Rice explained.
11-19-2002, 12:15 PM
#1
Burning Brakes
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Rice explained.
I'm going to clear up some confusion on the subject of "rice", or "Why spend a ton of money to make your car slower and handle worse?"
Because it's about appearance. Performance doesn't matter. It's about creating that outrageous tuned import car look. It's form, not function. It's art. The guys who are into it have a whole different system of evaluating what makes a car great, and accelleration and handling aren't part of it. Having the most sophisticated stereo/DVD/etc setup and the wildest paint and the lowest suspension and the wildest looking body kit are the criteria.
It's a whole culture in itself, and it's no less valid than building a '64 Impala lowrider, or restoring a 1947 Bentley, or building a chopped and channeled lead-sled '50's rod. None of these will ever perform very well, but people still spend tons of time and effort and money on them. Why not slam them? "I saw this restored Ford Model A on the road, and it was so stupid! It had wooden spoke wheels, a rumble seat, and an ahhhooogaa horn. I blew its doors off". So how can the guy with the Model A stand it? Why would he have a car like that? Because he enjoys his Model A, he enjoys working on it, he enjoys the friends and network of contacts he's built up enjoying the hobby, he enjoys getting together with other Model A enthusiasts and checking out their cars and what they've done with them, and he enjoys tooling around in it.
This is no different than what the guys with the super tricked out "rice" import cars do, and it's not any different than what we do. Everyone has their own agenda with the car hobby.
Yeah, like anything else there's a lot of poorly executed "rice" cars out there. But the ones that are done well are really wild! I enjoy checking them out and talking with the guys that own and build them. The work that goes into the nice ones is absolutely incredible.
I'm not trying to ram PC-ness up everyone's tailpipe or get anyone's goat. I just wanted to explain that while speed and handling is important to most of us, it's not the only yardstick on which to measure a car. And that the car hobby takes many forms and they're all fun to check out.
Bryan
Because it's about appearance. Performance doesn't matter. It's about creating that outrageous tuned import car look. It's form, not function. It's art. The guys who are into it have a whole different system of evaluating what makes a car great, and accelleration and handling aren't part of it. Having the most sophisticated stereo/DVD/etc setup and the wildest paint and the lowest suspension and the wildest looking body kit are the criteria.
It's a whole culture in itself, and it's no less valid than building a '64 Impala lowrider, or restoring a 1947 Bentley, or building a chopped and channeled lead-sled '50's rod. None of these will ever perform very well, but people still spend tons of time and effort and money on them. Why not slam them? "I saw this restored Ford Model A on the road, and it was so stupid! It had wooden spoke wheels, a rumble seat, and an ahhhooogaa horn. I blew its doors off". So how can the guy with the Model A stand it? Why would he have a car like that? Because he enjoys his Model A, he enjoys working on it, he enjoys the friends and network of contacts he's built up enjoying the hobby, he enjoys getting together with other Model A enthusiasts and checking out their cars and what they've done with them, and he enjoys tooling around in it.
This is no different than what the guys with the super tricked out "rice" import cars do, and it's not any different than what we do. Everyone has their own agenda with the car hobby.
Yeah, like anything else there's a lot of poorly executed "rice" cars out there. But the ones that are done well are really wild! I enjoy checking them out and talking with the guys that own and build them. The work that goes into the nice ones is absolutely incredible.
I'm not trying to ram PC-ness up everyone's tailpipe or get anyone's goat. I just wanted to explain that while speed and handling is important to most of us, it's not the only yardstick on which to measure a car. And that the car hobby takes many forms and they're all fun to check out.
Bryan
11-19-2002, 12:36 PM
#2
Burning Brakes
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I think you give these guys way too much credit. There may be a small percentage that enjoy it as a hobby, but I would say atleast 90% of ricers do that to their cars for street racing. Are you saying that all the Type-R decals are for a certain look they're trying to achieve? That's absurd. They rev their engines at stoplights, most drive recklessly, and to ignore that and say it's just about "art" is offending to me as an artist. People are free to do what they want, and even I am pretty tired of people shouting "Rice!" whenever someone modifies their car, but come on. Seriously. Also, this is way OT.
11-19-2002, 12:37 PM
#3
Race Director
I get your point, but I don't understand why anyone wants to make their car look fast by adding stickers, fake NOS-bottles, fake cages, cut the springs, fake sports exhaust (fart cans), wings that do no good.
But it goes the other way to, I saw an Audi S3 that is very well tuned with red neon lights... They made the whole car seem ridicilous even though the rest of it is real serious.
I think it's OK if the ricers have good fun ****in up their cars - but it is also plain stupid.
Don't get me wrong, I love those V-TEC engines and would love to have an early CRX to put a turbo and NOS on. I want the go-fast-stuff but the fake things I can be without.
But it goes the other way to, I saw an Audi S3 that is very well tuned with red neon lights... They made the whole car seem ridicilous even though the rest of it is real serious.
I think it's OK if the ricers have good fun ****in up their cars - but it is also plain stupid.
Don't get me wrong, I love those V-TEC engines and would love to have an early CRX to put a turbo and NOS on. I want the go-fast-stuff but the fake things I can be without.
11-19-2002, 01:13 PM
#4
Three Wheelin'
Ever notice how 75% of ricers have damaged body work?
And i dont really buy that hobby thing, the cars most of these guy use are of little importance, where as the model A is part of history.
Sure there are some decent ones that i can respect, but most of them are just slap as much crap on as possible. They demonstrate poor taste, no class, and little selfrestraint. The problem now is young people are dumber and more ignorant than ever. At the very least maybe those that put the "type R" badges on these cars would realize that all the other ricers are doing it TOO! Oh, yeah real unique!
But they are all the same, there are no 40 year old ricers, You know if at the very least the fart can would fade away it would be easier to ignore them! to bad you can't "close your ears"
And i dont really buy that hobby thing, the cars most of these guy use are of little importance, where as the model A is part of history.
Sure there are some decent ones that i can respect, but most of them are just slap as much crap on as possible. They demonstrate poor taste, no class, and little selfrestraint. The problem now is young people are dumber and more ignorant than ever. At the very least maybe those that put the "type R" badges on these cars would realize that all the other ricers are doing it TOO! Oh, yeah real unique!
But they are all the same, there are no 40 year old ricers, You know if at the very least the fart can would fade away it would be easier to ignore them! to bad you can't "close your ears"
11-19-2002, 01:15 PM
#5
Three Wheelin'
Ever notice how 75% of ricers have damaged body work?
And i dont really buy that hobby thing, the cars most of these guy use are of little importance, where as the model A is part of history.
Sure there are some decent ones that i can respect, but most of them are just slap as much crap on as possible. They demonstrate poor taste, no class, and little selfrestraint. The problem now is young people are dumber and more ignorant than ever. At the very least maybe those that put the "type R" badges on these cars would realize that all the other ricers are doing it TOO! Oh, yeah real unique!
But they are all the same, there are no 40 year old ricers, You know if at the very least the fart can would fade away it would be easier to ignore them! to bad you can't "close your ears"
And i dont really buy that hobby thing, the cars most of these guy use are of little importance, where as the model A is part of history.
Sure there are some decent ones that i can respect, but most of them are just slap as much crap on as possible. They demonstrate poor taste, no class, and little selfrestraint. The problem now is young people are dumber and more ignorant than ever. At the very least maybe those that put the "type R" badges on these cars would realize that all the other ricers are doing it TOO! Oh, yeah real unique!
But they are all the same, there are no 40 year old ricers, You know if at the very least the fart can would fade away it would be easier to ignore them! to bad you can't "close your ears"
11-19-2002, 01:32 PM
#6
Three Wheelin'
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[quote]Originally posted by mouse [CTY]:
<strong>They rev their engines at stoplights, most drive recklessly, and to ignore that and say it's just about "art" is offending to me as an artist.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, it has been my experience that most "riced" out cars are driven rather slowly. I think these people actually don't have performance aspirations, but actually just like the look and the "scene". I wish these slow drivers would get out of my way. I can't stand the sound of a Civic with a fart can and an automatic transmission.
Or, maybe they have a suspended license and are in fear of the long arm of the law.
<strong>They rev their engines at stoplights, most drive recklessly, and to ignore that and say it's just about "art" is offending to me as an artist.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Actually, it has been my experience that most "riced" out cars are driven rather slowly. I think these people actually don't have performance aspirations, but actually just like the look and the "scene". I wish these slow drivers would get out of my way. I can't stand the sound of a Civic with a fart can and an automatic transmission.
Or, maybe they have a suspended license and are in fear of the long arm of the law.
11-19-2002, 01:35 PM
#7
Race Director
And I thought this was going to be a thread on the BEST Pork-fried rice recipe!
There have always been people who modify their cars, as Bryan mentioned above. For each 'genre' of hot-rodders, modders, ricers...etc, there's a specific sub-culture associated with them. (The rebel/James Dean; the Mullet-TransAm guy..etc)
It's the "rice sub-culture" that I am bothered by. Most people that are deep into the rice scene are negative, violent, dangerous, and have no respect for the law. Can the same be said about the "James Dean" types from the 50's and 60's? Well, yes, but the stakes are higher today: back then, it was switchblades and cigarettes; today, it's guns and crack. And movies like "The Fast & The Furious" don't help in their reputation either!
I have no problems with people modifying their car: for looks or for performance. I may not like what you've done to your car, but that's ok. But when your attitude and actions directly effect others in a negative way: I've got a problem with that!
I've been a member of my local MR2 club (IMOC) for several years. While some of the guys are into looks, most are into performance. And: 99% of the guys in IMOC do NOT adhere to the rice sub-culture I described above. So, not all people into imports are of the rice attitude, but many are. (Seems the biggest group of such are the Honda owners.)
And you all know how I feel about street racing, which does tend to be a big pastime for the rice crowd.
Just my $0.42.
-Zoltan.
There have always been people who modify their cars, as Bryan mentioned above. For each 'genre' of hot-rodders, modders, ricers...etc, there's a specific sub-culture associated with them. (The rebel/James Dean; the Mullet-TransAm guy..etc)
It's the "rice sub-culture" that I am bothered by. Most people that are deep into the rice scene are negative, violent, dangerous, and have no respect for the law. Can the same be said about the "James Dean" types from the 50's and 60's? Well, yes, but the stakes are higher today: back then, it was switchblades and cigarettes; today, it's guns and crack. And movies like "The Fast & The Furious" don't help in their reputation either!
I have no problems with people modifying their car: for looks or for performance. I may not like what you've done to your car, but that's ok. But when your attitude and actions directly effect others in a negative way: I've got a problem with that!
I've been a member of my local MR2 club (IMOC) for several years. While some of the guys are into looks, most are into performance. And: 99% of the guys in IMOC do NOT adhere to the rice sub-culture I described above. So, not all people into imports are of the rice attitude, but many are. (Seems the biggest group of such are the Honda owners.)
And you all know how I feel about street racing, which does tend to be a big pastime for the rice crowd.
Just my $0.42.
-Zoltan.
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11-19-2002, 01:41 PM
#8
Burning Brakes
Bryan has a point.
Too often on this board we bash the rice folk as if we have never went through automobile phases. I've never met a 50 year old ricer. It's a stage, and there's nothing wrong with it. For many our cars are simply an outlet, and in the end isn't that what most hobbies are?
I compare ricers to the "AND 1" basketball tapes. If you haven't seen them it's a series of videos of a couple of guys that go from court to court playing street ball. Now these guys do some crazy stuff on the court, things you will never see in the NBA. Still, none of these guys have a shot at making it to the pros. In the end though like ricers, people enjoy it and some even learn a few things along the way.
There are 2 things I don't like to read about on this board. One, is the constant bickering about how Boxsters are crap. It's hypocritical since we feel we have the right to bust on Boxsters and then at the same time we'll get upset when the 911'ers say we have fake Porsches. And two, the constant fun we make of ricers. As if we have never liked a type of car in the past that we would be ashamed to drive today. I used to like Fieros when I was a kid. Hell, there are grown men today rightnow who are putting long hours into making them run. Now we all know for the most part these cars aren't our style. But if everyone drove watercooled Porsches maybe our cars wouldn't be so cool.
Too often on this board we bash the rice folk as if we have never went through automobile phases. I've never met a 50 year old ricer. It's a stage, and there's nothing wrong with it. For many our cars are simply an outlet, and in the end isn't that what most hobbies are?
I compare ricers to the "AND 1" basketball tapes. If you haven't seen them it's a series of videos of a couple of guys that go from court to court playing street ball. Now these guys do some crazy stuff on the court, things you will never see in the NBA. Still, none of these guys have a shot at making it to the pros. In the end though like ricers, people enjoy it and some even learn a few things along the way.
There are 2 things I don't like to read about on this board. One, is the constant bickering about how Boxsters are crap. It's hypocritical since we feel we have the right to bust on Boxsters and then at the same time we'll get upset when the 911'ers say we have fake Porsches. And two, the constant fun we make of ricers. As if we have never liked a type of car in the past that we would be ashamed to drive today. I used to like Fieros when I was a kid. Hell, there are grown men today rightnow who are putting long hours into making them run. Now we all know for the most part these cars aren't our style. But if everyone drove watercooled Porsches maybe our cars wouldn't be so cool.
11-19-2002, 02:00 PM
#9
Race Director
I dont see a problem with souping up a car like a prelude, se-r, type r, miata, rx7 as these cars arent bad rice to begin with, but whatever. As long as its done right minus stickers, stripes, hydros. What it comes down to: EVERYONE HAS THERE OWN DEFINITION OF RICE. Ill stick with Porsches..just keep them anti-rice.
11-19-2002, 02:06 PM
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This debate reminds me of a 'discussion' I had with my ex-wife. She was claiming that the music of today (mid to late '90s) was awful. I pointed out to her that when she was a teenager, her parents said the same thing. Her point was that it was different this time, because she was right, the music was awful.
She always considered herself smart, but I don't get the logic.
People have been changing their cars ever since there were cars. To invalidate the things kids do today just because you don't see the point, well...
She always considered herself smart, but I don't get the logic.
People have been changing their cars ever since there were cars. To invalidate the things kids do today just because you don't see the point, well...
11-19-2002, 02:18 PM
#11
Burning Brakes
I think that we all need to agree on a definition of "rice". To me, it is someone who does a modification to their car to gain an increase in "performace" when in reality it decreases their performance. For example a large wing on the back of a civic. If someone is doing it purely because they like the way it looks, then that's not rice. If they think that their new wing will make their car faster, that's rice. Its especially rice when they brag about how fast their car now is because of their new wing. Or when they try to race you on public roads because they think their car is now really fast.
Another thing that is rice is cutting your stock springs for that "slammed" look and then trying to go fast down a twisty road. If you want you're car lowered for just looks, that's fine. If you put properly engineered shorter springs on your car that's cool too. If you're doing it for better handling, take it to the track, not the highway.
In the end, if you do it because it looks good to you, fine. But don't expect me not to make fun of you if i think it looks stupid. And it's rice if you think it makes you faster when it doesn't.
Another thing that is rice is cutting your stock springs for that "slammed" look and then trying to go fast down a twisty road. If you want you're car lowered for just looks, that's fine. If you put properly engineered shorter springs on your car that's cool too. If you're doing it for better handling, take it to the track, not the highway.
In the end, if you do it because it looks good to you, fine. But don't expect me not to make fun of you if i think it looks stupid. And it's rice if you think it makes you faster when it doesn't.
11-19-2002, 02:31 PM
#12
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What's the German equivalant of rice?? Kraut? You know, I've got sheepskins on my seats. I haven't dyno'd the car since, but I'm fairly certain they add almost no horsepower. So I guess I'm a krauter.
11-19-2002, 02:46 PM
#13
Burning Brakes
[quote]Originally posted by ArcticCzar:
<strong>What's the German equivalant of rice?? Kraut? You know, I've got sheepskins on my seats. I haven't dyno'd the car since, but I'm fairly certain they add almost no horsepower. So I guess I'm a krauter.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Did you expect the covers to add power? Do you go around bragged to everyone how much faster your car is because you added seatcovers? If you answer yes, then you are "kraut". Obviously you don't think these things, so in my opinion you're fine. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
<strong>What's the German equivalant of rice?? Kraut? You know, I've got sheepskins on my seats. I haven't dyno'd the car since, but I'm fairly certain they add almost no horsepower. So I guess I'm a krauter.</strong><hr></blockquote>
Did you expect the covers to add power? Do you go around bragged to everyone how much faster your car is because you added seatcovers? If you answer yes, then you are "kraut". Obviously you don't think these things, so in my opinion you're fine. <img src="graemlins/wave.gif" border="0" alt="[byebye]" />
11-19-2002, 02:55 PM
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well stated post brian and others...very pc hehehe. imo on the ricers it just seems oxymoronic to build a car that looks and sounds (well somewhat) like a supertuned street car/racecar that has zero the performance and all looks. its in the same vain as a person who stretches a fiero frame puts tons of hours of labor and money to put a fiber glass diablo body ontop and keeps the stock feiro motor in it. the beauty of a sports car is 50% skin and 50% heart (i realize as im typing this that that statement is just an opinion so open mouth insert foot ), straying from that to such as extreme loses its appeal in my eyes. i read an article, i forget where, was good tho... on how the honda civic and acura accord are the modern day 57 chevy....it was writen so well i felt ricer sympathetic. all those feelings went in the toilet next time i was in the 951 and i look in the rearview to see a ricer obnoxiously jockying through traffic to try to get a stop light next to me. finally he gets next to me....reving this open exhaust tiberon (name means shark you know hehehe) and staring at me. his only mod must have been exhaust 
. i understand that one incident doesnt black label all asian import tuners, but it seems that this stereotype fits too many times.
remember this is just my opinion....and its coming from a guy who put an aluminum v8 in a triumph <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> ...i guess that makes me a "tea'er"
), straying from that to such as extreme loses its appeal in my eyes. i read an article, i forget where, was good tho... on how the honda civic and acura accord are the modern day 57 chevy....it was writen so well i felt ricer sympathetic. all those feelings went in the toilet next time i was in the 951 and i look in the rearview to see a ricer obnoxiously jockying through traffic to try to get a stop light next to me. finally he gets next to me....reving this open exhaust tiberon (name means shark you know hehehe) and staring at me. his only mod must have been exhaust . i understand that one incident doesnt black label all asian import tuners, but it seems that this stereotype fits too many times. remember this is just my opinion....and its coming from a guy who put an aluminum v8 in a triumph <img src="graemlins/c.gif" border="0" alt="[ouch]" /> ...i guess that makes me a "tea'er"
