Nissan 240sx
Infiniti G35
Mazdaspeed 3
Maybe I’ll just teach you guys Japanese every time I post! Shiawase means happy in Japanese.
Nisei Week
This past weekend I skipped down to Little Tokyo in LA for the 70th Annual Nisei Week Festival. If not for the fun booths and taiko…I go for the annual Import Showoff car show. Every year for probably the last 6 years I’ve entered my car in the show (and took a trophy home) and set-up a Drifting Pretty booth. This year was the first year I did neither. It was nice to stroll along the aisles of show cars and get caught almost every 3 minutes catching up with old friends/mutual car lovers that I’ve known for the past 10 years. I can’t believe its been that long since I started cool gal car thing. I didn’t push the Drifting Pretty gals to attend…I didn’t need to…a few showed up and I happened to run into them at the show! Embracing not just drifting, but anything in the auto enthusiast culture is A+ in my book.
Car shows are usually not my cup of tea, but the Nisei Week import showoff is the exception. You’ll find a lot of entrants that only enter their cars once a year and show up with these nostalgic cars that aren’t necessarily the trend of the moment, but are near and dear to the hearts of the people who can appreciate that type of car. Our friend even brought his 1986 Corolla there and displayed his car along side his teammates from his racing crew that has been no more for years…but circled back together just for this event.
We also strolled to Bowls who was having their grand re-opening at their new space right near Daikokuya in the heart of Jtown. The sweet guy boutique offers cute accessories for Ruckuses (and even sells Ruckuses), men & women’s apparel and footwear. Its a hip boutique that makes you want to hang out and buy cool stuff all day. The owner I met years ago of course through my drifting fame lol. Its awesome to see friends succeed at something in addition to the car thing. Cheers to Brandon!
Nisei Week Photo Gallery
-
- Before we even set food into the car show…the lot down the street IS a carshow.
-
- on our way to the show this beautiful mural was on a random wall. Could be the inspiration for my next sticker scheme!
-
- More cool “art” on my way to the show
-
- Steve’s Corolla (Circa mid-late 80’s). Its pretty and its Imola red (yes the BMW color). Go team Advance!
-
- Jun, leader of Advance. Built this car a week before the show just for the sake of getting together with his team. Can’t believe I suckered him into modeling on his car!
-
- Datsun 240Z circa early 1970’s. Love the fender mirrors and beautiful paint. You never see them clean like this.
-
- One of my favorite cars in the show. I’m not an Acura person…but the idea of driving a slammed sedan with 20’s and a pretty add-on kit makes me joyful!
-
- Its amazing what people do with stickers. The owner wrote Japanese katakana all over his hood…I’m still trying to make sense of what he’s saying but its still way cool!
-
- Pretty M3 circa late 80’s early 90’s. love that there are Euro cars and Japanese cars at this show
-
- VW CC Circa 2010. Never seen one of these fixed up. SWEET.
-
- I was taking photos of this car for a friend and the owner was like “please take more” so I sat him down on his fender.
-
- time out from the car show and look at Elise. She lasted the entire car show without a single tantrum!
-
- Ben Dai & Steve. Dai was referred to as the big drift superstar all day.
-
- You know you’ve made it when you have a life size poster chillin right next to you while you’re autographing.
-
- Bowls – Lots of awesome apparel
-
- nerdy Ruckus helmets
-
- You want Ruckus ice? Here it is!
-
- old Honda bike I know nothing about!
The Next Food Network Star
Another blast from my drifting stardom past… Aarti. I met her when she was a producer for a media piece that was done on Drifting Pretty back in 2003. We’ve kept touch all these years and she started a food blog then cooking show on youtube…to now…winning her own show on the Food Network!
Her show will be about infusing Indian flavors in everyday foods. Check out her interview here on LAist. And more importantly, set your DVR to tape her new show Aarti Party at 12pm on Sundays starting this Sunday!!!
Elise is adorable!
LOVE that gray 240z!!!!!!
*DROOL*
hey nadine!! you did sucker me but actually didnt mind since i was “posing” on my car. shoulda had steve and jennys umbrella!! lol thanks for taking the pic and putting up a great shout out to us!!