February Member "Alex Hammond" Chicago CH

1. When did you join Team Elevate, and why?

I joined team elevate back in April of 2021, but I knew I wanted to be apart of the team since I was just 16 years old. I used to host local  car meets and help out at car shows and every time the Chicago chapter pulled up they were friendly, humble and helpful people that I loved having around. They had the best cars around but they would never expect special treatment because of it. I became familiar with most of the members before I joined the team and even became pretty good friends with a few of them that helped me with getting parts or giving advise for my focus I was building at the time. I reached out to the team lead and he invited me out to a show with the team. 4 years later I’m still with the team and I am happy to say we are still thriving with some of the best builds around along with a great group of people who I consider my second family!

2. What sparked your passion for cars?

I have always loved cars for as long as I can remember. However nobody in my family or friend group growing up were really into cars. I really don’t know what sparked it but I loved everything about cars and I loved art. When I realize I could combine the 2 and showcase what I have built I did not look back.

3. What car(s) do you drive, and what modifications have you made to them?

I am currently working on my 1993 Nissan 300ZX convertible.

Exterior:

• Custom paint job by Payton Paintz
• BN-style front lip
• BN-style side skirts
• BN-style rear bumper
• Cleared rear side marker lights
• Cleared front side marker lights
• Ionic Dynamics fog light vents
• Ionic Dynamics carbon fiber door pillars
• Ionic Dynamics carbon fiber nose panel
• Custom carbon fiber Ganador-style mirrors
• Carbon fiber convertible top cover
• Carbon fiber wind flap
• Carbon fiber convertible tonneau
• TwinZ carbon fiber Type 3 spoiler
• Carbon Creations carbon fiber hood
• Custom-built JDM tail lights with chromed housings
• Origin Labs carbon fiber canards
• BRE Customs carbon fiber rear spats

Interior:

• Custom carbon door handles (24k gold flakes)
• Custom carbon fiber door vents
• Carbon fiber steering column
• Carbon fiber dash gauges
• Custom carbon fiber seat belt trims
• Custom carbon fiber window switches (24k gold flakes)
• Custom carbon fiber rearview mirror
• Custom carbon fiber mirror trim covers
• Various other custom carbon fiber trims
• R35-style GTR carbon fiber seats
• Sparco low-mount seat brackets
• Ionic Dynamics carbon fiber dash pod
• Carbon fiber window control panels
• NRG carbon fiber quick release
• NRG hub
• Full carbon fiber steering wheel
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber armrest
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber door pillar
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber waterfall
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber head unit
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber center console
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber ashtray
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber dash cluster
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber e-brake
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber door pulls
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber door armrests

BRE Customs Trunk Setup/Upholstery:

• Starlight trunk liner
• Carbon fiber air compressors
• Interior Innovations Alcantara shift boot
• Interior Innovations Alcantara e-brake boot
• Custom diamond-stitched Novasuede trunk liner
• Custom diamond-stitched dash pod
• Custom diamond-stitched tank blanket
• Custom diamond-stitched door armrest
• Custom diamond-stitched trunk deck liner
• Custom diamond-stitched seat pads
• Novasuede door cards
• Novasuede glovebox
• Novasuede trans tunnel
• Novasuede/carbon fiber door panels
• Novasuede rear finishing trim
• Nova suede lower gauge cluster
• Novasuede A-pillars
• Novasuede roof latch trim
• Novasuede B-pillars
• Novasuede roll bar
• Novasuede windshield headliner trim
• Novasuede headliner
• P2M floor mats

Engine Bay:

• Custom shaved and tucked engine bay
• Custom carbon fiber tubs
• Custom carbon fiber strut towers
• Custom carbon fiber rear engine bay cover
• Custom black/gold powder coating
• ZSPEC dress-up hardware
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber radiator cover
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber fan shroud
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber fuse box
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber throttle cover
• Interior Innovations carbon fiber timing covers
• ZSPEC cruise control box
• Greddy coolant reservoir
• ZSPEC engine bay dress-up
• ZSPEC power steering reservoir
• ZSPEC battery tie-down
• ZSPEC oil cap
• ZThirty2 carbon fiber throttle springs
• Custom carbon fiber engine covers
• Ionic Dynamics carbon fiber windshield shroud
• Polished upper and lower front coolant piping
• Polished radiator piping
• ZSPEC throttle body titanium hardware
• ZSPEC timing titanium hardware
• ZSPEC PTU relocation kit
• Fuse box relocation/wire tuck
• Custom carbon fiber/forged carbon/24k gold filler neck

Lighting/Accessories:

• Underglow
• Engine bay RGB LED
• Starlight trunk liner
• Apple CarPlay head unit
• Skar Audio 6-inch speakers
• Soundtron 12-inch sub and amp

Performance/Suspension/Wheels:

• Custom powder-coated Phase 2 intake manifold
• Custom powder-coated Phase 2 coolant plumbing
• Cusco rear strut bar
• Z1 intakes
• D2 R32 air suspension
• Z1 rear lower control arms
• Z1 rear upper control arms
• Megan front lower control arms
• ISC front upper control arms
• Mishimoto radiator
• HKS exhaust
• Work Emitz 19x10 / 19x11
• BBS RS 18x10.5 / 18x11.5

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I originally joined the team with my 2016 Ford Focus Titanium, my first car. I went through many different versions of this build, and it taught me almost everything I know about working on my own car.

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4. If you could own any car in the world, what would it be and why?

My dream car is a s30 Datsun 240z, it has been my dream car since I was a child. I love the 70s vintage styling of the car and think that it aged beautifully. This is a car that appeals to me when it’s stock, heavily modified or even rotting away. I love old nissan/datsun cars/trucks and I am always fascinated with the z heritage this car has!

5. What’s one misconception people have about car enthusiasts?

I think it is hard to speak on all people but I feel like majority of non car enthusiasts shy away from becoming car enthusiasts because they feel they are not knowledgable or experienced enough to join the community. I believe a true car enthusiast will take the time to help, educate and encourage non car enthusiasts to get their foot in the door to the car community. Especially right now with the wave of takeovers and wrong doings in our community we would be happy to introduce you to the side of the car community that is so amazing.