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The SEMA (Specialty Equipment Market Association) Show, in Las Vegas, Nevada, is all about innovation and creativity when it comes to designing vehicles that will shock and awe the crowd. Functionality is one of the key characteristic that Bill Westbrook brings to the table with his unique Scrublade VAMP.
Scrublade 2001 Dodge Van B350
The term VAMP is compiled from the fact that it is a van with a ramp joined together as a single unit. Westbrook claims the idea came about when, "a couple friends from Japan used the 2001 Dodge Van B350 while visiting, and when they returned home, they gave it to us." Westbrook wasn't sure what to do with the van at first. "We didn't need a van," he said, "but since we all ride bikes we decided to convert the van into the VAMP."
This special utility vehicle was intended for (FMX) free style motocross stunts. "But," Westbrook mentions, "it can be used for anything you want to ride off of it." Many extreme athletes such as Mike Metzger, Jimmie Mcguire, Julian Dusseau, Ryan Leyba and Dan Norris have jumped this VAMP, even before it was completely finished.
2001 Dodge Van B350 aka Scrublade VAMP
"The initial fabrication of the ramp took about 4 weeks," Westbrook explains, "then there was the finishing details such as putting everything back in the van, seats, floors, dash, sealing the ramp to the van, rubber coating, body work, paint, suspension, wheels, replacing the interior lighting, tail lights, and more." Not bad for a custom build of this nature. You have to consider the back half of the van was completely chopped off and is still visually appealing. It also breathes with a K&N air filter, part E-1100, and is protected by a K&N oil filter, part HP-2004.
Westbrook has big plans for the Scrublade VAMP such as hitting the slopes to allow snow boarders to huck tricks off of this winter. The next addition will be to add hydraulics that will allow the ramp to open and close with the push of a button. Make sure you keep an eye out for this machine as it may roll into a town near you with a group of athletes willing to do the biggest aerial tricks.
Show cars were lined up everywhere taking up every inch of the Las Vegas Convention Center for SEMA. Many vendors roamed around the massive set up looking for new business partners and checking out all the new products the automotive world has to offer.
1967 Lincoln Continental
Among the attractions you could find the new Camaros, Mustangs, and Challengers. That is why the more classic custom builds like the 1956 Chevy Bel Air and the 1967 Lincoln Continental built by Divine One Customs seemed to attract a different crowd.
The original classics seem to still be prominent in the midst of all the new old-body-style muscle cars with overhead cams. But how much longer will the 50's and 60's classics make their way to car shows around the world? Let's just say that Divine One Customs will continue building classic customs for quite a long time. "We have a few things up our sleeves… a 1963 Impala, 1953 Chevy pickup, and a 1966 Chevy pickup."
Divine One Customs' 1967 Lincoln Continental
The 1956 Chevy boasts the works; including a corvette engine that breathes courtesy of a K&N air filter and a sweet, sweet two tone paint job with a flat Dragon Fire red and gloss black paint job. This set up would not be something your grandfather would have ever thought his old Chevy could be.
Divine One Customs' 1956 Chevy Bel Air
Switching gears to the 1967 Continental is quite a trip with it's haughty stance and a Kandy Brandywine paint job. If you take a look under the carriage you would notice the boat of a car is protected by a one and only K&N oil filter. "We love K&N here at Divine One Customs. K&N is far superior to any other performance filters on the market." Protection and performance are two characteristics any car enthusiast should focus on no matter how many miles a vehicle may have.
If you are ever in Henderson Nevada right outside Las Vegas you may see these two amazing machines cruising around. And if you are curious as to what Divine One Customs can do for you stop on by 1967 Whitney Mesa Drive where you can order all of your K&N products.
With the pressure squarely off the team, they were able to run their own race and win their eighth IRA race of the season.
"All three of our IRA Championships are special in their own way," said K&N sponsored B-Squared team owner Bill Balog. "These championships are hard to get and the competitors really make you work for them night in and night out. This year we were able to keep the car right side up and avoid any major accidents, which was nice. Our engines ran very well and we had virtually no part failures. As a matter of fact we ran the same nose wing for over 20 nights!"
With the 2010 IRA title already tucked away for the K&N sponsored Bill Balog, his B-Squared team headed for one more win at the Dick Witt Checkered Classic.
With the 2010 IRA title already securely locked up, Balog and his B-Squared Motorsports team headed to the IRA season finale, the Dick Witt Checkered Classic, held at Dodge County Fairgrounds Speedway in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. The B-Squared team was looking for one more victory to help carry their already abundant momentum into next year.
Balog and his team have now won their third consecutive IRA Championships.
In the feature event, after the final restart with only five laps remaining, Balog proved he had the car to beat, as he opened up a straight away lead on his way to victory. The win was Balog's eighth for 2010, and the 15th of his IRA career. It was also his 23rd consecutive top-five IRA feature finish. The win also put a large exclamation point on the team's third consecutive IRA Championship season.
"This bumper-to-bumper IRA championship was clinched a bit earlier than the other years," said Balog, "So some of the pressure was off the team. We just went out and ran our race. Early in the race it was clear that the team had nailed the setup on the 17b car, and we wound up with our eighth feature win of the season."
"Winning at tracks we haven't won at before this year was neat," added Balog. "We also gave away a few races, and once we figured out what the problems were things really made a turn for the better."
"We couldn't compete at this level without our sponsors. Our sponsors gave us the opportunity to put together a lighter, more powerful car, and that makes the driver's job a bit easier. The engine also breathes fresh, clean air with our K&N filters. Thank you to the crew, Jeff Bonilla, Ryan Buesser and K&N filters. See ya next year."
"Our weekend went way better than I could have ever imagined. I have to give all the credit to The Fab School (California's newest state certified automotive/off-road fabrication school) and to Fox Shox for that, because those new front shocks they sent me set the tone for the rest of the weekend," remarked K&N sponsored John Holmes.
K&N sponsored Holmes Motorsports has won back-to-back Pro-Buggy Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series Championships.
"I'm a little surprised that bolting on some new front shocks helped so much – we knocked off almost a full second and a half from my original times. My car and I worked like one moving part, and we were able to set the fast lap in less than four laps on the track."
Off-road short course racing returned to Glen Helen Raceway just a few klicks north of San Bernardino, for round six of the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series. Holmes, the Riverside, California, Pro-Buggy racer won his class convincingly. In the first race Holmes elected to start in the second row, in order to allow himself time to get up to pace with the feel of his new suspension system.
The adjustment period was extremely short though, as Holmes had a comfortable lead within the first couple of laps of the first race, and he extended it all the way to the checkered flag. Then, in the 16-lap main, Holmes started on the front row. Garrett George, driving his Funco built buggy made a run at Holmes toward the middle of the race, and managed to get by him briefly. However, Holmes and his new Fox Shoxs got back around Garrett in time to take the checkered for the second time, taking the overall victory, and securing a cozy series points lead.
"The car just amazed me with all it was capable of, said Holmes. "I owe it all to my family and friends and sponsors, they continued to believe in me. Thanks to our K&N air and oil filters, we were able to keep our Fat Performance Honda engine running clean all season.
Holmes and his team competed in the Lucas Oil Regional Off-Road Series and the Glen Helen Short Course Series for the last two years, winning the Pro-buggy Championship both years.
"This season started pretty good, we were able to capture a few wins and stay consistent," commented Holmes. "Until, I believe it was round four, when I was going for the lead and ended up flipping two times in the air and landed back on all four wheels. The only bad thing was it knocked the wind out of me. I was able to suck it up though, and to finish that race. Looking back now, if we wouldn't have finished that race and all the others, we would have lost the points championship."
"Our goal in 2011 is to compete in as many Lucas Oil Off-Road Short Course Pro Series events as financially possible. We will not enter a race unless we know we have all the tools to have a chance at victory."
RCH Designs does anything automotive including custom builds, photography, video production, graphic design, and consulting. If you need ideas for a show car this may be the place to go.
RCH Designs' 2010 Chevy Camaro SS
This year SEMA boasted an array of Camaros and Jeeps with aftermarket parts but, none were as appealing as the Dynomax Camaro and the RCH Wrangler. The list of aftermarket parts on these two vehicles is endless but, more performance comes from the K&N intake systems under the hood of each vehicle.
RCH's Ryan Hagel had an opportunity to work on these project cars himself with the help of many others. Hagel says he has, "been using K&N products on my project vehicles for over 12 years. Each and every vehicle I install a K&N kit or filter replacement on gives me great piece of mind that the filter is not only protecting debris from getting into my engine, but also allowing maximum flow and increased horsepower." These intake systems are direct bolt on parts and look great even on show vehicles.
RCH Designs' 2010 Chevy Camaro SS at SEMA
The display was one of a kind for the Dynamax Camaro and displayed the exhaust very well as the rear end of the sat about 3 ft up in the air with the front bumper touching the floor. In the scheme of things, all of SEMA was quite impressive.
RCH Designs' 2007 Jeep Wrangler at SEMA
The Camaro had custom designed wheels developed by RCH themselves and a sweet flat black paint job to match. As for the Wrangler…. "It is very clean looking, while at the same time all bolt on products that anyone can buy. Nothing really unique, just ‘Clean'." Any Jeep enthusiast would appreciate a machine like the RCH Wrangler in their garage. Each vehicle took about 4 weeks to complete.
Aftermarket Parts List:
Camaro:
Paint: "The Shop" did the paint work, which is called Hot Rod Black
Wheels: Custom built and designed by RCH Designs
Tires: Falken
Suspension: Hotchkis
Interior: Mastercraft Safety Leather Seats, Coverking custom floor mats with Dynomax logo
Exterior: Window tint by "The Tint Pros", Vinyl graphics from Visual Imaging
Under the Hood: K&N Air Intake System 69-4519TP, Odyssey battery
Jeep:
Tires: Falken
Suspension: Rancho Short Arm
Other: Rancho full line of Rock Gear products (tubular doors, side steps, front and rear bumpers)
Warn Winch, Warrior Products rear corners, Drake Billet Accessories
Interior: Mastercraft Seats front and rear
Exterior: Huskyliner, Warn Aux lights, AEV Hood, Bestop Top and roll bar padding, Truck-Lite head lights
Under the hood: Odyssey Battery, K&N Air Intake System 57-1553
Drive train: upgrades by Off Road Evolution, JE Reel / Reel Driveline drive shafts
