We can't believe that crazy old man is retiring. Uehara-san is also ending his career albeit with far greater accomplishments than a ripe set of man boobs.
To commemorate the release of its Need for Speed Pro Street game, Electronic Arts commissioned The Birth of Pro Street documentary. Aside from being a producer at EA as well as the film's director, Rod Chong is a freaky deaky car geek. Rod is particularly fond of motorsports history, and he wondered if there is any sort of museum devoted to the sport compact movement.
You know, Hot Rod, that's a good question and much like any query that doesn't involve food, boobies, or Simpsons trivia I don't have an answer. I usually distract myself with thoughts of food, boobies, or The Simpsons until something else catches my attention but this one had me perplexed.
It seems like there's a museum for everything these days. The banana has a museum, as does the toaster and even bacteria-yes, bacteria. So why isn't there a sport compact museum? I'd like to think we've made more lasting cultural contributions than Paul Walker's MoTeC System exhaust. Sure, Steph's first tube-frame Civic spent time at the Petersen Museum, and the infamous Bergenholtz Racing CRX was on display at The Wally Parks Motorsports Museum. But hardly a collection does this make. Even the Museum of Coat Hangers has more exhibits.
What about L.J. Garcia's EK hatch or the first VeilSide Fortune Supra? What about any one of NOB's three groundbreaking HKS Hyper Silvia S15s? With no respect to its own history HKS sold one off to the Pac Rim drift team where it was colored like a rock star. At least men like Shigeru Uehara will have their legacies preserved-forged into the cars they've created. And when I say "created," I'm not referring to a big-boost motor and some coilovers; I mean creating an entire car.
Uehara-san is a senior chief engineer at Honda and he is better known as the father of the NSX and more recently as the development team leader for the S2000. Uehara-san's final act before retirement was to create the CR an S2K hottie with a naughty body. Super Street will have a complete review of this car next month. But you know what Super Street won't have next month? Me. That's right, I'm packing up my manboobs and hitting the road. No, this is not a trick and your only treat is the sweet release from anymore of my nonsensical ramblings.
It's hard to believe that I've been here for almost six years. I brought Time Attack nee Super Lap Battle to the U.S., produced the only backwards issue in the history of American publishing (don't ask), and left a few other marks on the landscape-including a questionable stain on the carpet near the elevators at our office. I can honestly say that the time I spent here has been the best of my life. My unconditional love for this gig comes from the people I worked with, but even more so it comes from you, dear reader, and your intense enthusiasm for Super Street. Thank you for making this all worth while.
As for me, I need to rehabilitate before a return to society. A stint at Promises may be in order. Just look at what it did for Britney and Lindsay. After this, I might start parking cars again or relocate to Japan in search of my own Goth Lolita. Maybe I'll get a combat wing for my RSX. The world can always use another Rice Boy.
John Naderi
nads@superstreetonline.com