Import Reactor, one of Houston’s last surviving Import Tuner shows. Import Reactor, like last year, ended up being a good time, but unlike last year, it took place in a new location and therefore suffered a bit logistically. When I arrived on the first day (Friday), I thought the event would surely end up in disaster. A Japanese themed car show tied with an Anime Convention (Anime Matsuri) that occurred within the same vicinity as the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo. It was like throwing gas on a fire, especially day one. Starting off it was a logistical nightmare, the hotel had forgotten to reserve spots for the car show overnight, so at the butt crack of dawn the Import Reactor crew had a TON of hotel guests sitting within the car show vicinity. This led to a full day of back tracking for the organizers of the car show itself. Therefore, when we arrived, it was chaos.

Widebodayy

After meeting up with Paul Morgan, Jace, and Tito (the organizers of Import Reactor) I could tell that something was not right. The guys already were fighting up hill because the venue was not an ideal location for a car show, but this was a whole different ballgame, they were in a bit of trouble, and trying to make due with what they had. Not only did these guys not have their main guest, Smoky Nagata, but they also were not going to be debuting the V12 Supra from Top Secret because of the recent Tsunami disaster in Japan. All around, these guys were having a pretty tough time.

Joe's all business GS, was not playin' that day.

But, to the mere organizer, these factors would have shut them down and made them run away with their tails between their legs, but not these guys. The team of Import Reactor by day two had pulled the show together and had things moving along pretty damn smoothly.

Nostalgic Love.

And judging by the smiles that were on everyone’s faces, it looked like the competitors were having a great time too, and things were back on track….

Frush

Once being a part of the organization of Import Reactor, I can tell you that the event itself is no easy task. To bring a car show together is one thing, but to bring two or three completely different worlds together (Cars, Videogames, and Anime?) Shit, that is hard as hell. And the guys that put on Import Reactor do it for the fun of it. Import Reactor is literally a side dish to the main course, an anime convention. It is just for fun, and I think that this is something that most critics out there, fail to realize.

Sittin Pretty.

Stretch'em if you got'em.

businass.

It wasn’t until this year, after all the difficulties these guys faced that I think the statement was officially made that the Import Reactor Crew is here to stay, and I am pretty glad. I would say 90% of the time these guys are thrown heaps of shit for their efforts and they keep on giving their time to put on this event, which is admirable. No matter the degree of rice, location, streaky logistics or the amount of Naruto and Bleach characters running around in the parking lot, it makes no difference what the critics say. Import Reactor is staying and that means that the show will only get better as time goes on.

When worlds come together.

Cotton Candy

Like I mentioned earlier, I am not going to sugarcoat a review of what happened this year at Import Reactor. And although I do not agree with change in venue for the car show I am sure the Import Reactor/ Anime Matsuri Team had their reason and we will leave it at that. Sometimes you just gotta say what the hell and give new things a try. The end result? Well, that is up to the people that attended to decide. All I can say is that by the end of the show, myself, along with a large group of people were having a blast, which is what this was all about. I just hope for a different venue next year ☺.

Something about BBS Mesh.

At the end of the show it was peoples priority to tag organizer Paul Walker's S2000.

Ok, so, now that I got that out of the way, I have to say it was good as hell to see plenty of old faces from local teams such as The Team Ikon, Sunworks, 16niss, Project M, Epik, 5 Star, SGS, and even some crews that drove from afar. When we all get together most of the conversations that strike are of the old ricer days, (which I am convinced still exist), beer, and partying like it was 1999 at the post Import Reactor Anime Matsuri Rave. Yes, I said rave.

Lovebirds.

Voltron Transformation was initiated for optimal photo efficiency.

Mayday Mikey wrestling a deer, getting ready for the rave.

And like last year, we got nuts. Hanging out with notorious photographer James Evins and Speedhunters legend Linhbergh Nguyen, it was the duty of the Mayday Garage to show these guys how ricers party. And we did, with many of the people from the show, which made for a most excellent finish to what started off as a shaky event.

Classic Advans <3

Anodized Lambo Green, not too shabby.

Clear Tails, making a comeback.

Straight Cali Style

Like I said, hopefully for the next year we will see a change in venue and the return of Import Reactor Drift. But that of course is up to the Import Reactor crew, and maybe like last year there might be a tad of Mayday Garage involvement. We will see.

Paul and Jason worn after a long weekend but pumped for the next go around.

So here is to the close of another Import Reactor, going on now for 4 years, which is pretty damn impressive. For their 5th year anniversary, I am sure these guys will have some stuff up their sleeves (*ahem John), until then, great come back Jason, Paul, Tito and the rest of the Import Reactor Crew.

————–

Photos by Khiem Pham, Andrew Machac, Danh Phan, and James Evins (the ones without a photographer name) were taken exclusively for MaydayGarage

— JohnP