| SCENE
| SEPTEMBER 22, 2005 | Send
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Driving Force
Local organization is out to bring
car enthusiasts into the light
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| Photo by Drew Campbell |
| Vehicles of every make and model
are welcome at these car shows where owners share
their love for motor vehicles. |
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By James
McGarrigle
Contributor to The Shorthorn
Robin Moody cannot recall exactly what ignited
his passion for cars.
He’s just always loved them. His mom said he was born with
a car in his hand, and the first thing he drew as a child was —
well, that’s right.
Although he graduated in 1999 with a degree in laser electro-optics
from Texas State Technical College, Moody admits he’s not
using his degree. He instead splits his time between customizing
his Scion xB and helping others fulfill their own creative visions
by selling custom wheels at American Racing.
“I’m broke because of this car,” Moody said. “I
don’t really keep tabs on how much I spend because if I did,
I’d probably be sick, but if it has wheels on it, I’ll
customize it.”
Moody lives for it, like the guys who hang outside America’s
Best Coffee various nights of the week, sipping frozen coffee drinks
and exchanging boastful accounts of acceleration and horsepower
over popped hoods.
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| Photo by Drew Campbell |
| Car show regulars often display
their past victories along with their car for more clout.
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The coffee shop on Matlock Road has recently
become home for these men when they come together through the DFW
Car Club run by mechanical engineering sophomore Dan Oliver.
The club officially meets and coordinates its activities with police
to ensure events are safe and undisturbed, Oliver said.
Last week, as usual, debate over the merits of “sleepers”
against “rice burners” left casual observers lost and
searching for definitions they won’t find in the dictionary.
People there described “sleepers” as cars with the soccer-mom
exterior but enough modifications under the hood to give the Knight
Rider a run for his money, while “rice burners,” on
the other hand, are Japanese-manufactured cars with body kits that
turn heads but are ultimately “all show, no go.”
Dat Vu, an undeclared sophomore at Tarrant County College, said
he’s a regular at the club’s events and said it’s
a good way for him to indulge in his passion.
Although Oliver, the club’s president, flatly denies the presence
of any former street racers among attendees, the hint of past ills
slips through in some conversations.
“Before this we used to just drive around all day with nowhere
to go — outcasts,” Vu said. “I don’t think
street racing is a problem until the cops try to kick people to
the road, but with these car meets, you can’t get in trouble
for that.”
Oliver said he is aware of the unsavory reputation that follows
certain types of car fanatics but said the misconceptions are all
part of what gives his organization a real purpose.
The fact that the organization’s mission statement is one
sentence long and contains the word “legal” twice indicates
his seriousness toward bringing car enthusiasm above ground.
“There are different misconceptions depending on the different
types of vehicles that gather, but the main driving force is that
we are an organization for car clubs,” Oliver said. “We
promote safe and legal meeting places and also educate different
car club members on how to get into track events.”
As revelers examine each other’s engines, they receive valuable
insight into how they can safely enhance their vehicles —
their pride and joy.
In addition to the usual gathering and a trip to a local car show,
last Wednesday members were called upon to take part in a donation
drive to help Hurricane Katrina victims. Money and goods were forwarded
to the American Red Cross.
“Its always good to have all the organizations give back to
the community,” Oliver said.
Although Moody said he is not being as involved as he once was,
he applauds the clubs involvement in the community.
“As far as the car scene, I think it’s a good thing,”
he said. “The image, for a lot of people who are misled by
the media, is that if you have a fancy car then you’re a thug.
It’s good that people know we’re just ordinary people
and we are concerned about other people.”
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HOODS UP
To learn of upcoming events involving
the DFWCC go to:
www.dfwcc.com
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