The Bull Magazine Spring/Summer 2024

THEBULl

SPRING/SUMMER 2024

Racing for a Dream drifting in style

the manicured mEchanic

Staff

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

ASHLEY SHELLMIRE

MANAGING EDITOR

BENJAMIN HANSON

PHOTO EDITOR

MYRANELI FABIAN

REPORTERS

JOSEPH ALVARADO

FABIOLA CARRIZOSA

JEANNE RIETHER

ALFONSO VARGAS

SARA WOLF

ADVISERS

JEFF FAVRE

JILL CONNELLY

MORGAN KEITH

Attendees watch as Carson Standridge and Nathan McGuire race during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

RACINGFoRADREAM

It’s 15 minutes before a race and 15-year-old Evren Toprak prepares to slip into his alter ego. He scans his bright yellow racing kart that will join him in his pursuit of the finish line. Off the track he may be soft spoken and a little reserved, but on it he’s a different person, ready to make a calculated overtake and be aggressive in his hunger for speed.

Feeling the curve of the track, the roar of the engine and the speed of the vessel fully at his control is a thrill that Toprak was born to crave.

Toprak said he remembers having many different interests — ice skating, sailing and a racing video game — but they all seemed to relate to racing.

“Whatever it was, I just wanted to

go quick,” Toprak said. “I knew racing was a pretty risky route, so it was kind of more what my heart wanted to do, which was racing, or what my brain wanted to do, which was an engineer.”

But as his love for the hobby grew, Toprak knew he had to broach the topic with his parents, who were immediately supportive. Within two

Story by Sara Wolf

Photos by Benjamin Hanson and Ashley Shellmire

Evren Toprak (right) takes a practice lap around the kart track at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on April, 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

days of telling his parents of his goal, he had a practice day scheduled.

Toprak’s mother, Pintar Toprak, said that she always noticed his passion for cars, but that she only realized how intense it was a couple years ago when he researched the hobby and became motivated to try it.

“I love his passion for it,” said Pintar. “Passion is everything in life. Especially during teenage years, I think it’s really important for young

adults to have their North Star, so to speak.”

From the moment he first stepped foot on the track, Toprak knew it was a good fit. Even a minor crash during his first practice day only strengthened his confidence in his decision to pursue racing.

“I felt every emotion in the book,” Toprak said. “It’s my goal so it can be stressful most of the time, but it’s also my passion, so even the stressful moments I enjoy.”

Toprak got involved in multiple racing events since he first started competing two years ago. He joined a local club where he learned the ropes for about five months before entering his first race in December 2022.

He quickly moved up in the ranks by going from club-level racing to completing his first regional race in March 2023, and eventually a national race in October 2023.

Toprak notes that this speed of ex-

celling is fairly rare among his age group. He further proved this during his first ever race, where he was less than two seconds away from beating the track record.

Additionally, Toprak managed to secure a Top 20 speed at the “Rok Vegas” national race, meaning that among 50 drivers, he was one of the 20 fastest racers.

He had the added challenge of suffering a hand injury in the middle of one of the events. Another racer hit Toprak’s tire causing him to fly up and come down onto Toprak’s hand, which got stuck in the rear wheel.

“I had a glove on so it wasn’t that bad,” Toprak said. “But I got a lot of weird looks from the pits because my hand was just super bloody and red.”

Toprak swallowed four pain relievers and continued with his events for the day.

This attitude is needed to be successful in the sport, according to Cameron Parsons, a 36-year-old professional racer. Parsons has two

season points championships in the Formula Mazda class, and he also competed in the Trans Am Series where he achieved Rookie of the Year in 2020.

During Parson’s third race, his car was flipped upside down, resulting in a collection of bumps and bruises.

He jokes that he survived the accident, but he not have survived the aftermath had the circumstances been different.

“I’m just glad my mom wasn’t there,” Parsons said. “She would have killed me and my dad.”

In this high risk activity, you must be able to overcome adversity and have the drive to keep going. Parson notes that racers will face mental obstacles that only your love for the sport can get you through.

“It’s almost too stressful to handle sometimes,” Parsons said. “But I re-

member my dad asking me if I wanted to continue and I was like, ‘Why would I not want to keep doing this? Let’s go.’”

The likelihood of accident and injury is a reality that racers face. Toprak notes that success in this field requires the ability to stay calm, relaxed and to continue pushing forward.

“Any small thought that comes to your brain just immediately wants to jump on that and not think about the big thing that it has to do, which is race,” said Toprak. “So if you don’t have that under control and don’t notice when you’re gonna lose focus, you just stay in the mindset of ‘I wonder what I’m gonna have for lunch.’”

The consequence of such a distraction, however, could be an accident. To help prevent this, Toprak has pre-

Evren Toprak trains with his race simulator at his home in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 12, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Evren Toprak puts on his gloves before a qualifier practice round in Buttonwillow, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

race rituals of meditating and listening to music, particularly calm and smooth artists like Tame Impala and Michael Jackson.

Additionally, Toprak practices meditation at the advice of his driving coach.

Toprak said that he is able to distract himself from nerves hours before races and save them for the 15 minutes leading up to the race when they are actually necessary.

“I’m like, OK, now is a good time to be stressed,” Toprak said. “And I try to use my nerves to help me progress and drive better. Stress is just my body getting ready to take action.”

This type of mindset is also fitting for Toprak’s alter ego that he uses while racing.

“To perform, there’s no way I can be a shy, regular little guy on the track,” Toprak said. “I’ve got to be a completely different person when I’m driving.”

Toprak’s alter ego is one who is not afraid to make an overtake or be a little aggressive when racing. He is smart and calculated.

Many of these tips and tools come from the advice of a driving coach, James Ruffier, who Toprak first start-

ed working with about two years ago.

Veteran racer Terry McHenry, 86, who raced until he was 80, said it is important for racers to have a coach or someone to share their journey with. McHenry advises young racers to pursue their passion, but to know that they can’t do it alone.

“Young racers should find somebody who is willing to support them,” said McHenry, “and then just

get on the track and show them what you can do.”

Parsons also advises young racers to overlook the challenges that come with the hobby because the joy is worth it.

“Don’t get bitter,” said Parsons. “This sport is ruthless.”

Both Parsons and McHenry share a twinkle in their eyes when it comes to the topic of racing, and Toprak shares this excitement.

Toprak hopes to continue racing for the rest of his life and aims to make a career out of it. He has set his sights on Hyper Car or World Endurance Racing.

In the meantime, Toprak enjoys editing videos of himself racing and developing his social media to appeal to sponsors.

Follow along on Toprak’s journey through his Instagram: @evren_the_racer.

Evren Toprak (left) and his coach, James Ruffier, prepare for a qualifier practice round in Buttonwillow, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Evren Toprak trains with a muscle memory game at his home in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 12, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Three wheel Motion

Lowriders find community in Canoga Park story and photos by Myraneli

Fabian

Jess “Cookie” Juarez stands by his 1966 Chevy Impala SS on Alabama Street in Canoga Park, Calif., on April 17, 2024.

Photo by Myraneli Fabian

Jess “Cookie” Juarez opens the suicide door of Crystal Blue Persuasion, his 1966 Chevy Impala SS with shaved handles and 13 different hues of candy blue and pearl. Fascinated kids jump beside him to get a look at the many switches on Crystal’s hydraulics “air carf” setup, “oohing” and “ahhing” at everything they see.

After gathering sprays, deep cleaning each tip, and taping down sections of the lowrider, Alejandro “Chino” Vega, owner of C&L Customs located in Sylmar, California, touched up the paint on Crystal a few days before the City of STEM and Los Angeles Maker Faire showcase.

“I owned a 1964 Chevy Impala and that’s when I started to learn how to paint and do body work in 1996” Chino said. “My lowriders have been around the world. The lowrider champion, ‘Orgullo Mexicano,’ was displayed at the Louvre Museum.”

Denise Sandoval, a professor for Chicana/o studies at California State University Northridge, has researched and been involved with lowrider culture for nearly

three decades.

“California is one of the most expensive places to customize… that doesn’t even include buying the car because a lot of these cars are even fully dismantled. Certain models are really expensive like ‘64 Impala, ‘63 Impala, ‘58, ‘59 Impala,” Sandoval said. “Convertibles are expen-

sive, so even fully dismantled could be anywhere between like $30,000-70,000. That’s just buying the old cars.”

The lowrider label was created by the police department around the 1965 Watts riots to describe the car, according to Sandoval. They were also part of a car culture that emerged around World War II.

Jess “Cookie” Juarez cruises on Deering Street in Canoga Park, Calif., on April 23, 2024. Photo by Myraneli Fabian

Alejandro “Chino” Vega sands down a wheeel arch panel of the 1966 Chevy Impala SS to prepare for painting in Sylmar, Calif., on April 6, 2024. Photo by Myraneli Fabian

“In the Chicano culture, they were called ‘pachuco cars,’” Sandoval said.

Juarez was invited by Christina Romero from the Los Angeles Lowrider Alliance to display Crystal at the City of Stem & Los Angeles Maker Faire showcase at the L.A. State Historic Park on April 6, 2024.

“I felt honored and my hard work paid off,” Juarez said.

Cookie’s wife Alicia Juarez said she is so proud of how much he has accomplished.

“I’m really proud and happy he made it this far. He loves what he does so this is what makes him happy, going to events for the community.” Alicia said.

Cookie is the third generation and has lived in Canoga Park his whole life. He entered the car scene as a kid at the Catholic Charities Guadalupe Community Center and his first car show at 8 years old.

“We used to do a lot of fundraising just so we could go on field trips, and that’s how I started being in the car scene, besides being in it with my family,” Cookie said.

His father, Jess Juarez Jr., was the one that got Cookie involved in the lowrider scene and originally owned the 1966 Chevy Impala SS.

“All the body work and stuff like that was all his ideas,” Cookie added. “My idea was just the paint job and whatever else I got to do.”

Cookie works every day to give back to the community in Canoga Park by hosting car club events for the kids like the Easter basket drive, trunk-or-treats, and toy drives for Christmas. “We have some of the club members dressed up as Easter bunny or Santa Claus,” Cookie said “It’s more for the kids in the community.”

His goal is to try to park everybody the right way to have enough room for cars to come in and make sure all the vendors get in before the cars do. However, if the vendors arrive at the same time as the cars, Cookie tries to have them set up quickly to allow more access for the cars, many of which do full displays.

One challenge Cookie has faced within the lowrider industry is judging at competitions and award shows. There’s a lot of details to consider, such as the engraving, chrome undercarriage, chrome A-arms, and all the different wheels. Back in the old days, Cookie saw nothing but candy paint jobs, fadeaways, and candy pearls. Now, it’s pattern after pattern.

The first award that Cookie won with his car was from Imperial’s Car Show.

“I had won the last award because the person that gave out this award had passed away from cancer, which was called the Gypsy Rose Award.” Cookie said. “ Very few people have won that award and we were the last ones to get it before he passed away.”

That was a good welcoming opening for him and Crystal when the car got painted. The second award he got was from Budweiser for Best of Paint.

“We had got another one that was from P. Meadows Picnic, that was for Best of Paint also and then also at the Imperial Show, we won first place for ‘60s and Customs.” Cookie said. “I also got recognized in San Fernando from the oldest car club for all the years of doing photography and doing car shows and stuff like that. I had won an award for that, which there I had won second place with the car. I also won first place at a show in Oxnard.”

Cookie added that he also took first place in the Chatsworth Christmas Parade.

“I like to do everything,” Cookie said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re planning, organizing, or you’re doing the footwork. I just give my best to everything that I do regardless of an event or a fundraiser. I just try to focus on everything, make sure everything goes well.”

(Left) Member of La Gente City of Angeles Car Club George Ortiz shows Jess “Cookie” Juarez (right) his 1939 Chevy Master Deluxe, “Blessed Angel,” during a meet up in Canoga Park, Calif., on April 26, 2024. Photo by Myraneli Fabian

PedaltotheMetal

Red. The tires spin and smoke rises. Yellow. The engines rumble as drivers anticipate conquering the eighth-mile. Green. Go.

In the small desert town of Irwindale, hundreds of racers gathered to fulfill their need for speed.

Irwindale Speedway opened in 1998 and features an eighth-mile drag strip, as well as a dual half-mile and third-mile oval track that can be used for drifting or traditional stock car races.

On a warm Sunday afternoon, Irwindale Speedway hosted an NHRA Summit E.T. Divisional Series where drivers competed in an elimination tournament. There were motorcycles, junior dragsters and heavily modified muscle cars and trucks. Winners raced for a chance to advance to the NHRA Summit National Championship in Las Vegas.

One racer went to major lengths to achieve extreme speeds.

Recovering meth user Timothy

Smith rigged a General Electric J85 engine, mainly used for Northrop F-5 Freedom Fighter jets, to the back of a dragster.

Smith said it’s expensive to make a standard car go faster and used that as motivation to do something extravagant.

“You get a lot of shit done when you quit doing dope,” Smith said.

Smith said finding religion helped keep him sober and safe while racing.

“I’m looking at the cross the entire time I’m going down the dragstrip,” Smith said.

The tournament started with motorcycles, then modified cars and finally junior dragsters.

Four-time Irwindale Track championship winner Laverk Harper placed first in the motorcycle bracket.

Harper said when he’s on his motorcycle and the lights are counting down, he goes through a whole checklist of what to do and envisions how the race should go.

“After I saw my win light come on,

I felt the weight lifted off my shoulders and pure joy,” Harper said.

Jay Frye has been racing since the ‘80s and participated in the Summit E.T. to try out his new 1964 Chevy Nova SS on the strip.

Frye said he chooses to race at Irwindale because it’s close to home.

Irwindale Speedway hosts weekly events on Thursdays, Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. The tracks are open to the public for a night of fun.

Laverk Harper wins the elimination finals during an NHRA Summit E.T. Series at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., on April 7, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Jay Frye spins his wheels during an NHRA Summit E.T. Series at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., on April 7, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

COPY AND PHOTOS BY BENJAMIN HANSON

Racers line up in preparation for the next round. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

From left, Greg Reimer and Brittany Garcia compete in a drag race during an NHRA Summit Series at Irwindale Speedway in Irwindale, Calif., on April 7, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Diego, a chihuahua, hangs out in the speedway parking lot. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

A general Electric J85 jet engine is attached to a dragster. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

out of the wreckage

Story by Fabiola Carrizosa and Ashley Shellmire

Photos by Ashley Shellmire and Myraneli Fabian

One weekend in 2021, Kristen

Aslanian and her mother Ani met for a meal at Rosalind’s in the Little Ethiopia neighborhood of Los Angeles.

Afterward, they headed back to their homes in the San Fernando Valley and got stuck in the everyday stop-and-go freeway traffic where Interstate 405 merges with U.S. Route 101. Kristen was sitting in the passenger seat and her mother was driving.

Aslanian only managed to get out a few words when — BANG — they got hit by another vehicle at high speed.

The next day, Aslanian started to feel minor neck pain, but she thought that it would go away.

A month after the accident, Aslanian’s pain worsened, spreading from her neck to her head and ears. She took pain medication and continued to work until she was unable to perform simple tasks that were a part of her normal routine.

One night, tired and wanting to go to sleep, not even prescribed muscle relaxers were able to alleviate Aslanian’s pain.

“At that point, I decided that either of two things were going to happen,” Aslanian said. “Either I am going to go to sleep and my mom is going to lose a daughter, or I get my ass up and pack a bag and I go to the hospital and we get ready for this fight.”

That night, at the hospital, she found out that she was suffering from a dissection of the carotid artery on the right side of her neck.

But what she first thought was a personal tragedy became a wakeup call to appreciate life and follow her passions. Instead of working as a family photographer, quality assurance engineer and a COO executive assistant in the healthcare sector, As-

lanian is now an award-winning scale modeler, business owner, aspiring race car driver and the first woman in her family to own a shop.

“Looking back at my accident and all I have overcome, it’s kind of crazy knowing that I was on a path of working three jobs and saving money without actually having a purpose,” said Aslanian, a former Pierce College Media Arts student.

“At that point, I decided that either of two things were going to happen. Either I am going to go to sleep and my mom is going to lose a daughter, or I get my ass up and pack a bag and I go to the hospital and we get ready for this fight.”

-Kristen Aslanian

While in the hospital, she asked the universe and God to not let her be paralyzed, as that was her biggest fear. A doctor performed a high-risk surgery that other doctors did not want to attempt, and Aslanian made a full recovery.

“When you’re in a hospital bed at 28-years-old, and you are given the

option of being dead or paralyzed, nothing becomes scarier,” Aslanian said. “I wanted nothing but to be dead because I knew that being paralyzed would be the biggest drawback for my parents having to overcome taking care of an adult child that is handicapped.”

Aslanian came from a family of mechanics. Her father, who died after her accident, got her into the car world as she spent her days working in his automotive business. Her parents, who are Ethiopian-born Armenians, owned a main shop on Topanga Canyon Boulevard and operated a smaller out of a swap meet.

“Being Armenian, culturally, women do not get to interfere with the automotive industry,” Aslanian said.

Still, her father let women run the shop, even if it meant them getting a little grime under their fingernails. Aslanian was able to talk to customcars 14

Kristen Aslanian’s four award winning scale models in chatsworth on April 19, 2024.

Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Left: Kristen Aslanian stands next to her Porshe 944 in Chatsworth Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

ers and get good at sales. She answered phones, wrote checks, picked up items and ran the sewing machines for the custom floor mats.

“All girls were educated on how to change a tire or a bulb, but that was it. Those basics were the necessity,” Aslanian said.

Aslanian did not start working on cars until after her accident during her recovery when she capitalized on her Netflix and chill time. While recovering from her surgery with the assistance of her mother, Aslanian got hooked on cars.

“The only thing that could keep me happy and entertained was the F1 se-

ries on Netflix,” Aslanian said.

Valencia also helped her get through the recovery period.

“I was given one of the most amazing gifts in life, and that was meeting Daniel,” Aslanian said.

As a cancer survivor, Valencia taught her to stay calm under hard circumstances.

While recovering at home, Valencia brought a Formula 1 car for her to build at 1/24 scale, about the size of a shoe. He started teaching her his knowledge from his race car background.

Aslanian started to enter her submissions into Model Car Shows.

She won second place with her first-ever model car at the International Plastic Model Society. She was also NNL West’s 2023 People’s Choice recipient.

At a bigger scale, Aslanian has been modifying an old, once bug-infested Porsche that had not been running for well above 20 years.

“I came to the car with vengeance,” she said. “Screw doing anything to restore the car. We are going full-race car with this because there was no way to restore that type of car.”

She and Valencia turned the beatup Porsche into a race car with pushstart ignition and a roll cage.

Kristen Aslanian paints her pop art-themed Porshe 944 in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 23, 2024. Photo by Myraneli Fabian

Her mother Ani is not a big fan of speed anymore, but acknowledges that Kristen is super excited about race cars.

“I think Kristen is less fearful than I am,” Ani Aslanian said. “I think she has less fear of things.”

One of the things that Kristen wanted to do was continue her father’s business, but she did not get encouragement from her father to do so. Valencia, on the other hand, pushed her and encouraged her to commit to her goals.

“I told her at one point ‘Have you noticed that all you do is wake up, go to work, you get paid and go back to sleep at night and do the same thing the next morning?,’” Valencia said.

He said after that conversation, Kristen realized she had to do things that she really enjoyed and wanted, rather than just work.

Now, Aslanian and Valencia have their own business, Danval Lionheart Race Group in Chatsworth, Calif., offering performance parts and services.

Together, they modify cars and attend a variety of car events regularly. Aslanian, with her partner, is now working in an industry she enjoys.

Aslanian’s mom may have once wanted her Armenian daughter to marry, have children and not touch cars, but that changed after she saw Kristen’s success in her car journey.

“My mom is seeing me so happy seeing my achievements, winning awards and my growth into the shop,” Aslanian said. “I think she is definitely happy.”

Kristen Aslanian sets up her light before she paints her pop art-themed Porshe 944 in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 23, 2024.

Right:

Photo by Myraneli Fabian

Drifting Instyle

STORY BY ASHLEY SHELlMIRE

Photo's by ASHLEY SHELLMIRE AND BEnJAMIN HANson

Zach MacGilivray drifts around the track during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

White smoke fills the air as roaring engines and squealing tires burn hard rubber on hot asphalt. As the sun beats down on the WIllow Springs drift track, little bits of debris fly up into a cheering audience. A man’s voice booms through a loudspeaker and announces a winner of a drift battle –a race between two cars to see who can follow the other’s line better.

While drivers showed up with different cars such as Ford, BMW and Lexus, it was the Nissan Z body that dominated the competition. The final four drivers were competing in the Z chassis.

Standridge and Cristian

Drift Roulette, a race tournament started by friends Tony Crispin and Alex DeArmond, features 32 drivers battling for money, beer, gear and bragging rights.

Crispin’s love for drifting began when he was 14 years old. He got his first project car at 16. Crispin, now 32, runs a YouTube channel dedicated to sharing his drifting knowledge, as well as hosting the drift battles.

“I’m an adrenaline junkie at the end of the day and that’s what this is,” Crispin said. “I think the most fun you can have in a car is throwing it sideways and hoping for the best.”

When Crispin began drift racing, he had a difficult time breaking into

“I’m an adrenaline junkie at the end of the day and that’s what this is” - Tony Crispin

Left: Drift Roulette Co-Founder Tony Crispin (right) announces a winner during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow

April 20,

the professional realm, and so he decided to host his own events.

“Drift Roulette started because I wanted to get into competitive drifting, and the series I tried to get into told me, ‘No, you don’t have the experience to compete,’” Crispin said.

He said there was no middle ground between professional drifters and beginners.

“This is a place where you can show up in a pretty basic car,” Crispin said. “You can battle with the big dogs or with your friends and have a lot of fun and get the experience of actually being in a competition.”

Co-owner DeArmond competed in the Roulette but eliminated himself

April

Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on

2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Carson

Valle battle during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on

20, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

“If you want to get into drifting, be ready to crash.” - Alex Dearmond

when he crashed into a wall during a quarterfinal battle with third-place winner, Zach MacGilivray.

“If you want to get into drifting, be ready to crash,” DeArmond said. “Be ready to spend money, but it’s all part of the fun. I love drifting, working on the car and getting it to perform better every time I fix it.”

DeArmond agrees with Crispin that drift racing should be accessible to more people.

“When I first got into competition drifting, there weren’t really any events available for the guys on lower budgets without these crazy build cars,” DeArmond said.

DeArmond enjoys the mix of ex-

perience levels that come together for the tournaments.

“One of my favorite things to see here is these stock 350Z’s making the podium more often than the competition cars did,” DeArmond said.

First-place winner Tyler Pate traveled from Chandler, Arizona, to compete in the tournament. His green Nissan 350Z netted him a $1,000 cash prize.

“I just like being able to go drive with other people and see how I compare as a driver,” Pate said. “I love the sport of drifting and competing against other drivers.”

Pate said the apple didn’t fall far from the tree when it comes to his

love for motorsports.

“My dad raced cars when he was younger,” Pate said. “He raced in the ARCA series and he raced Legends cars before that.”

The most recent Drift Roulette event brought around 200 people who watched, took photos or helped drivers set up their cars.

Alex Litterell attended to show his support for Power Nation Performance. Litterell said that he’ll sometimes change someone’s tires or pay money to go for a drift ride along.

“Do whatever you have to do to get in the car,” Litterell said. “It’s the best feeling in the world. There’s no way to describe it. It’s like the ulti-

Right: From left, Tyler Pate wins a drift race against Carlos Melgoza during a Drift Roulete elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Zach MacGilivray drifts around the track during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

mate tunnel vision.”

Drift Roulette has a growing YouTube channel and a dedicated social media following that is only getting bigger and bigger.

“We’ve already grown way faster than we expected,” Crispin said. “We want to make it bigger. We want to go to bigger venues. We want to pack grandstands and really put on a show for more people.”

When Crispin held the first Drift Roulette tournament in November of last year, he reminisced how far his love for the sport had taken him.

“I thought back to when I was 14. I was asking my mom for a ride to the track so I could watch a drift event here at Willow Springs,” Crispin said. “It was surreal to stand there and realize, ‘Wow, I went from a kid wishing I could do that to hosting my own events and seeing the grandstands full of people and the cars out here.’”

Above: Racers gather for the Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Below: Tyler Pate (left) and Zach MacGilivray spray each other with 40-ounce Miller High Life beers to celebrate placing during a Drift Roulette elimination tournament at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

The manicured Mechanic

STORY BY Jeanne Riether

Photos by Myraneli fabian and benjamin hanson

When Emily Holz showed up for one of her first automotive service technician classes at Pierce College, she raised more than a few eyebrows. Holz describes herself as a niche within a niche, a girly-girl, pink-loving, glitter-bedecked female

who shines like a cheerfully defiant beacon in a male-dominated field. When her instructor saw her long, painted fingernails, he suggested she wouldn’t be able to do engine work with them.

It wasn’t the first time Holz had been told she couldn’t do something.

Without hesitation, Holz reached in and plucked out a spark plug with her nails. Having proven her point, she forged ahead with her classes without incident, acrylic nails and all.

“A lot of times girls are expected to play with dolls, or whatever, and

Emily Holz conducts a battery test on a Chevy Cruze in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 21, 2024. Photo by Myraneli Fabian

guys are expected to play with Hot Wheels,” she said. “And so, I think a lot of girls never considered that, you know, they could do something like this.”

Holz, 31, has worked at Tesla for the past two years, diagnosing and repairing electric vehicles. During her time at Pierce, she earned an associate degree and certification in automotive service technology, as well as light service technician and powertrain specialist certificates.

She’s found that making it in the automotive field, traditionally a man’s world, requires not only the love of a challenge but a solid sense of self.

“I think it’s really important to just forge your own path and stay true to yourself, and not let anybody else

tell you what they think you should be doing,” she said.

Holz represents the changing face of the automotive industry, a domain once ruled by brawny males needing major muscle power to pull engines apart. But now, repairs principally require more brains than brawn, as the industry has gone high-tech. She said that it is the technical aspects of present-day automotive servicing that are the most interesting part of her job.

“I think the thing that I like the best, that challenges me the most, is the computer aspect of it, and how Teslas are basically computers on wheels,” she said.

Pierce College Industrial Technology Department Chair Alex Villalta said it is the high-tech aspect of

modern car repair that has not only changed the concept of what a mechanic is, but it has helped level the playing field for women.

“Ultimately, one of the biggest things for people to succeed in this industry is to be familiar with the electronic world, with the computer world, being able to program,” he said.

Being a mechanic may have formerly conjured images of grease monkeys in dirty, low-paying jobs, but that has changed with the new breed of cars.

“It was almost like, if you’re not good at school, try being a mechanic. Well, now it’s a lot different, and that’s why I think it’s opened up the door to females,” said Villalta, whose department’s enrollment is

Joanna Trujillo tightens the bolts of the transmission on a truck in the Advanced Automotive Technology Building at Pierce College in Woodland Hills, Calif., on April 12, 2024. Photo by Joseph Alvarado

10% women. “The best skill that you can have right now, whether you’re a male or a female, honestly comes down to being very familiar with electronics.”

As the future of cars continues to be shaped by technology, such as continued electrification, autonomous driving and, someday, possibly flying vehicles, women’s involvement in the field will likely grow, Villalta said. Their department regularly holds outreach events at high schools to let girls know this is an exciting and lucrative new field full of opportunities for women, which often surprises them.

The female students “are looking at you like, ‘What makes you think that I would want to do that? That’s not for me. That’s dirty, that’s hard work.’ But the minute you start telling them that they can make $150,000 a year, $100,000 a year, and you can make all this money, their eyes open up,” he said.

Villalta used former female students such as Holz as an example.

“It goes into a perspective where they feel, ‘Hey, you know what? If she could do it, I could do it, too.’ So, I simply just try my best to remove the stigma that this is only a field for males,” he said.

Automotive work was not something that Joanna Trujillo, 18, had originally considered as a career path. She was still in high school when she was first introduced to the program at Pierce and decided to try it out with one part-time course.

“During my senior year of high school, I did apply to a lot of universities for things I was interested in like language and culture or Asian Studies. However, it kind of shifted into automotive because I took an electrical class here,” she said.

Trujillo said her family was sup-

portive of her choice to enroll as a full-time automotive student after she graduated from high school. In a sense, her dad helped convince her to go for it.

“I told them my plans were to finish studying here for automotive, and he’s like, ‘That’s amazing. You could probably help me work on my car later on,’” Trujillo said.

Even though women are becoming more common in the industry, it remains an old boys club in many ways. Data USA reports that only 2.3 % of automotive service technicians and mechanics in the country are women. Villalta said it is not so much an automotive problem, but a societal one, and he has received a surprising amount of pushback from traditional auto workers who feel threatened by programs training women. Though they’ve taunted him with jibes such as, “You probably wear a skirt at night,” he does not shy away from engaging in conversations with skeptics who feel a woman can’t do a man’s job.

Villata explained that it will take changing a culture that thinks women are just there to look pretty and to sell vehicles.

“As a society, we still have a long way to go,” he concluded.

Holz considers herself lucky to have gotten into a training program that encouraged women to excel. She was impressed with the instructors and said most of the male students took her presence in stride.

“I did feel like I kind of had to prove myself sometimes. But once I kind of did, and they realized, ‘Oh yeah, this girl knows what she’s talking about, she’s here to be serious.’ Then, they trusted and respected me,” she said.

Getting into the field of automotive servicing was not something

Holz, who also has a degree in filmmaking, originally envisioned for her life.

“I mean, 10 years ago, would I have thought I would have been doing this? I would have laughed in your face,” she said.

Had it not been for a broken air-conditioner and a precariously low bank account, she might never have discovered her penchant for fixing cars. She was living in steamy Florida at the time, driving an old, second-hand, bubblegum pink Mercedes that she’d bought because she fell in love with the color. The car had enough mileage on it that all her friends warned her against the purchase, and eventually the air conditioner stopped working. When a local repair shop quoted her a $1,500 price, which made her gulp, she turned to do-it-yourself YouTube videos for help.

“I actually bought the parts myself and I put them in,” she said. “I’d never done anything on a car, I maybe put windshield washer fluid in. And I replaced the blower motor on the AC, and the little actuator that turns it on and off. It cost me $100, and it was 20 minutes.”

She vowed to go to the internet again the next time she had a car problem.

Holz later drove her pink car to Los Angeles seeking work in the film industry, voice-acting and editing. Cobbling together part-time freelance work was difficult, so she ended up pulling shifts at Starbucks and other restaurants to make ends meet.

Then, COVID-19 hit. Burned out by the food industry, Holz considered going back to school.

“And the thought kind of popped into my head one day, ‘What if you studied automotive? Even if I go and

I hate it, I’ll never have to pay somebody to fix my car again. And I’ll know how to fix it,’” she said.

Holz enrolled at Pierce in February 2021, and by the next January she was working at Tesla, even before she completed her coursework. She enjoys her job, not only because it requires critical thinking and problem-solving, but because supportive teamwork is an important aspect of the work.

“Tesla was really good with being collaborative,” she said. “So, if I have a car that’s kind of stumping me, I can talk to my other co-workers about it, and they can kind of give me their feedback. Or vice versa, where my co-workers can come to me and say, ‘Hey, have you ever encountered this issue?’”

Holz is actively involved in spreading the word that science, cars and girls go together through programs organized by her company that encourage interest in STEM.

“I went to an event that Tesla was actually putting on down in Costa Mesa, and it’s called Introduce a Girl to Engineering Day,” she said. “We had some middle school girls come, and we built a simple motor with them, showed them around the shop, talked to them about the equipment that we use, showed them we had a new Cybertruck there, so they got to see that.”

Holz believes more women need encouragement to step into roles they may not have previously considered. Though aspects of her job can be physically and mentally demanding, she noted that other traditional female careers, such as nursing, are as well.

Holz feels happy with the way her life is going.

“People have these kinds of preconceived notions, or they’ve been

told by their parents or friends of these specific paths that they need to follow,” she said. “And I just want to say, that’s not the case at all. I started studying automotive when I was 29, and I’m happier than ever. I make more money than I ever have before. I’ve made lifelong friends. I’ve been lucky with my company that I’ve been able to travel across the country. I’ve never had a job where I was able to travel, and I’ve never had co-workers who want to come help work on my car after work.”

Pulling out a spark plug with her long nails that first day in class was

symbolic of the way Holz has lived her life so far, unafraid to be different. She emphasized the importance of not letting negative voices crush your spirit. She hopes that if people hear her unconventional story, they’ll realize that life does not have to leave them stuck, afraid to pursue different choices.

“It doesn’t matter what anybody says. You need to do what’s best for you,” Holz said. “And if that means paving your own way and paving a way that’s never been done before, that’s what you need to do.”

Pierce College Industrial Technology Department Chair Alex Villalta explains that the precious metals inside catalytic converters\s are one of the reasons why they are stolen from vehicles on March 3, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

advice from an agent of change

When Joan Michelson was recruited to head communications, sales and marketing in Chrysler’s electric car division, she said she fell in love with the green economy and auto sector at the same time. Being surrounded by “smart, interesting people doing cool stuff, making the world a better place, making money and having fun,” fueled her passion for sustainable technology, she said. Michelson now works as a corporate consultant and hosts the podcast “Electric Ladies,” which promotes women in sustainable STEM fields. She expressed that involving more women in the automotive field makes solid economic sense.

“Companies that have a diverse workforce have better performance metrics across the board,” Michelson said. “They do better for the financial metrics, they have better, fewer scandals and problems, they have more productivity, they have better cultures. They tend to keep talent longer, have less turnover. So, it’s a self-perpetuating trend when they’re looking at the data.”

The U.S. International Trade Commission supports her view. In a 2020 report, the commission berated the automotive industry for lacking both gender and racial diversity at a leadership level, noting the strong correlation between executive diversity

and positive financial performance. They stated that “increasing the number of women and Black people in leadership positions may increase the competitiveness of U.S.automotive firms.”

When women are in top-level positions, corporate recruiting policies transform because women recruit women, according to Michelson.

“Anybody who’s not a white man tends to recruit more people who are not white men, and especially women,” she said.

When General Motors hired Mary Barra, the first woman chair and CEO of a major international carmaker, she reshaped the company and dramatically changed their hiring practices. Industry giants such as General Motors and Chrysler are looking toward women to be C-suite innovators and agents of change.

Michelson said she was recruited to help them seize opportunities in more creative ways.

“My boss said the fact that I have no experience in the auto sector is what made me effective because I wasn’t held back by the way things have always been done,” Michelson said. “I joke that I will always be mid-career because I’m always learning.”

Michelson provided a list of tips for women wanting to gain a foothold in the automotive industry:

- Be good at your job.

- Network.

- Be open to learn, and never stop learning. Stay curious.

- Have good communication skills. Ask for what you need.

- Challenge your own assumptions and other people’s assumptions. Politely, but challenge them.

Left: Photo illustration by Benjamin Hanson

Story By Alfonso Vargas

by Ashley Shellmire

Roberto Orozco is no stranger to gas vehicles, but when he stepped into a Tesla for the first time it felt like going into a new world, like something from a video game. He was caught off guard by the electric vehicle’s silent motor and soft mattress-like seats.

Orozco is a part-time intern at the Los Angeles East YouthSource Center while he strives to become a mechanic. To be successful, he has to get familiar with both gas and electric vehicles.

Last year, traditional internal combustion vehicles accounted for 84% of total passenger vehicle sales in the United States, the lowest-ever share, according to Canary Media. Meanwhile, sales of fully electric vehicles are climbing to new heights.

And although Orozco loves gas vehicles, he is open to change.

“If gasoline engines were not to be in production anymore, I would not mind driving an electric car,” he said.

Pierce College Industrial Technology Department Chair Alex Villata believes that the transition away from gas-powered cars is bound to happen in the future.

“The government, by 2050 they are pushing all the manufacturers to sell all-electric vehicles,” he said.

“Not having any internal combustion engines for sale, a lot of people don’t like the idea, but there are a lot of benefits from having electric vehicles.”

Left: Roberto Orozco inspects an engine in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 4, 2024.

Photos

Photo by Ashley Shellmire

But Villata said one problem is that charging estimations are not accurate.

“Let’s say my Tesla, if I plan a trip of 300 miles, I’m not going to make it,” Villalta said. “And the reason why is because those ranges are being registered under a controlled environment, and it’s not counting the stereo being on, the heater, the wipers, and if you’re in stop-and-go traffic, which is applying more load to the system.”

However, the mileage inconsistency applies to gas vehicles as well.

“With a gas car, the mileage is inaccurate depending on how you drive it, whether it’s speeding or stomping onto the gas pedal,” Orozco said.

The difference, however, is that currently there are many more gas stations than places to charge an EV.

In August 2019, Los Angeles County released a regional sustain-

ability plan that would lead to the installation of 5,000 EV charging stations by 2025, according to the Internal Services Department.

California has led the way in producing electric charging stations. In May 2023, California reportedly had more than four times as many charging stations as New York, according to Statista.

Even with the increase in EV charging options, time remains a factor.

“Technology has started to change now that they have fast chargers called superchargers,” Villalta said. “A supercharger can charge your vehicle within 20 to 25 minutes. But, if you go to a gas station, you can fill up your car in two minutes.”

Cost for maintenance leans in favor of the EV, as gas cars have more parts that need maintenance.

“With electric vehicles, you don’t do oil changes, you don’t do brakes as you do with a regular car, you don’t change fluid filters, you don’t have to do transmission flushes,” Villalto explained. “There are just so many savings that people don’t see.”

Also, electric cars can go for years before needing a mechanic.

“Electric cars can last up to 10 years before the battery needs to be changed,” said Axel Osanya, a window tinter at Tint My Ride. “But an electric battery can cost from anywhere between $5,000 to $20,000 to replace.”

On average, EV owners can expect to pay around $4,600 on lifetime regular maintenance and repair costs, as compared to the $9,200 to maintain a gas car, according to Lectron, an EV manufacturing website.

The price of electricity is also much less than gasoline.

If you calculate the average of all Tesla Models, it costs $614.95 to charge per year. In comparison, gas cars cost an average of $1,850.42 to fuel per year, according to Energysage, a website comparing clean home energy solutions

In terms of everyday use, each car has its positives and negatives.

“I have been in a few situations where you’re running out of charge and you start to get this anxiety because you don’t know where you’re going to charge and you don’t know if the car is going to break down,” Villata said. “It comes down to planning your day.”

Electric vehicles will account for 62% to 86% of global sales by 2030, according to RMI, which is why, Villalta said, regardless of what some people want, the change is coming.

“People will be more prone to actually driving a fully electric vehicle,” Villalta said. “The reality is that it is inevitable, and we can’t live on fossil fuel forever.”

Roberto Orozco relaxes in the frunk of a Telsa in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 4, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Roberto Orozco sits behind the wheel of a Tesla in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 4, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Flippin' whips

Erick Vasquez wipes the engine of his Nissan GTR R35s in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 3, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

A Lamborghini Huracan V10 engine is housed at RD Engineer in Oxnard, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Joseph Alvarado

An Audi R8 sits idle waiting for the mechanic in San Fernando, Calif., on March 25, 2024. Photo by Joseph Alvarado

Erick Vasquez stands between two of his Nissan GTR R35s in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 3, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Story by Joseph Alvarado photos by Ashley Shellmire and Joseph Alvarado

On a recent SuperCar Sunday at Pierce College, five of Erik Vasquez’ cars grabbed spectators’ attention, including his two rare, discontinued Nissan GTR R35s.

But that’s just part of his six-car collection, which Vasquez has built over several years.

Originally from Tecalitlán, a small pueblo close to Guadalajara in Mexico, he started liking cars when he met his stepdad, who is a mechanic.

“He had a Fox body Mustang, and I thought it was the fastest thing in the world,” Vasquez said. “He liked to step on it and drive fast. To me, as a 6 -year -old child, this was awesome. I just developed a passion for it.”

Vasquez left Mexico and developed a love for race car video games, including “Gran Turismo,” “Need For Speed” and “Midnight Club.” He went to Monroe High School in North Hills but didn’t finish.

“I started working with my stepdad, assisting him and doing basic things like brake pad changes or rotor swaps or pretty much any service that he needed help with,” he said. “I thought I saw a future in it, especially because I had already started flipping cars.”

The first car Vasquez flipped was a CRX for about $800.

“I turned around and sold it for like $2,000-something — and I didn’t do much. I just cleaned it up, changed the brakes, made sure everything was running well. And that’s it.”

He performed his biggest car flip, a BMW 7 Series, when he was 21 years old.

“I did a lot of work on that car. I got that car for like $10,000 and I flipped it for $30,000-something,” Vasquez said.

At the same time, Vasquez started

working part-time as a paralegal, assisting an attorney with drafting paperwork and collecting records.

“I liked the customization scene and being able to make your own build,” he said. “I think that’s what keeps me in it, the fun and the thrill of building your own car and making it fast and taking it out to events.”

His favorite flip was the Chaser that he modified for his first build.

“Honestly, I think it was the power that the car had,” he said. “And seeing your car, after you lower it, after you change the wheels, after you paint, polish... It was really important for me to show it to everyone.”

But soon after that first success, he lost the Chaser in an accident when he was 16, which resulted in cracked ribs, a concussion and being hospitalized.

The crash didn’t stop him from loving cars and building them.

Vasquez continued to flip cars and earn money. He saved and bought a house, and in 2015, he used the leftover money to make his first major auto purchase, an Audi R8, which cost about $105,000.

“I remember seeing it and thinking ‘That’s a bad-ass car. I hope I can have it someday,’” he said.

Randy Breskin, a car collector expert for more than 30 years, said it takes knowledge and money to fund it.

“I think to be successful you have to know what you’re buying and do your homework,” he said. “You’ve got to have the eye for it, or you’ve got to have a love and passion for it.”

While Vasquez loves all his cars, the jewels of his collection are two Nissan GTR R35s.

“They’re not common, and a lot of people didn’t even really know much about GTRs,” he said. “But the movie ‘Gran Turismo’ made it

so everybody knows all of a sudden what they are now. I saw the R35 competing with the Lamborghini, Ferrari, all those cars. I saw Nissan as an underdog. I always knew I wanted one someday, and now I’ve got my dream cars.”

Ronnie Diaz is the co-founder of RD Engineering at Lambert of Oxnard, and he is a GTR R35 modification expert. Most of his customers, he said, are looking for more power.

“It could be as simple as replacing minor things on the car as far as aspiration and letting the car breathe a bit better from the factory and installing an intake system or an exhaust system,” Diaz said. “We’ll also rebuild the engine and transmission to handle a higher horsepower, put in like larger turbos, more fuel and double or triple the factory horsepower.”

Diaz worked with Vasquez so that his two GTR R35s met his expectations.

“It was really worth putting all the time with the GTR R35 and putting a lot of money into building this project,” Vasquez said.

From beginning as a novice mechanic to becoming an accomplished collector, Vasquez said he remembers a quote that helped push him when things were challenging.

“Look at a successful person, someone that you admire. Learn what they do and then make it your own way,” he said.

Erick Vasquez squats between two of his Nissan GTR R35s in Chatsworth, Calif., on April 3, 2024. Photo by Joseph Alvarado

Revisiting vintage

Take a trip to the Roaring ‘20s to experience life as it was a century ago.

Located in Sylmar, California, the Nethercutt Museum has a car collection of over 250 vintage American and European cars. Nethercutt is split into two buildings, the museum and the collection showroom, located on Bledsoe Street.

Opened in 1971, the museum was founded by J.B. Nethercutt, a cosmetics entrepreneur who enjoyed collecting cars.

The museum houses cars and an archive of books, magazines and other literature. While the Nethercutt Collection features cars, it also displays nickelodeons, antique furniture, music boxes and instruments.

The Nethercutt Museum is open to the public for free on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. The collection can only be viewed during guided tours. Visitors must be 10 years or older and must make an appointment. Admission for the collection is $10.

Copy by benjamin hanson photos by ashley shellmire

Steve and Darice Majors take a tour at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Vintage cars line up at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

Car enthusiast Felipe Villegas takes a video of the line of vintage Rolls-Royces at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

A 1955 Packard Caribbean sits on display at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Ashley Shellmire

A Rolls-Royce hood ornament, “The Spirt of Ecstasy,” shines bright at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

A 1960 Fiat Jolly sits on display at the Nethercutt Musem in Sylmar, Calif., on April 19, 2024. Photo by Ashley Shellmire

All roads lead to the car museums

Petersen Automotive Museum

6060 Wilshire Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90036 (323) 391-0121

Open Daily from 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission Fees:

$21 for adults

$12 for children

$13 for youth

$19 for seniors

Nethercutt Museum

15151 Bledsoe St. Sylmar, CA 91342 (818) 364-6464

Open Thursday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Museum Fee: Free Collection Fee: $10 per person

The Zimmerman Automobile Driving Museum

610 Lairport St. El Segundo, CA 90245 (310) 529-3799

Open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Sunday Rides - Every Sunday from 10:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. (weather permitting)

Admission Fees:

$15 for adults

$5 for children

$10 for seniors

Caption Front Cover:

From left, Carson Standridge, Elijah Macalinao and Cristian Valle drift around a track at Willow Springs International Raceway in Rosamond, Calif., on April 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Marconi Automotive Museum

1302 Industrial Drive Tustin, CA 92780 (714)258-3001

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Admission Fees:

$20 for adults

$15 for seniors

$10 for students

Porsche Experience Center Los

Angeles

19800 Main St. Carson, CA 90745 (888)204-7474

Open Tuesday - Saturday from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.

Admission Fee Varies Based on Exhibits

Lions Automobilia Foundation & Museum

2790 E. Del Amo Blvd. Rancho Dominguez, CA 90221 (310)223-3470

Open Wednesday and Saturday from 9 a.m. - 2 p.m.

Admission Fees:

$20 for adults

$15 for seniors

$15 for children

Caption Back Cover Top: Evren Topak takes a practice lap around the kart track at Buttonwillow Raceway in Buttonwillow, Calif., on April, 20, 2024. Photo by Benjamin Hanson

Justice Brothers, Inc.

2734 Huntington Drive Duarte, CA 91010 (626)359-9174

Open Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Free Admission

NHRA Motorsports Museum

1101 W. McKinley Ave. Pomona, CA 91768 (909)622-2133

Open Wednesday - Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Admission Fee: $12

Gordon R. Howard Museum

115 N Lomita St, Burbank, CA 91506 (818) 841-6333

Open Saturday and Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission Fee: $5 for adults

Free for children 16 and under

Caption Back Cover Bottom: Tyler Pate drifts his way to first place on April 20, 2024, at Willow Springs International Raceway. Photo by

Ashley Shellmire

From the Editor

To all the car enthusiasts and adrenaline junkies out there, thank you for allowing us to share your stories! As a child I loved cars, and over time that passion seemed to take a backseat. Fortunately, I was given this opportunity, which allowed me to take a deep dive into the beauty of cars and the car community.

I sincerely apologize to both of my advisers for any stress I caused while creating this issue — it’s a long story. I appreciate the faith shown and the opportunities you have given to me. I hope I made you both proud. Thank you for leading the way and continuing to help students follow their passions from a business perspective!

A huge thank you to my staff for articulating these stories to the best of your abilities! Whether it was taking photos or writing, I have a great amount of gratitude for everyone who showed up and showed out! This could not be what it is without you.

Shout out to the janitor, a.k.a my right-hand man, for always coming through when most needed and coining the perfect phrase “Journalism always got me in weird places.” To many more adventures my friend!

To my family, I could not have created this issue without your support. I love you all, and I hold a great deal of gratitude for you.

Dad, thank you for holding it down, teaching me to hold my head high and setting the example.

“Look momma, I made it!”

I don’t know how to describe the amount of admiration and love I have for you. I finally get why you have always led with your heart and followed with your mind. Thank you for teaching me to do the same. I know it took some time.

My daughters, I love you, and thank you for your understanding. I know creating this magazine has taken quite a bit of time away from you both, but I promise I will make it up to you.

Finally, to you, for taking the time to read, support, pick up and share the magazine or tag us on social media, thank you. I hope this magazine gives you at least half the joy it gave me while creating it.

Ashley Shellmire Editor-in-Chief

The Bull Magazine Spring/Summer 2024 CEO of Cashxmasterxdesigns LLC.

@thebullmag @casxhmasterxdesignz @piercemediaarts Support, share, like and comment.

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