2017 TUNER BATTLEGROUNDS CHAMPIONSHIP
SEMA SHOW. LAS VEGAS CONVENTION CENTER
OCT 31 - NOV 3, 2017
STAGE 1: #WILDCARD ELIMINATION
Voting Polls Open: September 5 @ 12:00 PM EDT
Voting Polls Close: September 11 @ 12:00 PM EDT
Click Here for Standings
Desiree Ogaz's grandfather was like her father. "He's the one who taught me to drive standard," expresses Ogz, "taught me the meaning of a dollar and the importance of hard work." Ogaz and her grandfather would have hour-long conversations about keeping faith in the things she did, and to keep working hard to achieve things.
"When he got diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma, my world came tumbling down all around me," mentions Ogaz. She would show him pictures of the Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution and told him it was her dream car, and that she wanted one so bad. He reminded her to keep grinding, work herself to exhaustion and to not give up, and that she would one day get her dream.
Unfortunately, Ogaz's grandfather passed before she laid eyes on Luna, a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 RS. "But when I did," states Ogaz, "I swear I felt his hand on my shoulder telling me, 'she's it - she's the one'!"
Ogaz purchased Luna the same day she saw her. "On the next day, I went to the cemetery and sat at my grandfather's grave and told him that I did it; I got my dream-come-true." She cried for hours until the cemetery closed. It broke her heart that her grandfather wouldn't be able to sit in the passenger seat. "If you look at my pictures, you'll see that there is something dangling from the rear view mirror," mentions Ogaz. "It is a picture of my grandfather. And no matter, for whatever occasion - photoshoots, shows, etc - I will never remove that picture."
"I am obsessed with my car and care for it a lot because I feel closest to my grandfather when I'm behind the wheel."
Ogaz doesn't only build the Evo for herself, but for her grandfather as well. "I know he's up there watching the moves I make and I know he is proud, and that makes it all worth it!"
Owner: Desiree Ogaz
Location: El Paso, TX, USA
Vehicle: 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution 8 RS
Horsepower: 455
Club: ModFreaks
SOCIAL
Facebook: Desirée Evonne
Instagram: @des_got_boost
Written by Randi Bentia.
Photography by @mario_oreo, @radrod_films, Desiree Ogaz.
ENGINE & PERFORMANCE
Evo 9 Turbo, TD06
FP 25 psi wastegate
255 Warlboro FP
ARP Head studs
VRSF Muse O2 Dump
GSC S1 Cams and Lifters
ETS intercooler piping
APS FMIC
Buschur MAF pipe
Amsoil Air Intake
GM 3 Port
Tial QR
1050cc FIC
Omini 4 bar map sensor
EXHAUST
Vibrant TBE 3-inch with test pipe
DRIVELINE
Action Clutch Stage 3 6-puck sprung clutch
WHEELS & TIRES
Varrstoen ES3 Gloss White wheels - 17x9 +22 (f/r)
Federal SuperSteel 595 tires - 255/40/17 (f/r)
CHASSIS & SUSPENSION
Raceland Coilovers
EXTERIOR
DoLuck carbon fiber lip
Rexpeed carbon fiber air ducts
Rexpeed carbon fiber air vent
Blox Vortex Generator
APR Canards
Carbon fiber oem wing
Evo 9 rear bumper
Cusco Power Brace Bar
RokBlokz Shorty Mudflaps
INTERIOR
Full MR Interior
Varis carbon fiber shift knob
Rexpeed carbon fiber steering wheel overlay
COMPETITION EVENTS, CLASSES & AWARDS
Spring Fest 2016 - 1st Place Best Female
Irvin High School 2016 - 1st Place Best Import
Spring Fest 2017 - 3rd Place Best Mitsubishi
FAVORITE MODIFICATION
"Has to be the front end; air ducts, canards and carbon fiber lip."
FUTURE MODIFICATIONS
"Definitely planning for more power and a face lift."
SPONSORS
JDM Fresh
Mishimoto
