As the weather gets warmer, it’s time to break out the wax and the tire shine and get your ride presentable again (especially after the pollen had its revenge on it…) because with the spring comes all sorts of car meets and shows! It’s a time to see and be seen.

Each meet typically follows a theme; Mustang Week [Ford Mustangs], Cruise to the Coast [classic cars], Import Alliance [imported cars ranging from Japanese Domestic, Korean Domestic, Euro, etc], Nopi Nationals [everything from imports to American muscle to trucks and bikes], and many more nationwide. But just because a meet/show has a particular theme, that doesn’t mean that other cars aren’t welcome…anyone and everyone can come, despite what they drive.

The most recent spring meet was Import Alliance which took place this past weekend (March 19 and 20) at Atlanta Motor Speedway in Georgia. Import Alliance (IA) is, in fact, the largest bi-annual imported car meet in the United States. At this particular event, many JDM, KDM, and European imports are showcased, but unlike other car shows, this meet isn’t a competition. This meet is so that imported car drivers and enthusiasts as a whole can come together, socialize, and have fun. It’s also a place merch for your car (rims, tires, a multitude of large decals and stickers, steering wheels, shifting knobs, etc) and for yourself (t-shirts, hoodies, hats, sunshades, more stickers, etc.)

Despite the gates opening at 9 am, hundreds of cars will be lined up outside the track before sun-up. It doesn’t matter if your car is slammed (lowered…some so low that it’ll scrape on a piece of paper…not even kidding, the wheel gap is pretty much nonexistent) or stanced (also typically lowered and cambered, also known as stretching the tires over the wide rims) or slightly modified whether it has a performance exhaust system or an aftermarket air intake or audio system or an aftermarket body kit or if you have a custom paint job or if your car is completely stock (no modifications at all), all are welcomed. You’ll see a little bit of everything as you walk around the speedway. Heck, you'll even spot a few American cars out there too.

Import Alliance is just a great experience for car enthusiasts as a whole. During the meet, there are typically a few events throughout the day. At IA Spring Meet 2015, the two events were the autocross competition and car limbo. This year, though, there was an all-day drifting event. The smell of burning rubber and exhaust fumes were intoxicating, in a good way, as well as the sound of tires screeching on pavement. It’s exciting; adrenaline enhancing, even from just watching from the sidelines.

And, of course, there are plenty of cars in the indoor and fenced in showcases to ogle at and take pictures of as well as quite a few large parking areas filled with the cars of various car groups and enthusiasts from all over who all came to the event. Like I said, car meets are a place to see and be seen.