Coverage - ��ɬ is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999

Formula DRIFT Seattle 2025: Field Takes First Win Since 2023

2025-08-12T14:44:29+00:00

Photography/Videos and Writeup by PJ Miller (@megapixelsniper)

After two decades of running Evergreen Speedway’s established layout, Formula DRIFT made a notable adjustment for Round 6, widening Outer Zones 2 and 3. The change came at the drivers’ request, aiming for a smoother arc and better momentum through the back half of the track. Friday’s practice and Seeding Bracket runs revealed some transition issues, prompting overnight refinements and a slightly earlier finish line. By Saturday, the course was fast, technical, and primed for the PRO Championship’s Throwdown in Monroe, WA.

With 32 PRO drivers entered, the Type S Seeding Bracket was structured so the top 16 from Round 5 were locked into Saturday’s main event. The rest battled for points and starting positions rather than survival. Branden Sorensen, still feeling the effects of a poor St. Louis result, came through the bracket in top form, collecting 12 points and beating Aurimas “Odi” Bakchis in the Seeding Final.

Bakchis’ appearance in the bracket was surprising enough, but joining him was 2023 title contender Simen Olsen. The former teammates met in the semi-final, with Bakchis advancing before falling to Sorensen. Olsen settled for third in the bracket. Seattle also saw the return of Wataru Masuyama, stepping into Daigo Saito’s seat after visa issues kept Saito out since Round 5. Masuyama adapted quickly to the GR86, finishing eighth after falling to James Deane in the Great 8.

Matt Field entered Monroe in need of a strong result. A first-round bye put him against Chris Forsberg in the Top 16, where Forsberg’s mistakes opened the door for Field to advance. What followed was one of the day’s most intense matchups: two double One More Time rounds against Ryan Tuerck, with Field eventually finding the winning line.

In the semi-final, Field’s Corvette proved too strong for Jhonnattan Castro, setting up a Final with James Deane. The Irishman had beaten Sorensen, Masuyama, and Adam LZ to reach the last battle, but contact from Deane’s Mustang during the chase run earned Field the win - his first since Long Beach 2023. “It’s been one hell of weekend!” Field said. “We came with a package that wasn’t performing but… we were improving with every battle.”

Deane’s second place moved him into the championship lead, 30 points ahead of Fredric Aasbo after Aasbo’s early exit. LZ’s third-place finish kept him tied with Field for third overall, while BMW overtook Toyota in the Auto Cup standings. With two rounds left, Utah becomes the next critical step in the chase for the 2025 title. For Deane, Utah will offer a shot at becoming Formula DRIFT’s first five-time champion.

TUNING 365 @ FD SEATTLE

While FD drivers battled it out on track at Evergreen Speedway, the infield hosted a different, less high stakes kind of competition: ��ɬ's Tuning 365 showcase. The Seattle-area stop brought together a diverse range of builds. The mix highlighted the Northwest’s blend of grassroots ingenuity and show-quality presentation, with many owners putting in the same attention to detail you’d expect from any top-tier car build.

Imports were well represented, with standout JDM-inspired street cars alongside purpose-built track machines. Domestic muscle added variety, often drawing crowds for both their styling and mechanical work. Creative wheel setups, bespoke interiors, and clean engine bays were in no short supply.

Spectators moving between the paddock and grandstands often paused to take in the display, making the showcase an integral part of the Monroe event experience. For many, it was a chance to connect with builders face-to-face and see the details that social media posts can’t always capture. As with every Tuning 365 stop, awards were given to recognize craftsmanship and creativity, wrapping up a strong showing before attention shifted back to the final tandem battles on track.

Congrats to our 3 award winners! Randolf’s 2023 GR Supra won Tuner Battlegrounds! Jacob’s 1970 Datsun 510 was Dylan Hughes’ choice and David's 1994 Supra was the Editor’s choice.

Check back regularly and stay tuned for a full coverage on T365 @ FD!

Video and photos by PJ Miller (@megapixelsniper)

Car Hacking Village 2025: How Hackers Are Finding Flaws in Modern Cars

2025-08-12T01:32:49+00:00

We all remember that moment in The Fast and the Furious when Brian O’Conner’s laptop flashes “Warning: Danger to Manifold” before a panel pops off. Cheesy? Absolutely. But we loved it anyway. For many of us, it was our first taste of a world where technology — and a few keystrokes — could make a car faster.

Fast-forward almost 25 years, and cars have changed beyond recognition. Today’s vehicles are rolling computers, packed with complex software, encrypted systems, and safety features. That evolution has brought better performance, security, and convenience, but it’s also made them harder to understand, repair, and modify without deep technical skill.

For aftermarket performance companies, this shift is a major challenge. Tuning a modern car often means breaking through secured software, which not only risks voiding the factory warranty but can also put the shop in hot water with the EPA for violating strict emissions laws. What used to be a straightforward upgrade is now a legal and technical balancing act — where the wrong change could cause serious issues.

This is where DEFCON’s Car Hacking Village (CHV) comes in. For those unfamiliar, DEFCON is the world’s largest hacking convention, held every year in Las Vegas. It draws top minds from around the globe: computer hackers, lockpicking pros, and cybersecurity specialists — all chasing the thrill of solving the toughest technical challenges.

This year, teams of up to 20 cyber gurus went head-to-head hacking two supplied vehicles: the Rivian R1T pickup and the Rivian EDV electric delivery van. Over the course of the weekend, competitors dove into the digital guts of these machines, racing against the clock to unlock doors, trick sensors, and map out internal systems. The entire challenge took place in a safe, controlled environment, testing which team could uncover weaknesses in the software and manipulate the car’s data to their advantage.

Event organizers had hidden special messages, called “flags,” within each vehicle’s software. Finding a flag meant you had successfully solved that part of the puzzle, and each one was worth a set number of points. The competition followed the classic hacker format known as Capture the Flag (CTF), and by the end of the weekend, the team with the most points walked away with bragging rights, challenge coins, and the satisfaction of digitally breaking into the vehicles.

Isn’t the point to protect vehicles, not teach hackers how to break into them? Yes — but the only way to truly protect something is to understand how it can be attacked. By exposing flaws and demonstrating how they can be exploited, cybersecurity experts can patch weaknesses before criminals get the chance.

While CHV keeps challenges under wraps until the event, this year’s tasks included:

Unlocking the Car – Understanding a locking system and safely opening it without the original key.

Messing with Sensors – Fooling cameras, radar, or parking sensors into misreading their surroundings.

Mapping the Car’s Systems – Tracing messages inside the car’s “nervous system” to see which ones control what.

Firmware/Software Puzzles – Reverse-engineering the code that runs key systems.

Wireless Entry Simulation – Experimenting with key fob signal attacks in a safe testbed.

For example, the vendor floor featured the Flipper Zero for sale — a legal, pocket-sized multi-tool for electronics testing. On its own, it’s harmless. But custom firmware circulating on the dark web can turn it into something far more dangerous, allowing it to bypass Rolling Code Security — the system most modern cars rely on to prevent key fob cloning.

The concerning part? How simple it is. With the altered firmware installed, an attacker only needs to be within range to intercept a single button press from a target’s key fob — say, when the owner locks or unlocks their car. From that one captured signal, they could replicate the digital “key” and potentially gain access without ever touching the original fob.

All of this is done under strict rules: no cheating, no bullying, and no after-hours sneaking.

Outside of hacking competitions, regular car enthusiasts are running into the same wall. In the Fast and Furious era, more speed often meant adding performance parts and turning wrenches. Today, those gains live inside encrypted software that controls the ECU. Manufacturers lock it down with encryption keys, tamper detection, and over-the-air updates that can instantly undo modifications.

These measures:

Help keep cars safe, secure, and within emissions laws.

Also make it harder for hobbyists to personalize or improve performance without advanced technical skills or expensive tools.

Mean even successful tunes can be erased by a software update.

Manufacturers argue this protects drivers and keeps cars compliant. Enthusiasts argue it limits creativity and the freedom to modify their own vehicles. What used to be a hands-on garage hobby is now closer to a computer science project.

With AI now advancing into daily life, it’s becoming even more important for automotive companies to lock down their products — not just to protect customers, but to safeguard their brands. They must defend against enthusiasts trying to crack the software, protect themselves from liability if an incident occurs, and secure their code so hackers can’t steal and copy it.

Whoever controls the code, controls the car.

Story and Photography by Brian Maroney (@voidednsx)

Cali Creaming x Import Expo Las Vegas: From JDM Icons to VIP Sedans

2025-08-11T15:44:34+00:00

Sin City — where guilty pleasures usually mean beautiful women, high-stakes gambling, and late-night parties. But this past weekend, Vegas added tastefully built tuners to the list. Cali Creaming and Import Expo teamed up to showcase, under the desert sunset, some of the finest rides in the region. The casinos still rang, the Strip still pulsed, but the real jackpot was parked right next door at the Las Vegas Convention Center.

Two years ago, Cali Creaming made their debut right here in Vegas, setting the tone for a new wave of exclusive car culture. Now, for the first time since, they’ve returned — this time teaming with Import Expo, a partnership born last year that’s quickly become one of the scene’s most talked-about collabs.

People didn’t just show up — they made the trip like it was a rite of passage. From as far as Canada and Denver’s mile-high streets to neighbors next door in Arizona and California, teams rolled into Vegas with the energy of a pre-SEMA warm-up.

Garage99 claimed the spotlight as the showcase of the event. Positioned right next to the DJ booth, it was impossible to miss. Their lineup featured a pristine NA1 NSX, a sleek R33, a beautifully executed 911, and a classic-built RX-7 FD3S. Each car was a conversation starter on its own, but together they became a magnet for the crowd.

Japan’s influence took over the show, spanning generations. ’70s JDM legends stood proud, the stellar ’90s proved why they’re still considered the golden era, and modern builds flexed the new wave of tuners. Lowrider-style fusion builds blended SoCal swagger with Japanese precision, while VIP sedans crouched low on deep-dish setups, dripping in chrome and quiet menace. Bagged rides hugged the floor like they were born there, and engine bays gleamed with obsessive detail. This is what the scene is all about — style, precision, and a community that lives for it.

For Cali Creaming, it was a homecoming. For Import Expo, proof their reach has no borders. And for everyone who made the journey, it was one more unforgettable night in Sin City — where the stakes are always high, and the payoff is always worth it.

Story and Photography by Brian Maroney (@voidednsx)

Importfest Toronto 2025

2025-07-31T19:19:09+00:00

As someone who’d describe themselves more as an aspiring car enthusiast than a fully-fledged “car guy,” I knew I needed to start somewhere when it came to car shows - and Importfest felt like the perfect place to do so.

As the name suggests, Importfest is one of Canada’s premier car shows for modified imported cars or, as they call themselves, “Canada’s Biggest and Baddest Car Show,” which does have a nice ring to it. The show took place right in the heart of downtown Toronto at the Metro Convention Centre on July 12, 2025. For the record, it was hot — temperatures hit nearly 30°C outside. Having never been to a car show inside a convention centre, I was a little worried it might feel stuffy or corporate, but as soon as I turned the corner and saw hundreds of polished cars staring back at me, I knew we were in for a good day.

Despite the events name, the first car that caught my eye was a massive, slammed Ford F-150 in a beautiful duck egg blue and white combo. I’m a Honda guy though, so it wasn’t long before I found my comfort zone - anything Honda made between about 1988 and 2000. A blacked-out EF Civic hatch stole my heart for a few minutes before a sleek black S2000 came along and had me daydreaming about all the places I’d drive it. Outside of the Honda gang, a few things stood out - like the car with real fish swimming in a fish tank headrest. Animal welfare questions aside, it was quite the statement, I honestly don’t even remember what car it
was. Another highlight was the Subaru painted like an Arizona Iced Tea can — some of the best paintwork I saw all day. The Marlboro-liveried Mercedes instantly took me back to the 1990s and the BTCC (British Touring Car Championship) days at Donington Park. Final shoutout goes to a BMW 330i, which was probably the cleanest build I saw all day. Super simple and tasteful, it looked just as good at the show as it would in a supermarket parking lot.

Beyond the cars, it was great to see the passion and respect on display. Like any scene, I’m sure there’s some rivalry and drama behind the curtains, but what I saw was people trading compliments and giving props. As someone who’s spent more hours than I’d like to admit in a garage trying to respray a door and match the paint, I know how lonely those builds can be. Seeing people get pumped over your hard work cars must really validate all those solo hours. Another thing I loved was the individuality on display. In a world where it feels like every new BMW M3 or Audi S8 rolls off the line in some version of Nardo Grey, the variety here was refreshing. From cars so perfect they looked undriven to others wearing their stone chips and imperfections with pride, everything felt unique. Even when two of the same model were side by side, they always told different stories - and that kept things exciting.

Towards the end of the day I realised that as cool as it was seeing these cars sit still - it would be nice to see them drive a bit, which is where the end of the event delivered. I was pretty surprised to see that the police had shutdown a whole block of Front St to allow the cars to leave the event and drive down a car version of a film premiere red carpet past thousand of attendees. Every time there was a pop or bang the crowd lining both sides of the road got more excited, it was simple car enthusiast fun. Make cool car make loud noise = good. Being a part of that crowd was weirdly exciting even if no car went faster than 10mph - maybe I need to start going to more outdoor shows here.

Big thanks to ��ɬ for having me down to cover the event and to everyone I spoke to about their cars. As a first timer in the Canadian car scene I felt welcome so hopefully this is the start of many. Now, how much does a EF hatch Civic go for these days I wonder?...

Writeup and photography supplied by Gabriel Hutchinson (@gabrielreddphoto)

Hot Wheels Legends Tour Rolls Through Austin in Epic Fashion

2025-07-31T18:32:49+00:00

This past weekend, the Official Hot Wheels Legends Tour made a roaring pit stop in Austin, Texas, and it did not disappoint. As part of its global quest to discover the next custom car worthy of becoming a 1:64 scale Hot Wheels die-cast, the tour brought together enthusiasts, builders, and fans from all over the region for a one-of-a-kind automotive celebration.

With over 500 unique vehicles on display and thousands of spectators lining up to witness the action, the energy was electric from the very start. From wild widebody builds and retro rat rods to purpose-built race cars and nostalgic classics, the diversity of the lineup showcased the very spirit that Hot Wheels was founded on bold design, authentic character, and garage-born creativity.

Among the standout entries were some past Legends winners, returning to remind the crowd just how iconic a winning build can be. But all eyes were on the next potential legend builders hoping to etch their name into Hot Wheels history. The stakes? Immortality in die-cast form, as only one vehicle from the tour will be selected to join the elite lineup of Hot Wheels production models.

This year’s Austin tour stop winner stole the show: a raw, old-school Buick Salt Flats racer, completely crafted in full metal. With its vintage soul, aggressive stance, and race-bred heritage, it captured the judges’ hearts and the crowd’s awe.

The Legends Tour isn’t just a car show, it’s a celebration of ingenuity, passion, and the DIY culture that has powered Hot Wheels since 1968. As the tour continues its journey across the globe, Austin served as a shining example of what happens when dreams become reality.

One stop down. One step closer to legend status.

Story by Jamie Lake

Photography by Rj Lake (@nerdy.m3dia)

Formula DRIFT x Tuning365 St. Louis 2025

2025-07-22T15:57:23+00:00

Formula DRIFT rolled into World Wide Technology Raceway with both PRO and PROSPEC Championships past their halfway marks, and the sense of urgency was tangible. The new layout in St. Louis upped the ante with faster transitions and less margin for error. Every inch closer meant a bigger risk of ending the weekend early.

In PROSPEC, Nate Chen finally put the pieces together and claimed his first FD victory after a string of promising but unfinished business runs since joining the series. Chen’s run to the top included decisive wins against DJ Stubstad, Adam Knapik, and Alex Jagger, before a dramatic Final against New Jersey winner Cole Richards. Richards dropped a tire in OZ1, launching his GR86 off-line and handing the win to Chen. “It was a crazy weekend with intense battles, some contact, collisions and interesting driving from competitors, but ultimately, we took it to the top!” Chen said after the podium. Now in a three-way tie with Richards and Dmitriy Brutskiy, the final round in Utah is shaping up to be a heavyweight clash.

Meanwhile, the PRO bracket delivered another reminder of why James Deane remains a problem for anyone chasing a championship. A late-night showdown with fellow Irishman Jack Shanahan in the Final made for a fitting conclusion. Shanahan, riding momentum from earlier upsets, held his own, but a small misstep in OZ2 while chasing Deane tipped the scale. Deane’s clean runs sealed his second win of the season and brought him to a tied position in points with Fredric Aasbo.

Shanahan’s runner-up finish was more than just a strong result - it launched him from 19th to 8th in the overall standings and cemented his Rookie of the Year lead. “It felt like practice day. I knew it would be fun,” Deane reflected on their match-up, noting their long-time friendship and shared drifting history.

Elsewhere in PRO, Dylan Hughes made a welcome return to form with a fourth-place finish, while LZ stayed in the title conversation despite a Top 8 exit. On the opposite end, Odi Bakchis had a weekend to forget, exiting early and falling out of the top five.

Off the track, the Tuning365 Tour showcase brought its own energy to the infield. More than 80 vehicles filled the car show portion of the venue, giving attendees a taste of local and regional talent. St. Louis native and ��ɬ BattleMaster Luke Skalisius anchored the Tour stop in his own backyard, bringing multiple cars from his fleet and representing ��ɬ on-site. From track battles to street builds, FD STL had no shortage of stories.

With Seattle up next for PRO and the Utah finale looming for PROSPEC, the title picture is anything but clear. But after St. Louis, the momentum - and pressure - are higher than ever.

Curated, Vancouver: A Custom Car Show That Raised the Bar

2025-06-25T22:10:23+00:00

In a world full of oversaturated parking-lot car meets and repurposed mall shows, Curated by Trick Factory Customs redefined what a custom car event could be.

Held at the Rocky Mountaineer Station in Vancouver, the venue itself was part of the experience—an old railway building with exposed brick, timber rafters, tall windows, and natural light that poured in just right. It had the bones of a working space and the polish of a proper venue. Raw, yet refined. The kind of place that made sense for the builders who showed up and the machines that filled the space.

Curated wasn’t just a car show—it was a deliberate, focused event. Roughly twenty vehicles were selected by invitation only, each one chosen for a reason. No filler. No fluff. And no random registrations.

Among the highlights was a fully rebuilt 1928 Bentley 4½-Litre Blower, a supercharged pre-war beast that blended heritage with modern fabrication. Built to run, not sit, the Bentley featured functioning period-style hardware mixed with clever 3D-printed touches of parts that are no longer in existence to make a perfect, period correct rebuild.

Other vehicles filled out the room with everything from vintage Italian design to full-bore modern aggression. A Ferrari Dino, a Maserati Ghibli, and a rare (1 of 3) factory black Ferrari F40 held the vintage line, while a C8 Spyker, an RWB Porsche, and Trick Factory’s own Evil Evo pushed into heavier modern territory. Flat Six Productions brought a strong Safari Porsche showing with subtle, clean execution but appeared itching to run the next DAKAR event.

One of the more unexpected builds was a green Toyota Tercel—not a nostalgia piece or quirky addition, but a fully sorted, purpose-built time attack machine. Swapped with a Honda S2000 engine and fitted with aggressive aero, it blended vintage roots with modern engineering. It didn’t try to steal the show—but it quietly reminded everyone that function, form, and attitude can come from the most unassuming platforms.

Several in-progress builds stood right beside the finished cars, stripped to metal and showing their welds or meticulously hand laid carbon fiber. That honesty—letting people see the process, not just the polish—was one of the show’s strongest distinctions.

There were no trophies. No VIP wristbands. No vendor booth segregation. Curated broke the standard format and rebuilt it around conversation, process, and mutual respect. It wasn’t about who had the most expensive build—it was about who showed up with intent.

At the center of the event was a builder panel, where creators stepped up to share how their projects came together. They covered everything from fabrication timelines to 3D printing, foam prototyping, and workflow. Attendees got real insights—actual takeaways—not canned social media talk. It gave the show a core of substance that matched the visuals on the floor.

The DJ played a balanced, low-tempo set that created mood without overtaking the room. A full bar, food trucks, and lounge zones gave people places to stay, not just pass through. The crowd mixed freely—builders, collectors, photographers, media, and fans all in the same open layout.

And most importantly, people stayed. No one was rushing. There were conversations in every corner. Builders answered real questions. New connections were made without the usual noise of ego or posturing.

Curated reflected the shop that created it. Trick Factory Customs—run by Tim Lajambe and Rob Mosser—is known for fabrication-first builds and sharp, deliberate execution. The show was an extension of that mindset. From layout to curation to culture, every piece of it was intentional.

It wasn’t just about the cars, though there were plenty to remember. It was about the experience—fluid, grounded, and real. From the 1928 Bentley to the S2000-swapped Tercel, from high-dollar metal to mid-build welds, from lounge corners to panel talks—Curated created a space that felt different. Because it was.

This wasn’t a car show built to follow the scene. It was built to set the tone.
And it did.

Coverage - ����ɬ is the Tuner's Source for Modified Car Culture since 1999