Allen Lorenzo – former Marketing Manager & International Sales at Tomei Powered Inc

Skibeemo: How did you first get into cars?

AL: I got into cars during high school when I was living in Adelaide. I always liked driving plus there was nothing else better to do in Adelaide. So I just went cruising with friends and enjoyed car life. It’s apart of the Australian culture, car life.

Skibeemo: What has been your favourite car to own?

AL: It would have to be the (Toyota) AE86. Although it has no power, you reap rewards, as when you push the car to its limit, you’re also pushing you own limits as well. But due to its lightweight, if you lose control of the car, you’re not actually going to suffer the harsh consequences compared to a high powered heavier car, because with the momentum, there is a higher risk that you’re going to crash and write it off or have a serious accident. In a lightweight car, you’re not going as fast even though you feel like you’re going fast due to the high RPM limit and sound of the motor, so if you lose it, the consequences aren’t as severe.

Skibeemo: You once owned the actual Veilside Fortune FD RX-7 hero-car from The Fast and The Furious Tokyo Drift. What was that like?

AL: Technically yes and no. This opportunity came when I was working for an automotive export company in Japan. The company brought back 19 cars from Los Angeles that was from the movie.

The (Veilside Fortune FD) RX-7 was tidied up and then I sold it to a guy in Perth. But in order for it to come into Australia, it had to be imported as a personal import, as that was the only way to legally get the car here. Therefore, it had to be legally registered under an Australian name, which was me, so I legally owned it for over a year.

Long story short, the buyer fell through and the car ended up staying in Japan, where it was sold.

Skibeemo: How has the car scene and aftermarket industry changed since you first got into it?

AL: It’s changed dramatically because of a numbering factors.

One, lifestyle trends have changed. This generation of young people, depending on where but mostly in Japan, are simply not interested in cars; they’re more into mobile phones and stuff like that as well as going out and spending money on entertainment. Ownership cost of a car in Japan is also very expensive.

Outside of Japan, it’s EPA as well as law enforcement becoming stricter on modified cars and speed. Another factor is the increase of fuel prices all around the world and the automotive industry’s move from fossil fuel to hybrid and electric.

Further, manufactures aren’t releasing as many affordable sports-cars relative to the past. So that shift, along with all the other factors has taken its toll on the industry.

Skibeemo: What are your thoughts on the future of the car scene and aftermarket industry? What trends do you predict we’ll see?

AL: Things will change but modified cars will still be around as motor-heads will always exists.

We’ll see more top-end race cars being built as well as a different era of classic Japanese sports cars. As the industry’s demand for fossil fuel reduces, people from our generation or older will continue to keep their 80s and 90s cars, along with spending lots of money on maintaining them, as they are becoming more historical.

Modified cars will utilise more tuning and software related mods as cars shift to more computer controlled systems and not only EFI technology. Lots of aspects in new and future cars are being more computer controlled so it will be more about enhancing the processing operations such as how do you get the response of an electronic throttle and everything related to produce quicker outputs.

Skibeemo: Any closing words?

AL: Hopefully people will still enjoy cars and bikes.

If users are passionate about modifying their cars and can’t afford certain parts, hold back and save up the money until they can afford a proper genuine product. Support reputable companies who were willing to outlay the initial cost to do the research and development to make it, instead of supporting those who just knock it off and make replica parts.

Enjoy the journey of modifying your car as well. Don’t go overboard, learn and enhance your skills by progressively changing parts bit-by-bit. Be safe and do your racing at race tracks.

A big thank you to Allen for taking time out of his busy schedule to have a chat with Skibeemo.