Month: January 2014

Who are the PVT Runners? Who is E. Morada? How many aliases does he have? PVT Runners (Private Runners) is a Street Family. Think of a gang. It was originally based out of Sacramento, CA but there are known PVT Runners all over the US and worldwide. His main shop SMA (Sacramento Motoring Accessories), is known for their custom work and fabrication, upholstry, electrical installs, general maintenace, aftermarket parts and accessories. Morada, who prefers to go by P. Runner, was a grease monkey at SMA for a few years in Rancho Cordova, CA before moving to his new home in San Diego, CA. His skills at SMA focused on suspension work of all makes and models. Before working at the shop he would make his money doing side jobs and “Running.”

The first time I notice PVT Runners was back in 2010. From what I know, P. Runner ran solo back then and was planning to stay that way. From tumblr, he became well known but stayed low key.
Low key to the point where he rocked stock rims with sticky tires. As of recently, the preference or choice of wheels are VX’s with some no name tires with a shakotan demeanor. (Change your wheel/tire set up already!!) Doesn’t look like much but it’s all a part of the “incognito/sleeper” style he goes for.

P. Runner is “a rebel without a cause.” As a youth, he always embraced the streets. Getting kicked out of school and home, the streets were the only thing that took him in. He also served as a street “monk” to troubled individuals. He has a Buddhist view of the universe and believes in past lives. Also, what roles we play in the world… yadayadayada.

A few years ago he met his “long lost brother” Tougel. Tougel ended up being the 2nd member of PVT Runners and became partners in the Sacramento “kanjo loop.” We can never bring the REAL Kanjo culture here in the states. That being said, they had to be extra careful and play it smart when they ran on the loop. They studied the 916 loop and ran it like clock work. With cars that looked stock (with the exception of a low stance) no one really looked twice at their cars. This made it easy to disguise and “blend” into the myriad night.
“When kanjo racing in Osaka was at its prime, the kanjo runners used Loop 1 as their circuit. There was a lot of funk between teams back then about who is best, some even broke out in fights. We weren’t racing anyone, we were just hooning; treating the loop like a circuit the same way a kanjozoku would in Osaka. Every now and then someone would follow us but when they see us change junctions they wouldn’t follow. One person followed me for one lap then exited the highway. Party pooper.” – P. Runner

“Incog-negro” (incognito) is a lingo word that the two Runners threw at me when explaining their cars.

Being born in the 80’s and rasied in the 90’s, those era of cars is something that he’ll always embrace. Whether it be racecars, lowriders, to Kanjo cars of Loose Racing, Law Break, Temple Racing, No Good, and Late Riser, just to name a few. For his EG Civic, the front office is left untouched with the company of a Safety-21 6 point bolt-in roll cage. The rear interior is fully gutted. He left the rear speakers where the panels used to be and added a 10 inch Kicker subwoofer. When it comes to haunting the streets he likes to have his personal soundtrack playing, and slapping hard and loud.

As with all PVT cars, underneath the hood, the engine bay is a dirty mess. This is all part of the Kei Miura street style that P. Runner grasps so well. He swapped in a built B18 VTEC motor making the same horsepower as the JTCC Idemitsu MOTION EG Civic, more than enough power to move the light weight EG in and out of traffic on the loop. To avoid being messed with by the law, he recently picked up on vinyl wrapping. Some nights he would dress the car up with different kanjo themed stripes and “dummy” plates with tags.

This Civic might not be the most outrageous build but it sure is one of the most gorgeous and most simplistic builds that I’ve seen. It’s not filled with unnecessary technology and luxuries. It’s just flat out simple. It’s bare to the bone and straight out fun without breaking the bank. He claims that he initiated more members and plans on getting back into auto crossing and start attending road course events.
But until then, catch him in the late hours of the night… haunting the streets.

Fast Facts:
Honda Civic EG VX
Owner: E. Morada aka P. Runner aka P. Gunner aka maybe more?
Hometown: Sacramento, CA. Now residing in San Diego, CA.
Daily Grind: Grease Monkey and posting on Tumblr
Power: 200+hp
Under the hood: 2.0L B18C; ITR header, PVT exhaust
Stiff Stuff: TEIN coilovers, CUSCO tower bars, OEM front and rear sway bars
Rollers: VX wheels, HX wheels; random tires
Outside: VX diffuser, Carbon vinyl wrapped hood
Inside: Safety 21 6 point roll cage
Ice: 500w amp, 10″ Kicker, front and rear speakers

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Words: Natipus
Photos: Tougel and Rude Gal.
Editor’s note: This article format was taken from the MAD MAX MIURA feature which was in the Decemeber 2009 Super Street issue.