Wekfest 2010

Wekfest invades Japantown once again in SF. The annual event has been going strong for over 10 years and this year will probably be the greatest of all time. Due to the slow death of HIN, showcars just don't have shows to attend so they search out any grassroot even nearby. Wekfest 2010 will house a huge number of award winning show cars from previous publication features to trophy collecting cars. But the main core of the show are truly dedicated to the grassroot builders b/c once, a long time ago, we all started with a intake, header and exhaust with the latest Powered by Honda decal and we thought we were the sh*t.

So, next Sunday, Feb 28th.. come be apart of history as Wekfest and the Norcal tuner scene turn another chapter to the ongoing saga at Japantown SF.

SF Wekfest

JOB Design: Genius at Work

It was 5 years ago, the VIP scene here in the US was little to none. Most ClubLexus members still preferred brands like Rod Millen and TEIN. I was lucky enough to stumble onto a new aero company in Japan under the name JO BLOOD.

JO has built his reputation in the Japan VIP scene with his extreme-dropped and custom kitted demo cars ranging mainly from the Lexus/Toyota family. He actually rocked a Mercedes CL500 and those that know, to have a German car in Japan is basically baller status.

Many do not know, but JO is actually a contractor by trade building houses and buildings. The car side is purely for fun and has developed into a full service custom shop and known world wide. Customers can literally drop-off their cars and in a week, JOB Design can transform the boring stock lines into a over the top aggressive low & wide machine.

I respect JO b/c he actually does all the design and development work himself. The concept is literally in his head. He makes a simple paper drawing and translates the idea to 3D reality with his hands. He is old school! Not many designer today can actually do this. To me, JO is in the same books of the legendary great like Foose and Boyd here in the US Hot Rod world.

Here you see JO designing his latest Hybrid bumper onto the ever popular UCF30 Celsior platform. His unique blend in style is apparent to where he gains inspiration. What makes JO different from the other VIP tuners is his ability to combine the best of ideas, trends and style from multiple automotive cultures all over the world.

Now 5 years later, I have personally seen JO continue to develop new aero styles into his cars and unlike many other VIP brands, he will continue to evolve while the rest is old news.

JOB Design Bigger, Better in 2010

Swang n' Bang: A little bit..

Goodguys X JOBlood X VIP Syle mag

Every year, I catch up with JO at SEMA. Last year was no different. I had sent some build pictures of a crazy 1 off Corvette by Roadster Shop a few months before SEMA. When news came that the car was to be in the Goodguys booth, JO said he wanted to see the car up close and meet the owner and builder. No problem. JO was the only person allowed to even sit in this car at SEMA.

Thanks for the feature in VIP Style! See you again at SEMA 2010.

LUMMA CLS 730 RS Package for the BMW M5 E60

As result a car that uses all 730 horsepower of a bi-compressor V10 to spread a limit speed of over 367 km/h (228 mph). The 700 Nm of torque helps the car go 0-100 km/h time in 4.2 seconds, feat 200 km/h in just ten seconds. 300 km/h is achieved in 29.5 seconds.

The companies petition this is the “most energetic engine” ever seen on a “highway-lawful BMW.” It is surely an enormous development over Lumma’s CLR 500 RS released in 2007. That car saw a “measly” 560 horsepower.

Lumma Design’s own six-piston front, four-piston rear caliper brakes are worn along with drilled 405mm discs. Ultralight, three-portion pretend 10×21 and 12Jx21 wheels at the nose and tail look great on the 45mm lowered car.

The style package includes carbon fiber boot and bonnet, and the matter is also worn for the door handles, admission sills, fenders, and mirror caps. Designers also replaced the exhaust system. Inside, carbon integrity, leather, and suede is worn gratuitously. Hopefully, the paint scheme selected inside is customizable, as something more faint than the contrasting red, fair, dusk grey would probably feel more appropriate.

LUMMA Design

VÄTH Performance Mercedes CL 65 AMG

The VÄTH claims that with this package, the CL65 AMG can go from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 4.0 seconds and reach speeds of up to 340 km/h or 211 mph. Even more impressive is the price of the kit that will cost you as much as a new C-Class at a hefty €36,890 or about US$53,100, including installation.

Other available performance mods include a sports braking system with 6 piston fixed calipers and 405 mm disks priced at €8,082 (US$11,600), 20-inch alloy wheels with Vredestein tires for speeds up to 270km/h or 168mph at €7,378 (US$10,600) and a lowering module for the airmatic suspension priced at €1,952 (US$2,800).

Adding the 20-inch alloys with Vredestein high-performance winter tires for speeds up to 270km/h or 168mph at €7,378 (US$10,600), while 6-piston caliper brakes with 405 mm disks adds a much higher pricetag. The calipers, disks, and steel-flex tubes with racing fluid go for €8,082. And a lowering module for the airmatic suspension priced at €1,952 (US$2,800).

External enhancements are limited to a subtle body kit with a carbon fiber front apron and rear diffuser fins, and boot lid and roof spoilers, which cost together €3,188 or about US$4,600.

VATH Tuning

2010 Goodguys Giveaway: BOSS SNAKE

Warrendale, Pennsylvania’s Redline Performance Motorsports (RPM), builder of Bill Steele’s 2009 Hot Rod of the Year and a shop full of other groundbreaking hot rods, customs and street machines have taken over the build of the Goodguys BOSS SNAKE 2010 Grand Prize Giveaway Car. The BOSS SNAKE will make its grand debut at the Goodguys 1st Spring Nationals in Scottsdale, Arizona March 12, 13 & 14, 2010 at Westworld.

We just received word that Jon Kaase Racing Engines has completed the engine featuring Billet Specialties, Tru-Trac and COMP CAMS components to make over 770 hp. Wow!

RPM will now begin massaging the Dynacorn body designed by Keith Kaucher in the coming weeks as well as working on the car’s final assembly. Stay tuned for more updates and plan on attending the brand new Goodguys Spring Nationals next March in Scottsdale to see the BOSS SNAKE up close!

Project sponsors include: Vintage Air, Classic Instrument, Painless Performance, BFGoodrich, Flaming River, Ricks Hot Rods, Dynacorn, Baer Brakes, Tremec, Optima Batteries, Herculiner, PEAK, Grundy Insurance, Flowmaster Exhaust, Comp Cams, and Performance Rod & Custom.

Nigel: Engineered to Slide

These guys are killin-it with Hella fresh Silvias, flush stance, static drop, creative jive.

check 'em out: Engineered to slide

Performance VW 2009 Cars of the year

There's not many magazines that I actually look forward to every month. Seems like most of the Source Media Interlink publications have all fallen into a generic state of crap. Unlike the US mags, almost every oversea publications have continued to kick-ass with bright white and thick stock, excellent photography, great content and story. Performance VW is just one of many magazines I get a month. Why am I talking about this magazine today..?

Pick one up at your local B&N and you will understand.