Taking it to the Streets

Before my current writing life, there was The Hilltop, Howard University’s and the Nation’s Oldest Black Collegiate Newspaper, where many of the questions and themes I still explore first found their voice. What follows are my early published works, preserved in their original form.

From The Hilltop Archives

Originally published in The Hilltop, Howard University — April 16th, 2004

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Taking it to the Streets

This isn't for the weak at heart. Whether it be hot rods, muscle cars or import tuners, these drivers are serious. The only difference: import tuners do a lot more work to increase in power.

 

"I am just laughing," said Robert Decker, the Shop Forman at Cherner Classics in Potomac, Maryland. He's been working with muscle cars for 25 years. From his grandfather, who worked with Chrysler in 1932 to Robert, the Decker family bleeds auto mechanics.

 

He's not laughing because the little imports are no match for a Chevy 427 cid (cubic inch displacement) big block; rather, it is the amount of the money and effort these guys put into their cars. 

 

Tuners install performance chips, turbochargers, engine intakes and other custom parts just to push 300 horsepower.

 

If you close your eyes and point to a map of the US, chances are the city under your finger has an underworld of tuners who customize Japanese imports. 

 

On South 395 in Maryland during the early hours of the morning, is a virtual auto show give or take the few cop cars. 

 

It's the distinct sound of an altered exhaust that the ears register before any of the other senses. With carbon fiber taillights, a D.C. Sports exhaust header, a custom 2 and a half inch piping and a LS VTECH, Marco Fernandez's silver '97 4-door Acura Integra LS is far from an Integra you'll find on a used car lot. 

 

"Until a new thing comes along, it's going to stay around," said Fernandez. "Hot Rodding was around for a long time."

 

While the US is known for its Hot Rod era, it's Japan that has gotten the attention in recent years. Not limited by stringent emissions and government regulations, Japanese manufacturers' ability to combine technology and speed has tuners in the States eager to get their hands a Japanese import. Cars like the twin turbo Toyota Supra, Mazda RX7 and the almost impossible Nissan Skyline are just a few of sought after Japanese imports on their wish lists. 

 

This phenomenon has taken the U.S. hostage; it's a worldwide trend and continues to grow. Prior to this year, car manufactures only produced and distributed vehicles. Now, they are taking notice to the popularity and success of the aftermarket modification industry. Instead of losing money to companies, manufactures like Ford and Suzuki are trying to compete by giving their consumers the ability to modify their car with body kits, rims and paint prior purchase.

 

Earlier this year, Toyota introduced a line of fully customizable vehicles, Scion. This third member of the Toyota family is hoping to get the attention of the tuner generation and wants to give them limitless exterior personalization options.

 

However, Fernandez disagrees.

 

"It's what you have under the hood and what you do with it," he explained. 

 

These cars can be deceiving and at a stop light, an unsuspecting challenger could become a victim. However, some juices up muscle cars don't get caught of guard. With engines measures in cubic inches, the bigger the better, horsepower and torque, it's going take a lot of import to out muscle these beasts. 

 

Off the line, it's torque muscle against altered import.

 

Which is better?

 

It all depends on who you ask. For Decker, his choice is torque.

 

Without getting too technical, he described torque as, "What rips your butt out of the seat. When you feel that pull, it's like somebody hitting you in the chest." 

 

During the 60s ad 70s, manufactures had no limitations and produced some of the most feared cars on the planet. Then, as it is now, customizing was a form of self expression. But when emissions, safety regulations and computers took over, the muscle car met an untimely death. 

 

"You can't get that stuff today, so what do they have...imports," Decker said.

 

This generation may be deprived but don't feel sorry for them because these tuners are sharp and have found ways around computer limiters. 

 

"It's progressing into a different era," Decker said. "I don't find any interesting in it and have no ill feelings, but their keeping up tradition."

 

This tradition of modification, alteration and personalization has been going on for 70 plus years. It's becoming more of a lifestyle than a trend. And it's going to continue to change and evolve because it's man's desire to take something new and make it their own.

 

The only problem, with the constant upgrading of computing and monitoring done in cars today, Decker argued that it's an invasion of privacy.

 

Decker warned that the capability and potential of the OnStar technology has yet to be seen. Their success in recovering stolen car and locating people in an emergency is a scratch on the surface. Soon they'll be monitoring your speed and issue tickets without pulling you over. The sheer thrill of taking a car on the highway and "opening-her-up" will soon come to an end. If that's the case, these next generation tuners will have to step their game up or this lifestyle could go from 100-0 in no time at all.