Zucru

Name: Kevin Chan

Username(s): FIRE

Age: I feel old, 31

Occupation: Fire Fighter

Current Ride: 2005 Toyota 4Runner

Past ride: 93 Golf

How long have you been in ZuCru?:

OMG! Been so long I don’t remember. I think I’m hovering around the 12-13 year mark.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?:

Being a part of the team for so long is an honor. Our group is like no other. I’ve come to realize that ZuCru is more than just a car club. We watched each other grow up and become adults. We have been establishing careers, buying houses, getting married and raising kids. This is my extended family.

You’ve upgraded over the years from a del sol, civic, WRX, WRX STI, G35, Golf etc… Out of all of them, what was your favorite ride and why?:

I don’t think I have one favorite car. The Del Sol was my very first car. I remember when it was first introduced in 1993. I told myself that I would own one of those one day. I desperately wanted a car and when I first got my license, I was ready to shell out $650 for a 1978 Malibu haha Well, that didn’t go to well with my dad. After a few hours of yelling at me he gave me an offer I couldn’t refuse. He said he would match every dollar I saved for a “decent” car. That year I did nothing but work, eat, and sleep! I was able to save $7200. You should have seen the look on my dad’s face when I gave him my account balance and told him it was time to go car shopping!!

From there I went to a 97 Civic Si. I spent so much money on this car. Constantly driving back and forth from Meiji R to Jackson Autosports. I miss the sound system the most. It was insanely loud in that car. Just ask HUNG on the forums. I remember him holding his chest and shouting out at me to turn it down because he couldn’t breathe from the bass hitting so hard! Ah good times.

The WRX and STi were great cars and oh so much fun to drive. My “brother” Allan Chan and I were some of the first owners in the Peg to acquire these turbo charged beasts. I remember picking up Allan at work (he didn’t know I picked it up that day) and we went driving for hours. I had big plans for the REX in the coming years. But when I heard that the STi was coming to North America, all those plans were thrown out the window, I had to have one! It was a joyous day when I received the phone call saying my STi was in. I remember racing down to Subaru (3 minutes away from my parents house) to sign the papers and to take some quick pictures. Then I drove ever so carefully home and put on the Advan RG’s. So sexy! Till this day my dad does not know that the WRX and STi were two different cars. He just thought I installed a big ugly spoiler, dyed the seats and carpet blue and somehow made it very fast.

And then there was the G35. I had my mind set on the Lexus IS300 at the time. Then Howard and Pam suggested that I take the Infiniti G35 out for a test drive. I reluctantly went for a spin. Well it was all over after I stepped on the gas pedal. We went back later on the week and signed the papers.

Then the day came when Pam and I decided to get rid of the G and scale down in order to save money for our wedding and first house. This is when we bought a used 93 Golf. I was not planning to do any mods to the car because we had no intentions of keeping it for long. But the boy racer in me could not be held back. The next day I ordered new headlights, euro bumpers, slammed it and had a new paint job.

I still have plans for toys in the future ; )  but for now the family car is the 4Runner.

You are currently with the Winnipeg Fire Department, what made you consider this line of work and why?:

Like a lot of kids growing up, I had a fascination with fire trucks. I always thought it would be fun being a fire fighter. You know, have a Dalmatian named Sparky at the hall, riding on the back of a big red fire truck, putting the wet stuff on the red stuff…Ah, how pure my little mind was when I was five. After high school, I did what almost everyone did; go to the University of Manitoba. I attended for two years but realized this wasn’t for me. That year I mustered up the courage to let my parents know that I was dropping out of University to become a fire fighter/paramedic. I never looked back. I love my job. The rush I feel when I am running into a burning building while everyone else is running out. The brother/sister hood of the fire hall life is strong. I see these people almost every day of my life. It is all about team work, trust, courage, bravery, and strength. I know going into a serious situation that someone always has my back. I also love being able to help people. Firefighters put their lives on the line every time we go to an emergency call. Emergency calls range from a scraped knee from a child falling off their bike, to someone having a heart attack or to being as serious as someone trapped in a burning building. We as firefighters are there for everyone 24/7. I am proud to be a firefighter. This career choice suits me 100%.

Being a fire fighter, you have to be mentally and physically fit, what keeps you motivated? :

For me, it is not about being motivated, this is my lifestyle. Diet and exercise has been a part of my life for so long now that it is second nature.

I hear you have a very intense workout routine, what would one expect if they were to train alongside you? :

Expect to be highly encouraged (aka yelled at) and be sore the next day…or two…or three hahaha Ask anyone that has gone through a boot camp. Honestly though, when I’m training people, I’m not as “mean” as everyone says. I just have a passion for it, and I can be a little intense lol

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?:

So many memorable moments over the years, it’s hard to pick just one. Some that stick out are those Sunday nights when we had the WHOLE parking lot to ourselves on Portage Ave. We all know the original spot… Sweet Escapes FTW!!! Then back when I used to work at Boston Pizza, everyone would visit and have a good feast late night. Free drinks, steak with a side of full rack of ribs please! Then there are our ZuCru Xmas parties… I don’t think I’ll ever forget the belly button shots….the mental pictures will haunt me forever ahhhhh!! I am looking forward to the boys’ trip coming up, Shaun’s bachelor party weekend in Montreal. Time to make some new memories boys!!!

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you? any special skills?:

I have a passion for knitting… nothing beats wearing a scarf/sweater that I made! …..NOT!!! hahaha

As much as I love to eat, I’ve been told I make some good food. I really enjoy cooking. Tonight, I am making a 35lb lasagna for the boys at work! Soooooo hungry

Oh and my wife beats me shhhhhh HELP!!

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:

Ni Hao to my beautiful wife Pam, my little trooper Rylan, my pre-teen Brynnen, my ZuCru family and to my god daughter Kylie Ann Nguyen…..UNCLE MISSES YOU!!!!!

And special thanks goes to the big guy. Thanks for doing this Cliffy! Luv ya!

Name: Shaun Cardinal

Username(s): DJ Mixed Menace

Age: 25. 35 if I don’t shave.

Occupation: Scary Cake Specialist, Engineer, DJ, Astronaut Space Cowboy.

Current Ride: 2000 Subaru Impreza 2.5RS(Ti)

Past ride: 1989 Ford Escort LX Wagon (awwww yeahhh)

How long have you been in ZuCru?: I lost count after 8 years

You were part of another Car Club before you joined the ZuCru Team. tell me some of the differences between both clubs and why you chose to roll with ZuCru?:

You sure know how to dig up the goods huh? I used to be part of Team NR. A great group of friends (we’re all still friends today) with common interests in cars, DJing, etc. The biggest difference between the two was how hardcore ZuCru was. From holding shows, to showing in numbers on Sunday Night, ZuCru was huge. Over the years, we (NR) all eventually grew apart (college/university/moving away, etc). I was approached by Allan a few years after NR and was asked to join. From there the rest was history. ZuCru is my family. ZuCru is still as hardcore as the day I met them.

What factors made you consider purchasing your current ride and why?:

Watching Motorsport Mundial on the SPEED channel 10 years ago and seeing McRae toss his GC8 around the WRC stages sealed the deal for me. I wanted an Impreza before I could even drive.

A few years ago you did a massive overhaul of your current car, you renamed it an “RSTI”. tell me about the swap and what made you decide to take this route?:

Everybody loved the styling of the coupe, but it fell short on the power (everybody else in the world got a turbo version of the Impreza GC8). I knew I was going to swap it but didn’t know what route I wanted. I contacted Ian from Planet Motorsport in Guelph, ON. From there we discussed my options. I eventually settled on a rolled 04 STI from Texas. My car was shipped out and everything but the interior and 10mm track from the STi was swapped into my RS. If you’re going to do it once, do it right. I wanted lots of power, so there was no second guessing the STI. I’ve got STI power in a car 400lbs lighter. The 6spd gets some taking used to.

Do you have any plans for your car in the future?:

The possibilities are endless with this car.  The only limiting factor is my budget haha. My future wishlist consists of a MATURE widebody, new paint, new super aggressive wheels, aftermarket seats, and a bigger turbo. No crazy interior jobs, I still have to fit a future baby seat in there when the time comes haha.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?:

What does it mean? It means everything. Friendship is the biggest thing we all have. I consider everybody on the team Family, that’s how tight knit we are. I learned that something one person does can affect the rest of the group. So I try to keep a positive attitude towards everything.

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?:

SCP 7 in Montreal. By far the most crazy trip I’ve ever had with the guys.  From meeting the Team SCP crew, to partying in Montreal, to eating at all the different places downtown, to shopping. Montreal had it all. We still talk about it and plan to hit up SCP 10 this year (may trailer the RSTi out to compete).

I hear you have a collection of porcelain dolls in your mom’s basement, can you explain that to me, they’re not haunted are they?:

You suck Cliff. My dad loved antiques, including antique dolls. They’re probably worth a million dollars but I’ll never get rid of them. I’m convinced they’re haunted too, they probably sit there and hate on me from behind the glass.

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?any special skills?:

I used to break and was part of a crew..I’m talking Puma tracksuits and all. We called ourselves the 935 breakers. We didn’t have a name at the time so I asked what the time was…it was 9:35pm (we were doing 1990’s in the front yard when I asked)..this is how 935 came to be. We had 3 people in our crew haha. I was good at flares and broncos. My flares were so awesome, I got a girlfriend from it.

Finish this sentence for me, “Roses are red, violets are blue…”:

“Who you rollin wit? ZUUUCRUUUUU!!”

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:

Big shouts to my loving lady Grace (I try to bust out a flare every now and then to keep her interested). She’s put up with my build for the last 8 years and hasn’t kicked me to the curb haha. Big shout to my ZuCru, Team SCP, Tintmasters, Friends who spent late nights helping me put the car back together (late nights at HPA, at HIN, P10, at Venzon’s shop aka “WHIPS” haha), Family, everybody and also copy my podcasts. I hear the DJ is pretty damn handsome.

Name:

Calvin Leung

Username(s):

PoppinPhresh, p.phresh

Age:

1 billion

Occupation:

Web Developer

Current Ride:

2008 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X

Past ride:

2003 Mini Cooper S

How long have you been in ZuCru?:

Unofficially, 1999
Officially, 2001

How did you first hear about ZuCru?:

Allan, one of the founding fathers of Zucru is my god brother, and i’ve known him my entire life. When he started zucru, i barely understood the idea of a good import car. But as I grew up and looked up to Allan, i learned a lot more about the import scene. And then Zucru started growing bigger and included friends i met in university. So eventually i started gravitating towards it because of all the people involved.

In the past you owned a pretty sick looking Mini Cooper S, what made you decide to buy that as your first car and why?:

I’ve always been a big fan of the old school Mini Coopers. I enjoyed the styling of them, but never considered it a car I could acquire because the only ones in Canada were old Minis that were restored. As time progressed, i began acquiring a fondness for Volkswagens (thanks to Allan’s old Corrado) and German vehicles because of the cars my dad always drove. I looked at VW Golfs, but was disappointed with the lack of quality i was so used to from all the years of riding and driving Mercedes Benz’s. And then i learned that BMW was making a new Mini. It had all the qualities i was looking for, hi-quality fit and finish and the quality of a german vehicle (although it’s supopsed ot be britsh), and a hatch back like the VW Golfs i was admiring, i decided right then and there, that was gonna be my first car!

Out of all the cars you had to choose from, why the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution X?:

I wanted a car that had AWD, i was tired of plowing around in the Cooper in the winter. I had considered a few different things, and the allure of the Evo just drew me in. I wanted to have a car that could keep up with the rest of the pack. In addition i wanted something that wasn’t a two-door car anymore. I am grown up so i thought that an Evo was a good car to transition me into the new stage in my life.

Having driven a European car and growing up with German cars all my life, driving and owning a Mitsubishi was like sacrilegious. But i am happy with the choice i made. This car is as good as the say it is, and i’m happy that it lives up to its reputation.

The evo is tenth in a long prestigious line of race vehicles. It has a competitive heritage, and owning a car in that lineage is somewhat satisfying.

Do you have any plans for your car in the future?:

Plans for the future is somewhat limited. I’m sort bounded by time and money since my priorities have changed. At this point i’m just concerned on having a safe and reliable car.

But barring these restrictions, i’d go with the basic upgrades, suspension, wheels, engine management and exhaust. Basically i’d like to go with a Cobb AP and go to stage 2.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?:

Zucru has been my other family. They are my support group. Whatever you take from zucru you have to be willing to put back in. When you are down and out there will always be someone to put you back on top, and i’m glad to have a network of friends that are willing to do that for you. Some members are like brothers to me, through thick and thin, it’s unconditional love, and that’s what i most appreciate. When you first join zucru, you learn that it goes a lot deeper than cars, but you have to put in the time and effort, and you will receive the undying support from all the members whenever you need it.

You’re dad owned a Porsche Boxter S and also a 911 Carrera many years ago, tell me about that and what was it like driving those cars?:

Well if i’ve learned anything from this, it’s that i’m truly a fan of European cars. I enjoy the lines that german cars have, the Porsches have flowing lines that mask a powerhouse beneath. Driving these cars has definately given me a taste of a fine precision vehicle. I have since become a huge fan of Porsches. Driving a Porsche is like nothing else i’ve ever driven. It’s refined power. The power band is smooth from low RPMs to screaming high RPMs at wide open throttle. The sound of the engine right behind your head in an open air Boxster really allows you to appreciate the sound these things make. The power of the Carrera as the rear tires plant and launch the car from stop really shows you how much power these have when configured right. Plus the sheer shock factor from other people that see you when you’re rolling in a Porsche.

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?:

The most memorable moment has to be those cruises when we’d have 20+ cars rolling down the street and when you get to a cloverleaf, you look behind and you see a huge line of cars all rolling together…. and you think… “yah that’s all us”.

If you had a choice to be a celebrity for a day, who would you be and why?:

I’d be Jack Black, i’d run around and shout “NACHHHOOOOOoooooooo…..”

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?any special skills?:

I’m pretty good with a pistol.

Finish this sentence for me, “Roses are red, violets are blue…”

Natural Disasters,
I am Tugboat and he is Typhoon!

We all know you’re going to be a first time father next year, any words you’d like to say to your baby before he or she arrives into the new world?:

“i’m gonna love you no matter what. You will always have parents that love you… i can’t wait to play Lego with you.”

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:

Shout outs to my number 1; Candace, i love you for supporting me and my crazy hobbies, and for being car crazy with me.

And shout out to my zucru brethren… thanks for helping me out when i needed it. You are more than my friends, you are my family. You will always have a brother in me.

Name: Gail Tolentino

Username(s): initial_gt

Age: 23

Occupation: Team Leader - Corporate Contact Centre of Investors Group

Current Ride: Subaru Impreza 2007 2.5i SE

Past ride: n/a

How long have you been in ZuCru?:

I’ve been part of the crew for less than a year….I don’t quite remember the date I was asked to join the crew but it was within the last quarter of the year shortly after ZuCru got back from the Perfect 10 show from Fargo. I’m considered as the rookie in the crew.

What factors made you consider purchasing your current ride and why?:

I needed my car to be a daily driver in any Winnipeg weather, I needed it to be stylish, I needed to be able to have fun with it and overall, and I needed for it to have some meaning as I’ve never owned a car previously.

Just like many of us, at one point or another I’ve dreamt of owning a WRX or even an STi but when reality hit, the funds weren’t as readily available when it came time to purchase the car. It was actually my cousin and fellow crew member Ryan that first showed me that the GD style impreza’s offered an affordable non-turbo AWD sedan model.

I was immediately impressed when I first saw his old 04′ Impreza 2.5TS and what he did with it. This influenced me in a big way as riding in his car for many summers just showed the car’s potential and versatility in any driving condition.

When the time came for me to purchase the car, it was a no brainer, Subaru was the way to go. Though I originally intended to purchase a Subaru Legacy, but the Impreza 2.5i Special Edition package just gave me more bang for buck.

Do you have any plans for your car in the future?:

I’m keeping things simple with my car as I need it for a daily driver. I’m trying to pay off the car as fast as possible if you call that a plan……LOL……I’ve always been a fan of cars, but never been a mechanically inclined so my plans for the car are limited to more cosmetic additions than going for power gains. I’ve owned the car for almost two years and I’ve successfully crossed off a lot of the things I’ve wanted to do with it. Some loose ends I’d want to take care of include probably getting a new front lip, rear aprons, and a trunk lip. Lately I’ve been thinking of switching up my current wheels to something more like an 18×9.5 set up…but I’m not sure I want to deal with that headache…

Other than that perhaps maybe when the car’s paid off, who knows, STI swap? We’ll see….

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team?

It means that when you’re out, family is always around…….literally….

Since I first got introduced to most of the crew members through my cousin Ryan, I’ve gained a lot of new friends and contacts who I would have never met otherwise. I’m quite a shy person to begin with but being part of the crew allows me to surround myself with people who share the same passion and it’s always a good time.

You’ve only joined ZuCru for a short period of time, what can we expect from you as a member of our Team?:

The obvious thing to expect from me is my creative side and that’s expressed through my photography and design ideas. I’m hoping to become more involved with the web team to keep the main site current and fresh if needed. My main goal I hope to contribute is that I’m here to capture ZuCru in a way that I don’t think has been done in the past. I’m here to document the progress of the crew and display it visually on a higher level, be it from automotive photography or through general portraiture. If I’m asked to shoot, I’ll do it!

Tell me about your second love “Photography”, how did you get started in that?:

In high school I became involved with a Graphic Arts class and that passion just never stopped. Though it was only for a short semester, it taught me that a good picture starts with a vision. I always had many ideas in my head but without a forum to express them. I was never that brilliant at drawing, nor was I amazing at graphic design so the next obvious choice was through photography.

I never really got into photography until only recently. After graduating College in 2005, I bought my first DSLR which was a Pentax IST DL. It was a entry level SLR which minimal functions which helped a beginner adapt to the fine points of photography. Though I bought the SLR in 2005, I never really picked up the camera until late 2006 when some of my friends wanted me to take out my camera to shoot pictures of their cars.

I needed an artistic outlet as my job doesn’t necessarily allow me to utilize my creative side. I decide to take photography to solve this need. So…almost 2 years later and here I am, no formal education with photography and I’ve been recently published in a nationwide magazine for PASmag.

If you could trade cars for a day with someone in the Cru, who’s car would it be and why?:

This is a hard choice as the crew has a strong selection of cars….i’d have to go with the obvious choice and pick Shaun’s GC8 for obvious reasons…mainly because I want to feel like a man like Shaun….

You do realize that since joining the ZuCru Team you have to be initiated, are you willing to do ANYTHING for us?:

Who knows? I’ve been recently watching a lot of Kenny Vs. Spenny episodes so it’s my way to prepare for the initiation………

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you? any special skills?:

I play guitar occasionally and no, I’m not talking about guitar hero….but other than that, I’m a regular guy with nothing to brag about….

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:

Just a couple to mention, shout out to Anna, her two cats Carey (aka Carebear) & Popcorn, Ryan for always bringing your younger cousin along, Shaun for helping me install ANYTHING on my car, Allan for hooking me up with Zu, Cliff for askin’ me to do this and everyone else from friends and family.

Name: Allan Chan

Username(s): grandmasterchan

Age: I guess I’m OG.

Occupation: Car Show Director

Current Ride: 2002 Subaru WRX

Past ride: 1991 VW Corrado G60.

How long have you been in ZuCru?:
Founded it in 1998. Right from the very get go.

First, I’d like to congratulate you on your marriage last summer, how does it feel to be finally married?:
Thanks homie, I was probably one of the last few people who thought that they would be settling down, but when you find the right woman, you know right away. Totally loving the married life, as Homer Simpson said, and I quote: “”it’s like being married to my best friend—and he lets me feel his boobs.”

Tell me your experience buying your very first car?: I think going the VW/Euro route as my first car enabled me to do things a bit different and sway away from the norm at the time. I see alot of similarities between euro styling and OEM JDM styling in terms of less is more. My original first purchase was to be a 1993 black EG hatch as there used to be one in the city that ran on OZ Mitos that always caught my eye. Who knows where I would’ve ended up if I had started with that as my first platform. The Corrado actually enabled me to meet some of my best friends like current Zucru member Phuc and also helped me establish a good friendship with Richie Woo of Marigold’s fame in Winnipeg. Both guys have played a big part in my love for the scene.

Being one of the original ZuCru members, tell me how it all began?:
Back in 1998 my skateboarding friends Tony and Dan also drove VW’s, a mk2 GTI and a Passat. We decided to become a VW car club and named it ZuCru. Our first designs for a logo were done on a notepad that I still have at my parents place. It was pretty ghetto at first as our first real logo was developed on Microsoft Paint. If you look really close, the eyes that are on top of the U in the block styled logo are actually chili peppers that were lifted off of something way back ago.

Eventually I met Phuc who also had a Corrado as we were also members of the Corrado Club of America. From this point on we started expanding with the addition of some of his closer friends, Dennis and Minh. Minh eventually picked up a mk3 Jetta and the modding bug was hitting all of us. Staying true to form we all
tried to keep with the euro way of tuning of subtle mods coupled with performance mods with an emphasis on quality. We had grown exponentially and had new members which were honda based as we were looking to becoming big real fast. However, there was a split in the actions and we had some growing pains but the core stayed together.

Around 2001 things really started to take off. We had a new member in Kevin Chan with his built Civic and started to really participate in shows as a crew. This was the year where Cliff came in after showing off his Jaos equipped Pathfinder and Howard was just starting off with his Talon but eventually coming over to the VW family with a monster swapped G60 Golf. I think that this period in time was where things started to really come together as we had a good core of people who became really great friends in life. We were a bunch of guys who had a drive to succeed as we were all in the final stages of school and beginning stages of our careers. This commonality coupled with a love for cars and the mantra of quality parts instead of low budget knock offs really set our identity. Dabbling into motorsports such as autocross, drag racing and winter autocross increased our outlook for a balance of function and style. To sum it up:

ZuCru:
-Close circle of friends
-No shortcuts in life, work hard for what you want in life, drive for success in all we do.
-love of european and jdm cars.
-Quality proven parts on quality platform cars
-Balance of function and style. Must go with the show!

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?:
There’s just so many that I don’t think I could pick a most memorable moment. Some that come to mind, car tag on fall nights, when we went into the PCA scavenger hunt as team Strike Force, winning best team at SCN 2004 (that picture is still fresh in my mind), all the Xmas parties but especially the ones where Don and Lamska got inititated one night with the yellow snow and hot sauce twinkie. Can’t forget about Venzon getting an ipecac shot in his underwear. 10 years is a lot of memories.

What factors made you consider purchasing your current ride and why?:
My friends Raymond and Daniel had a pretty legendary Mazda 323 GTX in Winnipeg. They had me sold on turbo all wheel drive cars. I started to read up on them more and more. Came to find out about Mitsu
Evo’s and Imprezas and the mk2 Golf Ralleye. At this time, Gran Turismo came out on playstation and I instantly fell in love with the 22B and EVO IV. To this day, they are my most favorite iterations of these classic enemies and I still think I will own a 22B in my lifetime. I was actually pretty close in 2000 to buying a 2.5RS. However when the 02 WRX was announced for North America, I knew I just had to have one. The tunability and fun with this car still brings a smile to my face when I drive it. Like the VW’s I had driven, the subaru had a certain character. It was a raw kind of feeling that gives you feedback when driving it. Its hard to explain, but I think VW and Subaru owners know it when they drive their cars. Fahrvergnügen is the term.

Why do you think you were chosen to represent Winnipeg for SCN? and what qualifications do you have that others don’t?:
Oh boy, I often wonder about this too as I’m pretty grateful for having the opportunity to do what I love. I think it was a combination of quite a few things to tell you the truth. Knowledge of cars and being in the scene, I didn’t pigeonhole myself with only knowing about 1 genre of cars, I tried to learn about everything be it J-bodies to pure J’d out cars as SCN was looking for people who could also judge at events. Professionalism in terms of treating others how you would like to be treated, being sociable is another characteristic as a big part of this position was networking and being able to converse about more than just cars. Communication skills were also top notch because we would be forging relationships with our market and sponsors, I think being multilingual also helped as everybody on the team spoke at least more than one language. We had people who could speak English, French, Mandarin, Dardic, Malay, Russian and Cantonese. In addition one had to be able to deal with high levels of stress during showtime with an affinity towards detail oriented tasks and the ability to be a leader but also know how to work within a team. Above all being humble and personable were major contributors as well because nobody likes an arrogant know it all.

I hear you’re a HUGE HKS fan and have a sneaker fetish. what’s the deal with that?:
LOL. I guess the deal with the HKS steez is that back when I was in university, there used to be a yellow FD which had a Powered by HKS license plate frame on it. I always wondered if it meant that he was some sort of Hong Kong gangster and it got me remembering those 3 letters. Going again back to my friends Raymond and Daniel, they had everything HKS on their 323 GTX as they were foreign students from Malaysia who were well versed in tuning. All you had to do was open the glove compartment and there was a plethora of HKS electronics sitting in there. Their license plate was “HKS”. I eventually found their products to be quality parts with a heavy R&D behind them. The fit of their items were always bang on. How could you dog quality? I couldn’t. They’ve been doing it for how many years now? Its about as JDM as you can get. You pay for what you get and I’ve been nothing but happy with their stuff.

I think my sneaker fetish developed when I was in grade five. I was into Converse chuck taylors and had a turquoise pair and a fluroscent orange pair. I liked how the orange pair could be seen from 2 blocks away cuz they were so bright. Went on over to some skateboard shoes such as airwalks and copped some Andre Agassi Nike’s in hot pink and black when I hit junior high. I then started up with addias shelltoes as they became retro in the skateboard world. This got me going and to this day I still don’t know how many shellies I have as deadstock. I pretty much buy what looks good in my eyes now and right now I think its all about the dunk SB’s. Nothing too crazy in my collection but I think the Tiffanys are my favorite so much so that I wore them on my wedding day. Shoes make the man, sneakers make the individual.

Most people know you as GMC or grandmasterchan, how did you come up with a name like that?:
This is a funny one and is kind of an urban legend now. It all stemmed from this old school video game called Street Fighter. In its heyday it was played at every arcade, pool hall and corner store. I loved it so much that I even transferred schools so I could play against the best in the city which at that time were located at Daniel Macintyre Collegiate as they all played at the corner store. One day, I had played all day on a single quarter taking on players after players non stop and there was always a crowd around. I beat one opponent going untouched and when I won, the crowd was like “Whoa!!!!” and a kid in the crowd was like, “holy crap, you’re the grandmaster…you’re grandmasterchan”. From that day on, it stuck and I used it as my forum name. The acronym GMC just developed on forums as I guess the name became too long for people to type. To this day I get greeted as grandmasterchan or GMC and it still surprises me.

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?:
I’m missing all my front top teeth. I had them knocked out in a hockey game via a cross check to the face. If you read the Winnipeg Free Press article a few years ago on my bugeye WRX, the pictures have me not smiling and the reason was because I had just lost my teeth earlier that week.

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:
I’d like to give props to all of my ZuCru family, Richie Woo, the DTP staff, Team SCP and my wife and best friend Cielo!

Name: Ryan Venzon

Username(s): venZon

Age: 24

Occupation: Composite Technologist

Current Ride: 2008 Lexus IS250 6MT

Past Ride(s): 2004 Subaru Impreza TS

How long have you been in ZuCru?: About 3 ½ years

How did you first hear about ZuCru?:When I first really started getting into cars I was searching for info on the Winnipeg tuner scene on the internet and it brought up the ZuCru website.  I was formally introduced to the cru through my friend Lamska.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?:Simple…  ZuCru = Family

No matter where we go or who passes through Winnipeg I hear the same thing time and time again.  “Your car club is one of a kind.  I’ve never seen such a tight group of people.”

You recently sold your Subaru Impreza and picked up a 2008 Lexus IS250, why the big change?: Well honestly I never thought my Impreza would sell.  Even though I took good care of it and invested a lot of money into her it still had high km and well its Winnipeg.  I put her for sale at a price I though no one would buy.  Then I had an offer on the table I just couldn’t refuse.  It was sad to see her go since I didn’t get to “finish” her but with all the impreza’s being imported from the US I was lucky to sell it for the price I got.

With the Impreza gone I knew I had to step up my game.  I was looking for something a little more grown up but still me.  Originally I planed to stay in the subie family and pick up a 2008 Subaru Legacy GT.  Somehow I started looking into the 2IS and joined a Lexus forum to get more info on in.  Once I saw some of the cars on there I was in love!  I’ve always been a fan of the VIP scene and the 2IS was a perfect platform for me to start my new project.

Tell me, do you have any big plans for your car in the future? and what are they?:
Don’t worry about it…

Many of us on the ZuCru forum have seen your superb photography skills, tell me how you got started in that and what you like most about taking photos?:
Well I’ve always wanted to get into photography but for some reason I was scared to take the plunge.  My cousin Gail just started last year and I’d always bug him to go for photoshoots.  He convinced me to get one and I planed to get one in the spring.  But before that my girl got me one for my birthday/xmas.  Thx Babe!  Right after I got it I got Gail to give me his 5 min how to take photos and have been learning from there.  I’ve only been shooting about 10 months.

What I like most about taking photos is that you can capture so much emotion and almost tell a whole story with one single image.

People tell me you’re a big drinker and can out drink most of us at the bar, true or false?and why?
Sure…  Why?  Because I’m Kool Aid Man!  Ohhhhh Yeeeeeeaah!  The funny thing is I’m actually allergic to alcohol.  That’s why I turn so red after one drink.  But I can drink with the best of them.

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?any special skills?: ok this is not really a skill but I once drank alcohol and ipecac together in one shot and let me tell you, that is one drink I will NEVER drink again.

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?:
One memory that sticks out was my first trip down to P10…  All I can say is F*ing RAGE!  LET’S PLAY SOME DICE!

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?:Shout outs to my homeboy Lamska for really bringing me into the car scene and introducing me to the cru.  DJ MM for helping work on my car countless times in my garage.  And of course MJ for putting up with my constant photoshoots and car shows.  Thanks for the awesome xmas/bday gift babe!

written and interviewed by Cliff Almazan

Name: Minh Nguyen

Username(s): Phreezee

Age: 29

Occupation: Manager, Software Development

Current Ride: 2007 Acura TL Type-S A-Spec

Past ride: 2003 Nissan 350Z

How long have you been in ZuCru?: 11 years

Did you always have a love for cars when you were younger?: Yes, besides the exotics, my favorite car was the Nissan 300ZX TT

You use to own a 2003 Nissan 350Z, do you ever regret selling it? and do you plan on buying another Nissan in the future?: No regrets about 350Z, buying or selling. The experience of ownership was memorable, but we all mature and move on. Tastes and needs change.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?: Friendship and camaraderie. I’ve learned that people change and friendships can overcome great distances.

Most memorable moment in all your years in ZuCru?: That fateful night with the Jetta. Not a happy memory, but I think it changed my outlook on life.

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?any special skills?: Nope, just an average guy.

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?: To my beautiful wife Donna, thank you for being there with me all these years, I love you, my brother Thanh. ZuCru and last but not least PokerFriends!

We all know Baby Nguyen will be arriving pretty soon, do you have any words you’d like to say to him/her right now?: You better behave, or Casey will eat you!

written and interviewed by Cliff Almazan

Name:Francis Ramos

Username(s):RS13

Age:23

Occupation:SSG

Current Ride: 1989 Nissan SIL-80

Past Ride(s): Cavilac, Civic, 240SX, Camry, Accord

How long have you been in ZuCru?: 2 years

What factors made you consider purchasing your current ride and why?:Always been a big fan of Initial D and drifting. I also wanted a car that was a little bit more different or unique in the city, I was also inspired by the first time I rode in a IMPUL SKYLINE. The experience of riding JDM and feeling that boost sealed the deal.

How did you first hear about ZuCru?: I learned about the cru through one of my best friends, Jonathan Lam taught me a lot about the car scene and the cru along with Ryan Venzon.

What does it mean to you to be part of the ZuCru Team? and what have you learned so far?: To be part of the cru to me represents a network of great car enthusiasts and even more, a sense of deep friendship that is equivalent to family. And I feel as though I am part of the league of extraordinary HATERS!

You recently attended the Perfect 10 Car Show in Fargo, ND, did you take home any awards? I was honored with 3rd place in the Nissan class and Best JDM car.

How did it feel when you won Best JDM/Nissan?:
I was grateful for being awarded 3rd place in the Nissan class and even more honored to receive best JDM. I felt very surprised and very flattered. It was all very unexpected.

Tell me, do you have any big plans for your car in the future? and what are they?: I have some plans for next summer, mainly some new deep dish rims, maybe a DVD screen for the inside and MAYBE a custom sunroof.

Can you tell the readers something that they don’t know about you?any special skills?: I believe firmly in hard work, no special skills needed to have a strong sense of perseverance.

Any special shout outs you’d like to say?: Shout outs to Jason, Shane and Freitag from Tintmasters and Lamska. And to my younger brother Jake.