January 7, 2009.. another milestone has been reached. It is our 14th year anniversary so happy anniversary Hybridzzz & Hunnyzzz. Can you believe it? Founded on January 7, 1995 in Oxnard, Ca and after seeing 70+ of you @ our Christmas party when we have a total of about 80-100+ and seeing how our team is performing in the first 6 days of the new year esp. when the import scene is suffering due to a bad world economic situation, the co-leaders and I are prouder than ever and even more confident that we will hit our goal of the 15 year mark. Thanks for all you do and much Hybrid Luv goes out to all the current co-leaders/co-leaders in training/members/hunnyz/probies that are still active with us today. See you @ the 14 Year Team Hybrid and 2 Year HybridHunnyz.com Anniversary Party (Date/Location TBA).

This quote of mine means more to me than ever, “May our tradition continue making history…”

Hybrid luv,

James Lin

Continue reading “Import Tuner February 2009”

Over the past 13 years, our team has inspired many, brought greatness to more people than we’ve ever imagined, and ingrained ourself in the public consciousness with such force of will that we have become a brand and legendary name. Almost everything we touch, turns into gold. Every suggestive idea, innovative customization, almost every make/model of car, display, Hybrid Hunnyz, trophy, sponsor, trend, and even our management team of co-leaders have been looked up or copied by various import teams throughout the nation.

As your leader, it is my job to continue to lead by example, do what I must behind the scenes in order to continue making Hybrid History and keep us ahead of the competition while our members focus and build their car(s) to be best of the best. Actions speak louder than words. Not only are we making Hybrid History, we are making Import Industry History by placing two Hybrid cars on the same issue of both Outer & Inside COVERS in Performance Auto & Sound Magazine. Our team name is also printed on both covers to help sell the magazine. We will be the first team to ever do this. Some teams may score a cover here and there, but NONE (past or present) have scored two covers in the same issue in the last 15 years that I know of. NONE of them currently have the level of respect and relationship we have with our industry peers.

We thought making cover of March 2008 Super Street issue w/ the Scion xD was amazing. Now, we just topped ourselves. As some of you may know or those that subscribe, PAS is now two magazines in one. There is the PAS Cover and in the magazine, there is another magazine called PASMAG Overdrive which also has its own hard cover. On top of that, the editor in chief decided to run these Cover cars together in their 2008 annual issue which comes in a poly bag w/ their annual 2008::2009 import model calendar inside of it too. You can’t miss it and it is one or possibly, the highest circulated issue and stays on newsstands for twice as long.

Lastly, there is more Hybrid History in the making. This will also be the 4th consecutive month that PAS has featured a Team Hybrid car in their magazine. Most teams out there are grateful getting 1-2 features a year. We have already had 4 in a row and with more coming (as of now, 4 more to be exact). Team Hybrid continues to be the finest, oldest and most innovative import team.

Hybrid Luv,

James Lin

(Click pictures for full size)

Congratulations to Project Director, James Lin and Project Manager, David Huang’s 2008 Scion xD in a 6 page COVER feature in Super Street Magazine’s Mach 2008 issue, pgs 054-060. This was an article w/ Super Street that I worked out that had to be kept top secret from the public and now, here it is for all to witness. Making COVER is also another major milestone achievement for Team Hybrid. We continue to be unstoppable. Senior Editor, Terence Patrick, wrote as the cover story heading, “JAMES LIN OF TEAM HYBRID TALKS ABOUT BEING THE KING OF SCION TUNERS.”

Super Street Quote #1, “Build a winning show car once and consider yourself lucky. Build a winning show car two years in a row and you’re James Lin, Founder of Team Hybrid, who’s won back-to-back Scion Tuner Challenges, defeating three other teams in the invitation-only competition.

Super Street Quote #2, “Another obstacle was the fact that Team Hybrid is purely a car club and not a pro-level shop with a garage available 24/7 or warehouse full of inventory…the problem was solved by outsourcing the development of parts as one-off pieces and relying on loyal sponsors who were eager to jump aboard the proven winner’s ship”

Super Street Quote #3, “The foundation for the design process was Team Hybrid’s philosophy of building clean, innovative cars that can win at the race, street, track, or show. James attributes this multi-disciplinary approach as the primary reason Team Hybrid has become legendary in the tuning industry.”

Super Street Quote #4, “Hopefully James and Team Hybrid will have more time and resources when they go for the three-peat at SEMA later this year.”

(Click pictures for full size)

It is official and confirmed by Ken Miyoshi, founder of Mainstream and creator of Import Showoff shows, that Team Hybrid has set and now, holds the most trophies won by a team @ a single event. Ken has been doing Import Showoffs for the last 13 years and no team has ever won 15 trophies which includes a team trophy too. Previously, the team that held the most trophies won was Art n Motion @ 11 trophies.

Thank you all (NorCal, Las Vegas and esp. SoCal) for the hard work. Since we have official confirmation of winning the most trophies ever iin Import Showoff’s History and also, our history, time to post up pictures of the winners who helped made this all happen.

Congratulations everyone on starting our 1st mandatory BFG/Michelin show in 2008 with such success. First it was Super Street March 2008 cover, now, it is a record shattering 15 trophies. All of you continue to make our second family proud. We run this. HHHHHyyyyyyyybbbbbrrrrrrrriiiiiiiddddddddddd!!!

BEST OF

Kirby: Best Lexus – 1992 Lexus SC300
Alvin: Best Other VIP – 2005 Infiniti G-35
Son: Best Honda – 1999 Honda Accord
Mark: Best DTM Other – 1978 Volkswagen Rabbit

First Place

Stewart: 1st Nissan – 1972 Datsun 510
Jason: 1st Mitsubishi – 2005 Mitsubishi Evolution MR
James: 1st Scion – 2006 Toyota Scion xA

Second Place

Chef: 2nd DTM Other – 1999 Volkswagon Passat Turbo
Scott: 2nd VIP Other – 2003 Infiniti G-35 Twin Turbo
Eric: 2nd Acura – 2004 RSX Type – S
Frank: 2nd Place Scion – 2006 Toyota Scion tC

Third Place

Charles: 3rd Mitsubishi – 2006 MONSTER Evolution 9 MR
Francis: 3rd place Other – 2004 Subaru WRX

Last but not least,

Team Hybrid: Best Team Represent

And THAT…is how it’s done

(Click pictures for full size)

In Import Tuner March 2008 issue, pg 022, there is a half page article about Team Hybrid titled, “TEAMHYBRID FTW.” There is a large picture of our 1st place Green Scion Team Tuner Challenge Hybrid xD taken at a studio. Import Tuner wrote, “What started off as a blip on the radar of sport compact competition later gave birth to one of the most looked-forward to build-off events of 2007, as the enthusiasm Scion met with last year’s first annual Scion Tuner Challenge prompted the company to present an even bigger opportunity for tuners the second time around. For 2007, Scion gave Southern California’s Team Auto Concept Elite, Team Koshak and Team Hybrid each identical ’08 xD’s, and a budget of $15,000 to create a winning build to be judged by the NCCA. Accepting the challenge, each team upped the ante set by last year’s competition. After consideration, it was Team Hybrid that took top honors at the this year’s SEMA show. Coordinated by James Lin, this year’s car featured a custom Garrett turbo kit, ING+1 exterior styling dressed in custom House of Kolor hues, a CREATIVE custom figerglass interior and custom Air Runner suspension. www.scion.com”

This is the 3rd article this year about our award winning 1st place Scion xD in a major import magazine and we are still in the first month of the new year. Furthermore, this is also back to back (Feb & March 08) appearances of Team Hybrid cars featured in Import Tuner.

(Click pictures for full size)

Hybridz and Guest:

Most of you know I work on many behind the scene projects, but finally, the highly anticipated release of Team Hybrid’s “Behind the Trophy” DVD is set for January 2007 release. Only 100 copies will be made so please pre-order your copy now. Here are the details:

-40 minutes of footage.
-Coverage of HIN, LA & Import Showoff, Nisei
-Feature of Signal/BFG/Hybrid Skyline
-Special bonus footage of members
-Special bonus footage of hunnyz
-Dolby 5.1 Surround Sound

Members/Probies of Hybrid:

-Please pre-order your copy(s) today by replying to this thread or contact @ [email protected]
-Special screening will be held @ our Christmas Party on 12/02 in Beverly Hills.
-Price per DVD $25 (Check, Money Order, Cashier Check or Cash accepted).
-Orders will be delivered in January 2007.

Guest of Hybrid:

-Please pre-order your copy(s) today by replying to this thread or contact @ [email protected]
-Please give me your full name, ship to address and phone number.
-Please visit us @ any of our booth in 2007 as we tour w/ BF Goodrich. Locations TBA.
-Price per DVD $25 (Money Order or Cashier Check accepted).
-Orders will be delivered in January 2007.

Here is a trailer preview on www.youtube.com. Make sure you turn up the volume before you play it. Enjoy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IbBnO7BG5YU