'Rice Rockets' Find Appeal in Mainstream

[achtungbaby]

Modified imports are the vehicle of choice for multicultural audience of style-conscious and speed-loving teenagers.

By LISA LEFF, SPECIAL TO THE TIMES

Southern California's "rice rockets" have gone mainstream. Maybe it had to happen.

A little more than 10 years ago, these customized Hondas, Acuras and Toyotas made their debut on the local street-racing scene as a challenge to the American muscle car tradition.

With their eye-grabbing accessories, souped-up engines and owners who tended to be Asian American, they became a target of ethnic insults and the scorn of traditional performance enthusiasts.

full story (http://yellowworld.org/modules.php?op=modload&name=News&file=article&sid=134&mode=nocomments&order=1&thold=-1)

[mrazntre]

I have issues with this whole rice rocket thing ever since it has become the import scene. Maybe I'm getting too old for it or something, but it seems as if I everyone and their momma wit a civic thinks that it's a race car. everybody. EVA--REE--BODY.

FNF was pure bullshit. I think MTV's documentary on street racing was pretty good, however I believe they were ~5 years too late. They should have caught it when there were still Asians running.

I have nothing against it of course, but don't most these people ever learn? Most of these guys aren't running boost, and aren't running transplants. But they wanna race with more endowed cars.

For instance, the other day we were driving along in my friend's VW GTi VR6. We were driving normally, at night, trying to get home. Some guy in a civic looks over at us and revs his motor. This car was completely stock, like a 96 or something like. He actually revved on us. My homie takes off and smokes him immediately. All we hear is that guy's motor red lining. way red lining. almost as if it's about to blow up. He's killing his motor. Next stoplight. He's there again, looking at us, wanting to prove that he can run. He gets smoked again through all of the gears. Fucking numbnuts.

[wylin]

Originally posted by mrazntre@Sep 27 2002, 04:56 PM
I have issues with this whole rice rocket thing ever since it has become the import scene. Maybe I'm getting too old for it or something, but it seems as if I everyone and their momma wit a civic thinks that it's a race car. everybody. EVA--REE--BODY.

FNF was pure bullshit. I think MTV's documentary on street racing was pretty good, however I believe they were ~5 years too late. They should have caught it when there were still Asians running.

I have nothing against it of course, but don't most these people ever learn? Most of these guys aren't running boost, and aren't running transplants. But they wanna race with more endowed cars.

For instance, the other day we were driving along in my friend's VW GTi VR6. We were driving normally, at night, trying to get home. Some guy in a civic looks over at us and revs his motor. This car was completely stock, like a 96 or something like. He actually revved on us. My homie takes off and smokes him immediately. All we hear is that guy's motor red lining. way red lining. almost as if it's about to blow up. He's killing his motor. Next stoplight. He's there again, looking at us, wanting to prove that he can run. He gets smoked again through all of the gears. Fucking numbnuts.
exactly sum mexican fellow yesterday decided to rev and dump his clutch every stop light to get my attention, and when i get annoyed of it i just burn him by kicking in sum boost. he thought he won a few times cuz i was just driving normal speed. shesh kids these days. civics suck

[deez nuts]

Damn, all these stories about traffic light racing. God bless mass transit. Not that I have a choice now, anyways.

On a side note: I had an emergency patient die on me this week. He was in a car accident, the cops said he was racing. He suffered massive head trauma and cerebral hemorrhaging. I couldn't drain the fluid out of his brain fast enough and relieve the swelling of the brain from interfering with his involuntary body functions (ie breathing, heartbeat etc etc). I know we're guys and shit, but don't let it get thick out there and be careful.

I hate it when they fucking die on me <sigh>.



<!--EDIT|Chasiubao_Boy|Sep 27 2002, 10:53 PM-->

[Arex]

Originally posted by Chasiubao_Boy@Sep 27 2002, 08:49 PM
Damn, all these stories about traffic light racing. God bless mass transit. Not that I have a choice now, anyways.

On a side note: I had an emergency patient die on me this week. He was in a car accident, the cops said he was racing. He suffered massive head trauma and cerebral hemorrhaging. I couldn't drain the fluid out of his brain fast enough and relieve the swelling of the brain from interfering with his involuntary body functions (ie breathing, heartbeat etc etc). I know we're guys and shit, but don't let it get thick out there and be careful.

I hate it when they fucking die on me <sigh>.
That kinda sucks. Do you eventually get numb to people dying on your watch? Ehhh...

And don't worry about me, I'm invincible!=) j/k I make it a point to never drive beyond my abilities.

Alex

[deez nuts]

Originally posted by Arex@Sep 27 2002, 11:04 PM

That kinda sucks. Do you eventually get numb to people dying on your watch? Ehhh...

And don't worry about me, I'm invincible!=) j/k I make it a point to never drive beyond my abilities.

Alex
Not to sound callous, yeah I do.

I hate being on surgical ER rotation. The sad part is when a patient comes in your gut tells you, he's a goner, but your mind tells you to do what you can for the guy 1)for the sake of the patient 2)to ease your own conscience, knowing you did all you can for him, if he passes away.

Ok no more depressing hospital stories. At the risk of sounding like a dad. Just be safe out there, I seen some grizzly shit that could've been avoided.

[karizma]

>> great right as im about to go autoXing with my friend you gimme horror stories about racing lol thanks guys!

>> anyways...to me the import scene is a lot of bs...i cant say that i havent bought into it before...there was a time when i thought altezzas looked good and i actually WANTED a civic of my own to mutilate. but oh how times have changed. im so irked at how some people treat their cars...this guy has a supercharged m3...doesnt know how to drive it...raced my friend and fucked up his clutch...idiot! if a guy who owns a civic and can really race and burn the hell outta everyone...ill give him respect...but if he's gonna rev on anything with an engine and get burned everytime..what the hell is the point???

>> okay anyways i hate stupid cars that sound like pissed off lawnmowers and i hate em even more when the drivers think theyre the shit...dfgdgdsfhgdsg

[Arex]

Originally posted by karizma@Sep 27 2002, 10:05 PM
>> great right as im about to go autoXing with my friend you gimme horror stories about racing lol thanks guys!
Hey, autocrossing is safe enough 'cause the worst that'll happen is you kill a bunch of cones.

Okay, so not exactly rice related (more like Sauerkraut), but anyone ever been to the BMW Ultimate Driving Experiences? Did the one for the 3 Series and the X5. I don't think I've ever pushed my 'lude as much as I had with those cars. Once I get my car back, I wanna take it autocrossing. But anyway, on October 6, Mercedes is having something similar with the new E-Class in El Toro. Should be fun.

Alex

[mrazntre]

bunboy: that sux man....


i usually do drive past my abilities.. sometimes.

anyhow. that's the reason why i'm retiring. imma get me a truck and go offroading =)

i dunno though. wen i do run, i usually think to myself, if i go, i go. that's part of the whole mentality. when i do drive... i drive and i stay focused completely on driving. i even let go of scanning for cops to stay focused, that is when i'm seriously going at it. usually i keep an eye out for everything....even tho the unexpected might happen, in the back of my mind i think, if i do crash and burn, i'll just try to take myself out and try my best to avoid the innocents.

i'm not trying to justify it, because unless you're in it, you just don't know how it is. it will prolly be a passing "it's so stupid" thought running through your mind.

but anyhow. that's one of the reasons i try to stay behind that and work on motors and stuff like that rather than drive.

i don't really expect anyone to know how i truly feel other than Will and mebbe Karizma. . . . .

[deez nuts]

Nah, I don't think it's stupid. I've done it too. at the stop lights (my po po Ac, that was totalled by the elderly woman hitting me while I was stationary :( ) No need to justify it. I know the peeps here can hold it down and hold their own.

Just saying, be careful and expect the unexpected.



<!--EDIT|Chasiubao_Boy|Sep 28 2002, 05:44 PM-->

[wylin]

well CB its all bout the thrill, thats the point of modifying your car, and making it accelerate, turn, and brake better.
stuff happens and yes their are consquences. but thats part of life.

I personally rarely race unless im bored outa my mind or i needa stay awake. But once in a while i'll break sumone off and its all in good fun.

[mrazntre]

fo sho'

[wylin]

bun boy will be doing the same if an inumerable amount of civics and integra's rev you up. and u need to give them sum mercedes smack down

[karizma]

>> eesh i swear to god that feeling when youre zooming down a windy mountain road is absolutely incredible. no mind altering drug or amount of alcohol or even sex *gasp* could make me feel the way i do when im in a car. i hope i never get bored of driving =) i kinda admire the people who've been driving/racing for 15+ years and still love it and find time to do it every weekend...spending a lot of time fine tuning their skills...denno man..i just feel like racings something i gotta do or ill feel like ive missed out on something great :D...feels me? *vroom vroom* watch out now!!!

[ren28]

It was more like Datsun (Nissan) and Toyotas that people first started fixing up. Mazda's were fixed up too. Honda/Acura was not even in the game when people started to mod. I don't like how modifying a car has become a fad these days. Most of the people out there buy gaudy kits with 9999 air holes, non-functional scoops, 18"+ heavy knock off rims, painted stock calipers (& drums!) and cheap tires. Yuck. It seems there are fewer and fewer people that are into performance mods. They just want to "fit in" so performance parts are secondary.

If these cheesy cars with gaudy, nasty mods is what import cars is becoming, I want no part of it. I'll stick to turbo upgrades, engine management systems, grippy tires, huge brakes and things that make a difference to ME and not everyone else.