{"id":4287,"date":"2012-12-22T18:33:59","date_gmt":"2012-12-23T02:33:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/roadraceengineering.com\/blog\/?p=4287"},"modified":"2012-12-24T21:48:22","modified_gmt":"2012-12-25T05:48:22","slug":"rre-city-of-hope-toy-drive-meet-2012","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/roadraceengineering.com\/blog\/2012\/12\/22\/rre-city-of-hope-toy-drive-meet-2012\/","title":{"rendered":"1st Annual RRE Toy Drive To Benefit City of Hope 2012"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Words by James Singer<\/p>\n

Pictures by tons of different random people (but all the best ones are taken by David Karey<\/a> because he actually knows what all the knobs and buttons on a DSLR do).<\/p>\n

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Rossy had an idea to get a bunch of people together for a toy drive to benefit the kids at City of Hope in time for Christmas. \u00a0The result went WAY beyond expectations. \u00a0The event was a huge success. \u00a0There were a bunch of DSMs, EVOs, some drift cars and even one STi that showed up. \u00a0Also,\u00a0Joon Maeng<\/a>\u00a0was on hand signing autographs while his car was filled to the brim with toys that he and Rossy<\/p>\n

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would deliver to the kids at City of Hope personally.<\/p>\n

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Joon is such a genuinely awesome guy. \u00a0All those good things you read about him are true. \u00a0I have seen him more tired than I have ever been in my life (which is actually pretty damn tired), and he is still golden. \u00a0You might wonder why everyone at RRE loves Joon so much. \u00a0I can tell you one reason beyond what you have already read about his personality…FOOD!! \u00a0Joon ALWAYS brings the RRE crew food when they are working on his car. \u00a0A small display of appreciation goes a long way. \u00a0I am just saying. \u00a0I learned this from Joon.<\/p>\n

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I got to the meet an hour late because I woke up late but I still had to wash my car. \u00a0I thought it would be no big deal to get there an hour late but I was wrong. \u00a0I ended up having to park out on Shoemaker. \u00a0La Dana Ct. was full. \u00a0There were also a ton of cars over at Road Race Motorspots.<\/p>\n

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When I got there, Rossy had some models helping with the donations. \u00a0They were also handing out food tickets and raffle tickets. \u00a0On the left is Ashley Clark<\/a>, in the middle is Rossy Welch<\/a> and on the right is Amanda Kerr<\/a>. \u00a0Tons of respect to these ladies for donating their time to a truly worthy cause!! \u00a0RRE IS FOR THE CHILDREN!!<\/a><\/p>\n

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The new Fiat seems pretty lame to me. \u00a0I see them on the freeway and they look like any other little econo box. \u00a0The Fiat at Road Race Motorsports changed my uninformed opinion forever. \u00a0This thing is a bad ass little machine!! \u00a0You know a car is set up right if you are still looking at the car even when it is flanked by two models.<\/p>\n

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Of course the usual crowd pleasers were there as well. \u00a0There were some full race prepped cars and even moster trucks.<\/p>\n

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This turbo Lancer could be the ultimate sleeper without stickers and bright wheels. \u00a0As it sits, this looks like it would be a very fun daily driver and weekend track car.<\/p>\n

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This is what I need to commute in LA traffic!! \u00a0Prius in my way? \u00a0NO PROBLEM<\/a>!!<\/p>\n

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When I first got to the meet, the toys were already half filling Joon Maeng’s FD car. \u00a0Once I made it back from checking out the cars at Road Race Motorsports, the car was packed to the point where they started to fill a second car.<\/p>\n

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From up on the roof, you can see all the cars in the lot. \u00a0You can see part of this bad ass GT-R, Coco Zurita’s<\/a> EVO X with that he has been hitting the track with.<\/p>\n

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I don’t know what Coco did to get his car so hooked up but I am sure that his being really really really ridiculously good looking<\/a> doesn’t hurt. \u00a0It might also have something to do with the fact that he is one of the world’s best BMX riders and happens to also rip up the track on a motorcycle as well. \u00a0I am sure now that he is hitting the track in his EVO X, Coco will be someone to look out for at Time Attack events!!<\/p>\n

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Once the raffle started people crowded around to get a chance at winning some prizes from the sponsors of the event: Lucas Oil<\/a>, Formula Drift<\/a>, D Sport Magazine<\/a>, Dayuum<\/a>, Mackin Industries<\/a>, Rallinspired<\/a>, SoCalEvo.net<\/a>, Zeitronix<\/a> and RRE<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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There were even some internet celebrities at the event like Big Mike<\/a> who over the years has built up one of the most legendary Honda Prelude<\/a> builds EVER. \u00a0I teased Big Mike<\/a> that this was not a Honda meet. \u00a0All joking aside, he told me that he was down to support the community to do something for the kids regardless of the make and model of cars represented. \u00a0This is why so many people love Big Mike. \u00a0He is a true car enthusiast and a good guy! \u00a0Repping for the kids<\/a>!! \u00a0Also, Big Mike showed up with another import model who happens to race a GT-R<\/a> as well, superstar\/badass\u00a0Kerryann De La Cruz<\/a>\u00a0!!<\/p>\n

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Lod\/\/\/Lace Engineering!! \u00a0Check out the upcoming RRE sitcom “Everyone Loved Lod” next season.<\/p>\n

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Steven owns one of the best Ralliart fastbacks built to date. \u00a0There were lots of track guys, show guys, drift guys…there were lots of guys in general, haha.<\/p>\n

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Luckily, some lovely ladies showed up as well!!<\/p>\n

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Everyone got some tacos.<\/p>\n

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People walked away with some dope prizes.<\/p>\n

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There was more than enough drool worthy cars in attendance.<\/p>\n

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and in the end a bunch of toys made their way to the kids at City of Hope.<\/p>\n

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in the end, the event was a HUGE success. \u00a0If you did not make it, do not lose hope. \u00a0The Myans were wrong about the end of the world and all that, so there is a good chance you can hit up the event next year. \u00a0Do not forget to bring a toy so you can be in the raffle!!<\/p>\n\n\t\t