University Ave: 5/29

Good way to welcome myself back home.  Friday at University Ave was packed.  Euro lot was hopping as usual with some awesome cars.  Eurowerks 4 is coming up and I am looking forward to that.  The lot will be PACKED that whole weekend, so stay tuned.

Check out the rest of the pics here:  Photos by Kaien

NC Trip: Rally Cars and Street Cars

There are first times for everything and yesterday was my first time up close and personal with a full blown rally car.  One of Foxglove's good friends races local rallies and has a pretty awesome car to do it in.  Being a Toyota nut, I was very pleased to see that the car of choice is a st165 All-Trac Celica.  Completely decked out for rallying, I couldn't even tell you everything that I saw.  Besides the spec-suspension and the intricate roll-cage, the rest was beyond me.  I was very impressed to say the least.  Unfortunately, the head is being worked on so I was unable to get a ride this time around, so you all will have to deal without seeing a video of me screaming my lungs out.  I was promised next visit though.

Of course there were a few other cars there.  His other toy was a rather mild looking 5th gen F-body, that is until you looked inside.  Completely stripped to the metal (that includes no glass either), this car is all business with a single OMP seat, 10-point cage, oh and the big bottle mounted in the hatch compartment.  Running a stock bottom-end with a nice sized cam and some heads, this nitrous-fed Camaro can certainly get down (a little demonstration proved that).  Surprisingly though, the car is used for road-racing.  I heard some great stories from the owner about some track experiences.

The other car was of course Foxglove's SBM IS300.  At the beginning stages, but I'm sure that he will turn it into something special (with a little help from this husky!).  You know, it's nice to be able to ride in something so mild compared to mine.  I forget how nice these cars are.  Foxglove has a great example and I can't wait to see how it changes over the coming months.  Hopefully soon our two IS300s will finally meet in the metal.

Southern Hospitality: North Carolina Trip

So, I am writing this from my friend's house in Cary, NC.  Why am I in Cary, NC?  Why not?  Since I am finally done with school, I want to do some traveling.  I was having a conversation with my friend Foxglove where he stated he would be home alone for a week and I playfully replied, "I should come and keep you company."  Well, here I am!  Kind of a spur of the moment decision (finding last minute flights was fun!), but I was planning (and still am) to come and visit in June.

A little back-story then on how Foxglove and I first met.  You know, you meet some of your best friends in the strangest of ways, but this one is quite the interesting (at least to me) story.  You see, I never expected to meet many furs being active on car forums.  It just goes to show that everyone has their interests.

I post over on a large IS community board and posted up some new pictures of my car.  I have Fur Affinity tagged on my hood, and while no one took notice, one person did.  I received a message from Foxglove asking about that tag, and I was really quite surprised.  well, after a few messages, we're talking online, and before we knew it, I'm on a plane heading for North Carolina.  Yeah, not as fancy as you would think, but hey, I thought it was pretty darn cool!

I arrived yesterday and he picked me up from the airport.  I had never been to the Carolinas, or this part of the country before, so I was looking a bit curious.  First impressions?  I like it!  Reminds me a lot of Minnesota, but a lot warmer, haha.  Really, the scenery is not so different.  One thing he heard me comment on a lot was the style of the houses.  They are very...southern!  Sorry for the lack of a better description.  I like seeing how housing design changes in different parts of the country, but something about these houses, I just really like.  He showed me around Cary, taking me to some cool car dealerships.  Also checked out downtown Raleigh which was really cool.  Minneapolis and St. Paul are very old, so it was quite exhilarating to see a "new" downtown.  I will bring the camera and tripod next time out!

Today, when he gets home from work, we are planning to visit a good friend of his with some cool toys, including a st165 rally car.  Apparently, I will be given a ride against my will, haha.  I love rallying, but you could not get me into one of those cars to go ripping down a tree-lined trail.  Expect pictures and most likely a video of this husky screaming for dear life.  Oh, and we're going to go to dinner at a place called Bojangles!  Seriously, BOJANGLES!  Yes, I like the name.

No pictures to add right now, I didn't bring the camera with last night.  It's going to be a fun trip and the second round in June will be equally as good.  I like it here, and with a good friend like Foxglove to hang out with, I don't need much to come and visit...although he pesters about me bringing my IS300.  I should though.  Two friends, two of the same car, and a passion for two unique lifestyles.

The picture that sparked a friendship

Local Artist: Ratte

So, we're going to change gears for a minute here.  Car stuff is all fine and dandy, but I'm not so one-dimensional.  I appreciate art, whether traditional or digital, art has always been an interest of mine.  Of course, my own talents are lacking, but that hasn't stopped me from meeting some rather accomplished artists.

One aspect of the fur community that I love is the amount of art that is produced based on the fandom.  I have always liked anthro art, attempting to sketch and draw from time to time.  I say attempt because, well, let's face it, I do not have the talent for it.  However, I have met a few friends that do.

A rather local artist, Ratte, is somewhat of a celebrity over on Fur Affinity.  I chanced a message that eventually led to conversation.  I am quite glad I did.  Not only is she a very good artist, but a rather kind person.  I continually browse her gallery over at FA, impressed at every piece that I see.  Even the sketches, I am amazed at the detail and realism.

However, in one of our recent conversations, she hinted at a new piece she was working on, which she was incorporating some new technique.  Needless to say, I was curious as to what would result, but I knew it would be good.  When she finally showed me the finished piece, I was blown away!  The realism and attention to detail is amazing in the piece.

I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.  If you want to see more of Ratte's work, visit her FA page and gallery here:  Ratte's Fur Affinity Page

RKC MN Tuesday Night Meet 5-18-2010

Following a successful Monday meet up in Fridley, the Tuesday meet had an equally impressive turnout.  While not near the numbers of Monday's meet, nor the variety, it was still nice to see roughly 60-70 cars show up to hang out and have a good time.  The lighting issues were solved by some spotlights generously donated by RMS Lighting.

Some cool cars showed up including LJ, the owner of Full Blown Motorsports, and his 750rwhp, stock-block S2000.  There was a good mix of old and new, import and domestic, with more than a few Euros showing up from Eurowerks to come see what the events were all about.  There were also a few nice bikes out with some of the choppers that frequent McKracken's deciding to check out the meet as well and bring their bikes back to the event parking area. 

All-in-all two great back-to-back meets.  The weather was absolutely gorgeous yet again making things that much more enjoyable.  Of course, NOS Energy was out handing out free drinks, lanyards, and stickers.  They are doing a great job at the events, helping support the local community.  Inside, more food specials were to be had.  We had a few sizable groups go inside to get their grub on.  My recommendation; take advantage of their wing specials:  25 wings for $7.99 or 50 wings for $14.99.

So, what to do if you missed out?  Wait till next week unfortunately.  Hop on RKC MN's forum and join up to keep up-to-date on the events.  Also, keep posted here on Project Spartan 117 and check the upcoming events section.  There are links to the meets there as well.  There are big things going on including RKC MN's 1st car show coming up on June 5th.  It should be a blast.  Stay tuned.

More pictures here:  Photos by Kaien

RKC MN Monday Night Meet 5-17-2010

RKC MN's Monday Meet brought in over 100 cars, everything from Mustangs and Vettes, to 240SXs and VWs, every marquee was represented well.  The NOS crew was out, handing out free energy drinks, and had Eric's, from EP/DC, 240sx on display.  It is really exciting to see these meets getting bigger and better with more and more people showing up and a wide variety of cars.

Tomorrow will be the Tuesday meet at McKracken's in Burnsville, and with more great weather, is shaping up to be quite the meet.  I'm sure the turnout will be just as good as tonight.  So, if you didn't make it out to Fridley tonight, you better stop by Burnsville tomorrow!

Check out the rest of the pictures here:  Photos by Kaien

University Ave: 5/15-16

This weekend saw quite the turnout at the local cruising strip, University Ave, in St. Paul.  After a string of rainy days, nothing brings out the Minnesota automotive culture like a gorgeous weekend.  Blue skies and 70-degree weather meant everyone would be out in full force.  Minnesota has one of the most eclectic mixes of enthusiasts who all share a common interest in cruising and hanging out.

The first stop, and highlight for me anyways, is the Euro lot over at Kim Huoy Cher (oddly enough), a rather good Chinese restaurant off of University Ave, a block west of Snellling.  You won't find better cars elsewhere.  Practically its own car show every weekend, the Euro lot always has some top-class metal parked in it.  If you are a fan of the slammed stance, this is the lot for you.

More Pictures Here:  Photos by Kaien

Tesla Roadster Showing at EuroCars: 5-8-2010

I received word that a local car dealership was going to have a showing to let people see up close, and personal, the Tesla Roadster, so this past Saturday, I woke up (not so) bright and early to head to Eurocars US, in Eden Prairie to check it out.  When I arrived, there was already a modest crowd and the Tesla parked out front. 

Seeing the car in person was quite the experience.  I had only seen pictures and read a few reviews on it, but I wasn't expecting something that small.  It was parked next to an Exige, and they were pretty much the same size.  Visually, the car is pleasing to look at, actually rather similar to the Lotus in the lines, with the rear-end reminding me of the K1-Attack from a few years back.  The interior was business as usual, and surprisingly, my 6'0, 210lb, frame could fit in it.  What still surprised me most was the electric power-plant. 

Sound has the ability to change one's perception on something, especially in the car culture.  A big, beefy, V8 certainly evokes a different feeling than an European, or Italian V8.  The exhaust note that my Lexus IS300 barks out does not scream "luxury and refinement," rather, "I'm going to rip your head off, don't mess with me."  The Tesla certainly had the looks down, but when I heard this thing start up, it really threw me off.  Actually, I lied sort of.  When this car started, I didn't hear much of anything.  This car is QUIET.  Maybe I'm new to this whole electric motor thing, but it still throws me off to drive a car around with no sound coming from the engine.  Still, this car had the performance to back up its looks.  The instant response was great, and the handling was nice.  I definitely think the Tesla is changing how people look at electric cars, at least it did for me.  I didn't think you could have a performance-oriented electric vehicle that could compete with your modern day sports cars, but the Tesla certainly does.  Would I plop down the cash on one?  I don't know yet, it's a nice car, but I don't know if it's something I would own.  Still, the experience was great and I thank Eurocars US for hosting such an event.

Please visit Eurocars US here:
Eurocars US

Boost for Boobs: Dyno for a Cause

Cars and boobs. It's a known fact that most car guys like a good rack, so what better way to get a lot of attention than having a dyno day to benefit breast cancer research? MAPerformance in Plymouth, MN certainly had the idea, hosting their "Boost for Boobs," dyno event. With proceeds going to a local breast cancer research group, the rollers were spinning all day, and the grills were staying hot with burgers and hot dogs.

Of course, the dyno wasn't the only attraction. I have said it before, but any type of event generally turns into a car show around here and this event was no different, with the car park filling up fast. I was lucky to grab a spot next to my friend Montana's (aka Straitup D) 240sx. He was sitting fresh on a new set of Primax wheels. Hey, knock-offs or not, they were looking good on the car.

A few other notable mentions were my buddy Dana's FBM turbo'd S2000, buddy Dave's newly acquired 1JZ-swapped, GT40 powered, SC300, and a random R32 GT-R Skyline even showed up. Pretty rare to see in MN. Every brand was well represented though, even a few Mustangs showing up to throw down against the 4 and 6-cyl cars on the dyno. Now, I don't know if this held throughout the day, but the big number when I was there was put down by a rather tattered, and worn looking, 4-door Integra. The white sleeper screamed out an impressive 597whp and 490ft/lbs of torque. I had to do a double-take when I saw it.

All-in-all, a good day, a great event, and for a great cause. It is good to see the car community throwing benefits like this as it only helps the image. Hopefully this event will become a yearly thing and spawn similar events around the area.

MAPerformance Website

More pics here:  Photos by Kaien

Low Standards

The term , "low," usually has a negative connotation associated with it.  Low-standards, low self-esteem, low-paying job, none of these evoke a positive influence.  You change "low" to "high", and suddenly everything is good.  Forget all that though.  Let's change that negative outlook on "low" and see why being low is good.

Dallas resident and VDubber, AJ Pena is one of those that follows the school of being low.  No, wait, he doesn't follow, he's the graduate student with a PhD in slammed.  His mk5 GTI has got to be one of the lowest I have ever seen, with a stance that anyone would be jealous over.

AJ, you see, has been a Dubber since the beginning.  He shared a Passat with his dad, and he would go to local meets and shows.  He was blown away by the scene, so when it came time for him to get his own car, it was only natural for him to choose a VW, picking up an 07 GTI.

"My initial plans were sport springs, wheels, and a tune.  That never worked out...it went all downhill from there."

Sounds familiar to many in the modding game.  It all starts somewhere and generally snowballs out of control.  The car started pretty mild with the aforementioned mods and looked incredibly clean back then.  AJ wanted to be low though, lower than he could go on coils.

That's when air ride entered the picture.  Air ride satisfies the control freak in all of us; low when we want to, then raised for the convenience of getting over obstacles that a car with a static drop would have to avoid.  Some say bags are cheating.  Methinks it's jealousy.  No matter how "hardcore" a static drop on coils is, the stance that can be achieved on bags cannot be rivaled.

AJ's GTI sits dumped on a set of Masontech air struts, an increasingly popular setup.  The struts carry Slam Specialties RE-6 bags that are supplied with compressed air from an Air Ride Technologies Ride Pro E2 compressor.  This setup allows AJ's silly-low drop.  The arches house a set of gorgeous CCW Classics sized 18x8.5 up front and 18x9.5 in the rear.  Falken's 512 tires are nicely stretched to the specs of 215/40/18 up front and 225/40/18 in the rear.

The exterior of the car has received some attention in the form of a Jetta front end with some custom paint work by Dorbitz Design (who also helped with the bags).  The interior hosts a minor audio system with a Pioneer Avic D3 head unit, JL Audio 8w7 sub, and a JL Audio 500/1 amp.  A bump in performance is had with a Neuspeed intake, GHL 3" turbo-back exhaust, and APR stage 2 software.  These basic mods actually have quite the effect, waking up the 2.0 FSI turbo motor nicely.

So, what's next for AJ?  "I am hoping I was done, but you never know.  Right now I need new front air struts, and a re-spray due to all the rock chips.  What would I want?  A possible big-turbo and reupholster the interior."  Regardless, AJ's GTI will keep schooling the newcomers to the world of low.  His VW has certainly set the bar high for getting low.