Throwback Thursday: Wekfest LA, 10 Years In the past

2023 Intro

Earlier within the week we took a have a look at the 2023 Wekfest Los Angeles occasion courtesy of David Morales by way of our IAMTHESPEEDHUNTER programme. This 12 months, Wekfest founder Kenneth Li and his group have fun 15 years of occasions – a powerful milestone that speaks to the fervour behind them.

10 years in the past, the Wekfest LA occasion was held outdoor in Lengthy Seashore, California, and Speedhunters OG Mike Garrett was current to seize the spectacle. How did the occasion look in 2013? Let’s rewind and have a look for this week’s Throwback Thursday publish…

2013 Characteristic

This previous Saturday I discovered myself at Queen Mary Occasions Heart in Lengthy Seashore for the second time this month – it was only a few weeks in the past that I ventured to this spot for Toyotafest, and this weekend I used to be again for Wekfest LA. I’m not complaining after all, as a result of the oceanfront park within the LBC is without doubt one of the nicer automobile present venues I’ve ever been to. How will you not like cool sea breezes, the backdrop of downtown Lengthy Seashore and a few of SoCal’s most interesting import automobiles.

I’m guessing most of you guys are already aware of Wekfest – the occasion that began as a humble gathering within the San Francisco Bay Space after which expanded right into a travelling sequence with occasions on each coasts of the US and even Hawaii. There’s even phrase that Wekfest will unfold all the best way to Japan in 2014.

And whereas Northern California is likely to be the birthplace of Wekfest, the occasion has additionally discovered a welcome house in sunny Southern California. For this 12 months, Wekfest LA returned to the Queen Mary over the Memorial Day vacation weekend for one more big and profitable gathering.

The climate in Lengthy Seashore over the weekend was image excellent, with temperatures round 72 levels F and delightful sunny skies. In different phrases, the type of stuff that makes individuals from all world wide envy Southern California.

To be trustworthy, I nonetheless can’t fairly put my determine on precisely what it’s that’s made Wekfest so profitable, however the best way these occasions have grown over the previous couple of years is just unimaginable. Not solely have been the Lengthy Seashore showgrounds packed to capability with automobiles, however the line of spectators ready to get in appeared to stretch on endlessly.

I do know that Wekfest has established itself for having a really prime quality number of automobiles. Whereas I can’t say that I personally liked the fashion of each single automobile within the present, there have been actually no ‘half ass’ automobiles on the occasion. That’s one thing to understand this present day.

One other wonderful thing about Wekfest is the number of automobiles that participate within the occasion. Whereas it’s not restricted to anyone sure style, Wekfest is made up largely of late mannequin Japanese and European automobiles…

… and inside that group, you’ll discover nearly each fashion possible. There are practical observe automobiles, loopy stanced machines, VIP sedans and vans, drift automobiles, excessive finish Euro automobiles and nearly every thing else. Greater than something, Wekfest is a spot the place you may actually discover the heartbeat of the import group.

That’s to not say there aren’t outliers although. In a single nook of the present I got here throughout a pair of tough-looking Chevy muscle automobiles, together with this Chevelle on CCW wheels. This factor additionally popped 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 distinct Acura NSX. In case you someway missed it, ensure you take a look at the function Sean and I did on this certainly one of a sort machine.

Being Southern California, it was solely pure that there could be a robust exhibiting of Hondas. the fashion: uncommon wheels, low stance, an immaculately detailed engine bay and the distinct scent of a squash-flavored air freshener.

VIP automobiles additionally make up a giant a part of the Wekfest expertise, and relating to the Japanese luxurious sled few do it higher than Kyoei USA. Right here’s their LS400, performed in what I’ve to say is a timeless bippu look.

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

The Scion FR-S and Subaru BRZ proceed to infiltrate the scene at an alarming tempo. Wekfest LA included a particular part that includes numerous these automobiles modified to various levels.

Sure, it appears there’s a overseas species set on taking on America. Initially native to Kyoto, Japan, the mysterious Rocket Bunny has unfold its seed all around the USA; with this explicit creature having tailored to the recent dry local weather of Arizona.

Because the Honda S200 continues to age and drop into the worth vary of increasingly more fanatics, I believe we’ll be seeing much more adventurous S2000 builds popping up. Right here’s a relatively cool trying AP1 with a full colour change amongst different issues.

I bear in mind when the DC5 got here out and signaled the brand new fashionable route Honda was taking with its automobiles. Are you able to imagine 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 concave face TE37s.

Right here we’ve one other set of TEs, these ones in Magazine Blue and affixed to a really cool trying E46 M3. To me this automobile has the right steadiness of perform and magnificence. Thumbs up.

Any person wants to inform this particular person their wagon doesn’t have best suspension journey and people tires aren’t going to offer an optimum contact patch!

Whereas I bought my classic Toyota repair on this very spot a number of weeks in the past, there’s by no means a nasty time for an AE86. This one was dumped to the bottom and sporting its USDM bumpers with pleasure.

This BMW 2002 is one other automobile that popped up in Taryn’s Slammed Society protection. The little Bimmer was simply so cool that I couldn’t resist giving it some extra love right here.

There’s actually nothing outrageous in regards to the automobile – it’s only a tremendous clear 2002 with bitchin’ stance, cool wheels and a wonderfully old skool colour combo. So good.

The concept of utilizing C4 Corvette “Sawblade” wheels is one thing that initially started within the VW scene after which caught on with house owners of sure Japanese automobiles. Right here’s an Impreza wagon modeling them. Undecided what I take into consideration this.

In my eye, one of many standout automobiles of the present was the beautiful EA-T Civic from Rywire. Not solely is it uncommon to see any Civic of this era in any respect, however this automobile is at one other stage utterly.

Simply have a look at that engine bay. I do know I can’t be the one one who’s pondering function materials right here.

Equally spectacular was this EF construct from ATS Storage, trying like it will be proper at house round Osaka’s Kanjo Loop at two within the morning.

Elsewhere, we’ve one other EF Civic performed in additional of a standard old skool SoCal import fashion. Take your decide.

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

This instance of the considerably under-appreciated however all the time cool BMW Z3 M Coupe was sporting a wonderfully sized set of Work Meister S1s. It could be delicate by Wekfest requirements, however I’m not complaining.

On the whole Hondas have moved distant from large wheel fad 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 by this DC2 on TE37s.