Throwback Thursday: Wekfest LA, 10 years in the past

2023 Intro

Earlier within the week we took a take a look at the 2023 Wekfest Los Angeles occasion courtesy of David Morales by way of our IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER program. This yr, Wekfest founder Kenneth Li and his staff are celebrating 15 years of occasions – a formidable milestone that speaks to the eagerness behind them.

10 years in the past, the Wekfest LA occasion was held exterior in Lengthy Seashore, California, and Speedhunters OG Mike Garrett was there to catch the present. How was the occasion in 2013? Let's return and take a look at this week's Throwback Thursday submit…

2013 Characteristic

This previous Saturday I discovered myself on the Queen Mary Occasions Heart in Lengthy Seashore for the second time this month – it was just some weeks in the past that I ventured to this location for Toyotafest, and this weekend I returned for Wekfest LA. In fact, I'm not complaining, as a result of the oceanfront park on the LBC is likely one of the nicest auto present venues I've ever been to. How are you going to no like cool sea breezes, the backdrop of downtown Lengthy Seashore and a few of SoCal's most interesting imported automobiles.

I feel most of you’re already accustomed to Wekfest – the occasion that began as a humble gathering within the San Francisco Bay Space after which grew right into a touring sequence with occasions on each coasts of the USA and in addition of Hawaii. There may be additionally phrase that Wekfest will unfold to Japan in 2014.

And whereas Northern California could be the birthplace of Wekfest, the occasion has additionally discovered a welcome house in sunny Southern California. For this yr, Wekfest LA returned to the Queen Mary over the Memorial Day vacation weekend for one more enormous and profitable gathering.

The climate in Lengthy Seashore over the weekend was excellent, with temperatures round 72 levels F and delightful sunny skies. In different phrases, the sort of issues that make Southern California the envy of individuals everywhere in the world.

To be trustworthy, I nonetheless can't put my determine precisely what you do That's what made Wekfest so profitable, however the way in which these occasions have grown over the previous few years is just unbelievable. Not solely had been the Lengthy Seashore present grounds crammed with automobiles, however the line of spectators ready to get in appeared to stretch on and on.

I do know that Wekfest has set itself as much as have a really top quality choice of automobiles. Whereas I can't say I personally beloved it fashion of each automobile within the present, there actually weren't any “half-ass” automobiles on the occasion. That's one thing to understand these days.

One other beauty of Wekfest is the number of automobiles that take part within the occasion. Whereas not restricted to a sure style, Wekfest consists largely of late mannequin Japanese and European automobiles…

…and inside that group, you'll discover nearly each fashion conceivable. There are practical observe automobiles, loopy staced machines, VIP sedans and vans, drift automobiles, high-end Euro automobiles and nearly every thing else. Greater than something, Wekfest is a spot the place you’ll be able to actually really feel the heart beat of the import neighborhood.

This isn’t to say that there are not any excesses. In a single nook of the present I got here throughout a few robust trying Chevy muscle automobiles, together with this Chevelle on CCW wheels. This factor additionally got here up throughout Taryn's protection of the Slammed Society present final month.

One other acquainted automobile that made an look at Wekfest was Mike Mao's very distinctive Acura NSX. In case you missed it, you should definitely try the characteristic Sean and I did on this considered one of a machine.

Being Southern California, it was solely pure that there can be a robust Honda exhibiting. You already know the fashion: uncommon wheels, low stance, an impeccably detailed engine bay and the distinct scent of pumpkin-scented deodorant.

VIP automobiles additionally make up an enormous a part of the Wekfest expertise, and in relation to Japanese luxurious sleds, few do it higher than Kyoei USA. Right here is his LS400, made in what I’ve to say is a timeless time beep have a look

Euro VIP? Completely. It's superb how pure this late mannequin C Class Mercedes appears on a set of Work Eurolines, contemplating the wheel design is far older than the automobile.

The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ proceed to infiltrate the scene at an alarming fee. Wekfest LA included a particular part with a variety of these modified automobiles to various levels.

Sure, it appears like there’s an alien species out to take over America. Initially a local of Kyoto, Japan, the mysterious Rocket Bunny has unfold his seed everywhere in the United States; with this explicit creature having tailored to the new dry local weather of Arizona.

Because the Honda S200 continues to age and fall into the value vary of increasingly more fanatics, I feel we'll see much more adventurous S2000s popping up. Here’s a relatively cool trying AP1 with a full coloration change amongst different issues.

I bear in mind when the DC5 got here out and signaled the brand new trendy route that Honda was taking with their automobiles. Are you able to consider that was over a decade in the past already? Boy do I really feel outdated. Anyway, right here's a really good post-facelift RSX on a set of TE37 concave faces.

Right here we have now one other set of TEs, these in Magazine Blue and hooked up to a really cool E46 M3. To me this automobile has the right stability of perform and magnificence. Thumbs up.

Somebody wants to inform this person who their wagon doesn’t have perfect suspension journey and people tires don’t present an optimum contact patch!

Whereas I had my classic Toyota repaired at this location just a few weeks in the past, there’s by no means a foul time for an AE86. This one was dumped on the bottom and sporting its USDM bumpers with delight.

This 2002 BMW is one other automobile that appeared in Taryn's Slammed Society protection. The little Bimmer was so cute I couldn't resist giving it some extra love.

There's actually nothing outrageous in regards to the automobile – it's only a tremendous clear 2002 with a whore stance, cool wheels and a superbly outdated coloration scheme. So good.

The concept of utilizing C4 Corvette “Sawblade” wheels is one thing that began within the VW scene after which caught on with the homeowners of some Japanese automobiles. Right here's an Impreza wagon that fashions them. I'm unsure what I take into consideration that.

In my eyes, one of many standout automobiles of the present was the superb EA-T Civic from Rywire. It isn’t solely uncommon to see any Civic of this era in every thing, however this automobile is on one other stage utterly.

Simply take a look at that engine bay. I do know I can't be the one one pondering of characteristic materials right here.

Equally spectacular was this EF construct from ATS Storage, which regarded proper at house round Osaka's Kanjo Loop at two within the morning.

Elsewhere, we have now one other EF Civic executed up in additional of a conventional, old-school SoCal import fashion. Take your decide.

From Nineteen Eighties Honda Civics to a depraved trying Porsche 997 – that's the range Wekfest brings.

This instance of the considerably underrated however nonetheless cool BMW Z3 M Coupe was sporting a set of completely sized Work Meister S1s. It might be gentle by Wekfest requirements, however I'm not complaining.

Normally, Hondas have moved away from huge wheel trend of the early 2000s, however in the suitable circumstances a pleasant set of 17s can nonetheless look excellent on a Civic or Integra – as proven from this DC2 on TE37.