Compiled by SEMA Editors
 Courtney Hansen will appear in the Toyo Tires Treadpass, Wednesday, October 31, from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m. |
Toyo Tires to Host Vehicle Debuts and Celebrity Signings During the 2018 SEMA Show
Toyo Tires will feature top vehicle builds and celebrities at next week’s SEMA Show in Las Vegas, both in its display located at the South Hall entrance (Booth #62122) and at the Toyo Tires Treadpass, located between the Central and South Halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center. Highlights will include special appearances by Ken Block, Tuesday, October 30, from 11:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m., and Wednesday, October 31, from 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m., in the Toyo Tires display in front of the South Hall (Booth #62122), and Courtney Hansen, Wednesday, October 31, from 1:30 p.m.–2:30 p.m., in the Toyo Tires Treadpass
Winners of the Toyo Tires SEMA Top Build will be announced on Wednesday, October 31, at 1:00 p.m. in the Toyo Tires Treadpass. In addition, the Toyo Tires display located in front of the South Hall will feature three vehicles: a fully custom Chevy Bel Air, a full-tilt McLaren 720S and a soon-to-be announced vehicle project. The Toyo Tires Treadpass will feature nearly 30 specialty cars and trucks, including a ’55 Mercedes Gullwing, Button Built Ferrari “BB328," Shawn Bassett 240Z, SquareD ’81 Chevy K20 by HS Customs and a Trimble Wolfe Customs Jeep CJ-7.
 The Impostor |
Covercraft to Bring The Impostor Back to 2018 SEMA Show; “Gearhead Diva” Rachel De Barros to Make Booth Appearance
Covercraft Industries LLC is bringing The Impostor back to the SEMA Show this year. Designed and built by Foose Design, it will take center stage in Covercraft’s booth (#23243) in the Central Hall at the Las Vegas Convention Center. A 2015 Ridler Award winner, The Impostor is a combination of a ’65 Chevrolet Impala and ’09 Corvette. The Impostor will be unveiled in the Covercraft booth on the opening day of the Show at 10:00 a.m. In addition, “Gearhead Diva” Rachel De Barros, star of “All Girls Garage” and “Wonder Spawn,” will make several appearances at the Covercraft booth. Known for her energy and enthusiasm, De Barros will educate and entertain visitors Tuesday, October 30, and Wednesday, October 31, from 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m., and Thursday, November 1, from 10:00 a.m.–12:00 p.m.
 Joe Schubeck will fire up his vintage ’65 supercharged nitro engine dragster along with three additional vintage dragsters from that era at SEMA Ignited. |
SEMA Ignited to Feature Dragster Cackle Fest With Joe Schubeck
Joe Schubeck will fire up his vintage ’65 supercharged nitro engine dragster along with three additional vintage dragsters from that era at the conclusion of the SEMA Show, Friday evening, November 2, at SEMA Ignited—the official SEMA Show after-party. Schubeck, a SEMA Hall of Fame member named “Gentleman Joe” by the racing press, has resided in the Las Vegas area since 1994, and is one of the professional Top Fuel drag-race drivers from the ’60s. He will display and start the original dragster that he drove in competition more than 53 years ago. The three additional dragsters from California include Tony Nancy’s Sizzler, owned and restored by John Neas, the Chrisman and Cannon AA Fuel Dragster restored and owned by Don Prieto and the Soapy Sales AA Fuel Dragster restored and owned by Tommy Allen, all champions in their day. A free gift will be included for the first 100 on-lookers—a packet of photos of the four dragsters plus a special DVD with a preview of Gentleman Joe’s bio “My Memories of Drag Racing.”
 Starwood Customs is building an ’18 Toyota 4Runner for the Warrior Dog Foundation. |
CURT Group 2018 SEMA Booth to Showcase Charities and Innovation
CURT Group will take part in several charity builds at the 2018 SEMA Show. Working with ARIES Pro Builders, CURT Group will showcase two custom truck builds and one Jeep JL build to benefit three different charities: the Warrior Dog Foundation, NS2 Serves and Rebuilding Generations. For the Warrior Dog Foundation, Starwood Customs is building an ’18 Toyota 4Runner with ARIES next-gen ActionTrac-powered running boards, patented Pro Series grille guard, CURT roof rack crossbars, kayak holders and more. For NS2 Serves, Tommy Pike Customs is building an ’18 Jeep Wrangler JL featuring ARIES new TrailChaser bumpers, fender flares, tube doors, LED light brackets, ActionTrac-powered running boards and a CURT hitch. For Rebuilding Generations, Bucks 4x4 is building an ’18 Ram 1500 complete with an ARIES Switchback headache rack, AdvantEDGE bull bar with LED lights, LUVERNE textured rubber mud guards and a UWS low-profile side mount tool box. These three charity builds, as well as three additional builds, will be on display at the CURT Group booth #34017.
 The custom grille started off as a 1,000-lb. piece of billet aluminum that was shaved down to 73 lbs., and required more than 300 hours of design and cutting time. |
River City Rods to Unveil “El Chapo” Build at 2018 SEMA Show
Craig Piggott of River City Rods & Fabrication plans to unveil his GTB100 build, dubbed “El Chapo” (English translation: “Shorty”) Tuesday, October 30, at 10:30 a.m., in the Energy Suspension Booth #23267 in the Central Hall of the Las Vegas Convention Center during the 2018 SEMA Show. The car is also an entry in SEMA’s Battle of the Buidlers competition. Just about every last detail has been custom-designed and fabricated, right down to the grille, which started off as a 1,000-lb. piece of billet aluminum that was shaved down to 73 lbs. and required more than 300 hours of design and cutting time. Seven months after commencing work on the project, and with less than a week to go before the Show, the team has put the finishing touches on the interior—a lounge-inspired concept bathed in red—buttoned-up wiring and paintwork (also custom).
 Jason Pokines |
DEI Hires Jason Pokines as Social Media Specialist
Design Engineering Inc. (DEI) has hired Jason Pokines as the company’s new social media specialist. The new position was filled in early October to strengthen DEI’s digital, social media and e-commerce team with a more strategic approach to customer engagement, branding and sales. Pokines will be responsible for developing social-media campaigns supported by analytics across multiple platforms to enhance DEI’s complete line of heat control and sound insulation products. He will also work with the company’s web manager, marketing and graphics team to develop a social-media strategy to integrate and improve content development and engagement for multiple markets. He previously worked as a marketing coordinator for RW Beckett Corp. and as a UI/UX designer with OverDrive Inc.
MW Company Launches, Combines all MOMO and WELD Brands Under Single Entity
On Wednesday, October 25, MW Company (www.mw.company) was launched, officially combining several iconic aftermarket performance and racing brands under one corporate identity. In 2017, Cisneros Corporation, which owned the MOMO brand, purchased WELD Racing and all of its brands to combine them into the MW Company. The formation of MW Company establishes one of the largest portfolios of performance and motorsports brands within the industry and includes: MOMO, WELD Racing, ADV.1, Driven Motorsports, CCW Forged Performance, Reds, Forgestar, HiPer Technology and Tikore. The company will continue to operate facilities in Anaheim, California, Kansas City, Missouri, and Milan, Italy.
MW Company will have SEMA Show booths in the Central Hall (20635), Lower South Hall (46063) and Upper South Hall (35087). While at the SEMA Show on Tuesday, October 30, at 1:00 pm at the MW Company booth (20635 Central Hall), the company will join with Hot Wheels to unveil a limited-edition accessory to commemorate Hot Wheels’ 50th anniversary.
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