Issue 24 is done printing and should be shipping to subscribers over the next week or so. If you aren’t a subscriber and would like to pick up a copy, we have copies available in our store.
We have also added previews from each feature (as well as additional photos from each story) here, be sure to check those out and let us know what you think!
We’re all guilty of it: whether it be on an online forum , a local meet, or a photo blog, we have seen a unique—and often times ‘functionless’— piece of flair or style that makes its way into our daily automobile musings. It shows up in the fictional scenarios in our mind: of victory laps out of work, 4-lane highway rolling shots, and our ideal perceived image. We think about how cool, or essential the addition will be to our ride, and then either by sheer overexposure or bad rap… it fizzles out… and the next trend or fad comes right along and the process repeats itself…
The hobby of modifying cars is a quick and sure way to make sure that you can live your life one paycheck at a time, as well as having no free time away from your garage, and no girlfriend. Now, if we take it one step further and talk about auto racing at a competitive level, you can go ahead and triple that amount of money and kiss your normal life goodbye because you will not have time for it anymore. Why would anyone want to invest so much time and money into a sport that has such a low payout of money (or in some cases none)?
When I look at the newer KDM scene. I can’t help but be reminded of the early days of the Honda scene. Everything was new, unchartered territory. In the mid 90’s, if you had a 2-inch drop and a set of 17s, spark plug wires, an intake, and some NOPI rainbow bulbs, you were turnin’ heads. If you had that + a grocery cart wing, and fresh custom paint, and
Modern Image graphics – you were King Dingaling. Some of these trends seem ridiculous in hindsight. But you have to understand, hindsight is 20/20. When you’re in the moment, it’s a whole different mindset, and a whole different reality. These things were cool/tough, and there was no other way. In 1996, if you rolled up to the spot in a Civic hatch with amber corner lenses, bronze 15s, and no interior – birds would’ve lined up to shit on you…
This world of professional top-tier drifting is an increasingly corporatized sport. The question is, how do you mesh the roots culture of drifting – which at its core is so anti-establishment, rebellious, illegal, and anti-corporate…how do you mesh that , with the growing ‘organization’ & corporate influence settling in the great sport of professional drifting?
Here is a quick way to tell if you’re cool. It’s not the only way but it is one quick test.
Here it is: You buy aftermarket parts for a car that you don’t even own yet. Have you done
it? If so, I’d like to extend my congratulations…
I’ve known yo for over 10 years now… and his attention to detail has always astonished me. It always has. It actually makes me feel like crap about myself haha. Because i’m just more of a “fix it with a sticker or a ziptie and worry about it later” sorta dude. Anything that i have ever tried to get to this level of perfection… i never finish. But yo’s got that personality for it. He’s got the patience for ‘detail’. He’s got that ability to sick with one thing, and see it through to perfection. It kinda makes me think we need to get him helping us with this mag, because it would probably come out as a leather-bound book… hand delivered to your house by a guy with a waxed mustache and a British accent. Not really – too many Volkswagen creampuffs would be in it (lol…joke, joke).