SEMA News - October 2009
A New Champion is Crowned
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Victory Junction Gang Camper Josh Bovee assisted HRIA Chairman Dennis Overholser with kicking off the Pinewood Drag finals. | |
Show ‘N Shine car show going on in the adjacent Pasadena Convention Center, pinewood racers spent several hours tuning and tweaking in search of elusive tenths of seconds.
As the evening reception opened, the stage was set for the final round of races, including the highly anticipated showdown between SEMA Chairman Jim Cozzie and former SEMA Chairman Mitch Williams. After much trash talk between both competitors, Williams unseated Cozzie—last year’s winner in the Unlimited class.
“Jim is a very formidable competitor—the kind you want to race as few times as possible,” said Williams. “He and I have very similar types of automotive experience and knowledge, so it is a little bit like trying to outsmart yourself, which is not easy to do.”
“I knew going in that I had a target on my back stemming from our runaway win last year,” said Cozzie. “The competition was very close this year. Unfortunately, we lost, but I am happy that Mitch won the class, as his determination and ingenuity shown brightly on the cars he entered.”
“Great friendships should be expected to do great work in the world, and I am pleased that Jim and I could use our friendship to generate more interest in the SEMA Pinewood Drag Race,” said Williams.
“I was also very pleased with the turnout of race cars and the support the Pinewood Drag Race enjoyed,” agreed Cozzie. “At the end of the day, it’s all about helping the kids at Victory Junction and Childhelp.”
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Defending Unlimited Class champ Jim Cozzie shared a few speed secrets with Mike Spagnola Jr. | The second-annual Pinewood Drag Race presented by eBay Motors inspired colorful and creative designs. |
SEMA Pinewood Drag Race Winners
Build it For Me Class | Stock | |||||
| People’s Choice Zan Martin, Martin & Company | Unlimited (w/average time) | |||||
| Modified (w/average time) Mitch Williams, Pilot Automotive: 2.83 Vickie Hays, Microscale: 2.99 Justin Hoffend, Freeman: 3.00 | Coordinated by the SEMA Cares Committee, the Pinewood Drag Race was also made possible by the generosity of eBay Motors, Lokar Performance Products and an army of dedicated volunteers. |
