One of the most creative examples of architectural repurposing I’ve seen lately is the Fast Lane Motor Club in Asbury Park, NJ. They took what was basically an oversized meat locker and turned it into a safe, secure and climate controlled garage for collector cars. The owner of the facility even stores his prized Oldsmobile 442 – which has been shown in Dubai – in the building, so you know he stands behind his product!
If you want to check it out yourself you can stop by the third Saturday morning of every month for their Cars and Coffee event. It’s a chance to see the cool rides being stored in the building, and you never know what everyone dropping by is going to pull up in. Motorcycles are welcome too so no one is left out. If you want to find out more check out their facebook page by clicking HERE.
One of the best things about walking through SEMA is learning about new products you’ve never seen before, as well as getting re-acquainted with some familiar names. Here’s highlights of some of the products I saw at SEMA this past fall.
American Eagle Wheel Corporation:
There are too many ways to customize your ride to count, but when you throw on custom wheels you can change the whole personality of your ride…is it low key, flashy or over the top? You can make it whatever you want with wheels from the American Eagle Wheel Corporation. They are the oldest and largest domestic manufacturer of aftermarket wheels, making their products in factories in California and South Carolina. Their line includes classic wheels like the chromed out BOSS 338, wheels especially built for off-roaders like the bulletproof B.A.D. Wheels, and the first 20” dually wheel on the market for all the truck enthusiasts out there. See more on their website at www.americaneaglewheel.com
BASF:
This year at SEMA the BASF booth showed off some awesome builds utilizing their Galsurit paint system. This product uses a state-of-the-art European technology that leaves the finished product with a liquid shine. The ease, speed and durability of this product are highlighted by the manufacturer, and with the stamp of approval from Chip Foose these claims must be true! He even has his own line of over twenty different colors, leaving the consumer with a great variety of hues to choose from. The booth included Foose’s 1948 Cadillac Eldorado “Eldorod” finished with a custom blended Deep Blue from the Glasurit 90-Line waterborne system. This smooth, sleek ride kept company in the booth with the mean green “Grinch,” a 1970 Chevy Camaro. The Ringbrothers also used the Glasurit line to finish off this masterpiece in Custom Green. To find the perfect color for your next project car go to the BASF website at www.basfrefinish.com/glasurit
Continental Tire:
Continental Tire showed off their tire line on a variety of hot rides. One product highlighted was their PureContact all-season tire, which improves fuel efficiency, braking ability and ride comfort. Another product of note is the CrossContact LX20. Both tires were showcased in this year’s Consumers Digest “Best Buys in Tires.” Find out more at www.continentaltire.com
Edelbrock:
“Proven Performance” is the philosophy of this respected manufacturer of performance enhancing engine components, and the history behind this company reflects this mantra. In 1938 Vic Edlebrock Sr. entered into the world of hot rods with the purchase of a 1932 Roadster. In the process of working on this car he designed his own aluminum intake manifold called the “Slingshot” because he was not happy with the performance of the car thus far. This endeavor began a long history of customization to achieve optimal performance, after many trials and tests. In 1948 he bought one of the industry’s first dynos, bringing his research capabilities to another level. Edelbrock as a company has come a long way since then, producing a variety of intake manifolds, carburetors, fuel injection systems, cylinder heads, and a range of other products from accessories to entire crate engines. Their product development is never ending, this year they expanded their E-Force Supercharger line, and announced the development of their E-Street universal electronic fuel injection system. To see more of what they can add to your favorite hot rod go to their website at www.edelbrock.com
Holley Performance Products:
Fuel is the life blood of your ride, and having the right fuel delivery system can make all the difference in your engine’s performance. Whether you prefer the old school carburetor or want to add the technology of fuel injection Holley has what you need. As a compliment to their fuel delivery products Holley’s brands include Hooker Exhaust Systems, NOS Nitrous Systems, Weiand Air Systems, Earl’s Plumbing Systems and Flowtech Exhaust Systems. Holley became a part of automotive history when they built the carburetor for Henry Ford’s Model A, and have continued to contribute to the industry ever since. Learn more on their website at www.holley.com
Kicker:
Anyone who knows automotive sound systems knows that Kicker cannot be ignored. Kicker’s booth at SEMA featured some unforgettable projects that highlighted why the brand has been “Livin’ Loud” since 1973. Highlighting Kicker’s new Ford Custom Accessories Performance Audio System upgrades program, available at participating Ford dealerships in early ’13, was a Ford F-150 tricked out with a 10-inch powered subwoofer enclosure driven by a 200 Watt RMS high-efficiency digital sub amplifier, plus four 6×8” coaxial door speakers, powered by a 4.1-Channel DSP Amplifier. Or if all-out custom is more your thing then TJ Lavin’s 1951 Ford Shoebox is the car for you. Divine 1 Customs outfitted this ride dubbed “Forgiven” to pay tribute to WWII bomber planes. The sound system includes Kicker QS 6.5” component speakers, a KQ5 equalizer, ix amplifiers, and two 10” CVX subwoofers customized to look like missiles behind the front seats. To see what Kicker has for your sound system take a look at their website at www.kicker.com
Kooks Custom Headers:
Having the right headers and exhaust system can make the difference between average performance and great performance in your custom ride. Kooks Custom Headers not only has off the shelf products for Ford, GM and Chrysler/Dodge, but also offers custom solutions made to order. Get Kookin’ with Kooks on their website at www.kooksheaders.com
LINE-X Protective Coatings:
This year LINE-X Protective Coatings showed us that their products are for more than just pick-ups and Stormchasers when they unveiled the 2013 Camaro coated in LINE-X Body Armour by West Coast Customs. This product sprays on in a thin layer, but offers the protection expected by a heavy protective coating. Learn more about Body Armour and other products from LINE-X at www.line-x.com
Optima Batteries:
For 40 years Optima has been providing reliable battery power with their Spiralcell Technology. The applications for their products range from modern vehicles with lots of accessories; trucks, SUV’s and hotrods needing a strong burst of ignition power; and marine applications. It’s easy to figure out which battery is right for you by looking at their color-coded system, and you can check out their website if you’re still not sure which battery will charge up your ride. As a company their long history, and backing by parent company Johnson Controls, ensures they will continue to advance their product’s technology. Most recently they introduced a direct fit replacement battery for the Toyota Prius, introducing this product into a new faction of the automotive market. Whatever your needs check out their website at www.optimabatteries.com to find out what they can help you power up.
Original Parts Group
If old school muscle is for you then you need to check out Original Parts Group. Their extensive line includes replacement parts for Chevelle, El Camino/Malibu, Monte Carlo, Tempest/Lemans, Cutlass/442, Skylark, Cadillac, Riviera, Grand Prix, Catalina and Bonneville. They have interior and exterior parts, electrical, mechanical, or pretty much anything you may need…and if you want to make your life a little simpler you can even purchase a crate engine. Their customer service is always helpful, or you can go to their website for more info and “how to” videos. To learn more go to www.opgi.com
Road Magnet:
Since 1907 Road Magnet’s parent company, the Kirk-Habicht Company, has been designing and manufacturing springs for all applications. The experience behind this company yields a product that not only can be used in a broad range of vehicles, but also can be used for a daily driver or the car you bring to the track. Adding to the options are about 20 standard color choices, whether you want to drop your ride or give it a lift. Another plus is that their warranty is not void if you do the install yourself. Road Magnet springs are manufactured in Baltimore, MD, and this manufacturer stands behind their product. If you want to know more go to the testimonials section of their website, or just start shopping at www.roadmagnet.com
Sherwin-Williams:
This year at SEMA Sherwin-Williams’ booth featured some eye-catching projects coated with Sherwin-Williams paint products. On the second day of the show NASCAR legend Ray Evernham debuted his first auto design project the “ForPly.” This 1964 Plymouth Belvedere is street legal with a Dodge R5-P7, 750 HP race engine under the hood. The paint scheme includes a matte finish Radiant Red color throughout with Graphite racing stripes. The paint kit used for this project, the Planet Color Barrett-Jackson Restoration System, will get anyone working on their project car a professional finish for under $500. Watch out for the upcoming Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, AZ where this car will be auctioned off, the proceeds benefitting IGNITE, a facility for adults with Autism or Asperger Syndrome. To find out more about this great project and other builds using Sherwin-Williams’ coatings check out their website at www.sherwin-automotive.com
Street Scene Equipment:
If you are looking for some exterior styling accessories to give your ride that extra edge then Street Scene Equipment is the place to go. Their products can be used for projects involving all types of cars, trucks or SUV’s ranging from Ford to Chevy, Chrysler and beyond. Their products have been featured in countless build projects, and have won a number of awards. This year at SEMA they won a Special Recognition Award from Ford for Outstanding Achievement in Design. Their products were used in several projects featured at SEMA including the Linex/West Coast Customs Camaro build. Their team also worked alongside Chip Foose and LMC Truck on the WD-40/SEMA Cares 1953 Ford F100 build project. If you consider the end result of these two projects alone, there is no doubt that Street Scene Equipment offers the quality accessories you need to bring your ride to the next level. See more at www.streetsceneeq.com
TMI Products Inc.
Who says classic car interiors can’t have a little luxury? Enter TMI products, makers of custom seats, door panels, headliners, and the like for Ford, Chevy and Volkswagen. The great thing about their custom seating in particular is that they generally use the factory seat frame and cover it with their custom designed seating with extra padding and lumbar support. They match the OE colors and the styles are in keeping with the original look for your car. Their products are also high quality, which will make a difference in how your interior weathers the long term wear and tear of regular use. Check out their website to see their 11 reasons to choose TMI for your new interior.
I have personally reupholstered the seating in my ’68 Camaro and I would pay any amount of money to never have to do that again! The pros make it look easy but don’t be fooled, it’s a lot of work. These seats eliminate all that work and bolt right into the factory provided bolts holes – ease and comfort all in one, it doesn’t get any better than that! See what they can put in your ride at www.tmiproducts.com
XPEL Paint Protection:
After putting in hours to get that paint job just right the last thing you want is to see chips once you get your ride on the road. XPEL has the solution, with a product line of films and protection kits to keep your car looking as fresh as the day it rolled out the paint booth. Their installations run the gamut, from old school roadsters like the one shown in the photo on the left, to a new Audi or Aston Martin. To find out how you can protect your ride check out their website at www.xpel.com
I made this first trip to SEMA with the mission of meeting new people, and learning about new products so I could share the information with the readers at RIDINGWITHUS.com. But as I navigated the enormous showroom floor at the Las Vegas Convention Center I couldn’t help but constantly get sidetracked by all of the cars! Kind of like a kid in a candy store, only the candy was in the form of exotic, brightly colored, chromed out cars of all shapes and sizes. I captured what I saw along the way, and uploaded a special three part gallery so you all could take it in. Enjoy the flicks, and make sure you read on to catch the highlights of the 2012 SEMA show!
One of the things I love about the car world is that there are a lot of genuine people in it…at least that’s been my experience! Well today at SEMA I got to meet another person who fits this description: Michael Satterfield, founder and designer of Morgan’s and Phillip’s Speed Apparel. Michael grew up in and around cars, and bought his first car two years before he could even drive. His roots in the motorsport world run deep, as his father Dean has been designing automotive components for many years. Michael grew up with this strong influence, and has owned over 60 cars since he made that first purchase at age 14.
But for all the cars he’s owned, the one he’s held onto the longest is a classic Mini Cooper. He explained that after five years of ownership this is the only car he hasn’t gotten bored of! Maybe that has something to do with how he’s tricked this one out. The exterior is wrapped in old school camo, accented with a white roof that opens to let in the California sun. The interior is totally stylized as well, with plush seats from TMI, custom steering wheel, and sound system and back up camera from Valor Multimedia. Yeah that’s right, a back up camera in a Mini…why not?
But Michael’s design skills extend beyond the automotive world. In 2007 he branched out into the clothing industry by founding M&P Speed Apparel. Michael started this company because he felt there was a lack of authentic automotive inspired clothing. Their t-shirt designs are not only cool, but each one has a historical connection. If you want to know the story behind the graphic just read the item description while you shop in their online store. Another way they are keeping automotive history alive is by creating official Shelby inspired clothing through their alliance with Carroll Shelby Licensing. The design work and finishing of the entire collection is done locally in the family barn, which was converted to a showroom and workspace. Hence the tagline “Born in a Barn!”
As if he isn’t busy enough designing clothing and working on custom rides, Michael makes sure there is time in his schedule to give back to the community. M&P Speed Apparel is working with Drive Away Cancer to help raise funds for this worthy cause. While staying involved in local causes, the extent of his community service reaches overseas with involvement in projects to enable and empower those struggling in India and Nicaragua.
So if you want to add some cool new gear to your collection I recommend you support M&P Speed Apparel. Not only do they produce quality clothing that keeps automotive history alive, but it is a company with a cause – something the world definitely needs more of.
When most think of a Camaro they think of a sleek racing machine. Although they may be well built, the words durable and rugged would probably not be the first to roll off the tongue when describing this Chevy. But this Halloween at SEMA LINE-X and West Coast Customs unveiled a customized 2013 Camaro 1SS Coupe dressed up inside and out in LINE-X Body Armour. This Camaro is ready for anything, and still looks great.
Many truck enthusiasts know LINE-X for their spray on bed liners, but their product line includes protective coatings for a variety of applications. In fact, West Coast customs finishes off many of their projects with LINE-X coatings. We got the chance to walk through this project with WCC’s Shop Manager Kenny Pfitzer. He explained that they choose to use a Camaro for this project to show an “outside the box” application of LINE-X, spraying this textured, durable finish on every surface imaginable. Not only is the entire exterior finished in the Body Armour coating, but the interior door panels, dash components, sound system and even the rims feature this textured finish.
After the unveiling many onlookers honed in on the door components and other aspects of the car where a thick paint coating would be problematic. But Kenny explained that this textured coating sprays on in a thin layer and still offers the durability expected from LINE-X. Preparing this car for paint was similar to other projects, no modification to the body was required to apply the Body Armour.
When asked what the most difficult aspect of the project, Kenny answered with certainty “the graphics.” Although the texture added difficulty to the masking, they razor cut each line to produce the perfect job we’ve come to expect from West Coast Customs. They used the high gloss sheen of the base coat in contrast with the textured topcoat to add even more detail inside and out.
But the customization did not stop with the addition of Body Armour. The team at West Coast customs chose a performance hood and spoiler by SLP Performance parts, while they gave the car a low profile look using rocker panels by Street Scene Equipment. Asanti wheels and Continental Tires get this car where you want it to go, while a custom LED lighting package from ORACLE Lighting lights the way. More customization is under the hood with SLP High Performance Headers and custom dual high flow exhaust package.
This Halloween LINE-X and West Coast Customs treated SEMA with this one-of-a-kind Camaro, showing everyone that the possibilities for LINE-X Body Armour really are endless. How would you use it to dress up your ride?
Chip Foose must be the hardest working man in motorsports. If he’s not Overhaulin’ some unsuspecting car owner’s hooptie, he is working on a custom ride for your favorite celebrity, or teaming up with one of his market partners on a new project. This year at SEMA he introduced his latest project, a ’53 Ford F-100 pickup that pays tribute to WD-40’s original delivery trucks back when the company was known as “Rocket Chemical Co.” Chip Foose and WD-40 teamed up with Source Interlink Media on the project, along with build partners L&R Engine, K&N, LMC Truck, McGard, Painless Performance, Quiet Ride Solutions, Pirelli and BASF.
The ‘53 Ford project truck was built along with a ’12 Ford F-350 Super Duty for this campaign. Both trucks are designed with those who work hard in mind, while showcasing WD-40’s rich history. Each truck will be auctioned off at the Barrett-Jackson Collector Car Auction in Scottsdale Arizona, all proceeds will benefit two SEMA Cares charities: Childhelp and Victory Junction.
A lot of thought was put into the design, down to the WD-40 shield shape in the cutouts of the custom wheels. When talking about the project Chip joked, “My wife’s probably going to kill me, but I might bid on this one!” No matter who is the highest bidder for these trucks, the real winners will be the charities supported by this effort. Forever humble and hard-working, Chip Foose lead the team on another great project for a good cause.
If you were a kid in the 70’s or 80’s and you loved cars, chances are you had a killer Hot Wheels collection. Well now those kids are all grown up…and chances are they still have a sentimental affection for Hot Wheels. This year on the opening day of SEMA Chevrolet unveiled a special car that will give all those big kids out there something to get excited about: a production Hot Wheels Camaro. This car will only be sold in the first quarter of 2013, complete with Kinetic Blue metallic paint and custom red-lined wheels.
The production model 2013 Camaro was unveiled next to a reproduction first generation Camaro, both sitting on life-sized orange Hot Wheels tracks. Each bore the unmistakable Hot Wheels logo, matching Hot-Wheels inspired rims and plenty of custom extras.
Interested buyers will have quite a few options to choose from. The Camaro Hot Wheels Edition will be available in coupe and convertible models, in 2LT (V-6) and 2SS (V-8) trims. On the exterior features will include a ZL1 rear spoiler and front upper grille, ground effects package, two-tone matter hood graphic, rear taillight panel “blackout” graphic and fender “flame” graphics. The Hot Wheels logo will be carried to the interior as well, complimenting black leather seats with red stitching. Chevrolet’s MyLink infotainment system will be a standard feature on this special edition car, including a variety of tools such a GPS, OnStar and Pandora internet radio. What you get under the hood will depend on your selection of either the SS V-8 model or the LT-based V-6 model. Both will pack a punch, but the V-8 manual version will have the most pick up and go with 426 horsepower and 420 lb.-ft. of torque.
Hopefully those who do decide to pick up one of these life-sized toys treat them better than most treated their Hot Wheels in their younger years. Because after the first quarter of 2013 is gone production of this special edition will come to an end!
This past summer there were a lot of events that shared a simple goal: to make a positive impact on the community. From an event series to benefit a Long Island fire department, a drive-in movie night to unify a community in New Jersey or a gathering of exotic cars in Times Square to help a worthy cause it seems like everyone is working to make their corner of the world a little better. As the summer comes to a close we will be working extra hard to make our little corner of the word better, too. You’ve probably heard of it, it’s a place called Brooklyn, NY.
Although Brooklyn is under 71 square miles in size it’s represented all over the world. Lots of famous and influential people have come out of this borough from Walt Whitman to Carmelo Anthony, and of course Jay-Z. Despite the fact that one of these people helped bring a new stadium downtown, there is still a lot of room for improvement beyond the arena. Much of the youth in concentrated areas in Brooklyn, like Bedford Stuyvesant and Brownsville, live below the poverty line and many of the residents that once called these neighborhoods home are currently incarcerated. There are single blocks that over $6 million dollars are spent per year to incarcerate its former residents. So if you don’t care about the future of our youth, care about the fact that your tax dollars are footing the bill!
But there is something we can do to encourage our youth toward a different path, and that’s provide an alternative through education. The auto industry is a multi-billion dollar industry, and there is a large population of today’s youth interested in working in it. The opportunities go beyond becoming a mechanic, and the Riding With Us Foundation was formed to help being these opportunities to the forefront. We will restore a classic car and sell it at auction, using the proceeds to provide scholarships for youth in need. Kids will participate in the restoration and be mentored along the way. We can’t solve the world’s problems in a day, but we can make a difference if we come together. Our project car has a cause, if you want to learn more check out our FOUNDATION PAGE.
As I look at the chips my driver side door has accumulated I think about the fact that car show season is here. This is not a good look. But a new paint job is not in the cards anytime soon, so what can I do? I pushed this question to the back of my mind until one night I was watching the Velocity channel and saw a commercial for Dr. Color Chip. Although I don’t believe everything I see on TV this looked like something that could get me through until the next restoration, so I gave it a try.
Armed with the little surgical gloves and cloth that comes with the kit, I followed the directions and prepped the chipped areas. I dabbed the paint on, gave it the specified amount of time to dry, than rubbed off the excess. Not too bad! For all the time I have been driving around with these chips in my paint it took all of ten minutes to fix them.
This is really only a temporary solution, as you can still see the outline of the chips on a close examination. There may be a way to layer on the paint to hide this, but some of the chips I had were pretty big so their shape is still visible if you stare. But I can’t complain, it did the job I needed it to. Luckily my car is painted in its original factory color so it was easy to match. According to the website they can match 95% of all colors on the market, and provide a color code selector to help you find yours. So if your paint is a custom mix this probably won’t work for you. I bought the middle-sized kit and had plenty left over for another round of repairs, the small size is probably sufficient for most repairs.
All in all I would recommend this for anyone who needs to clean up their ride and get it show ready. It will cover up those little chips and dings that happen no matter how careful you are, and do the job without the expense of a new coat of paint.
It’s a misty, overcast day in New York City. The dreary weather is a stark contradiction to the excitement brewing in Times Square. As I walk closer the noise of horns, sirens and revving engineers grows. I turn the corner onto Broadway and I know I’m in the right spot. Instead of the usual scene of pedestrians dodging taxi cabs and vendors there are lines of bright, exotic and one-of-a-kind cars all sporting the Gumball 3000 logo across their hoods. The flag is about to drop on this road rally that has been going strong since 1999.
The first rally was held in Europe, beginning in England, where it’s founder Maxmillion Cooper was raised. Since its inception the Gumball 3000 has taken its participants all over the world – sometimes in the course of its 8-day run! This year the rally started in NYC, ventured into Canada, then back to the states. It’s a 3000 mile journey on the open road, culminating in Los Angeles and filled with party stops along the way.
But this year the party started in NYC, and it was hard to miss. Artists, entertainers and regular people who love to drive mill around among the tricked out rides. Air horns mix with the rumble of throaty exhaust as instructions are shouted to the drivers through the bullhorn. Tourists from all over the world crowd the barriers to try and get a shot of their favorite car. Then David Hasslehoff begins waving the flag and it’s official: the rally is ON!
For a mere $40K you can join the party next year. If that’s a little out of your budget you can check out pics from the flag drop HERE or check out the official Gumball 3000 site.
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