I was just discussing The Fast and the Furious with a friend on Facebook, and it got me thinking about how I got into this whole scene. I was curious about everyone else! Since we now have a very diverse age range represented here... people who were into it while it was still "underground", to people that were a part of the whole mainstream F&F movement, to people that have never built a car without the help of the internet.
I got into imports shortly after I bought my CB7. At first, I hated the car. I hated the boxy shape. I hated the faded paint. I hated the "primitive" manual transmission. But I figured I'd make the best of it. There were things people "did" to Hondas, right? So I started searching eBay for some 18" chrome wheels (ALMOST bought some Focals for $800), and a big ugly spoiler. Then, one day, an old diesel Mercedes Benz passed me... even though I tried not to let him do it. I realized I don't need wheels... I need moar power! That's when I started researching engine swaps. Within the week, I had purchased Honda/Acura Engine Performance by Mike Kojima, which to this day has been one of the largest single sources of technical information I have ever devoured. I read that book from cover to cover. Then I read it again. I understood every bit of information in it until I could pick out the numerous typos and poorly phrased information.
To me, reading that book is what permanently set me on my path of being an import enthusiast.
It's funny, because this all happened in 2001, as The Fast and The Furious was coming out. I almost saw it in the theater, but decided to stay at home... researching H22 swaps. I got into "the scene" at the same time that movie was inspiring kiddies left and right to join forums to ask if a Motec System Exhaust would fit their mom's Dodge Caravan. Amazingly, I wasn't one of those kids. I had already stuffed my brain full of knowledge before I illegally downloaded and watched that movie! Still, I think I picked a good time to get into it!
So what's your story?
I got into imports shortly after I bought my CB7. At first, I hated the car. I hated the boxy shape. I hated the faded paint. I hated the "primitive" manual transmission. But I figured I'd make the best of it. There were things people "did" to Hondas, right? So I started searching eBay for some 18" chrome wheels (ALMOST bought some Focals for $800), and a big ugly spoiler. Then, one day, an old diesel Mercedes Benz passed me... even though I tried not to let him do it. I realized I don't need wheels... I need moar power! That's when I started researching engine swaps. Within the week, I had purchased Honda/Acura Engine Performance by Mike Kojima, which to this day has been one of the largest single sources of technical information I have ever devoured. I read that book from cover to cover. Then I read it again. I understood every bit of information in it until I could pick out the numerous typos and poorly phrased information.
To me, reading that book is what permanently set me on my path of being an import enthusiast.
It's funny, because this all happened in 2001, as The Fast and The Furious was coming out. I almost saw it in the theater, but decided to stay at home... researching H22 swaps. I got into "the scene" at the same time that movie was inspiring kiddies left and right to join forums to ask if a Motec System Exhaust would fit their mom's Dodge Caravan. Amazingly, I wasn't one of those kids. I had already stuffed my brain full of knowledge before I illegally downloaded and watched that movie! Still, I think I picked a good time to get into it!
So what's your story?
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