CUSCC // 8.7.2016
University of Colorado Sports Car Club's annual meet-slash-show. This is one of those shows where anything and everything is allowed. It's a coming together of car enthusiasts, not biased to one country or idea of how a car should be owned. That said, it's mostly people in their twenties showing their daily drivers that probably cost no more than $35k new, and half that by the time they got around to affording it, haha! There were, of course, some serious project cars, as well as a couple higher-end treats.
These kinds of shows are awkward for me, as I'm sure I've mentioned. Cheap imports are what I'm really enjoying at the moment (read: are what I am limited to enjoying at the moment :D ), but I think I've become so desensitized from following Speedhunters and The Chronicles that my standards for what I think deserves to be in a show are very high. Here comes a rather harsh rant: I'll be blunt and say that there was a lot of cheap crap and other repetitiveness that showed up this day. I have to suffer enough stock four-cylinders with loud fart cans, arguably unsafe aftermarket suspension, and knock-off wheels on the street every day. Why am I traveling an hour to see them all parked in one place? I used to love Subaru STIs before they were sold in this country. But now it seems every single one of their owners feels the need to put the same Rally Armor mudflaps on... and then LOWER the car. In which Bizarro World does this make sense? Then to top it all off, they have to amplify that noise they make stock that sounds like they're misfiring. If you've ever wondered, the sound is mostly down to the exhaust manifolds. That's the sound a four-cylinder makes with an unequal length header (or headers, in Suby's case... I won't get into that idiotic argument of why people need to call out others that say "headers" regarding an inline four); look up Hondas on YouTube with UELs and you'll hear the same thing. I imagine Subaru did it for packaging reasons, trying to fit a flat-four low down in the engine bay. It's an inefficient design that actually costs power - especially in a turbocharged application. Get a real exhaust, guys!
Ugh, I'm sorry for that. Let's get to the photos. While I said there were more than just imports here, the domestic appearances were predominantly fourth- and fifth-gen Mustangs, and F-body and modern Camaros. It's like with Evos and STIs; while I love the cars, everyone does them up the same, and it's nothing you won't see several times a day on the street. I shot what I felt was actually worth shooting...
I don't have it in me to ignore an NSX, even if it's completely stock. It's my dream car, and up until recently, it was actually an obtainable dream. Decent examples were going for around 50 grand, but ever since Acura launched the new model, prices shot up to 150 on the high end. I'm hoping the hype dies down, and the prices of the original NSX go with it. It may be slower than a modern Accord V6, but I think it's a timeless look and these cars are known for their outstanding handling and 'sports car purity.' People are quick to throw out the fact that Ayrton Senna helped build the car, but so far as I've read into it, Honda handed him the keys for a PR moment and he pretty much just said, "it needs to be stiffer." This owner handled the aesthetics perfectly though. Black on bronze Volk TE37s, and a Type-R wing out back. Personally I'd go for the facelifted model with static headlights (is it just me, or do flip-up lights only look good closed?), but this one doesn't need a thing more.
S14 240SX on Work VS-XX. It's seriously refreshing seeing a 240 that isn't held together with zip-ties and sitting on stupid camber. Respect to the owner. I'm actually considering these wheels for my Accord project. They balance sport and luxury very well, which is the look I'm going for. If you're not an import person, know that wheels are a BIG deal in this scene. They can really make or break the larger community's view of your car's "worthiness." Knock-offs are taboo to people that are serious about this side of the hobby, because they're generally made to cheaper standards and pretty much flip the finger to companies that put in real R&D to offer quality products.
One of those high-end treats I was talking about. 996 Turbo with what looks to be a Tech Art body kit, on HRE wheels. This is probably the most hated generation of 911, and I don't get it. Unless people simply don't like how similar the headlights are to the Boxster of the era. I've always loved 996s, though. The taillights are gorgeous; just get the later part of the generation for the slight headlight change. It's a beautiful thing. Notice the Nurburgring sticker. I wonder if the owner's ever been. It's definitely on my own bucket list, both to drive the track myself and to attend the 24 hour race.
Crazy tailpipes on one of the Cressidas at the top of the page. Importing 25+ year old Japanese cars has really started to take off, it's got me pretty sure that I want to bring over a right-hand drive version of the fourth-gen Accord once I finally get my engine for it built.
Two eighth-gen Civics at opposite ends of the power spectrum. On the left you've got a turbocharged K-series, and on the right an economy-friendly R18 with bolt-ons and a Mugen theme. My own RSX with its 'lesser-K20' is pretty much in the same category as the Mugen car; the focus is more on having an enjoyable daily driver than a project that I have to worry about the reliability of.
It's strange, I would never own a Volkswagen over a Honda, but these older VWs are cool in a way that no Honda will ever be, to my eye. The "EF" Civic hatchback comes close, but these cars (to include the older Jettas, Corrado, etc) just have that X-factor I can't put my finger on. I hate tire stretch, but that's beside the point. These wheels have Porsche center caps...
Here we go, a static headlight model on Work Emotion CR. Next to that, another NA1 with NSX-R hood on Advan RS. Both draped in gorgeous blue.
An iconic car in its own right, everyone loves the Volvo "brick" 200 series. It's one of those cars that, if it looks modified on the outside, can have any of a number of engines sitting under the hood.
Okay, I like this S2000, but those wheel stickers seriously need to go. The wheels themselves are Gram Lights 57DR, and the stickers are from the Volk Racing TE37. Volk Racing and Gram Lights are two of several different sub-brands of Rays Engineering. In a way, this guy is still 'faking the funk'. The over-fenders from Circuit Garage are one of dozens of companies copying the style of Kei Miura (Rocket Bunny/Liberty Walk). There are some cars that can pull off this look very well, but this style is so overdone. The fad needs to die already. Unfortunately for the S2000, owners really have no option BUT going wide body if they want any kind of serious rubber under their cars. The way they were put together, there's just no clearance inside those wheel wells to add inner width, so the only way is to expand out.
Rally America Ford Fiesta.
As big a Mustang fan as I am, there's no question that the Challenger is the best looking out of the three main muscle cars these days. The only thing keeping me from getting one of my own is that the body is so freaking tall (and a big car means big weight). With so much panel beneath the windows, these cars are laughable looking at the rear of the car dead-on. Lowered like this, they look so incredible, it almost makes up for it. This car is on air, so the owner doesn't need to worry about it, but you can't exactly drive around scraping the ground, which defeats the purpose of being slammed, a bit. You can only sit like this in a parking lot. I don't know what wheels they are, but the design and color choice are perfect.
Every fiber of your being may be screaming, "ricer!" right now, but I thought this Juke was so insane that it was actually cool. I love the Cosmis Racing wheels on meaty tires.
The original Beetle is one of those cars that I think has to be cool no matter what scene you're into. They can be done in so many different ways.
R32 Skyline GT-R on Work Emotion D9R
Me being a fan of cars that are outside the norm, this Subaru Brat fit the bill perfectly. Awesome lift and tire size on this thing. And, of course, it wouldn't be a modded Subaru without Hella horns up front.
Another brick, this boosted and on HREs.
It's rare enough seeing a Datsun 510 sedan anymore, but a wagon? Too cool.
This 3000GT was one of my favorites of the day. The Rota wheels are unfortunate, but at least it's a good look. I wouldn't mind taking on an all-wheel drive VR4 model as a high-power project.
More slug bug action. Patina vs factory-fresh.
The stance is strong with this one. I'm not familiar with the wheel design, but they're giving off a strong Rota Grid vibe.
Two E30s at opposite ends of the spectrum. A standard model that's been intentionally rusted out for a cool fighter-plane look, followed up by a pristine M3.
American-market S13 coupe with JDM Silvia front end conversion. Gotta love that classic two-tone paint the Silvias are known for.
Mark IV Supra on CCW Classic knock-offs. Future classic, right here guys, get one while they're still cheap.
A neat detail to pay attention to is that certain years of NSX had wheels that were staggered in diameter; taller in the rear. Enkei RPF1s are timeless wheels that look good on just about anything, too.
Original Barracuda in the parking lot.
Nearby was this Volvo P1800 wagon.
And finally, as I was leaving, this 348 pulled in. Ferrari is easily my favorite manufacturer, and I'm actually trying to incorporate a fair few of their styling signatures into my Honda project so long as it doesn't come out looking ridiculous.