7’S Day 2018: A Day for the RX7

For car enthusiasts all across the globe, the 7th of July (7’s Day) has become one of the most meaningful days on the calendar: A day for the Mazda RX7. The rear-wheel drive sports car is best known for it’s infamous (or famous, depending on which school of thought you subscribe to) rotary engine and has become a collectible classic 40 years later. The founders of PRIME, my good friends Pravan and Edwin, are two of many that created a tangible, visual experience for others to enjoy in the car’s honor.

KEEPING IT A SECRET

It’s no secret that, if there isn’t a solid plan, things can quickly get out of hand in the densely populated city of New York. An overcrowding of residents combined with the constant flooding of tourists makes for very busy sidewalks and streets. But that also makes for arguably the perfect scenario to show off and make a statement.

When first creating PRIME’s 7’s Day, both Pravan and Edwin recognized the aforementioned challenges. With three completed events, the success of 7’s Day can be attributed to PRIME’s invite-only policy as well as the secrecy of route information. Of course, what’s made it equally successful is the fact that attendees recognize and truly respect the sacredness of this information. 

…and with that, here’s a taste of what went down.

A NIGHT OF UTTER ROTARY

As the sun was setting at an undisclosed location in Manhattan, a few friends and I arrived at the address provided to us. A gorgeous R34 Skyline sat quietly on the narrow city street. We knew that we were early, but we anxiously waited for more people to arrive.

Within 30 minutes, cars of all kinds poured in like a monsoon. I don’t think the guys at PRIME expected nearly as big of a turn out as they got because, within minutes the meeting spot was completely packed from one avenue to the other. It was then that I realized we should probably move on to Times Square…and that our car was probably blocked in.

Now, having lived in New York all of my life, the idea of spending any amount of time in Times Square sickens me. I’m not claustrophobic, but the overwhelming amount of foot traffic quickly chisels at my sanity and, as we waited impatiently to see something other than a taxi or a bus, I could actually feel excitement building. Considering my disdain for the place, it was actually pretty awesome. 

Out of the corner of my eye, I spotted a white FD3S RX7. I ran towards it and saw that there was a beautiful FB RX7 right next to it. I began to shoot.

The RX7s disappeared as quickly as they came in. I thought it was odd and, as I ran up a block, I saw that they were being diverted. The cops had caught on to what we were doing and wouldn’t let anyone from the group through. It made no difference though because enthusiasts and tourists alike were already making their way over to where they were going. As the cars turned in, they snapped pictures on their phones and stopped drivers to ask about the cars. The appreciation did not go unnoticed.

As the group moved on to the final spot, my friends and I decided grab dinner and head home. We were all overwhelmed by the experience and needed to digest…literally and figuratively. Should we get invited next year, we will most certainly attend and, if somehow you get invited, I urge you to go as well.

AutoCon New York 2018

It was only a few hours after leaving PRIME 7’s Day that I was heading back out to attend my first-ever Autocon. When I had first arrived at Pier 94 on the west side of Manhattan, there were already hundreds of cars rolled in and on display. At first, the spectator line to get in looked pretty bleak, but when the doors finally opened to the public, fans of all ages started pouring in.

The Hudson River provided a nice cooling breeze that flowed through the open doors of the large tented area. The skylights and overhead lighting scattered throughout the space produced nice dramatic lighting on many of the cars. Friends that had attended the year prior were continually remarking on how much better the show was this time around and, although the “Lineup” layout was a bit strange, it actually seemed to allow for more owners to put their vehicles on display.

THE INFLUENCER ADVANTAGE

The recipe for a successful car show has morphed dramatically over the past two decades. Innovations in technology and changes in how we interact with one another have altered the landscape, for better or for worse. Not surprisingly, the success or failure of a show that’s put on in the present day depends heavily on how the creators adapt to these changes.

One of the strongest ingredients Autocon used in their recipe for success in New York was having Social Media Influencers in attendance. With both T.J. Hunt and Chris Petruccio of Krispy Media at their show doing meet and greets along with selling their merchandise, the guys at Autocon were no doubt able to pull in a larger, wider audience. Spectators had the added bonus of checking out awesome builds while also getting autographs from and taking pictures with their favorite automotive Youtube stars. The results showed with lines at both T.J.’s and Chris’s booths being consistently long throughout the show.

As someone who’s been in the show scene since the early days of Hot Import Nights, it was particularly cool for me to have seen R.J. De Vera, a legendary competitive builder, not only in attendance but also serving as a judge.

ROLL OUT > ROLL IN

By around 6 o’ clock, the award ceremony was finished and competitors started up their cars to leave. Spectators that stayed until the very end were rewarded with a roll out that was just as good as the show itself. As cars exited the building, crowds of people with phones in hand formed on either side of them. Competitors certainly didn’t mind the attention and often gave thanks with a few revs. As the last of the cars merged onto the West Side Highway, the crowds dissipated and the show was over.