Some more stuff for our wheel gallery. Shallen FX in Matte Black. I believe this is a 20×10 +15 Super Low Disk.
Peep the details.
The forecast called for rain the entire week leading up to the Air Race but thankfully we only saw 5 minutes of rain and the rest of the day looked like this.
Here’s the first pylon of three that made up the high speed chicane. The chicane was really close to the embarcadero so the sights and sounds were amazing.
Here’s the quadro where pilots had to perform knife edge maneuvers opposite to their banking angle.
Like I mentioned before, I saw my first Red Bull Air Race via webcast when they were up in San Francisco. Awe-inspiring via webcast but simply indescribable in person.
This video doesn’t do it justice. Here’s official event coverage:
Here’s a aerobatic montage of Chambliss’ Edge 540.
Thanks to Kat for sticking it out with me. I would have been assed out if she hadn’t gone. Chopstix was good, Kat, but next time we go I’ll have to try this “amazing” curry you speak of.
Had a couple beers with Freddie, Kevin and Elroy at Fuddruckers before I headed back up to the vine. Always good to see these guys. I’ll be sure to post some new food for ya soon, Freddie.
Mike was supposed to call me during the day because he was at the Air Race too. Does he call? No. I run into him at Fuddruckers with the rest of them and it turns out he forgot my number at home.. Who does that? j/k. Baller tix next year, Mike.
Not bad for an RX350.. 1st set of 22″ AME [MF x Black] Gracers stateside on 255/30 Falken FK452s. Wald Kit. HF approved. Another inch (or 2) drop would be nice though. At least it’s lower (barely) than Mr. Choi’s EVO. I can probably park underneath him. [”Where’s your car John?” Kent looks up, “Oh, there it is. We can do pull ups on your exhaust piping.” (Inside Joke)]
Logan’s always thinking about dear ol’ Dom. How flattering. Nah, but seriously. Marie’s cool and all but so far she’s a one trick pony.. Granted, it was a really good trick.
Anyway, WRC STi prototype! Good profile for a four door hatch.
Front end is nice too. They kept the aggressive headlight styling from the latest gen Impreza.
I’ve always liked the Subaru WRC cars despite Citroen and Ford’s dominance. Loeb’s got that Citroen of his dancing like Michael Jackson on top of a car at a court appeal. I wonder if Solberg will stay with Subaru despite his colorful complaints during the Finland round. Perhaps the new car will be more competitive and, if Peter’s lucky, team Subaru will finally listen to his requests for Endless pads.
A while back we dropped some pics of the Hyper Silver FS-01’s on a white Z33, but we didn’t get a chance to do the Bronze or Sapphire Blacks. So for those who needed to visualize the hotness, check it out! To your left you’ll see the Sapphire Blacks in 18×9+25 (F) + 18×10+25 (R) fitment.
Bronze on Red. Always classic, but always (Mannie) Fr-fr-fresh. This gives you cats sitting on the fence the visual motivation to see how hot the FS-01’s can make your car look.
Oh damn. Random bonus feature! This one going out to Dom.
Marie Digby singing Linkin Park “What I’ve Done.”
Always easy on the eyes and ears.
I’m on a posting spree. And you know thissssssss, man!
Well, sorta. Past tense. Finally got around to uploading some of the highlights of my trip back home. To the left you’ll see Makapu’u Beach with Rabbit Island in the background. Waves can get nuts there, but that day it was calm.
While I was there, I stopped off the Pali highway to take a picture of the Ko’olau mountain range, so lush and green. I love how the clouds eerily creep over the top of the mountain range.
Since I was there, I decided to play tourist and stop off at the Pali lookout to take in the scenery. As a youngster I took nature for granted, but whenever I’m home in the islands, taking in the scenery is what I look forward to most (besides stuffing my face).
Speaking of stuffing one’s face, Matsumoto’s shave ice in Haleiwa is a must have when visiting. If you have been to Oahu before and not had some, then you missed a page in the tourist handbook. If you can’t make it out to the North Shore, check out Waiola’s shave ice in town. A little side story: I used to work in a shave ice truck and we’d make them as big as your head. I kid you not. We also used to make malasadas (sugar coated portuguese donuts) around the same size. Our “baker’s dozen” was anywhere from 15-25 malasadas per bag, depending on how we felt. The truck closed down shortly thereafter. End story.
Since Hawaii was previously my stomping grounds, I typically always eat at the same places everytime I am back. Boring I know, but nostalgia gets the best of me. I had lunch with a friend Mai, who suggested we try a new eatery (new to me at least) called Town. Located in Kaimuki, I was quite impressed and had an awesome panini. Besides the good food, the highlight was the LEMONADE. It had honey, mint and (brace yourself) parsley juice. Tastes as good as it looks.
Just as I always hit up the same eateries, I always tend to support the same stores. I’m a big fan of streetwear (and a recovering sneaker addict) so its a must that I hit up Kicks Hawaii each time I’m home. I got a LOT of respect for them and thoroughly enjoy reading their weekly e-newsletter, sign up and peep it. Not to leave empty handed, I copped one of their latest tees, “Police & Thieves,” featuring Hawaii 5-0 Jack Lord up against Tony Montana. Support small business!
Oh oh, footwear relapse! Peep the new custom Hawaiian Island Creations slippers I copped. For those confused, people in Hawaii call them “slippers,” but you might know them as flip flops, sandals, zoris, etc. Purple and white with the black/white base. I love it cause H.I.C lets you choose the colors, so it’s always nicer than the plain jane joints you normally see in stores.
Slipper fashion son, don’t sleep on it! I am especially proud of this one, tan/brown base finished off with the cream and clear straps. Just cause you are rocking the feet casual don’t mean you shouldn’t stay fly! Oh and get this: the slippers themselves are actually MADE IN JAPAN, so technically I keep my feet JDM. Haha, I’m a dork.
So as stated in a previous entry, I was back in Hawaii in August. And in typical OG Made fashion, I felt it necessary to share pictures of the food I ate. Poke (pronounced POH-kay), means “cut piece” or “small piece,” and are bits of fish seasoned in various ways. To the left is Ahi Poke, “Hawaiian Style.”
My favorite style, which is Ahi poke with limu (seaweed). They also make this style with shoyu (soy sauce), which is also good.
Kind of a new style (never had this when I was a kid), the Spicy Tuna poke is mad good. Sushi lovers would think that poke is the bomb, while you raw fish haters will turn your noses. It’s all good though, more for me!
The poke we bought at the local Foodland (easier to buy than make), but another favorite of mine is homemade temaki sushi. My Japanese friends told me that the pieces of imitation crab, cucumber and avocado were too big, but go big or go home! USDM style!
Okay okay fine, enough sushi stuff. I really wanted to show the Tako poke (cooked Octopus pieces cold with seasoning), but didn’t take a pic of that. To your left is something called pipikaula (pronounced PEE-PEE-cow-law), which is pretty much Hawaiian style jerky. Cept the pieces are more juicy and awesome for drinking with beer. Mmmm.
And you know the best part about going home is home cooked food. My grandma makes the best Japanese short ribs, so tasty.
My dad makes a killer oxtail stew. Slow cooked crock pot style, comes out amazing. People said I looked fat(ter) when I was back in California, but it was worth it. Cali has its fair share of good food, but there’s something about the food in Hawaii that makes the vacation worth it.
Kent, Jin and I went to Nopi Nationals this past weekend. During some downtime, Kent and I discussed notes.
Jin had nothing to contribute to the conversation.
The next day, I felt that Kent needed to be reminded of our social hierarchy.
All seriousness aside.. I found Daddy D’z in Atlanta!
Southern barbeque heaven. Pulled pork, mac n cheese, candied yams and cornbread. I would come back to Georgia just for this.
If you read my previous “Clarity” entry, popularly referred to as the “The Tuner Market is Dead” post, please read this entry carefully. There has been a lot of response to the aforementioned post. But what perturbed me while receiving it was that there were individuals who were quick to pass judgement without entirely reading both Kent’s entry and my own. Doing so is both rash and, quite frankly, ignorant. Thus, I feel it is necessary to clarify a few things.
First and most importantly, Original Made is not officially associated with Endless. I just happen to love and work for Endless. You’ll notice that 2 out of the 3 other contributors to the blog do not work for Endless nor its affiliates. My thoughts and opinions are entirely my own and I do not project them upon anyone (or anything) else. If you want to know about who the blog contributors are as a collective, click our About Us link which is snazzily labeled “The Low Down.”
Secondly, I think that the message I was trying to send was misinterpreted due to the length of the entry. Or perhaps I didn’t communicate my points as well as I had hoped, in which case I’m going back to my alma mater to ask for a refund.. Regardless, here’s a cliff notes version of the 3 main points I was trying to make:
- There is ABSOLUTELY nothing wrong with low-cost product. In fact, it’s absolutely necessary and essential to the market function. There is a consumer base that creates the demand for low-cost alternatives (100% nothing wrong with that) and there are businesses that fulfill that demand (also 100% nothing wrong with that). From the post I quote, “There’s nothing wrong with that. The people who produce cheap product have found a public need and a profitable way of fulfilling it.” In fact, I even commend the companies that have been able to capitalize upon this. If you’re able to buy a Ferrari with the proceeds from your business, you’re obviously doing something right.
- Because of the business goals and philosophy of Endless, its main consumer base is within the race world. By “race world” I ultimately mean Formula 1, WRC, Rally America, American Le Mans, etc. I did not mean that the tuner market should be completely ignored, but simply set as a secondary priority. From the post I quote, “Endless has the heritage, legitimacy and the validity to be a top contender within the race market. The tuner market will always be there for the few race people and the many fanboys who want to be blingy or win shows, but it won’t be the focus.”
- Lastly, my entry was written in response to an entry by Kent, which essentially said “we need to educate people on what high quality product is so that their mindsets and desires change.” My piece was meant to address that notion and to say that as a business it’s not our job to change the market, but simply to focus our efforts where our business best fits. “Ultimately what I’m trying to say is that I believe I see the bigger picture. It is not our job, as a business, to attempt to re-educate the masses. Trying to do so, as I’ve just illustrated, would be an exercise in futility.”
Everyone will initially interpret someone’s statements differently. And everyone will have different reactions derived from what someone has written, especially if it’s something as subjective as ones own personal opinions. As stated in my first paragraph of the previous entry, I only write what my own thoughts and beliefs are and, despite my tone, they’re not intended to offend anyone.
Nevertheless, I know that when I said the tuner market is dead, it bothered some of you. To be honest, it is a bit of an overstatement. However, the phrase “The Tuner Market is Dead” was merely meant as a play on the phrase “Hip Hop is Dead.” Perhaps I should have clarified that, but if you had read Kent’s entry (which I initially referred to) you would have realized where the reference came from. If you still don’t get it, look it up. Expand your horizons.
In the end, I’m happy that the entry has sparked a discussion amongst people. I’m glad there are both those who agree and those who disagree. I’m not here to say my word is God. On the contrary, its the furthest thing from it. I simply want my message to be accurately interpreted as I originally intended. So, thanks to everyone who has written in or talked to me about the piece, the feedback is greatly appreciated, but hopefully this clears it all up.
So I was back in Hawaii at the end of August, and decided to pop into a friend of mine’s shop, Sean @ Munkywurks. He told me they had just finished a customer’s Levin, and claimed it was “real clean.” Yeah right cuz, I’ll believe it when I see it.
This is his personal car, a mildly modded AE86. Yeah it’s pretty much stock. LOL. I love this thing. Moving along…
Check out the S13 on the lift. AME Shallen CX’s in full polished! Fat lipped AME reppin in the 808 state.
Yowza! I like. Run Free bonnet, Goodline fenders, JBlood FRP doors, Run Free Type I aero. Notice the 15″/14″ staggered bronze TE37 as well (one off style for concave in rear).
Run Free bonnet, very nice sexy time.
Interior was no slouch either, Bride seats x door panels, Revolver gauge cluster, Cusco cage, etc. BRAND NEW OEM kouki redline tails make for a clean tailfeather.
Cleanest 20V swap I’ve EVER seen (much less cleanest ENGINE swap I’ve ever seen). Standalone SDS ECU so no big hole for distributor in firewall (not ghetto brah). BRAND NEW OEM Levin headlights, center garnish, corners, no expense spared. And for people wondering, this is the COMPLETED swap…wire harnesses tucked/hidden for ultra clean style.
View of the symphony, and Run Free coolant overflow x oil catch tank collabo. You Socal 86 guys better watch out, Hawaii boys be giving you rubs!
I don’t know everything. The way I write might make it sound like I think I do, but I don’t. I say this because Kent’s recent post on uber entitled “The tuner market is dead,” elevated my inclination to share my thoughts and opinions about this industry. Between Kent, Dave, Logan and I, I think I might stand alone with my newfound beliefs. What ensues highlights the notion that the contributors to this blog can all have different ideas. Due to the nature of the following content, I hope that any and all readers do not take offense to what follows. After all, what do I know anyway?
Kent’s aforementioned entry brought up the age-old argument that people need to stop buying cheap parts. For those of you who didn’t read his entry, he basically says “People who buy the cheap parts ruin the market and hurt the industry as a whole. People need to be educated about high quality product because if they learn about why a product is high quality then they won’t want the cheap stuff anymore.” For a long time, I too was an avid believer and supporter of those ideals. But recently, things have changed. In order to explain what my beliefs are I must first define “The Tuner Market” as what most people see as our aftermarket industry. Whether you modify your car for street, show, drift, drag, road race or time attack, you’re a part of the “tuner market.”
The most fundamental rule of business is to find a need and a profitable way to fulfill it. Keep this in mind when I say that in order to become rich within the US tuner market, you must produce or sell cheap, low-quality, product. It is with immense hindsight that I used to believe we could ignore or change the way consumers within this market think or purchase product. The bottom line truth is that the majority of the tuner market is comprised of consumers who do not have quality as their first priority, who are not persuaded by promises of high performance, who are not willing to save money for years in order to buy high dollar brands, etc. The cost conscious people are this market. Period. To really make money within the tuner industry you must capitalize on this demographic. And you know what? There’s nothing wrong with that. The people who produce cheap product have found a public need and a profitable way of fulfilling it. Unless we talk about copying, but that’s a whole other story..
Unfortunately, no amount of education changes the fact that high quality products come with high price tags and unfortunately that’s the biggest factor when consumers in this market decide what product to buy. In the case of AME, the majority of people don’t care that the wheels are MAT technology and that the expansion and contraction under high acceleration or deceleration is smoother than that of a forged wheel. Even Logan’s phrases found on this webpage imply that forged is better than cast with no in between, but in reality both have their merits. The majority of people do not care that Endless pads feature technology that make them perform better, last longer and be friendlier to rotors than Hawk, PFC, or Ferodo. Most people in the tuner industry have never even heard of PFC or Ferodo.. Ultimately, the dollar is the all-mighty king which trumps all else and to think or believe otherwise is simply foolish.
You might say, “But what about companies like HKS, Mackin or Tein? They sell high quality (well Tein only sort of) and high end parts to the tuner market and are largely successful.” HKS, Mackin and Tein all do well within this industry, yes. However, my reply to that is simply to look at the owners of companies who produce low quality, cheap product like James of Axis, Loren of Rotora or Frank of Lexani. Who’s better off financially? Need a little help? One of the three guys I mentioned showed up to Sport Compact Car’s Ultimate Street Car Challenge with a Ferrari. Another one of the three is soo rich that they actually had enough cash laying around to produce diamond encrusted product that would theoretically sell for $500,000. There’s some mental masturbation for ya.. Still think Tein is doing really well?
Some people will argue that the market is changing. They’ll argue that the days of the APC tail lights are over (not quite but almost). And I would completely agree that there is some change but it’s not nearly as drastic as some people say or hope it is. Don’t get me wrong, I too hope that someday the US tuner market more closely mirrors that of Japan’s (minus the minivan thing), but the utopia people imagine is near really isn’t and I don’t see it being on the horizon any time soon. The reality of it all is that the US tuner market is dominated by a price war and high end, high quality products aren’t nearly successful here as they are in other markets such as Europe or Japan where the emphasis is entirely different.
I know. It sounds like I’m simply giving up on everything, but in reality I’m simply refocusing. So what, as Endless USA, do we do? We realize and accept the facts. Endless belongs within the race realm. The brake fluid is supplied to Formula 1. The brake pads and brake fluid are standard equipment on high performance vehicles such as the Porsche GT3 cup car or the Koenigsegg. Endless is requested by name from top professional drivers like Peter Solberg (WRC). Endless has the heritage, legitimacy and the validity to be a top contender within the race market. The tuner market will always be there for the few race people and the many fanboys who want to be blingy or win shows, but it won’t be the focus.
AME, on the other hand, is a different story. AME belongs in the tuner market. It’s not race market worthy nor capable (it is but it isn’t Enkei). But there are several barriers and mountains to grapple with before it can ever fully take off. Rays has been around in the US for nearly a decade, if not longer. It has established itself as the brand of wheels. Hell, even I want Rays wheels.. So in order to gain the public trust, and even my own, it must build its brand equity (thanks John) to the tuner market by proving its high quality image through race participation. It’s not something that happens over night by any means. And even if, after several years, AME gained enough mindshare to become fully accepted as a high quality, high tier brand, it still wouldn’t produce the revenue that Endless could within the race market. As Logan or Kent would say, “But I digress.”
So why did I initially say that the tuner market is dead? Given the nature of the products and companies we represent, the tuner market is a hard sell. It’s obvious that Endless belongs within the race market. As for AME? It’s going to be an uphill battle and will take years to make any real progress. And even so, it will never be the cash cow that cheaper, lower quality brands are. So from my standpoint, from a business perspective, the tuner market is indeed dead. Ultimately what I’m trying to say is that I believe I see the bigger picture. It is not our job, as a business, to attempt to re-educate the masses. Trying to do so, as I’ve just illustrated, would be an exercise in futility.