THE NIGHT TIME IS THE RIGHT TIME

Type S Night Lights for the car enthusiast can conjure up emotions. For fans of JDM (Japanese domestic market) culture, they ascribe it to Acura’s performance line. However for others, Type S is the namesake for the line of aftermarket automotive under-glow products which was popular in the early 2000s and gained notoriety for being utilized heavily in movies like The Fast and the Furious.

Type S, joined by the ever gracious host Larry Chen, once again found its Night Lights event down by the bay in Long Beach—this time holding space in a mammoth parking structure nestled between the Long Beach Arena and Terrace Theater.  The line wrapped down around the theater as far as the eye could see for this free event and was set to open promptly at 6pm.

Car enthusiasts funneled their way into the parking structure and snaked their way around three massive levels, met by an eclectic mix of JDM and domestic custom creations at every turn.  Pennzoil was on hand once people found their way up top. An immediate line formed that lasting throughout the evening as they were giving away free five quart jugs of their oil as well a enamel pins of some of the cars that were on display.

As SoCal sun gave way to a mild and breezy evening, enthusiasts were greeted by a roll in of Formula DRIFT cars that would be competing just across the way on the same course along the Streets of Long Beach.  All senses were on fire as the sound of 1000hp drift cars ached forward filling the structure with the distinctly sweet smell of E85 ethanol.  Onlookers crowded the cars as they took place amongst the Supras and Skylines, Sylvia’s and Centuries. 

One of the coolest parts of the evening, was how well-mannered and respectful car enthusiasts were throughout the event.  There has been an uneasy rise of the ‘takeover’ culture that has put a mark on the car scene, even though serious aficionados would distinguish this as something destructive and not in line with what car culture stands for.  Recent events across the country, namely Gatlinburg, affectionately known as ‘Gat’, were recently cancelled due to destructive behaviors taking place around the event.

Type-S Night Light’s host and well-known automotive photographer Larry Chen underpinned the necessity for enthusiasts that took part in this event to distinguish Southern California, Long Beach and car culture as a whole as a positive force—one of creation and community.  That is exactly what ensued, a night of pure joy and JDM. – Christopher Carreiro

Sidebar Comment

Whenever Jaida at COYNEPR contacts us about an automotive event, we’re used to making a double take. The public relations firm seems to represent a disproportionately high number of the most interesting automotive events and projects. Most recently, it included Pennzoil’s Long May We Drive series, several initiative backed by Hemmings, including Afterburn: Ashes to Aid, a charity rally organized by Rally Way and its fundraising arm, Weissach Rally, and the harrowing view of the Eaton Canyon fire devastation in Altadena, a Black History Month mixer organized by Motoring While Black in partnership with Vintage Japanese Motor Union, and finally this event, Pennzoil Presents S Type Night Lights by Larry Chen. We look forward to what the near future will bring. – Roy Nakano