Zucru

*ZuCru is an import car club that places it’s emphasis on quality and cleanliness with its cars employing European and JDM styling.
*ZuCru is a tight knit circle with members who are great friends first and foremost. Family is paramount.
*ZuCru delves into areas of carshows, autocrossing, quarter mile racing and road racing.
*ZuCru believes that cars should be driven and thus you won’t see trailer queens but rather show cars which will take home wins one weekend and race the following weekend.
*ZuCru provides a network of information and mechanical help for one another.
*ZuCru members respect one another’s opinions.
*ZuCru members are all active members who contribute to on an annual basis to the improvement of the club.

ZuCru was founded in Winnipeg, MB in 1998 by 3 VW owners. The name zucru came from a variety of origins rooted in a love of skateboarding and New York City culture, the hardships of living in the core area and the reflection that the members were a colorful group that should be locked up in a Zoo. Each member is unique and is able to bring something to the group and thus to be admired much like each animal in a zoo.

At first just a strictly VW club the cru had just a Corrado, Passat and MK2 GTi. The cru’s second year included another Corrado and a Honda civic. The first big outing for the cru was the 1999 Showdown at Marigold’s on Inkster. ZuCru represented that year and had a strong presence. The following year ZuCru expanded largely and incorporated a strong contingency of Hondas. The emphasis was on becoming large and all encompassing.

After a restructuring of the club, the majority of hondas split off and formed Ruff Ryders, leaving ZuCru at the time with: 2 Corrados, 2 Jettas, 1 Toyota MR2, 2 Integras one being a Type R, 4 Civics, 1 BMW E36. The year 2000 brought about a long summer of illegal street racing and autocross. ZuCru.ca was launched this year as well bringing together hardcore import enthusiasts together.

2001
With growing concerns about street racing, ZuCru imposed a strict NO street racing policy. Instead ZuCru focused on running the 1320 in Gimli w/ their stage 2 Supercharged Golf and autocrosses held by the Winnipeg Sports Car Club.

2002
ZuCru attended the Rocky Mountain Rally in Calgary, helped re-launch the Showdown show series titled Resurrection and received 2 2002 Subaru WRX’s. These 2 cars were to signal a new era within the cru.

2003
ZuCru pulled out all the stops and acquired 2 Subaru STi’s, a Nissan 350Z and a Mini Cooper S. All the hard work over they years for the core group members began to materialize. This was the first year that a national touring car show Sport Compact Nights (SCN) made a stop in Winnipeg. ZuCru decided to pull together like never before an put together its most memorable display to date. This display included a full out re-creation of snaked line of cars drifting at a race track complete with astroturf, rumble strips and the introduction of the ZuCru models. A full out effort by the cru in which they were awarded: Best Team, Best Nissan to Minh Nguyen and Best Subaru to Allan Chan!

2004
ZuCru once again participated in SCN and this year decided to build a drive thru car wash complete with bubbles! Special guest Shane Noble from Tintmasters joined ZuCru with is bugeye Tommy Kaira Wagon. The Cru this year brought Puck’s cherry cola coloured Corrado and Milfer’s VW Beetle fitted with a complete decals scheme to replicate an Adidas Superstar shelltoe sneaker! Awards taken this year included: Best Display, Best VW Other to Puck Mai and Best Subaru to Shane Noble!

2005
With active participation in autocrossing and the show scene, ZuCru pushed forward. At SCN that year ZuCru’s cars were active participants in all areas of the show including Cliff Almazan’s Impul Edition Skyline in the and Skyline Shop booth! Awards received that year included Best Team and Best Mitsubishi and BFGoodrich’s Outperformer to Geoff’s 3000GT. This year also marked the co-operation between ZuCru and the P10 show in Fargo’s inaugural conception. Other notable entries included Don’s battlewagon, Shaun’s GC8 Impreza, Jonny’s hybrid DC2 and Jesse’s built ITR!

2006
With new crucial members joining the cru, ZuCru developed a homage to early childhood memories and created toy displays! Steph Ly was ZuCru’s model that year and ZuCru cars such as Calvin Leung’s Mini Cooper were used in Sirius satellite radio’s booth and Japheth Regalado in the HPA booth. Notable awards went to Danville’s midori green EK9 with a backyard special bumper. P10 that year in Fargo saw Shaun Cardinal take home the Best Subaru Award in his fully swapped RSTi and Allan Chan for the Veritas Racing award. Supermodel and local Winnipegger Dannie Riel joined the cru in their escapades in North Dakota! ZuCru also made a special trip that year to SCP in Montreal as special guest of Team SCP.

2007
Saw the first appearance of ZuCru at the HIN Show series. Shaun Cardinal was the lone wolf taking on the best of the best in the Mid West States. He came home taking Hottest Subaru Wild, a major accomplishment to the hardwork he put out through the years.

2008
2008 marked ZuCru’s 10 year anniversary.
ZuCru participated at HIN Chicago and battled it out! This year also marked the first time that Driven To Perform (DTP) reached Winnipeg and Zucru represented by putting together a Zoo themed display that garnered them the Best Display award. P10 Fargo….

Allan Chan - Founder