All day Errday: You dont have to lie to kick it

I have learned from a young age that if you circle yourself by the things and people you want to become then eventually in time you will become that (even if you like it or not). Since I was in Jr, high I have always tried to circle my world with cars and anything that deal with the automotive world. Now as an adult it’s part of my life that I wouldn’t be able to live well without. I breathe and live cars and it took many many years for this to happen. I remember when I was about 13 I was laying in bed and suddenly made a decision that I want to know more about cars and left my artist background behind (not completely). You can call it a long lasting fad but it’s been a 10 plus year fad that’s for sure. As the years passed I have met many self devoted car enthusiasts like myself and maybe even a handful of “hardcore-I-will-die-if-my-car-gets-stolen” people but there has always been that one or two person who loves to put a “FRONT”. The people with the clever internet screen names or the one who claim to own five integra type R with every single swap imaginable to them, BUT having it stock. These are the people that just makes me shake my head. Seriously…you don’t have to lie to kick it.

You can call them posers or fan boys but I will nicely say they are just people who wants to get educated. I have met my share of guys who thought they knew what they’re talking about but after a few educational classes (me schooling them), they start realizing that they might not know exactly what they’re talking about. Don’t get me wrong here, I’m not saying I know everything, but just saying sometimes people can be misinformed about something such as talking trash about Sport compacts cars and not know anything about them to begin with. These are the guys I have deal with growing up in this world of cars but that’s the norm that I am sure many guys can relate to. Those type of guys are common, but what I want to rant a little bit about is those people that post up pictures of their so-call cars saying it has this and that in it, but in reality it’s their friends’ or some form of family member’s car. I have seen with my own eyes a selected people that I will leave nameless claiming all these crazy things they have that most people can only afford one.

I remember as a kid I made a website saying I had a Skyline and a 300zx RB swapped and all these crazy things and as a kid I thought it was cool and harmless. One day I let my brother see this website and he asked me why did I put all these pictures of other people’s cars saying it’s mine but in reality it wasn’t at all. He told me that it’s better to tell people you have nothing then lie about owning a skyline and from then on I never dare to claim other people’s ride as my own. I was about 13 at the time so give me a break if you think I’m contradicting what I am trying to rant here (lol). From all those years ago I still carried that on and when I see what some people claim and I can tell their just full of it about what they have, I just play stupid and respond with a “uh huh” and “okay” even though a part of me want to call their ass out. I honestly just feel bad for those people who feel like they need to lie about something.

So, if you’re reading this and you know someone who may fit the poser description or might even be one yourself, I suggest you to tell them to read more and don’t ever be afraid to ask questions. Everyone started from the bottom and you just make yourself look stupid if you go around claiming you have something when you really don’t. It’s okay if you don’t have a 500hp Honda or a JUN’s Supra, there’s no shame in it. Be proud of what you have, even it’s nothing or just a simple air intake because as soon you start saying Bullshit, anything that follows don’t mean nothing. Being a poser is not a good look so don’t do it.

(these photos are examples how i circle myself with cars and this is what i mean by "ALL DAY, ERRDAY"...aint no posing shit here, just real shit, it might not be some super street magazine shit here, but it is real and how I keep myself circled)


LS block just hiding



PhotoG's First: I'm on one (photos of Civic SiR and cali-born Integra)

This 2011 summer I made a pledge to myself to take photos of my experience with anything dealing with cars since I wasn’t going to do any type of racing or car building like last year.  Alongside a good friend, Neng (Jmuag Production) I attended my first drift events this year with a pretty good amount photos (look at previous posts).  Before the drifting events I took an advantage of an evening to test out my photography.  Since my cousin had minty fresh Cali-born Integra he was my first subject of choice, then upon learning a good friend of his had an authentic Honda Civic SiR I had to add him in the mix.  So my weapon of choice is a Canon 40d that my brother was lending to me during the summer to get a hang of a DSLR camera (maybe when I have a little more cash in my pocket I can afford my own camera, but for the time being I will be using whatever that is given to me).

Being my real first time using a DSLR in fully manual I wasn’t even sure if the pictures would come out any good.  It was during the evening, so setting everything to grab as much light was more an obstacle than any other.  To remind you, I am no photographer and literally picked up a camera with a quick lesson in the different settings and started taking pictures as I got the hang of adjusting everything accordingly.  Honestly, I don’t even remember the names of the things I’m adjusting; I just do it and some how the photos come out okay.  There are more bad photos then good ones, but good thing its digital because if it was back in the days, I would’ve been broke purchasing film rolls.

So…onto the cars, the SiR literally stole my heart.  Knowing that thousands of Americans thrive to make their own 96-98 civic into this Japanese beauty, it started making me see it in a different light.  I was never a fan of the moldings on the bumper covers but after seeing this car it changed my mind.  My first time seeing a SiR was in magazines and on the internet, but seeing it in real life had me awaken to what a REAL “JDM” car was.  It was everything any “JDM” enthusiasts could dream about and more.  Only thing that might be better would be a Type R of some sort, but until then I stick to the SiR.  This SiR even made me want to change my own personal car’s appearance to maybe replica the look since (look at older posts) I can only dream of owning my very own SiR.  It was a real treat in being able to capture some beauty of this great looking car and thanks to the owner for letting me do so.

Probably one of the cleanest Integra that I have ever seen that hasn’t gotten any body work has to go to my cousin’s Cali-born Integra.  For years, between old friends and relatives we have always said that buying a car from California or any other state besides the salt drench streets of Minnesota would always be better then purchasing a car in the state.  Why? Well, because our winters are harsh, it shows no mercy to the body and everything on a car making everything either ugly or harder to work on (rusted bolts and everything that gets rusted).  Biggest ugly thing for any Honda owner is the rear quarter panels rusting and to find a car without this cancer is almost rare on its own.  Since it is a rare sight to see, a lot of people including myself always talked about purchasing a car out of state.  This also includes my cousin who went all the way to California to purchase this minty-fresh Cali-born Integra.  Even though to some people it may be hard to grasp why anyone would go all the way to California to purchase a regular Integra, but knowing my cousin since we were in diapers it was an actual height of trying to get exactly what he wants.  People have to understand that my cousin has own more cars then some people in their lifetime and to be able to have him at a certain satisfaction level is in almost impossible feat.  But I believe that this Integra will be in his arsenal for quite some time and hopefully stay out of the “For Sale” market before it get an overhaul and starts tearing up the streets.

Thank you to Team Brooklyn and Jmuag Productions

_vulocity

*these pictures were taken on 5.31.2011 @ unknown location

Chasing Pavements: Thoughts including pictures from MAP's Proven Ground

I came from street racing. That’s where I started my craft and still trying to perfect it. From racing in back roads and public streets to running all over the city (hwy 94 runs) until the sun pops back up. This was a good portion of my life when I didn’t have much on my mind. Those were the days I called “the learning process”. Some folks would call me stupid to ever participate in such things but to them folks, I say to make room for whatever that is coming fast behind you. I still remember the first day I got my license and took my mom’s Volvo and raced my nephew’s mom’s Accord. We took it on this road, which was alongside the highway but right in front of houses and it was probably one of the dumbest thing we did behind the wheel. This road wasn’t long enough, maybe shy of a quarter of a mile in its entirety and it was right in front of houses. We took both cars and ran it like we were race car drivers along this street and almost ruin my mom’s car and actually ended up blowing a tire. That was the death of a life and the birth of a new one. Back then...we would race anywhere and any time. Each street was a track and other drivers were just obstacles. There were streets that we would run cars around the city that wasn’t long enough but just enough to get to the end of second gear into third, so we were pretty much learning how to launch and get into the crucial first two gears. Like I said these were “the learning process”.

Midway…I learned about Midway from my brother and cousins. Hearing stories of them attending these late night weekend gathering had me wanting to participate. I had my first taste of Midway with a good friend Chad Byron when we were juniors in high school. Chad had already gotten his license and car so I thought it was my duty to show him the ropes(we were both noobs) and attend Midway for our first time. It was an experience I couldn’t forget if I tried to. It was almost like someone took a chunk from a movie and played it out on the streets of university ave. That night I remembered seeing cars towed, being harassed by the police and just tons and tons of cars parking in lots. What we called Midway was actually Foodsmart because the actual Midway center that was a couple miles down on university ave had gotten too overwhelmed by the police and had a squad car waiting in the lot. The actual Midway parking lot was where the original guys hung out at and this would include my brother and cousins. So, if you ever wonder why some people call it Midway instead of “Foodsmart” that’s the reason why. Also you can often tell the people who know where it originally started from in Minnesota by their usage of Midway instead of most of these kids calling it “uni”

So, street racing might be frown upon and having my fair share of run in with the law, I have slowed down a bit from those days. I think back on all the stupid things I did behind the wheel and all the fun I had, I wouldn’t trade it for the world. There were weekends when I had a bad feeling about going and having my brother’s car break down or getting tickets. It was them days that I remember the most. These days…it no longer seem that way. Maybe because I have gotten a little older and wiser or jus scared of the police…I find those things I did crazy. Sometimes I would have to check myself if I can still be able to go 150 on Dupont Ave or weaving through traffic on 94 like some crack fiend. Sometimes though…just sometimes…I wonder if I could still be that reckless. But I know that was a learning process and these days we’re aiming somewhere beyond those streets.

As the years passed from those reckless times, it seem as though what was beyond the streets were about a two hour drive north to Brainerd International Raceway (BIR).  Even though Rockfalls has been a stomping ground for sport compacts cars for years, I have always felt that people seem to shy away from the stage of BIR.  That was true until Modern Automotive Performance started an event call Proven Grounds where some of Minnesota’s top drag racers came to throw down and see what eachother had.  It ranges from local shops like MAP and DBperformance to your normal guy working a 9 to 5’er.  I believe this event changed the sport compact drag scene in Minnesota for the good as the real fast guys didn’t seem to want to spend time at “Midway” and just saving it up where they can prove themselves on the track.  Even though the underground scene will forever be intact due to the help of younger people (and deprived muthafuckers lol), but I believe that is where a bridge started to form that separates from fast cars to your regular swapped Honda. It’s good to have a place like Midway where that’s where most people started and good to go back sometime and  see where you came from.  Where you use to be that person going back and forth on University Ave or that group of people standing along cars.  It’s where the root (underground racing scene) of this adventure started for most…atleast that’s what I believe.

How the trend looks here in Minnesota, it doesn’t seem anyone is slowing down for any reason and each year everyone seems to be faster and faster.  So, if anyone hasn’t experience the underground scene or attend a track event, I suggest you do…atleast once.

_vulocity

Pictures from MAP's Proven Ground 2011

TEAM BROOKLYN!!

Hello Kitty? forreal? shit..i guess so lol

All day errday it's VULOCITY mayne