Tis’ The Season
With the weather reflecting the likes of Spring incredibly early this year, Amodei managed to photograph his new/temporary XXR wheel set up. The phrase ‘needs more low” does not apply.
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Maureen’s Kitchen Cruise
Mornings aren’t my friend. Never were, never will be but a text late last Friday night would have me up at the earliest sign of morning to appreciate the aggressive contour of a couple exotics and the exhaust notes of a handful of V10s.
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D2 Forged’s A7
When most blogs were busy filling car categories of the previous year to write about, I was presented with the opportunity to shoot D2 Forged’s latest creation, an Audi A7. Being a local company and knowing the caliber of cars they output the decision was very simple but the task was not necessarily easy considering the subjects monotone color palette. With the sun setting and the car being picked up the next day, light was in short supply. I already had an idea of what shots I thought would satisfy Derrick’s tastes from their previous shoots so it was just a matter of time before he informed me of the feature on TheD2Life.
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FC’d Up
Occasionally, I come across a car that results in a frenzy! Searching Craigslist and scouring forums for model specifics and deals I lose myself for a bit discovering and satisfying my curiosity. As you can imagine I’m busy beasting on rx7club right now because of the FC below… DAMN YOU MAZDA!
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Photo credit unknown
Patrice’s STi
The year came and went before I had an opportunity to blink. With meets and track days usually scheduled back to back during the season, a promise to Patrice to shoot his STi for a feature sat low on the list of priorities. But having heard that he planned to unload the Work XD-9′s due to their increasing popularity locally I knew that time was of the essence and it quickly became a priority. His portfolio of past ownerships would reveal his allegiance to the Honda/Acura moniker but his take on Subaru’s flagship vehicle would silence most insulting remarks. And now to the feature presentation…
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Specs Sheet:
2006 Subaru WRX STi
BC Coilovers
HTA68 Turbo
Perrin Stealth Front Mount
Work XD9s 18×10 +18
PNP Headers
740cc Injectors
Defi Gauges
TGV Deletes
Invidia Downpipe
GReddy TIC catback exhaust system
Round 2, Ashley’s Mini
Austin Powers: Your spy car’s a Mini?
Nigel Powers: It’s not the size mate, it’s how you use it.
Testifying to the “it’s not the size of the ship, it’s the motion of the ocean” phrase, Ashley has been sending waves throughout the internet with her Mini. Often times mistaken for her boyfriends car, don’t get it twisted, this gem is absolutely hers. Having already been featured by The Arthus, Here, the close knit community that is our own frequently sees reptition of cars of this caliber for obvious reasons.
Happy Holidays,
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photos by the Amodeo formally known as Chris Amodei
Stolen
As much as I’d like to have a “daily” gum scraper like the EG bubble below or the Acura Integras I’ve been sharing, the idea of having it stolen at every moment is incredibly discouraging. SMH
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photo credit: unknown
Guide Post
“Success isn’t measured by the position you reach in life: it’s measured by the obstacles you overcome.”
-Booker T. Washington
I like to believe this Honda Civic initially developed to be an economical commuter car is a proper example of the quote above. Often a joke to the car enthusiast outside the Honda community it’s the underdog that was the foundation for an entire generation of tuners. True story, this Summer at a Watkins Glen circuit day with the PCA a gentleman driving a 996 GT3 Cup was more than enthusiastic about a turbo Civic at the clubs last outing. G’night
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Photo Credit: Unknown
Seat Time
If you ever thought about going to the circuit you’ve come across the uninviting costs of doing so and like any competitive activity practice or in this case seat time it is what separates “the men from the boys” or is it? There has been a growing discussion among the Honda-Tech community regarding video games such as Gran Turismo 5 and Forza 4 and the idea that consciously playing them has benefited individuals when tracking in reality as the game physics are relative to that of the real World. Clearly not the only persons to think so as the television show, GT Academy was produced, note the word produced. In any case, the cost of becoming a respected driver ,if you do happen to believe the idea of simulators, has drastically been reduced and the Winter… well E and I are going to Miami for a few months :shrugs: Can anyone comment on Palm Beach International Raceway?
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some more Integra influences
photo credit: unknown
Exercise Knowledge
“We seem to collect information because we have the ability to do so, but we are so busy collecting it that we haven’t devised a means of using it. The true measure of any society is not what it knows but what it does with what it knows.” -Warren Bennis
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In an attempt to display my know how and being that I’ve always had an interest in DC2s, my younger brother and I have to decided to pick up an Integra. BAWSEEESSs
photograph by Nelsmar
Yo BRO!
Ugh after hours of traveling, Spilner and I have returned from the BudLight Port Paradise Cruise. Three words can define the adventure; Beer, Bros and… this requires very little thought, HOs, young and old. “Like” our Facebook page to see the few shots we managed to get.
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P.S. I am getting everyones’ submissions for posts. They will be shared! 
Photo Credit Dexter Sanchez
Happy Halloween!
Island Import Day October 23, 2011
It’s hard to believe that the season is approaching its conclusion. With the warm weather behind us, the cold weather present and the very cold looming in the near future, we’ve been attempting to cover every meet, race and “gathering” within reason. With appointments to roll 3 cars’ fenders earlier that morning Spilner and I were a bit discouraged as to if we would be able to attend Island Import Day’s season finale. But the inability of a BMW 135i to hold their appointment provided us with an opportunity to go and doing so I made sure to go nuts and shoot every f$%kin’ photo-worthy gem insight.
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Do you have it, guts!
Photogenic much?
Kevin Markland has a mustache
Not something you see everyday, on air
The character behind the Jag
The instigator
Millan’s “race car”
No fires will be put out with these old extinguisher bottles
But tattoo artist Anthony Mealie’s GTI will be laying low
The Arthus helping Kevin make some adjustments
“Ass, ass, ass…” -Big Sean
Hip…ster.
Anthony’s little tree collection
“…Ass, ass, ass”
Red IS300/Altezza on polished CCWs
This guy was walking around with his daughter… Animale
IDGAFOS…
Having attended Wek’Fest San Francisco a handful of months ago reality struck and the idea of ever getting featured in a magazine given the caliber of cars in attendance and the slow extinction of print was killed. And it didn’t really matter but the thought of magazines truly disappearing considering the quality of information the medium communicates is tragic to say the least. Yes there is heaps of information on the internet in the form of “DIYs,” reviews and such but few times are they as informative, suggesting tips and insight, as let’s say, HondaTuning. Many times I’ve encountered incongruences with user write ups on forums and I’m sure you have as well but the point is magazines of which we/I discovered JDM tuning and all things related are vanishing. Do yourself and the industry a favor and subscribe to whatever tuning magazine you read while sipping your large latte at Barnes and Noble with your girlfriend as it is about 25% the cost of the yearly subscription. It’s not about the money though, it’s about the reach and without that we are doomed to read poorly written posts, such as my own (you know this is a joke my posts are award winning), about how someone’s family member or friend inspired them to begin modifying cars so he/she stanced the shit out of there Suby. Derp
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photo by Sean Bradford Photography
Follow Your Heart
“When I was 17, I read a quote that went something like: “If you live each day as if it was your last, someday you’ll most certainly be right.” It made an impression on me, and since then, for the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: “If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?” And whenever the answer has been “No” for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.
Remembering that I’ll be dead soon is the most important tool I’ve ever encountered to help me make the big choices in life. Because almost everything — all external expectations, all pride, all fear of embarrassment or failure – these things just fall away in the face of death, leaving only what is truly important. Remembering that you are going to die is the best way I know to avoid the trap of thinking you have something to lose. You are already naked. There is no reason not to follow your heart.” - Steve Jobs
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Vyets S2000 from Felix A. Lim and Simon Nguyen
Covered: Evo Vs. STi at Englishtown October 17, 2011
Englishtown Raceway, NJ once again played host to Evo vs STi. Although the event was scheduled the same day as First Class Fitment, competition always sparked our interest as creeping on another bro’s fitment isn’t as eventful as one would think. That being so the usual suspects, sans the Arthus and Huy who photographed FCF, and I advanced towards the 1320 early Saturday morning. After Spilner, Dirty, and F.Millan made respectable passes and quelled the doubts of a few, we packed up and made way to Atlantic City for an evening of debauchery and risk.
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Opportunity
Today marked the last day of my employment at NoLimitMotorsport. Not because of a vicious “blow out” or maltreatment but because I’ve grown as a person. Upon reception of the news some have apologized but I quickly silenced their concerns and expressed to them that my time is another resource that I’m able to utilize in pursuit of my dreams and goals.
With Evo Vs STi scheduled for this weekend as well as First Class Fitment the team has been split. Huy and Brian Arthus will be present at FCF and Amodei, Spliner, E and Your’s Truly will be in attendance at Evo Vs STi, and Atlantic City shortly after 
…To a new beginning.
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Kris (auto) Kross
As the world anticipates the release of the I-phone 4s and repeatedly reminds us of the death of Steve Jobs through the social medium, the usual suspects and I sought sanctuary in the form of an auto-x. With Nassau Coliseum having just repaved their lot, the “million plus” square feet gauntlet transformed into a some what decent venue and little consideration was required to determine whether or not we were attending.
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Pocono Raceway 2011
Just how many track days can we get in before the season concludes is the game that many of us are gambling on. As much as we admire the fine art of hardparking, it requires a great amount of restraint for many of us at IvyLeagueEast to pass up on a circuit day, auto-x or the classic, a quarter-mile. Having managed to put enough coin aside to hit Pocono Raceway with the PCA once again, E, Jamie and I met up with a few other S2000s owners to add a bit of color to the usually monotone roster 
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Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance
With Fall officially here as of today it incurs serious angst as few track days remain and Winter build plans begin. Having managed to destroy my Amuse front fascia within a few weeks of painting the OEM AP2 look and fitment is again looking very appealing. With a shopping list consisting of a super charger, hardtop and wing (for racing… smh and hardparkers with wings) it’s going to be a very, very costly few months.
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photo credit unknown
H20i…
I am a man of impeccable timing. Just one week prior to departing for Ocean City my center differential decides to let go. No in it’s defense it has been warning me for the past year with it’s constant whine, so suffice it to say it’s been a long time coming. But why now?! The optimistic me says, “At least it didn’t happen 300 miles from home.” But broke, pessimistic me says, “Just my f@#kin’ luck.” My mood isn’t too soured though because, after all, I am heading down to Maryland tomorrow for the festivities. The drive down. The meets and get togethers. The parties. Even the drive home. It’s a weekend I look forward to each year. You get to see friends from all over. That is, if my car comes together tonight. It’s currently up on jack stands in the garage, nothing too unfamiliar. Parts are expected to arrive today so I am staying positive. It will all work out. So here are a few shots I took last year while I was down there. I am looking forward to capturing a lot more. Myself and Amodeo will have plenty to report on once we return.
brian | arthus
Chillin’ In The Cut
Working at a local speed shop has provided me with the opportunity to meet just about anyone in the community. From tuners to locals celebs, my database of faces and names is detailed and extensive to say to least. Often the location for impromptu meets after hours I managed to take a few shops of Artie’s new project.
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New roller’s!!
Once again I switched up my wheel setup… I found myself not being able to hold onto a set of wheels for longer than a month to a month and a half… Sure I sold my Work XD-9′s and picked up a set of replica’s (Varrstoen’s), but truthfully…. I was totally over the look of my car with the Work’s on it, so I bought an affordable, more aggressive wheel.. Spilner has not stopped breaking my balls about it, hopefully he stops soon, but knowing him… he probably wont.
The rest of the photo’s can be found here!!!!
-Chris Amodei-
Taking A Walk on the Wild Side
If you’ve been hesitant to join us on our most eventful facebook page you’ve probably managed to miss this video. Don’t wait any longer.
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Feature Presentation- Botti’s STI
Builds of this caliber usually come with the help of sponsors or some sort of immediate financial gain in the form of an inheritance, the lottery, settlement or perhaps the result of someone’s hard work. This lovely example of a hawkeye STI comes to us by means of a local privateer otherwise known as Botti, a name that should resonate with most people in the Long Island Subaru Club, if not local and distant familiarize yourself.
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