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This month's feature: NOPI Nationals 2005
 The NOPI Nationals in Atlanta has a cult following like no other event within the sport compact and custom car industry.
Most people that attend NOPI are almost willing to sacrifice their lives to make it there; I know I did last year driving for 26 hours into a hurricane that everyone else was evacuating from. Did I also mention I am really smart? Well I am...at least at most things. For many, most of NOPI's appeal is the drive itself. Tuners from every area of the country all zoning in on the ATL for one weekend — That's what NOPI is all about.
This time around, there were no hurricanes to drive through to get there. The only setback Mother Nature conjured up was a tornado that started in the complex a few months ago, forcing workers to hustle and repair the damage.
Although I was skeptical at first about this year's potential turnout due to rising gas prices, fuel didn't seem to phase it. When the gates opened on Saturday, spectators flooded in and the vendor areas were mass congestion. Sunday was the same, and both days were blessed with great weather.
NOPI put on its usual sideshows, including several of their famous contests: Burnouts, Bikinis and Boom (sound-offs). There was the annual hydraulic hop-off, which every year I try to enter my rental car into. There were live stage shows scattered about. I took a poll and 95.4% of Atlantiens prefer crunk music, which seemed to be the soundtrack for the weekend.
RSR also put on a spectacular drifting exhibition smack in the middle of the show. Their driving skills amazed everyone, although most of it were techniques I learned while getting through NY rush hour traffic.
The show cars were aplenty and scattered everywhere imaginable. Many of the top teams in the country came out to represent also, one being The International All-Stars, who took home several top honors.
So that's the wrap for NOPI 2005. Can't wait to see what surprises we got in store for next year. Hopefully we won't have to get crunk with any hurricanes or tornadoes, but as I've learned, that ain't no thing but a chicken wing in the ATL.
- Eddie Habeck
www.EddieHabeck.Com
This year's NOPI Nationals showcased an impressive array of innovations in motorsports technology. Following are some of the highlights:
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