Hot Import Nights

Hot Import Nights (HIN) is an auto show comprised of mainly tuner import cars. The show originated in California, but now tours various cities in the United States. Sponsors include Boost Mobile, The Army National Guard, Bridgestone Tires and NOS Energy Drinks.

The Company

Hot Import Nights and its original parent company, Vision Entertainment, were formed by show expo professionals based in and around Orange County, California. The founders were Richard Goodwin, Todd Wallin, John Russell, Marc Wallin, Michael Munar and Kevin Mcdonald. The company began its initial shows in significantly smaller fairground settings where they were able to test the market and create a general buzz about the show. During this time only a handful of companies (Goodtimes Motorsports and Mainstream Productions' Import Showoff being the most notable competitors) were venturing into this area. Hot Import Nights understood that they had a product that could be sold, but how to market and to capture an audience was a whole different story and a different market than they were used to targeting. A Nightime Club Setting in which "Tuners" were able to showcase their cars and have fun doing it in front of large crowds and more importantly their peers.

Michael Munar initiated a Nationwide Grassroots Movement. They began by recruiting young and energetic individuals throughout their target cities and molding these individuals to become the show promoters and essentially the face of the show when it comes to a specific market. The results were beyond compare. In the years to come the import car show industry grew significantly. Yearly HIN show attendance has grown to number in the hundreds of thousands.

Hot Import Nights is currently owned by APG Media (www.apg-media.com) since being purchased in 2006.

Events

Hot Import Nights hosts single-night events in a number of different cities across the US, with an average of roughly two such events per month. The locales include standard metropolitan cities such as Los Angeles, CA, Boston, MA, San Mateo, CA, Seattle, WA, New York, NY, Miami, FL and Chicago, IL, as well as more exotic ones such as Honolulu, HI.

The show is open to the public, with general admission ticket prices between $25 and $30. Individuals wishing to show off or exhibit their own vehicles pay a higher fee of around $30 per motorcycle or $55 per car.

Many noteworthy hip-hop and rap musicians also perform at this show. There have also been performances by noteworthy DJ's, trance and electronic dance music artists.

Unlike other auto shows, Hot Import Nights synthesizes a night club-like atmosphere with the nation’s toughest and most rigorous “tuner” (automotive modification) competitions. It also highlights the growing subculture of import cars and racing, a billion-dollar industry dominated by Asian Americans. [Swing, Peter(2008-07-25). [http://www.asianweek.com/2008/07/25/the-art-of-car-inside-the-asian-american-subculture-of-import-cars/ "The Art of Car: Inside the Asian American Subculture of Import Cars"] . AsianWeek. Retrieved on 2008-07-25.]

Models

In addition to a large number of vehicles, Hot Import Nights events typically feature a number of promotional models. These models promote the products of individual companies/magazines/websites with booths at the event, some participate in fashion shows, and others dance on stage with a DJ playing the music selections. These car shows are typically set up with a night club atmosphere (dark with night club lighting & music), but are still geared towards people of all ages. Although the show is open to all ages, somewhat revealing or risque outfits on the models are not uncommon. Typically they wear bikinis, miniskirts, cut t-shirts, spaghetti string tank tops, etc... that are usually supplied by the company/magazine/website that they are representing.

The show's night club atmosphere serves to attract a larger male-dominated audience of anywhere from 13 to 30 to the event.

Media coverage

Limited portions of specific events have been shown on the G4 program, "Street Fury" and on HINtv. During such segments, the host mingles with the owners of the cars, speaks with them about the modifications made to the vehicles, and takes the opportunity to interview show goers. These events are also frequently covered by automotive websites, automotive magazines, local or regional newspapers, freelance photographers and television shows from all over the world.

References

External links

* [http://www.hotimportnights.com/ Hot Import Nights Official site]
* [http://www.hincity.com/ Hot Import Nights Official community site]
* [http://www.carandmodel.com/events/?filter=1 Official Photo coverage of all Hot Import Nights]
* [http://www.metrowize.com/photos/hot-import-nights-photos-2008 Hot Import Nights San mateo 2008 Photo Gallery]