Hotrod & Restoration Magazine - Hotrod Tradeshow News

WyoTech Hosts Charity Classic Car Show

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 20, 2013

The Wounded Warrior Car Show benefits the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit that provides financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

The sixth annual Wounded Warrior Car Show is scheduled from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Aug. 11 at WyoTech’s Long Beach campus.

The car show, which is open to all pre-1974 show cars, trucks and special interest vehicles, benefits the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, a nonprofit that provides financial support for injured and critically ill members of the U.S. Armed Forces.

Space is reserved for the first 225 vehicles that register. A T-shirt, goody bag and dash plaque are included with registration; the cost is $35 before July 12 and $40 on the day of event.

For more than 40 years WyoTech (Wyoming Technical Institute) has been training men and women in the mechanical and technical trades. To register or learn more, visit www.woundedwarriorcarshow.com.

1971 Dodge Coronet Wins Royal Purple Photo Contest

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 20, 2013

Royal Purple HRPT Winner 2

Performance oil company Royal Purple, Porter, Texas, named Mike Mead of Springfield, Mo., and his 1971 Dodge Coronet convertible the winner of a photo contest on the Royal Purple fan page.

Mead was awarded the opportunity to go on the 2013 Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour, June 1-7.

Royal Purple will cover his tour registration expenses and provide a $500 Visa gift card to defray travel costs and provide a space in the Royal Purple booth on tour for his car.

“I never dreamed this old car would do the things it has done and put me the places it has,” said Mead after learning of his selection.

SEMA Establishes Emerging Technology Network

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 16, 2013

The SEMA Street Performance Council (SPC) has changed its name to the Emerging Trends & Technology Network (ETTN). The new name better represents ETTN’s mission, which is to “identify, understand and communicate emerging trends and technologies to help members improve,” according to SEMA.

“In recent times, the SPC successfully led the way for other SEMA councils and member companies in identifying and understanding emerging trends and technology,” said Nathan Ridnouer, vice president of councils and membership for SEMA. “While the group was delivering great value to the membership, its name was not representative of what the group was accomplishing. The changes and the new name better reflect the group’s mission and will allow them to grow and be even more effective in their efforts.”

The ETTN plans to build and foster a community of like-minded SEMA members who share an interest in learning and gaining competitive advantages to help their businesses improve.

For more information, visit www.sema.org/ettn or email bryanh@sema.org.

Featured Vehicle: “Vapor” 1969 Camaro Z/28

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 14, 2013

69 Camaro 139

By Ashley Majeski Smissen

Photos by Erin Henk

For years, Tim DeFoor had seen a red 1969 Camaro Z28 driving around his neighborhood in Macon, Georgia. Although the car was already an eye-catcher with its blown 454 big-block engine and turbo 400 transmission, DeFoor was dying to get his hands on it and make it his own.

Eventually, DeFoor had the opportunity to purchase the car and brought it to Pratt & Miller Restorations in New Hudson, Michigan, a shop that had built three other cars for him. Originally, DeFoor was only looking to give the car some minor updates, but once he started working with the team at the shop, the build quickly escalated.

“It ended up being a full-blown restoration with ground-pounding performance and beauty all in one,” says Mike Atkins, the shop’s program manager for restorations. “Tim couldn’t stop once we got started.”

Goodguys Launches New Texas Road Tour

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 14, 2013

Goodguys Texas Road Tour 2013

Goodguys Rod & Customs will debut a new Texas Road Tour this fall that will take hot rodders from Goodguys headquarters in Pleasanton, Calif. to the 21st Lone Star Nationals at Texas Motor Speedway in Fort Worth. Only 50 spots are available for the seven-day tour set for Sept. 27-Oct. 3, according to Goodguys.

The 1,969-mile road tour will travel through California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas, and stop at all of the Southwest’s finest rod shops, car collections, museums and race shops.

The newly built, all-yellow 525-hp Goodguys G/RS 1969 Camaro will pace the tour.

SEMA Hall of Fame Names Four New Members

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 14, 2013

George Barris, Eric Grant, Wade Kawasaki and Joe Schubeck will be inducted into the SEMA Hall of Fame. The honor recognizes individuals for affecting the stature or growth of the automotive specialty-equipment industry, according to SEMA.

Barris is a legendary vehicle customizer known for his celebrity creations, including the Batmobile, Munster Koach, KITT from “Nightrider” and General Lee from the “Dukes of Hazard.” He also has authored many how-to articles for magazines such as Hot Rod Magazine, Motor Trend, Car Craft and Rod & Custom.

SEMA turned to Grant in the 1960s when issues such as clean air and emissions began to arise. At the time, he represented the government agency that eventually evolved to be the California Air Resources Board. Grant became an ally for the association and eventually served as SEMA’s executive director.

Interior Insights: Fixing Someone Else’s Work

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 14, 2013

By Harry Weimann

As a trim shop owner for many years, fixing someone else’s work was not always an easy task. I had many customers come to me unhappy with the upholstery work they had received from another shop. Being understanding of their situation was important to gaining their confidence in my ability to help them. As you may already know, the job on the outside might look good but you just don’t know what you might find beneath what you can’t see.

The job in question could be as simple as a poorly constructed seat or as complicated as a bad overall upholstery job. Customers can also be unhappy because they have to bring a new car to you for warranty work, which can be an inconvenience for them. Their unhappiness can also be as simple as the previous shop just didn’t do the work as the customer had requested. So, from my experience, it is very important to listen — the key word: listen — to the customer’s concerns. Find out why are they unhappy and come up with a reasonable solution to help them. One thing that I have not mentioned is many customers are already unhappy because they know having work redone is going to cost them additional money on top of what they have previously spent. It’s your job to convince them why they should use the services your shop can provide to them.

Hot Rod Weekend

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 13, 2013

More than 2,000 hot rods, customs, classics, muscle cars and trucks will be featured at Goodguys 8th Nashville Nationals.

Here are a few hot rod get-togethers planned for this weekend…
Send information regarding car shows, cruises and other hotrod and classic car events to HRREditor@NBM.com

• May 17-19, 2013: Goodguys 8th Nashville Nationals at LP Field, Tennessee Titan Stadium, 1 Titans Way, Nashville, TN 37213. More than 2,000 hot rods, customs, classics, muscle cars and trucks will be featured.
www.good-guys.com/nvn

• May 18, 2013: Old Tucson Dragway 51st Hot Rod Reunion, 12000 S. Houghton Road, Tucson, AZ 85707. Admission Price for Spectators: $10. Lots of nostalgic cars. Participant entry opens at 8am. Benefits: Humane Society of Southern Arizona. Music by: Retro Rockets.
http://www.sirace.com

Comp Performance Unveils Plans for 2013 Hot Rod Tour

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 13, 2013

2011 Hot Rod Power Tour

Memphis-based Comp Performance Group (CPG) announced that the company’s trailer and staff will be present at every stop on the 2013 Hot Rod Power Tour, which will commence June 1 in Arlington, Texas and end June 7 in Charlotte, N.C.

Among the promotions from CPG during the Hot Rod Power Tour include the return of the Golden Ticket Contest, which rewards long haulers for promoting CPG brands such as Comp Cams, TCI and Quarter Master. The contest will cumulate in Charlotte on June 7 when one name will be randomly drawn to win a CPG gift certificate valued at $10,000, according to the company.

Nightly stage drawings are open to all Hot Rod Power Tour participants throughout the week. Individuals need to enter their information at the CPG trailer, and then must be present the evening the winner’s name is drawn. Prizes include CPG products or certificates valued at $200-$500. The drop box will becleared out each day, so attendees must enter at each tour location.

10 Questions for Sue of Fast N’ Loud

Posted By Patricia Kaowthumrong , May 7, 2013

The-Hog-Ring-Auto-Upholstery-Community-Sue-Fast-N-Loud-ASM-Auto-Upholstery

By Nadeem Muaddi, TheHogRing.com

Thanks to a regular appearance on Discovery Channel’s hit TV show Fast N’ Loud, Yu-Lan Haiso Martin – known the world over as “Sue” – has become the most recognizable figure in auto upholstery.

Fans of the show tune in each week to revel in her witty humor and relentless bashing of costars Richard and Aaron of Gas Monkey Garage. However, it’s not just her charismatic personality that keeps viewers coming back for more. Sue is, in fact, a talented trimmer who always manages to breathe new life into the “junk” interiors that customers bring her.

Of course, Sue’s success cannot be simply attributed to a television show. On the contrary, she has earned her stripes the old fashioned way: hard work.