Hot Import Nights - Los Angeles

We're as shocked as you are, but we actually paraded Hot Import Nights Los Angeles with projects Dub, Silverstone and Envy. Who'd have expected our Euros among the import enemy?

Fresh from our project car issue (et 9/06), we arranged our handsome VW fleet in a rectangular booth with magazine and sticker giveaways. We're certain the majority who stopped at the booth didn't drive a Euro, but hopefully we've shed some light on what they're missing. Thankfully, if we didn't get the job done, the quantity of quality of European cars at the show was bound to convert the unknowing.

Walking through the show it was inevitable we'd stumble upon TWCompetition (TWC) - a nationwide club consisting of fully-built Euros. At first glance you could almost overlook the cars thanks to the club's extravagant display of ice sculptures, plasma TVs, neon lights, live DJ, go-go dancers, shirt giveaways and famed import models. After chatting to the wonderful models, we finally identified some of the team's show cars.

Featured in et 10/05, Robert Wang's '02 GTI VR6 has added several more monitors to his video display and re-worked the turbocharged VR6 motor by combining a VF-Engineering supercharger.

Next, Andy Kuo's widebody B5 S4 showed a great deal of promise with custom blue paint and Audi rings decorating the flanks. You should be seeing a full feature on this car soon.

Also present was Eric Shih's spectacular widebody '03 M3 (et 4/06). It sported a new rollcage and VF-Engineering stage 3 supercharger since we last saw it. Additionally, we found Jeff Nguyen's steel grey '02 M3. Jeff's the West Coast manager of TWC and his M3 received three awards thanks to a new Active Autowerke supercharger and audio/video setup.

TWC's impressive presence didn't go unnoticed at HIN and the team was deservedly presented over 20 awards, including Best Team Overall.

Another car club present was New Image Motorsports. They made the trek from the East Coast with an entourage of eight cars, including Eddie Farcon's carbon widebody 3-Series (full feature p64) that was awarded Best BMW, Dave Hary's wild big-turbo S4, and Diogo Azevedo's metal widebody '96 318ti. Diogo's 3-Series is powered by a turbocharged European M3 motor sitting in a smoothed engine bay. It also features a 4" side-exit exhaust, OE Phoenix yellow paint and much more. Stay tuned for a full feature on Diogo's creation very soon.

We can't forget the Europrojektz crew either. Jesse Lin brought his supercharged '02 330ci with its unforgettable carbon widebody and Porsche GT Slate grey metallic paint (et 5/06).

After spending hours admiring the European car clubs, we ventured to HIN's VIP section where BMWs, Audis, Mercedes, Porsches and Ferraris covered the floor.

Here we also found Jon Levi, owner of JleviSW.com, who drove down from San Francisco to showcase his baby blue E46 M3 with its newly-installed Brembo brakes. Supreme Power Parts, 3T Motorsport and D2 Technik also displayed shop-built project cars.

The presence and accomplishments of the European car culture at HIN demonstrates the astonishing growth of our scene, especially among the import community. Unfortunately, we have to point out HIN lacked strong VW content, aside from our own booth. So let's hope Dubbers join the festivities next year.

We couldn't squeeze all the European cars and import models into this feature, so visit www.eurotuner.com for the complete gallery.

Sam's Reflection

I've attended HIN for the past three years and it's a phenomenal event, especially if you can appreciate other quality ars besides Euros (and filter out the heinous import creations). Although we have our Waterfest, H20 International, Waterwagens, etc, HIN still draws an enormous number of European car enthusiasts nationwide on a consistent basis. We have to be grateful for this and hope it transforms into a more positive influence for Euros and future Euro shows.

Sam's Highlights:

-Three of the four Best of Show awards went to European cars

-The overall Best of Show went to a Mini Cooper S owned by Paul Ireson

-The top two team awards were TWCompetition and New Image Motorsports

-Judges used flashlights to inspect car competitors

-Our free magazines and stickers don't last long at Hot Import Nights

-Beautiful sisters from Arizona, Caroline Nguyen and Christine Sanaphay