We’re all somewhat familiar with the Southern California tuning scene and its backdrop of palm trees, beaches, and year-round sun.
It’s not hard to understand why car culture thrives in this part of the country, but it doesn’t mean it’s all good quality or refined.Every now and then, though, I find myself in an environment littered with nothing but treats for the eye. The RAYS Tribute meet was the first of its kind, and it was a smashing hit.
The Enthusiast Network’s (TEN) parking lot in Santa Ana, California provided a lovely location for a show setup, extending to an interior showroom that I’ll get to in another story. There was just the right amount of show spots to keep the event small enough to see everything, yet large enough to be a success.
Growing up, nearly everyone in my JDM community lusted over a set of Volk Racing or Gram Lights wheels, and it was rare to ever see a set on anything that wasn’t Japanese. This led me to exclusively associate TEs and other RAYS wheels to everything JDM, and heading into the RAYS Tribute meet, all I could think about was Japanese cars and nothing else that awaited. But as it turned out, I was in for a treat.
I wasn’t wrong with my assumption of there being a healthy mix of Japanese cars, but I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of diversity and variety in attendance. With everything from Euros to trucks and overland rigs, the RAYS Tribute meet had something for all tastes.
There were even a handful of VIP-styled cars that crept out of the shadows and reminded me of a car scene that I think needs to be explored more here on the West Coast.
With so much to choose from, it was easy to get distracted by everything around, however, I was fortunate to spy a BMW Touring on TE37s and a Pontiac G8 with some Holden bits and pieces strapped to it.
It may seem peculiar to some of you, but we as photographers are extremely spoilt when it comes to being up close with high caliber machines, especially when it comes to race cars. Sometimes I think we forget that. Dan Burkett, also known as ‘Rad Dan’, had his JZA80 Supra on display along with Ken Gushi’s 86, and Matt Coffman’s 240SX, fresh from this season’s final round at Irwindale, motivational prompts and dirt included.
There was plenty more to look at, other than some Formula Drift cars, including this pristine DC2 Honda Integra Type R, with a pretty sight lurking under the hood.
Then again, the Integra wasn’t the only thing that was built and of quality; many other cars had some sort of tweaking done to their hearts.
The RAYS Tribute meet wasn’t your typical show that focuses on awards, recognition, or prizes. It was a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts who all shared the same passion for a brand and lifestyle enough to gather and appreciate everyone’s unique interpretation of car culture.
Isn’t that what it’s all about?
Keiron Berndt
Instagram: keiron_berndt
OFFICIAL SPEEDHUNTERS SUPPLIERS
Does anyone take their civic to shows anymore? sad to see none here. Do like those WRX photos though, keep up the nice work!
There were at least a handful of Civics there...
https://imgur.com/a/8kJgWE2
Thanks! There were a few Civics there.
Love Gram Lights wheels. I refuse to upgrade mine, they're old, but they've held up well daily driving for the past 8 years. Maybe there should be an East Coast Rays Tribute meet?
Hell yeah!! And that's a good question, I'd love one on the East Coast!
What do you own?
Gram Lights 57Optimise
those are pretty slick
When I had my RX8, I 'needed' a set of 'proper' Japanese wheels.
In fact I ended up with two sets..
Volk Challange F zeros, and Work VSKFs. Both sets for less than £200ea. But I got super lucky on Ebay!
Had as in you sold it?
Indeed, sadly. After 3 years of a daily and 30k miles it hit standard low compression issues at 84k.
Did think about rebuilding it, but 17mpg average while saving for a house isn't ideal!
Just curious since I'll be moving to California soon; how is the scene able to get where its at with all the strict emission laws? When I move there I will be finally at a place in my life where i could finally build a car from the shell up. But when looking into it there were so many emissions laws that prevented a lot of the engine swaps and parts I wanted to do. Do people just find shady shops to pass them? I honestly don't mind the laws, I've seen the air quality first hand and its gross.
A lot of people know people who can turn a blind eye in some cases.
Technically you can swap an engine in and still have it legal, it's mainly the aftermarket parts that you put on it that have to undergo emissions standards. I've seen LS swapped 240SX's that pass smog despite not having an original engine installed. Same with civics that have been K and larger B swapped motors.
"It was a gathering of like-minded enthusiasts who all shared the same passion for a brand and lifestyle enough to gather and appreciate everyone’s unique interpretation of car culture.
Isn’t that what it’s all about?"
I think that is absolutely what it's all about Keiron.
Given this mindset, and being a Rays "tribute", do you think they would include like-minded enthusiasts running Varrstoen ES2/3s, Rota Grids, Rota Fighter 10s? All wheels are "tributes" to Rays TE37/CE28 line.
I’ve got s set of Gramlight 57ultimate’s in blue on my 2010 Sti, trying to decide if should get them repainted!
Do it!
those wheels look very good on that ferrari
Agreed!
Of course there were Civics there, at least a handful!
That red supercharged LS engine belongs to Maverick Man. It is a 2014 Chevy SS with Holden emblems. The Chevy SS are VF series 1 (2014 and 2015) and VF series 2 (2016 and 2017). The G8s were VE Commodores. Speedhunters should cover the Aussie captive imports in America. Which is the GTO, G8, Caprice cop car, and SS.
Five days later and the title pun just hit me.