November 26-December 2 Extreme Autofest. Moscone Center. San Francisco, CA. www.extremeautofest.com

December 12 Hot Import Nights. Chandler, AZ Www.hotimportnights.cominline_mediumwraptextright31256796/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_december_2009_calendar_extreme_autofestsstp_0912_01_o+calander+import_model.jpgTrue

Chris Forsberg piloting his NOS/Maxxis 350Z came into Round 5 leading in points for both the Formula D series as well as the Tires.com Triple Crown bonus award. Forsberg ran through the whole event and left the same way he came in, as the points leader.inline_mediumwraptextright26785945/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_formula_drift_round_5_evergreen_speedwaysstp_0912_01_o+formula_drift_washington+drifting_car.jpgTrue

Subarus are rare in the drift circuit. Podium position is even more rare. At this Formula D event, Eric O'Sullivan managed second place with his WRX. While Stephan Verdier and his Cooper Tires/Crawford Performance Subaru WRX STI took the first place trophy. "This is a dream come true. My first victory after three years of competition and it is also the first victory for a Subaru and Cooper Tires. I'm number one and it's a great feeling." If you've ever met the Frenchman, you'd know Verdier is very passionate about drift and rally racing. I actually met Verdier on a Hyundai Genesis press trip where Verdier gave me lessons on how to drift, and I must say his victory is long overdue. He is a very methodical and calculated driver.inline_mediumwraptextright31019364/eventcoverage/sstp_0912_formlua_drift_round_6_infineon_racewaysstp_0912_01_o+infineon_raceway_drift+mazda_rx7.jpgTrue

October 30-November 1 Formula 1: Etihad Airways Abu Dhabi Grand Prix; Yas Marina Circuit www.formula1.cominline_mediumwraptextright25750193/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_november_2009_calendar_formula_1_abu_dhabisstp_0911_01_o+calendar+model.jpgTrue

Since its inception in 2006, Import Alliance has become "sort of a big deal." How big of a deal you ask? IA has become the largest multi-make Japanese car meet in the United States. This year the grassroots get together drew in over 2800 cars - packing the speedway to full capacity, with another 700 or so forced to wait outside the gates while over 5500 spectators walked around inside. Being that the meet originated from Honda-Tech it's no surprise that VTEC-equipped rides dominated the event. Some of our favorites you will be able to drool over in upcoming issues - but for now here are our photographic memoirs from the meet.inline_mediumwraptextright26557612/eventcoverage/130_0911_import_alliance_meet_2009sstp_0911_01_o+import_alliance+honda_s2k.jpgTrue

It's hard to imagine that it's been 15 years since I went to my first Import Showoff, way back when I was a young buck, and that this past summer, at the tender age of 31, marked the last. I know it's been a long time because my old car club shirt that I brought out of my underwear drawer with its perfect creases and half-defunct sponsor logos tell me that it's been a long time - that, plus the stench. But I couldn't miss this Import Showoff for the world. For as long as I've been going, Ken Miyoshi and Mainstream have always used this key event as the "it" show - if you weren't rockin' the best shit, you weren't gonna survive at Nisei and everyone brought the goods to Nisei. This one stayed true to that ideology and mentality.inline_mediumwraptextright25373540/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_nisei_showoff_little_tokyosstp_0911_03_o+nisei_showoff+acura_integra.jpgTrue

As passionate and devoted followers to the Honda family, it has always been a dream of ours (and many others) to see an event that could bring together the very cars that we've become synonymous for featuring, along with those we've seen become famous because of the Internet, and put them to the test. Catalog cars, as we commonly refer them to, because that's what most of these cars are built from - the best parts, the rarest parts, all hand picked from catalogs that make you dream until your brain goes numb and your VTEC goes 'wah-WAHHHH!' Who hasn't dropped a ton of cash collecting rare JDM parts on Yahoo Japan or had an engine built to the max by a US tuner, only to do nothing more than park the car at home or bring them out for the occasional car meet, just so you can get those Interweb props? You mean you built that crazy-ass (insert your chassis code here) and don't even want to track it? "Ahh jeez", you don't want rock chips? Please. That's why we designed the FF Honda Battle, so you can put those projects to work and see glorious results.inline_mediumwraptextright26557240/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_honda_ff_battle_2009sstp_0911_01+honda_ff_battle_2009+integra_civic.jpgTrue

In 2007, Brian Harte of Ziptied.com had a plan to start throwing drift events for himself and his friends. The plan was to get friends together and drift their asses off. With the help of Charlie Ongsingco of Just Drift, this event has grown to be one of if not the coolest event for drifters. Drivers from all over the country drove or shipped their car to Willow Springs underground International Raceway to be a part of the fun. No points, no awards, no car show, no bikini contest, no egos and no stress. This event is simply an all-out drift free-for-all. More than just an open track day for people, this is a celebration or festival for the drift community.inline_mediumwraptextright26523799/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_all_star_bash_2009sstp_0911_01+all_star_bash_2009+group_shot.jpgTrue

We still hold firm to our belief that if you're going to have the biggest gathering of Mitsubishi cars and their rightful owners in one place, in this great big world, that you'd better add the Tredia to the mix. But no, our calls to action continue to go unanswered, instead beat down by the popular models that attack our public highways, road racing courses and the occasional drag strip. Cars like the Lancer Evolution and its highly unnoticed siblings, the Lancer; Eclipses of all generations, turbocharged and not; the 3000GTs, Starions and Galants that have long been discontinued, yet adored to this day - they traveled far but mostly near, to be with their brothers and sisters for the fifth consecutive year of MOD, or as the old folks generally say: Mitsubishi Owners Day. The biggest meeting yet, the lot filled early with many late model Evos in both the vendor and owners areas, demonstrating the loyal following the car so righteously deserves. Road Race Engineering's mobile dyno was on site again and AMS Performance's monster Evo 9 laid down the highest horsepower output with 1,138hp. Jim Russell Racing Drivers School also announced the biggest news of the meet with the new Lancer Evolution Experience driving school, where you can learn racing fundamentals at the Infineon Raceway in Sonoma, California in a stock version Evo X; even we hope to get up to the school soon to see how great the class will be and how we can improve our skills on the track. Needless to say, we enjoyed ourselves at this year's MOD, like many others. But to truly win our hearts (and yes, we're talking to you Moe), we need one single space left reserved for the almighty Tredia. Oh, where art thou?inline_mediumwraptextright30731250/eventcoverage/sstp_0911_mitsubishi_owners_day_2009sstp_0911_01+mitsubishi_owners_day_2009+greddy_evo_x.jpgTrue

Coming off a successful Round 1 event on the Streets of Long Beach, Formula DRIFT entered Road Atlanta, the home of the first Formula D event back in 2004, for Round 2: Proving Ground. Despite the struggling economy, the forecasted rain and the always humid temperatures of Atlanta, fan attendance was the highest ever for this venue over the 2-day event weekend. The die-hard East Coast fans would not be disappointed as immediately after the event's conclusion a question emerged, "Was this the best Formula DRIFT event ever?"

What do you get when you put together an event that combines hot cars with hot girls and allows regular people to mingle with industry professionals? If you guessed Tokyo Auto Salon you'd be right, if we were talking about the eastern hemisphere. But we are, of course, referring to SoCal's own Spocom event.

Despite falling into the days of the rainy season in Japan, Tsukuba Circuit opened its paddocks to the warm sun and a cool breeze to welcome the second I Heart Honda event, entitled Kumpoo. The Japanese word kumpoo, not to be confused with "kung pao" the Chinese chicken dish made famous by Panda Express, is a seasonal haiku phrase meaning "the final winds that blow before summer." I don't know anyone in the import industry who's chic enough to come up with this snappy title other than Tatsuru "Ichi" Ichishima from Spoon Sports. Not a surprise as I Heart Honda is Spoon's pet project.inline_mediumwraptextrightThe Type One DC5 Integra takes ghostriding the whip to a whole new level.30139500/eventcoverage/130_0910_2009_honda_kumpoo_tsukuba_circuit130_0910_01+2009_i_heart_honda_kumpoo_tsukuba_circuit+type_one_dc5_integra.jpgTrue

Willow Springs International Raceway Park was the scene for our latest Super Lap Battle qualifying round, at a 2.5 mile-long track known for being the fastest track in the West with cars reaching speeds of up to 120 mph. With this track being so quick, aero becomes extremely important and teams like the BC/C-West/Design Craft Honda S2000 and World Racing's Scion tC can really shine on this course.inline_mediumwraptextright30556548/eventcoverage/sstp_0909_super_lap_battle_willow_springs_qualifying_roundsstp_0909_15_z+super_lap_battle+acura_integra.jpgTrue

Upon arriving in Chicago for Hot Import nights, I quickly realized two things. 1 - Despite it's geographical disposition, Chicago is not cooler than LA during the summer. As a matter of fact it's rather like a hot bunghole outside. 2 - You need cigarettes, even if you don't smoke, in order to freely walk the streets. I found firsthand they are the fastest way to soothe the savage bum. At $11 a pack, transients will do anything for a cancer stick, including sparing your life.inline_mediumwraptextright29715846/eventcoverage/130_0910_2009_hot_import_nights_chicago130_0910_02+2009_hot_import_nights_chicago+red_subaru_sti.jpgTrue

Despite difficult weather conditions throughout the weekend, reigning D1 Champion Daigo Saito captured his second win of the season in Round 2 of the 2009 D1GP USA Championship Points Series at Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida. With back-to-back first place finishes in the opening rounds, Saito now has a strangle hold on the top spot for the overall championship.inline_mediumwraptextright24863863/eventcoverage/130_0910_d1_grand_prix_round_2_hallandale_florida130_0910_05+round_2_d1_grand_prix_hallandale+toyota_jx100_chaser_drift.jpgTrue

As if Vegas didn't already have enough attractions with the all of the gambling, clubs, bars, shows and professionals, Formula D always finds a way to get in the mix. This season's Round 4 happened in Vegas, but definitely doesn't stay in Vegas.

Phoenix is known best for one thing: being hot all the freaking time. We've been coming out here for the past few years for our Super Lap Battle qualifying rounds and every time it's been at least 100-plus degrees. So go figure this year it decides to rain like it's the end of the world. The beauty of rain though is that it can be the great equalizer to separate the men from the boys. Teams had to adjust their game plan to deal with the slick track; all of a sudden guys who make 600hp and run R-comps find themselves at a disadvantage. Lucky for us, there was a few breaks in the rain for guys to get in some clean laps. After the last bit of rain dripped from my umbrella we were able to witness Tarzan Yamada pilot the Crawford Performance '08 Subaru STI to a blazing fast time of 1:02.11. What's even more impressive was the fact that due to the rain the Crawford team had not run the STI for any of the practice sessions; Tarzan was only able to take a few laps in a rental car to get a feel for the track. Coming up a close second for Unlimited AWD was GST in their GC8 Impreza with a 1:02.339. In the Unlimited FF class we had the local hero (and NASA AZ regional director) Tage Evanson in his Hasport-sponsored EG hatch bust out a 1:05.451 which edged out the Unlimited FR winner, Science of Speed's NSX driven by Brady Dohrman, which posted a time of 1:05.958.

The Eibach meet is something that I, and thousands of other Honda enthusiasts, look forward to every year. It's the largest Honda-only get- together on earth and it draws some of the best modified Hondas around, not to mention hordes of on-lookers. As with last year, we didn't see too many entirely new cars out at the meet, but we did see some major improvements to many. The trends this year were also pretty similar to last, the most popular being different color exterior/engine bay paint, low-offset wheels and tucked harnesses. There were also some not-so-popular modifications that were borderline crazy, but that's a subjective matter.

In their fifth return to represent the American pro drifting circuit, Formula D kicked its season off with the most unexpected results: the underdogs of the game knocking out prior champions before the Top 16 even got underway. This is not to say that any driver is unworthy or incapable of topping the best of the best, but in a series long dominated by the likes of Rhys Millen, Sam Hubinette and Tanner Foust, it's a much-welcomed breath of fresh air to see drivers like Ryan Tuerck take the top spot on the podium and proves that 2009 is the year where we can expect anything to happen.

Mugen Sale - 10% Off All In-Stock Exhaust Systems & Axle-Backs

Bad Ones Charles Trieu
Good Ones Sean Klingelhoefer
Ahh yes, Hot Import Nights -- our scene's number one source of sensory overload. The LA stop had equally nice weather, women and cars and the turnout was huge. Charles admits this was his first HIN experience, but I think from here forward he's a lifer! All the main players were out with their cars proudly displayed in all their sparkling majesty. A few new comers we spotted included a Mugen Pro 2 kitted CRX, a drab-green S15 Silvia and newly kitted flat white S2000. Aside from having to help Sam Du from Eurotuner get in, it was a great event. We'll let the pictures speak for themselves.

As it would be my first time in Japan I wasn't quite sure what to expect from the Tokyo Auto Salon. Like you are now, I read about the event for many years in Super Street but it still hadn't prepared me for all the treasures waiting in the Messe. As far as the eye can see, there are wall-to-wall vehicles, each of which are so impressive that it's hard to remember the last. While I had some definite favorites of the show, I don't think there was a single car there that was not feature-worthy. But for those of you that weren't able to attend you'll still get to see all the wicked stuff with none of the foot pain. Sit back and relax as we present TAS 2009 through our eyes.

Ahh yes, Tokyo Auto Salon - we lived it so you can love it. Here are a few choice outtakes from the 2009 event that you can't see anywhere else.