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Extreme AutoFest 2001

Terrell Nievera and Eileen Viray showoff a souped-up SUV.

By Ethen Lieser

Let’s just say it wasn’t a surprise to see grins on the faces who attended the Extreme Autofest 2001 on Sunday at the Santa Clara Fairgrounds. Cars of every size and shape, souped-up to the wildest imagination, were sprinkled across the lot. A concert boomed the fairgrounds with mouth-clattering hip-hop and techno. If that wasn’t enough for the men in attendance, there were the freehanded women.

“I come for the girls, man, the girls,” said Sead Soub, 18, participating in his second car show.

But on this sunny day, the cars took the spotlight. Hundreds of imports lured thousands of young Californians to attend the event. Many took photos and filmed the cars and, yes, the women, too. (It wasn’t so hard to get great shots of them since they readily posed for the lens.) One of the participants in the show, Terrell Nievera, was relaxing on a recliner under a tree, watching other people check out his car. Competing for a trophy or recognition wasn’t his motive for coming here. The excitement of showcasing his work was.

“I think people come out here for pride,” Nievera said. “These cars take a lot of work.”

It also took a lot of work to hold this car show. There were many ingredients that combined to give this event a simple theme — cars, music and women. There was the massive car competition, the hot bikini jamm contest, the sound challenge for best car sound systems, a DJ battle and a concert featuring top names such as E-40 and Lil Zane. Though this wasn’t a racing show, people yearning for speed got it in miniature proportions. The mini-car race had tiny remote-controlled cars swerving in racetracks to oohs and aahs from on-lookers.

Women were readily available for photos.

“Every car show I go to is fun,” Khiev said. “Especially with the movie Fast and Furious, I think more people are into this now.”

For Joel Ray, these shows have become a necessity in his life. A veteran participant of six years with his ’93 Integra, which won two third-place trophies for the Acura Street Class, this event allows him to mingle with other car owners.

“You can come here to exchange ideas with other people,” Ray said. “I’ve spent so much money on my car because I love the look, the speed, and it gives the car an attitude. I think it’s a great hobby, and it’s better than being on the street and causing trouble.

“This is my life.”

Reach Ethen Lieser at elieser@asianweek.com.