Welcome to Gaia! ::

OK, the following is a intro post i made for all members to read if they were to join my guild (sorry i won't advertise lol).

I'm pretty sure one or two facts might be frayed or obscured, so if any true japanese culture buffs could please share their thoughts and opinions i would GREATLY appreciate it.

but for the most part, here's what i've been using.

(enjoy the essay XDD.)

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I'm sure one time or another, we've heard the term 'ricer' or 'rice burner' or 'rice rocket' as well as 'ricky racer' and other terms that sound like they came from a prepubescent kid's rectum.

Well, to find the exact meaning, you need to travel back in time to the muscle car era. or more specifically, the part where organizations such as the California Air Resources Board, Department of Transportation, and the Environmetal Protection Agency start cracking down on exhaust emissions.

After all, when you take muscular V8 engines intended for trucks that happen to be heavy pollutants, and stuff them into cheap-to-buy economy cars to turn them into 'muscle cars' and 'hot rods', even if you made the cars more badass, you merely made the popularity of these heavy pollutants grow. Toss in the fact that street racing was now a prime activity after school just as much as sex at the drive-in theatres, and well, obviously mommy and daddy want to put you in something nice and safe and slow, like the Honda CVCC, the earlier hatchback models.

Now take into account World War II. Japan versus US was the big thing. US citizens raided japanese citizens' homes, trashed their sentimentals, stole and pawned their belongings while the owners watched, and eventually shipped to internment camps with a maximum of two trash bags to pack their items in.
Even after the war, although Japan's corrupt government which forced many innocent Japanese to go on to their side, were treated terribly by american soldiers. they were raped, the women deceived into marrying soldiers who later left to their real families back in the states, and even today, many are still affected by the bombs dropped in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. What does this have to do with 'ricers' and muscle cars? EVERYTHING.

As Japanese automakers tried to revolutionize and industrialize now that they were free to speak their own mind, many tried to make a living in the US after having everything destroyed. In essence, the Big 3 automakers, Daimler Chrysler, General Motors, and Ford Motors, took a large amount of the japanese company's stocks. Therefore, to prevent certain powerhouse cars like toyota's 2000GT, Celica, and Nissan's Skyline were kept hidden away. Attempts at releasing cars like the 320hp Mitsubishi 3000GT were stopped unless rebranded as the Dodge Stealth. The RX7 FD, was only released by ford's supervision from 93 to 95, and Honda's Type R series was never released in the states with exception of the late 90's Pearl Integra GSR/TypeR.

Now obviously, if these cars exist, then someone will find out. ...and with many curious americans wondering if all japanese are nothing but low horsepower loving pussies, the mystery and secrecy didn't last long.

Eventually, some sightseers found out of a fad called 'tuning', where low horsepower cars were modified to have stronger internals and more power output than what many deemed physically possible. America started the fad of putting bigger engines into smaller cars, but Japan and Germany ended up perfecting this artform by also upgrading computer readings and programs, releasing aftermarket upgrades better than the original, but still meeting their own emissions ratings as well as keeping the engine nice and small and close to stock.

Japan has certain laws and regulations which many people today in the US find ridiculous, such as a large tax increase if your car is over 10 years old, a tax increase and special fees as your engine gets bigger, and most places will not allow you to do any major maintenance on your cars. there was once extreme cases where you weren't even allowed to do your own oil changes, and everything had to be documented on a government wide computer. Plus, if you consider japan's population and the size of the country itself, it's pretty easy to see that the one-lane two-way roads are actually more like american one-way-one-lane roads. one car always has to pull over to let another pass or both don't budge. it also takes approx. 13 weeks to get your license in japan and you still have to wear the famous 'wakaba green yellow leaf' emblem for a year saying you are a newbie driver and a hazard to the public. this is because one of the things you learn is how to properly tailgate someone to where there is about 5 feet of space between you and other cars at most times.

With that said, Japan didn't build their own muscle cars because they were AFRAID or WEREN'T SMART OR STRONG ENOUGH, they didn't do it BECAUSE THE GOVERNMENT WOULD NOT LET THEM.

Just like how without the 'smog exempt' law for 20yr old and older vehicles in the US most muscle cars would NOT be as popular as they are today. As an enthusiast in all forms of automobilia, I can tell you right off that as i have traveled to several states based solely on muscle cars and cruisers, they've all at one point or another told me the 'smog exempt' rule is what is the icing on the cake that truly seals the deal. power is one thing, but many new cars are lighter and more powerful than the ones of olden, but at the same price new you could buy a fully restored classic.

As more and more aftermarket upgrades began to get popular, japan-only powerhouse names like HKS, GReddy/TRUST, Apex Integration, and BLITZ became the most sought-after names in the import industry. In fact, many people today wear these stickers even if the parts aren't on their car. This was the start of the Ricers.

With the aftermarket performance industry kicking off as more honda civics were proving to be able to line up and run (if not beat) the 5.0 GT Mustang Fox Bodies and older end Corvettes, more people were wondering "What the hell did these guys do to their cars?!" Seeing this as a great marketing and growth opportunity, These companies began racing their own campaign cars with subtle sticker setups called "Rollcalls" across their car to show what parts are on the car and what company supplies them. Large exhausts proved to net a gain of 5 to 6 horsepower if fully built from headers to catalytic converter to muffler, and an ECU reflash could free up as much as 30 horsepower by changing the output of the fuel and air induction ratio's.

As these mods became more popular, People began buying these stickers and slapping them on the cars WITHOUT the upgrades. Then, they would take thick metal tubing that looks like an exhaust tip, and welded those on. This created an uproar of the 'coffee fart can with bees on steroids' problem. And as more and more cars with effective modifications began gaining respect, the posers imitated these modifications to try to gain a good street rep. Once upon a time, an aluminum spoiler that looks like a shopping cart handle actually created downforce on a car's rear without adding large amounts of weight. This was to keep the car stable at high speeds. However, it's only needed on all wheel drive and rear wheel drive cars. Putting a large spoiler on a front wheel drive car is like putting spinner blades on your hubcaps. it not only looks stupid, but it serves no purpose.

The next big thing was in 2001, when the Toyota Altezza came about. The rear lights being a red circle in a white housing was 'the new look to have' and many companies built their reputation off of these styles of lights.
Of course, they serve no purpose but to make the car 'unique', but there is a fine line between 'unique' and 'stupid'. I mean honestly, one or two red ball lights in a white or black housing? great. don't mind at all. three? eh, it's ok if it's a straight line like the old RX7 FC's, later model RSX's, and the Toyota Supra's... but five ball lights, two on top three on teh bottom, on a giant chrome brick for the early 90's accords which were never fast to begin with? I'm sorry, but i don't want my car to look like it has genital herpes. ...especially on its rear end.

Same idea stems for car underbody glow neon tube kits and 'cobra eyes' window washer nozzle lights and aluminum single-induction inlet Intakes.
They are made to LOOK good or LOOK like a hardcore mod for your car, but only are either weighing down the car or robbing precious battery life.
Also keep in mind, Underglows were more or less started by Mercedes Benz, which had a few LED or minor lighting accents lining the sideskirts of the car for one reason... THEY WERE LUXURY PUDDLE LIGHTS. They were meant to illuminate the ground so you don't get your Prada heels or Stacy Adams shoes in a unsmexy pothole filled with oil and grime and debris.

So how does japan contribute to more riciness? Well, if you've ever picked up an auto style magazine be it a US one or a japanese one, you'd notice the US ones have a style called "JDM" meaning Japan Domestic Manufacture. This means OEM (original equipment from manufacturer) parts only available from japan (as in they are more powerful or last longer than the american ones) or the aftermarket JDM (aftermarket upgrades that are proven to increase horsepower, torque, response, and gas mileage). If you look in Japanese car magazines, the style is "USDM" meaning United States Domestic Manufacture. This means that while in the US people are spending $50 to buy a set of the S14 Silvia "Shield" logo and "silvia" emblems for their 1996 to 1997 Nissan 240SX's, in japan, people are spending $50 (or 5,000 yen) to buy a set of the Nissan 240SX's american NISSAN circle slash logo and the 240SX logo.

So naturally, if the style in teh US is to use poser neons and spinner dubs from TIS as well as nonfunctional hood scoops and ugly altezza style lights, obviously japan will copy them and try to make it better (or in most cases worse).

So now, Ricer, which was originally a term referring to japanese cars trying to be fast like nascar race cars, now means ANY car trying to imitate a faster or more popular vehicle.

So, if you see a ford mustang with SKYLINE GTR logos and painted tail lights to look like the R33's ball lights, you now know what an AMERICAN RICER is.

oh, and the guy who puts lamborghini door conversions on his 93 corolla with a chrome painted alternator trying to convince you he's got a supercharger? yeah... also a ricer.

and the guy with the 2003 Corvette revving his engine at you at a stoplight which leads to the onramp to a crowded freeway while an old lady and her granddaughter are crossing? This is also a ricer.

Any poser, irregardless of car make, model, or country of origin, who tries to make his or her car LOOK fast, is what we all call RICERS.

Yes, i know, i could've just put this short two-sentence example at the top and called it a day... but if i did that, many people would think ALL imports are considered rice. No, that's not the case.

And i'm tired of hearing people say how "nascar is the true fast motorsport and nothing else will beat 'em that's why US cars like ford taurus, mustang, pontiac gto, chevy SS, etc. are better!" because it's not true. We're talking cars with hundreds of thousands invested in them, and the cars are going nonstop on an oval track where the only true danger is the fact there are so damn many of them driving at similar speeds trying to get ahead of one another. Any car is fast once it's at top speed. what matters is how fast it can get there or how it can handle sudden problems.

Like sharp turns, turns that lead immediately into turns of opposing directions and angles, and randomized track styles from gravel to ice to sleet to even muddy grass.

Of course, i'm talking about WRC, the world's one true motorsport competition that is far bigger than nascar can comprehend... but of course, that is for another thread.

Now you all know a brief bit of info on how the term ricer came to be, and why we are blessed with the fast and cursed with the 'trying to be fast'.

Thanks for reading. (and if you have more info you'd like me to put up on a topic, submit a PM to me with at least 3 printed media references that support what you want me to put up or add or acknowledge.)

Have a great day, Drive safe, and please... if you don't feel like using your seatbelt... Buy a 4-point eyebolt-equipped race harness.

Sincerely,


Rosso Corsa

I want to further my knowledge as well.

I am currently hunting for a Mopar 426 HEMI engine since my friend is going to sell me the shell/rolling chassis of his 1970 hemi cuda.

the 426 was made popular because even though it was rated at only 425+hp from factory, it was actually a false report by the company to save $$$ on insurance and whatnot. its true hp rating and output was at over 800 hp to the wheels. Hence why when u see outlaws and funnycars and hardcore dragsters, even if they're mustangs or camaro's, they still use dodge's 426.

as far as japan goes, their V10 twin turbo demo motor is as far as they could go because of so many of japan's damn regulations.