by Assunta Ng
“Northwest Asia Weekly”
Most people have preconceived notions about cars. It’s a man’s hobby. The auto industry is a major player in the U.S. economy, contributing “3-3.5%” to overall gross domestic product, according to the Center for Automotive Research.
One assumption is right, the other is wrong.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
Namsayin, the multi-million dollar auto show was first held in Chinatown on July 30. You can see Ferrari, BMW, Lotus, Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Datsun, Toyota, Honda, Mazada, Chevrolet, Ford, and many more lined up side by side, in and out of Bank of America parking lots.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
If you think cars are just for driving and transporting goods, this show can redefine how you enjoy cars in our lives. It’s not just a status symbol or someone’s toy. The significance of the annual Chinatown-International District (CID) 55 Car Show will enrich your imagination.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
According to car enthusiasts, a car is a reflection of your philosophy of life. It’s about passion, creativity, design, community, excitement, entertainment, bringing people together and most importantly, supporting CID.
Why CID?
The auto show is part of the CID Celebration event organized by the Hong Kong Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
Ferrari custom seats and steering wheel by Thach Nguyen (photo by Assunta Ng)
Property investor Thach Nguyen said he received a call from the association asking how to get more young people to attend the CID celebration. Nguyen, a luxury car enthusiast, said the association should hold a car show.
Ferrari custom steering wheel by Thach Nguyen (photo by Assunta Ng)
Ferrari custom seats by Thach Nguyen (photo by Assunta Ng)
Nguyen owns a Ferrari, Bentley and two Rolls-Royces and has ties to Walter Franco, who organises car shows and parties.
“Our model is the community and not the car,” Franco said. “We put people first, not cars.”
Franco family. Back row from left: Al-Michael Franco, brother/co-founder, Walter Franco, father Albert, mother Lydia. Front row from left: Maria Franco and Cheryl Florendo. (Photo by Assunta Ng)
The group also raises awareness of car culture and educates how cars are committed to different lifestyles. The show is also a competition for 55 exhibiting cars. The auto show brings together people from the automotive industry and car enthusiasts. The judging took place in the late afternoon and 15 awards were presented.
Franco’s goal is to promote and raise awareness of CID’s rich culture.
“The group will choose a designated route, sometimes on the highway, sometimes shorter. But our intention is to end in Chinatown, mainly to help all the small businesses … it’s about sharing the camaraderie of making cars.”
Franco’s love of cars began at CID as a child, eating nearby and watching the unique cars passing by.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
“This place has a lot of history. Datong is Bruce Lee’s favorite restaurant. It’s a disgrace to those in our community who don’t know this. We want to honor these types of stories. Also, we want to tell the story of the car. This It’s not just about fixing cars or making them cool, it’s really about brotherhood, sisterhood, family coming out and enjoying the car.”
The group has a cruise and a party. So far, it has hosted 50 parties in the old Uwa Shimaya parking lot.
“We want to bring new energy into the region. It’s not about making money,” Franco said. “It’s a free car show. We want people to know about the food here (CID).”
How to have fun with your car
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
Build your own car. what! ? Yes. All the cars at the show are custom made. You won’t be able to identify it as a Honda or Toyota. They are all modified and remodeled. It’s like building your own house, designing your treehouse and landscaping for your garden, remodeling your kitchen, and sewing your special wedding dress. If you love designing and making things, and imagine how your project could come to life, building your own mockups might be a great option.
This is exactly what Franco did. Named his car by the same name as the auto show, Namsayin (you know what I’m talking about), he designed his car from scratch by combining Toyota and Subaru, the result of a Japanese-made collaboration. This is Franco’s passion. As an illustrator, artist and car designer, he is a contractor who builds cars. Why did I never consider the model mix as an option when buying a car? I think the only option is to go to a car dealer.
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
“The mentality of making a car mirrors every aspect of your life,” said Franco, who also helps small businesses with their storytelling and marketing needs. An important one is that Franco says he follows the rules and does not advise people to cut corners, especially when it comes to building their own cars.
Not only does he enjoy driving expensive cars, Nguyen said, it’s also an investment. A Ferrari costs about $400,000, he said. “You can’t buy a Ferrari because the waiting list is long,” he said. If you haven’t bought a Ferrari before, the manufacturer won’t sell it to you. So you have to buy from other owners. So Nguyen would sell it to a new owner for $500,000. Then, he would buy another one and build it to his liking. After a while, he will sell it again. Each of his cars is custom made. The road was closed to Nguyen’s vehicles and other vehicles other than Bank of America.
man thing?
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
“Northwest Asia Weekly” did not see the female car enthusiasts participating in the auto show. The reason, Franco said, was the short notice they received — about three weeks. In past shows, about 10 percent of the participants were women.
Women tend to care less about high horsepower and more about design and elegance.
“We take inspiration from our female counterparts,” Franco said. “Maybe pull back some masculinity in the car. In the future, we hope to welcome more female builders.”
(Photo by Assunta Ng)
Each of these cars isn’t your typical model you’ll find at a car dealership. Among the 30,000 parts, you can personalize and modify your car with hundreds of features, from engine to paint, frame, windows, carpet, bumper, tie, paint, seats, engraving, graphics, steering wheel, and more Wait. Even car manufacturer logos can be customized, such as placing car logos where you want. A familiar modification is how the owner turned the truck into a station wagon and the rear into a sleeping area and kitchenette.
Fans have asked for the CID auto show to return next year at Seattle Center as part of the Seafair Chinatown parade, Nguyen said. Next time, the exhibition will be expanded to include the old Yu and Shimaya parking lots, as well as two other rows on the street, he said.
Organizer and winner of auto show competitions. (Photo by Assunta Ng)
The power of the car cannot be underestimated. In addition to boosting the economy, the CID Auto Show helps us understand how it builds community by connecting like-minded people from all walks of life, providing entertainment and friendship. Every auto show builds community, one at a time. Only this time, it started in an unlikely part of the city, in Chinatown.
Assunta can reach assunta@nwasianweekly.com.
