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FEATURE INTERVIEWS:
SEMA SHOW SPECIAL 2024 – Episode #3:
Welcome to the first special show from our coverage of SEMA 2024! This time I sent Scott Stap out to wander SEMA and find the weird, the strange and the interesting. He did not disappoint and found a life size RC car, a company selling battery powered jacks, and talked to a Battle of the Builders contestant. This is the Thanksgiving Day overload that you did not know you needed. This episode is dedicated to the small companies working hard to keep the hobby exciting!
-Rob Kibbe
Vintage Air – Rick Love: Every year I look forward to catching up with Rick Love. There are lot of updates to the Gen 5 series of A/C systems and an ever expanding line up of the electronically controlled packages that they are working on even more. Vintage Air is working on Corvette, some Mopar kits and a handful of others, but they have gotten about 80% of the systems converted over to Gen 5 at this time. The new systems are higher efficiency than the older systems and the flow is more powerful to deliver better heat and cooling. Even the blower motor is 20% more powerful so it can provide the air you need even at lower power settings.
If you would like to know more, check them out at VintageAir.com/new-gen5-magnum-system and make sure to tell them you heard about it at The Muscle Car Place.
Meguiars – Mike Pennington and Danielle Schriepe: I look forward to meeting up with Mike every year to find out what new products or cleaning and protection systems they have developed recently. This year I also got to meet with Danielle the Head of the Experiential (Event) Marketing to find out what it takes to put together and run the Meguiars booth. The booth hosts a couple of great custom vehicles and Mike was able to point out how you would use different products on different kinds and stages of paint. One of the show cars had a very fresh paint job and they were using a non sealing protectant to allow it to breathe and cure over time. The other vehicle was built earlier in the year so it was cured and they were using a fully ceramic protectant system to lock in and protect the paint. Meguiars builds complete families of products designed to work together and complement each other to create the ultimate protection layer. If you would like to know more or get a little guidance in picking out the best line of products for your situation you can check them out at www.Meguiars.com or call at 1-800-347-5700.
Modern Classix Cuda Conversions – Curtis: The looks of an original 1970s ‘Cuda are very hard to beat! Some of highest value collectible muscle cars are the 1960’s and ’70ss are ‘Cudas which might make them a little concerning to drive around in public or leave in open parking lots/hotels. There is also the fact that they are over fifty years old and don’t have all of the reliability and safety of a modern Challenger or Charger. Modern Classix have figured out a way to convert a newer Challenger to the iconic look of a 1971 ‘Cuda by utilizing body panels they created combined with actual 1971 grille and tail light panel parts. They looked into what pieces really identify a ‘Cuda and made sure the whole feeling of the car is correct. Even the body lines of the car are distinctly ‘Cuda now where the line travels straight down the side instead of going up on the rear quarters like it does on the Challenger. Also the rear lower quarters kick up at the rear where the newer Challenger is boxed in and not as “swoopy.” If you would like to find out how you can get your own Cuda conversion you can check them out at Instagram.com/modernclassixauto
Fine Lines – Brake Line Kits: Fine Lines was founded in 1986 to make brake lines, transmission lines and fuel lines for muscle cars and classic vehicles. They currently make 6400 different products in their Ohio production facility and now feature items for newer vehicles. They make everything from the standard brake line sets to stainless braided PTFE flex lines that contain no rubber to be deteriorated by modern alcohol fuels or brake fluids. Fine Lines also manufacturer line sets for other companies to use in disc brake conversions so you may have purchased Fine Lines products and not even know it. You can check them out at www.FineLines.com or call at 1-800-SSTubes (1-330-335-5000)
RoadTek Battery Jacks – General Lee: RoadTek is shaking up the jack world by introducing a concept to your garage that is so revolutionary but so “This make total sense” at the same time. Imagine being able to jack up your car with zero repetitive motion, zero effort, and actually stay safer than a traditional jack. The RoadTek jacks are powered by the same sort of battery that you may use on your cordless drill or impact so the technology is proven many times over in the industry. This is technology you already know how to use everyday in your garage. The electric jack also has the advantage of giving you more room in your garage by allowing you to raise your car without needing to clear out space for the jacking motion. Just hold the handle in one place and push the button. RoadTek wanted to catch attention and they did so in a big way by hosting the General Lee in their booth. I heard about this car from people outside of the SEMA show even and had to check it out. It started life as a humble 318 Charger and was lovingly transformed into the iconic car we know and love. The whole project was done on a budget and included some actual movie tie in parts. The decal on the roof was an original backup piece that was left over from the production and then used on this car. The RoadTek logo is a low stick decal used to cover but not damage the flag logo that is on the roof.
You can find out more about RoadTek jacks at https://roadtekhq.com/
Battle of the Builders Young Guns- Dominic Olson: The Battle of the Builders is a very intense and scrutinizing competition that can result in some very high praise for the people that work on the vehicles. I met up with
Dominic Olsen who is one of those competitors. Dominic grew up watching his grandpa making hot rods and custom vehicles. After high school he attended Wyotech to formalize his automotive training and when he came back he took over the shop and is loving it. He thought it would be great to attended SEMA for the Battle of the Builders and show off his skills to the world and drum up some new business. The road to SEMA was bumpy though and He first submitted his personal car in 2019 but did not make it past the interview stage. He submitted his project this year but it was not completed enough to make it to the show this year. Later on, the Mustang project was brought up by people that remembered it from when he submitted it previously so he finished it up and made it just in time for the big show. Every body panel has been massaged and there are amazing personal touches everywhere. Dominic made sure to point out the incredible engine that has very little stick left to it. It is a Ford 427 small block with Hemi heads on it that give it a very unique sound. You can find out more at Big o Fabrications at .https:Instagram.com/big.o.fabrications
Associated Electrics – Curtis Husting : Associated Electric. Curtis grew up in Team Associated as his father was co founder of the business. His dad used to race RC cars and started the business to make even better vehicles and accomplished that and then some. Curtis has been in almost every department in the business and remembers being in the CNC department making the parts that went into the RC cars people know and love. Team Associated started making the RC10 buggy and then later the “RC10T” stadium truck 40 years ago. To commemorate the 40-year anniversary date they built a full size “real life version” of the RC10 buggy which they had in their booth! They have started making all of the parts needed to fix your old RC10 classic cars and even upgrade them. In addition they have released many of the old kits again and are seeing a resurgence in interest by a younger crowd in RC kits and racing. You can find out more at www.TeamAssociated.com
