2002 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer VII

Not much is known about the Cayman Islands. Ask anyone on the streets if they could locate the tiny islands on a map and most likely they wouldn't have any idea. The Caymans, located 480 miles south of Florida is the ideal destination spot for honeymooners and vacationers looking to indulge in the top rated scuba diving, crystal clear waters and year long warm tropical climates. For local residents living on the largest settling of three islands in the Caymans, the Grand Caymans, the term living on a "rock" becomes a living reality. Put into perspective, the largest of three islands in the Caymans is no larger in size than the beef jerky that sits beside my shitty E-Mac computer at work. The Grand Caymans Island spans 22 miles long by four miles wide with a population of 35,600 people. Compare the population density of the Caymans to the 128,000 living on the island of Maui, Hi and you come to understand exactly how small the land and population the Caymans really are.

When 2NR was notified by several import manufacturers that an import drag event was to take place on the Grand Cayman Island all of us editors in the office were baffled. Sure the Caymans are known in Hollywood movies as the ideal place to deposit large sums of money in their offshore bank accounts but besides the stereotypical gangsters depositing illegal slush funds in accounts with false identities we weren't sure what to expect on an island that isn't known for building high horsepower import cars.

Boy, were we wrong! Meet Tony Williams, a native to the Cayman Islands and owner of Tony's Toys, a local high performance shop specializing in high horsepower vehicles. Williams, deemed a celebrity on the island, has literally revolutionized the import scene on the small strip of land local's call home. No stranger to the import scene, Williams currently owns his fair share of import cars ranging from an Hachiroku,1986 Toyota turbo pickup,1972 Mini Cooper 1275 GT, 2002 Mini Cooper(built by Mini Mania),1998 Mitsubishi Lancer EVO V (built by A'PEXi Japan), and a 2002 Mitsubishi Evolution Lancer VII.

While most cars begin their lives as either a junkyard vehicle or a hand-me-down from grandma, Williams most treasured and current project, a Mitsubishi Evolution III was purchased and shipped to the Cayman docks for $9,000 in 2001 as a retired ex-circuit vehicle from Japan. After arriving at the docks and taking the vehicle back to the shop, careful analysis of the car was done by the mechanics at Tony's Toys. The crew concluded the engine was tired and needed to be rebuilt. After a quick freshening up of the engine and gearbox, Williams set out to the local drag strip and proceeded to scare every V8 on the island. "Hands down we beat the fastest streetable Camaro on the island which was running about 600 hp," stated Williams with a grin. From that point on the anti-import scene on the Cayman was revolutionized overnight. Enthusiasts took notice of "Gungho" (the Evolution's nickname) and slowly began to change the landscape of performance cars on the island. The once proud owners of V8 cars saw the light and switched to Turbo JDM cars after witnessing the ass whipping performed by the Evolution III. "I have had every child of school age knowing about the car as it was and currently is the most feared street car on the island." Williams continues by saying "Kids as young as five or six come up to me asking about "GUNGO" Damn! Talk about a role model!