Monday, Aug. 06, 2007

Imported for your pleasure

Hot Import Nights, the import tuner car show that has been gracing the west side of the state since 1999 has once again drawn in large crowds, despite a same-day Mariner's game as well as the Hydro Races.

Mitsubishi Evos, suped up Toyota Supras, Mazda RX-7s, and more make-n-models than most car enthusiasts know what to do with, were on display inside the Qwest Field Event Center.

Thousands of visitors streamed through the doors from 5pm-midnight. Fog machines, flash bulbs, and ice sculptures greeted them as they transitioned from the innocuous happenings outside, and into the necromantic depths of the import scene.

As the largest event for this type of car show with more than 20 events annually, HIN never fails to disappoint. Even with fewer cars on display than last year, ticket sales were still high and the die-hard fans of booth babes paired with fantasy imports didn't deter them from snapping hundreds of digital pictures.

Boost Mobile is the forefront sponsor this year, followed by various car companies, car shops, and even the National Guard. With some phenomenal display cars, the paint jobs were exquisite and no detail was overlooked.

Cars from California, Canada, and numerous other places, jump on the bandwagon and tour along with HIN. It's a lot of showboating, but hey, that's what this event is all about, right?

The local cars were impressive as well. However, with the growing popularity (as with any fad) of films such as "The Fast and the Furious," many veterans feel as if the scene is full of posers. The importance of the art of working on an automobile and building it up for optimum performance has been dwindling among the youth. Sponsors are eager to provide the guts of a car, turning many potentially creative cars into mainstream carbon-copies.

Whatever the case, if you go for pure aesthetics, you will not be unsatisfied. The innovative vehicles are painted in electrifying colors, and the turbos underneath the hood promise the speed everyone craves. A common trend this year was the Lamborghini-doors seen on everything from Honda Civics to Suburu WRXs to Hyundai Tiburons.

If you've been to a few car shows, you'll hear people say they are all the same and you end up seeing the same cars with the same people. In order to avoid redundancy, it's always interesting to see the cars evolve over time.

With progressive and a sort of avant-garde kind of style, the cars are modded to resemble a home entertainment theater. Trunks are not wasted for your typical jack and spare tire - instead they are homes to DVD players, radical sound systems, and have large LCD screens built into the body; just in case you feel like busting out some X-Box at the next pit-stop.

The environment oscillates with several DJs spinning for different companies and B-Boys (AKA Breakdancers) performing in massive crowds - making it easy to get disoriented. Hip-hop is a heavy influence, with the breakdancing, as well as the go-go dancers on the various stages. Setting the mood, it is difficult to describe. One would simply have to attend to understand.

One of the main attractions - as if the cars weren't enough - are the import models. Car companies and sponsors contract out gorgeous, leggy women in alluring outfits in each city they tour. Despite HIN being open to all-ages, those who go know the models and musical performances make it more adult-oriented. Sure, people go for the cars, but ask any of the sponsors there why they hire so many models....You can bet it's not to teach them about cars.

So whether you want to take pictures with import models or check out the latest tuner trends, Hot Import Nights is your best bet for a sensory-overloaded immersion into the world of fantastic automobiles.

Their next stop is Aug. 8, 2007, at Soldier Field in Chicago, IL.