Import Domestic Throwdown Car Show

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Import Domestic Throwdown Car Show

Josh Gonzalez

Instagram: @jrgonzo24

Owner/Founder of Import Domestic Throwdown 

Instagram: @importdomesticthrowdown

Reporter: Donnie Rochin

Instagram: @r0cean11

Facebook: @r0cean11

“Enjoy every part of the process. Be grateful to be a part of something big, and things will work out on their own.” ~ Josh Gonzalez

YOOOOOO it’s Donnie again aka r0cean11!!! This was my first time attending Import Domestic Throwdown and it won't be the last. It was awesome, to say the least. Indoor/outdoor show. Low car limbo, rev comp, hot dog eating contest (which I’m glad my camera was on cuz I got someone mid barf lmao), raffles, the list goes on.

This was the first time their team had used this venue and they pulled it off! Having a car show on a hockey rink was badass. And what I loved most about this show was the variety of cars. Everything from classic to exotic and nobody was excluded. They even had a bike team come out and do some stunts in the parking lot. I got to talk with the Owner of IDT and here are a few words from him.

So initially, it was never supposed to be an event, let alone one of this calibre. When I moved to Idaho 9 years ago from California, I quickly noticed the need for more organized events here. I saw plenty of quality cars but no actual events. It wasn’t until after my first year here that I heard about shows, but they were always hours and hours away. They were great, but I wasn’t genuinely impressed. I eventually decided to join some local forums and Facebook pages to get out there. I just wanted to do a big weekend meet once a year.

A Division in Culture

At the first car meet, I noticed the division in car culture. I wanted to unite everyone to foster a more inclusive and friendly environment. I didn’t care about what kind of car anyone drove, import, motorsport, show, domestic, classic, etc. I wanted to create a community of people who share similar interests.

In 2016, when planning the first event, I devised a name that reflected the show's diversity, Import Domestic Throwdown. The following year, our first show was at the Melaleuca Headquarters building. We started out strong with 80 cars. However, the food trucks never showed up, so people left halfway through the event.

I felt defeated, but part of the learning curve is finding out where you went wrong in order to improve. In 2018, the show went differently than planned. There was another significant event happening the same day that I didn’t know about. I didn’t feel like anyone was interested in the show then, so I thought it wouldn’t happen again.

Never Give Up

After several unlucky events, I decided to give it one last shot. This time around, however, I knew I would need help, so I asked some friends to help me organize the next show. And just like that, COVID happened. It significantly impacted many people's lives, causing everything to stop. At that moment, I thought it was a sign to take a step back. I faced some challenges and felt a bit lost. However, my team was there for me, offering support and encouragement. They assured me that once the situation improved, we could try again, even if things didn't work out.

After all the planning, ads, social media posts, and hours upon hours of set up, in 2021, we had 250 registered cars. I was awestruck. I had given up on planning car shows, but this event ignited that passion for me once again. If I hadn’t had the support from my friends, I wouldn’t still be doing this.

In 2022, we doubled registrations. We had 450 cars, with 3,000 spectators. This year, we had our first indoor & outdoor show, and we were sold out for the first time ever. We had coverage on social media, local radios, and the news. It was incredibly surreal.

This event holds immense value to me. I've invested significant time, effort, and dedication into building it to its current state, witnessing its progress over the years. It has become a fundamental part of my life, shaping my daily routine. I plan on continuing this event for as long as possible.

It holds significance for me and many others, as we’ve seen by the ongoing support from the car community. It all began as a dream, which turned into reality, and our goal is to annually showcase the dreams and passions of others using our platform.

In The Beginning 

In the beginning, it was pretty challenging and stressful. No matter how prepared or confident I felt, something always seemed to slip through the cracks. I learned that having a dependable team you know and trust is invaluable. Each team member handles a specific aspect of the show, from finances to merch and parking arrangements to booth management. Having a solid team is crucial. I can’t express my gratitude enough to my incredible team: Brakston, Page, Ryan, Zach, Jake, Savannah, Alejandro, and Mo.

You can't please everyone, and it's unnecessary to try. Just do your best, and that's enough. Once you realize this, everything becomes more manageable. Forming a team and building strong relationships is vital. Without my team, this event would be much more chaotic.

The possibilities are endless for this event. There's always room for growth and innovation to keep things fresh and captivating. The sky's the limit, and we are determined to reach those heights and surpass them. Our team has a lot of big ideas for future shows, and we are working on implementing them one at a time.

The Rewards

The most rewarding aspect is the emotions people express when they win an award ranging from pure excitement to tears of joy. Validating their dreams and visions in their builds is the most rewarding feeling. While not everyone will win, participating, having fun, and making connections are victories in themselves.

We hope our shows will positively impact the car community, encouraging support and respect. We owe it all to our supporters, and this is our way of giving back. We couldn’t thank them enough.

I can't recall where I first heard this, but there's a piece of advice that has always stuck with me. It's the idea that you should go slow if you want to go fast. I think this concept applies to various aspects of life. As humans, we often live as if there's never enough time in a day, and we tend to rush through everything. However, if we take our time and enjoy the ride, life tends to move swiftly all on its own.

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