
stretched on for a while, and it would make me so frustrated.” The thought of driving it when it was finished was what kept him going. “Being able to drive is really fun for me,” Reiwtavee said. “I really like driving, so the idea of being able to drive it after building it is what kept my dedication up.” While he does occasionally drift with his car, it's not as convenient because this hobby has its consequences. “Once we towed the car up to
the Apple Valley it's discovered that he Speedway and built it. drifted out “I don't think I there for a day would ever want to and overall it sell this car,” he said. was a really good “Instead of selling it, it experience,” he said. can be kept as a strictly “If I could, I would drift track car so it can be every day. But since it modified even further. LIGHT IT UP Warrakan wears down your tires My relationship Nate Reiwtavee’s custom built 1991 Nissan 240sx pretty fast, it’s kind of with my car is like a illuminates the dusk. "My tricky to do daily with person’s relationship main goal for the car was that car when my tires are to be a car that could be with their dog. It's very used daily that can still almost bald.” comforting being able drift around." Building the car to drive it and work wasn't the only laborious on it, just like how part of this project. Reiwtavee also someone finds comfort in playing had to find a way to raise money with or petting their dog.” with which to buy the equipment As a professional mechanic, his necessary. dad lent him a hand with the project. “I sold candy and clothes in school “We both built it but he definitely to make money,” he explained. “With helped me a lot,” Reiwtavee said. “I'm the money that I made, I pitched in kind of discrediting myself for it, but with purchasing the parts needed.” he did help me a lot.” The cost of constructing your own The automotive-enthusiast is one car depends on the type and function of many students taking auto shop as of the vehicle. an elective this year. “I spent maybe anywhere from “My dad and I finished the car $1500 to $2500 for parts,” he said. before I joined the auto academy,” he Though proud of his work, in said. “Definitely the things I learned hindsight, there are things Reiwtavee along the way with that car have prefers to have done differently. helped me in auto shop.” “If I could change one thing about He aspires to be like his dad, and the car it would definitely be the paint is actively trying to follow in his because while everything else can be footsteps. done relatively easily, the paint takes “Just seeing how he provides for a different set of skills that only so our family and works really hard many people have,” he said. inspired me to become a technician,” Despite his car’s imperfections, Reiwtavee said. “I'm going to enlist in Reiwtavee never plans to sell his car the Air Force and hopefully be able to and gets many compliments when fix fighter jets.”
DRIVING IN STYLE With a nice black finish, Warrakan Nate Reiwtavee's custom-built car shows off its stylish features.
THE MIRROR | FARAH ALSIBAI
