TUCKINLOW ISSUE 3 by NIMBUS

ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

TABLE OF CONTENTS Drag for Diabetes

A show down in Galveston, TX that includes cars, food, and fun - all for the fight against diabetes Text and photos by Megan Perkins

Heritage 2k12

The shop with a cop program in Whitesburg, KY gets a tremendous boost from the proceeds of this amazing show Text and photos by Megan Perkins

Filler ‘Er up

Tom Brooks tells us about his killer ‘48 Chevy Pickup Text and photos by Megan Perkins

Cover Vehicle ‘53 Chevrolet Bel Air

Adam Cox 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air struts its stuff in the Nevada Desert Text by Josh Jenkins. Photos by John O’Neil - johnnyophoto.com

Labor of Love

Juan Rosales proves that hard work pays off when it comes to building a show quality custom Text by Josh Jenkins

Relaxed Atmosphere All Star Event 2012

The small town of Millington, TN plays host to some of the baddest custom cars and trucks in the country Text and photos by Koapono Patrick

Turkey Drag 2012

The Jeff Wilson and Turkey Drag prove that an awesome outdoor show can be pulled off in December Text and photos by Koapono Patrick

Battle Drag 2012

La Marque, Texas is the place to be for the fun-filled show known as Battle Drag Text and photos by Koapono Patrick

SEMA 2012

Show coverage from the Specialty Equipment Market Association’s annual super show in Las Vegas Text and photos by Koapono Patrick

Last Resort

Held in Jennings, LA, Last Resort gives show enthusiasts in the South a chance to show off their pride for one last time before winter hits Text and photos by Koapono Patrick

Drop Em Wear’s First Fifth Annual Show

The staff over at Drop Em Wear bring an action packed show from the paint shop in Winston-Salem, NC Text and photos by Sara Lassiter

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Drag for

Diabetes 2013 Text and Photos by Koapono Patrick kpconcepts.com

January 26th and 27th of this year marked the successful 2nd annual Drag For Diabetes show held at the beautiful Moody Gardens in Galveston, TX. Being back on the coast made for awesome sunny weather all weekend long for the 1,000+ spectators who admired the 350 shining rides on display, the top 100 of those receiving an award. What makes this show that much better (aside from the beach and palm trees) is that itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s all for a good cause. Proceeds from the show were donated to the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), as well as The Aplastic Anemia and MDS International Foundation (AA&MDSIF). Throughout the day, friendly events were held, such as tug-of-war, milk ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

chug, pickle eating, and a burnout competition. Mad Gear, KIK, Solo Films, FS Fabworks, and Adamâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Polishes were just a few of the many vendors on hand. For those of you who were not able to make Drag For Diabetes this year, try your best to make it next year. This 2nd show was a successful one, and it can only get better. For more info on Drag For Diabetes 2014, make sure to check them out online at www. DragForDiabetes.com, as well as www.facebook. com/Drag4Diabetes.

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HERITAGE 2K12 Text and Photos by Megan Perkins

Welcome to the quaint, mountain town of Whitesburg, Kentucky. Located in the Appalachian range of eastern Kentucky, it is home to Kentucky’s oldest and largest modern custom show, the Heritage Show. This year, Heritage 2K12 celebrated its tenth anniversary in style, attracting a total of 318 vehicles and over 8,000 spectators, while raffling off a custom painted Sonoma with a complete air ride system. Annually taking place the weekend after Labor Day, the Heritage Show typically has free spectator admission and free camping next to the show grounds. Simply put, this show is not done for the ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

money. All proceeds from H2K12 went to support the Kentucky State Police’s “Shop with a Trooper” program, and as a thank you, KSP officers brought a show car as is typically done every year. Another unique testament to this special event is that every year, a street in downtown Whitesburg is renamed after the largest representing club, with actual street signs that the clubs get to take home the following year. For H2K12, a total of three streets were renamed, speaking to the popularity of the event. There were an abundance of events that took place outside of the show as well. Police lead “Rail N Cruise,” a chance to drag behind (and with) police officers from the area; a truck limbo, which offered a payout of $500; and there were even burnouts on Main

Street in front of City Hall. Did I mention that dragging is allowed anywhere within city limits all weekend long? Team CCE was there with a hydraulic hopper and dancer exhibition, alongside Jamie Kelly’s radical bed dancing/ flame throwing truck, “Schizophrenia.” The show also offered a variety of vendors, including but not limited to DropJaw Magazine, Dropem Wear, Get Bored Designs, KIK, Illusive Fabrications, Pinstriping by Kevin Geary, Specktacular Customs and more. Each year, several volunteers and all of the minitrucker staff travel hours to come together and make the show a success. Most of the staff started out as showgoers, before offering to volunteer for the annual event. Speaking of staff, we must mention the show promoter, Lee Caudill. Caudill and his undying devotion to the minitrucking scene has brought us a decade of quality shows, while still making it fun and affordable to all. If you get the chance to see Lee, make sure to give him a thank you, not only for a job well done, but also for making it through another show on no sleep (I’m just looking out for you, Lee). Oh, and also ask him to show you his Heritage tattoo that he should have by now as settlement on a bet that H2K12 wouldn’t bring in 250 rides. As I mentioned before, it brought in over 300. And it’s official, the Heritage Show will be returning for 2K13! There was much debate and even over 20 people offering to get H2K13 tattoos encouraging Lee to bring the show back for its 11th year. So, be sure to look for TUCKINLOW the weekend after Labor Day.

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Just who in the world do “

you think you are, anyway?”

Good question. We ask because we really want to understand what’s going on with you, where you want to go, when you need things to happen and how NIMBUS can help you get there.

Neither does ROI. That’s why we believe

Ask some of our clients ...

insight and strategy are just as important as intriguing design and compelling messages when it comes to building your brand.

See? Told you it was a good question! hellonimbus.com 1.800.645.9841 hello@hellonimbus.com ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

FILL ER’ UP

‘48 TRUCK

CHEVROLET

Text by Josh Jenkins. Photos by Megan Perkins

Tom Brooks bought this cool little ‘48 Chevy pickup in California and immediately brought it back home to strip the paint down to bare metal. Eventually, the frame broke due to a shoddy air suspension install, and it was at that time that Tom was introduced to Todd Wilt. Together, they worked out a plan to get the truck back in good shape. Todd started off by repairing all of the trucks suspension woes, installing a Mustang II front suspension and replacing the back half of the frame with a custom built one of his own (a triangulated 4-Link keeps the rear axle located underneath the truck). Putting in a CCE Air Suspension system being fed by two Viair 480 compressors allowed the Chevy to sit down on top of the 17” Wheel Vintiques Steelies that are mated up with matching 17” Diamondback low profile white wall tires. The drivetrain of the truck was kept simple in the form of a 350 cubic inch block engine mated to a ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

700R4 transmission. Tom is able to keep an eye on all of the engine temperatures, oil pressures, and vehicle speed through the Dolphin Gauges that are mounted in the original location. An Ididit steering column took over the duties of its factory GM counterpart, which upgraded steering response, and allows for worry-free navigation in any situation. Tom had a vision for the outside of the truck to appear with a classic, fresh out of the barn look. To achieve this, he stripped down the paint, allowing the body to “age.” With the body at his desired patina, Tom had Bob Lathery of Jeffersonville, IN come in and work his magic with the “Brooks Gulf” signage that is weathered to look as old as the rest of the truck, which is all done by hand. This is not the first and certainly will NOT be his last custom build. Be on the look out for more of Tom’s kool kustoms right here in TUCKINLOW.

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FILL ‘ ER UP

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COVER VEHICLE

‘53BEL AIR

CHEVROLE

Text by Josh Jenkins. Photos by John O’ Neil - JohnnyOPhoto.com

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LET

It was ten years ago that Adam Cox’s love affair with customized vehicles began. It started in high school when he began hanging out with his friend, Von Chounlamany, whereby Cox would later learn the ins and outs of working on and building his own cars. It was his old air bagged 1966 Cadallic that sparked Cox’s interest in the classics, propelling Adam into building this beautiful 1954 Bel Air with a style that pays homage to hot rod heritage with a new school twist. Common knowledge and experience tells us car lovers that every good build starts out with a ton of planning and thinking five steps ahead. Adam knew this as he lined out a full plan and stuck to it in the building of his beloved Chevrolet. As soon as Adam got his hands on the car, he took the ride to Laodies Kustomz, where Adam and Von began making all the necessary chassis modifications to get the car on the ground where it belongs. A 1988 Chevrolet S10 front chassis clip complete with tubular upper and lower control arms was grafted onto the factory rails. S10 parts are a common swap for the earlier Chevy cars and trucks due to the ease of finding parts for them and also the disc brakes. With the front end now all set up, it was then on to the rear. One of the bigger tasks when building a rear suspension for the rear of many cars is building the setup to allow for use of the back seat. To achieve this, a 2-link rear suspension was linked to a 1970 Chevrolet Nova rear end, which allows for full use of the back seat. To bring the car to a halt, the S10 also gave up its brake booster and master cylinder. With the car now complete and on the ground, Adam made the trek to Des Moines, IA to the Goodguys Rod and Custom show. Unfortunately, the car didn’t receive the attention that he had hoped for, providing to be extremely discouraging. To top it off, a wheel bearing (one of the only parts on the car that wasn’t new) gave up the ghost on his way home. However, the poor response didn’t deter Adam from moving forward with his plans for the car. With the 2012 SEMA show coming up quickly, STEELE rubber products gave Adam the backing he needed to get the car in the show. With the help of his friends and many sleepless nights, the Bel Air was torn apart for the last time and not one bolt was left untouched. The chassis was finished out with an Air Ride Technologies 8 valve manifold and York engine drive compressor to give the suspension a constant supply of air. The 350 cubic inch small block was topped off with an Edelbrock intake and a four barrel Edelbrock carburetor. The newly added S10 V8 swap headers allowed the engine to exhale, and the 700R4 transmission provided comfortable highway driving and decent gas mileage. The body modifications were kept simple: the door handles, antenna, front and rear Chevrolet badges, and center bodyline trim were all shaved. The hood was peaked and then the rest of the body was gapped and prepped for paint for the guys at Sprengel’s Innovative Kustoms to lay down the slick red paint and House of Kolor frost pear on the roof. These colors were then accented with scallops to make the car stand out even more. An extensive cut and buff brought the shine to a maximum, and the remaining chrome and stainless trim on the car was replaced and polished to a high luster. ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

For most people, throwing on a set of 15” steel wheels and wide white wall tires would be enough to make them happy. However, Adam knew that he needed to make a bigger statement with his wheel and tire choice. A set of 20” x 8” Detroit Steel Wheels were mated with 245/35/20 Toyo Tires with a custom 1 1/4” whitewall by the Diamondback Tire Company. Inside the car, you will find that the seats have been recovered with red and white material in a classic tuck and roll pattern. The accents on the dash have also been rechromed. Auto Meter and VDO gauges are now housed in a custom gauge pod in the Bel Air’s stock gauge location. You would think that with a car that turned out as amazing as the Bel Air that Adam would call it “done.” That is not the case. Adam is in the process of adding a complete stereo system with all wiring accessories supplied by Metra. The carb and intake are also being swapped for a 3 Deuce Rochester setup. Adam knows that the car would not be where it is today without the help of all of his family and friends. Special thanks goes out to his parents for all the support throughout the years, and his main man and best friend, Von, who has taught him everything he knows. Cox also thanks his loving girlfriend for all of her help and support throughout the build; Jason Sprengel, Kyle Bertsch, and David Newgent for the paint and bodywork; Josh Barnes, Adam and Steve from Mobsteel; and Eric Saltrick from Steele Rubber Products for everything he’s has done this year to get the car noticed.

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Adam would also like send a huge ‘thank you’ to each one of his build partners: Steele Rubber Products; Detroit Steel Wheels; Diamondback Tire Company; The Chrome shop; Ottumwa Seat and Top Shopp; Loadies Kustomz; Darkside Tint and Graphics; Firecoat Custom Powdercoating; Sprengel’s Innovative Kustoms, Optima Batteries; Metra; and Mechman Alternators.

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LABOR OF

LOVE Text by Josh Jenkins

Juan Rosales of Anaheim, California has loved cars since he graduated high school and has had a few projects since, including a 1972 Dodge Dart and most recently, a 2005 Chrysler 300. After an accident totaled his previous Chrysler 300, the dedicated father of 5 felt that he could still do more with Chrysler’s flagship car. That’s when Juan bought this 2005 300C; however, this time he opted to go for the HEMI engine. Juan’s goal was to build his 300 different from all of his peers. Within 6 months, he was back on the show circuit with a fully finished car that laid low ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

on 22” factory replica wheels and that included a Xenon bodykit with an inset grille and flat purple paint. Fast forward two years later, and Juan was ready to change the look of the 300 once again. Juan robbed a 2008 SRT8 Magnum front end and was the first to swap this new style front clip on a 300. To compliment the facelift, he also added a Classic Design Concepts Glassback roof and 24” Lexani wheels. Bob Iverson added silver leaf graphics to make the flat purple stand out even more and an Intake Manifold from a 6.1 HEMI was also installed

under the hood. The most recent and current overhaul came in 2011 when the addition of a shaved gas door and tubbing out the front and rear wheel wells lead to repainting the entire car with House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl Paint. California Upholstery handled recovering the seats, dash, and door panels, while select parts of the interior were sprayed with the same Tangelo hue to match the outside of the car. A new set of 24” 2 Crave wheels with Toyo Proxes tires now makes it home tucked in the fenders of the 300. Juan adds that he is “a dedicated father and hard worker that strives to balance out the funds and time for both his family life and activities with his car club, Nokturnal.” Juan would also like to thank each one of his build partners, including R1 Concepts, 2 Crave Wheels, Toyo Tires, Airaid, Viair, Accuair, Magnaflow, Odyssey, AVS, AMSOIL, KPConcepts, GO EZ, Blessed Motorsports, and Show & Performance.

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LABOR OF LOVE

The Inside Scoop Name > Juan Rosales City/State > Anaheim, California Car Club > Nokturnal Car Club Orange County Vehicle > 2005 Chrysler 300C Engine Modifications > 6.1 manifold swap; fully polished; chromed or powder-coated parts throughout; Killer Glass radiator hoses; Airaid Air Intake; Techco Strut Bar; Billet Technology underhood kit; stainless steel hoses; chromed ABS cover; 180 degree thermostat; Diablo Tuner; Magnaflow high flow cats; and cat-back exhaust. Suspension Modifications > Universal Air Suspension; 2 3-gallon tanks; Viair 444 dual pack; and Chrome Suspension components. Stereo/Interior > Complete Interior by California Upholstery; headrest delete; rear bucket seats; color matched interior trim; and all interior lighting swapped to orange by Bob LX Harness. Exterior Mods > House of Kolor Tangelo Pearl; shaved handles; windshield washer nozzles; trunk wing and fuel door. Also, a 2008 magnum SRT8 front end swap and a Classic Design Concepts Glassback Roof. Wheels/Tires > 24x9 2 Crave No. 25s with 255/30/24 Toyo Proxes Tires.

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RELAXED ATMOSPHERE ALL STAR EVENT 2012

Relaxed Atmosphere’s All Star Event has grown to be one of the premiere truck shows around, drawing many custom enthusiasts to the USA Stadium in Millington, TN. With another year of possible rain and thunderstorms, the weather gods were generous enough to let the sun shine during the show, allowing everyone to check out the enticing eye candy. Giveaways and games were held throughout the show, and there was plenty of good “fair style” food to enjoy. ‘Top 75’ trophies and many specialty awards were also given out inside the baseball field. The proceeds of the show went towards the ALS Foundation, while the raffle proceeds assisted in helping a fellow trucker’s daughter injured in a car accident. It’s causes like these that make a show that much better. Overall, it was another success for the All Star Event and as always, looking forward to next year.

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TURKEY

DRAG 2 0 1 2

For more info on next year, check out www.Facebook.com/TurkeyDragShow

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With the 2012 show season coming to an end, you can always look forward to going out with a bang at Turkey Drag, located at the Sky Vue Theater in Tyler, TX. With weather being an issue in past years, this year’s 8th annual event was blessed with intermittent clouds and a little warmth, making it more enjoyable for the 2,800 spectators and a record 820 show vehicles. The show grounds started filling up Friday with it being packed by noon on Saturday. During the show, a USACI competition was held with 110 full audio-equipped rides battling it out for whose stereo system was the loudest. For those who had their show vehicles cleaned up the nicest, there were ‘Top 100’ awards given out, along with a few ‘Best Ofs’ awards. Turkey Drag has always delivered well in its past years, but this year was the best one yet.

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BATTLE DRAG 2012 Text and Photos by Koapono Patrick, KP Concepts

Beginning as a small meet for Crime Pays Video back in 2005 at the San Jacinto Battleground monument in Houston, Texas, Battle Drag has turned into one of the top southern Texas shows, hosting hundreds of custom vehicles and thousands of spectators. Currently at the Gulf Greyhound Park in La Marque, this year’s event was accompanied by nice weather that included occasional clouds and a soft breeze. Aside from all of the shiny rides lined up to check out, spectators also enjoyed a $1,000 bikini contest, drifting, live graffiti and DJ, and some tug-of-war to keep things interesting. The event’s raffle proceeds went to a college fund in memory of fallen Damage Inc. member, Jesse Flores.

One thing Battle Drag is known for are their awesome awards - the “Best Of” custom painted guitar trophies by Maxed Out Designs and “Top 100” skateboard decks done by Doug Burkmire. None of this would have been possible without the title sponsor, Mad Gear Hot Rod Apparel; hosting by Damage Inc., Car Tunes, Maxed Out Designs, and HTownShowScene.com; along with the many other sponsors. There were also some good vendors on hand such as Tuckn’ Clothing, KIK, Mad Gear, and SoLo Films. For its 8th year, Battle Drag 2012 was another solid show in the books. You can find more info on next year’s show at www.BattleDrag.com ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

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SEMA

2012

Text by Josh Jenkins Photos by Koapono Patrick, KPconcepts.com

The Specialty Equipment Market Association show, also known as SEMA, is the mecca of custom automotive trade shows in the world. So much that If you’ve never heard of it, you might live under a rock. In the city that never sleeps, Las Vegas, Nevada, more than 100,000 industry leaders from more than 100 countries were attracted to the Las Vegas Convention Center October 30th through November 2nd. What makes SEMA unique is that it’s not really a “car show” per se. Only those affiliated in the automotive field are allowed access into the buildings to see the latest and best products in the industry, and there just ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

so happens to be some of the best custom rides in attendance showcasing a certain company’s product. No matter what your style or interests are, there’s something for everybody, ranging from hot rods, tuners, off road, luxury, classics, and lowriders. SEMA also provides attendees with educational seminars, product demonstrations, special events, networking opportunities, and more. For more information on next year’s show, check out www.SemaShow.com.

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Last

Resort Text and Photos by Koapono Patrick, KPconcepts.com

Deep in Jennings, LA at the Louisiana Oil & Gas Park, you’ll find the Last Resort Show. What makes this show special is the laid back and hospitable atmosphere, making it easily enjoyable. On Friday, an array of 315 custom cars and trucks started filling up the show grounds with title sponsor, KIK, providing free gumbo and beer that night. Saturday is when the show really began as 1,500 spectators enjoyed the nice weather and checked out all the shining chrome and paint. Once nighttime came around, the show turned into one big party with DJ Get Low providing the tunes. To keep the party going safely, free on-site camping was allowed for those not able - or not wanting - to drive back to a hotel. Throughout the show, there were contests, such as pizza eating and club tug-of-war, keeping you entertained, as well as some tasty Louisiana style food vendors keeping your bellies full. Custom ‘Top 75’ and ‘Best Of’ trophies by Recognition Concepts were given out to those who made the cut. Every year, it seems like everyone enjoys the event and has an awesome weekend with little to no complaints. For more info on next year’s show, be sure to visit them on the web at www.LastResortShow.com. ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

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DROP EM

WEAR

First Fifth Annual Show Drop Em Wear did it again! This year was their fifth annual show and it was a hit, doubling its highest attendance record to date. The weather was perfect for this one day show in Winston-Salem, NC. Everyone was out in full force & had a blast thanks to John & Jen Beebe. There were plenty of rides to check out, contests & activities to participate in and tons of wonderful raffles. This is definitely a show to add to your â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;must attendâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; list for next year! ISSUE 03 | TUCKINLOW.COM

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