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6Speed Reunion – *Team SGA*

Got together with some old friends from 6speedonline (when we all used to own Porsche’s and frequent that forum) – always a great time and fun run with these guys. Interesting to see how the cars have changed but the people haven’t in the past 7 years LOL. Some people always instigating madness.

Previous Cars vs. Current Cars
996TT / IS300 + 300ZX
Carrera GT / McLaren MP4-12C
996 C2 / MBZ CLK BS
996 C2 Cab / 997.1 GT3
MR2 / 996 GT2
996 C2 / Audi R8
and some people even kept their cars!
We also had a GTR R35 and an old school gangster 300E tag along, talk about a diverse mix of cars…

We rolled into C&C, checked out a few cars then headed for a quick drive down Newport Coast to the old Crystal Cove Car show spot (the original CC) – had some breakfast at Pacific Whey (which was great BTW) and then headed back up to where else…Lees. LOL.

GoPro screenshot from Newport Coast

A few shots from the iPhone:

@lee’s with AW and Tony Stark.

The rest of the crew, sans Joe & Tony.

Joe & Tony

I’ve got some fun GoPro footage that I’m editing, you’ll have to stay tuned for that.

BTW, ever see a McLaren MP4-12C air-brake come up on you?

There’s a special message on this one.

LOL. Never want to be too close I suppose.

And later in the day, an instagram friend sent me this haha..hilarity ensued. We serious.

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C&C previous pics, CLK-BS RaceCar and FR-S JDMEgo Visit.

It’s been a minute since I’ve last blogged but I’ve been busy spending time w/Family, working on side projects and enjoying life 🙂 Tough to argue right? I’ve been spending more time on instagram since it’s quicker (go follow me!), but I do miss writing a bit on the images I post.

First let’s start off with what seemed to be “Weird exhaust day” at C&C. I actually have a youtube video of this car (it’s actually a video with 35K hits LOL) back from 2009. Shows up at C&C every so often and these tips are just CRAZY. Epitome of “dress up” parts. Pic below, vid here

Next up – tri-tips (not the good ones *get it? – I’m hungry) on an E60 BMW…I’mma let that roll since they’re rocking an old Sprewell Racing plate which is true gully old school.

Privately owned 458 Spyder showed up a few weeks ago – traditional colors. Red/Tan.

A lot of people miss the clear bonnet, but this is pretty aggressive and for me it works. How else were they going to hide the hardtop mechanicals?

Brains blown out.

4 Generations of 911 headlights…I remember crying when I saw “Kyoto” on the 997’s LOL.

From another weekend, MBZ day – the SLR McLaren Roadster, sexy.

Track Ready first Gen CLK-BS f/EVOSport…love this car, even more so now that the new gens are Honda Accord-ish LOL. Long live First Gen CLK-BS!

Another track ready CLK-BS, sinister in red – prepped via EVOSport. Peep that leather covered roll-cage. Stay Classy 🙂

Better stitching & craftsmanship than the LV Belt I had to bring in for repairs LOL.

EVOsport also brought out their world challenge CLK-BS Racecar! Craig Stanton will be driving this beast.

No passengers, sorry. There is a really cool DJ/Beat setup in the center console though LOL.

Pretty sure those are CCW’s with massive Stoptechs behind…CCW- Call me! LOL.

hi. LOL.
EVOSport has been a longtime supporter (all the way back from the tUNINGwERKS days) so be sure to give them a call for all your MBZ and BMW needs, good people there.

Saw this license-plate and frame which made me LOL. Nice details.

16M on some BBS F1’s. Perfect.

Trying to update this chronologically…Jay (JDMEgo) and Karen swung by last weekend for a visit and brought out his new FR-S. Love this car – had to get a pic on the driveway for “Cars in front of the pad” – if you haven’t seen the series, you should check my FB Gallery LOL.

Love the center mounted tach – shift light and gauges. Great seating position, amazing car for $25K.

Details – Piston 86 emblem, love it.

More updates to come…seriously.

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Cars & Coffee 5.12.12

It’s been a long time and I’m shocked that some people actually recognized (Hi Jay and Mikey) that I hadn’t updated in awhile. It’s good to know that some people actually read this thing! LOL. Enough talk, here’s what I found interesting at C&C yesterday…

RIP Carroll Shelby. C&C closed off the main section for Cobra’s and Shelby cars. A fitting tribute – one of my favorite stories is how Shelby used to tape a $50 bill to the glovebox and then challenge passengers to grab it as he mashed the throttle…as you guys know I’m not a big american car historian but it makes me wonder if that’s why he always signed gloveboxes? Either way, godspeed sir.

Amazing Porsche Racecar that we see every so often at C&C. Love those lines.

Not quite sure what this was, but it was badass! Right in front of the Porsche Racecar

Image this in your rearview…on the freeway. LOL.

Looks like some kind of hybrid no?

Love this heritage color. Not sure if it’s Mexico or Riviera…

Honda Accords are looking crazier and crazier nowadays LOL.

Orange you glad you came to C&C today? 2 Enzos. Rosso Dino and DEATH black. LOL. (NOTE: The second color isn’t an official name haha – we just call it that). I’ve had the fortune of personally shooting both of these vehicles – but crazy to see them together in the same place.

I wanted this shot but there were just too many people in the way. Killer white Aventador right across from the Enzos. Hopefully you get the picture.

Love this color on the Scuderia – across from the Enzo’s as well. Again, wanted this shot but too many people blocking the Death Enzo.

I had a craving for candy bars after seeing this LOL. it’s different and definitely has the stance style / JDM style that is hot right now. Chocolate on Gold…not for everyone.

Riviera Blue 997 GT3 2.0. Good stuff.

Hiding on the side lot were two crazy awesome old school skylines. Something tells me in 30 years we might look back at Scion FR-S’ and Subie BRZ’s like this. Blasphemy, possibly. But then again, I still miss my 92′ MR-2 Turbo somedays. 🙂

Thanks for reading 🙂

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Working on that #Worldwide tag…

Apparently I need to brush up on my Mandarin LOL. Thanks to a good friend of mine – we have the opportunity to partner up with a large scale tuning project in China, this is gonna be CRAZY. I think it’s fair to say this is the next level…of the next level LOL. (#KobeSystem)

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I AM YOUR FATHER.

If Darth Vader drove a car…it’d be the Audi R8 LMS.

Went to visit the boyz over at GMG and happened to stumble across this bad boy.

Fill-er up!

hella-downforce

“High Beams” LOL.

Fabryce and the guys at GMG are the real deal, race prep shop – they don’t mess around. Then again, neither should you if you have that kind of money to burn. Check em out in Costa Mesa or at GMGracing.com

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Tactorri…Tragedy.

Let me start off by saying it’s a free country and that’s what makes America great. Free will, you can do WHATEVER you want and who cares what other people think right? BUT, I’m also allowed my opinion and I have to say, I’m HIGHLY torn on what we’re looking at here. On one hand, I have to say – crazy build, respect since you’re rocking a Donut Derelicts Jacket (An original C&C for Hot Rodders that’s older than I am) and it looks like you really took your time on this car – it’s complete. On the other hand, I wanna say…you did WHAT with Gallardo parts on a MUSTANG?!?? Those who read my blog know I’m a Gallardo fanatic, so this one hurts more than a swift kick to the nuts from shaquille o’neal wearing combat boots. Is this what it felt like for Dan Gilbert when LeBust left for Miami? It was like be a part of an episode of Jerry Springer, but unfortunatley YOU ARE THE FATHER. It took me a full day to even comprehend what I was looking at…some of the pics are shaky because I was tearing up thru the viewfinder.

It started off so innocent – “Hey, wonder why everyone is around that old Mustang…looks clean, nice paint…”

Hey! He’s rocking Callistos…I have those in my garage! LOL (seriously) – oh…he has the calipers too (don’t have those) this is…interesting.

Whoa Whoa…Gallardo interior…(at this point I’m getting scared, I’m guessing it’s like that anticipation of getting your prostate checked *I’m too young* and the new doctor comes in and he’s 6’7 and his name is Maurice)

Go around the back…and yep, that’s a Gallardo motor. V10 in your face ROXAS. WHAT!! I was sort of swaying back and forth at this point, saying “no,no,no,no” to myself in my head (or probably out loud), my buddy that came with me stepped back because he probably thought I was gonna go China businessman on it. (Click the link if you don’t know)

The owner opened “the trunk” for us…I was going to leave him my heart in there, because he had already pulled it out like Indiana Jones and the temple of doom.

and to finish it off, the Gallardo taillights with Gallardo style rear end.

So. Looking introspectively – it’s really an amazing build. (I’m a bit calmer now) – It’s not like he ripped apart a complete Gallardo… (I saw the personal picture album he displayed) and EVERYONE deserves respect on their builds, I mean the quality was very solid. Can you tell I’m REALLY trying here? He probably paid a lot of money for this! I respect the fact that he went after this project, but I don’t have to like it! LOL.

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MONSTER Markup.

As a sports car enthusiast, you’re well aware of the term “markup” as the most anticipated new models always go for a premium…hell, when I bought my 02′ ///M3 in October of 2001 I paid a $2K markup LOL, so it’s not just exotics that demand a higher price. I’ve seen 458’s go for $30K over, even GT2RS’ and GT3RS’ at their peak can demand easily a double digit markup. LP670-4’s, Aventadors…all when first released, usually have a markup.
NOTE: All pics were taken w/iPhone.

Then there’s this…a $350K markup, pics sent from a friend recently….yes, that’s $350,000 markup.

The car itself, as you can see is “only” $170K, so it’s asking double it’s price in markup. As I racked my brain to think of what car currently demands that kind of markup – my buddy tells me they turned down his offer for $150K over! So after all this, I’m thinking – man, what sportscar in the $170K range demands that kind of markup? I couldn’t figure it out.

Then I got these.

Hmm…Bentley style interior, but I don’t know of a Bentley that’s only $170K.

Yacht quality craftsmanship…

Monster rear entertainment? Couldn’t be Maybach, they’re going OOB.

Aside from the wheel which was a dead giveaway – I knew what this was once I saw the vents…

Checkout that deck! LOL.

Yep, it’s a Range Rover. Ultimate Edition.

Completely nuts if you ask me, they bolt on some extra fancy parts and you charge a full Ferrari 458 in markup? Who’s gonna go for that? Apparently they do have buyers if they’re turning down $150K over!

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Friggin Fantastic – Ferrari FF

About a week ago, I got a call from a good friend asking me my thoughts about the Ferrari FF.

Friend: “Albert, what do you think of the FF, was just offered one of the first in the Country”
Me: “I dunno man, Do you REALLY REALLY like that car?” – “the shooting brake style is crazy, but the avg person will think it’s a BMW…which can be good or bad depending upon what you want LOL”
Friend: “Gotta try every new F-Car that comes out – not gonna pay $$$ over MSRP for Aventador”
Me: (Making a screaming face at the sky because I want him to get an Aventador) – “Go for it in that case…”
Friend: “Are you in town for C&C next weekend?”

Pretty much the same convo before his 599, 458 and so on LOL. I have to find a way to get him back to the dark side…

So here we are, the first set of customer delivered Ferrari FF pics – I have to say, honestly…it’s one of the most gorgeous cars I’ve seen in person and I’ve seen em all in person LOL. If you take a first glance at it, you might dismiss it, but the more you look into it – it’s sincerely an amazing future forward car that Ferrari has produced.

Pics don’t do it justice, there are so many awesome lines and curves that only the human eye could capture so elegantly. We spent a lot of time staring at the car.

There’s a slight hint of the 612 here (the car it’s “replacing”) – checkout the long front.

Another angle that I see some 612 in.

I love this profile. Rear 3/4 is just straight amazing. High, full featured rear fenders (which incidentally is why that box is needed in the trunk) give such an aggressive 4WD stance – you’d think the thing could launch off of a ramp ala Tanner Foust/Hotwheels. The rear spoiler and whole back-half of the car is perfection.

Did I mention it seats 4?

Okay honestly, the rear seats are pretty much for little kids or import models (see previous post) – very supportive and sporty though. I really prefer the separation of the seats with the center console, partly out of necessity I’m sure…

Nice cockpit style for the driver, a little surprised they didn’t integrate the nav and radio into the dash ala the 458. But again, this is a GT with bloodlines to the 599 so it does make sense…

Passenger side instrument panel (previous post) along with FF emblem…nice touch.

3 buttons for Tranny, similar to 458 – Ferrari likes things in 3’s…3 button tranny, 3 buttons above for A/C, 3 vents…

Full rear-3/4 shot. Here’s where I’m sure people see “M Coupe” or “Shoe” as it was so lovingly called. Only thing is, this would obliterate an M coupe…and pretty much anything else.

Tighter shot of that rear 3/4.

Top rear 3/4 …amazing.

See ya.

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Merry Christmas Eve all…

It’s nights like these that I realize how truly lucky I am. The morning started off with a buddy of mine coming by to pick me up in the first customer delivered Ferrari FF in California…love it or hate it – like Kanye West, people talk about it. Ferrari’s 4WD, 4-Seater (hence the FF) 12 Cylinder monster is pretty “cray” LOL. Artist friends like AW and Jon Sibal love the “shooting brake” design, while others think it’s a BMW M Coupe. Trust me, it’s very much a Ferrari…pulls like a 599, has the same “GT” feel. Seats in the rear are basically for children or young import models (all you RJ). Trunk is surprisingly decent, although a portion of it seems to be used by the rear transaxle? – Carpeted Box shaped object…I’ll have to google it later.

Along with my other buddy’s F430 (yeah, lucky to have 2 Ferrari’s to scoop me on the way to C&C), we headed over to C&C to see what was going on there and then off to my usual breakfast destination – Lee’s LOL. I’m probably the only guy that could convince Ferrari owners to #1. Eat at Lee’s – #2. Park at Lee’s so I’ll be expecting my marketing check in the mail LOL.

BTW, I have a full shoot scheduled with the FF on Monday so stay tuned for more pics and info!

After Lee’s I came home and drove over to drop off some gifts, then spent the rest of the day with Wen and Mochi, scooping up a few last minute gifts and apparently ruining a surprise that I was getting a new Single Speed bike for Christmas (whoops!) – we’re now watching TV and chilling, talking with another friend of mine in Thailand who is spending Christmas overseas and totally procrastinating in wrapping the last minute gifts and other stuff…but all good problems to have. We’re in a warm house, we have lots of family and friends and are looking forward to a wonderful Christmas day – I hope everyone is enjoying the same night that I am. Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your family.

PS – This is my favorite holiday story of the year…check it out here. Layaway Angels 🙂

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Blame it on the rain…

Aside from the McLaren Dealer demo’s that came out, the rain seemed to keep Ferrari owners away from C&C this past weekend (inside joke) actually, not many exotics showed up at all. I was heading to Lee’s and happened to have my camera on my passengers seat (normally packed away in the trunk) while hopping on the 405 and saw an SLR and Veyron…huh? Yes. An SLR and a Veyron. In the rain.

Yep, that’s my windshield wiper in the shot LOL.

Dealer plates…

Last shot before my exit 😉

Nice to see these guys driving these things in inclement weather. That’s straight gangster right there. Remember, not driving your sportscar is like saving your girlfriend for the next guy LOL.