The Nights the Lights go on in California

California has no shortage of car culture events, but the underground scene has a new champion, and it's called Night Lights.

By Back Seat Driving, Community Contributor

Apr 17, 2026 8:30 am PDT | Updated Apr 17, 2026 9:22 am PDT

This post was contributed by a community member.

Larry Chen's Type S Night Lights have been held at the Queen Mary parking lot, at Marina Green Park, and most recently at the Aquarium by the Pacific parking garage—all in Long Beach, CA. Above: Night Lights at the Marina Green Park. (Christopher Carreiro, LACar.com)

In 2025, automotive photographer Larry Chen held the first Type S Night Lights event at the Queen Mary parking lot in Long Beach, California. Inspired by the Option Street Night Festival in Yokohama, Night Lights has been wildly popular—and the organizers are looking to broaden the venues for this newest form of automotive entertainment. - BSD

By Christopher Carreiro

Larry Chen’s Type S Night Lights, presented by Pennzoil, returned to Long Beach, California on Thursday April 9th, popping up this time at the Aquarium of the Pacific parking garage.

Renowned photographer Larry Chen partnered up yet again with notable figure in the scene Sung Kang to host a car show and pre-meet to the Formula Drift season.

Larry Chen partnered with actor and import tuner enthusiast Sung Kang to host the latest edition of Amerioca's hottest new auto show format (Christopher Carreiro, LACar.com).

Sung Kang is promoting his upcoming movie Drifter which focuses on the grassroots drift culture, so it’s fitting they put together an underground car meet.

The popularity of this event cannot be understated—nearly 30,000 enthusiasts snaked up five stories of the Long Beach Aquariums garage to find an eclectic collection of cars and vendors.

An RTR Spec 5-FD Mustang provided musical sounds (Christopher Carreiro, LACar.com).

Up on the Roof

Once fans made it up to the roof, they were treated to Formula Drift team cars.

Pennzoil Team Drivers James Deane and Vaughn Gittin Jr. parted the crowds, parking a thunderous RTR Spec 5-FD Ford Mustang.

Props to Pennzoil for staying on top of the automotive scene (Christopher Carreiro, LACar.com).

Black Gold and Texas Tea

Pennzoil has emerged a major partner of Formula DRIFT as well as TYPE-S Night Lights.

It has been announced Pennzoil has been named the Official Motor Oil of the Formula DRIFT PRO Championship Series.

The Night Lights in Long Beach marked the first time live drifting demonstrations accompanied the cars on display (Cnristopher Carreiro, LACar.com).

High Plains Drifters

This TYPE-S Night Lights event marks the first time a live drift demo accompanied the static display.

Larry Chen's A90 Supra camera chase car (Christopher Carreiro, LACar.com).

Drift cars paraded around the aquarium followed by Larry Chen in his A90 Supra camera chase car.

One-by-one cars took turns lighting up their tires around the iconic dolphin fountain which is a featured turn of Formula DRIFT and the Long Beach Grand Prix.

A parade of cars roll into the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California (Christopher Carreiri, LACarcom).

On a Roll

Type S Night Lights curated a free event that brought together friends, families and car enthusiasts of all kinds.

Can’t wait for next event, see you there!

(Christopher Carreiro)

You can find more information about Type S Night Lights here.

Christopher Carreiro is a writer and photographer with LACar.com. You can read more about him and see other stories by Chris here.

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