Los Angeles AutoShowoff Winner Tim Sy
Mitsubishi enthusiast takes it big time at the Los Angeles Auto Show

Last fall, in anticipation of the 2009-10 cross-country auto show blitz, Mitsubishi announced the AutoShowoff contest. Mitsubishi owners were invited to submit their Mitsubishi for the chance to have it displayed at the Mitsubishi booth in an auto show in one of eight cities. The winner of the Los Angeles AutoShowoff contest was Timothy Sy of Orange County with his 2008 Lancer Evolution.

Entries to the contest were collected into November and narrowed down to three finalists. Says Sy, “When I found out I was a finalist, I told everyone to vote for me.” Telling “everyone” included starting a Facebook campaign that brought in votes from all over the world. His PR campaign paid off, and with 1270 votes Sy's Evolution blew the competition out of the water.

The Evolution Sy entered in the AutoShowoff is actually his seventh Mitsubishi, and he was one of the first to buy the 2008 model when it arrived in dealerships. From the beginning Sy had big plans for his Evolution. He says he took the hood off as soon as he got it and it hasn't been on much since. So far he has made power-enhancing additions like JUN camshafts, a JUN intake manifold and SARD injectors, just to name a few. To up the ante on Evolution's already race-ready exterior, he's installed a JUN carbon front lip and side skirts. Even with everything he's done, Sy's plans are far from complete. Although he is constantly at work on the car, it has yet to see much road time and he has only put 5,000 miles on the odometer to date. He hasn't raced it or tested its horsepower yet, but after a few more modifications he plans to take it out on the track and see what it can do. If early contest performance is any indicator, it should do very well.

Seeing his car in the LA Auto Show was a proud moment for Sy, who brought a cadre of friends along to share his glory. He admits that he returned to the show several times. He doesn't know what he likes best about his Evolution, when asked he says, “Well it's a Mitsubishi—I like everything.”

For those of you who think your Mitsubishi has what it takes, there is still a chance to enter the AutoShowoff for New York (Entry deadline, 2/24). Check out the AutoShowoff contest homepage, to get all the information and to see the winners so far!