Hot Import Daze — Coming Soon!
It is not too often that I am able to tell you in advance about a fun automotive event before it gets here. On July 23 the “2005 XM Satellite Radio Hot Import Nights/Daze” tour, presented by Valvoline Synpower, will be making a stop in San Diego. It will combine custom cars, motorsports, and the youth scene in a highly emotional explosion of action, color, and sound.
When I last attended one of these, it was simply called Hot Import Nights, held at night, and at the Del Mar Fairgrounds. I took my teenaged daughter with me and she thought it was great, although I found the music to be a little on the loud side. Of course, I am probably more than a little bit older than the primary target audience.
This year’s big event will be called Hot Import Daze, held in daylight hours (1 – 8 p.m.), and at Qualcomm Stadium.
I took a few pictures at the 2003 Del Mar nighttime event. While they may give you a hint of what’s in store for you, this time the show promises way more, including drag racing, supercharged driving demos, drifting, and stunt bike exhibitions.
For starters, expect about 500 show vehicles.
Drag racing? You bet! Listen to this, straight from a Press Release: “Race Legal, a non-profit program established by the Center for Injury Prevention to promote and arrange alternatives to illegal street racing, will present ‘Blowout Bracket Finals.’ This event is a 1/8th mile drag race bracket competition with prizes for first through fourth place, with the first place award standing at $500. The cost is $50 to enter the competition and $20 for participating in ‘Test, Tune and Time,’ the open drag racing expo.”
As if that is not enough racing action, spectators will have the opportunity to strap in and ride with a professional drift car driver (sponsored by B.F. Goodrich Tires), and actually drive the new Chevy Cobalt SS and Saturn ION Redline!
Still not enough? Then you’ll want to check out the go-cart races throughout the day.
Rounding out the action-packed activities will be a “sport bike stunt exhibition and showcase with Kane One, former member of Las Vegas Extreme, alongside E-DUB of the renowned Ruff Ryders.”
West Coast Customs (the tuner shop from MTV’s popular “Pimp My Ride” TV show, where vehicles on their last legs get rebuilt into wild customs for their lucky owners), will also be represented, featuring celebrity cars including “the WELD S14 straight from Japan and the Blazing 7’s, consisting of the nation’s top 3 RX-7’s from Jay Laub, Tony Yeh and Les Wong.”
Showcase awards will include a “Hottest Truck” category, for lowered and lifted trucks and SUVs. You’ll also get to meet models, a movie star (Masuimi Max of State of the Union), and a cover girl (Brandy Grace).
It should not come as too much of a surprise that all this action and entertainment will come at a price. General admission will be $25, and if you want to enter the car competition, that will set you back some more. However, if you purchase your general tickets online in advance, it looks like you can save a few dollars that way.
Once again, Hot Import Daze will be here on July 23, from 1 p.m. to 8 p.m., at San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium. For more information, log onto www.hotimportnights.com. See you there!
Drive safely and do join me again next time.
Copyright © 2005, 2006 & 2021 by Jan Wagner — AutoMatters & More #151r1
