• Grid Icons is Pit+Paddock’s new car show concept that highlights a specific genre of performance-themed vehicles, this first event being the R32, R33, and R34 generations of the JDM Nissan Skyline GT-R.
• The inaugural Pit+Paddock x Yokohama Tire Grid Icons presented by Haltech took place at 405 Motoring’s 12,000-square-foot state-of-the-art aesthetic tuning facility located just minutes from Los Angeles International Airport.
• More than 25 tuned GT-Rs exhibited including Brad Nielson’s 1,000hp R32 SEMA build, Marc Tcham’s Millennium Jade M-Spec Nür R34, 1 of 40 NISMO 400Rs that was imported by Toprank, and Dai Yoshihara’s 750hp “DAI33” Skyline. 
• An exclusive guest list limited the event’s capacity to 500 people with industry representatives present from Yokohama Tire, Haltech, Throtl, Hoonigan, Mackin Industries, Koyorad, RS-R, and more.
• Fuelab sponsored a limited-edition capsule collection which was handed out to VIP guests, media, and featured builders.

Grid Icons media coverage is presented by Hawk Performance

WHAT IS GRID ICONS?

Since our relaunch in 2021, the team at Pit+Paddock has strived to come up with new and exciting ways to bring enthusiasts together to celebrate aftermarket car culture. Examples include our Ride with Dai drift ride-along program, curated Cars+Coffee pop-ups, and now this new event concept we call, “Grid Icons”. Grid Icons puts a new twist on traditional car shows by narrowing the focus on specific vehicles while also ensuring each featured build receives the spotlight it deserves.

CELEBRATING THE SKYLINE GT-R

For our first show, we decided to showcase a handpicked collection of authentic, right-hand-drive R32, R33, and R34 Skyline GT-Rs, all powered by the famed RB26DETT inline-six. These all-wheel-drive sports cars are holy to us. They weren’t just legendary champions in JTCC and Group N racing, but they were never sold in the U.S., and that rarity makes them perhaps the most sought-after JDM import in North America.

THE PERFECT VENUE

An event is only as good as its venue, which is why we chose to host the first-ever Grid Icons at 405 Motoring. Located just a few minutes from LAX airport, 405 specializes in paint protection film (PPF), ceramic coating, vinyl wrap, and other aesthetic upgrades. We transformed its 12,000 ft. state-of-the-art facility into a scene that felt straight out of the Fast & Furious, minus the corny cars and street racing element. 405’s facility provided extraordinary opportunities for content creators thanks to its custom-built rooms. By day, these unique spaces are used to correct paint and execute perfect PPF jobs; however, for our Nissan Skyline event, the rooms were repurposed for all-night-long photoshoots by the hundreds of media and influencers on hand.

NIGHT OUT ON THE TOWN

Following a one-hour media preview, the doors opened at 8:00 PM on Saturday night and welcomed more than 500 spectators in to experience Grid Icons. Each guest was treated like a VIP with complimentary salmon, tuna, and blue crab handrolls prepared by local 626 Night Market favorite Temaki Time.

People wouldn’t go thirsty either; the upstairs bar and lounge prepared craft cocktails, a “Skyline” martini, and there was even a Kirin Premium Draft Beer pop-up, which saw Dai Yoshihara serving as a surprise bartender throughout the night. Our friends at Fuelab served us the icing on the cake. A Grid Icons crewneck sweatshirt, t-shirt, and sticker made up a limited-edition capsule collection that was gifted to everyone as keepsakes from a memorable evening.

The vibe was a breath of fresh air for those that have been attending the same ‘ol car events for the last two decades. True to our intent, Grid Icons was created to elevate how we give recognition to the aftermarket manufacturers that support these coveted platforms, the builders that have the vision to create the cars we admire, and the industry that ties them together. From all of us at Pit+Paddock, we couldn’t have been more pleased with all the smiles, laughs, and positive feedback we’ve received from everyone who attended, and we can’t wait for the next one. There are so many more car communities and categories of vehicles we want to celebrate, so remember to follow us on Instagram for the latest updates and announcements.

MORE COVERAGE OTW

Lastly, you’re probably wondering where all the info on our featured builds like Brad Nielson’s 1,000hp SEMA build, Marc Tcham’s Millennium Jade M-Spec Nür BNR34, and more. This is part one of our Grid Icons coverage so stay tuned for more as we continue to share photos and videos from our extremely talented contributors.

THANK YOU TO OUR PARTNERS

We’d like to thank our valued partners more than anything: our title partner Yokohama Tire, presenting partner Haltech, capsule collection partner Fuelab, media partner Hawk Performance, and influencer partner Koyorad. 

Grid Icons media coverage is presented by Hawk Performance

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