GET OUT

FuelFest celebrates cars, revs up the Valley

BY CHRISTINA FUOCO-KARASINSKI

GetOut Editor

Cody Walker and Tyrese Gibson were catching up at Red Lobster when the conversation turned to Cody’s late brother, Paul, of “The Fast and the Furious” franchise.

“First, I was so offended that he had never been to Red Lobster,” Gibson said with a laugh. “Cody said, ‘I don’t know what to order, dude. What are the hits here?’”

After a little ribbing, Cody told Gibson about he and Chris Lee’s plan to host festivals surrounding all-things cars called FuelFest.

Gibson said count me in.

After a pandemic-dictated halt to the 2020 event, FuelFest is coming to Wild Horse Pass Motorsports in Chandler on Dec. 4. They want it to succeed so much that Gibson said he feels vulnerable.

“I’ve only said this to a chosen few,” Gibson said. “Cody and I are very vulnerable when it comes to this whole thing about FuelFest. We were talking about Paul and to have this idea and to put this idea out there, we don’t want it to fail. We want this to be successful. We want people to know about this.

“We want to get the word out so people can show up. We want them to hit the road and come out to a really legendary day that you won’t forget.”

Cody Walker is using some of the proceeds for Reach Out WorldWide, a nonprofit founded by his late brother. (Special to GetOut) seeFUELFEST page 37

Chandler dance studio presenting ‘Season to Shine’

ARIZONAN NEWS STAFF

Dance Connection 2, a Chandler dancestudio serving the East Valley for 35 years, is collaborating with HopeKids Arizona, a local nonprofit that supports families with children with life-threatening illnesses, on its Season to Shine program.

DC2 hosted its Movin’ and Groovin’ dance workshop for the HopeKids families.

“This is an opportunity for these kids to forget about the illnesses they are battling and discover and express themselves through the sport ofdance,” spokeswoman Shannon Moyette said, adding that “DC2’s highly experienced staff and company dancers” worked “closely with each child teaching them a variety ofdancetechniques and above all make life-long memories.”

The dance workshop was a stepping stone to prepare the foundation’s young performance hopefuls and their families for DC2’s A Season to Shine holiday showcase at 3 p.m. Dec. 11.

A Season to Shine is full of holiday classics performed by the studios’ dancers that Moyette said creates “a memorable family event for all ages.”

HopeKids Executive Director Andrea Lewis said, “Our goal is to providehopefor our children and their families and this program supports that mission.

“Collaborating with DC2 over the years has been such a rewarding experience for our children who are fighting cancer and other life-threatening medical conditions by allowing them to shine, make new friendships and most importantly providehope.”

DC2dancerswill also perform two other shows at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 and Dec. 11 at the Queen Creek Performing Arts Center, 22149 E. Ocotillo Road, Queen Creek.

Tickets go on sale for the Friday and Saturday shows Nov. 23 atqcpac.com.A portion of proceeds from all three performances will be donated directly to HopeKids Arizona.

“It has been a tough time for many, so Jordyn Berry laughs and Olivia and Gwen Ferguson dance with each other as children from HopeKids learn to dance with instructors from Dance Connection 2.

Now in its third year nationwide, FuelFest blends the enthusiast’s passion for the automotive world with celebrities, live music, food, drinks and art. The show features more than 600 top custom, exotic, rare and exclusive cars and trucks. There are car and drift exhibitions, and drag racing.

FuelFest will feature a live-action drift course that runs the entire length of the venue. Spectators can catch race cars drifting all day at FuelFest. The event will showcase precision driving skills in the FuelFest Drift Pit.

A portion of the event proceeds benefit Reach Out WorldWide, the nonprofit founded by Paul and continued by Cody, who is 15 years younger than his brother.

The organization was founded in 2010 by the late actor/producer after a massive earthquake devastated Haiti and Walker was inspired to organize a relief team that responded to the disaster. ROWW’s mission is to fill the gap between the availability of skilled resources in post-disaster situations. ROWW completed four deployments in 2020 and continues to operate where needed. To date, FuelFest has raised more than $100,000 for the charity, Cody said.

“It’s a massive car festival, as we say,” said Cody, who recently moved to the Valley. “But it’s not just a car show. People are going to experience the whole shebang—drag racing, American muscle cars, exotic cars, European cars, crazy off-road vehicles. There’s something for everyone at the show.

“They can see the sights, smell the fuel, the burning rubber and just have a good time. The weather is going to be amazing, especially in December in the Valley.”

Arizona is important to Gibson as well as the singer-songwriter recorded the album “Black Rose” in a vacation rental in Paradise Valley. While he was here, he met one of his idols, Muhammad Ali, after receiving the “craziest text in the world.”

“My life changed forever in Arizona,” said Gibson, whose album hit No. 1. “I definitely have a different level of appreciation.” Cody was flattered when Tyrese agreed to be part of FuelFest.

“Obviously, Tyrese and my brother go way back — all the way back to ‘2 Fast 2 Furious,’” he said. “We’ve all had a passion for cars and our careers are surrounded by cars. I’m heavily influenced by my brother and the whole car culture. It’s what I live and breathe every day.

“I knew Tyrese and I could put on something really special and unique for car fans and ‘The Fast and the Furious’ fans to come and experience with us together. It’s such a home run in so many ways to be able to do what you love and give back at the same time.”

Gibson echoed Cody’s sentiment.

“My thing has always been taking the culture and the energy and the fanbase of ‘The Fast and the Furious,’ which has had this worldwide cult following for 20 years, and turning it into an event.

“Paul Walker — everyone loves him. I miss him every day. He’s my brother, but Cody’s real brother. I want to take all of this energy and allow the fans to experience something that feels like ‘The Fast and the Furious’ without it being a movie premiere. Cody came up with this idea and it was a no brainer to be involved. Your background doesn’t matter — your religious or sexual preference. Cars and car culture is a universal language.”

Gibson explains the festive is “escapism” at its finest. After all, everyone wants to be in or own a nice car with “nice smelling leather,” and brightly colored with cool rims.

“We all know guys will go broke and literally have no gas money, but they will be more committed to rims and tires and souping up their engines,” Gibson said with a laugh.

“They want to compete and win and beat everyone in their neighborhoods. Every man has a hotrod covered up in their garage. They may be married for 40 years and have 10 grandkids. But they take the car cover off and start that engine and they’re rejuvenated.”

Cody Walker is flattered that Tyrese Gibson is joining him in FuelFest. (Special to GetOut)

FuelFest

WHEN: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 4 WHERE: Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park, 20000 S. Maricopa Road, Chandler COST: $15 to $300 INFO: fuelfest.com

DANCE STUDIO from page 36

being able to make this program happen with HopeKids Arizona and share it with the community is truly a bright spot this holiday season,” said MaryAnna Gooch, owner of DC2.

“Seeing all our dancers share their passion and love of dance with these children both in the studio and on stage is an inspiration and an experience that I hope will stay with them beyond thedancefloor.”

DC2 offers a variety of recreational classes to performance and competitivedanceteams and anyone “interested in discovering and expressing themselves through the sport of dance.” Information: danceconnection2.com.

HopeKids provides ongoing events, activities, and a powerful, unique support community for families with critically ill children. Founded in 2001, it now serves nearly 1,500 families in Arizona. Information: hopekids.org.