No doubt there are some real characters on this Cape car scene. Movers and shakers to say the least.
Maurice Alexander of LXNDR Photography is
surely one of these. Sometimes appearing in his beloved 200sx, sometimes in the GTi he has lusted after since he was a boy, Maurice is a guy who gets involved and gets things done.
You’ve seen his photographic contributions on this page over the years, notably in Saldanha and Razor Customs shoots.
Bobby Nitro had a chat with Maurice recently about where he’s come from in his passion for all things petrolkop, as well as his involvement with the scene and an outreach project in his 'hood.
Maurice says: “It all started with my Corolla 160i, a 1990 model that opened the doors to the scene for me. I went to every show I could, at that time more on the audio side, with the mods starting to become a passion in 2007.”
You see, he bought the 200sx in 2007, and it’s a cabbie that simply demands a little more. Maurice, however, has pretty much kept it stock, except for a Powerflow exhaust and intercooler.
THE START: Maurice’s first love was a Toyota Corolla 160i
About the Golf he says: “Since I was young the Golf GTi has been right up there on my list of cars to own one day, and my dream saw reality in 2016 when I bought my
Golf 6. I’ve gotten some cosmetic work done to it, including a custom debadged front end, 18-inchers supplied by Racing Edge in Parow, a Powerflow exhaust with 76mm downpipe, carbon fibre lip at back and Sparco seatbelts.”
Maurice has plans, lowering plans, as he eyes a slam “at some point this year”. He adds: “An air lowering kit will add to my already awesome GTi that ‘bite-the-back-of-the-hand’ desirability factor.”
Maurice started out with car scene photography after Shahiem Bell of TPDZ took him along to Saldanha. He says: “I fell in love with the hobby, and it soon became a registered business. Today, LXNDR Photography does stills, video and we are in the process of getting licensing for
commercial drone piloting.”
He has even pulled in some of our local heroes, such as Sean February and Rasta Eddie, for a recent high-profile advertising shoot.
THE CHOSEN ONE: Maurice’s lovely Nissan 200sx will remain his pride and joy for as long as he has it
What Bobby really likes here, is that Maurice seems to be a guy that aims high when it comes to giving back. His company, in a corporate social responsibility initiative, has teamed up with the Mitchell Plain Skills Centre.
He says: “We have helped in fundraising and the set up of a fully equipped studio to teach youngsters photography, editing and marketing. The equipment we’ve stocked it with is top of the range and the centre presents a realistic opportunity for youngsters who want to skill up in the field.
“In addition to the skills, we mentor young people on the marketing know-how that is essential in this field, especially when it comes to navigating digital media, as well as organising job shadow opportunities where we can.”
Maurice says: “Sure, there is a lot of networking involved, and late nights, but I’m from the Flats and my focus is here. This project is like a dream come true, and we have big things in the pipeline.”
PASSION: Maurice is a brand ambassador for Racing Edge as his photography career has taken him to great heights in the motoring world
Back to the cars, Bobby had to know which cabbie was his favourite. He says: “Hands down it has got to be the 200sx, that feel of the mechanics, the connection with the road as you hear the motor thrum, it’s something you only get in the older cars. Plus, it turns more heads than the Golf.
It reminds him, he says, of the old days of fun memories and midnight meets at places like Sacks Circle.