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Goodguys Cancels 2012 Chicagoland Nationals

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 17, 2012

Goodguys has announced that the 6th ChicagolandNationals won’t take place this year, due to a scheduling conflict with the facility. The event, which was scheduled to take place Aug. 10–12 at the Chicagoland Speedway in Joliet, Illinois, has been removed from Goodguys’ 2012 event schedule.

Those that were planning to attend the event have several other options that are within 350 miles of where the Chicagoland event was going to take place, according to Goodguys. The 15th PPG Nationals will be held in Columbus, Ohio, and the 2ndWIX Filters Speedway Nationals will take place in Indianapolis. The 21st Heartland Nationals, which will take place in Des Moines, Iowa, is another relatively local alternative event, according to Goodguys.

How Use Business Credit Cards Wisely

Posted By Devlin Smith , January 17, 2012

Many small business owners use credit cards, whether business or personal, to keep their business running. Not using these cards wisely, though, can cause financial trouble for both the business and the business owner, according to Derby Cox, who covered the topic in a recent posting on the SmartBlog on Finance.

“Credit cards are convenient and often easier to get than other types of bank financing, and when used correctly, they are an effective tool,” Cox wrote. “But some common mistakes could land you and your company in financial hot water.”

Cox shared the following three mistakes to avoid.

5 Tips for Taking Time off From Your Shop

Posted By Devlin Smith , January 17, 2012

Does being the boss mean you have to spend every waking hour at your shop? Sometimes, unfortunately, the answer seems to be yes.

“There are many upsides to calling yourself boss,” Laura Vanderkam wrote in a recent Fortune article. “The downside? Every year … entrepreneurs learn (and relearn, as the case may be) that it’s tough to take even a week or two off, let alone a longer absence.”

Vanderkam spoke with a number of experts to gather five tips for small business owners on how to take time off.

1. Plan ahead. Way ahead. “Knowing your vacation times at least a few months in advance lets you build that lack of availability into your client proposals and plan your pipeline accordingly,” she wrote. “Knowing your schedule ahead of time also lets you plan for some long days before and after, and arrange employee schedules with that in mind.”

Scott Drake Releases New ‘FoMoCo’-Branded Headlamps for Mustangs

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 16, 2012

Scott Drake has introduced its new “FoMoCo”-scripted headlamps, which are authentic reproductions of the headlamps that appeared on some early Mustangs. The 7-inch, round headlamps offer an original look but with safer halogen technology, according to the company.

The company used original Ford NOS lamps and duplicated every appearance detail. Although two “FoMoCo” script designs were produced by Ford, Scott Drake chose to reproduce the version with a more-prominent, reverse-raised logo as it’s more prized by Mustang enthusiasts, according to the company.

Classic Industries Introduces New First-Gen Camaro/Firebird Trunk Lid Cover Panels

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 15, 2012

Classic Industries has announced the release of its new ABS “Perfect Fit” Trunk Lid Cover Panels for 1967–1969 Camaros and Firebirds. The panels provide a finished look for the underside of a car’s deck lid when the trunk is open.

The trunk lid cover panels will fit all first-generation Camaros and Firebirds. They’re designed to clear trunk hinges and can be installed without any drilling, screws or damage to a car’s finish, said the company. They’ll also hide any factory holes or stamping marks to improve the appearance of the trunk area.

HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian Continues Pontiac 455 Engine Build

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 10, 2012

In August 2011, HRR Tech Editor Mike Mavrigian began work on a bored and stroked Pontiac 455 engine. The engine, which is being built at Birchwood Automotive Group, Mavrigian’s Creston, Ohio-based shop, will be built to be used in a street/strip muscle car or street rod.

Mavrigian recently updated readers of his Precision Engine website on the progress of the engine build.

“At this point, everything has been clearanced and test fitted, and the crank was just recently balanced,” he wrote last week. “Now it’s time to paint the block and assemble the long block, leaving only the task of measuring for custom pushrod length prior to completion.

Martin Luther King Jr. Weekend Car Shows & Events Roundup

Posted By Devlin Smith , January 10, 2012

Several indoor car shows will be held this weekend featuring rods, roadsters and customs.

A number of car shows and events are being held this holiday weekend to give you the opportunity to show off your shop’s best work and network with potential customers, including the Cavalcade of Customs and Mesquite Motor Mania 2012. Information on these and six additional cars shows and events are detailed below. More shows will be posted on Hotrod & Restoration’s Twitter throughout the week.

The Cavalcade of Customs takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Duke Energy Convention Center in Cincinnati. Over $14,000 in cash and merchandise will be presented at the event in 20 categories, including Outstanding Custom Rod, Outstanding Restored, Outstanding Truck and Outstanding Display. The show will also feature special vehicle displays, Meguiar’s Car Care Tips, the Pinstripers “Art of the Kool Charity Auction” benefiting Shriners Hospitals for Children and celebrity appearances. For more information, visit www.autorama.com/shows/attend/cincinnati-2012.

Mesquite Motor Mania 2012 takes place Friday, Saturday and Sunday in Mesquite, Nevada. The event is open to all years, makes and models of classic vehicles, and will feature show-and-shine competitions, roaring engine competitions, slow drags and burn-out competitions. The event will also include cruises, vehicle awards, vendors, concessions, a classic cars and parts corral area, and drawings. For more information, visit www.mesquitecarshows.com.

1962 Corvette Featured in HRR to Be Auctioned at Barrett-Jackson

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 10, 2012 1 comment

The 1962 custom Corvette “Elegance” built by Johnny’s Auto Trim in Alamosa, Colorado, will be auctioned live at the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale, Arizona, on Saturday, Jan. 21. The Corvette, which appeared on the cover of the July 2011 issue of Hotrod & Restoration, was named one of the “Great 8″ cars at the 2011 Detroit Autorama.

The car, which will be sold without a reserve, features a custom leather interior, LS7 engine, extensive body modifications and a one-off “Champaign Mist” paint job. The Barrett-Jackson website describes the Corvette as “… perfection at its finest. The attention to detail and tasteful custom design is amazing. There are many subtle custom modifications one might overlook due to its seamless sleek design.”

Mutoh to Present ‘Wrap a Rod’ Demo at 2012 HRR Trade Show

Posted By Ashley Smissen , January 10, 2012 1 comment

Mutoh America Inc., a manufacturer of wide format inkjet printers, in partnership with its reseller Fellers, will host two “Wrap a Rod” demonstrations on Friday, March 23, and Saturday, March 24, at the 2012 Hotrod & Restoration Trade Show. The demonstrations will be held at 11 a.m. each day in Fellers’ booth (No. 717) on the trade show floor and are designed to teach attendees how to effectively wrap a car.

A professional installer of vehicle wraps will demonstrate the proper set up and installation techniques used by professional car wrappers to turn an ordinary paint job into a something extraordinary using a custom-designed vinyl wrap. The expert will also cover topics such as seaming, contour fitting and proper alignment techniques.

The demonstration will showcase the wrapping of one of RideTech’s Factory Five 1933 Ford coupe kit cars. RideTech is asking its customers to submit designs to be considered for the project’s wrap.