Korean Upsurge

Looking at the picture? What does it convey to you? It definitely isn’t a modern day Edsa revoltion symbol, wherein the kid innocently reaches for, well, a yellow Hyundai Veloster.

The picture for me paints a thousand words, in our case, it coveys to us numerous conclusions and a swift analysis on how the Korean cars have evolved through the years.

Remember the Kia Pride, in all its compact glory, occassinally you would see one breaking down at the street, remember the numerous Korean SUVs in the 90’s which was so awful looking that Top gear and US based magazines would often poke fun on, remember that MB100 which really had a bad reputation for smoke belching and the tractor-like noise it emitted as you probably was waiting for your “sundo” at the school parking lot. Remember that Korean car, which your you and your dad, and probably some friends would talk about, and most often, words like unreliable, ugly, low resale value would sprout, and at the end of the day, after such an easy debate, you would rather buy that Corolla or Civic. For years, Korean cars had a bad reputation, as said earlier, it was the poster child for everything undesirable about a car, the noise, weak parts, low value and design that was a bit odd and off as compared to its Japanese and European counterparts.

Fast forward 20 years after. It’s summer vacation, you’re probably on your way to the beach now with friends and family in a Hyundai Starex, sleek and stylish, easily at par with its Japanese counterparts. You may be with your girlfriend or wife about to have dinner, in your new Elantra or Accent, with its styling and value much recognized by the US and UK market as one of best so far, the boss you either hate or revere so much is probably driving the Kia Sportage with its known LED DRLs with has benefitted so much from Kia’s EX-VW designer. You’ll also be probably stuck in traffic on Tuesday and take note as I tell you that a Tucson exists at every street or avenue. The picture above for me symbolizes the clear emergence of the Korean car market. The mere fact that its one of the stars at the MIAS going head to head it terms of Sq-foot display with Subaru, Ford, Bmw and Benz is a clear indicator that, truly times have changed ( Note: Toyota, Honda, Nissan and Mitsu I think were demoted to less than stellar display areas) . The mere fact that Hyundai can ride the wave of the green, compact and sporty models is a sign of progress, that they can easily adjust to the market and not only be dictated by merely “just” making a profit for a certain model. The mere fact that their cars such as the Veloster or even the Sonata/Genesis have received attention from car enthusiasts magazines and most importantly aftermarket support from various US, Japanese, and UK parts manufacturers.

Remember your conversation with a friend or your dad as you say:

“Hmmm, maybe in 6-10 years, we can buy a Korean car, by then it’s as reliable and high-tech as a Japanese car”

Maybe that time is now.

Car Clubs aren't just couples going for a Fun Run.

Just a few days ago, I had a slight argument with a boards officer regarding  a change in payment schemes on our usual paid ads. Maybe it was just summer abnd the heat was getting to us, maybe it was just the workload or the pressure as we try to cram everything before the long vacation comes, or maybe it was his approach, which I really find so different from our past encounters with the said group. Just like a Hotel, when you keep on coming back, the staff will treat you well, just like on a resto, when you keep on coming back, they will give you utmost respect and give in to small requests, when you’ve been known to go back and always purchase bags or clothes from a store, they appreciate your business and provide you with the best service they can render. To cut in short, it was different and come to think of it, it was partly not his fault, rather, it was the system.

The system I am referring to is the government which clubs and organizations are all subjected to. Most often, if you think about it, Car Clubs are the most basic form of an emerging government or political entity. From the start, just a couple of guys meeting at an empty parking lot on a Sunday, all meeting with a common interest, they were formed as usual, by the internet, meeting at the forums, chemistry and sparks everywhere and there you have it, from a good 5-10 members maybe in a few months they’ll be filling the whole parking lot, and in no time, will be the apple of the eye of the security guards. It usually evolves that way. When there are guys forming a group, it’s inevitable that a website or forum shall be created, and from there money is needed to run it. It’s also need to fund outings and whatever expenses that huge get-togethers are usually subjected to. Cash is then collected from the members, the more members they have, obviously the more money is collected. There is a greater amount of responsibility this time and in time, officers and moderators are elected to distribute the tasks evenly. Within such governance, within the funds collected and the hunger for leadership, I’m pretty sure problems arise here and there; in between members and in between officers. Because officers only have a limited term, when the new ones take over, there is so much conflict going on since he has to adjust to a lot of stuff, he has to adjust to the board sponsors, he has to reconciliate himself with the new officers and existing members which probably in the past he had a conflict with, he probably has new rules which he would like to suggest, a few changes here and there etc etc. From here this is where the problem starts.

As a basic form of government, it probably does not have a transitional period. From here, we appreciate a “government”, and how it could have started. That it has a lot going on in it, and more complex than we think it is. Because ultimately car groups aren’t as simple as bunch of happy friends going for a fun-run and meeting at Tagaytay for breakfast, groups are composed of dozens upon dozens of minds from different walks of life, groups are supposed to meet regularly and be productive, to thrive and evolve through the years, it is supposed to be a pool of ideas, a marketplace to spark much interest and hopefully avoid meeting a natural death caused commonly by disinterest and mismanagement.     

Green Tuning

Inevitable in the right word to sum it all up. With the emergence of high gas prices, the car industry as we know it has adjusted to this dilemma; car manufacturers have built and sold Hybrid cars which effectively reduce cost by combing an electric motor to a petrol powered motor. In layman’s explanation, petrol motor charges the electric motor, once charged it takes over the duty in running the car. The cycle is as simple as that. For years, we have been exposed to the usual hybrid cars such as the Prius, and the USDM Camry running the streets, but this time, we have Honda introducing the CRZ as a sport compact, tuned by Mugen, Spoon and HKS and a lot others as the next big thing in the tuning world. To put it simply, have you ever imagined a good 10 years ago that people would be building cars around a hybrid platform? For a lot that would be sacrilege, and many would question, what possible performance can one get out of a hybrid platform? A testament to this is Spoon’s CRZ which was built and even being raced as one of their flagship cars. In due time, we’ll be seeing more of this, that the tuning world as accepted such as a norm. And by the way, how many times have you seen that CRZ and slammed Prius at your usual GT? 

When we say green tuning it’s not always about the hybrids, on a larger scale and should I say in its current state, green tuning is about smaller cars with very good handling and small displacement engines. If you’ve probably noticed, the Honda Jazz/FIT and the Toyota Yaris are one of top tuner cars nowadays. With lots of parts, a very efficient engine, a spacious interior, and good handling, it’s easy to understand why people have easily learned to love it. We all know that a lot of individuals have stuck to their EGs and EKs, Evos and Silvias, but if you think about it, the most accessible tuner car nowadays is the Jazz/FIT. It’s a prime example of how fixing up cars have evolved, on how gas prices and trying to preserve the environment has greatly affected the kind of cars that we drive, or the kind of cars that we build.

Shot in the Face

"Shot in the face"

Such an aburd expression, as I passively hear in on the radio going home as I traverse the open roads of commonwealth. It’s kind of difficult to follow MMDA’s 60kph limit at 12:30am, with a CRDi powered pickup begging you to switch up gears, push the pedal a little further and feel the very obvious boost which modern diesel engines are so known in today’s time. This time its guiltless, because I know I’m still going to get a lot more mileage than any car at that pace.

Shot in the face, is inviting a couple of guys with thick glasses for a 3-3, underestimating them and being shot in your face with a 3 to finish the game 21-12. Shot in the face is big talk at the coffee shop trying to impress the guys on the nearby table, only to find out sooner or later that you’ll be working for them. Shot in the face is trying to talk so much about speed, so much about driving cars, feeling that you know it all, to a guy who flies planes for a living. Shot in the face is being all hyped up for a trackday, with a heavily modified civic, only to clock 3 seconds slower to all stock Yaris with just a tire upgrade. Shot in the face in a grown-up bully, Mr. Bigshot to everyone at the office, but still goes home to the parent’s house and live from their pension. Shot in the face is mocking someone for the car they drive and a few years after he has already bought a T, an S and the mighty H, and still, you’re driving your Mom’s Suv. Shot in the face is getting busted by the girl you’ve been impressing for years, in favor of the guy half of what you have (and I’m not only talking about effort). Shot in the face is dearly flaunting that Speedy only to come face to face in the elevator with a bag collector and her assistants all carrying a dozen Chanels and a few Hermes’. Shot in the face is a movie so hyped up, you end up buying 3D tickets only to sleep halfway through it. Shot in the face is finally meeting your idol after so many years, and in a span of 10 minutes you can easily surmise he's a Jerk.

Shot in the face is writing-off that old-schooler at the stoplight and getting beat at the end, only to find out after attending a local carshow that.....

An Expensive Kind of Running..

Last night was a short reunion with my friends, Lawrence, Uncle Mark, Alain and Sheyz and a few others. Again, we found ourselves back in familiar territory, something which we used to do quite often a few years back. Karting. I call it my expensive Running/ jogging. Since nowadays I’m limited to just running and a bit of biking a few times in a week at ADMU (I prefer private, clean and green) as my sport, expensive because it will cost you 600.00Php or approximately 15dollars for every 12 minutes. FYI, we paid for the 1,700 package yet again, which give you a total of 36 minutes (3 rounds) and free balaclava.  It will make you sweat, stress out your muscles, surprisingly it’s going to make your mind work a bit by strategizing the racing lines in next few seconds.  Consistency, hand and foot coordination and lots of sweating.

In its most basic sense, as a bunch of grown-ups, we’ve come to love such sport. The cost of such is in essence “acceptable” to us because it’s in line with our passion, business or work. Same way that a basketball player spends time on special training or the doctors, same way a high-powered personality or politician (bleh!) pays Belo or an image consultant huge wads of cash. It’s our quick fix, our drug, which I hopefully can always draw a line from, in between addiction and a once-a-month affair.

I’ve had my share of trackdays at Subic with friends back then using our EKs, EGs etc..but upon reflection, karting probably is the closest you can get to how real professional race car drivers manage their “office”. From Nascar, to GT racing, to Time-attack or even F1. It gives us a glimpse of the most basic things that these guys undergo doing their job. Beyond the glitz, glamour and prestige that these guys project to the public, of how a lot of people envy them so much, these are the elements that they are subjected to. The heat, the danger, positioning, consistency and the drive or urge to be number 1. Its a dream job as many would say, but I think the pressures involved in such sport is no walk in the park. So much work is involved, and hey, the costs I think are the highest of any sport.

Simply think:

-600Pesos for 12 Minutes of Karting.

-Real Racing: Millions for the car, engine, suspension and evrthing involved.

-Thousands for tires. Thousands for the team.

-Thousands for the monitoring.

-Thousands upon thousands for the driver.

-No wonder racing involves so much sponsorships.

I guess that 600Php for 12 Minutes of Karting justifies everything..

Learned

Why does one join car shows? It’s probably for recognition as many would readily say. Oftentimes for promotions, to either promote the group, or the shop, the services, the parts. It can also probably for just a simple whim to let it out, bring out the car, enjoy the scene, get noticed, spot some models, etc etc..

I would like to draw back to its simplest sense, helping us realize, making us appreciate of the things which we often take for granted. As we draw near the deadline or shall I say the Ingress, we probably hate it, that we do our day to day work and tasks, but at the same time we need to exert so much effort into preparing the car, installing the parts, hooking up for sponsorships for the detailing, the slot perhaps, or making some calls, just like a highschooler to acquire a model, not unless you’re a hustler or been in the scene for quite some time. In essence, for the regular show-goer and the like, it’s quite a burden mentally and phisically, from preparation, to bring the car in, having someone look over the car and give out the business cards, to then again, bringing out the car, towing it back at the shop.

Just as the grown-ups would say, life was simpler when they were young. And in connection to that, I would imagine a starting enthusiast, probably building his hand me down 1992 EG Hatchback, making friends and gaining some recognition at the forums, he’s probably the guy usually being awaited at the EBs and get-togethers, fellow enthusiasts want to witness his project unfolding through the months. There are no sponsorships involved, just pure hard earned money from mom and dad, school allowance or from countless hours at work, skipping meals and just a pack of cheetos for the day, sacrificing fashion (oh no!), ulgly looking shoes, loose shirts, dangling an old and worn out Nokia 3210 instead of flaunting that new and color-lcd PDA. (Note: setting is minus 10 years). In simpler terms, he just didn’t care, everything for the car, just 20% for self. On the brighter side, he had bronze TE37s back then, he had 80% of what is found in the Spoon Sports Catalog, a lot envied his Bride bucket seats too, which notably, he already sported back then. You wouldn’t believe me if he asked for a huge amount from his parents to take a special trip out of town involving a very important school project, only to sink in Honda’s B16 masterpiece unto in, and the paperwork involved with it.  (may tinatamaan na ba?)

Pressured by fellow club enthusiasts, he joins a car show, he fervently believes in his car, its parts, its theme, he even came up with a well prepared spec sheet display. At home, he detailed his stock painted car, obviously he would put emphasis on the parts he got, its how the forums nurtured him, so too are the numerous BMI and Hot Version videos he often bought at Greenhills.

Only to lose. To a brightly colored purple sedan. With lambo doors. Custom made interior. And audio for the whole neiborhood to enjoy.

We envy his enthusiasm, its most basic, pure and simple sense. No wonder older guys build track weapons which only see light on weekends. Beyond the glitz and glamour of selling, promotions, shows, ROI and the like, the “starter’s upbringing” is what draws us back, what reminds us of how we all started... 

Tuner's Drive

We are all tuners, car builders and most especially enthusiasts in our own way. In my opinion what drives this market, this industry and much of the feel of fixing up cars, joining groups and what not is the drive to reach the best of what we can bring about our ride, in comparison to its Japanese counterpart and/or its US/Euro counterpart.. 

The Civics that we build, we aim the fastest possible time as we then compare it the fastest Civics that grace the 1320s in the US. Track attack EKs and EGs which if you simply glance at it would simply remind us of SPOON or Mugen Eks and EGs we commonly see on Magazines and the like.

Fit and Fds that are tastefully loaded with parts and can go head to head with the ones found in Japan and fellow JDM enthusiasts in the US and UK.

Beasts like Silvias, Skylines and Evos, loaded with parts which share the same ones found on demo cars of various tuning houses in Japan.

In my opinion this is one of the main driving forces beyond each tuner, to build something parallel to the best, to come up with something which holds true to its origin.

A common theme, a pattern to follow, that in my opinion is our common ingredient.