Last SEMA for the very first time, OS Giken brought out one of their legendary engines. This is the first time this engine has been here stateside. Can’t believe that this thing produces well over 300hp n/a and it’s over 25 years old. Incredible. There is only 6 of these engines built and all of them are in japan. I didn’t take pictures unfortunitely since I wasnjust there hanging out with my buddy Mark from OS and Reggie from ARK Designs. But I did get this nifty old school catalog showing the part list. Btw this engine head alone cost $22k. Steeeeeep! Don’t know if they can still build one to this day. I’m sure they can but it’ll cost well over the previous price since all the tooling parts are probably gone or got erroded through time. I still want one of these for keepsakes. Man just the valve cover alone is a work of art. Flawless indeed.

Here’s a video of the engine in action.  Amazingly epic.  Just hear that sound and the power that it produces.  This thing is old school rock and roll man!!

Asians has Natural red Eye Reduction.  Since Billy is only half, he gets the gift partially hahahaha

Eva, Me, Tara and Billy taken at The Bank at Bellagio

Last SEMA I got bored of watching girls doing their routine faces while taking pictures with people.  While hanging out at the Eneos Booth with my friends I figured I should change it up with them and ask them to do more random crap.  I figured it’ll be a lot more fun for them, and me actually if we do my new trend.

1-2-3 Funny Face is what I came up with.  Count 1-2-3 and you make a Ugly Face, if it wasn’t obvious enough.  I know the girls are getting tired having a few hundred people asking them to take a picture.  And even if I was doing that I would be pissed too.  I know Nicolotte was lol you can see it in her face.  Gave the the chance to let loose on a rather monotonous job.  Anyhoo… here’s what we took =)

Man that was dope.  That’s pretty much all we did all day in SEMA.  Nicolette got really good at her 1-2-3 Ugly Face and the girls were soon to follow.  It’s awesome just hanging out, not worried about work, and just chill, even tho you’re working that is.  It’s incredible tho that even tho they’re making ugly faces, they still manage to be ridiculously cute.  Thanks to the girls, Ayanna Jordan, Jenn Le, Amaya, Miu and Nicolette Lacson for participating.  That shit was good.  More goofiness to come =)

Here’s Jr’s car immortalized along with his legacy by the most popular driving game in the world.  Just sad that he didn’t make it to see his amazing car in action.  You’re always with us JR and I miss you with all my heart and soul.

Thanks to Sony Computer Entertainment America and Polyphony Digital for making this happen.  Also to Carter Jung from Import Tuner Magazine for initially picking our car as the best import.  To everyone that helped, Cusco, Aerodyne, Blitz, Mines’ APR, BASF and all the other sponsors, Thank you very much!!

High End Performance G37, Avelino “JR” Rocha, This is for you, your wife and kids.

Stayed at Palazzo for the week in Vegas.  The dope part is getting hooked up with the free upgrade. Thank you Mr Owner of Palazzo… Thanks for the Hook up Doug Palazzo.

As many people know, SEMA 2009 is happening this week, and being in the industry I have to go… Yeah not really stoked about it but I mean I’m here to have fun too and not just to work.

On the first night few friends and I just decided to take it easy and just chill in and lounge out somewhere.  Unfortunately by that, it meant I’ll be running around everywhere in different bars and clubs.  Being a Monday in Las Vegas, it’s usually really dead.  And as expected it was.  Chilled at the patio of Lavo which is located in Palazzo.  Had a few Hennesy drinks and beer but after listening to the crap music they were playing at the time we decided to book it and move on somewhere else.

Next move was at V-Bar located at the connected hotel, the Venetian.  Yeah this place is totally dead with a few hicks dancing around that provided us with some entertainment.  Still continued drinking and sticked with the mellow night plan.  It’s just the whole slow jam music playing on a “club” that ruined it so made us bounced to another spot.  Spot I actually like.

Oh Revolution Lounge and Bar how much do I adore thee.  Just across the street from Venetian it’s inside Mirage.  Revolution is part of the Cirque Du Soleil “Love” by the Beatles… Hence the name Revolution.  Love this place.  Rarely packed but they play some of the best music.  Nice and chill spot to top off the bar and club and lounge hopping night.  This place never disappoints.  This is where I ended up meeting up with Anna, Stephanie and Huan.  And decided to grab some 25 cent hooters wings.

That would be Anna on the right Destroying a plate of 911 wings. She's hardcore like that.

What was planned as a chill night turned out to be a fun drunken party.  Come to think of it, most things I do becomes a fun drunken party.  After calling it a night at 4am, got to Palazzo, slept, and woke up at 6 for SEMA.  2 hour sleep FTL!!  Doing this all over again in a few hours.

Here’s the FD, G37 and G35 at the south hall whored out with stickers. But those stickers come with a free Forza 3 Video Game. Yaaaay

Worst part of sema besides walking around the convention halls is preparing for it. And by preparing I mean wiping the Cars down… And that’s about it lol. This car is going to the Seibon booth.  All snaps are from my trusty iPhone

Ever since the day of JR’s passing, which is about a month ago, the crew at High End vowed that we’re going to finish JR’s car.  It’s only been a month and unfortunately not all has been finished but man, we’ve done a lot.  Debuting the new hotness at SEMA 2009, the G37 will be a feature car for Seibon.  This will be the third year in a row where this car has been in SEMA.  First was in Tanabe Booth, last year was Cusco in which it won the prestigious Grand Turismo Best of Show award and this year, as mentioned earlier, it’s the featured car for Seibon Carbon.  Need to continue the legacy… More pics next week when we get to Vegas but for now, say bai bai!!  We’ll see you next week buddy!!

Just found this from RIX Mag. The crew with Kazunori Yamauchi, creator of Gran Turismo, Hara-San of Cusco Japan, and Keith from Nukabe after announcing our win as the best car of SEMA 2008. Goooood stuff.