We were born in this planet kicking and screaming with no apparent knowledge of anything. From the time we gasp our first breath of fresh air we start the process of aging. We open our tiny little eyes, we scream our first cries, and shed our first tear. Life is a mystery and we are here to find out what our purpose and what we are meant to do. Life is easily created and much easier to be extinguished.

As we go on in life we meet a lot of people a long the way. Our loved ones, our friends, and random acquaintances. And by this we grow from experience, with each laugh, each despair and disappointment we face. We learn from mistakes and live for accomplishments and happiness. Majority of people strive for goodness while others live to bring destruction and sadness to others. Still, life is full of experience. Experience turned to knowledge and with that knowledge we pass along to our future generations. Our memories and our influence is the mark we leave in this Earth. This is how we are immortalized.

This past week has been filled with sadness and mourning.  A member of our family had their life cut short by misunderstanding that turned into violence.  One of our brother Raffy Bautista, along with this father Raul Bautista and his brother Richie Allen Bautista was slain last June 25, 2009 in the Philippines.  Raffy, 34, is in the Philippines to be married the week after his passing.  He also left behind a son on fathers day.  Raffy is an ACElite member that showed us his creativity by building his widebody mean green Evolution 8.  He was also one of the two (along with his brother Robin) that established the High End Performance Store, San Diego chapter.  He was always an easy going person.  Always Jolly and always had a smile on his face.  Nothing but fond memories imprinted in our lives every single time Raffy is present.  He is a friend, He is our brother.  You will always be in our hearts, and be immortalized in our memories.  Let’s celebrate his life and his memory not his passing.  Although it’s difficult today to see beyond the sorrow, may looking back in memory help comfort us tomorrow.  We miss you already buddy.

It is the will of God and Nature that these mortal bodies be laid aside, when the soul is to enter into real life; ’tis rather an embrio state, a preparation for living; a man is not completely born until he be dead: Why then should we grieve that a new child is born among the immortals? ~Benjamin Franklin, 22 February 1756

What was your first car?  Actually disregard that question.  What car did you drive when you were 19 years old if not what car do you drive now?  I ask that question because unlike us normal people, we can’t afford a M6 when we’re 19… well, Mr Wang can…  And if you’re nice enough, he’ll buy you one too.  No? ok nevermind.

About a week ago I had the  chance to shoot Dennis Wang’s 3 series BMW showcar in the mountains of Santa Anita.  Dennis is part of our wrecking crew car show team, Auto Concept Elite and is also one of our top cars.  His car has recently been featured and covered both in Euro Tuner and PAS Magazine, same month last month.  As you could have guessed he’s in baller status.  Flashing two cell phones for his local and international ladies (jk) rocking Bathing Ape Clothing from head to toe, among other baller clothes that I don’t even know about coz I’m a poor lad.

Let’s bring focus back into his car and not his baller ways.  Dennis’ 3 series show car is a 2006 328i twin charged super car rocking both a super charger and turbo.  Basic idea is killing the lag with the supercharger and warping to high speed with the turbo charger on higher rpms.  Tuned and created by Groma Performance of Duarte, CA,  Groma has been known for it’s outrageous race car builds and near impossible fabrications.  It shows in the engine build of Dennis’ car.  The Wang mobile is also sporting a simple widebody and a red white and blue candy paint done up by master painter PJ Bonifacio.  So much candy that ants live in it’s crevices.

The main purpose of this car is to be a bad ass show car and it has been fulfilling that goal.  Winning top honors on the shows it attened, HIN, Spocom and Showoff shows to name a few, the Wang Mobile has been the pinnacle of BMW customization.  With electronics that will put your local Best Buy to shame this car has mobile electonics made for your living room and not on a car.  Rocking a Mac mini on the front passenger side of the car with it’s matching 24″ mac monitor that puts my personal Mac on a downward spiral because of the envy from this car the car also rocks a wide screen TV on the rear seats and a Nintendo Wii for added entertainment.  Yeah, gadgets I want for my house is chillin on the back of a car.  I feel sad now.

I shot the car for a feature for a Japanese magazine.  Honestly tho, the shots came out well but I am not very satisfied with it.  Wish we could have waited the sun to go down but as soon as it did we got attacked by swarms of flies and other bugs.  We had to run for our lives as soon as possible but not until we got some rockin rolling shots.  This car is amazingly clean and what an amazing build.  Unfortunately the car was not made for the canyons coz we left him far behind while driving back down to civilization.  Hehe.  But still he has his M6 to kick my Evo’s ass… Lame.

As a yearly tradition Nisei carshow is held in the little town called Los Angeles in a spot aptly named Little Tokyo.  Hosted by mainstream productions Nissei brings out the best of the best in the JDM Scene.  Unlike all the other shows out there, in Nisei Showoff, there is no need for crazy bling, no glitz and glamour, no prize for a fantabulous displays, but all it is is what you have in your car.  It’s a CARshow.

It was a very hot and humid day but still people flock around the awesome show cars.  We brought out 14 cars for our crew and did a pretty awesome job with the show.  Not that many awesome quality cars like past Nissei’s but there are some that certainly grabbed my attention.  One of which is this old school DA1 (correct me if i’m wrong) 86-89 integra.  Cleaaaan car.  I actually saw him cruise by on the way to the show down the 101 and immediately grabbed my attention.  Props to this car and owner.  He’s sporting an Old School HKS license plate holder too.  Not sure if he won tho but i’d give him something just for keeping that car nice and clean inside and out.  To think this car has been around for over 20 years and it’s still immaculate.  It is indeed gangsta!!

Of course there are the usual people.  There’s Lisa Uchida and the crew, Tommy Ha and his, now boosted, S2K, Albert Chang’s whored out (JK) S2K, Team Hybrid and 200 of their cars and Rudy’s Gold Plated RSX to name a few.  Since it’s Nisei there’s a plethora of Hondas, Mostly Hatches, that showed up.

A cool one that was there was a Honda Element with A K24 and ARC Bits.  Pretty cool since it’s a rare thing to see both in the show scene and on the streets. Now with the heat baring down upon us, I just want to say thank you to everybody that brought a canopy.  Also thank you Edwin from autoimportcraze[dot]com and using his brain to bring a cooler filled with ice and refreshments.  Also to Riceboy TV for giving away some Popsicles.  But just to say Fuck You to the heat, we just ended up walking to a nearby restaurant and have lunch in a AC filled room… Ended up in Ebisu… Restaurant not the circuit.  Good shit for a reasonable price.

As the day died down, so did the crowd and the time we’ve been waiting for has come upon us.  The Awarding.  We did pretty well as always clenching the best of shows and the best team awards (was there any doubt hehe jk)  and being the big asses that we are, we took one of our AC Elite Canopy and planted it right in the middle of the awarding ceremony for us and others to share the shade it provided.  After all we are nice people.  Anyhoo here’s the breakdown on how we did and what we won.

1. 2nd place Infinity – JR
2. 2nd place Acura – Cuco
3. 2nd place Scion – Arthur
4. 1st place Nissan – Angelo
5. Subaru Showoff – Jorge
6. Toyota Showoff – Richard
7. BMW Showoff – Dennis
8. S2k Showoff – Jon
9. Mitsubishi Showoff – Karen
10. Custom Showoff – Ben RX7
11. EXC Best of Show – Ben 350Z
12. Best Team Overall (Highest Point Average) – Some guys called Auto Concept Elite.  Wait that’s us.

Not too shabby I say.  But congratulations to everyone else that won.  And I just want to thank Ken Mioshi and Mainstream for another awesome show.  Hope you guys bring back Classics.

Congratulations again guys.  We rock as always!!

Check out some of the photos by clicking HERE

ok ok so HIN LA was 3 weeks ago but it’s better late than never right? Finally did a simple gallery of the show that can be found on the gallery section or can be accessed by clicking on the picture above. Let me know what you guys think. Just the recap of what happened tho … We came. We showed. We conquered. Simple as that. well, that and a bunch of drunken moments along the way too. Again thanks to all that helped and made this thing possible.

AUTO ……………………. CONCEPT!!! Holla!!!!

P.S.

i know it took a while. Shuddup… I should start talking about Nissan unveiling the GT-R too while I’m at it…. Maaaybe….