IN an exclusive interview with Auto, founders of Kingston car club Skunk Nation said there’ll be no Import Tuner Night (ITN) this summer.

ITN is the club’s flagship event and has been held annually at the National Stadium in St Andrew since 2012.

They have, however, not abandoned their numerous fans and have decided on a monthly party series instead. Beginning Saturday night, and every last Saturday for the remainder of the year, a party series, Club SkunkLife, will be held at Susie’s Bakery and Coffee Bar in Southdale Plaza, St Andrew.

“ITN has grown significantly since we started and we wanted a change, a new venue, but it wouldn’t be ready in time for us,” Nick Lue of Skunk Nation told Auto.

Club SkunkLife hopes to take up that slack in the import tuner lifestyle, blending cutting-edge cars with the local party scene.

“Based on our observations, there is a loyal following when it comes to car-related events, so we came up with the idea to fuse partygoers and the car enthusiasts in one location,” explained Eddie Bond, Skunk Nation co-founder.

For its premiere, entertainment will be provided by resident DJ Donny of Coppershot, and backed up by ZJ Nova, this month’s guest selector. Staying true to the ethos of Skunk Nation, the party will feature the best modified cars each month from some of the top crews around the island starting with the ATA crew and Street Talent Racing.

“We always aim to please, so every month expect us to highlight a new racing team or club, new disc jocks, special guest artistes, and theme nights,” Bond said.

He also hinted that Club SkunkLife could see some overseas exposure for all who participate.

“This is just a different platform for our loyal fans to get together and showcase their car each month,” Lue added.

— Rory Daley