JDM Underground. The Pioneer of Cool

<<<pic courtesy of sir Dens Dela Cruz>>>

I received a random meet invitation through PM, it was a gathering if I’m not mistaken going to Marilaque. I had a white EK Hatch, I was an online seller back then and also worked a day job, I had a small office at Project 3, and usually flooded the forums with my stuff. It was 2008 and forums are king, such meet would later on be known as the first JDM Underground meet. It was memorable to me, and I clearly remember it because first, I was not able to join because I had reservations of attending since a close friend of mine back then had this conflict with one of the founding members of JDMU (something common back in the day). Second of course I was envy because my others set of friends went and had tons of pics to show me come Monday and of course third, JDMU is one year younger than the company which I built myself, on March 22, 2007. 

In my opinion, JDMU is the pioneer of cool car groups, or during the latter part of its existence, the pioneer of cool car meets. It was the anti thesis to everything baduy, to everything generic and usual. It cringed at fake wheels, caliper covers and odd paint jobs. It clearly didn't approve of fake GT wings, misplaced stickers, underglow lights and well, in its entirety, lousy parts that didnt mean a thing. It mocked and laughed at poorly made and fake products which are sold online, generated captions and memes were like lessons one could almost learn from. In a world of JDM, of the coined term Japanese Domestic Market, only original parts mattered, speed and performance are two important facets which they uphold and the often misunderstood and debated, function over form slogan. 

Fast forward 2018. From a bunch of purist who found love and built their families from an institution called Honda Club, it has grown coverage and appeal to new guys of course with the help of Facebook. It was a killer too though, since most of not all migrated to FB as a medium of interaction. Ultimately its community grew, so is its influence, mainly its purist, clean and all original approach if I may reiterate. 

Such meets at JDMU taught me time out of work. It also helped me appreciate today's car culture beyond its business side. The business side which is most often blinding and make you a slave. JDMU meets also remind me of something I uphold at the shop as I only serve sport compacts, and never anything beyond it if you know what I mean, to protect my friend's business, and to prove that we can make a living and employ people and their families by sticking to what we really know and started on from day 1, never to "migrate" to another market and stay loyal to the culture and industry. Tania always pushed me to attend these meets, she encourages me constantly to take an early off from work during Sundays just to witness these meets. 

Let it be known that JDMU, beyond its image as a strict, original only, closely knit purist group, is a clear and constant niche in our culture. Maraming grupo ang naimpluwensyahan ng JDMU, even coming up with other groups and meets with a similar and somewhat obvious target market. Photogs and pages were also born out of JDMU, new people met old people, the HCP-era guys met the new Facebook/Google age guys (as I call them) at shempre nandyan yung tatay na high waist na mahilig mag exclusive class picture (wink wink), collaborations were done and dealt at marami pang iba. No doubt it was an evolution and a revolution.

Ayun! I'm done and I challenged myself to write this blog with no mention of any car (except the one in the 2nd sentence) or any brand haha. So there you go, a 5 minute blog from yours truly, ang dami gagawin bukas nakakalula, so time to catch some shut eye. Good night! Be good!

The Avengers Factor

The importance of new is rather simple but unappreciated. One clear example is the Avengers movie which rocked everyone's world. As in everyone, non fans, fans, readers and no readers, MCU regulars or just the casual viewer. We, for the lack of a better term, were enthralled by how epic the movie was.

Rewind year 1991, the 2nd half of the year. As the kid who would often pass by Filbars at Katipunan  after having a meal with my mom at Sweet Haven. Eager, excited, ready to pounce on the newest release of the Gauntlet Series. We had better imaginations then, kids were more focused, were more simpler and longer attention spans. We let our minds work as we skim through page upon page of the comics we read rather than letting CGI do the work for us.

Fast forward again to the year 2018, I would never have imagined to watch such characters or at least I must say Thanos to appear in such glorious fashion as what I have just witnessed in the movie. Never could have I imagined (even with MCUs faults and inconsistencies) that the gauntlet plot could have been laid out in such a seamless way.

Through technology. That we often overlook how it affects our lives as we pass our days and months and years. That every bit of improvement from our watches, to the food we eat, to the phones we use, to the speed we now connect and the things that "entertain" us, is a result of technology.

And as we relate such to cars, the modern machines that we drive is too a perfect example of technology paving way. Its undeniable though always debatable that new is always better. That these modern machines spool faster, handle better, they're more fun to drive and less clunkier. As someone who gets to drive old cars then newer cars via the work I am involved with, I have a clear and concrete appreciation of the cars of past, and the modern machines we have today. That improvement is unstoppable, that the new cars carry every bit of established and continuing R&D done by these companies and ultimately the importance of their involvement in motorsports as there is better and "leveled-up" performance value in each of the sport compacts we drive today.

Nostalgia is such a big word nowadays. that is completely paradoxical to what I have just discussed and we shall save that for another blog. Gotta catch some sleep now, what a day filled with trips back and forth North and South.

Intersect

Everyone needs an EG, the same way we need that speed drug which we as enthusiast yearn for and the basic backbone of this hobby turned passion. the Civic EG in its most basic sense is the favorite pocket rocket in my opinion. It’s something that is assumed to undergo a basic set of mods and ultimately leading to a better engine, some bigger brakes and a career, if fortunate enough, leading to motorsports and the like. I’m writing this letter at a Cafe at Gyongdong, overlooking a busy street full of professionals, families, lovers and basically individuals who has a knack for shopping and dining. I couldn’t help but compare and think back to what we have in Manila. At ang lamig, promise.

Inno drives his EG, windows done, feeling, hearing, continuously inspired by the sound and terror that his B18c5 brings. Passing through Katipunan on eventful Friday night, teens on their backpacks Still, dining, chatting with their friends,couple of friends slightly curious of the balut and penoy Manang is selling.  Kids at Starbucks, eating much time, sipping that coffee, trying to be relevant, of the norm that nowadays one has to have that coffee in hand before they can start studying, before they can even start a task or even concentrate. During such time, past midnight, our good friend El Natcho might be ripping to and from Tagaytay through its lesser known back roads. he may be on a FF, or a FR of his choice. Trying new stuff, clicking endlessly on that stop watch, of what makes his car faster than the other one, chasing himself, questioning what could have been faster on that particular corner, his BRZ, CRZ or the Porsche. A true and undying testament that there are still enthusiasts out there who are simply addicted to driving. No fancy stuff just driving. 

The Civic EG is an entity which has intersected our lives one way or another, its a trip down memory lane, a pure nostalgia machine or that great teacher to all of us. May it be on parts, or being a purist and most importantly, of putting much importance on function rather than form.

Well in my opinion, one of the simplest lessons of owning an EG Sedan and Hatch through out these years is showing me the true essence and the ultimate form of a manual. Meaning, it completely changed my perspective on cars in such a way that I question myself on whats the good of buying that manual STI or Evo or WRX, when you can have your 1800 lb B18 EG hatch just completely destroy everything on the road, come up with the fastest laptime and still go home unscathed and/trailer-less. That there is nothing more ultimate that the manual EG, and that everything else could be considered just a "powerful cruiser". Now thats my narrow minded point of view.  

Moneyz.

If there’s one thing we can all be proud of is being able to deal with different types of people. Life throws a lot of stuff at you day by day, at work, play, leisure and the like, and through that, we are able to experience life and most importantly different people. May taong parang matandang dalaga ang ugali, there are free loaders, pioneers, aggressive people, humble, mayabang, mahangin, mabait, mama’s boy, siga and all, and I guess that is what life is. 

In your life, I think life is bound to throw in an compete asshole here and there just to stir things up, to make it a tad difficult, rather being a challenge to you as you make way in this thing called life. We need these people in our life, that office mate that annoys you every single day, that crush that always takes advantage of you and you end up treating her coffee at the expensive coffee place just across school. How about that friend who inspires you to work harder, or that neighbour na walang kasing simple pero when you open his gate he has 5 valid sport cars. Or the business people who you have to deal with day by day, who look at people with Peso signs in their heads, who smile when you pay good, and frown and treat you like nothing when there’s nothing to profit from. How about that guy who has 25 bible verses stuck in his car window, but is a complete jerk when he drives. 

Education. Thats why its important. Thats why its essential for kids to get quality education, to gain formation and of spirit thats nourished the right way. Not by the struggles of life, nor by greed, not by business and absolutely not from the sense of urgency to gain or earn. But by truly understanding life and being a man for others. Of working diligently and doing business not only for profits but to alleviate the life of other people that of your employes and their families. I’ve always believed that if your motivation comes from greed, you are simply wasting your life away, or in many cases people view you as one dimensional. You’re stuck into perceiving people as to what they can give you not to what their value is as human beings. 

Do we live for money, or shall we rather strike that perfect balance in life? 

Class Act

Hindi pa came ready maging "baduy". I think that statement says it all. Of the struggles of someone who has lived in the EG/EK era, did business on his own, got lucky, worked hard and is staying true to his roots in this present era. Napakahirap. To maintain such outlook in tuning, and walk that fine and almost fading line between keeping it simple and functional, or gaining a huge profit from selling parts that go against your belief, parts which you would never dare install in your car. Simple as that.

The battles we had at South taught me a lot of things. That other shops actually push products to clients even if its actually not needed. Just to make a profit, just to include it at the spec sheet, just to say its more complete or for them to post something on FB or IG. Surely these people in my estimation, woke up one morning, thought of getting parts from a supplier and selling them for profit and call it a day. Wag mong kalimutan yung Facebook post nya na kulang ng subject verb agreement. Salamat sa mga magagaling ko na teacher sa Ateneo.

The pride of the enthusiast who’s lived in the EF/EG/EK era’s is a real passion for building cars. Of keeping it clean, simple, effective, reliable and of course, making use of the best brands possible. To be honest with you when I help my clients I try to make the transaction as smooth as possible annd avoid hassles on their part and mine. I hate being baduy though sometimes to tell straight its unavoidable, but we try as much as possible not to put those weird looking lights on your brand new 2018 RS Civic. I even put quotes on our wall, snippets of the style we believe in and the form we strive for. Hmm, what else, ah yes, we’re not there yet calling our cars cute and funny names nor we want it overdressed. Like women, we want to keep it simple, less makeup, let her real beauty shine but when you ask her on a random date from posh hotels, to a simple date at a kubo-kubo resto at Tanay, she’s game, she’s ready to go, hindi maarte, parang kabarkada mo lang, hindi naiilang at nakasimangot, sa halip ay natatawa pa, sumusugod pa, at nauuna pa sayo. You want to bring and introduce her to your parents and friends? Aba pwede. May utak, may gilas, may galaw, not a girl whose world revolves around bags, makeup, events or the dire need to post everthing on FB and IG. Nopes.

I remember a public figure in motorsports who I'm sure you know and has in many ways became a mentor to me. The kind of guy who's sikat na nagsisismula na yung event nya, di pa sya tapos makipagkamay at magpa picture sa mga tao. He told me, choose between two simple things. Gain the profit that you need, or preserve the dignity of your client. Such words are engraved to mind to this day, it also serves as a reminder of our purpose and direction as a shop.

Motorsports. Thats one of the main factors of such difference. Of someone who had participated in racing, and has involved himself in such, someone who wants it lighter, simpler, faster as compared to someone who would want his clients rolling on 67 pcs of LED lights, fake stuff and recommend parts that do not really mix well. Yun any difference. Cars are machines, those are built to run. Those are made to make you smile on straights and corners whatever may it be. We daydream about time attack STI's, Evos and Civics, ripping though the race track at unbelievable lap times, we dream of limited edition parts, those timeless Rays wheels and big budget builds that win SMX shows.

And there you have it, a 5 minute blog by yours truly. By the time this gets published siguardo late na, btw ginawa ko ito sa isang maingay na coffee shop, pugad ng mga genius ang order ay isang kape at uupo ng 8 hours, na kaya magaral kahit volume 10 ang ingay at napakagulo. Peace.

Travels

Tania and I would usually find ourselves in the streets may it be at Thailand digging though the tasty street food at 2am in the morning, or in Malaysia, eating such large shrimps while gazing at a metallic blue R35 passing by just a few steps from our table, romantic moonlit dinner, somewhat highlighted by something we both love, and surely what others love too. Vietnam is a different adventure altogether wherein you throw away everything you've know so far or accustomed to with reference to Hongkong and its flashy cars and replace that with a motorcycles, yes, a truckload of them, no, even more, enough for the government to award them their own lane. To put it simply I think every citizen of Vietnam had one. The streets are filled with them and we are now where near their skill handling such by the MM clearances. Our travels to various countries keeps us grounded, that we are nothing and helpless in the middle of a realm we know nothing about. It simply feels refreshing to travel on a backback, somewhere in the middle of the city wherein no one knows you, your background and what have you. In front of you is a world to discover, trying to communicate, doing to your best to understand, digesting the details so you could then appreciate stuff which are, in ways, out of your usual routine and system.

Looking back the cars we had are someone similar or symbolize the relationships we had. That near-track car SIR is like the model girlfriend we had. Quick, fast but very problematic. How about the Accord you had that sat on 19s and stayed low to the ground, beautiful and graceful but lacked excitement that you had to say it's not you, it's me, you simply yearned for something that excited the man in you, or the enthusiast in you. Through the course of our lifetime, our cars have always been part of our lives. When you're eye to eye with your car, there's always a tendency to look back on past experiences, difficulties, losses and triumphs. As if it can readily tell you stories of loved ones, the family, blood, sweat, tears, things and or moments which can never be replicated nor brought back.

Profiling...

Because like everyone, each of us, the enthusiast come from different background. Some were born at a time of convenience where items could be searched easily, brought in easily and there are express shops for performance upgrades. While others lived in an era of motor sports, burnt rubber, with a strong lineage to the balance of handling, lightweightness and power in general. Others are purists, who pattern themselves or rather their builds to its counterparts from Japan. To the Js Racing themes, to the Spoon ones, to the M&Ms of this world, to specific parts such as high end wheels from Rays or Work, to carbon fiber panels quadruple the price of fab ones. How about some hard to find interior pieces, to street cred rooted from having 1/100 or 1/50 in the world. So through these things, we can get a backgrounder why his car or project is built that way. Why he has a Jazz that's clean-built so low to the ground, because he has his roots from staying in the states for a couple of years. That air is the way to go rather than static. Why Ron has a Civic SIR for the weekends, dropped on Coilovers, lightweight RE30s, those gleaming blue brakes which I know you've guessed, Cusco roll cage and all, and CF galore. That pink #64 on his windshield trying it's best not to fade, signifying that these cars only mean business, burning rubber on weekends and trying catch that elusive track record. Joel on his Evo8, with a catalog-full of Tomei parts, his appearances in various magazines is a testament of how well sorted out his parts are, therefore appealing to the JDMU-level purists but making sure the most "picky" enthusiast broke his neck as he would attend and park his car at the posh meets at BGC. How about Gello's EK9, he prides on a clean and pure EK9, only authentic SW388s, Spoon Brakes and his trusty Apexi N1 suspension and nothing else. That he prefers to have a pure build rather than having something that attracts too much attention or as other say it "overdone", "boyoyong" or too much "burloloy".

In our lifetime, I mean in this generation in the advent of newer and more affordable cars, we've sure had our personal battles number one of course with our selves as we talk to ourselves and critic some riced out cars, to the forums and group pages, trying to be as polite as possible by using IMHO, Paps, papi, with all due respect, no offese and what not, educating, teaching, illustrating to the younger generation how builds should at least look like.  

Food is served, and now I'm about to enjoy my late dinner. That was quite a day, as always, thankful. Good night everyone.