Early October is the tail end of car-show season in the GTA. The organizers that brought RaceWarz to Cayuga back in July were also hosting JDM Expo at the Courtyard Marriott in Mississauga. They lucked out with a warm, sunny Sunday for one of the last big events of the season. Unfortunately, the number of show cars was way down from previous years.
The event has changed over the past few years, now accepting KDM as well as JDM cars, meaning Korean tuner machines like the Hyundai Genesis Coupe, Kia Stinger and Hyundai Veloster are also welcome. JDM Expo is kind of like a CSCS event, minus the actual racing. Highlights include the Rev Battle, Sound Competition, car Beauty Contest and a live DJ keeping the music bumping during the Miss JDM bikini contest. Plenty of entertainment, but not necessarily much variety.
JDM Expo still had some top-tier Japanese tuner cars on display, despite this year’s event being way down on car count. Last year, both levels of the Marriott parking structure were packed with show cars. This year, there were fewer than a dozen cars in the basement. Popular JDM machines like the Nissan 370Z, Subaru WRX STI, Mk4 Toyota Supra and Mazdaspeed3 were at the show with incredible wraps, wild wheels and enough customization to make each example stand out. One gearhead even brought a lime-green and purple Kawasaki Ninja motorcycle, adding some two-wheeled Japanese flavour to the event.
There was a wide variety of cars among those that did show up. Everything from an eighth-generation Honda Accord Coupe with chameleon paint and a restrained stance, to a wildly modified ninth-generation Civic Coupe with an extreme widebody kit and Lamborghini-style doors. There was also the rare Synthwave SVX, with Chris Demaras dressed to match in a purple shirt and hat. It’s this diversity that makes the show interesting. Rarely would anyone spot two cars of the same year, make and model.
Spectators seemed to flock to the loudest stereo contest, which was one of the day’s big highlights. With cars lined up next to the hotel, the DJ walked through with his SPL meter, checking the sound pressure level of each entry. Some were garage builds, while others were custom shops flexing their muscles and showing off the level of detail they could achieve. Some builds were more about clean installation, while others were basically speakers on wheels.
After all that booming bass, there was also a two-step contest to find the car with the loudest exhaust. Meanwhile, the car-limbo contest could barely get started because cars were blocking the laneways. Where were the car show organizers? Total amateur hour. Many spectators took the opportunity to retreat to the hotel lobby for a break and an iced coffee. By the time they returned outside, the Miss JDM bikini contest was in full swing.
Not many red-blooded males, all jacked up on Monster Energy Drink, would complain about four pretty women on stage in bikinis and high heels. But does that kind of contest really belong at a modern car show? Some guys attended JDM Expo with their wives and girlfriends. Some of the competitors were women, and plenty of families brought their kids. Nobody is suggesting the women shouldn’t be allowed to compete, but maybe these objectifying contests are simply too old-fashioned, tone-deaf and out of touch with today’s diverse car scene. Who’s to say? Some spectators certainly seemed to enjoy it.
One under-represented segment was the retro-JDM machinery. The Infiniti G37 may be a cool car, but there were at least half a dozen of them, plus six more of their close relatives, the Nissan 370Z, in various states of customization. Cool cars, yes, but a little overdone.
Meanwhile, a pair of right-hand-drive Nissan Skylines, an R33 and an R34, privately imported from Japan, received relatively little attention. Was it their understated styling, the lack of colour-shifting wraps or wildly stanced wheels that relegated them to the parking garage? For a show celebrating Japanese cars, it seemed odd that these genuine JDM classics weren’t getting more love.
The biggest FAIL of the show had to be the awards. Everyone who brings their prized ride to an event like this hopes to go home with a big gold trophy, or at JDM Expo, a plaque. Around 50 awards were handed out, with most based on manufacturer, such as Best Subaru or Runner-Up Best Mazda. But then there were specialty categories like Hottest Engine, Hottest Build, Hottest Wheels, Hottest Whip and Hottest Stance, all awarded to the same Honda Civic. In total, one guy took home nine awards, including Best of Show. What a joke! There were cars with wilder wheels and more aggressive stance. Once a car is earmarked for Best of Show, a smart organizer would spread the joy a little. Disappointed show-car owners don’t come back the following year, you know.
When nearly 20% of the awards go to a single Honda Civic, without even a hood, people start asking questions. One guy in the crowd even shouted, “Is that your bro or something?” while several disappointed competitors openly questioned returning for 2027. Great day for that one guy, but what about everyone else who spent their time and money preparing their cars for the show?
All in all, JDM Expo was a good show, although certainly not as big or as popular as it used to be. The awards debacle, poor organization and questionable taste behind the bikini contest might all impact attendance next year. But who knows? Maybe the organizers will make some big changes for 2027 and give the car community a reason to come back. After all, the cars themselves are still worth celebrating, even if the event needs a tune-up.