Hot Import Nights San Mateo 2008 roll-in was today for all vendors and exhibiting vehicles. Roll-in is a pretty boring and long process, especially for exhibiting vehicles. If you have never been involved with vehicle setup at Hot Import Nights, it’s an interesting ordeal to witness…

The fire marshal requires all vehicles at indoor events to stage only with a quarter tank of gas or less. And needless to say, not everyone knows this rule or people just plain forget because it never ceases to amaze me at the sheer number of people who run into issues with too much gasoline. You might be wondering what happens at that point if you have too much gas. Well, there are several ways to attack this problem of which I will only divulge into a few to preserve a few “secrets” amongst tuners.

You can burn the gas off by driving around like a madman in low gear on the highway, rev your engine and pray you waste enough fuel, or bust out the hose and start siphoning. In my friend Henry’s car (Supermade Nissan S13), he literally had 3/4 of a tank. It’s not really that easy to burn off that much fuel so we tried several techniques to get him into the venue but at the end of the day we still had to siphon his fuel system…well, kinda.

We went to the 76 gas station down the street, only to find out that Henry’s car has the anti-siphon guard at the end of the fuel neck so sucking it out of the tank was a no go. After making a call to Van, we finally settled on dumping fuel from the fuel system directly from under the hood. We disconnected the hose after the fuel filter but before the fuel rail and connected that short piece of nose (directly after the fuel filter) into a gas canister and primed the system until we dumped enough fuel. It took a while but you gotta do what you gotta do right?

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Today’s little fiasco with Henry’s car proved to be an awesome display of sportsmanship because we had several people helping us with this problem. Seems like you don’t find people willing to help out these days so it was truly something that stood out to me.

More on good sportsmanship, Hot Import Nights San Mateo 2008, and Hot Import Nights San Mateo models later!

To view the full Hot Import Nights San Mateo 2008 gallery, click here!

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I don’t know if this is news to you, but it is news to me. The new Nissan GTR comes equipped with a bit of annoying electronics in Japan:

In a review by Motor Trend editor Scott Kanemura, it was revealed that GPS system fitted to the GT-R would remove the 180 km/h (111 mph) speed limiter when the car arrives at a race track, but only on tracks approved by Nissan. In addition, the GPS sensor doesn’t automatically remove the limiter by itself, it has to be manually changed by navigating through a series of menus on the GT-R’s touch screen. After leaving the track, owners are required to head on over to a Nissan High Performance Center where a $1000 safety check is performed to avoid losing warranty. A sensor mounted on the valve stem, causes error code to appear if the GT-R is driven with aftermarket rims. Modification to the intake system also causes problem with ECU. However, Nissan confirmed the GPS check is not implemented in American models.

It’s interesting that Nissan has chosen to implement this technology but wow, $1000.00 safety check? Ugh? Good thing we don’t have it here in the States huh?

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I have been talking to a few car builders and it seems like everyone is getting ready to slam their heads into a wall getting their cars ready for the upcoming Hot Import Nights San Mateo. People are spending big money to overnight parts, diagnosing issues, and basically dealing with last minute headaches.

Even I have been dealing with a few problems with the 350Z and suspension noise. In fact, I might just have to deal with it and drive the car to San Mateo as is because if I tear apart the rear end again, I might run into other issues.

Well needless to say, I really hope there is a lot of unique vehicles at Hot Import Nights San Mateo. I’m actually looking forward to snapping pictures and writing about the event. I will not be doing full event coverage of Hot Import Nights San Mateo but I will be snapping pictures of interesting cars and models.

Anyways, to do a full 180 on the subject of Hot Import Nights San Mateo, I thought I would post up this cool picture of a VW GTI I found on VWVortex. Bently Continential GT Wheels baby! Talk about a baller!

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CLEAN!

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A few people have recently asked me how I approach models and talk to them at events such as the upcoming Hot Import Nights San Mateo. Well, it’s quite simple actually; talk to them like people because that’s what they are. Regardless of their occupational choice, the way they look, or how much they may seem to intimidate you, there is nothing different about these individuals; humans are humans.

Do what you need to do, and get it done! If you want to ask a model to pose on your car, ask them! I’m sure they would appreciate the offer and the exposure just as much as you would like the pictures to show off. If you want to ask a model for a picture with them, do it! Now if you are trying to get a date, I wouldn’t necessarily say that an event such as Hot Import Nights San Mateo is the right time to do it. Can you imagine how many people are trying to do the same thing? It’s highly doubtful that you are going to be able to grab their attention (unless you are just that good) and have her single you out for whatever reason in a huge crowd. The best thing I can suggest is to try to get some kind of contact information and do what you need do after the event is over. If you are just trying to play grabass well…whatever.

Often times, these models (especially models at Hot Import Nights San Mateo) have huge crowds around them and it’s even harder to get to these ladies let alone ask if you can drag them away from their booth for pictures with your car. In actuality, sometimes the models cannot leave their booths for things like that so the best time to catch them is actually BEFORE the show opens to the public. Right after models have gotten dressed and their booth is setup, models are usually lingering around having fun. This is the perfect time to introduce yourself and get a few snaps in before the swarms come in.

If you are specifically looking for someone to pose with your car, sometimes you will run into models who think they are God’s gift to nature. It will be quite obvious who these “models” are. They are the “models” who don’t even bother talking to you let alone give you a smile. When you come across one of these “models,” do yourself a favor and don’t bother continuing to pursue them.

Needless to say, the entire text within this post is all from personal experience of doing media at events for over five years. I too have run into my share of dumb lines… If a model tells you, “Come back later and I will do it for you,” take that line as a hint and keep hunting. My personal favorite line of all time happened at Extreme Model Fest at the Glas Kat club in San Francisco several years back. The model literally told me, “I charge for pictures.” Seriously, what’s the deal? I’m there to promote you…idiot! And it’s not like she knew I wasn’t media. I was taking pictures before the event was open to the public.

I hope you can learn from my experiences. Have fun and make some new friends!

To view the full Hot Import Nights San Mateo 2008 gallery, click here!

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So Hot Import Nights San Mateo is this coming Saturday and I’m not really ready. Well actually, everything has to be ready by Friday because that’s when setup is for the event. Needless to say, Hot Import Nights San Mateo is going to be a long day but full of fun things I hope. I’m mostly looking forward to seeing some new Hot Import Nights models

Anyways, here is how the car sits right now at ride height:

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Anyways, still got a few more things to take care of including some new suspension noise I have never heard before. Time to get to work so I can make it to Hot Import Nights!

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The VIP Style Cars meet went pretty well yesterday. There were a lot of new faces to meet and the Norcal VIP scene is definitely coming up. Here are a few pictures:

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Click here for a link to more pictures. Enjoy!

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Tomorrow, VIP Style Cars (VSC) will host its first Northern California meet of the year. The event is a fairly open to the public but we are not looking to make it a general tuner meet. I do realize this is very short notice, but if you are interested in VIP Style, want to check out a few cars in person, make some new friends, ask some questions, etc. I encourage you to drop by.

Who: VIP Style Cars members and guests.

What: VSC norcal meet and greet, take pics, have some dinner, possibly see a movie.

Where: Sybase in Dublin, directly across from the regal hacienda IMAX theater complex.

When: 4:00PM Sunday March 2n

We meet in front of the Barnes and Noble, eat at one of the many nearby restaurants. Head to Sybase right down the street, snap some pictures, and catch a flick.

The address for the movie theater is 5000 Dublin Boulevard, Dublin (925)560-9600

Click here for link to the mapped location.

On another note, if you want to come tomorrow but you are busy, there will be a small group of us also attending Hot Import Nights San Mateo coming up on March 8th. Be sure to find us and say whats up!

Here is a link to the thread on VSC: http://www.vipstylecars.com/forums/showthread.php?t=9077

Hope to see you there!

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In the automotive world, the word “knockoff” thrives, and the debate about counterfeit vs. authentic is a timeless argument that spans across many genres. Pras’s post regarding Shine Auto exposed (not shined-hehe) some light to our readers in hopes to gain appeal to support original products and disembowel their knockoff counterparts.

So what can be done about this? What is the next step?

Well for us, it’s simply not to make a blog and write about it. We need support against the evil. Support from consumers who won’t buy these products! That’s the first stand. Now I know this is wishful thinking (and saying so is like trying to admit there’s no sun in the Universe) but if this is done, everything else will fall into place.

The downfall of many Japanese aftermarket companies in the United States can be attributed to the success of knockoff companies and although 70% of the blame can be placed on such companies, 20% of the blame can be places on consumers for purchasing these products… an additional 10% can be blamed on Magazine publications, forums and internet sites (*ahem Super Street, Import Tuner, My350z *ahem cough) for endorsing such companies and allowing them to advertise in their publications/sites. With the advent of all of this, there’s no wonder the biggest business growth in the industry is the knockoff genre. However if you’re a consumer of these products and don’t care what we are talking about, take a future look at our industry.

Imagine an industry full of crappy products and companies who only care about getting your money. What will you have? It’s simple, death. Lack of quality will generate lack of interest, lack of interest will = death.

Now imagine an industry with companies who take time, money and resources to engineer, design, study, test and manufacturer quality products and well thought innovation. Imagine companies in an industry offering products to better benefit your car and your taste of style. What will you have? It doesn’t take a genius to know the obvious.

Companies like Shelby, AMG, Brabus, Mugen, HKS, etc. all are companies who have a rich history of product innovation and a following of consumers age ranging from 16 to 75. These companies have built and survived in a turbulent industry and outlasted any knockoff manufacturer/company here to date.

So what’s the point of this rant? It’s simple, I want you to think about the detrimental impact knockoffs have. Don’t try to save a buck, buy authentic. You do get what you pay for.SIMPLE FORMULA FOR AUTOMOTIVE TUNING:

Plan + Save $$ + Buy authentic goods + do your HW and TUNE = Healthy Project.

More to come from one of us.

PS: Bring it on SHINE, Version Select and Bitches

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Knockoffs, knockoffs, knockoffs… I talk about this subject extensively, yet there never seems to be an end. This time, I am not here to push my anti knockoff philosophy but to unveil the the corrupt business practices behind these slime balls.

If you have not heard of Shine Auto Project, they are a company based out of Southern California that molds authentic body kits and resells them at lower prices. Shine Auto Project claims their products are not damaging to the aftermarket industry, product designers, or consumers because they are not using the same material in their products as the original creator. Blah blah blah is all I hear and in the end, they are still copying designs and reselling other people’s hard work. Hard work that companies pay designers big money for might I add. They claim that many of the products they knockoff need “fixing” because they do not fit correctly.

You see, in the 350Z world, Shine Auto Project seems to thrive. Thrive off of the cheap people who drive drive $30,000. Now I know it doesn’t really make much sense… “$30k vehicle” and “cheap” in the same sentence can almost create an oxymoron but trust me, 350Z people are CHEAP.

So now that you have a little background on the company itself, its time to divulge into their crafty and shameless marketing behavior… The offense? Straight out DUPING and TRICKING customers for their money!

Last year, I noticed that Shine Auto Project had started a thread on the My350Z boards in regards to their new knockoff which was a Central 20 bodykit. What I found inside the thread was just jaw dropping.

The offense? THEY POST MAGAZINE SCANS FROM A JAPANESE PUBLICATION IN LIEU OF THEIR OWN PRODUCT! Yes, you heard right! How shady is that? They don’t post pictures of their product but instead, scans from a magazine which shows the AUTHENTIC product. To top it off, no where do they say that theirs is a replica product. All they mention is, “In our special flexible Hybrid FRP Material.”

Come on Shine Auto, do you really need to stoop THAT low to make your sales and market your product? How can you honestly take people’s money? I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I was in that position…that is just way too shady for me. I don’t care that people know you are a KNOCKOFF company. What if you were new to the scene and wanted to modify your car? The poor guy or gal went to the thread and bought your product thinking it was the real thing without knowing any better. There is NO WAY you can blame the customer for not knowing your product is a KNOCKOFF. It is up to you, the seller, to clarify exactly what you are selling.

You want to know what the kicker is? I posted up asking what’s up with their marketing by asking why they are posting the scans from the magazine instead of their own pictures, and clearly mentioned to everyone how unscrupulous their behavior was. What happened? My post was deleted by an admin/moderator and I was warned not to post like that again. GREAT. I mention the obvious and literally try to point out to people that this is a knckoff. Seems like all the admins/moderators care about is their money from the Shine Auto forum sponsorship.

The bottom line? Knockoff manufactures are EXPLOITING customers of their hard earned money. It’s funny how real slime balls and idiots can make money isn’t it?

Want proof? Check it: http://www.my350z.com/forum/showthread.php?t=223283

P.S. If you are reading this and know someone from Shine Auto Project, be sure to forward this to them. I’m curious to see if they are willing to even fess up to their blatant disregard for business ethics.

P.P.S. To Shine Auto: If I discourage just ONE of the 30,000+ unique visitors a month this website gets from purchasing your CRAP, this post has been well worth my time.

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Here is a short list of the Hot Import Nights (HIN) models for the 2008 San Mateo, CA event. Keep in mind that these are probably all the models you know of by name, and bust size, but rest assured, there will be a whole grip load of other Hot Import Nights models.

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Hot Import Nights Models San Mateo, CA (left to right)
Alicia Whitten, Bianca Smith, Ashley Sarto

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Hot Import Nights Models San Mateo, CA (from left to right)
Ashley Vee, Pam Rodriguez, Tracy Nova

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Hot Import Nights Models San Mateo, CA (from left to right)
Corissa Furr, Jenny Chu, Misa Campo

To view the full Hot Import Nights San Mateo 2008 gallery, click here!

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