| Finally got some time after catching up at work to do a small writeup of my trip to Zcon. Unforuntately, I was not able to stay at the convention hotel so I missed out on a lot of fun camaraderie but I did save a few buck staying at my friend's condo while he was out of town. I kept forgetting to bring my camera out so I didnt start getting pictures until Tuesday. Monday was spent signing in for the convention and hanging out with Yugo, Junx, Spee, boiler, milo, michael, sno, Halo, kuah, atti2de, rodel and his fiancee. Stopped by West Coast Choppers to look at the pretty bikes and weird vehicles then went out to Taco Beach for lunch and some BSing. My wife and I took off to do our own thing after that which pretty much ended the day. Tuesday everyone gathered in the hotel lobby to head out to the Stillen tour.
 Then we all piled into one of the 1962 school bus that were so graciously provided for us.
 And here we are.
 The man himself greeting everyone as the came off the bus.
 Lobby
 75
 The warehouse.
 Supercharged FX35
 75 again
 BIG brakes
 Bernie trying to camera snipe me. Got him back tho.
 Supercharger seminar
 Genuine Stillen cashew chicken salad sandwiches!!!
 And back on the bus as we head out.
 We pull back into the hotel just as Mr. K and entourage arrive.
 That tour lasted pretty much all day. Wife and I went off again and did our own stuff for the rest of the day and the same for Wednesday. Actually, Wednesday was spent trying to get a suitable rental car for the track day on Thursday. I literally spent all day trying to do this and finally settled on a Mini Cooper S since no 350Zs were available. Sorry, no pics from the track event as I was busy driving but I met up with Kuah and Rodel at 4 AM to beat out the LA traffic. Even leaving that early there was a steady stream of cars on the highway. I dont think traffic EVER lets up around LA. On the way there we converge with another group of Z peeps and made our way out to Willow Springs. I wish I had my Z but I was rather surprised how well the Mini held up. Absolutely NO balls in the straights but it could carry speed into the turns like noone's business. I could go full throttle into the sweeper turn number 8 in the back straight at over 100mph with no braking until I hit turn 9. Then just a tap on the brakes, a quick downshift and back full throttle again. Fun little car but not my style. FWD and all. :) Most of us skipped the last run session to head back to LA in order to make it to the TT.net dinner. Spent 3 hours getting back to Long Beach (took us a little over 1 hour to get to the track in the morning) but we made it in time. Rich checking out his latest camera snipings?
![]() Purdy
 Rodel trying to snipe me but I got him first
 Yes, they do!
 I could make so many different comments here but I think he was just rubbing his eye. :)
 Greg showing the Japanese guests what to do with their raffle tickets. I dont think they understood though because I dont remember any of them winning anything.
 Speeches about to start
 Japanese guests have something for the head honchos
 Supplies!!!
 Sniped!!
 Look at all the pee-pole!
 Thursday was probably my favorite day of the entire convention. Good cars, cool people, fun times had by all. Friday was pretty close though... I was a bit disappointed by the way Dromo 1 ran their facility. Absolutely NO bumping, intentional or unintentional. If they saw you doing it they kept a close eye on you and if you made even the SLIGHTEST contact they would show you their 'NO BUMPING' sign. Of course I guess I'm a bit bitter because they blackflagged me for t-boning someone. There were two people ahead of me and one caused the other to spin out RIGHT in front of me. I had nowhere to go but nevermind that. I never found out who it was I hit and if you are reading this now I apologize for hitting ya! Dromo 1 group after the runs.
 I like taking pix of people taking pix
 People milling around some more
 Time to pick on Salah. Whatcha doing there?
 Speaking of picking on... Salah porting his intake
 nixit following suit
 What's with all the fingers?
 Went out to D&B after the karting. After Dean parked this bird decided to land on his Z. He had to go and shoo it away.
 Tourists!
 Down the table snipe
 Me and my favorite game
 Behind the back snipe
 I wonder what's going through Bernie's mind right now...
 Ohhh, that's what.
 No comment
 No comment
 Very cool junkyard metalworking
 I woke up late and didnt get to the car show on time so I didnt get to wander around a lot. Did manage to get a few pix of the Escort drag car tho 
Very cool
 Driver Hiroshi Shiobara
 Rear end
 Off to Fontana we went to see the #75 run! Much eye candy was there. Lotus'? Loti?
 As we were approaching the garages this drove by
 In the pits
 First lap 6 MB avi And back in the garage with problems :(
 Mini interview with Steve Bling!
 Bling bus! Asked the guy how much. Just under 1 mil.
 nixit loves carbon fiber
 Vroom!
 nixit trying to squeeze into an Elise
 And kind of succeeding
 The Fontana crew minus yours truly
 Most of us got to test drive a Jag XL-R or Type-S R which was pretty cool. I also got to see Sam Hubinette there the winner of the last 2 Formula D events. No pics of him drifting tho. After the event we made it back to the hotel for the closing banquet. 
Spee is just such a great photography subject
 Stealth snipe
 See what I mean?
 (insert comment here)
 Action at the other tables
 Butterballs
 Went out to the hallway for a bit to chat with Russ Seibert and Mr. K came out. Russ' wife and kiddo posing with him.
 Halo wandering over
 nixit: Hey John, go take a pic of Damon's ear.
John: Ok
*click*
John: Dammit, he turned his head
 nixit: Go and try it again.
John: Ok
*click*
John: Dammit, he turned his head AGAIN!
 nixit: Gimme that camera!
John: Fine
*click*
nixit: Oops, I blinded Damon with the flash
 Lotta pee-pole again
 Damon trying to get a good shot in while Spee flirts with Jeff's girl.
 Mr. K takes the podium and everyone stands
 Mr. K leaves the podium and boredom ensuses
 Jeff porting his intake while Spee shows off
 
nixit can't do it. :)
 So much for Zcon2k4. I forgot how much fun these things are. I'm considering NY next year but if not then 2k6 we come back to Texas which I will definitely be at. Flight back we flew through a thunderstorm. I kept trying to get the lightning but my camera was a bit slow. Or maybe it was me.
 Lights above Houston
John Yim (Houston)
Everything on my car is for sale!
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Yet another Zcon writeup and pix. Some 50-odd pix ~17MB - 
