Being Josh Aviñante

The definition (of real men) is a debatable issue between the male and female species. This is what I hear during those lost moments among skinny bitches during fashion events. Anyways, in our own world (us men), away from the destructive allure of their lingerie and bitchy craving for sweets, we have our own civil war – the BOYS versus the MEN! And in this quiet town of dungeons, dragons and kid’s fantasies, real men have invaded with their tanks of war travelling at the speed of lightning or challenging the forces of torque! This August, the Enchanted Kingdom held its annual SPEEDWEEK@EK featuring three national races – the 2008 National Slalom Series which was organized by the Race Motorsports Club (RMSC), the 2008 Shell Super Karting Series, and the 2008 San Mig Coffee Philippine Underbone King Championships. Spectators were lucky enough not to dance in the rain and the event fortunate to have beautiful Laguna sunshine all day. Enchanted Kingdom indeed! Rivera, Mendiola and Gerochi...

You must be crazy to be driving home, sloshed from too much Black Russian, and coming from a chic-laden party. Home is not where you should be driving your girl to. You should be drivinger her somewhere else romantic. Tee! Hee! But seriously, driving home plastered is quite normal for the party animal. What is not normal is taking a long drive out of town without SLEEP! Well, that’s how crazy the racers were at the City Kart Race Track, which included celebrities, Issa Litton, Victor Basa and Philippine racing icon Pia Boren. In the first week of July, City Kart Racing announced the holding of the Manila 701 dubbed as “The Crazy Race Second Edition”. Race drivers were to compete in teams with the first to complete 701 laps of the City Kart’s indoor race track, which is close to the distance of driving out of town. So what’s crazy about it? Race drivers would complete the lap from evening until past noon of the following day without sleep! Well, race drivers get some relief time by bei...

Simple trouble like flat tire or batteries running dry are not remote and they could be a nightmare if caught in a wrong situation such as in the middle of an important date. Our automobiles may come with a basic set of tools but roadside emergencies need not require the muscles that go with the dirty ugly image of a Neanderthal. Road trips should be safe, fun and in style. Here are some tips to keep your automobile (and yourself) hassle-free: Hydraulic wheel jacks are mechanically designed to make lifting a side of your car light and with a lot lesser effort than those stock wheel jacks that came with the vehicle upon purchase. They might just save your brand new Saint Michael’s shirt from unsightly sweat. They are very affordable and available in Ace Hardware or any similar specialty store. Extension rod for the wrench . The bolts that keep your set of wheels in place may have grown attached to its apparatus. Probably having been there for months or even a year, they may be...

Finally, I am able to transfer these pointers from my phone notebook. They were shared to me by no other than my motoring editor Eric Soriano of Manual Magazine. By the way, the test ride series conducted by the Car Awards Group Inc. (CAGI) was a sensation. The slalom tracks temporarily set up in Clark, Pampanga plus the open roads for sprinting my favorite vehicles fed my fantasies of a tuner lifestyle like that of Fast and the Furious . You see, style cannot be complete without wheels. Just imagine a DIVA commuting her way to the Paris fashion week. Of course, the final look of the vehicle, both exterior and interior, is all that matters but performance counts. I'd laugh at that feelingera of a former officemate of mine bragging about her brand new bug that runs 40 km per hour and takes forever to accelerate! Hah! So what if its the only mustard yellow? In my previous entry, I featured my favorite from the test drive series which was the Red Kia Sportage. So preppy, so stylish. I...

(Published in Yehey! Lifestyle) Let’s face it, the word “Kia” was introduced to the Philippines as the “People’s Car”. Their first model introduced to the market (Kia Pride) earned the nastiest of sarcasm from motor heads and laymen alike. They had no sense of aerodynamics and was simply a balikbayan box with tiny wheels. In the next coming years, the term “people’s car” would be forgotten but the trying-hard-to-be-cool-with-a-car image of the Kia will remain to haunt the brand. That was then, it is now 2008. For the whole month of October this year, the Car Awards Group, Inc. or more popularly known as CAGI, conducted a series of test drives of the latest vehicles in the Philippine market. During weekends, some 9 to 15 cars would be driven through obstacles and simulated road conditions to test their performance. These obstacles would include two off-road tracks that tested the monster trucks ability to surpass flood, mud, landslides and elevated terrain. Other road conditions incl...

(Published in Manual Magazine, August 2008 issue)   CATS Motors recently launched the all-new Chrysler Town and Country Touring Edition at the Manila Polo Club in Makati City.   “Staying true to Chrysler’s American heritage of innovation and luxury, the all-new Chrysler Town and Country stays true to the brand’s famed legacy of premium quality and styling for a first-class family experience”, says Felix Ang, President of CATS Motors, Inc., the exclusive distributor of Chrysler in the Philippines.   The Chrysler Town and Country Touring Edition boasts of the Industry-first fold-lat-to-the-floor seating and storage system for added space, power windows in both sliding doors, power rear lift gate and sliding doors, side curtain and front airbags, solid handling, very quiet interiors, and luxury seating of up to seven. “Introducing the new Chrysler Town and Country here today strengthens our commitment to deliver world-class products that will delight our customers and exc...

(Published by Yehey! Lifestyle) On October 3, 2008, the automobile that put the world on wheels, the Model T, will celebrate its 100th year anniversary. This iconic vehicle was the product of Henry Ford’s dream to put a “horseless carriage” in every American home. Back then, automobiles were too expensive for an ordinary American to afford, which is like buying a personal jet by a successful business tycoon. Today, automobiles are as common cell phones. Of course, signature vehicles are another story. The story of the automobile is one of the most exciting chapters in history. In its early development, automobiles were so strange that they were shown in circuses. Today, everyone reaching puberty aspires for one. Motoring enthusiasts with no academic background in mechanical engineering are now able to discuss the various functions and parts of the automobile which features have been made simpler in today’s models. Strange indeed, the first automobiles didn’t start stylish as we would c...

(Published by Yehey! Lifestyle) It’s literally a party – race drivers, party animals, bands, DJs and booze. Sort of like a rave party, street party and race in one like you’ve seen in the movie Fast and the Furious! Only this time, its real and using motor karts. Due to popular demand, the Manila 701 Crazy Race will be held for the second time at the City Kart Racing Track along South Luzon Express Way this July 19 and 20. The crazy race will endure overnight from 10PM all the way to sunrise that will surely challenge the competing teams and give spectators the party experience of a lifetime. Organizers are hoping a repeat of last year’s success. This is a race you can’t simply miss. The racing environment is unusual with interesting situations that one wouldn’t regularly find. According to Jean-Marc Freihuber, managing director of City Kart Racing Track, they have designed obstacles that will mimic several road conditions that is not experienced in the controlled environment of a race...

(Published by Yehey! Lifestyle) Drift aces gathered Sunday afternoon to compete in the 3rd elimination round of the 2008 Glade Sport Lateral Championship. The showcase of drifting skills was held at the parking grounds fronting The Promenade in Green Hills. Prominent drifters included actor Ryan Agoncillo and racing icon Pia Boren but the real winner came out as Alex Perez who bagged first place of the elimination round. San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito also graced the event who is said to be a gear head himself during his youth. Heavy rains halted just in time to give way to the event. James Deakin of C! Magazine hosted the event who gave enlightening pointers all throughout the elimination round. At some peak of the contest, San Juan Mayor JV Ejercito took the front passenger seat of a drift ace in a screeching round that left the place filled with white smoke. Strategic footage was taken by Hotwire using a remote controlled helicopter. The event was organized by Burnt Rubber Production. D...