At The Wheel: Raymond's "Exe" Factor

My name: Raymond
My age: 22
My profession: General Manager at a local performance car shop
City/town: Martinez, CA
Relationship status: Single
Sexuality: Gay
Gay.com member name: rdh_kirra

What is the best thing that you like about your ride?

My favorite thing about my car is that it is me. It's my pride, it's my joy and it's all mine. People know me for my car and love of cars. I pay for the monthly payments, insurance, tickets, etc. It's all mine and reflects me, my cars have been my life and they bring me happiness. I love working in, around or near cars. Racing them and working in the industry as an out gay man doesn't happen to often, and although I don't flaunt it as the industry is mostly straight males, I usually do keep in a secrete in the work place and shows. But when the day is over you will see me and my car in the Castro. My car doesn't take after any other car and has it's own personality, that is my favorite thing about my car and working in the industry as a gay male.

Do you like tinkering under the hood, or do you leave repairs and routine maintenance to your mechanic?

I play under the hood all the time. I started playing with simple modifications and service years ago. At first I wouldn't do a thing, but then I decided I wanted to work on cars all the time and all I wanted to talk about were cars. So one day I went to Wal-Mart, got some oil and started doing my own services. Later I wound up getting a new car a few track days and crashes later I wound up with another car which is a performance beast. Everything that goes on my car I do my self. I even tuned the car electronics (ECU) my self for the best performance. Now all modifications, service and racing of the car are done by me.

What special touches have you added to your car that reflect your personality and individuality?

I have added carbon fiber, hood and wing. Added performance goodies such as intake and exhaust. Then tuning the ECU increases performance to over 300 whp. It's sporty and fast, just like me. All my friends would say "that care over there looks like what you should have" and I told them it was actually the car I wanted. A few years later working at a dealership I bought that same car. The car from the lot was what I always wanted and now have made my own with all the performance, lite weight body panels and exterior modifications. I tend to be more of a sporty nature and I think the car reflects that. I snowboard and this car was made to drift in the snow and rally race. Perfect for me.

What is the most you’ve ever paid for a car?  What is the most you would ever pay for a car?

I'm paying $610 a month on just the monthly payment alone. Then insurance is another $200 a month. On top of that the total cost is around $35,000. I would pay what ever the cost is if the car was worth it. But at my current budget this is as much as I can do, and still it is a lot.

Do you have a great memory of a date that relates to you car?  Describe that night (or day).

Ya, there was a date that years ago I took out in one of my older cars. I showed him all the things it had, such as color LED's in the air vents, the under body LED's coming from under the car like Fast and Furious. He was just amazed at what I had done to my car to make it mine. We ended up having just a nice date with a sweet kiss good bye. A few weeks later we were BF's and then the car had memories of it's own in the back seat, haha.

Do you find yourself more attracted to people with similar car tastes to your own?  Or doesn’t it matter?

It absolutely matters, if you say one bad thing about my car you are out. I'm often told liking cars or playing xbox is too straight and "how can you be gay if you like cars and xbox?" I tried dating that guy but after 2 weeks I had to call it off. If you say my car is too rough, and yeah suspension is stiff, then good bye. You don't have to suck up and say it's amazing, but don't say you hate it when it's my job and obsession. I went out on a date just recently, we drove in my car and the guy whined it was to bumpy, I turned around, dropped him back off at his place, went home and deleted him from my friends list. LOL.

If you had an unlimited budget and could change anything you wanted on your car, what modifications or accessories would you add?

If I had an unlimited budget I'd buy a new car, or should I say truck, so I could tow my current car and use it as just a track car. I would take my current car, rip out the interior for weight savings, add a roll cage, all the performance bits I could and make it a dedicated track car.

Do you think your car has a personality or soul? What kind of sound or behavior does it have that makes it unmistakably your car?

It has tons of go fast performance goodies and aerodynamic features, such as light weight hood and CF wing. Also it has a straight pipe exhaust that is 3" all the way back with no muffler, my friends know I'm coming from blocks away with just my exhaust and the woosh of the turbo and blow off valve. Just one lok at a picture and people will know it's MY car, haha.

Do you have a nickname for your car?

Yes I do. My first car was Chase, as it put up a chase in a race. Then the next one was called Speed, as it was a MazdaSpeed3. Now I have an Evo X (Evo 10) which I call "Exe". Like executable file. But just pronounced "x" but I wanted a longer name than X. So "Exe" to make it look longer and cooler I guess haha.

Have you upgraded the car stereo? What is your "dream" sound system?

I'm not a sound system fanatic. All about performance and lite weight materials.

What aspect of your ride most attracted you when you decided to own and drive it?

I was most attracted to it's style, off the lot performance and capability of modifications. Now a lot of the attention I get is from the big wing in the back which I added for aerodynamics and down force on the track. However I just leave it on and wave to the CHP wishing I was speeding, although I set cruise to 65-70 MPH so I don't get another ticket, and so I don't waste gas, haha.

Have you ever pushed your car to its performance limit? What was the fastest speed?

All the time. I take it to the track as often as I can. I have crashed it on the track, had my brakes fail as they got so hot the fluid inside them boiled and I loss all pressure. I have gone 150MPH with a constant 120+ on the track. I don't condone street racing either and have told officers that when pulled over for speeding, I just make dumb decisions and don't watch my speed, so when I explain I go to the tracks some let me off with a warning saying "glad you know where and when to do it, and this is not the time or place so I'm letting you off with a warning". So I push my car all the time. Track racing is the best and safest locations to push the limits. But don't push beyond them or you will get hurt. People have died driving their normal cars on the track because they think they are the next F1 driver.

Are you a member of any car clubs or other auto related organizations?

Yes I am, I work at a shop and hang out with other local Mitsubishi Evolution owners. This car is famous as it was in several Fast and Furious movies and just has a large following all over the world. So to not be a part of groups with this car is just disrespect to it.

What was the first car you ever had? Do you ever get nostalgic for it?

My first car was a Ford Focus I modified and yes I miss it a lot. But I am so much happier, minus the HIGH car payments. But the joy and performance and just knowing I have an Evo, makes up for it. I miss all my older cars.

If you could trade your ride in for any other car, what would it be, regardless of the price?

I wouldn't trade this car in. I'd just buy a new one, haha.

If you share a burning passion for your car like thousands of other gays, now you have a chance to let the world know.  We don't just want to see your auto-obsession, we want to hear all about it!