The SRMS, Auto-X purpse-built, Project ST

Street Racing Illustrated | Behind the Wheel – Mario Ojito; Cars, Coffee, and Racing

SRMS is back like they never left with their Car Meet & Auto-Xing Event; Cars, Coffee, and Racing.

 

Story | Phillip Pratt

Interviewer | Clifton Hernandez

 

Nice S2K Auto-Xing at PBIR Karting track

Nice S2K Auto-Xing at PBIR Karting track

 

Like a phoenix rising from the proverbial ashes, sometimes you have to let something die to build it back up stronger. Street Racing Made Safe came onto the South Florida racing scene like a tidal wave. Starting small at the now-defunct County-line Raceway, the non-profit organization eventually found its footing when it became a fixture at Palm Beach International Raceway (or PBIR). After some turbulent times, things have come full circle for SRMS president and founder, Mario Ojito. He took the time recently to sit down with SRI and layout plans for his new projects, most notably, what we can expect with his new crossing-promoting endeavor: Cars, Coffee, and Racing.

 

Street Racing Illustrated: Tell us, what does the timeline look like? What came first? Cars and Coffee or Auto-X?

 

Mario Ojito: Auto-X came first. I’ve always been passionate about Auto-Xing. It’s been something that I’ve always enjoyed. It definitely lasts longer [in terms of racing] than a quarter-mile. Right there, that’s the selling point [for me]. It’s a bit more technical. I actually did another Auto-X back when we did County-line [Raceway]. We used the other side of the property. I set up a bunch of cones. It wasn’t anything big. Then in 2017, before the “corporate take-over” happened, we did an Auto-X over at PBIR, but then it all stopped after that.

 

SRI: How long did it take for Auto-X to get incorporated into SRMS’ portfolio officially?

 

Mario: We started SRMS in 2011 and we did Auto-X two-years later in 2013.

 

SRI: Is there something else you working towards? I mean between Cars and Coffee and now Auto-X, is there any other cross-promotions you have your eye on?

 

Mario: Oh, yeah. We’re working on something close to downtown Miami. It’s going to have everything. It’s going to be like culture-overload for the car enthusiast market. Essentially what I’m trying to do now is similar to what we did back in 2011. Something that has never been done before. Why? Because Roll-Racing is everywhere. It’s copied by everyone. So now I’m reinventing the wheel.

 

SRI: Do you plan on having a list for Auto-X, similar to the SRMS Top-10 List?

 

Mario: No, because Auto-X has multiple classes. You see, you have SRMS classing and SCC classing. SRMS classing is designed and created for the novice types that don’t want to go through the 125+ classes and standard SCC rulebook. That’s why we created the classing differences. If I were to create a Top-10 List for that, there would have to be a Top-10 List for each class. That’d be impossible. In SRMS, there are already 9 individual classes using the three different drive types (FWD, RWD, and AWD).

 

Mazda Miata eating a turn

Mazda Miata eating a turn

 

SRI: Where did the idea of Cars, Coffee, and Racing come from?

 

Mario: Ok, I’ve wanted to do Cars and Coffee event for some time now and we were able to do that with our partners, CLRDHOT. That’s where Cars and Coffee Key Biscayne came from. They’d been doing it for a while before we came along. I had already been working on the Homestead deal, so that’s where the “Racing” came into play. After that, I made sure our new dates didn’t conflict with the pre-existing Cars and Coffee Key Biscayne dates.

 

SRI: Cars and Coffee meets are more informal. People park and sit around. Very much a culture-thing. How do you want to this particular event grow? More of a relaxed meet-up or more like an SRMS racing event?

 

Mario: Ideally, it’d be more of a mixture of both… So it’d be a mix of the racing crowd with a focus on the purpose-built vehicles and less of the streetcar flying down the track trying to get to end. This allows for a much more diverse market. Not just regular Mustang GT guys with full bolts, but people trying to build all-around vehicles coming together.

 

SRI: You’re looking to get more than just the Test-N-Tune crowd then?

 

Mario: Well the cool factor about Cars, Coffee, and Racing is the fact that the racing is happening just 10 to 15-feet away from where you’re at. So, you’re right there. There will also be a VIP lounge, and VIP stage, so you can go up 20-feet in the air and literally look over the whole track, which is pretty cool. The other cool aspect is… people drive an hour and a half to go to Cars, and Coffee Palm Beach. Instead, for a large part of South Florida, this is only 35 to 45-minutes away. There’s definitely more parking with the 3000 spaces, and then you have the racing. Of course, with a new event, to start off we don’t expect the pack the house, but we’re hoping for the best. Doesn’t really matter, to be honest, we’re going to be there, and what counts the most is consistency. We’re consistent. After January when we hammer everything out, we’ll be moving over to the Speedway, while still holding the [Auto-X] event. We’ll be holding bigger festivals and Homestead Speedway come 2019.

 

AMR Motorplex layout for the upcoming Cars, Coffee, and Racing event

AMR Motorplex layout for the upcoming Cars, Coffee, and Racing event

 

SRI: What can the non-racing attendee, the person just coming to come, expect to see at Cars, Coffee, and Racing?

 

Mario: We’re going to have multiple vendors, we’re going to have food trucks, go-kart rentals at a discounted price, the racing around the track. There’s also going to be a VIP area which will have the VIP cars and stuff like that, not to mention the regular dope cars that come out for South Florida meets.

 

SRI: Is there anything that like a long-term goal? I know you mentioned the coming Downtown Miami event, but what about this one in particular?

 

Mario: I guess, what I’d like to see happen is for this to become a monthly enthusiast festival. You know; kids play areas, different forms of entertainment. But that’s essentially what I’d like to see. Of course, I’d like to see that place completely packed! I’d love to see 3000 cars there but I want to emphasize the racing aspect because it gives people so much more. We’re just trying to make it different than anything else that’s ever been done. The layout of the parking, the way the racing is happening. Everything.

 

“We pioneered Rolling-Racing, and now everybody does it. It’s cool, but now it’s like we’re doing it again…”

 

SRI: So what’s your personal favorite part of the event?

 

Mario: Racing obviously. I’m a racing guy! I love everything that has to do with racing.

 

SRI: Yeah, I remember you jumping into your ST while emceeing the Auto-X event up at PBIR!

 

Mario: Oh, man, I can’t tell you how much I enjoy that! Our first logo was simply “I Love Street Racing”. It’s just something that’s not hidden with me. Though when I drive on the street, I have to set an example. I haven’t street raced since 2009 before I put in an application to become a nonprofit. Going on 9-years now. People have lined up next to me a million times since then, but I’ll never race them.

 

Cars and Coffee Key Biscayne 07.29.2018

The “ILoveStreetRacing” sticker on display at a Cars and Coffee Key Biscayne event.

 

SRI: Is there a car at an Auto-X event that you haven’t seen yet that you want to show up?

 

Mario: Sure, the new NSX. Electric motors, twin-turbo, well-balanced, very lightweight… I’d love to see Joker_NSX come out.

 

SRI: Besides the Auto-Xing, what else are you looking forward to with this event?

 

Mario: The spectator-factor. Usually at a Cars, and Coffee event, what gets people hyped up and breaking necks is people just revving their motors, or someone rolling in with a high-end car. When you show up at a [drag racing] track and don’t run, no one really cars. But in this type of event, you can have fun without worrying about breaking anything. Your high-end car should perform perfectly fine.

 

SRI: Now it comes down to driver skill…

 

Mario: Exactly. Which is why I love Auto-Xing even more. It’s not really about what you drive at this point, but how you drive it.

 

SRI: Do you plan on branching out anymore? Outside of South Florida?

 

Mario: Not sure… we did that in 2017 and really all that ended up happening was us sharing facilities and those track managers turning around running with the concept. Kind of just happy with Florida, right now.

 

A GR Subi making rounds at PBIR Karting track

A GR Subi making rounds at PBIR Karting track

 

SRI: As far as the weather at this event. This is Florida, after all…

 

Mario: This is a rain or shine event. We do not stop Auto-Xing. Of course, it’ll have an effect on people coming out to spectate. We expect the main amount of people coming out will be from 8 AM to 2 PM and then after that, the only people left will be the ones still racing. The only time we have to stop the event is if there’s lightning. If not, we keep running. Auto-Xing actually becomes more fun when it’s raining!

 

SRI: You did something with Auto-Xing up at the BB&T Center parking lot once, considering taking this North?

 

Mario: That wasn’t an SRMS’ event, really. Just something we participated in, but insurance is ridiculous when using sites not regulated for racing. Besides that, I’m focusing on the Miami market, and the Homestead Speedway location and just capitalizing on that. Killing the game there. Everyone else can play catch-up after that.

 

SRI: SRMS is about getting people on the track and off the street. Going back to when The Fast and The Furious premiered and the industry really took off; do you foresee this format of racing doing something similar as you move forward?

 

Mario: No, not like that. I do see an uprising in the market because we’ll be putting it in front of people and changing the perception of it. Giving them a way to see it and giving them a way to enjoy it. I see us one day maxing out and not being able to [facilitate] any more racers, just because we won’t be able to. We’re capped at 120 cars in 4 running groups. We’re trying to offer a minimum of 5 runs a day. But because we’ll be running from 8 AM to 6 PM at night, I think most people will be getting 10 or more runs to start out, which is a lot for $55.00. Compare that to a Test-N-Tune where you’d be lucky if you got 5 runs.

 

It really isn't about what you drive.

It really isn’t about what you drive.

 

SRI: So you want people to come out early and get as many runs as possible?

 

Mario: Well, it’s mandatory. Registration will open at 8 AM, the drivers meeting will be at 9:30 AM and the track goes hot at 10 AM. From there we call the run groups accordingly.

 

SRI: That’s cool. Man, I’m getting this old feeling I used to have when I was a kid. Getting all excited about driving up to PBIR (then, named Moroso) and running my car. I can see this turning into that for people.

 

Mario: It’s an exciting time! We pioneered Rolling-Racing, and now everybody does it. It’s cool, but now it’s like we’re doing it again [with Auto-Xing and our other projects], and I’m getting that same emotion I had, where I’m excited. We’re pushing this beyond the boundary that other people had and I’m going to keep doing it. I’m not going to stop and there’s nobody that can stop me. We’re going to change the face of racing (again). What we’re doing in Miami, what we’re doing at AMR and what we’re going to do Homestead Speedway. I will continue to push the envelope in directions no one has.

 

Cars, Coffee, and Racing inaugural event kicks off 8 AM, August 12th, 2018 at AMR Motorplex in Homestead, Florida. For more information email: info@streetracingmadesafe.com

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Street Racing Illustrated | Behind the Wheel with Ricky “Disruptive” Alduen

“Dream big and be disruptive. If you are doing the same thing as everyone else, you’ve already failed” – Forbes

Interviewer | Clifton Hernandez

Photos | Rafael Gabaldon

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

Passing judgment is easy. Look at something, and make your mind up about it. It’s human nature in many ways. What separates the small minded from those that think with a bit more nuance is the ability to look deeper and appreciate the subtle (and not so subtle) aspects of a person or place. Ricky “Disruptive” Alduen’s RX-7 is probably one of the most eye-catching FD specimens in South Florida, heck, probably the entire Eastern Seaboard. At first glance, most would brush it off as a trailer queen. A vehicle that goes from garage to trailer, to show floor, and back to the trailer. Not the case. As many natives of the SoFlo area can attest, Ricky actually drives this thing, and with enough power that even he admits makes him nervous, his FD is no primped-up princess.

 

Street Racing Illustrated: So your car… it looks like a bunch of fun.

Ricky Alduen: Yes! It definitely is!

 

SRI: Not to go off topic, but you’ve got a matching Slingshot… What gets you more looks?

Ricky: Believe it or not, this one [gestured towards the RX-7].

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: The RX-7 gets more attention?

Ricky: With car people, for sure. With the general public, you know, everyone’s going to be like, yo look at that thing, especially when I drop [the Slingshot] down to the ground. But car people give the RX-7 more attention for sure.

 

SRI: Looking at everything in your garage from the Slingshot to the FD… you custom make a lot, have to admit.

Ricky: I like custom @#$%. [laughs]

 

SRI: What’s your favorite piece on here?

Ricky: The one you cannot see… my headliner. I have a carbon fiber headliner.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Ricky’s custom carbon fiber headliner isn’t visible in this shot but… it’s there.

 

SRI: Nobody has that…

Ricky: Nope. My wheels too. Custom order from Japan, hand assembled, made to order by Mackin Industries. I typically stick to Rays when I buy wheels.

 

SRI: So we’ve got a lot of “first time” @!#$% on this car, I see. So what originally got you into an RX-7?

Ricky: I’d have to say back in 19[Redacted], I was walking out of High School on my way home like I normally did and out of nowhere I hear this engine idling [makes the signature “brap-brap-brap” rotary sound]. It was a 1984 GSL-SE, a burgundy first-generation RX-7. I just stopped and listened to it. It belonged to a classmates’ father. Every day he’d come to pick his daughter up and I’d just stand there and listen to it idle. That sound… you know, it’s different than any other car. Completely different. I fell in love with it. From the first generation.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: Takes me back to when we used to visit the track down here. Back when it was called Moroso. There used to be this guy in the stands we’d call “Rotary-Man”. He had this bull-horn, and he’d just be losing his mind anytime a car pulled up to the line with a rotary engine. So much fun to be around that kind of passion, you know, for anything. But that’s how I got introduced to the sound of that engine, what made me take notice.

Ricky:  Yeah man, it’s that sound, I fell in love with it. And the look, it’s so sexy even back then. It was right then, I was done. I had to get me one of these. But I couldn’t afford it. Obviously, I was still in High School. I saved and I tried to buy one, but then I looked at insurance for it and was like, what?

 

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: How many RX-7s have you had, so far?

Ricky: Three. Two first gens, and this one. There was a point when I had this one, a silver FB, a gold FB, my Veilside 350z [points towards a photo on the wall], and my Spyder Can-Am. All here, in the garage and outside.

 

SRI: How long have you had this one?

Ricky: Six or seven years?

 

SRI: So which one was favorite out of them?

Ricky: This one. This one, for sure.

 

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Be Disruptive

 

SRI: Why?

Ricky: Man, what’s there not to like? I mean, I tore it apart. I took every single bolt out. I wanted to take my time and build it the way I wanted. For two and half years it wasn’t drivable. Engine out, front off, seats, interior, roof… a complete shell. We painted the shell-

 

SRI: Awesome paint job by the way.

Ricky: We painted it in a storage container…

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: Sounds like a story by itself. Where did you find this color? Were there any other experiments or was this the color you always wanted?

Ricky: Because of my line of work, I’m used to planning things out way in advance. I had this color in mind before I even had the car. I found it while I was still with my Veilside 350z. A friend of mine, a painter and body-guy, Frankie, pulled up one day with an orange Civic. I told him how much I loved the color and asked if he had the code, and he said “nope, its custom”, but of course, he knew mixtures. The first thing I actually painted this color ended up being the Spyder Can-Am, then the RX-7 and finally the Slingshot.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Ricky’s color-matched Slingshot

 

SRI: You’ve said this a few times in passing since we’ve been here. That you want to be the ‘first’ or ‘only’ with something…

Ricky: It’s not to be the “only one”. It’s a bit different. Like a lot of people do wide-body [with this car], I don’t like wide-body. I like to see, and I respect what they do, but this kind of car you have cut into the body to get more space to roll. I don’t like it. You’re screwing with a car that has perfect body lines. Perfect. I think it was ahead of its time [in terms of styling].

 

SRI: I remember back in about 2003, Super Street Magazine had this feature, a red RX-7 with like 800HP. I just thought a car that beautiful had no business having that much power.

Ricky: Yeah, you can get a lot of power out of these little engines! Not everyone has a rotary these days. Like even the wheels. Everyone has those Ray Engineering Ts. Not saying that doesn’t look awesome, but I wanted something a bit different.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: What other cars have you owned?

Ricky: I’ve had two 350zs, I had Toyota Corolla 1.8- you had to have a Toyota Corolla 1.8. I had a twin-cam GT-S. I fell in love with the Celicas. You know how it was back in the day. You had the club and the events… I had a friend, who I used to swap cars with sometimes. I’d give him mine, and I’d take his. He had a red convertible. I loved it, so I went and got my own. I got a white convertible and put white seats in it with a bangin’ system (of course). Super-super dope, that was like the pantie-dropper!

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Ricky Alduen

 

SRI: What’s the show scene like for you with the RX-7?

Ricky:  I do it for fun, the love. Tell you a funny story. I was on my way back from my shop Pettit Racing. I got on Commercial Blvd approaching i95. On the left, I see Elite Roads doing what they used to do all the time, hosting a car show. I was going to get gas and head home but I wanted to see what was up. Soon as I tried to pull in the crowd just went ‘whoosh’, all around the car, I couldn’t get out… After I was able to park it finally, an hour passed (because the show was ending) and I won first place.

 

SRI: Just like that? By accident?

Ricky: Just like that, man [laughs].

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | The Elite Roads trophy front and center

 

SRI: You said you were coming back from Pettit Racing?

Ricky: Pettit Racing, yes. They built my engine, built my block. One of the things I did… people do swaps. I don’t believe in swaps for this car, I don’t. I respect whoever does it, I’ve got no problem with a 2JZ or an LS swap but my thing is; this car is unique. It has a unique engine. Everyone else has pistons, this is rotary, keep it rotary. So what I did is, I took out the old engine, and threw it in the garbage and told Cam to build me a new one. Everything in here is new, rotors, housing- everything.

 

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Engine built from the bottom up by Pettit Racing

 

SRI: Where are you in terms of building a show car, versus a race car?

Ricky: I’m right in the middle. I can’t say this is all race, because you’d see me drag racing, but at the same time look at this $#%&. It’s about a balance… got another story for you. I was at an event at Moroso (now called Palm Beach International Raceway), and this kid comes up talking; saying I was “all-show no go” or whatever. I smiled. I really don’t care what people think or whatever. I don’t get into that really. On the way home on the Turnpike, the same kid pulls up next to me. He’s in a Nissan 280. Of course, he starts jumping and revving. Now I’m just cruising; my windows are down, I’m relaxed, not looking for anything. Then he says it again. Yells “Yep! All-show!”. I’m doing like 80 MPH in 4th [gear]. I drop down into 3rd and just like that, I’m doing 140. He couldn’t catch up; disappeared. A couple months later at another show, the same kid comes up to me; says he blew his engine back then! To be honest, the car scared me that day. It just kept pulling. It was really dangerous and I was doing something really stupid! Note to self: Never do that $#%^ again. Ever.

 

SRI: So you have fun with the car, you’re not afraid to mess around.

Ricky: I like to push it. I don’t trailer it; I drive it around. All the way up to North Carolina. Not a problem. I did that ‘Tail of the Dragon’, it’s the place where you can really just abuse this car. I built this car to have fun on the road. I built it for road racing. I might lose to a car with a big turbo in a straightaway, but curves? Nah.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD | Custom built carbon fiber door panels

 

SRI: You go by Disruptive. It’s written on the car; you reference it on social media. Where did it come from?

Ricky: It’s simple. Disruptive… it’s not about being rowdy or doing stupid things on the road. Disruptive is about expressing our passion for cars in an individual way. The idea is to create a positive impact and try to change the general idea that associates our passion with a negative connotation due to some few that are killing the scene by doing stupid $@#% on the streets.

 

SRI: You did a sick spread with Super Street Magazine a few years back, how did that come about?

Ricky: One of my sponsors, Apex’i contacted me and said they’d like to install one of their suspension sets on my car. My contact Masaki recommended this set they use for our drift cars. 100% bolt-on and already dialed in, ready to install right out of the box. I put them on and send the pics to Apex’i. After that, Masaki called me and told me he wanted to introduce me to, an editor at Super Street, Sam Du (@duspeed). Turned out, he was going to be here in Miami and wanted to see the car while he was in town. We met up down on South Beach, took some test shots and asked if I wanted to do a spread. Just like that.

 

SRI: How often do you drive the RX-7?

Ricky: I used to drive it all the time. Now, not as much. Maybe once or twice a month, to make sure everything is working. I built it to enjoy it. If I go to a show, I drive it. Definitely not a trailer queen.

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

SRI: So… is this your dream car?

Ricky: Yes. This is it, right here.

 

SRI: Do you understand how rare that is? Just about anyone else I’d pitch that question to would go on these long rants about what they’d been chasing, and what they’d do to it-

Ricky: This is a little boy’s dream come true. I was a teenager in high school, in 9th grade, you know, an earlier model, but I saw it and fell in love with. To be able to have this, x-amount of years later? It’s a dream. And it’s not done. It’s not perfect, I’m still dreaming of rotary perfection.

 

 

Ricky's fully built-out FD

Ricky’s fully built-out FD

 

Street Racing Illustrated | Behind the Wheel with Juan Burgos

Behind the Wheel with Juan Burgos

From daily driven to passion project.

Interviewer | Clifton Hernandez

Photos | Phillip Pratt

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan

 

Where does the admiration of an inanimate object come from? What drives (no pun intended) us to keep a pair of shoes or hat way past it’s prime?  Sure, we could take a ride down to Foot Locker and buy a fresh pair of Nikes and probably a new snap-back, of course. But we know what’s good when we get back home. When it’s time to jack the car up and get to work, we know what’s going to be on our feet and absorbing the latest batch of sweat off our head. We sat down with Juan Burgos to talk about his car, racing, and… other stuff, to answer this question.

 

Street Racing Illustrated: What got you into cars?

Juan: Honestly, ever since I was little, 2 or 3 years old, my parents always told me I had a fever for cars. I always had little toy cars. My grandma, she used to take care of me a lot, she’d be the one playing cars with me. Back in Colombia (where Juan is originally from), I used to fight with my parents to stay home from daycare to go with my dad instead. I used to put nails in his tires just to see how it would get fixed.

 

SRI: So, you were definitely a @#@$# kid… How old are you now?

Juan: I’m 23 about to turn 24.

 

SRI: When did you come here?

Juan: I was about 4 or 5 years old when I first got here.

 

SRI: What was your first car? The one you learned to drive in, doesn’t have to be yours-

Juan: It was always a Honda. I had multiple ones, including this one, my 94’ EG 4-door, I bought it to fix up and sell. It was originally meant to be a project for a class in high school. I was going to fix the head gasket and then sell it. It was my senior year project to graduate from technical school. It was a single-cam [back then, of course]. I loved it so much, ended up keeping it as a daily, but the fix didn’t last. I blew the motor.

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan

 

SRI: This is the car you have now? Your first car is the still the car you have now?!

Juan: Driving, driving, like taking it out to get registered legit, yeah. I don’t daily it anymore, I’ve got a truck for that. But this was basically my only car under my name until I got my truck.

 

SRI: This is interesting… If I gave you an unlimited budget to build anything you wanted, it’d be…?

Juan: I’d probably stick with this same car. My same Honda. It’s been a long process. Honestly, [with this car] there’s never any end to it. Even now, there’s not that much to it. I’m not fast enough to make it to the [Street Racing Made Safe] Top 10 list, as is, but if I had the budget I’d go K-series. Right now, it’s got a B-series because it’s within my budget. The Ks can be a bit expensive; like, I’d have to go with a Dog Box because the transmissions never hold up…

 

SRI: Are you saying your dream car is the car you’re driving?

Juan: I’m not saying [the Civic] is my dream car, but with an unlimited budget, it’s the one I’d continue with.

 

SRI: How old were you for your first race?

Juan: Probably 17 or even earlier than that. My parents don’t know but I used to drive without a license.

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan

 

SRI: Well, there’s no way they are going to read this… What was the race?

Juan: Me and my friend’s car, another EG 4-door, but automatic. It was his sister’s car. Just the two of us going down the block, neck-to-neck the whole way, bone stock cars! I don’t think we even made it to 70 [MPH]. But it was entertaining!

 

SRI: What’s the best race you’ve had so far, since then? I don’t mean that stock foolishness. I mean a real race?

Juan: I like going up against high-end cars. When I’m at the track for an event I go to like GT-Rs and stuff. Try to find one as stock as possible and put them to shame. My favorite race though was against this blue GT-R. It was pretty close. His trap speed was about 128, mine was 121. My goal right now is to beat one.

 

SRI: How does that go down? When you’re approaching these hundred-thousand-dollar cars and asking them to race your Civic? I mean they really have more to lose than to gain going up against you.

Juan: First thing they ask is ‘what’s done to the car’. I tell them it’s a 2.0 bottom with a 1.6 head (B20) on 8lbs of boost. They call me a liar and say I’m making five or six-hundred horsepower. Right now, it’s only making around three-hundred to the wheels. I offer to show them a dyno-sheet and everything. It’s hard to get a race.

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan | “Warming up” before making a pass at Palm Beach International Raceway

 

SRI: Are you like the only gear-head in your group of friends?

Juan: Nah, I have a lot of guys around me that are into racing. Mostly people from my neighborhood. Ever since we were teenagers. There’s a group of us called Four-Seven Built. Daniel is one of my friends I hang with the most. He’s got an S10 with an LS swap. He goes to track with me every time.

 

SRI: So, who’s car is faster?

Juan: I’d say mine… when he’s off the juice. All-motor he’s not faster, but on the juice, he’s got me. [laughs]

 

SRI: What’s your favorite aspect of the whole hobby? Is it the racing, the satisfaction of building something you know can compete?

Juan: I just love the adrenaline you get behind the wheel. The car isn’t all that pretty on the outside-

 

SRI: Been meaning to ask you about that. Is there something you want to do to it…?

Juan: I sent it to get painted once. Some guy in Hialeah that knew my dad. The biggest mistake I’ve ever made [with the car]. It’s why it looks the way it does now. The car was beautiful for like two weeks, shinning. I’ve got one video and one picture of the car when it first came out. After that… the paint just went to crap. I paid the guy $900, just for the labor. It was a learning experience. Once I’m done with the new motor set-up, I’ll get back to making it look pretty. Not into body-kits so much anymore, but I want to make it clean. As OEM as possible.

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan

 

SRI: What magazines were you into coming up? Did you have Super Street posters on your wall and stuff like that…?

Juan: Every time I’d go to the grocery store with my parents I’d go over to the magazine rack and get Lowrider, I always liked that-

 

SRI: So, boobs, then.

Juan: [laughs] I guess you can say that!

 

SRI: I’m sorry but, ten-year-old with a Lowrider magazine, you aren’t looking at no damn cars… I’m kidding.

Juan: If it were in my budget to do it, I’d build one [a Lowrider] today. A 59’ Impala. Hydraulics, clean undercarriage, sound system… But it’s expensive.

 

SRI: Don’t hear Lowriders around these parts too much. What got you into that?

Juan: I don’t know, I just like them. I used to watch a lot of West Coast Customs-

 

SRI: Just say it, you watched Pimp My Ride! Say it, you like goldfish in cars!

Juan: I watched it! [laughs]

 

Juan Burgos’ boosted EG-Sedan

 

SRI: The guy that wants to keep his Civic was OEM as possible on the outside, is also into Lowriders with all their elaborate, deep paint jobs?

Juan: I want to keep it [the Civic] as factory looking as possible. As of today, the car has full interior, everything still. I don’t think I’ll ever cut up the car to save two-hundred pounds or so. I want to keep it fun and safe.

 

SRI: Well it’s been real Juan, got anyone you want to shoutout?

Juan: I’d like to thank my wife Julissa and my brother Alejandro for helping me work on the car and getting it to where it’s at. She doesn’t mind getting dirty like other girls. And last, my friend Daniel for helping me out on the build as well.

 

“I’d like to thank my wife Julissa and my brother Alejandro for helping me work on the car and getting it to where it’s at…”

 

Instagram: @juan_skiii

 

Street Racing Illustrated | Drive By – Reyana Lobban

DRIVE-BY – Reyana Lobban

A chat with Rey on life, racing, and her DC2 Integra

Interviewer | Phillip Pratt

Photos | Rafael Gabaldon

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

Name: Reyana Lobban

Car: 1997 LS Acura Integra

Nationality: Jamaican American

City of Residence: Pembroke Pines, Florida.

Age: Finally 16 lol

Engine Mods: B20Vtec (B16 head, B20B block), B16 Transmission, Type R Cams, Blox Intake Manifold, Mugen Headers, Forza Exhaust, AEM Fuel Rail, 40 shot of Nitrous

Suspension: Function and Form Type 2
Wheels, Tires: USDM Integra Type R wheels with Falken Ziex ze950 tires

 

Street Racing Illustrated: When did you get into cars?

Rey: I’ve been around cars my whole life being that my dad was a mechanic and is a car enthusiast but I wouldn’t say I was always like this lol. I’d go to the race track with my dad all the time but it wasn’t until we went one evening and I saw a Supra on the way back home. It was the first time I’d ever actually paid attention to a car like that, I was about 9 or 10. I’ll never forget the sound of the car, hearing the blow-off valve oh my gosh, and the cleanliness of it. From then on, I knew what I wanted to do.

 

SRI: How long have you had your Integra?

Rey: The Integra and I have been through a lot. Back in 2014, I got my first car; a white GSR in which I had the B20V originally. Then I sold the GSR shell and decided to start over, so I got a Red LS Integra with a Jap front so I could go LSVtec. However, In the end, I just decided to put on the Type R wheels, Brakes, Valences, Side Skirts, put in some Sparco seats that were given to me as a gift, drop the B20 back in it and call it a day lol. To put it shortly, a very long 3 years.

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

SRI: What’s your favorite upgrade you’ve done to it thus far?

Rey: Honestly the favorite upgrade I have done to the car, is putting it on Nitrous lol. It’s like Vtec x2!

 

SRI: Outside of cars, got any hobbies?

Rey: When I’m not working on my Teggy or at the shop, I enjoy doing things other girls do pretty much lol. I like having sleepovers, doing my nails, shopping in expensive stores, etc. I also enjoy reading and competing in medical competitions.

 

SRI: If you didn’t have your Integra, you’d be driving a…?

Rey: This is honestly my favorite question because everyone always assumes I’ve been about Hondas since the beginning lol! If I did not have my Integra, I would definitely be driving an all-black 1998 S14 240sx with a 2JZ.

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

SRI: Track or show?

Rey: Track. I’ve got the need for speed.

 

SRI: Describe the feeling of your first race at PBIR.

Rey: My first race at PBIR was definitely nerve wrecking. I raced a Yaris… and I missed 3rd gear and lost! LOL, I cried when I got back to the stands. But then I realized that I’m not going to always win and I got over it.

 

SRI: Day meet or night meet?

Rey: Being that I’m still under my parent’s supervision, no night meets for me, haha. But I like day meets, that way I can actually see the cars. Artificial light does no justice.

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

SRI: How important is your date’s car?

Rey: As long as it’s clean and low, I’m good with it.

 

SRI: What would be your last meal?

Rey: Fried Chicken and gravy from Barbican Square. It’s all I ever want.

 

SRI: Who is the biggest influence in your life, right now?

Rey: Roger Lobban, my dad, my old man, the real papa bear lol. I would be nothing that I am today without the guidance of him. I wouldn’t even have the amazing opportunity of answering these questions with you guys.

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

SRI: You get one superpower, what is it?

Rey: To remember everything I read, I’d pass my exams with flying colors.

 

SRI: Favorite TV show?

Rey: Adventure Time

 

SRI: One thing you couldn’t live without is…?

Rey: My Cell Phone. I go crazy even when it’s only dead.

 

1997 LS Acura Integra

 

SRI: Favorite cruising song?

Rey: Fake Love- Drake

 

SRI: Last movie you watched?

Rey: I watched “Sing” with my best friend.

 

Don’t get too comfortable with this set-up. Rey and her pops have something cooking on the horizon. Expect her Teggy to be a whole new animal the next time you see it at the track! Big thanks to Rey for making time with us.

Instagram: @blahkmexican

Street Racing Illustrated | Behind the Wheel with “The Incredible Carlos Recinos”

Behind the Wheel with “The Incredible” Carlos Recinos

The driver of Miami’s Hulk Civic

Interviewer | Clifton Hernandez

Photos | Ralph Gabaldon

 

Carlos’ B-series powered EG Hatch

 

There are two types of racers out there. You’re either lucky enough to be born into it, or like some of the best things in life, you get turned-out by your friends. In either instance, once velocity and competition burrow their way in, there’s little chance of getting it out. We aren’t talking about pansy emotions like love. Time, distance, and radio talk-show hosts aren’t enough to sate this itch, there is no escape. So just give in to it. Kind of like Carlos Recinos did a few years ago. The Driver of the ‘Hulk Civic’ of the Street Racing Made Safe Top 10 List met up with us for a talk about his car and his passion for competition.

 

Street Racing Illustrated: When did you find out about SRMS (Street Racing Made Safe)

Carlos: Man, I’ve been doing Street Racing Made Safe from when it started. The top ten thing, I didn’t start until later on. I did the first couple of events, then I let it off for a while because I didn’t really enjoy it. It was mixed, race whoever. Then they started with the [list]. That’s when Frustrate started. I tried to get into it after, but I was having, ya know, little problems with the car. It wasn’t getting set up right. If it wasn’t the computer it was something else, the little hiccups started popping up. So, I had a couple of events where I couldn’t get anywhere

 

SRI: What would you say was your first car, not necessarily a full race car, but the very first thing you started playing with?

Carlos: The first car that I had, I had in high school, it was a Nissan Maxima. And the Maxima… I did nitrous and exhaust. It was the whole thing after school ‘yo lets go race in the corner’. Mario (from SRMS) went to school with us, so he was there, he experienced that.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: So, in high school, you were those kids?

Carlos: Yeah, we were those kids! The ones that would go off and race after school!

 

SRI: So how did you end up with the Civic?

Carlos: The Civic came a while back… I started with the Mustangs, then after that, I got on bikes. I had a brother that was building a Civic. Back in 07’ he was involved in an accident and passed away. So, I continued the project. I finished his car. You know, back in 07’ 400HP was the thing then. It was like the most you could have on the street. We built the hatch, and I fell in love with it.

 

SRI: How did you get away from Mustangs because normally, Mustang guys typically stay with them?

 Carlos: I had a coupe, a nitrous car and… man, I just got into the Hondas! The technology started to advance with every new car, and now you can have a streetable Honda that makes a 1000HP. Back then [when we were just starting out] you couldn’t even see that!

 

SRI: As far as racing goes what do you prefer, rolls, digs…?

Carlos: Man… I’ll do anything! I’ll do rolls, I’ll do digs. We just need the right surface and the right conditions to do a dig with a high horsepower car. Like when I raced Mayhem, when we set it up at [West Palm Beach Raceway], it was, more or less, the first dig I did with the Civic. It did pretty good… at low boost, it was pretty good.

 

“The Hulk” at Palm Beach International Raceway in West Palm Beach Florida

 

SRI: Then, your preference is from a roll?

Carlos: I’d like to do both… they’re both exciting. Roll racing started up in Texas with high horsepower cars… but I’m a car enthusiast and of racing! I’ll roll, I’ll dig, for me, it’s whichever way you wanna do it. Some people would rather dig, some criticize the roll, but I’ll do both.

 

SRI: As far as the SRMS top ten list goes, is that something you’re interested in climbing further?

Carlos: I got hyped up and ended up making it all the way up to four, but the cars are getting faster and faster. Right now, I’m maxed out… My whole set up, my turbo’s maxed out! I can’t get any more out of it, so to get up higher on the list or to compete with these big guys’ I gotta make at least another two or three hundred more horsepower than what I have now. Got to have around 1300.

 

SRI: You going to start shooting for that?

Carlos: Don’t know man! I need sponsors! [laughs] I think now, that’s when things start getting really expensive. Just the turbo alone is going to cost like four grand!

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: Which would you say was your favorite car you owned out of your Civic, Mustang, and Maxima?

Carlos: Honestly? I liked the Mustang, man… Because back then we used to do a lot of digs so we go down south. Everybody would show up, and it was fun. Yo, I like digs but it’s hard for a lot of reasons.

 

SRI: Yeah, like when you start breaking stuff!

Carlos: Yeah! Matter of fact, I broke my diff. At an event. I was hurtin’, bro.

 

SRI: What’s the favorite thing about your Civic?

Carlos: My Civic? The Honda’s are fun man, they pack a lot of power, they’re lightweight… Little bit difficult to set up, because you know, the front wheel drive. They tend to overpower the tires. But I like how my car is, I like how it drives, how it handles. It handles pretty good in the turns! You’d think it don’t, but it does.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback | Javitune is one of the most trusted tuners in South Florida

 

SRI: Miami is a tough place to be with a car that attracts as much attention as yours does. Honda’s are popular targets for thieves. I know a few guys who rent out whole storage units and space in warehouses to keep theirs safe. They don’t even want to bring it home. Has the popularity of your Civic ever given you cause for concern?

Carlos: Yep, Miami’s known for hot boys and all that. I’m well known around, so you got to take care of yourself, yah’ know? I go out with the car. It’s here with me now! I keep tabs on it at all times. I don’t go to the mall and leave it in the parking lot. My car is safe where I store it and if anybody tries to mess with it, they are going to get into some situation [laughs]. But that’s the problem with the Honda’s man. People are going to steal them. They are universal, you can use a lot of the parts on other Hondas. If you’re going to have a car like that, you’re going to have to do what I do. Go out with it and stay within twenty or thirty feet of it.

 

SRI: Does the noise your car produces disturb the people around you?

Carlos: Nah… I have a lot of people that stop or wave me down, ask me what my car has. I’ve even had the mailman pull up to me and tell me it’s nice’. You attract a lot of attention. It feels good. You don’t see cars like that all time, especially in the street. But it’s enjoyable to take the car out.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: How’s it with having a family and needing to go out with the car?

Carlos: Well the Civic is a racecar. I can take one passenger and that’s it, man.

 

SRI: What does your family think about your racing and the car?

Carlos: I’m not gonna lie to you. When you meet a girl, they are like “OMG I love the racecar!” But with time they start to realize you like the car so much, and then they start to hate it! Right now, they like it, because they know it’s what I love but… it’s not their favorite. But it’s what I love so they have to deal with it, ya know?

 

Carlos Recinos

 

SRI: Is there a specific car you enjoy racing and beating?

Carlos: I’m not going to lie, I enjoy beating whoever. Just want high horsepower, but the 2Js… they are the ones that get butt-hurt. I actually beat two of them at the last event! Everybody started hating on me, saying “those cars didn’t make a 1000HP, they were making 700…” So, the 2Js are one of the biggest butt-hurt ones, the GTR guys, the Chevy guys. Yeah them…

 

SRI: That’s funny, growing up going to PBIR, the 2Js and Rotaries were always going at it. There was a guy in the section we sat in that had a bullhorn. He’d be at every event screaming “It’s Rotary baby! Not a 2JZ or some little mixed up Honda!” Lot of fond memories of those rivalries, so for you to say, “I like beating 2Js because it’s always fun”-

Carlos: They take it personal! They take it really personal. Even the other guys that own 2Js and have nothing to do with the car, they’ll get involved. It was always hard for a Honda to beat a 2J but when it finally happens-

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: The excuses come out! It’s that whole mob mentality. The Toyota guys always stick together, the Honda guys, Nissan and so on. If you were to build another racecar, what would you build?

Carlos: I’d like to build another Honda, but this time I’d like to build, uh… rear wheel drive set-up? Probably in a S2000. Or maybe even jump into a 2J. Build it out and drop it into a lighter car?

 

SRI: Oh, really, like what?

Carlos: I love the Supra body, I really do, or maybe a 240? I like it, it’s a lighter car as well…  Another option I’ve thought about it trying to put my motor into an MR-2, the third gen. That would be another interesting build.

 

SRI: There’s a taboo that exists in some circles. They think 2Js should stay in Toyota’s and RBs and in Nissan’s etc. but you seem to take a more racecar approach like you just want to put the most efficient motor in the best body available.

Carlos: It doesn’t matter what it is, as long as you put it together and it works. That’s your creation, that’s your set up. Yeah if I had a 2J I could put it into a Supra, but everybody does that.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback | Weld Racing 768-30815

 

SRI: As far as aesthetics, are you happy with it, if you could start over, is there anything you’d do differently?

Carlos: For drag racing? I’m happy with it. The color, I picked it out when we painted. I called the car the ‘Hulk’, little did I know there were other people doing the same on the car with the name and color but it’s an eye-catcher! The haters talk bad about it, they call it the ‘Booger’.

 

SRI: What was your first race like, not at the track, but your very first race? Do you remember it?

Carlos: My first race was probably with my Maxima. All my friends had different types of cars, but one of them had a 4.6 Mustang, a 95’, so I lined up with him. When we raced, I saw that my Maxima was neck-to-neck with him. I was like “man, a V6 sedan against a V8 coupe?!” From there I added nitrous to the car and started building it up. But as far as the track, the first time I went was back when [Palm International Raceway] was stilled named Moroso and they had things like ‘Battle of the Imports’ and stuff like that with the races and car shows and stuff, about 00’-01’. I paid my $25 or $30 and raced with my Maxima on nitrous. I think my best time was like a 14 [seconds in the ¼ mile]. For me back then, it was like flying!

 

SRI: I remember those days. They used to bring out semis with jet engines and just make everyone lose their s@#%.

Carlos: Yeah, I believe those things used to run like 11s back then. It’s amazing how far we’ve come with technology. We’ve got little Honda Civics with a 1000HP, streetable and still reliable with that much power.

 

SRI: You used to ride bikes, right? Do you still ride?

Carlos: Not any more… I used to race bikes in the street, in certain areas, but I had a couple accidents and slowed down on it, so I started doing cars. In 02’ I had an accident where I lost three of my toes, the chain cut them off, so I’ve had a few close calls already. I still have a few friends of mine from the old school that are into it, they still race, but I don’t really want to get into the bike scene anymore. My brother got into an accident and passed away on one. It’s a little too much tension for my family. I already have their heart beating with the car. Don’t really want to put my mom through too much. I had the chance to get back into it a couple times, but I’m done with that.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: You’re a truck driver by trade, is there anything else you’d rather be doing?

Carlos: My dream would be traveling all over in an RV with my team racing. I have the team, the tuner, the builder. I think we’d do damage. We’re already killing it and we’re just mediocre. It’s just the funds. We could be top guys…

 

SRI: That tuner is Javituned. He’s a pretty well-known guy around South Florida and other parts. He’s also Frustrate’s tuner. If you’re planning on climbing that SRMS Top Ten List, you’re probably going to have to lock horns at some point. What’s the relationship like between you two?

Carlos: Met Frustrate about a year, or a year and a half ago, and we became good friends. He’s helped me, I’ve helped him. Even at the track. There’s never a [rivalry] between us, but if we have to race each other, we will. There’s no grudge there. We’re a pretty good team between all of us. On Facebook, there’s always talk about ‘who’s faster, the 36 Boys, or Frustrate or you’, we’re all friends. But we’ll try to race to see who’s faster as friendly runs, why not? The cars are there. We’d rather race against other people, other Hondas, other cars to see who’s fastest.

 

5th Gen Honda Civic Hatchback

 

SRI: You got into this in High School, have been steady into it the whole time, since then?

Carlos: I gave it a break with the car and bikes for like three years. I started saying ‘maybe it’s not me’ but I got that itch, it bothered me. In time, I got back into the car, and I know inside now, that’s where I want be. I live, eat, breathe the racing, man.

 

SRI: Up in Orlando, I understand it was hard to get a race at the SRMS event there?

 Carlos: Yeah man, I had some well-known guy named Sponge call me, said he wanted to race. I didn’t even know the guy. The night of, he tells me he’s on his way but he didn’t show up until five minutes after the track was closed and nobody else wanted to race.

 

SRI: There was a race a little while back where someone threw the hazards on you halfway down the track and you ended up winning…

Carlos: That one! It was a beautiful R34 GTR, man. They were having issues starting it and Frustrate made a joke about Honda’s being able to start. I guess the GTR driver heard him because he turned around and pointed at my car and said, “Watch what I do to that Honda!” Now, this was a fully built R34. We lined up, and he jumps me by like three cars [lengths]. I ended up catching up to him but he threw the hazards up on me while I’m switching into 3rd! I’m like ‘look at this guy…’ By time I got to 4th, I was right next to him. I yanked him and he hit the brakes thinking it was over. He had no idea I was right next to him! I passed him and was like “too soon, junior!” But that car was stupid fast. His builder got on my Instagram the next day talking. He was pretty mad. That was a qualifying race for the top ten list. One of my favorite races.

 

SRI: Thanks for taking the time to sit with us Carlos, any parting words you’d like to end with?

Carlos: I would like to give a shout out my tuner Javitune, and my builder, Duany, from DNA performance! Also, my close friends, who are part of my team!

 

Street Racing Illustrated would like to thank Carlos for chatting with us!