SEMA News—November 2012 

Events
By Chad Simon

Crafting Cars for Children

Professional Builders Custom-Design Pinewood Hot Rods for Charity.

Constructed last fall to the finest detail, these miniature pinewood hot rods were the brainchildren of 15 of the nation’s best custom-car and hot-rod builders. The hot rods could be mistaken for the real thing if only they weren’t small enough to fit in the palm of your hand. But they came to life as they raced against each other to benefit two children’s charities at the third-annual Hot Rod Industry Alliance (HRIA) Pinewood Builder’s Challenge during SEMA’s Installation Banquet & Gala Fundraiser, July 27, at the Sheraton Fairplex Hotel & Conference Center in Pomona, California. The cars will be autographed by the builders and will be displayed in the HRIA booth #23395 at the 2012 SEMA Show.

After the Show, these 15 custom pinewood cars will be up for auction via eBay, and the proceeds will go to support SEMA Cares and its two children’s charities—Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp.

Goodguys Rod & Custom Association		Bubba’s East Coast Rods & Customs		BS Industries

Participating builders included industry luminaries Baer Brakes, B Rod or Custom, BS Industries, Bubba’s East Coast Rods & Customs, Goodguys Rod & Custom Association, Goolsby Customs, Greening Auto Co., Johnny’s Auto Trim, Kaucher Kustoms, Lokar Inc., No Joke Upholstery, Rich Evans Designs, Spanky’s Hot Rods, Strange Motion and Street Vizions.

An incredible class of hot-rod builders crafted the HRIA Builder’s Challenge cars, but in the end, Derek White of Street Vizions successfully defended his title, winning the race series for the third consecutive year. Rich Evans Designs once again was the runner up, followed by Larry Burchett of B Rod or Custom.

B Rod Or Custom		Baer Brakes		Goolsby Customs

“Winning three years in a row is an honor,” said Dean Pugliese of Street Vizions. “I think there is a bounty out for beating us next year. Next year’s car will be even more daring on our part, but our strategy for success remains a mystery for another year. Derek wants to call the next car ‘The Bounty Hunter.’ Really, it is all for the children who benefit at Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp. Most of all, we enjoy competing with our friends and keeping hot rodding fun.”

Strange Motion		Spanky’s Hot Rods		Greening Auto Co.

Each pinewood builder was given four months to complete the car, with no design limitations or rules imposed except that the car had to fit the track’s dimensions and no propulsion systems were allowed.

“The design of our Pinewood entry is based solely on the ’32 Ford Bubba built for the first episode of our upcoming network TV show,” said Bubba Lloyd, owner, Bubba’s East Coast Rods & Customs. “We count the blessings before us every day, and we are thankful for all that we have. Charity work is of extreme importance to us, and we are extremely engaged in charitable work for children.”

Lokar Inc.		Street Vizions		Kaucher Kustoms

The race came to fruition at the 2009 SEMA Show, when HRIA Chairman Rick Love of Vintage Air, HRIA member Eric Saltrick from Steele Rubber Products and fellow HRIA member John Menzler from COMP Cams decided to walk the Show floor and ask every well-known hot-rod builder to participate.

“The HRIA Builder’s Challenge race continues to grow, and the creations that we are seeing every year are absolutely brilliant,” Love said. “The builders who participate in this program devote the same incredible creativity and workmanship to these race cars that they would in any high-end hot-rod build, and take immense pride in the fact that these cars raise money for some very worthwhile charities. I hope everyone will take a few minutes to come by the HRIA booth #23395 at the 2012 SEMA Show and see these cars in person. We’ll also be auctioning them to benefit Childhelp and Victory Junction Camp as we have in the past, so don’t miss your opportunity to take one home.”

Johnny’s Auto Trim		No Joke Upholstery		Rich Evans Designs

The eBay auction will take place October 30–November 8. Simply search “HRIA Pinewood” on eBay for your chance to own a custom Pinewood hot rod from a legendary builder.