SEMA 2009: WD-40 Camaro

One of the many Camaros in the sea of SEMA, this WD-40 show car does pack a nice punch. A 600 hp 6.2L V8, to be exact. Not only that, but the car was built for a good cause, the SEMA Cares charity and will be auctioned off at the next installment of the Barrett-Jackson Auction in Scottsdale. Proceeds will benefit the Childhelp and Victory Junction Gang charities, among others.

PRESS RELEASE:

WD-40/SEMA CARES CAMARO TO BE UNVEILED AT SEMA SHOW, AUCTIONED AT BARRETT-JACKSON

LAS VEGAS (SEMA Show, Booth #10737), Oct. 21, 2009 – The WD-40®/SEMA Cares Camaro is making its debut inside the SEMA Show Grand Lobby Nov. 3-6, two months before it gets auctioned to help children in need.

The vehicle, a custom 2010 Chevrolet Camaro SS/RS with a 6.2-liter V8 engine and more than 600 horsepower, features a body kit, custom interior, entertainment system, and paint that emulates WD-40's signature blue and yellow can. A virtual version of the vehicle will also appear in Nitto 1320 Legends, an online racing game and social network with more than 900,000 members.

After debuting at the SEMA Show, the WD-40/SEMA Cares Camaro will appear at select West Coast auto-related events and then be auctioned at the Barrett-Jackson Classic Car Show and Auction Jan. 18–24 in Scottsdale, Ariz. Proceeds of the sale of the vehicle will go to Childhelp®, an organization that provides services to abused and neglected children, and The Victory Junction Gang® Camp, which provides life-changing camping experiences to special needs and chronically ill children.

"This vehicle honors a product that has helped mechanics, aftermarket professionals and auto enthusiasts get the job done for more than 50 years, and its sale will support great charities," said Tim Lesmeister, vice president of marketing at WD-40 Company. "We're having a lot of fun with the project, and we know it would not be possible without the time, energy, dedication and resources of our build partners."

Partners involved in the build of the Camaro include: APE Wraps; Audio Innovations; Cie Studios; DynoMax; Eclipse; Forgeline Motorsports; Haddad Motorsports; Hedman Hedders; House of Tints; Katzkin Leather; L&G Enterprises; MGP Caliper Covers; Nitto Tires; Odyssey Batteries; Paxton Automotive; Pedders USA; PhotoTouch Inc.; PPG Industries; Sony Computer Entertainment America; Street Scene Equipment; and Top Quality Powder Coating.

For more information about the vehicle, visit wd40.com/camaro-build.

WD-40 Company, with headquarters in San Diego, is a global consumer product company dedicated to delivering unique, high-value and easy-to-use solutions for a wide variety of maintenance needs of "doer" and "on-the-job" users by leveraging and building the brand fortress of the company. The company markets two multi-purpose maintenance product brands, WD-40®, and 3-IN-ONE® and eight homecare and cleaning product brands: X-14® hard surface cleaners and automatic toilet bowl cleaners, 2000 Flushes® automatic toilet bowl cleaners, Carpet Fresh® and No Vac® rug and room deodorizers, Spot Shot® aerosol and liquid carpet stain removers, 1001® carpet, household cleaners and rug and room deodorizers, and Lava® and Solvol® heavy-duty hand cleaners.

WD-40 Company markets its products in more than 160 countries worldwide and recorded sales of $292 million in fiscal year 2009.

SEMA 2009: Twin turbo Duramax diesel powered 1970 Chevy Chevelle

Looking at the exterior of this clean 1970 Chevelle doesn't reveal anything out of the ordinary. Take a gander under the hood, however, and you will see something you won't likely see anywhere else - a twin turbo Duramax diesel.

The Chevelle was built by Mike Racke and was one of Popular Hot Rodding's Top Ten cars this year.

SEMA 2009: 1962 Corvette C1-RS Goodguy's Street Machine of the Year

SEMA presents not only a ton of modern sheetmetal with cookie cutter upgrades, but also some very nice vintage metal as well. And there is no finer example of old style meeting new craftsmanship than this 1962 Corvette.

As great as these cars look factory stock, this particular 'vette has had every body panel tweaked in some way, and the majority of the panels are carbon fiber or aluminum instead of the factory fiberglass.

An LS7 V8 lies under the hood producing over 600 horsepower, featuring eight carbon fiber intake trumpets on top. Every bit and piece of the car is hand made or highly detailed. Check out the Press Release below for more.

PRESS RELEASE:

Columbus, OH - In the world of custom automobiles a car comes along every five to ten years that represents a sea change, raising the bar to seemingly unreachable new heights. It happened again in Columbus, Ohio at the Goodguys 12th PPG Nationals when Phil and Jeremy Gerber and the Roadster Shop team debuted their "C1RS" '62 Corvette for customer Barry Blomquist. From the moment the car was uncovered gasps and gawks came over the masses. The performance automotive scene hasn't seen a car quite like this. Both Blomquist and the Gerber's beamed proudly as the car was unanimously named 2009 Goodguys/Air Ride Technologies "Street Machine of the Year."

Designed by the Roadster shop and artist Eric Brockmeyer, Blomquists's "C1RS" Corvette is a striking blend of hand formed aluminum and carbon fiber built in step with today's F-1 race cars. It also served as the launch platform for The Roadster Shop's new C1 line of Corvette chassis. Mated with Detroit Speed & Engineering suspension components, Brembo 14 ½" 6-piston brakes and one off custom spindle mount Forgeline wheels, the car's ground hugging underpinnings served it well in the mandatory Autocross competition at the Goodguys PPG Nationals (Street Machine of the Year award criteria calls for all participants to log at least 3 laps on the Autocross course). With Phil Gerber doing the driving the 'Vette posted the fastest lap of the event in 32.222 effortless seconds. Onlookers claimed it looked like the car was merely out for a Sunday drive while blowing the doors off the other 31 Street Machine of the Year competitors.

Under the hand-formed hood lies the heart of the beast – a 618 horsepower LS7 by Turnkey Engines producing 640ft lbs of torque. Custom stainless 2-inch primary headers emit a throaty roar and the Bowler T-56 transmission gets it flying in a hurry.

Aesthetically, the cars low, smooth lines give it spectacular curb appeal. Everything on the 'Vette has been changed, massaged, smoothed and redesigned by The Roadster Shop staying true to Brockmeyer's original design. The entire front end is custom formed from sixty-thousandths sheet aluminum including all grills, grille surrounds, front bumper and grille bar. One off headlights with billet trim rings, carbon fiber side louvers, a recessed cove and a completely restyled rear end would make even Zora Arkus Duntov envious.

Being a roadster, the car's interior plays a dominant roll in its overall look and feel. The custom formed seats are adorned in Italian red leather with Alcantara suede accents. The aluminum dash is hand-sculpted to perfection housing Classic Instruments carbon fiber gauges. The waterfall center console was also made by hand and the F-1 inspired foot pedals would make former Ferrari team driver Michael Schumacher feel right at home.

The C1RS Corvette not only won the world's biggest award for a performance Street Machine, it allowed The Roadster Shop team to realize their full potential. "We've had this car in our minds for a long time," Jeremy Gerber smiled. "Our guys at the shop worked tirelessly over an entire year getting this car to Columbus. Barry Blonquist gave us the resources and opportunity to build our vision. We're thankful to win this award for Barry and the Roadster Shop."

The top five finalists for this year's Goodguys/Air Ride Technologies Street Machine of the Year included Nathan Powell, Birmingham, AL 1969 Camaro, Devan Glissmeyer, Salt Lake City, UT 1968 Mustang, Barry Blomquist, Onalaska, WI 1962 Corvette, Bryan Frank, Scotts Bluff, NE 1969 Pontiac Trans Am and Tom Boldry, Kansas City, MO 1969 Dodge Charger.