The 5th annual West Coast Nationals were held at the Famoso Auto Club on Sept. 21-22. The event offered a variety of different attractions such as racing, drifting competition, car show, and music festival.

This event really focused on import cars such as Honda and Toyota that ranged from the early ‘90s to the present. Many spectators showed up to see these cars up against each other in competition.

Eric Benko, who entered his 2002 silver Honda Accord in the car show said, “I’ve been into cars for over 20 years. I had my first car when I was 18 and ever since then I have been hooked.”

What made his car standout was it was a 4-door sedan, which is typically not the ideal type of vehicle that gets upgraded with heavy modifications. “ I like it because it’s not something you see in the streets everyday, most of the time you see hatchbacks and coupes,” he said.

Although Benko brought his Honda, he also said he likes all types of cars, “To me it is all the same. It’s a good hobby, but expensive.”

Although there was a lot of Hondas and Toyotas at the event, another car show participant, Isaak Esparza entered his Nissan GT-R. He said he enjoys coming to car shows because, “I like how everybody is here for a common interest. It shows that there are people for everything.”

Although his car is completely stock, he said people always come up to ask him questions about his car such as what is its top speed and about its performance on the road.

Esparza said he likes to mostly go for joyrides in his car but sometimes gets the urge to speed away, “The fastest I have ever gone is about in the 150 mph range. I know it can go faster I just have to find the right place to do it.”

Even though he enjoys coming to car shows to see other what other people have to offer he says, “It is an expensive hobby because you invest so much time, effort, and money to have your car be show ready. In the end, it is all worth it.”

Many spectators walked around the area and took pictures of different cars and asked the owners of the cars questions.

One spectator, Eddie Reyes, says he enjoys coming to all types of car shows. He said, “I like to see how cars have changed over the years. Nowadays, I don’t see that many lowriders or classic cars anymore.” Reyes said he does have a 1977 Buick Regal at home back in Los Angeles and often takes it cruising.

“Cars are something that everybody can enjoy,” Reyes said. “The things you can do to them are endless and that’s the beauty of it. There is no finish line saying you have to stop.”