I don’t love the city. I’ve always been more of the back roads and bushwhacking type of guy. When I first got interested in cars, particularly modifying cars, my taste was about what you would expect from a 16-year-old JDM fanboy. Big, blue-tipped mufflers, brand stickers, and the ability to scrape your frame on the lowest of speed bumps were my criteria for a cool build. Down to Earth Movement is a portal back into my old self. So, I was astonished when I saw a big rig semi with a frame stretch immediately upon entrance. Like many custom semis, the details on this rig were impressive. A luxurious, leather-lined interior topped off the yards of chrome and pinstriping on the outside of the truck. Sharing the same corner of the show was a tastefully done Imola Red BMW Z3 M Coupe, a wonderful contrast to the vastness that is the big Kenworth right next-door.
Down to Earth is largely focused on the culture surrounding imported vehicles, especially those from Japan and Germany. There is a certain charm about foreign vehicles from the 1990s and early 2000s that makes enthusiasts love them so much. The feeling of the materials, unique design choices, and even the smells of the interior all contribute to the retro experience of these cars.
Every now and then something strange catches my eye and I can’t explain the reason. Like this old school, right-hand drive Mitsubishi Delica. Now, on the internet the Delica has become a well-known relic of Japan in the 90s, even though it’s hardly a groundbreaking piece of technology. I have seen Delicas before, and it’s just a van, a people-mover. But, once I started to look in the details and design oddities, I realized the undeniable charm of this weird, old car was starting to rub off on me.
There is a Hot Import Nights, Fast and Furious vibe throughout the show. But there is so much diversity between all the cars out at Mile High. Lowriders, American Muscle, and even supercars like the Tungsten Grey 2006 Ford GT. The owner, Chaz, said as the second owner he has put roughly 17k miles the car in a little more than a decade of his ownership. “It’s the best used Ford EVER” he urged.
Another eye-catcher is the 1-of-7 Specter Werks Corvette GTR. This rarely seen spec is fitted with a custom widebody kit making the car 4.5 inches wider than a normal C6 Corvette and a stroked-out, loping LS3 spitting out over 500 horsepower. Colin Grossman just moved to Colorado this past June, and so far has spent most of his time attending car shows and driving through the mountains in his 2002 Audi A4 Avant. The wagon is finished in the classic and rare Goodwood Green paint color, and it functions as the perfect vehicle for someone looking to take a step into the natural wonders we call home. Colorado has a solid core of car enthusiasts, but the community has been, and will continue to grow for years into the future. The evidence is in the events, Down to Earth got its start in the mind of a local kid. The show has moved from small parking lots to the concourse at Mile High Stadium. Whether you enter a vehicle into the competition or not, the venue, people, and, of course, cars, make Down to Earth a must-see event.
https://www.downtoearthmvmt.com