Antonio LoganThis month marks my one year anniversary here at Zen Garage! There was no better way to celebrate it than going back down to Atlanta, Georgia and cover one of my favorite car shows called Import Alliance Spring Meet. This is my second time covering this event, and last March Import Alliance Spring Meet was my first ever feature for Zen! Crazy right? Hell I thought so! Time flies mates!
The event was held in Atlanta, Georgia at Atlanta Motor Speedway. This year marked the event’s 11th anniversary year, so the IA staff definitely wanted to make this event BIG! Now Mother Nature was very threatening with the weather change. Rain was subject to be the ultra-mood killer for all of us automotive enthusiasts. Screw that shit! We kept on rocking out with stanced cars, battle stance cars, some of the top vendors and companies in the automotive business, silly ass hoover boards, and puppies roaming about, insane drifting, and overall good times with friends. Now the weather on day 1 of the event was complete overcast, then on day 2 pure sunshine. Made editing odd honestly, but I had the time of my life shooting.
So many vendors were out over the two day event. BMR, S3 Magazine, Slammedenuff, Funk Fashion alongside with model Meagan Lee Bryan, ESR (Eat, Sleep, Race), Shocker Joe, Avenue Performance, Competition Clutch with models Stephanie Fisher and Lovilla Santiago, Grip Royal, Exedy, and many more. My friend Bear Dellinger (Model, promo model, drifter, Hot Import Nights Model) was at the Avenue Performance booth signing photos, taking pictures with her Bear Cubs (fans), and she and I had some time to catch up and chat it up.
Craziest thing, Ravi of V2 Lab recognized the Zen gear and we chatted it up. So awesome to have met him! One thing I can say about our busy lives as photographers, some as models, and enthusiasts is that we will always remain friends no matter how productive we get in our personal lives.
(Bear Dellinger w/fan)
There were some super nice car builds this year. Crazy built Honda Civic’s, insane RHD cars like the Nissan Skyline R32 GT-R, Charlan’s bagged FG2 Honda Civic Si, NSX’s, a couple of LSX swapped RX-7’s, and tons more. It was so awesome seeing such unique and intricate builds. I loved them all! A cool addition to the event is the Import Alliance Drift-O-Rama with Formula D driver ride along. I have never seen cars drift before in person. But I was dying to get inside the pit to capture action photos for the first time ever. I was nervous as hell because I did not know how the photos will come out. I said screw it, and shot away as Team Enjuku, Top Garage, Bear Dellinger, and many other teams were there ripping up asphalt. It was fucking awesome! My fellow friends Nate Hamilton and Kelsey Rowlings of Enjuku Racing were murdering the Tandem drifts! Hauling ass out of the gates and just ripping it. I have never been covered in so much tire shavings in my life either. In my hair, in my ear, sadly on my pride and joy which is my camera, and Zen gear. Insanely RAD!
(David Camp)
I thoroughly enjoyed Import Alliance. It was definitely an escape for me as I’m sure for others as well. To have fun, see friends, and enjoy the life of cars and drifting. It was such a resplendent time. Hell I want to go back! Take us back! This event brought a lot to the table as well as the IA Showcase/VIP cars and vendors. I want to personally thank Don Napier and Martell Jacocks and the rest of the IA staff for their efforts and hard work of bringing forth an event for everyone to enjoy. You guys rock! See you guys next time. Enjoy the photos!
(Left: Lovilla Santiago Right: Stephanie Fisher)
(Model: Meagan Lee Brayan)
(Deft Motion Guys)
