The Manila International Auto Show (MIAS) 2008 brought together some of the most fascinating vehicles in the Philippines. In line with this year’s theme, “Imagination in Motion,” these cars prove that there is no limit in how cars can be dressed up and spec-ced up. This exhibition, at MIAS’ air conditioned tent annex, showcases some of the best modified and classic cars.
Manila International Auto Show in cooperation with Team Lightspeed conducted its first ever Autospeed Custom and Classic Car Competition. Taking the overall winner as “Best of Show” is The Ultimate Paintshop’s 1974 Colt Galant. This car also won Best Interior Display and Best Auto Presentation. Runner up is the 1967 Ford Mustang by the New Auto Dresscode. Best in Paint is Sights and Speed’s 2004 Nissan X-TRAIL (also a winner for Best Mini-SUV), while Best Engine Display is the 1999 Lancer GSR by IRM Autoshoppe (also a winner for Best Body Kit).
Other awardees include Best Post-War 50s and below: 1941 Willys Jeep of Conrado Limcaco; Best Golden Era 60s, Chevrolet Bel-Air of Boy de Leon; Best of Roaring 70s, 1974 Porsche 914 of Dondie Leyva; Best Contemporary 80s, 1980 Lancer box-type of Eric Asuque. In other categories, Best two-door modified are: 1999 Lancer GSR of IRM Autoshoppe, 1967 Ford Mustang of The New Auto Dresscode, 2007 Porsche GT3 of Emperor Motorsport. Best two-door stock winners are: 1974 Colt Galant of The Ultimate Paintshop, 1966 Mustang Coupe of Arch. Daniel Go, and 1974 Porsche 914 of Dondie Leyva. Best four-door modified is: 2007 Lancer Evolution of Motul / Auto plus Sportzentrum. Best four-door stock is the 2007 Subaru WRX of Emperor Motorsport. Best Mural was awarded to 1994 Toyota Corolla by The New Auto Dresscode, Best SUV/pickup to 2000 Ford Expedition by Clifford Bodykits, Best Racecar to 1999 Civic EK by Sea Oil/Dennis Uy. Miss Autospeed 2008 is Ms. Lara San Luis.
With multiple awards at stake and with the overall winner dubbed as “Best of Show”, both amateur as well as professional shop owners and restorers vie for securing top marks in this year’s largest motoring event.
Manila International Auto Show marked another milestone in the show’s fourth consecutive year. Aside from promoting the formal automotive industry, the organizers of MIAS and the car competition aim to advance and widen the scope of public automotive interest by promoting restoration shops and aftermarket establishments through this annual pilgrimage of motoring aficionados.
Another awards category at MIAS was for the best in sound quality. This was judged by the European Mobile Media Association (EMMA). EMMA was initially founded to create a level playing field for sound quality competitions in Europe and to unify the different rulebooks that are used all over continental Europe.
EMMA Philippines was founded by Mickey Tang and along with EMMA European trainer Glen Saitowitz from Switzerland, has been conducting clinics and workshops training prospective EMMA competition judges. Among their recruits was Michelle Yeo Yu, an amateur drifting competitor and perhaps the country’s leading female drift competitor. With a successful certification, Yu became the first and only female certified EMMA judge in Asia. She will be part of judging panels in the first EMMA competition to be kicked off at this year’s Manila International Auto Show. Since Emma has affiliations in Singapore, Malaysia, China, Thailand and Indonesia, Yu is expected to participate in judging EMMA sanctioned events in these countries as well.
In a special exhibition, MIAS gathers some of the fastest cars in the land. These are cars that have proven their mettle in timed quarter-mile challenges. These range from a 1985 Honda Civic transformed to an exotic ride dubbed the Civic GTR (12.6 seconds quarter mile), a 1989 Honda CRX with full-time tube chassis (10.2 seconds at 130 mph), 1995 Honda Civic hatchback aka Chop Top (11.4 seconds at 118 mph), and a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution V (9.9 seconds at 146 mph). The Evo V is the National Record Holder for Quarter Mile, recognized by AAP. This car, with 718 whp, is owned by Jonathan Tiu. The head works and blue print were done by Engineer Francisco Blanco of Autoplus.
Motor Image Pilipinas also brought over to MIAS their Subaru Impreza Group N Rally Car. This powerful rally-ready machine was unveiled during Subaru’s presentation on MIAS’ opening day and was a highlight of the Subaru pavilion. Autoplus Sportszentrium, the country’s authority in automotive aftermarket tuning and exclusive distributors of Motul oil and lubricants, brought over the Motul-Pitwork 350Z Japan Grand Touring Car Championship race car, powered by a 495-bhp twin-turbo VQ engine. MIAS visitors had a chance to get up close and personal with both of these potent, multi-million dollar racing machines.
By Jason K. Ang | Photos by Ulysses Ang and Alvin Uy
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