James, counterfiets are a topic that I've discussed on s2ki in the past and it has proven to very controversial. I have strong feelings on that subject since I've personally seen it destroy companies that I've looked up to and who have given so much to our industry. However it is touchy because of it's opposition and the fact that people with the most money are those making the counterifets (saving on the 35 grand or so that it costs to design a bumper sure help profit margins). Since they have the money, they dominate much of the advertising in the magazines, which makes this a very unpopular issue to discuss because it goes against the money.

Modified is the only magazine I've seen with the balls to address this issue, they ran a two part series on counterfiets a few months back. I have a lot to add to that, but I am hesitant to get into something thats such a downer. I've been trying to keep the articles more entertaining and exciting than get caught up in critisism (with the exception of my column on the fast and the furious 3)

 

James, regardless send me the data you have. I'll hold on to it and I'm sure I'll make use of it at some point. ben@bulletproofautomotive.com

And FYI, I'm one of the companies who acutally sues counterfeiters (and yes we've won in court).

 

about JDM meets Ricer, there will always be people who represent something of value for all of the wrong reasons. I'm sure your favorite band has fans that dont truely appreciate the music but are fans because someone else told them it was cool. Everything out there has situations like that where sales are made for the wrong reasons. Rumor was that Chappelle quit his show because some of his fanbase was missing the message and watching because of the racism rather than realizing that the joke was on them. Alternatively underground rappers must have felt the same way when rich suburban white kids were buying their records and trying to relate their life to one of struggle in the urban ghetto.

Over time fads will come and go, there will always be misuse, but in the end true talent and functionalty does tend to have longevity. If you believe that JDM is going to be the new rice and that somehow makes it less appealing to you, then you too are not looking to buy quality JDM parts for tangible functionality but rather you're also a consumer because it's temporarily in style. I'm not saying you are or are not, and I dont care either way...but if it is said that JDM = new rice and new rice = unappealing to you, then you too are a trend hopper who will jump onto whatever is next to hit the underground movement.

all for now.

 

approaching column #20. I never thought I'd be writing this many...luckily it's still fun for me.

 

I couldn't have put that better myself.

Trends and fads come and go and come back again.

Just do what you love and if it's in taste, people will appreciate it and so will you.

Over a year ago I predicted that chrome and real gold would make a comeback. Low and behold, the hot cars at the Tokyo Auto Salon and select cars on the west coast have started to bring it back. Gene Tjin, the editor of HCI and great builder, had his Nissan Skyline on the front of (what else) HCI with all the rivets/bolts in his wheels all 24k gold plated.

 

things like chrome and gold will never go away, they are staples of auto style.

On the other hand I have a customer who is putting the letters "TIME ATTACK" on his NSX using Garson's massively expensive crystal emblems.

That is really border line...trying to merge together the crystal emblem style of VIP culture with a racing oriented sports car. I dont think anyone has ever put crystal letters or emblems on raw carbon fiber, so I'll reserve judgement until I see it. But I'm not optimistic on that one...

Regarding Tjin, I've been working with him on supplying him some parts for some of his upcoming SEMA cars. Should be cool.

 

Ben, I'm one of those people who couldn't care less about trends. The mods on my S2000 came from the USA, Germany, and Japan, and the country of origin had absolutely nothing to do with the choices. JDM for JDM's sake is not my thing, but when it comes to useful information about the JDM options your column is the best sources around.

It's a shame that so many now associate "JDM" with the "JDM craze" (IE. ricers and cheap immitation JDM "crap"). To me, they're two entirely different things.

I couldn't care less about JDM for JDM's sake, but your articles are GREAT! Keep 'em coming.

 

check for upcoming columns...either this month or next month will be the Redefinition about JDM (addresses everything you've just said)...the followup is the global interpretation of JDM which continued on the redefinition of JDM and shows examples of JDM tuning philosophies as employed around the globe. Both sound like they'll be right up your alley since they agree with what you've just wrote.

 

That next article sounds great! I'm too don't fall into the hype of getting Japanese only parts. I have an assortment of different parts that all serve a purpose.

 

one of my points stated in the article is that even known JDM tuners dont use all JDM parts:
Top Secret uses brakes from Brembo (Italy), gauges by Stack (Brittish I believe), transmissions often from Germany (Getrag), etc.

I believe in quality moreso than JDM. It just so happens that currently most quality is JDM so as a result I'm a big supporter of JDM.