Featured Ride: 2003 Mitsubishi
Evo 8
Owner: Tom Vincent of GenerationImport.com
Let’s start off with a hard one… what’s your favorite
color? Royal Green
Ok seriously, it seems like you have been in the scene for a
long time, how did you first get interested in it and how long ago
was that?
I would
say I was first interest in the scene back in 1996. I use to have this
love for Mustangs and I always wanted one for the longest time. We would
go out on Thursday nights and watch these guys line up at the local meet
spot and race for hours. I always loved the sound of their exhaust and
I loved how “fast” they were. As the years went by my love
went from loving Mustangs to loving to beat Mustangs. Now I can’t
stand them at all. Ha Ha!
What are some of the other cars that your have modified in the
past?
Hmm there have been a bunch. I have personally owned a 1996 Camaro Z28
(wooptie doo), and a 330 HP 2002 WRX. I had about $25,000 in that car
and it was completely decked out from head to toe, inside and out. Pretty
much you name it I had it. It was featured in several mags, and won a
good number of shows. I sold it when the WRX took the back burner to
the new Sti’s and EVO’s. I like to stay up to date with what
is “rite now” in the scene.
As far as project cars that I have been hired on to design and create… I
have been involved in the creation of a 984 RWHP Toyota Supra that was
also fully outfitted from head to toe, inside and out. I also just finished
on a 2002 custom sheet metal wide body WRX project. I will have the WRX
and my current EVO on tour this year on the show circuit. I also just
finished project design on a 2004 tube chassis Toyota Celica that races
in the Dash series. It’s title sponsors are NOPI Power, and Xbox.
It was on Display in the NOPI booth at SEMA, and you will be seeing it
at a super speedway near you in the 2005 race season.
I was also just hired on as a project designer for a custom wide body
Skyline R33 GTR project that the guys down at The Collision Station and
I begin in mid January. So my plate has been pretty full over the past
year!
Now your new car is a real beauty…rally-inspired performance,
clean aerodynamics, and super light Volk shoes, can you tell us a little
about how you choose this car and how it got to is current look?
I chose
the EVO because it actually means something to me. It has a great racing
heritage in the WRC, and it has the prestigious title of a Japanese Super
Car. I almost bought an STI, but when I test drove one I was not near
as impressed with the performance and the “feel” of the car.
I felt like I was just riding in the car. When I drove the EVO I instantly
felt as one with the car and I loved the way the car felt in turns, and
how it reminded me of a REAL sports car, not a detuned sports car!
When I decided to mod this car I had a different plan in mind. I never
wanted to make this an all out race or an all out show car. I wanted
to build it into the ultimate daily driven street car (hence the lack
of body kit). I actually do race and even drift this car at various tracks
around the country. As for the style of the car I have always been able
to have a unique vision for what I wanted. I have always had a clean
style, and I like to make sure that there are never eye sores in my work.
The car has to flow. I don’t know why, but most people think you
have to bolt on tons and tons of aftermarket parts and crap to make a
car look good. In actuality it is just the opposite. The less you do
the cleaner it looks. You just have to be creative with your “canvas” and
understand the basics of art and design to really make the look stand
out.
Every time we talk, you have about 20 projects and meetings
going on, I guess it is very time consuming running a great website
(GenerationImport.com)
and promoting your ride and other project cars, are you happy with your
level of time and energy commitment within the import scene?
Ha Ha! Yea
I am always doing about 20 things, but I enjoy it and it pays off in
the end. So overall, I would have to say yes. It really becomes a part
of who you are, and it is great to be able to express yourself through
your work.
What is your favorite aspect of the import culture scene? The
creativity and the trends that filter down from diversity of the enthusiasts
around
the world.
What do you have planned next for your ride?
Nothing too major honestly.
I am content with this project. I plan to take it on tour around the
country in 2005. I am now in the process of thinking up a new project.
I kind of want a 350Z to park next to the EVO in my garage. I have
yet to work on one, and I am dieing to do one up.
Where do you see yourself within the scene in 5 years?
I don’t
honestly know. I have an idea I guess, but there are so many opportunities
rite now that it is difficult to say.
Thanks so much for your time…here is your chance to give
any shout outs.
Special thanks to Rick and the crew at The
Collision Station, Jack at Dunlop Tires, Ken and Matt at Enjuku racing,
Tom Reese at Metra, Greg
and Alicia at Seaside Graphix, Adam, Josh, & Matt from Generation
Import, and everyone else who has been involved in the building and
up keep of this car! Thanks again everyone!
Modifications
Engine
1. HKS RS intake
2. HKS down pipe
3. HKS cat back exhaust
4. Ultimate Racing cat delete pipe (when off road)
5. Greddy Type-S blow off valve
6. TurboXS HP boost controller
7. PWR front mount intercooler upgrade (polished)
8. Greddy custom mounted oil catch tank
9. NGK Iridium IX Spark Plugs
10. HKS 272 Cams w/ crower valve springs and retainers
11. NX Nitrous Intercooler sprayer with custom painted bottle
12. APEXi S-AFC-II with custom fiberglass enclosure in the dash. (AFC WAS PAINTED
TO MATCH DASH & ENCLOSURE!)
13. Valve cover custom painted to match exterior graphics (all grooves shaved
smooth)
14. Custom made 1 of a kind exhaust manifold heat shield (polished), and has
the generation import logo sand blasted into the middle of it
15. All AC lines and IC piping polished
16. Stainless Braided Clutch Line
Interior
1. Custom made mandrel bent chromoly 4 point racing harness cage painted
to match exterior of car
2. Takata 4 point cam locking racing harnesses
3. Auto Meter Boost Gauge & Nitrous Gauge custom fiber glassed into dash
which was all custom painted BMW M3 gunmetal. The paint follows out on many
of the interior pieces.
4. Custom Generation Import logo airbrushed into the dash
5. HKS Turbo Timer
|
