Building Need for Speed with Keith Charvonia, Speedhunter

2015-08-06
Electronic Arts

Need for Speed is shaped by a community of urban car culture enthusiasts called Speedhunters. See how their unique perspectives are influencing the game in our ongoing series.

You always remember the moment you became hooked.

For Keith Charvonia, he can trace his love of cars all the way back to one night.

“I don’t think it was my first event,” he says, “but when I was sixteen or seventeen, my dad took me and a friend to Hot Import Nights in LA. My teenage mind was blown. It was like Fast and Furious in real life.”

And after spotting a minitruck in his high school parking lot, Charvonia knew where he wanted to spend his time. “My eyes were opened to a world of vehicle modification that I didn't know existed,” he says.

Charvonia’s first ride was a 1989 Nissan Hardbody, which helped shape his love of fixer-uppers.

“I wrecked it a couple of times,” he says. “Just being an immature driver I guess, and I didn't have a choice but to fix it if I wanted to have something to drive.” Charvonia had to teach himself how to repair certain parts along the way, even if he wasn’t all the way prepared. “I couldn't even drive stick yet,” he says, “so I went and drove around the neighborhood stalling it over and over!”

Today, Charvonia is a builder who designs car parts and constantly works on new rides. He‘s particularly proud of his Scion Tuner Challenge 2015 FR-S, which he showed off on Jay Leno’s garage.

As a Speedhunter, Charvonia offers up his unique skill set for the Need for Speed dev team to ensure the game is true to life. 

“We talk online almost every day,” says Charvonia, “sharing cool cars, updating each other on projects or just chatting about our own builds.”

Charvonia provides a perspective that the Need for Speed dev team wouldn’t ordinarily be able to find.  

I like to think I bring an insider's knowledge, specifically as it pertains to older hot rods and kustoms,” he says. “The Speedhunters team provides an "in the trenches" view.”

Charvonia knows what he likes. Give him the option of one high-performance car for the rest of his life, and he has his answer lined up.

“Probably a 993 Turbo Porsche,” he says. “Last of the air cooled engines but modern enough to live with. Not so exotic that it can't be driven around town.”

Learn more about Need for Speed here.

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