Subie Jam showcases custom cars

Subaru of Las Vegas' Subie Jam 2010 has become synonymous with the giant Specialty Equipment Market Association convention every year. In both cases, the gatherings are giant successes attracting major names and attention to their products.

The seventh annual Subie event this past Saturday at the Findlay Automotive Group dealership at 5385 W. Sahara Ave. had to be rated the best ever, drawing hundreds of fans and impressive Subarus in a one-of-a-kind event.

One of the newest Findlay showrooms in the automobile giant's umbrella that includes stores in Utah, Nevada, Arizona and Idaho, Subaru of Las Vegas became a home away from home for enthusiasts, many of whom came thousands of miles to attend the Subie Jam.

"I came here from Los Angeles," said Geno Reyna, the 27-year-old owner of Apollo Performance in Upland, Calif., and also owner of a Subaru WRX. "This has been a great way to network while also getting the chance to meet new people. I have seen people from Washington and even as far away as Brazil at this."

Reyna said the Subaru following is as strong in Las Vegas as it is in Southern Califonria.

In fact, renowned four-time World Rally champion "Turbo" Tommi Makinen stopped by the dealership earlier in the week. The retired Subaru driver is to rally competition what Jimmie Johnson is to NASCAR.

"Tommi is a worldwide legend," dealership Marketing Coordinator Yujiro Otsuki said of the Finnish legend. "He was a surprise visitor and everyone really enjoyed seeing him."

Dealership executives agreed that Subie Jam 2010 generated great publicity and goodwill for the store.

"This was very successful," said Service Director Gary Harding. "We had many factory reps in attendance, and everyone was very impressed. We had a good day in sales, too."

Dealership General Manager Burton Hughes concurred.

"This kind of event requires the strong commitment of our staff and vendors and the many Subie faithful that call this place 'home,' " said Hughes, who has been in the car business for 16 years. "However, it has become an annual must-see, and we're proud of the final product everyone has put together."

The event complemented Subaru's record-breaking year, and included never-before-seen-in-public Subaru of America SEMA show cars, a number of world-famous tuners along with food, giveaways, a vendor village and a car show.

While many other automobile manufacturers have struggled during the recession, Subaru has increased sales. The company's worldwide sales topped 200,000 in 2009, up 15 percent from its 2008 figures, and the company has surpassed its numbers this year and will be up 25 percent by the end of 2010 marking the third-straight year of increased sales results. The company is led in sales by its Forester model, which leads a long list of all-wheel-drive offerings.

Subaru is the oldest franchise in the Findlay Automotive Group. It was first brought into the chain by the late Pete Findlay, whose son, Cliff, now spearheads the privately owned company.

Subaru of America is a wholly owned subsidiary of Fuji Heavy Industries Ltd. of Japan. Headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J., the company markets and distributes Subaru symmetrical all-wheel-drive vehicles, parts and accessories through a network of more than 600 dealers across the United States. Subaru makes the best-selling all-wheel drive car sold in America. Further information can be found at www.subaru.com.

Further information for Subaru of Las Vegas can be found at www.subaruoflasvegas.com or by calling 495-2100.