For the past 16 years, Import Alliance has served up multiple large-scale car meets in the South annually. Catering to all makes and models, it’s gone on to establish itself as a destination event for locals and travelers alike. This year’s highly anticipated Spring Meet marked its 13th year at Atlanta’s Motor Speedway.
The two-day event consistently brings a multitude of builds that include high-dollar show and race cars along with mild, entry-level projects that are just getting off the ground. The mix of styles and wide spectrum of tuning levels makes for an all-inclusive community affair that southern enthusiasts look forward to every year. In addition, a drift course was set up and available for thrashing via pre-registration.
Rather than judging cars and awarding trophies, Import Alliance organizers Ron Cartmell, Don Napier, and Omari Winbush maintain a non-competitive atmosphere and instead focus on bringing together like-minded import fanatics to interact with one another. Like most regions, many of the meet attendees know each other online and IA is the rare opportunity for everyone to meet face-to-face.
If you missed the Spring gathering, their annual summer meet takes place in June, with registration set to open this week and a massive turnout expected.
This S15 and Supra combo, in matching colors, was a tasty treat. The S-chassis received the Supra’s native 2JZ-GTE and both feature single turbo motivation.
We spotted this SR20-powered Datsun 510 at Toyo Tires’ SEMA Treadpass exhibit last year.
Its razor-straight body is highlighted a bulky TE37 and Toyo Proxes R888R combo, as well as carbon fiber flares, and blacked out fender mirrors, bumpers, and headlights.
The Type R corral was headed by HondaPro Jason, owner of this yellow FK8 that was elevated, along with select other vehicles, similar to Luftgekuhlt 5 lumber yard layout back in 2018.
About a decade separates these two fan-favorite chassis. The FD is a reminder of just how good we had it in the early 90s, while the AP1 has many wishing that Honda would once again produce something similar.
Years ago, imported Japanese favorites like this S13 Silvia were few and far between. Today, with so much access available and enough years having passed to grant U.S. legality, right-hand drive examples are far more common.
You never expected to see an overland style R33 Skyline but at IA, anything is possible.
The RWB Porsche community is strong in the South and it’s not uncommon to find a handful at any major event.
The massive fender treatments and ultra-deep dish wheels always draw people in for a closer look.
This Audi RS 6 Avant is simple and incredibly clean – its bright red paint highlighted by massive front calipers shoehorned behind matte finished wheels.
Photos Courtesy of Alec Coutinho
Keyword: Import Alliance's All-Inclusive Spring Fling in the ATL