The modified car show scene is something that has an interesting life cycle here in Ireland. We lack the marquee, established dates in the calendar that you might see elsewhere in the world, but we have a history of putting on all shape and size of show. In the height of the 90’s era Max Power modding phase, places like Green Glens, Punchestown and City West hold fond memories of large scale modding extravaganza’s. As that phase passed, the mantle of hosting large scale displays of modified metal fell to a somewhat side show existence alongside drifting events in Mondello, but there was an appetite there for more.
The core of the resurgence of the modified car show scene, and I purposely choose not to class it as the stance scene as I’ll explain in a while, has been in Belfast. Strongly influenced by the always strong UK scene, we’ve seen shows like Titanic Dubs, Castlewellan and the ever growing Dubshed really emerge and flourish into true staples of the show landscapes, and this has filtered down into other successful shows like VAGE, Limerick and countless others. But the question on everyone’s mind this weekend, was how would another heavyweight contender coming into the fold go down. This is Districts!!
Now, jump back a step. Every show I mentioned in the previous paragraph have a defining thread, and that is that their core revolves around the VW modding scene. Mention any of their names, and for those that know, the immediate reaction is all air suspension, expensive wheels and un-driveability. It’s perhaps a VAG thing, but shows celebrating this particular style have had a following for the past 50 years. Some have held the exclusivity factor as a defining feature, but Dubshed 2016 was a seminal moment that caused a shift so large that it’s still felt today. Doors were thrown open, alien concepts were thrust upon the traditional VW guys, big turbo’s met big stance and for people like myself with a passion for anything cool and automotive, it was savage!!
The people behind the smash and grab effort were ILOVEBASS, a Northern Irish website which has become a massive champion of the modified scene both at home and abroad. On the back of their ever growing presence at Dubshed and the popularity of their online content, time had come for the crew to step forward and throw their own bash.
Now, most of us have had the misfortune of spending ungodly hours trekking around B&Q of a Saturday afternoon helplessly lost in the pursuit of an elusive part needed to sort yet another DIY job, yet have you ever stopped and looked at the big picture. Has your head drifted to the dream of clearing all the apron clad staff and metal shelving and starting with a blank canvas?? Well, when the plug was pulled on one of Belfast’s largest B&Q’s, that idle dream became a reality and South 13 came into existence, as an open space for all manner of events and cultural initiatives.
What you definitely can’t see when shopping is the vastness of the space available, but walking through the distinctive retail entrance was like entering an aircraft hanger. Even with a few hundred cars inside, trade stands, stages, facilities and displays if still felt vast. As a clean slate, it was a fantastic venue with fantastic access for us making the trip up, and based in an area where even more hours can be passed ogling over local forecourts while waiting for the show to open.
In terms of content, the shift seen through Dubshed continues here, with an obvious emphasis place on diversity. The Districts name denotes the differing area’s under which vehicles could enter, with sections like Japanese, Race Car, Exotic, Off Road and Motorbikes joining the obvious VAG content.
While in it’s infancy, it was entirely natural that many of the cars on display may appear familiar to regular show goers, but this makes it easier to notice subtle changes made over the past few months. In the case of this particular Porsche 944, among my favourite cars at Dubshed 2017, its utter perfection remained unchanged.
As a motorsport fan, the chance to get up close with Norlin Racing and its brace of BTCC Chevy’s was rather special. I follow the championship as much as possible on ITV4, but its only when you can see and feel various components that you truly understand how special these machines are. In board suspension front and back was passed off as being completely normal. Because Racecar I suppose!!
The off road area had it’s own corral out the back in the former loading bays, and while there were all manner of go-anywhere vehicles on display, two completely different vehicles caught my eye. Firstly, it may be physically impossible to ignore a Land Rover Defender caked in an impressive layer of mud, especially when it was got a massive suspension lift complete with huge tyres and is then parked at an obscene angle highlighting its imposing stature. Genuinely, there was a Hummer H2 nearby, and it looked like a Nissan Micra in the company of the Defender. Then though, hidden in a corner was something only freaks like me would appreciate. Yes, an absolutely immaculate Bedford Rascal. I liked it a lot!!
Elsewhere, although the Exotic section of the show was fairly spartan, its a rare treat to see a modified Aston Martin of any manner, and a plethora of tasty Porsche 911’s dotted around the venue really made for an interesting addition. Then though, and I honestly missed it at first, its quite an oddity to find a completely slammed Jaguar XKR.
A popular side of the stance scene that has really become more noticeable of late has been the subtle modification of executive cars. Here, a number of examples really highlighted for me just how impressive a wheel and suspension swap can be in changing the look of a car and make it rather epic. The BMW 7 Series of the 1990’s just screams cool, and sitting on a later set of OEM wheels and air ride suspension, this was undoubtedly my favourite car of the show. Just like the E34 5 Series we featured recently, its becoming noticeable to me now just how right the BMW design department were doing things at the time. Elsewhere, a Merc E-Class was eye catching, but for old school appeal its hard to walk past a decked Jaguar Mark II.
With the openness of admission policy, everywhere you turn it was easy to find something eye catching. If you like your JDM stuff, well there’s a smattering of Toyota Supra’s and a supercharged EP Civic, there’s enough stance to keep VAG boys happy, even if they are in search of brand new Golf R’s or classic Polo’s and Jetta’s, and even the classic car brigade are catered for with some pristine OEM Ford Escorts and BMW’s.
If you want to make a visual impact, turn up somewhere in an EM1 Civic covered in an incredible Ninja Warrier wrap from Blackwater Graphics, a set of So-Cal curb crawlers, a katana sword gear shifter, 4 (!!) bucket seats and air suspension. Job done right there!!
While it was an onslaught of road hugging cars, the bike section of the show was equally impressive. A string of unique cafe-racers and all kinds littered the show floor, but a twin headlight Honda VFR in a period race livery will always draw me in. But, for pure showstopper effect, it may be impossible to resist the urge to spend ungodly amounts of time staring at a Ducati Panigale. I deride those who own vehicles and refuse to ever use them as intended, but I would happily have one of these Italian beuties on a stand in my living room, such is its beauty.
And then, there was the MK2. To see an Escort in such surroundings was unexpected, and it caught me off guard to be honest. Unassuming, it appeared at first to be a typically rally inspired Ford complete with Gravel Arches, cage, bucket seats and the like. Its something Id seen countless times, but a few steps around the front had me looking for a scoop to pick my jaw off the floor. Where most would place a trusty Pinto or Zetec lump, the engine bay here was home to a stunningly impressive Nissan SR20 install, complete with a huge Garrett turbo. Later investigation would put power at over 400BHP at a conservative 1.3 Bar of Boost. Holy God indeed!!
All in all, Districts is a show in its infancy, and its definitely felt like that. Most of the cars on display would be familiar to regular show goers and the venue looked spartan in places, but as a first attempt it was mighty fine. Things like this need time and space to grow, and the latter is definitely no issue here. The idea of opening the doors to all manner of vehicles, under the proviso that it’s cool or interesting, helps to break down stuffy, old-fashioned barriers that govern other shows and perhaps turn people away. ILOVEBASS preach awesomeness in all things automotive, and I for one reckon they’re on the verge of something big.
