Like last year, Wekfest San Jose was pretty packed. It’ll never get to the point of how it was back at Fort Mason, because this venue is much bigger, but it continues to grow even after 10+ years. We would never allow it to get as crowded as it was back when the show was at San Francisco because, frankly, it was pretty dangerous. Like, you couldn’t even breathe it was so damn packed back then. But, we didn’t know any better. Now we’ve all grown-up and just want everyone to be able to be comfortable in their own space while having the ability to enjoy the cars on display. Early in the morning, I was honestly a little worried because I thought that it would be tough to be the vibe from 2021. It was our first time back after the lay-off from the pandemic so everyone was excited to just be at one of the biggest car shows of the year. The energy just felt so different. There was excitement in the air…

I remember walking around early that morning and I felt like it wasn’t that busy. Like people were walking around but I didn’t feel like it was as crowded. I then remembered that Ken told me that we were opening the doors two hours earlier than before for VIP ticket holders this year. VIP tickets allow for early access to the show, but usually only an hour before general admission but since it was so busy last year, that changed. The people who purchased VIP tickets were actually walking around the show before many of the exhibitors even came back that morning. The two-day set-up process allows for exhibitors to get some more rest and many came later, which also helped to alleviate the crowdedness. I suppose a part of me is always worried about how busy it will be. After doing car shows for that many years and hosting my own events, it is just natural for me to be prepared for a let down, if it ever happens. I’m happy to say now that in hindsight, I never had to worry…

It got busy.

I mean, BUSY. A little after 12PM, there were so many people in line that we actually thought about stopping ticket sales online so the people waiting could get inside to enjoy the show. We even had less cars in attendance this year to give more space inside for walking around and it still felt a little cramped inside the San Jose convention hall. I’m glad that people still fuck with the show like that. We all appreciate it, trust me. Kenneth Li is a man of little words when it comes to speaking on a public forum but he works his ass off to give everyone a great event. The San Jose show is the big one for him not only because Northern California is the home of Wekfest, but also because he grew-up out there. I think the effort shows. And people respond to it well by continually coming back to experience it…

Once the people started coming in, I already knew it would be impossible to get a clean shot of any of the cars. That’s just how it is. Thankfully I was able to find time to shoot a good amount of photos before the show started. Having a two day roll-in works in my favor that way. So today, we’re gonna go ahead and jump back into the photos I shot Saturday afternoon. Some of the photos towards the end are from Sunday morning.. Enjoy…

Eric Lam’s 800+ horsepower JZA80 Supra 15th Anniversary Edition with a single Precision 8385 turbo, full Ridox aero, ABFlug rear wing, Work Meister S1 3-piece wheels and Brembo brake upgrades…

Jesus Alberto’s 2JZ-GTE swapped S14 Zenki drift car…

Integra with a Japanese ITR front-end conversion paired with a Spoon Sports (Spoon-style?) carbon front lip, Spoon Sports brakes, and 16-inch Desmond Regamaster EVOs…

Steve Perez’s AP2 S2000 with Mugen front spoiler, Mugen rear wing, Amuse vented hood, and bronze 17-inch Mugen MF10 wheels…

John Chan from Tronics’ NSX was a vibe with the palm trees lined-up as far as the eyes can see…

Danny Avina’s DC5 RSX has seen many different iterations over the years but this latest version might be his best work yet. The outside appears similar as his past looks with the full Mugen aero and bronze Volk CEs but those who don’t remember may not realize that his car is not right-hand drive…

The engine bay is shaved completely smooth and resprayed with the K24 swap reflecting the summer sky like a mirror. Everything from the intake manifold, to the valve cover and engine mounts have all been chromed. The only color in the bay comes from the blue/purple hue from the titanium accessories…

Imagery like this is what reminds me that California really is one of the best places to be in the world to experience custom car culture…

You get shots like Danny’s DC5 above, and right behind him…

…is a ’64 Chevy Impala convertible. Talk about variety…

This Impala SS belongs to Pablito Salinas, who at one time used to bring his copper H22A-swapped Accord wagon out to all the Norcal Wekfest events…

Justin Guerrero’s right-hand drive GC8 Subaru WRX with EJ20K swap…

A crew consisting entirely of FR-S/BRZ/86s with a late model Toyota 86 leading the way with a Japanese-market Modellista front lip…

Keith Yakushi’s stunning Datsun 510 coupe on classic BRE Datsun Libre wheels…

Eventually I wanted to head back inside the venue so I walked-up the ramp as this Toyota 86 from Stealth Garage led the way…

This 86 was actually really tastefully-modified with a Modellista front lip, TRD sideskirts, TRD rear spats, and Volk TE37SL wheels…

Sam Cao’s Porsche 911 GT3 RS from Garage43 all staged and ready for show day…

One of the cars that I really wanted to see at this event was this black Toyota GR86 from System Motorsports. The guys from System have been tinkering a lot of different fitment options for this chassis that I’ve been reading up on and I wanted to see what a 18×10 +44 TE would look like on the GR86. Apparently they didn’t have that set on for this event. Instead, they went with a 18×9.5 +35. Besides the good wheel fitment, this GR also looks great running the GReddy by Voltex lip kit….

KJ from Illiminate’s NA1 NSX with I’s Impact front lip, Downforce Stacy side skirts, Advan Racing wheels, and what looks to be Pride wide fenders/rear quarter panels…

Skynyrd Urrea’s JDM ITR-front Integra Type R rocking a Spoon Sports front lip, Spoon Sports carbon hood, Spoon Sports brakes, Spoon Sports mirrors, silver Mugen MF10 wheels and Mugen Gen. II rear spoiler…

Jonny Guerra’s Imola Orange NA2 NSX with what looks to be a Downforce front lip, an added front splitter, Wings West side skirts, Spoon Sports mirrors, and Downforce hood…

Mikey Bitanga’s Integra GSR looking great per usual with the paint-matched Spoon Sports front lip, Spoon Sports mirrors, Mugen Gen. II rear wing, and 15×8 bronze Volk TE37 wheels wrapped in Toyo R888 rubber…

Bay area legend Kelvin Bulda brought out his Civic once again to continue his attendance streak at Wekfest in the Bay Area. Honestly, he might be one of the most tenured exhibitors of this car show series. His hatchback is looking great still after all these years with the Air Walker front bumper, J’s Racing front fenders, Spoon mirrors, Endless brakes, and Mugen MF10 wheels with blue caps to match his Cusco cage…

Another guy who has quite the attendance record at Wekfest in the Bay is Roy Barba from PlusOne and his CL9 TSX. He’s always making subtle changes to it and went with a FEEL’S rear wing this year, along with Ganador mirrors and a front lip that I don’t think I’ve ever seen before…

Vang’s clean single-cam Civic hatchback with 16-inch Regamaster EVO wheels and a carbon Spoon Sports front lip…

Simon’s Civic SI coupe with a J*Blood front bumper and 4-lug Volk CEs…

Interesting air box/intake set-up on the B18C-powered coupe which still retains A/C and all…

Honestly, the S2000 category was a tough one this year, with a handful of them being a toss-up for the best in its category. I even thought a lot about it after because I originally changed who I chose as the winner. Thinking back on it now, had I really just been judging based on which S2000 I liked the most, I probably would have changed my choice again and selected Kai Her’s S2000 to win the award. Not that the actual winner was any less deserving but in terms of flow, I think this AP2 was just better than the rest…

Of course I could have moved one of them up to the overall Honda category but the competition in that class is so tough that it’s hard for more than one S2000 to be chosen with so many good Civics at the show. This S2000 is pretty great though, especially with the cleaned-up engine bay and new additions from last year. Looking at the photos now, I think  I could have gone either way with this one, the actual winner of the category, and another Spoon S-Tai S2000 build that I posted in Part 1…

Kong Meng Xiong’s NSX looks super good with Advance Flatout front lip and sides. The exterior of his NSX actually looked almost identical to the eventual award winner in the overall Acura category, which Kong had a very strong chance of winning an award in. The other two NSXs that placed were just a bit more intricate and thorough compared to his. That’s not to say that Kong’s isn’t sick, because it is, there was just a bit more done to the other two…

Is this Laguna Seca Blue? I think it is. It could be but don’t quote me. This RHD Integra, possibly a real Japanese Type R, looked pretty solid. It had a K-swap with a nicely executed engine bay and everything. Probably the few only things I’d change about it, if the owner wanted to have a better chance at winning an award, was getting a real Spoon Sports lip, ditching the Seibon hood, and maybe some different mirrors? Just a personal opinion of course, from the Wekfest judge in the Honda/Acura categories. There are so many good Integras and a majority of the time, it comes down to overall execution and parts selection…

Another shot of Darin’s (I think I remember his name was Darin) red Integra…

Carlos Ortiz’s orange Datsun 610 was pretty cool to see. It was built purposely to look a bit rough, slammed on black widened steelies, but there’s so much more to this Datsun when you look inside the engine bay…

Powering it was a naturally-aspirated SR20DE swap which was really well executed. Though the bay has been left to show its age, the engine and its components are quite clean…

Everyone knows that I love me a clean IS300 build, being one myself after all, so this black Vertex IS on 17-inch Volk TEs was right up my alley. It had Ganador mirrors and everything…

Dominic’s K20-swapped turbocharged Zenki Civic sedan with Spoon Sports lip, Mugen Ferio wing, PCI sides and Rays Gram Lights 57Transcend wheels wrapped in Hoosier tires up front…

The K20A powerplant within utilizing a Full Race manifold to run a Garrett turbocharger. Multiple strut bars for all that traction up front I suppose…

My boy David, who works the Wekfest series with me, has been toying with the idea of getting rid of his E46 for an E92 M3 coupe, but I keep telling him he’ll regret it. Then clean examples like Mike’s E92 Competition Package pop-up and I wonder if he actually would. This white E92 looks great on white TEs. Granted I don’t know too much about these cars or what parts they usually run but the front lip might be a carbon M Sport lip? Don’t quote me. But hey, this is nice…

Sheldon’s NSX with Wings West front and sides, sitting on BBS LMs under some Gruppe M over fenders, all staged and ready for the show…

I don’t know, the idea of an E92 sounds good but then you see a similar set-up on an E46 M3 and it quickly reminds you why you wouldn’t trade. This is a great example of a timeless E46. Just the addition of a carbon lip, the stock red leather interior, and some TE37SL reimagined in the OG finish….

Tony Pham’s NSX was ultimately the car that beat-out Kong’s NA1 even though their cars look similar aesthetically. Though Pham is also running Advance Flatout aero and white Regamaster EVOs, all the differences are actually within the rear engine bay. This NSX actually has the newer C32 engine in it but is also Comptech supercharged with methanol-injection…

Tony also owns this AP2 S2000, which is the weekend track car while the NSX remains his street cruiser. The S2000 features a J’s Racing half bumper, a carbon front splitter, J’s Racing side skirts, Voltex over fenders, Voltex GT wing, EVS mirrors, First Molding hood, and rare GP Sports rear spats. Also can’t forget about the square Volk TE37 set-up, AP Racing brakes, and Mugen hard top…

Jazon King’s lifted 1st-generation Toyota 4Runner 2-door with its factory removable rear hatch representing ATS Garage. I don’t know much about these so I won’t try to elaborate on it but these are pretty rare to find these days especially in this condition. Looks like the whole truck might have been carefully restored. On a side note, did you guys know that they actually made a 2-door 2nd generation 4Runner as well? I guess they were so unpopular at the time that Toyota discontinued them after a few years of production. Knowing how popular 4Runners are these days, I wonder how many people are out looking for these rare 2-door versions…

The Rallye Red Mugen FK8 CTR we saw outside in Part 1 of this coverage, all cleaned-up…

Jedh Wholegood’s F80 M3 sedan running a full catalog of Japanese goods, which sounds wild if you just read this sentence without any context. If you missed it, this “Sedan of the Festival” award winner hosts a Assist Kyoto Laptorr front lip, 3DDesign sides, Varis rear diffuser, Varis rear wing, and Advan GT wheels. I think I forgot to mention in Part 1 that he also has the Varis VRS System-2 hood…

Speaking of amazing sedan, back-to-back Wekfest San Jose “Car of the Festival” aka the best of show was back to defend its title yet again. Adam Mao’s JZX100 Chaser is both an incredible show car and highly-functional drift car. How he manages to keep it this clean is a feat in itself considering the type of duties he puts this car though. The Chaser sat a little higher this year but continues to see development with some new carbon fiber additions to the Car Modify Wonder Shadow aero…

The 1000+ horsepower Toyota JZ set-up with its 24-karat gold turbocharger remains mostly unchanged from last year…

The only major change was an upgrade to the power steering system which he had replaced just before the show after blowing it up at a drift event…

The full dashboard remains with just a digital display taking over for factory cluster. A Nardi wheel sits in front and beside it is a hydraulic brake set-up. If you’ve never seen this car in-person before, I hope you get to see it some day as the fabrication work inside is impeccable…

The bright gold hue of the multi-point custom roll cage is the first thing that catches the eye when you look inside, but at a closer look you’ll immediately notice the four Sparco bucket seats. Four people ride-alongs are no problem for Adam’s Chaser…

And with that we conclude Part 2! As mentioned before, I was actually able to shoot much more than I originally thought so there is still one more set of photos to come before we close out this series. Stay tuned for more and as always, thanks for looking!…