May 2009's WinnAr: Nuke0907

[vex]

Year, model, mods, etc:

2004 Mazda RX8 Winning Blue

Exterior:
-Evo CF chin spoiler (before)
-Vertex Lang front bumper with Canards and custom midnight black 2-tone paint. (after)
-OEM front mud guards (before)
-OEM aero flares with custom CF overlay (before)
-R-magic replica side skirts (after)
-Custom CF Mazdaspeed rear under diffuser
-Vertex Lang rear lip spoiler
-De-badged trunk with custom midnight black 2-tone paint. (after)
-Midnight black fuse and ECU covers(after)
-CF B pillar covers
-CF mirror covers
-Carbign Craft CF license plate backing
-smoked side markers
-smoked tail lights
-8000K HID's
-PIAA plasma ion yellow parking lights
-PIAA mirror orange turn signals
-LED license plate light
-Shazbot's blue LED puddle lights

Interior:
-blue LED dome light
-blue LED door lights
-Rotary Rasp's blue LED foot well lights
-Rotary Rasp's blue LED trunk lights
-OEM all-weather floor mats
-Midnight black window switch panels(after)

I.C.E.:
-OEM iPod integration unit
-Zenclosure custom subwoofer box
-custom flush mount amp rack
-Kicker Solobaric 12" L7 subwoofer
-Kicker ZX750.1 amplifier

Wheels, Suspension:
-SSR GT2-H 18x10.5" +43 all around
-Kumho Ecsta XS 265/35/18 all around
-Tein S-Tech springs
-Progress Technology front and rear sway bars
-White Line front and rear sway bar endlinks
-Mazdaspeed front strut tower bar

Performance:
-K&N Typhoon type II intake
-HKS Hi-Power catback exhaust
-RX7store resonated midpipe
-Z-Ent grounding kit
-Optima yellow top battery

Questions to the owner:

Q: Congratulations for winning Ride of the Month! Tell us about how you acquired this car?
A: before i had my RX8 i had a 2004 Toyota 4-Runner. when i transferred duty stations with the Navy my pay was severely screwed up. i had to trade my 4-Runner in for something cheaper so the RX8 was it.

Q: How did you first become interested in modified cars? Have you had any previously?
A: i've been interested in modified cars ever since i was a kid. my dad used to take me to car shows. it was mostly muscle cars but imports eventuall grew on me even though i still really want something with a V8. i also have a 1995 Nissan 240SX that i use as my beater car. it is also slightly modified.

Q: Whats the biggest reason you chose a rotary powered car to modify?
A: i chose the RX8 because it is not a very common car. its also kinda rare to see an extensively modified RX8 around.

Q: Is this car your daily driver? Do you participate in any form of racing? (Drag, Auto-X, etc)
A: i do use my car as a DD, but i recently got a new front bumper with fresh paint so i won't be driving it as much for a while. i have considered doing Auto-X this season but i might have to wait til next year.

Q: What do you enjoy most about your car?
A: the handling and the attention......good and bad. its quite flattering.

Q: Do you have any future plans for the car, or any car?
A: i have parts for my turbo project now. there's just a few more things i need to get before i start the install. i also still need to do some interior mods. i have some Prosport guages i still need to install. i also need to finish my stereo install with a double DIN in-dash navigation unit.

Q: Any other hobbies besides cars?
A: my other hobby is photography. although i usually like taking photos of my own car i also enjoy taking night time city pictures.

Q: Anyone you'd like to thank?
A: first i'd like to thank everyone on several different forums that i bought parts from. i'd also like to thank the forum vendors. also thanks to everyone that voted this month.

Q: Anything in the pipeline for another ROTM win?
A: well.... i had a backup plan if i didn't win this month with my old setup i'd enter another month with my new setup. i'm kind of a firm believer that if i win i shouldn't be able to win again at least for another year.

Additional Pictures?[/QUOTE]
i don't have any good current pics but here are some before and after shots.

Before:









After: