HOT IMPORT NIGHTS
8.2006 Queens, NY
It's hard to believe that after all the years that Vision Entertainment and the HIN car show series have come out to the East Coast, they've never made a stop in NYC. One would think that New York would be on the top five stops on the HIN tour list, but it took almost 10 years for them to finally make it through the Holland Tunnel and pitch their tents for the automotive circus we have come to know as Hot Import Nights. This year the festivities took place in Flushing, Queens, Shea Stadium to be exact, and it couldn't have been more fitting. Queens has always been known to have a very diverse ethnic make up amongst it's community and it sets a good example for the import industry which draws support and fans of all racial backgrounds. Not to mention, my favorite baseball team, which happen to be in first place, calls Flushing home!
As expected, Night Shift (HIN's night time show) brought out the best when it
comes to East Coast vehicles and crews. Anything and everything you could think
of was on display from super clean JDM themed cars to over the top airbrushed,
air-bagged, neoned-out vehicles that at times you couldn't figure out what they
were. But that's the beauty of this industry, individualism. What might not be
one person's preference is another's dream and vice versa, yet we were all able
to coexist and still have a great time under the lights in the parking lot at
Shea. Those who made the track from all over the East Coast and got through,
what seemed at times to be, endless lines were treated to rows and rows of
glossy paint, front mount intercoolers, obese wheels and tires stuff under
rolled fenders, as well as audio systems that would make the hearing impaired
get up and dance. As with HIN shows of the past, the sponsors and supporters had
plenty of activities for fans to partake in while walking around the venue.
General Motors had a booth set up complete with models signing and giving away
posters and posing for pics. They also had test drives available for spectators
to beat on one of a handful of Supercharged Chevy Cobalts they brought out with
them, as well as a few race cars for us to check out and see what guys like Gary
Gardella do on the weekends. RIX Entertainment was also on hand with what seemed
to be hundreds of models...they were everywhere!!! Rico and the guys over at RIX
made sure the crowd was always at a frenzy with the lovely ladies dancing,
posing, throwing out free gear and having an all around good time over at the
RIX Magazine booth. Performances by Lloyd Banks, Papoose, and Nore were canceled
due to noise ordinances by the City of New York disappointed those who were
looking forward to the show, but we all made the best of the situation. Nore was
spotted walking through the show checking out the cars and bikes and stopping to
shakes hands and pose for pics with fans.
Revtech Racing of course made the trip out to Queens, although not in the normal
size showing we are used to, but we had our guys there representing regardless.
It seems as though 2006 is the year of the Gremlin for Revtech Racing, with
numerous crew members unable to make it to the show with last minute car
problems and issues. Not to mention many of us who are in between projects,
therefore it's been a quiet year for the Revtech Squad. Those who did take the
drive up the Turnpike and through the Streets of NYC and showed their vehicles
were Jimmy Ngo (Black WRX), Ralph “Cuban Bee”Bonet (GSXR 750), Marcos “JT”
Pereira (Aprillia 1000), “JR” Duque (Kawasaki ZX7R), Chris Zamorski (Supra TT).
Juan Lugo also helped out by entering his super clean Toyota Corolla AE86 which
was driven by his cousin Eddie. The Revtech booth was in constant rotation for
JDM and drift fans with people stopping all night long to take pics and admire
the Old School Beauty, Super Street magazine even came over and snapped a few
pics and awarded Juan Cleanest Old School Ride of the show as well as some free
goodies that should be coming to him in the mail soon. Congrats go out to Juan
and a big thank you to Eddie for bringing the car to the show.
Although it wasn't your typical Revtech showing complete with DJ's Models and a
gang of cars, it was a good night overall and a good time with those who also
made it out. Big shout out goes out to Eric Dimayuga, John Del Franco, “Spanish
Katie”, Jerry Ngo, Frank Do, “Crazy Ana”, and everyone else who made it out in
support of Revtech Racing.