Weenie fest 2025

One of the most enjoyable car show in central California for me personally is Weenie Fest. The drive is not too far from the house, which makes it an easy and fun trip for me. Something I look out for in shows close to town is seeing the familiar and lost faces. It brings a pleasant and warm feeling to the heart. You feel right at home! Somebody just knows someone else and by the time you know it, it’s as if you feel like you’re a part of a big family!

I would like to personally thank Anthony (host) for still holding down the fort and executing an enjoyable event for enthusiasts and family to enjoy. The best part? It is that it’s a free show for spectators. Therefore, if you’re not staging a car, you’re welcome to stay and come hang out, kick back and enjoy the company of friends and family as long as you want.

Although, I’m not quite sure on how the event name (Weenie Fest) came to be, it’s always a pleasure to be in the midst of other builds. I am glad to see the event expanding to not only central Californians, but to those in the bay area as well. At one moment, before Xplicit Projects, the southern Californians would even make the trip up past Grapevine to attend the show as well. When you get the bay area Californians, southern Californians, and folks like me (central) all together in one show, let’s just say it’s going to be a great show.

Why is that you may ask? Well, the the style and focus behind each build comes from a different environment that is uprooted by their own community AND to see all of that diversity in one place, it’s not something you would experience everyday at a show, especially at a car show specifically for Honda’s.

This year, Weenie Fest is a bit more special to NnovatioN. The reason being is understanding “when the time is right.” For months, NnovatioN have talked about whether we keep the members in our brotherhood at a low count or possibly expanding it to a few more people who we thought just clicks with us. Whether that person being someone we recently encountered that shares the same vibe or energy as us or someone we have known for a long bit, it’s always tough to have our tree grow another branch that could be a good fit to the rest of the team. After a heart felt discussion and allowing everyone to express their opinions about the decision, the brothers came to a consensus that we would reach out to another member into the group. I don’t want to go into it to deep, but feel free to drop by our official @nnovation_ instagram profile to see the new member into the group.

This year, I wanted to focus the coverage more on cars I haven’t seen or familiar builds I haven’t seen for a good bit. Therefore, as much as you would like to see the NnovatioN line up in this coverage, I left that out. That way, I can really hone into other builds that is exceptionally worthy for a coverage as well.

For example, let’s begin with this Impala SS! I’m not such a huge fan when it comes to “low riders” because I know nothing of it than its style of the build and what the builder wants to achieve. This car was so immaculate! The stereo set up, the color choice, and the clear taillights worked well! In the JDM world, this will be considered a well-executed build! It’s all about flow!

A fun fact about me is that I grew up in a community where I saw more of these cars than JDM builds. Although, I have never studied these builds rigorously like the JDM ones, it’s a car memory I will always have in the back of my head.

If I didn’t see the badge on this car, I wouldn’t think that this car is a Skyline GTR. This one in particular (a KPGC110) was the last one of it’s kind before the “R line” came into existent.

Wearing some JDM plates (probably purchased from a third party), the vehicle has been restored flawlessly and looking mighty fine!

Like usual, I was quick to jump my attention to the Honda builds at the show. This later FK8 produced in the famous Phoenix Yellow fashion wore a full Mugen kit. You can easily spot the reissued MF10’s from King’s Motorsport, the full Mugen areo kit from the front spoiler to the end. The side mirrors were also Mugen mirrors and I could almost guarantee the window visors were probably Mugen as well.

Something I don’t see so often on the FK8 builds are the Mugen flares that would connect from the rear down to the quarter panel. I personally think that is a nice piece to own, but I wonder why I don’t see a lot it on the FK8 builds. I would if I requires any drilling to the doors to stick on the optional flare piece.

Another FK8 with the Mugen fashsion. Only this one held onto the stock spoiler and instead of Mugen wheels, it wore some Te37SL’s in a Dash White finish.

At the corner of the show, I spotted this EH3. Inspecting the car once more, I can see that it has a cross bar in stock interior, the mirrors were probably power folding, and then one of my personal favorite wheels: Sprint Hart CP-R’s. The Civic is dressed in it’s stock from and just lowered on some nice wheels.

This AWD Civic on full slicks was spotted in the middle of the show. Kind of parked out by itself, the Civic’s hood is popped open allowing the motor to speak for itself. Dressed with a pair of Spoon Sport (style) side mirrors and a big front splitter that I don’t have a name to.

I forgot about this car. I think the owner lives in Los Banos or Atwater, but it’s always nice to see a nicely modded and fully replicated EK9. The wheels are no longer white (like before), but the whole car is still equipped with CTR/EK9 parts.

Because the EK9 was never available in the North American market, in the late 90’s to early 2000’s, the only way to get an (replicated) EK9 was to replicate your Civic to resemble one. Now the FK8’s and FL5’s are available in the USA, so those younger guys will never know how difficult it was to source out authentic OEM/JDM parts to build a regular Civic to resemble an EK9 back then.

I have always enjoyed All Star Repair’s Honda builds. If I can recall correctly, I think they used to own a Integra dipped in a Candy Blue finish with a BYS front bumper. Like this Integra, the blue one was also K-swapped as well. Ever since then, I just knew whatever car they got cooking in their garage is always something that is going to be neat and clean.

This 4-door Integra has a JDM front conversation. A simple JDM interior with some Recaro seats. The Integra is lowered and running on some Sprint Hart CP-R’s as well.

Next to the Integra is IDT Paul’s Phoenix Yellow Integra Type R. From the track number on the side door, you can tell Paul utilizes the Type R around corners. The Integra is dropped on some bronze Ce28n’s wrapped around with some ADO9 rubber.

This EG Civic is looking better each time I see it. Before, it had on some Rota Slip Strems, but it quickly shifted to some OEM CTR/EK9 wheels. Now, it’s on some glossy black Ce28ns.

(The swap is also supercharged and relying on a few Skunk 2 engine parts (fuel rail, throttle body).

Another vehicle from DSR was this ITR also fashioned with a Phoenix Yellow finish. The vehicle wore an EXCEED ver. 1 front spoiler. Some paint matched Spoon Sport mirrors and a Mugen gen. 2 wing sat high in the back of the car. The hood was taken off to expose the lovely engine bay set up, but you can easily spot the First Molding hood in the back on a hood stand.

(The attention to deal was well demonstrated onto this bay. The PracWorks carbon fiber intake manifold matches up with the Mugen spark plug cover. The silver/chrome finish matches up with the motor mounts, catch can assembly, and radiator. The Mugen theme is easily seen from the intake, the oil cap, radiator cap, spark plug cover, and a decal on the fuel rail to further represent the love for Mugen parts.)

Here is an EJ Civic built by @kulitgarage in the Members Only Car Club. Also from the bay area, the owner drove his Mugen fashioned 4-door to the show. Unlike how I remember seeing it at Wekfest San Jose last year, the Civic is now dressed with Mugen gear. From the front spoiler to the side skirts. The bronze Ce28ns were a nice touch to compliment this red-orange color on the Civic.

Behind the Ce28ns, you can easily spot the AP Racing big brake kit. Inside the Civic, the 4-door has a pair of Recaro bucket seats, and a cross bar or roll cage in the back seats.

(A K-swap sat inside the engine bay of the Civic. And it has ITBS!!!)

Here’s a nice and clean Civic hatchback! The Civic had on some gunmetal 16-inch ITR wheels. You can see various EK9 parts throughout the Civic (headlights, thin side moldings, side mirrors, a rear lip, and a CTR spoiler). The front OEM spoiler have been replaced with a carbon fiber First Molding lip. The Civic is b-swapped and turbo charged. I think it looks real good!

Ricky’s FL5 looking good! A few changes have been done to the CTR since the last I’ve seen it from last year. The front is now dressed with a carbon fiber splitter and the carbon fiber theme travels from the front to the sides, and then to the end.

The FL5 is still sitting on the reissued Spoon SW388’s.

Blong’s Integra sat next to Ricky’s FL5. They’re good friends so I always see them rolling to car shows together. The Integra is now sitting on some Spoon SW388’s. The Integra still looks like it’s in tip top shape.

Here is another FK8 rocking the Mugen kit, but now in a black finish. The CTR is lowered and running some Spoon Sport SW388’s/Regamaster without the decals. Very clean and subtle build!

This S2000 in particular came from the bay area. With Team Insidious, this one is rolling on some white Ce28s and a CR front spoiler. An ARP wing sat high in the rear. Spoon Monoblocks were wisely chosen for braking power and a pair of Craft Square side mirrors finished off the exterior aesthetics of the roadster.

(The cover photo for this coverage was Jorge Sandoval’s engine bay. Fashioned with titanium hardware and a “black series” Skunk2 manifold.)

When it comes down to what car shows to always attend in the central California area, I believe the NnovatioN brothers and I can agree that Weenie Fest will always be a show we will attend annually. Now, I feel like it’s become more than a just a show, but it rather being a new NnovatioN tradition that we secretly look forward to every year. Year after year, we make sure to mark our calendars and ensure all the NnovatioN brothers will make it!

It’s a show with the right vibes, the area is a nice and friendly place for family to come hang out whilst still being around cars. The location is perfect! It’s welcoming to family and friends and makes everyone feel at home (for me personally). It’s just that to-go place where car enthusiasts, friends, and families can collectively collaborate and enjoy the day as you’re being surrounded by good builds, company, and food!

Here is another huge thank you to Anthony, the man behind all of it! He continues to never fail in running a organized and smooth event. Always on point with raffle announcements, award ceremonies, and keeping the entertainment alive without letting the community and vibes feel rushed or overwhelmed. His level of commitment and dedication to this show is explicit and it deserves praise! I believe that is a big contributing factor into why the event is always growing bigger and why it’s so loved by the surrounding community.

Last but not least, let’s not forget that is a “free” spectator show, which just adds more to the openness and collectiveness of the show. If you’re deeply invested into the scene, it’s the right vibe. If you’re just tagging along with friends and family, you’re not losing any money.

Thank you for taking the time to read this short coverage of Weenie Fest. Next blog series will be something a bit different so I hope you’re all prepared for that! See you on the next one!