 |
South Auto Club
Southern comfort
If your zip code lies somewhere down south, here's a car club waiting to welcome you
Words by Kristine Garcia; Photography by Erick Lirios
There's a tendency for the youth who live in the South—meaning the villages lining South Luzon Expressway—to be branded as 'valley kids'. Take for example the members of the South Auto Club (SAC). They have similar gadgets because they have similar shop-ping areas. Their banter is unique to them. They hang out at the same spots and talk about the same stuff. And they can be a bit territorial.
This subculture is neither surprising nor unconstructive. Anyone is more than welcome to join the club, whether you live in Parañaque, Las Piñas, Muntinlupa, Laguna or Cavite. This November marks the second anniversary of camaraderie for its 600 members. But more than being car nuts that live in the 'valley', what defines SAC is the relationship web around them. They could be neighbors, schoolmates, officemates, couples, even godparents to each other's children. Surrounding communities have come to know SAC as a peaceful and mature group of people.
And they're proud of the fact that they have an active membership—eyeballs are always well-attended. Cofounders and officers are Norman Silva, Meng Parreñas, Getty Plamenco, Karl Javier, Jerome Velenzuela, Jay Espinosa and Ping Aquino. Their leadership and team effort have helped bag numerous awards for SAC, including: Best Car Club at the Grand Metro Auto Fest 2006; Best Car Club, Best in Paint and Best Audio Layout (Ford Lynx owned by Meng) at the San Beda Alabang Show 2006; Best Car Group at the Cavite Auto Extreme 2007; and Best Team at the 1st Total Molino Auto Show-Off 2007, where a member's Civic EG also won Cleanest Car. Neat stuff!
Owing much to geographic convenience, auto exchanges ranging from sales of an EFX capacitor to scouting for a Stabel Nautilus horn happen on a daily basis. Even an officer's pit bull bitch was described on the online forum as being 'ready for some action'. Let's just say he learned a lot about his fellow members from their responses that day.
SAC comes up with a monthly main activity for hanging out, having a good time and welcoming newbies. They prefer the outdoors—carwash lots included—and an endless supply of beer. They drink as an answer to a common problem of theirs—drinking. To their credit, you'll catch them last in illegal street-racing scenes, which they honestly believe isn't the occasion to showcase their cars in.
And while it matters where you live, in SAC, the car that you drive—be it a car-show veteran or a regular daily ride—doesn't really matter.
Click on the thumbnails to view larger image
Post your opinion in our Top Gear Forum!
Top Gear Philippines - October 2007
|
|
Top Gear's informative, entertaining and readable
guide to every new car on
sale. Search Car
Download these wallpapers
right to your desktop.
Download
|
|
