FIRST CAMARO ON 34s /// 707-HP HELLCAT /// PAINT VS.

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DEC/JAN 2015

RIDES -MAG.COM

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MUSCLE2 CHEVROLET
7

CONTENTS
DEC/JAN 2015

#70

FAMILY TIES Motocross rider James

80

WARRANTY WAIVER Eli Mendoza copped

52

H-TOWN ELEVATED 713 Motoring took this

Wrangler to new heights.

92

SIMPLY SIN The Sinner Camaros new look

62

YELLOW SUB-MACHINE MC Customs packed

102

BLUE BLOODED Derrick Nowells 2006

this 2014 Ford Raptor to the brim with beat.

MISSISSIPPI MOGUL Being a genuine car guy,

attending the right shows and having good people
by your side can be the perfect recipe for the top spot.

110

NO COASTIN Xplizit Car Clubs

Bubba Stewart Jr.s dad built a mean Maro

for his superstar son.

72

010

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

his brand-new truck into pieces, and the result

was enough to crown him King.

took social media by storm.

Dodge Charger SRT8 is in a class of its own.

Midwest chapter is holding it down for

middle America.

COV E R P H O T O G R A P H BY A N D R E W L I N K

RONALDO STEWART

ISSUE

46

CONTENTS
DEC/JAN 2015

#70

HOOD Starr Wheels delivers

the rst 34-inch wheel on a

Camaro, but even more impressive
is RJ Starrs story; Powder Coating
takes on paint; Dodges Hellcat has
arrived along with all the specs you
need to know; Killer Mike talks shop
and what hes bangin.

TREADMILL Winter is
coming. Though thanks to
Continentals ExtremeWinterContact
tire you wont have to worry about
your safety.

130

014

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SHOWTIME We hit up
two major car shows: the
Texas Heatwave show down in
Austin, TX and V-103 in Atlanta,
GA. If you like what you see on the
page head on over to rides-mag.
com for full coverage of each.

40

132

SYSTEM Per usual

we have the latest and

greatest in auto audio for you and a
look ahead to 2015 on whats bound
to be the next big thing in beat.

125

RIMSHOT Savini

136

PRODUCTS Tis the

Diamonds new Prali

wheel represents the pinnacle of
their urban-inspired wheel line
and its easy to see why.

season and because of

the we present to you our annual
gift guide and ten of the hottest
car themed gifts, gadgets for your
ride, and just dope stuff.

THOMA S ESPOSITO

ISSUE

30

BACKFIRE
PU BLI S HE R
DENNIS S. PAGE

EDITORS LETTER

E XEC U T I V E PU BLI S HE R
DAVID ZUCKERBERG

X
E DI TOR I N C HI E F
EVAN EVO YATES
E XEC U T I V E E DI TOR
JONATHAN MILLSTEIN
A RT DI R ECTOR
ALEXIS COOK
PHOTO DI R ECTOR
ANDREW LINK
COPY E DI TOR
MORGAN STONE

X
CONT R I BU T I NG W R I T E R S
MARK LELINWALLA

No lter

HONORED
EVERY SUCCESSFUL PERSON Ive met has echoed the same sentiment: Stick

ISSUE

#70

to what youre good at. And thats something we do here at RIDES. We put out
the best custom-car magazine in the world, and we do a damn good job of it.
We dont try to jump on the bandwagon, our lives dont revolve around likes
and reposts, and we certainly arent interested in putting on car showsalthough we love attending them.
I love the fact that our superiors trust us enough to compose a magazine we
know our loyal readers will love, and that they give us the resources to make it
happen. Its been a very successful year for RIDES, and Im proud to be part of a
magazine that is actually doing well in a time where magazines are folding left
and right. Ive said it many times before, but our readers are loyal, and theres
just something about holding your favorite magazine in your hands and not
scrolling through overltered pics on your phones. You want to know the back
story; you want to know how they did it, because that information could possibly aid you in your future projects. I dont think the RIDES reader is someone
who just wants to look at paint and wheels, and I respect that, because Im the
exact same way.
This issue is the denition of a SEMA issue for us as it spans the custom-car
spectrum. As you see on our cover, we have a Pro Touring-inspired Chevelle
SS alongside a tubbed single-cab GMCboth vehicles bagged. Thats a trend
were seeing on our side of the custom fence these days, as literally every
featured vehicle in this issue has thousands of dollars in the suspension,
something we couldnt have said a year ago. I can pretty much say youll never
see another vehicle in RIDES with bone-stock suspension. But dont get mad
at me, its just how the game has progressed. Thanks again to everyone who
has worked with us on this magazine in 2014, and to all of our loyal supporters,
expect nothing but the best from us in 2015!

Evan Evo Yates

P.S. If youre a die-hard Pro Touring fan, we have something in store for you
in 2015!

016

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

CONT R I BU T I NG I LLU ST R ATOR S

& PHOTOG R A PHE R S
WEBB BLAND
THOMAS ESPOSITO
RYAN PRAMIK
MICHAEL SANTIAGO
TODD SCHMIDT
WILLIAM STERN
RONALDO STEWART
JEREMY STOUTAMYER
GARRETT WADE
DAVID YATES

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PRODU CT I ON M A NAG E R
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X
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S I NG LE COPY SA LE S M A NAG ER
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CONS U M E R M A R K E T I NG DI R ECTO R
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X
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BACKFIRE

GOT A DOPE RIDE? Submit a photo by using the

#IGRIDES hashtag and mentioning @ridesmag!

GOLDEN GRAMS

We asked our Instagram followers to submit

the best shots of their rides, and we boiled
it down to these nine!

@do_wit_out_fame

@fastlanetez

@houseofdubs

@louie13th

@luis_streetcoverage

@75vert

@paypaymarie13

@yourboyvale

@von_32s

ISSUE

#70

CONNECT

/ridesmag

@ridesmag

@ridesmag

RIDES-MAG.COM

021

2014

KIAS CHAMPIONSHIPWINNING season in the

Pirelli World Challenge
(PWC) campaigning a
pair of turbocharged Optima race
cars was inspiration enough for
RIDES magazine to create a K900
and a Sedona that demonstrate
the imprint motorsports has left
on the brands DNA.
Ensuring the drive home from
the track is as exciting as the
drive around it, the K900 was
converted into the perfect daily
driver, complete with driving suit
storage and a ProDryer helmet
dryer in the trunk.
To make ample space for all
your racing gear, the Kia Sedona
multi-purpose vehicle was
transformed into the ultimate kart
hauler. Custom powder-coated
kart storage provides room for
two karts outside the Sedona,
while the custom interior creates
a mobile garage with space for
all the race-day necessities.

A 2015 KIA K900 and SEDONA undergo

a race-day-enthused makeover. >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

2015 KIA K900

CREATING A COCKPIT suited to a

drivers needs is crucial to any racecar,
and that sentiment is echoed in the
customized K900. Following a long
day at the track, the K900 envelops the driver
in tan leather seats with black suede accents,
while keeping the driving suit and helmet
neatly stowed in custom storage complete
with a ProDryer to remove perspiration from
the helmet. Not quite ready to hang up the
gloves? The backseat features two 11-inch TVs
in the front seatbacks, connected to a Mac Mini,
creating the ability to view the tracks utilizing
iRacing software.
With performance coursing through the
DNA of both the car and driver, the custom
K900 employs a Garrett 2871R twin-turbo
setup visible through a see-through port in
the trunk, a lowered Eibach suspension and a
quad-tip dual exhaust system with black tips.
Keeping the sedan grounded is a set of 21-inch
gloss-black HRE RS100 wheels wrapped in
Pirelli tires, with a Ksport 8-piston big brake kit
bringing them to a stop. A custom one-off body
kit with carbon-ber inserts give the K900 its
aggressive stance to make sure others take
note as it passes them on the way home.

LUX Motorwerks Gray paint job with smoked tail lights.

Ofcial Kia Racing gear is easy to access in this K900 trunk.

Market tan leather

and perforated
leather with black
suede highlights.

Steering wheel wrapped in leather and carbon ber.

Carbon ber center console adds racecar air.

BlueTooth connected accessories complement

the individual rear seat controls.

Rear mounted twin turbo setup gives the

K900 an added burst of power.

2015 KIA SEDONA

WITH ITS CUV-LIKE DESIGN and
minivan-like functionality, the Kia
Sedona is a true multi-purpose
vehicle. Inspired by the success
of the Optima turbo race cars in the Pirelli
World Challenge, RIDES magazine turned
this Sedona into the ultimate karting hauler.
The Sedona features SparcoChrono Road
seats on the inside, but its the custombuilt kart rack atop the Sedona providing
space for one CRG kart and a second CRG
kart on a custom-built trailer on 18-inch
BBS CH-R wheels powder-coated white
taking center stage. The Sedona also
features matching 20-inch BBS wheels,
is painted Kinetic Motorsports Red and is

overlaid with vinyl that pays tribute to the

Kia Racing Optima. Attached to the top
is a Fiamma F35 Pro Awning providing
much-needed shade at the track.
Repairs and off-track-tuning are all part
of the fun of a day at the races and the
Sedonas interior has been transformed
into a mobile garage. The oor of the
van has been leveled and covered in black
and white RaceDeck rubber ooring, and
it hosts a toolbox with a built-in Innity
subwoofer and amp, and a tire bead beaker.
Hand-built, diamond-plated shelves ll the
trunk area of the Sedona and provide storage
for spare tires, a ve-gallon gas tank and
Sparco karting gear.

Custom one-off metal fabricated rack and trailer provide easy on and off access for the CRG Road Rebel and Bambino karts.

The awning will keep you

cool, while the trunk keeps
your gear convenient.

Inuenced by Kia Racing,

the Sedona features BBS
wheels and Pirelli tires.

l ar

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THESE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED VEHICLES, AS DEPICTED, INCLUDING WITHOUT LIMITATION, THE CUSTOM-BUILT COMPONENTS, WHEELS AND ACCESSORIES SHOWN ARE ONLY FOR
ILLUSTRATIVE (ENTERTAINMENT) PURPOSES. THEY ARE NOT AVAILABLE HERE IN ANY VEHICLES SOLD AT KIA RETAILERS. USE CAUTION WHEN CUSTOMIZING ANY VEHICLE BECAUSE SAFETY
RISKS MAY BE CREATED AND THE VEHICLE WARRANTY MAY BE VOIDED. MAC MINI IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF APPLE INC. ALL TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS.

IL

E D
X
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I

0
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Raise Up
SSTTOORY
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BY JJO
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MIILLLLSSTTEEIIN
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SURVIVING OVER TWO DECADES IN THE

GAME, CHANGES IN TRENDS AND STARTING
FROM SCRATCH, RJ STARR AND
STARR WHEELS ARE HITTING NEW HEIGHTS.

TS SAID THAT opportunity seldom knocks twice,

but through hard work and some risk taking, you can
often create your own opportunities. RJ Starr of Starr
Wheels is testament to just that, having survived in the
wheel game for nearly 20 years so far.
Back in 1995 RJs father started Player Wheels,
where RJ would work side by side with his brothers
for nearly a decade. At that time, the Ohio-based company
was focusing primarily on the wire wheels in the custom
scenewheels that would become immortalized in 90s
lms like Friday and Boyz n the Hood. Though by the late 90s,
the wheel game was already starting to evolve. When we
were selling wire wheels, it was all 13s, 14s and 15s, says RJ.

RIDES-MAG.COM

31

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

But by 2000, it was 20-inch [wheels]

on your car.
In keeping with the times, Player Wheels
would slowly begin to drift away from wire
wheels in favor of one-piece wheels and the
big-rim culture that was embracing the nation. Player Wheels at that point was doing
maybe only 10 percent wire wheels, because
wire wheels were on their way out, says
RJ. We were doing all one-piece wheels.
Just as wire wheels found themselves on
their way out, RJ was soon to be in a similar
predicament at his fathers company.
Personal issues led to his father ring
RJ only to later rehire him, a cycle that RJ
endured numerous times before having
had enough. I told him the last time, If
you fucking re me [again], Im leaving and
aint coming back, RJ says. He red me, I
sold my house, sold all my shit, moved [to
Florida], had a hundred grand to my name,
and I started Starr Wheels.

032

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

NEXT UP

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

Right now there is nobody else making

the 34-inch one-piece wheel ."
R J STA R R

It was May 2005 when RJ left Player

Wheels and Ohio for clearer skies in Florida,
and by July that same year, he was up and
running at Starr Wheels. Not missing a beat,
Starr picked up where RJ had left off, making
one-piece wheels, which they still do today.
Continuing to evolve, RJ and Starr Wheels
were the rst to market one-piece 34-inch
wheels. Right now there is nobody else making the 34-inch one-piece wheel, says RJ. All
the guys are doing three-piece wheels. The
only way theyre doing it is theyre taking a
32-inch center and making them t a 34-inch
outer, so its not really a 34-inch wheel. As
consumers compete to be the rst on the
streets with 34s, theyre quickly realizing tire

options for the new large diameter are scarce,

a problem RJ anticipated. We ordered the
34-inch [tire] molds about four months ago,
says RJ. A lot or most of the larger tire sizes,
we got the exclusivity. This resulted in them
selling out of 34-inch tires in the rst half hour
they were available.
Starrs rst set of wheels was mounted
on a Chevrolet Camaro, which is scheduled
to debut at SEMA 2014. And while that build
is in the works, RJ is already looking to the
future. I think usually it goes up two inches a
year, said RJ. We will either introduce 36s in
the summer or next SEMA. With 20 years in
the game, its no surprise seeing RJ Starr and
Starr Wheels rising above it all.

TOYOTIRES.COM/OPENCOUNTRY

WE ARE MADE TO
CARVE OUR OWN PATH.

2014 Toyo Tire U.S.A. Corp.

ALL NEW

Built Rugged for Any Terrain.

WE ARE TOYO. ALL OR NOTHING.

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

NEXT UP

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

Powder coating
being applied
to a wheel
electrostatically

Powder Power
Thomas Esposito of Espos Powder Coating explains why
powdercoating your rims may be a better long-term option.
S TO RY BY E VA N E VO YAT E S

IN THE EARLY 2000 S , rockin chrome

wheels simply wasnt custom enough anymore, and as black wheels became popular,
painted-to-match wheels were right behind.
The appeal of painted wheels is obvious,
especially if you have a custom paint job;
Brandywine wheels matching your Brandywine Kandy lick are certainly impressive
and would set your ride above the chrome
competition. But as many owners of painted
wheels can attest to, in most circumstances,
custom-painted wheels are destined to ake
in due time, varying heavily on the painter
himself, the prep time and the type of wheel
(multipiece versus cast).
There has always been another option,
and thats powdercoating, which is head-

034

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

and-shoulders more durable than paint but

had its drawbacks early on. Thomas Esposito
of Espos Powder Coating in Staten Island,
New York, explains that because its a type of
coating that is applied as a free-owing, dry
powder, it is more dependable. The biggest
advantage of powdercoating over painting
is how durable it is. He continues, Because
powdercoating does not have a liquid carrier,
it can produce thicker coatings than conventional liquid coatings without running or sagging. The coating is applied electrostatically
and is then cured under heat. In laymans
terms, powdercoating is going to be tough
enough to protect itself against the harsh
realities of driving on city streets.
One of the downsides of powdercoating in

the past has been the color-spectrum limitations, as there simply havent been that many
powders available. So unless you wanted
your rims black or a few other generic colors,
it simply didnt make sense. Thankfully, a lot
has changed. Years ago, colors were very
limited, explains Thomas. Today there are
thousands of colors readily available. You can
go from a basic at or gloss black or white to
a metallic orange with a sparkle clear coat.
And with a starting price of around $300 for
four wheels, it certainly makes sense to give
powdercoating a shot.

P H O T O G R A P H Y BY T H O M A S E S P O S I T O

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

N E XT U P

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

Packing a punch so powerful Hades himself would be envious.
S TO RY BY J O N AT H A N M I L L S T E I N
MEAN MUGGIN':

RIDES gave this

SRT Hellcat
a custom makeover.

036

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

HEMI, the Hellcat outshines the standard

SRT by 222hp and 175 lb.-ft. of torque.
The incredible performance of the SRT
Hellcats motor takes top billing, but its got
a great supporting cast. Two-piece 15.4-inch
Brembo rotors bring the stock 20-inch
Slingshot wheels to a stop, and Pirelli P

Zero tires keep the mighty Hellcat grounded

in all seasons. Lastly, another number
that again impresses is the approximately
$60,000 price tag. Though its not the lowest price out there for a new car, its incredibly affordable for the power youll be getting
stock out of your Challenger SRT Hellcat.

DODGE CHALLENGER SRT HELLCAT VS. NEW NOTABLES -MILE TIMES*

2014 McLaren P1

9.8 sec

@ 148.9 mph

2014 Porsche 918 Spyder

10.0 sec

@ 145.2 mph

2014 Nissan GT-R Track Pack

11.0 sec

@ 125.1 mph

2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat

11.2 sec

@ 125 mph

2014 Ferrari F12berlinetta

11.3 sec

@ 131.7 mph

2014 Audi R8 V10 Plus

11.3 sec

@ 125.8 mph

2014 Mercedes-Benz E63 AMG S 4MATIC

11.5 sec

@ 123.1 mph

2014 Jaguar F-Type V8 S

11.8 sec

@ 120 mph

*TIMES COURTESY OF C ARSCOOPS

THE CHRYSLER GROUP has been on the

scene for years as one that produces numerous cars ripe for customizing, from the Chrysler 300 to the Dodge Charger and Challenger.
With so many variables in deciding what to
customize, its hard to say exactly why these
cars are so prevalent, but its safe to say the
new 2015 Dodge Challenger SRT Hellcat will
be the envy of all customizers.
For years glamour and glitz seemed to
take precedent over actual performance,
but a motor renaissance is upon us; from
swaps to superchargers, performance is
again taking center stage. Thankfully, due to
Chrysler Groups most powerful production
engine ever, the Challenger Hellcat will have
you running at the front of the pack off the
lot, with an upgrade so powerful that Dodge
is issuing a second key fob that unlocks the
Hellcats full potential. When the red second
key (the regular key is black) is turned, the
Hellcat puts up some serious numbersKobe-in-the-fourth numbers. Stirring up 707hp
and 650 lb.-ft. of torque from its 6.2-liter

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

NEXT UP

Killer Mike
S TO RY BY M A R K L E L I N WA L L A
IT'S SAFE TO SAY the Atlanta MC conjures up some of his best rhymes while cruising in some of his old-school whips. Besides
just releasing RJ2, the second album from Run
the Jewels, his group with Brooklyn rhymer/
producer El-P, Mike is currently at the tail end
of a custom 1972 Buick Skylark build.
RIDES: Do you remember your rst whip?
Killer Mike: An 85 Buick Regal. It was a
six cylinder. My grandparents had ordered
it without AC. It was fast as hell. It had a burgundy, maroon interior, all-black [exterior].
It was dope.
What did you cop once you got paid?
When I rst got a record deal, I went out and
got a dope-ass Pontiac Bonneville four-door.
[Young] Dro always tells the story about me
driving it up to [Atlantas annual concert]
Birthday Bash clean as hell.
What else do you have in your eet
of cars?
Im a big-time car dude. I got a 61 Impala I
bought from Big Boi thats being built. I have
gone through a lot of carseverything from

038

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

With more than a decade in the rap game, Mike

talks his love for American muscle, the ultimate
dream car and the best rappers to roll out to.

an 06 Benz back in the day to an 85 [Buick]

Regal, a 78 Cutlass, a 95 Impala. Im getting
a 72 Buick Skylark built right now, and we
just put a 383 stroker [engine] in it. Its like
an ocean-spray green, and its a beautiful
car. You can eat off the interior, it feels so
clean. Im going to buy the Hellcat next year.
Im more of a give your dream to a builder
type. Im from a family of mechanics. I kind
of dream it up and my builder builds it.
It sounds like muscle cars are your thing.
Yeah, I love American muscle. I like European
sedans too, because Im a big guy. The S63
[Mercedes-Benz]its the fat mans Ferrari.
I love that. But in terms of what Im enthused
about, its American muscle. Thats just what
Im about.
Whats your dream car?

A 1987 Buick Grand National GNX. They

only made 547 of them [laughs]. Thats the
top of the line for me. Thats the car of cars.
Who makes great rider music?
Devin the Dude makes great rider music.
Devin makes the best cruising music on earth.
Which of your MC peers are really serious about their cars?
Gotta go to my brother Spitta. Curren$y is a
car king. Hes sincerely a car king. Hes the guy.
Whats the best aspect of driving music?
The coolest thing about your car is you control your audience, unlike in a bar, where you
gotta listen to a bunch of people who either
love or hate the record. Its not your family
room, so you dont have people barging in. In
my car, I have total control over how loud or
soft it isits mine.

W H AT H E S BA N G I N
UGK Murder
8BALL & MJG Space Age Pimpin
AL GREEN Lets Stay Together
SADE Your Love Is King
SCARFACE I Never Seen a Man Cry

KINGS OF LEON Be Somebody

PRINCE If I Was Your Girlfriend
TOO $HORT Paula & Janet
CITIZEN COPE Sideways
ELTON JOHN Rocket Man

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

NEXT UP

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

2014 TEXAS HEAT WAVE

JULY 25-27, 2014

AUSTIN, TX TRAVIS

COUNTY EXPOSITION CENTER

P H OTO G R A P H Y BY RYA N P R A M I K

040

HUNDREDS OF CUSTOM rides and thousands of spectators were on hand for the 25th edition of the famous Texas
Heat Wave car show. Being in the heart of Texas, everything
from lowriders to stanced-out new-schools graced the
grounds. In addition to the whips on deck, hip-hop artist T.I.
came through to rock the mic.

FORD F150 on DUB Ballers

LINCOLN Slammed Continental

CHEVROLET Donk on Chrome

CHEVROLET Squatted Silverado

DODGE Stanced Charger

DODGE Challenger on Forgiatos

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

P RO F I L E

T R E N DS

NEXT UP

P L AY L I ST

S H OW T I M E

2014 V-103 CAR & BIKE SHOW

JULY 12, 2014

ATLANTA , GA

GEORGIA WORLD CONGRESS CENTER

P H OTO G R A P H Y BY DAV I D YAT E S

042

ARGUABLY ONE OF the most-attended indoor car shows in the

South, the 11th annual V-103 Car & Bike Show turned up as usual for
its near 40,000 attendees. Custom rides from across the South and
even the Midwest came through to post up alongside all the celebrity whips on deck. From clean muscle cars to lifted new-schools, the
ATL brought out everything under one roof!

CHEVROLET Chrome Camaro on DUB Shokkas

CHEVROLET Seafoam Donk on DUBs

CHEVROLET Chevelle on Custom Brushed Wheels

CHEVROLET Donk on Concave Forgiatos

DODGE Challenger on 32-Inch DUB Spinners

CHEVROLET Outrageous Donk on Forgiatos

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

MOTOCROSS RIDER
JAMES BUBBA
STEWART JR.S
DAD BUILT A MEAN
MARO FOR HIS
SUPERSTAR SON.
R I D E S /// D E C / J A N 2 0 1 5
PAGE 46

WORDS: EVAN EVO YATES

PHOTOGR APHY: GARRETT WADE

AMES BUBBA STEWART JR. and his family are certainly a certied car family,
and as our 2010 feature on Bubba (Oct/Nov 2010) pointed out, Junior likes em
new and Senior likes em classic. Yeah, my dad has a gnarly collection of old cars.
He loves them, said Bubba. Theyre cool, but I want a car that you get in and
drive, and like, lets say, hop in, take the Ferrari out and its no big deal. But when
you try to hop in that [69 Camaro], its like, Uhhh, its warming up. Dude, Im not
into that. I want to hop in and go fast wherever I might be going. I dont want to
worry about it. Its cool, though, thats the difference between him and me. Fastforward to the present and Bubbas dad, James Sr., wanted to switch it up a bit.
He built an old-school ride for his son that would appeal a bit more to Bubba with
new-school amenities and a luxurious feel.

048

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

James Sr. took the 1969 Chevy Camaro

RS to Monster Sound in Winter Haven,
Florida, for a custom build unlike any other
he had attempted in the past. Monster
Sound, more known for its wild interiors
and elaborate sound systems, jumped
at the opportunity, hoping to flex their
muscles a bit. [James Sr.] really just
wanted to do something different than the
other cars they have, explains Monster
Sound co-owner Thatcher Vaughn. He
showed us some pictures of things he liked
and gave us a color scheme, then let us
do our thing. The team at Monster Sound

completely gutted the interior, including discarding the factory dash and door
panels. We talked him into cutting out the
original dash and doing it fully custom,
says Thatcher. Over the next four months,
the Monster squad fabricated a one-off,
modern-style dash, and the contemporary motif spread throughout the interior.
Custom hand-fabricated door panels and
a center console were also incorporated,
giving the interior the feel of a new-school
ride while still paying homage to the oldschool. In the trunk, Monster constructed
a clean and classy audio setup filled with

premium MMATS equipment.

For the shoes, the Stewart family has
a solid relationship with Lexani Wheels,
so it was only right that the mean Maro
got a set of all-chrome, 20-inch staggered Lexani Forged wheels on Pirelli
tires. Under the hood, James Sr. went all
muscle with a worked 434 small block
and enough horsepower to appease his
speed-hungry son. With more custom
rides currently in the worksincluding
a custom C-10 from Bubbas brother,
Malcolmyoull definitely be seeing more
from the Stewart family soon.

RIDES-MAG.COM

049

[JAMES SR.] REALLY JUST WANTED TO DO SOMETHING

DIFFERENT THAN THE OTHER CARS THEY HAVE.

050

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO RS

PERFORMANCE: 434 smallblock engine; ve-speed manual
transmission; 4.10 gears; ladder bar
setup
EXTERIOR: Custom three-stage
paint; cowl hood
INTERIOR: Custom dash and
leather/suede interior

ICE: Sony MEX-GS600BT;

iPad; MMATS PRO641 three-way
components, 6x9s, two Monster
12-inch subwoofers in bandpass
enclosure, 2000.1 bass amp, HiFi6150D mids amp; Audison Bit One
sound processor

WHEELS/TIRES: Staggered 20-inch

Lexani LC-717 wheels; Pirelli tires,
235/30/20 front, 345/25/20 rear
SHOUT-OUTS: Monster Sound in
Winter Haven, Florida; FTJ upholstery;
Roger Hines of Lakeland, Florida;
Monster Sounds Thatcher Vaughn,
Sammy Herndon and Diary Hasty

RIDES-MAG.COM

051

713 MOTORING TOOK THIS WRANGLER

TO NEW HEIGHTS.

WORDS: EVAN EVO YATES

PHOTOGRAPHY: A N DR E W L I N K

THE LATE 80S AND EARLY 90S, Jeeps dominated the streets
as every dope boy wanted one, every y girl yearned for a ride in
one, and movies and hip-hop further fanned the ame. From being
on album covers like Kool Moe Dees How Ya Like Me Now to being
the sole inspiration for LL Cool Js hit Back Seat (of My Jeep),
hip-hop has certainly embraced the rugged vehicle, founded in
the 1940s. Custom Jeeps were also mainstays in movies like CB4 and New Jack City; of course,
in those movies, the open top provided a great way to pull drive-bys, but thats another story.
Fast-forward to today and Jeeps have made a serious comeback, as everyone from soccer
moms to street soldiers oss em daily. The popularity is mainly due to the availability of the
four-door Unlimited version and the fact that famous athletes and entertainers cosigned them
early. LeBron James whipping his silver joint around Miami in his Samsung commercial during
the 2012 NBA Finals certainly didnt hurt either.

054

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

I JUST WANTED TO SHOW PEOPLE I

COULD DO THE OFF-ROAD LOOK
BUT STILL HAVE THE 713 SWAG.

Now that Wranglers are yet again en

vogue, people with luxury-car money
are putting six gures into Jeeps, and
some of the top shops in the country are
helping properly allocate those funds.
Roughly two years ago, 713 Motoring of
Houston had the opportunity to go all-in
on a Wrangler, and they took the task
very seriously. Being one of their more
high-prole clients, owner of 713 Motoring Ashworth Barnes decided to bring
the Jeep under the roof of his private
garage so the build could remain a secret
and stay away from foot trafc at the
713 retail location. This Jeep was one

of the rst builds in my private garage,

explains Ashworth. Its for the bigger
builds and the more elite customers.
One of the rst steps in the process
was revamping the guts. Originally, our
customer wanted to do it all red inside
and out, explains Ashworth. We
were calling it Project Murder Scene.
The process of completely changing
the interior to red was a formidable
task in itself, as every piece had to be
disassembled, prepped and painted. In
addition to all the painted plastics, red
carpet and supple red leather were also
incorporated into the interior.
Halfway through the build, 713s customer decided that red on red may be a
bit much, so he opted for a pearl-white
paint to match the rest of his eet. For
the exterior, this Texas tank actually
has more additions than youd think
theyre just subtly integrated by the 713
crew. A lot of people dont realize it has
the body-armor kit on it, says Ashworth. It kind of defeats the purpose,
but we sanded it down and painted it so

it looks like the truck. In addition to the

body armor, 713 also added automated
side steps, custom bumpers and a
Forgiato grille. And as with any custom
Jeep, it wouldnt be proper without
towering over its competition, so a skyhigh lift was a must. We have about
20 racks in just the lift, says Ashworth.
And, of course, a massive lift such as
this begs for the proper footwork, so
713 went with a set of 24-inch Forgiato
GTR wheels wrapped with some colossal 38-inch Nitto Trail Grappler tires.
Since the cars completion, 713
Motoring has exceeded all expectations
for the build, gaining props on the street
as well as on the car-show scene, winning Best 4x4 at Forgiato Fest Miami.
I just wanted to show people I could
do the off-road look but still have the
713 swag, explains Ashworth. Most
of these other shops just sell rims and
think theyre in the game like you, but
those cars dont stop trafc. When you
see one of our cars around town, you
denitely know who did it.

RIDES-MAG.COM

055

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

2010 JEEP
WRANGLER UNLIMITED
PERFORMANCE: 5.7-liter Hemi V8
swap conversion

EXTERIOR: Three-stage BMW Pearl

White paint; XRC full body-armor kit;
custom front and rear bumper with
heavy-duty fth wheel holder; Forgiato
Grille
INTERIOR: Ferrari Rosso Corsa red
painted custom interior pieces, dash,
door panels and custom console;
Bentley Mulliner diamond-stitched,
perforated red leather seats; red carpet

ICE: iPad mini conversion used as

head unit; Focal high and midrange
speaker replacements

WHEELS/TIRES: 24-inch Forgiato

GTR wheels; Nitto Trail Grappler tires,
38x13.50R24LT
SUSPENSION: Sway-A-Way 10-inch
long-arm lift kit

056

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

MC CUSTOMS PACKED THIS 2014

FORD RAPTOR TO THE BRIM WITH BEAT.
WORDS: JONATHAN MILLSTEIN PHOTOGR APHY: WILLIAM STERN

RIDES
PG
63

Youd
expect
to
see
the
Ford
Raptor
ripping through the mountains in the Baja 1000 or tearing through
the snow, as in the case of Ken Blocks RaptorTRAX, but sticking to
the paved streets of South Florida? Thats exactly what happened
when a friend of MC Customs in Miami approached owner Jhulio
Tadeo to completely overhaul his 2014 Ford Raptor.

064

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

He bought this truck and wanted to

ll the bed with music, says Jhulio. He
just wanted this thing to be out of reality, and thats what we did. With music
being the main focus, Jhulio and the
guys at MC Customs packed the truck
with MMATS Pro Audio: Four 15-inch
Juggernauts, eight 10-inch mids, four
12-inch mids and 20 one-inch tweeters bring the noise, lling every area
from the bed to the tailgate to the four
custom-fabricated door panels.
Continuing to buck the traditional

Raptor trend, the truck was sprayed

with matte pearl yellow. Yellow is his
color, says Jhulio. He loves yellow.
While thats apparent from the beautifully blinding outer coat, Jhulios client
had a vision for the truck that was far
greater than bright paint and music.
The client told us what he wants,
says Jhulio. He wanted everything
done, from the engine to the music.
He wants every single bit of the truck
custom. When you look closely at
the color-matched shocks, or at the

touches of yellow throughout the

interior echoing the exterior, the idea
of every single bit custom becomes
a reality.
Though the truck is clearly built for
the streets and car shows, Jhulio is
quick to point out that it does still have
that off-road appeal. Lifted, sitting on
22-inch American Force wheels and
35-inch Nitto tires, and packing a supercharged motor, its obvious that though
it is show caliber, this 2014 Ford Raptor
doesnt deny its off-road heritage.

RIDES-MAG.COM

065

[THE CLIENT] WANTED EVERYTHING DONE,

FROM THE ENGINE TO THE MUSIC. HE WANTS EVERY
SINGLE BIT OF THE TRUCK CUSTOM.

066

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

2014 FORD RAPTOR

PERFORMANCE: Whipple
supercharger

EXTERIOR: Custom matte pearl

yellow; custom front bumper with
integrated LED

INTERIOR: Full two-tone leather

with piping; color-matched interior
panels; custom steering wheel; custom
fabricated and illuminated door panels

ICE: Four MMATS Pro Audio 15inch Juggernauts, twenty ST-1 bullet
tweeters, four 12-inch DT12X mids,
eight 10-inch DT10X mids, MP-5 veband EQ, four HiFi4250d amps, one
HiFi6150d amp, two M3000.05D amps,
one MPA2200 amp, one CX6 Pro

WHEELS/TIRES: 22-inch American

Force Raptor wheels; Nitto Terra
Grapple tires, LT325/50R22

068

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

ei g a ge ui e c

guy, atte i g t e ig t sho s

vi g goo

ou side c

W ORDS:

e t e erfect eci e f

PH OTOGRAPH Y:

t e

top spot.
RIDES 70 /// DEC/JAN 2015 /// PG 73

eo le b

Four years ago,

JACKSON, MISSISSIPPI, NATIVE
and current Forth Worth, Texas, resident
Glen Nichols didnt think hed be on the
cover of a magazine and admittedly didnt
even know what it took to get there.
Thankfully, during his four-year build
process, Glen rubbed shoulders with the
right people, and the result was a Chevelle that could sit atop any podium.
As nearly every build goes, Glens
initial motive was to assemble a clean
car that he could drive every day. But as
plans tend to go, the direction was altered
as soon as the build began. It looked
like it was in good shape on the outside
when I rst got it, explains Glen. But
underneath it was like Fred Flintstone,
with holes all in the oor. Unfortunately,
this predicament is all too common in
the old-school car gameespecially
with convertibles. The further Glen dug
into his Super Sport, the more rust was
found in not only the oor pans but the
fenders, rocker panels and even the
rewall. Opting not to cut any corners,
Glen decided to replace virtually every
single panel, which led him to the next
unexpected portion of the build: the
rotisserie. A car rotisserie is just like a
rotisserie for chicken, explains Glen. You

074

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

can turn it around 360 degrees to get to

every part of the body. Glen took this
opportunity to take the build to another
level and completely paint the underbelly
of his Chevelle, in addition to the paint
job the rest of the car was already slated
to receive. As for the color, Glens loving
and supportive wife, Lawanda, chose the
custom turquoise hue that currently coats
the charming Chevelle.
Once the paint and body process was
perfected, the interior had to match the
motif, so Glen opted for a hot-rod-style
interior with his own twist. My car was
an original bucket-seat car with the oor
shifter, but I was talked into swapping
them out for different seats, says Glen.
I switched to 2005 Pontiac GTO seats
front and rear with a custom center console. Glen also had some custom Fesler
door panels fabricated and installed, and
he even had an iPad mini integrated into
the console.
For what was to lie between the frame
rails, even though Glen was perfectly
content with his 454 big block, after going
to the 2012 Goodguys Spring Nationals car
show, he was swayed to drop something
under the hood from this century. Honestly, I didnt get the LS motor for the ef-

ciency or anything like that, because my

big block was very dependable, explains
Glen. I mainly did it for the looks and the
wow factor. Glen ended up swapping the
454 big block for a 515 RWHP Corvette
LS7 engine, painted to match the exterior.
Another attribute that sets this sea-green
gem apart from the competition is the ProTouring-style suspension setup, something
Glen also picked up from the Goodguys
car show. He went with a Hotchkis tubular
setup and equipped the car with air ride,
so the shimmering Chevelle could perch
perfectly in pictures.
Glen is more than happy with the result
and grateful for his wifes patience as this
was actually supposed to be completed for
their weddingin 2011. This was originally
supposed to be the car we drove off in after
we got married, say Glen. We didnt make
that deadline, but shes been very supportive of the project. In addition to having the
OK from the boss, Glens satisfaction comes
from the feeling he gets when driving it, and
the accolades that have come with it as he
recently took Best of Show at the 2014 ForgiatoFest car show in Dallas. Having this
car is like a dream come true, says Glen.
And for me to compete and win against
that type of competition is an honor.

Having this car

is like a

dream come true.

RIDES-MAG.COM

075

Honestly, I didnt get the LS motor for the

efficiency or anything like that...

I mainly did it for the looks

and the wow factor.

076

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

INVOTIRE.COM

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

1972 CHEVROLET CHEVELLE

SS CONVERTIBLE
PERFORMANCE: LS7 7.0L motor;
BTR Stage 3 cam; cold-air intake; dryto-wet conversion; Billet Specialties
Tru Trac pulley kit; Kooks headers;
B&M 4L80E transmission with 3400
stall converter; 3-inch stainless
Borla exhaust; oil catch can by
Dallas Performance; Hotchkis Sport
Suspension front end with tubular
upper and lower control arms, rear
trailing arms; 12-bolt reared with 3:73
Richmond gears; Eaton Posi unit;
Moser Engineering axles; RideTech
RidePro e3; six-piston 13-inch
Wilwood brakes front, four-piston
12-inch rear, master cylinder; stainless
brake lines; drive shaft by Fort Worth
Gear and Axle
EXTERIOR: Custom-mixed teal
paint by Automotive Color in Jackson,
Mississippi, painted by Mike Crawford
of Byram, Mississippi; tan canvas
power top

INTERIOR: GTO seats front and

rear, wrapped in leather; custom Fesler
door panels and console, all by Nick
at Source Motoring in Dallas; Dakota
Digital VHX dash; Vintage Air by Old Air
Products; power windows and locks

ICE: Two sets of Focal K2

components, 4100 4-channel amplier;
two JL Audio W7 12-inch 10th
Anniversary Edition subwoofers, two
HD750/1 ampliers; Pioneer doubleDIN head unit; iPad mini

WHEELS/TIRES: Forgiato Pinura

wheels, 22x9 front, 22x10.5 rear; Pirelli
tires, 245/30/22 front, 295/25/22 rear

078

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

y
t
n
a
r
r
Wa

E S, A N D T H E
E W T RU C K TO P I EC
N
D
N
A
R
B
S
I
H
D
E
P
P
E L I M E N D OZ A C H O

r
e
v
i
a
W
K I N G.
G H TO C RO W N H I M
R E SU LT W AS E N O U

RIDES
#70
WORDS:
E
EVAN VO YATES
PHOTOGRAPHY:
ANDREW
LINK

PG.
81

When it comes to customizing

new vehicles, most ease into the process for a number of
reasons: Either theyre paying a car note on it, theyre uneasy
about permanently altering their new ride, or theyre simply
afraid of voiding the warranty. Thankfully, none of that even
entered the mind of Eli Mendoza of Houston, Texas.

082

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

The rst day I got it, I took the bed

off and chopped the frame, says Eli.
And the rst week, I had everything
taken apart. Eli ordered his 2014 GMC
Sierra specically to his liking, as he
already had most of the parts before the
truck even arrived. I had the wheels and
all the turbo parts before I even bought
the truck, he proclaims. Another thing
that helped speed up the process was
that outside of paint and performance,
Eli does all his own fab and suspension
work, a hobby thats not only saved
him time and money, but also ensured

everything would be done correctly.

Its like my side work, Ive always liked
to build stuff like that, says Eli. I dont
[do it] for regular people; I do it as a
hobby for myself and my close friends.
Eli certainly had his hands full, spending
days and nights on the truck, narrowing
the rear, fabbing up custom suspension
components and making modications,
like the Denali front end with custom
front fascia. I wanted to make it look like
it came from GM like this, explains Eli.
I like when people ask me if I ordered
these parts from the factory.
For the wheels, a set of super-staggered Intro Wheels was a no-brainer
for Eli, as he not only has Intros on his
other rides but, as he explains, its a
style that originated in Texas. Texas
was the place where the big-lip thing
[on trucks] was started, Eli explains.
Paco [RIDES Mar/Apr 2011] was the
rst one to try it after they accidentlly
sent him the wrong rim. He made it
work and everybody loved the look. For
his sexy Sierra, Eli went with a set of
Intro Twisted Rally 5 wheels, 26x9-inch

up front and a specialized 26x12-inch

out back. I have a 26x12, but it has a
reverse lip, so it has the same lip as a
24x15, explains Eli.
For the power plant, Eli ordered his
single cab with the 5.3-liter LSx-based
motor, as opposed to the standard
4.8-liter that it usually comes with.
On top of the larger liters, Eli added
a Turbonetics T4 76mm turbo, which
resulted in a dyno-conrmed 533hp
to the wheels with no internal work
whatsoever. Needless to say, the
truck has all the muscle to back up its
aggressive appearance.
Rightfully so, Eli is condent that
his truck sits alone atop the single-cab
throne. Im at the top because its the
only GMC that lays frame and is boosted with the reverse-lip Intros, says
Eli. Im also the only one with a 2014;
all these other guys are buying 2008s
and changing the front clipanybody
can do that. He continues, Thats why
people always ask me about breaking
the warranty and my response is always
the same: Whats a warranty?

RIDES-MAG.COM

083

PEOPLE ALWAYS ASK ME ABOUT BREAKING THE WARRANTY

AND MY RESPONSE IS ALWAYS THE SAME:

WHATS A WARRANTY?

084

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

2014 GMC SIERRA

PERFORMANCE: 5.3L V8;
Turbonetics T4 76mm turbo; TiAL Q
50mm blow-off valve, 44mm waste
gate; ported throttle body; air-ride
suspension; Ridetech air management
system
EXTERIOR: Denali clip with customshaved bumper; narrowed and tubbed
rear end

INTERIOR: Red leather seats

with diamond stitch; custom center
console; AEM boost and wideband
gauges

ICE: JL Audio speakers, two 10-inch

subwoofers in center console, 5,000watt amplier

WHEELS/TIRES: Intro Twisted

Rally 5 wheels with brushed face and
polished lip, 26x9-inch front, 26x12inch rear; Pirelli tires, 255/30/26 front,
305/30/26 rear
SHOUT-OUTS: SWIFT Texas; Justin
at JW performance; D-Tunes; Maxxed
Performance; Beto HPT

086

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

THE SINNER CAMAROS NEW LOOK

TOOK SOCIAL MEDIA BY STORM.

WORDS : E VA N E VO YAT E S

P H OTO G R A P H Y: A N D R E W L I N K
R I D E S # 7 0 // D E C /J A N 2 0 1 5 // P A G E 9 3

ONE OF THE FALLACIES of the custom-car game

is people mistaking wild ideas as innovation and losing sight of

the fact that sometimes less is more. Ultimately, the simplest ideas
coupled with professional execution can produce a ride that can
not only change the game but also change your life.

Owner of his own drywall company,

Oscar Oz Ramirez purchased the coveted Camaro more than 10 years ago
with intentions of keeping a virtually
stock appearance. Over time, he gave
in to his desire to customize his ride by
painting it, slapping on a set of 22-inch
Foose wheels and swapping the motor
for a 383 Stroker. But when Oz nally
linked up with a nationally recognized
car club, everything seemed to change.
I wasnt looking to go to that next level
until I got with Swift, Oz explains. My
mentality changed as I wanted to step
my game up. But simply being motivated is hardly enough if you dont have
access to people who can help you
achieve your goals. Fortunately, in 2012
Oz ran into Rudy from Redrock Cus-

094

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

toms at the Texas Heat Wave car show

and ran some of his bold ideas by him.
I wanted to see if it was possible to
put 24x15s in the back and bag it at the
same time, says Oz. We could have
just narrowed the rear end, tubbed it
and lowered it, but I wanted to have
the air ride, so that made it a lot more
complicated. After a meeting of the
minds, Rudy at Bedrock said they could
tackle the task. They had to construct
a whole custom frame to be able to do
it, Oz explains. Its a lot of measurements and is pretty complicated, but
they got it done right.
When Ozs Camaro, dubbed the
Sinner, made its initial debutits
soft opening, if you willit was at the
back of the Texas Heat Wave car show

in 2014, sporting a set of 22x9-inch

front and 24x15-inch rear Intro wheels.
The Sinners debut got the buzz going,
but that was only the beginning. And
as good as it looked, Oz still wasnt
satised with the aesthetic. I met Gary
from Forgiato, and he was real cool,
explains Oz. We worked out a deal
on some new rims in time for the next
show. The timing couldnt have been
better as Forgiato was able to produce
these special one-off Finestro wheels
just in time for ForgiatoFest Dallasthe
show that changed the Sinners popularity forever. Ozs copious Camaro
took home Best Old-School honors,
but more importantly, in the span of
a couple days, it became arguably the
most popular rst-generation Camaro
on social media, with pictures, videos
and reposts ooding Instagram and
Facebook. Its amazing. I cant believe
it, says Oz. Im not really a showoff,
but it amazes me the respect and attention the car got.
Since ForgiatoFest, Ozs life has been
a bit different with his cars newfound
fame, but he remains grounded. You
always gotta stay humble, proclaims
Oz. Theres always gonna be somebody better than you, so you just
have to compete against yourself. He
continues, Im competing with myself
and no one else, and as long as my car
is better than it was last year, Im okay
with it. After sending a good majority
of the custom old-school game back
to the drawing board, were okay with
it too.

RIDES-MAG.COM

095

IM COMPETING WITH MYSELF AND NO ONE ELSE, AND

AS LONG AS MY CAR IS BETTER THAN IT

WAS LAST YEAR, IM OKAY WITH IT.

096

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

1969 CHEVROLET CAMARO

PERFORMANCE: LS2 engine;
4l60-E transmission; custom-tuned
ECM; Be Cool 3 core radiator with
electric fans; high-performance fuel
pump; Painless Performance wiring
harness; Dynatech long tube headers
with Borla mufers; K&N cold-air
intake, custom-painted and beadrolled engine cover; Speedway Motors
14-inch brakes; Mallory CPP upper
and lower tubular arms; 2-inch drop
spindles; AccuAir air suspension
EXTERIOR: Garnet red metallic pearl
paint; billet LED rear taillights; custombuilt chrome moly frame

INTERIOR: Tan leather and black

dash upgraded with new gauges;
Forgiato Finestro steering wheel
wrapped in black leather

ICE: Sundown Audio 10-inch

subwoofer, 6x9-inch speakers, 6-inch
mids; Kenwood head unit

WHEELS/TIRES: Forgiato Finestro

wheels, 22x8.5-inch front, 24x15-inch
rear; Pirelli tires, 265/30/22 front,
405/25/24 rear
SHOUT-OUTS: Bedrock Customs;
A & L Transmissions; PG Auto
Upholstery; South Oak Cliff

098

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

DERRICK NOWELLS 2006

DODGE CHARGER SRT8

IS IN A CLASS OF ITS OWN.
WO R D S :

J O N AT H A N M I L L S T E I N
P H O T O G R A P H Y:

DERRICK WELLZ

104

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

IS NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PASSION

in the world. Skills can be learned, but

passion is ingrained at an early age,
and its through that passion that great
works are created. It was because of the
passion Derrick Nowell has had for cars
since childhood that his 2006 Dodge
Charger SRT8 came to life.
Having spent eight years with the
Department of Homeland Security, Derrick could no longer suppress his zeal
for cars and left to open his own garage

with his friend Paco Duarte. Together

the two opened Auto Performance
Aesthetics Club (APAC) in Elkridge,
Maryland. Adding to the challenge of
opening a business, Derrick had no
formal training building cars, but that
didnt deter him at all. The trade came
natural; I was never taught, says Derrick, adding, [it was] trial and error.
And it would be that same trial and
error that would lead to the creation of
his Charger SRT8, known as Illness.
Derrick is currently on his fourth
variation of the Charger, which came to
him in the beginning out of necessity. I
was in the market for a full-size car due
to my 3-year-old son, he says. The upgrade to the full-size sedan would also
mean the death of his 550hp singleseat Dodge Neon. Having sunk so much
into his Neon, Derrick was unsure if
hed ever be able to top it, but he says
this fourth version of the Charger is the
end. This is pretty much the nal, he

says, but more go-fast mods are in the

works, plus a few changes so I can actually enjoy the car on the road.
Already packing a near endless
number of performance modications, its hard to imagine what he has
planned, but for now he enjoys a Zury
Fabrications turbo kit on an Inertia
Motorsports-built 372-cubic-inch motor, to highlight a couple mods. The
biggest challenge was trying to build a
domestic car that can bring business
across the board, says Derrick. While
all can certainly appreciate top-notch
performance, he walks a ne line
between the stance crowd, with the
lowered stance and Tiffany Blue paint,
and the big-wheel culture, with the 22inch bronzed wheels. Being as I own
a shop, I have to be open to all trends,
he says. That keeps me versatile when
building my own. Through his versatility and his passion, Derrick has created
a truly one-of-a-kind Charger.

RIDES-MAG.COM

105

SPEC THE TECHNIQUE

2006 DODGE CHARGER SRT8

PERFORMANCE: Inertia
Motorsports-built 372-cubic-inch
Stroker motor, stage three cylinder
heads, SRT MAX/boost cam; K1
Billet Crankshaft; ve-layer head
gasket; ATI dampener pulley; NGK
Iridium spark plugs; stage two valve
body Mercedes AMG blue-top
solenoids transmission; one-off Zury
Fabrications turbo kit, custom 3.5inch stainless dual exhaust; 76mm
ball-bearing turbo; Treadstone 4-inch
FMIC with 3-inch inlets, four-port
vacuum block; Fore Precision Works
triple-pump billet fuel hat, billet fuel
rails; Aeromotive rising rate fuel
regulator; SVT 90-lb fuel injectors
EXTERIOR: BASF Solid Tiffany Blue;
double-vent steel front fenders, 4-inch
extended widebody steel rear fenders;
carbon-ber grille, splitter, mirrors,
B&C pillars, hood insert; custommolded rear lip with carbon diffuser;
extended side skirts; wrapped atblack roof with gloss-printed company
logo; HID lights
INTERIOR: Medium red/black
reupholstered interior with diamondstitch inserts; black suede headliner;
Corbeau Competition Racing Seats
with racing harness; LED interior
lighting; Auto Meter red digital series
gauges; berglass lower door panels

ICE: Kicker 6.5-inch component

series speakers, three-way 6x9
speakers, 8-inch subwoofer and
custom rear center arm, 1000.5
amplier, 12-inch subwoofer; Sony
Bluetooth receiver; custom-fabricated
Apple iPad enclosure in front dash

WHEELS / TIRES: 22-inch VIP

Modular VR08 wheels with brushed
liquid bronze; Pirelli PZero Nero tires,
265/30/22 front, 335/25/22 rear

106

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

WORDS:
JONATHAN MILLSTE
PHOTOGRAPHY:
ANDREW LINK

XPLIZIT CAR CLUBS MIDWEST CHAPTER IS

HOLDING IT DOWN FOR MIDDLE AMERICA.

RI DES #70 // D E C/J AN 2 0 1 5 > > PA GE 1 1 1

ACK IN 2001, THE ST. LUNATICS

dropped Midwest Swing and proclaimed, Its a Midwest thang, yall,

and they aint got a clue. While back
then the rest of America may not have
been clued into car culture in the Midwestand would remain in the dark
for another decadeXplizit Car Club
out of Orange County, California, would eventually take note,
forming their Midwest chapter in 2011.
Having made a name for themselves on the West Coast,
launching in 2009, club president Juan Diablo Resendiz
reached out to Ernesto Silva (main elite council in charge of
Xplizit Midwest, East and South) about expanding to middle
America. I received a call from the car club president [Diablo], says Ernesto. He told me all I needed to know about
the club, and from there we started the Milwaukee, Wisconsin, chapter.
The Midwest chapter has since expanded beyond Wisconsin to Illinois, Michigan, Missouri and Indiana, and it boasts
more than 60 members. Potential members inquire about
membership, or a recruiting member from one of the chapters may approach them and extend an invitation to sit in on

We have been recognized in

the custom scene as the

NUMBER-ONE CLUB IN
THE MIDWEST FOR THE
LASTTWO YEARS.

112

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

a meeting, says Ernesto. While members certainly have to

mesh with one another, you get a very different sense when it
comes to the cars, as Donks rest next to imports next to oldschools next to trucks. All makes and models are welcome,
as long as they have their unique touch. The more mods the
vehicle has, the better, says Ernesto.
In just three short years, the chapter has grown into a
force to be reckoned with. We have been recognized in the
custom scene as the number-one club in the Midwest for
the last two years, says Ernesto. And for those still sleeping
on the Midwest, thats no easy feat. The custom scene in
the Midwest is not easy, adds Ernesto. Its getting harder
every year, and more custom vehicles are coming out killing
the scene. Take, for instance, Ernestos T-Top Camaro, which
graced the cover of RIDES back in March/April 2012.
From Cali to the Midwest, Xplizit Car Club has put the
heart of America on the custom-car culture map and, with
that, put the rest of the states on notice.

2006 DODGE MAGNUM

C ALVIN WILLIAMS
26-inch Forgiato Veccio
wheels
Kandy Cobalt Blue
F I R ST W I D E B O DY M AG N U M

2011 CHEVROLET CAMARO SS

114

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

ERNESTO SILVA
26-inch Forgiato Girare
wheels
Kandy Tangerine

1976 CHEVROLET CAPRICE

J. WILS
28-inch DUB Ballers
Kandy Oriental Blue

RIDES-MAG.COM

115

1970 CHEVROLET MONTE CARLO

116

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

ERNESTO SILVA
26-inch Forgiato
Ritorno wheels
Kandy Pink

1972 OLDSMOBILE CUTLASS

CLIFTON KIMBALL
26-inch DUB Big Homie
wheels
Custom Orange Pearl

RIDES-MAG.COM

117

2005 CHRYSLER
300C HEMI

2012 CHRYSLER 300

118

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

LLOYD
ROBINSON
28-inch Status
Opus wheels
Outrageous
Daytona Beach

FIDEL VALENCIA
24-inch Savini Forged SV51-C
wheels
Custom Kandy Oriental Blue

2007 CHEVROLET TAHOE

MIKEY ADAMS
30-inch Dcenti DW 29 wheels
Custom Outrageous Fade

1969 CHEVROLET IMPALA

LUIS ASENCIO
26-inch Forgiato Girato-L wheels
Custom Pearl Black

120

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

FRPEENE
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#SEMAIGN

R I M S H OT
RIMS
TREADMILL
SYST E M
PRODUCTS
BURNOUT

SAVINI
DIAMOND

PRALI

19 20 21 22 24
26 28 30 32
SAVINIWHEELS.COM

nowing your audience is key in just

about every aspect of life, but perhaps nowhere is it more important
than in the business world. And
when Savini launched their new
Diamond line, it was clear they truly
understood their audience. Having an understanding that big-wheel culture is a dominant
force in the custom-car scene, Savini Diamond
is their urban-inspired wheel line, and at the
foreground of that line is the Prali.
Calling each wheel in the line an art canvas,
Savini understands that a persons car is an
extension of their individuality. Unpainted,

125
126
130
132
136
138

the large face of the Prali resembles, well, a

canvasand ranging in sizes from 19 inches to
32 inches, the possibilities for customizing are
wide ranging. While some fresh paint colormatched wheels or a new color altogether will
get your Pralis lookin right, they still have a job
to do. Forging from high-quality aluminum gives
the Pralis strength without adding weight, which
is key to maintaining the performance of your
whip.
The Pralis are inuenced by where [Savini is]
from and where [Savini has] been, and now its
your turn to make them your own and let them
lead you to where you want to go.

RIDES-MAG.COM

125

TRUNK

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RIMS

II CRAVE NO.23

TREADMILL

SYST E M

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AG FORGED F540

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AMANI FORGED VIVALO

888-926-0306 // 2crave.com

877-298-8398 // avantgardewheels.com

866-344-7857 // amaniforged.com

182022

202122

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ASANTI 811

ASANTI BLACK LABEL ABL-5

855-327-2684 // asantiwheels.com

818-863-6770 // blaquediamond.com

182022242628303234

2022

2022

855-327-2684 // asantiwheels.com

CONCEPT ONE CS-6.0

CURVA C-5

BLAQUE DIAMOND BD-2

CUV BARBERA

626-968-8913 // conceptonewheelsusa.com

626-813-2500 // curvaconcepts.com

866-611-0015 // cuvewheels.com

2022

20"

2022

DIABLO DNA

126

DUB FUTURE

DUB FORGED MALICE

626-813-2500 // diablousa.com

800-493-7891 // dubwheels.com

800-493-7891 // dubwheels.com

2224

222426

18192021222426283032

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

DUB SPIN RAZZ

FONDMETAL STC-10

FORGIATO FINESTRO

800-493-7891 // dubwheels.com

714-463-7234 // fondmetal.com

818-771-9779 // forgiato.com

222426283032

192022

192021222426283032

GAZARIO GA723

GFG FM-212

GIANLLE YEREVAN

866-799-2659 // gazariowheels.net

800-307-8708 // wtwcorp.com

800-307-8708 // wtwcorp.com

20222426

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GIANNA BLITZ

GIOVANNA DRAMUNO-6

800-307-8708 // wtwcorp.com

818-897-4177 // hipnoticwheels.com

1820222426"

2426

22242628

626-813-2500 // giannawheels.com

KOKO KUTURE MASSA-7

KRAZE INSPIRE

HIPNOTIC DIVA

LAB FORGED LB7

800-307-8708 // wtwcorp.com

855-572-4457 // krazewheels.com

818-362-2300 // labforged.com

20222426

20222426

19202122

RIDES-MAG.COM

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RIMS

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

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LEXANI ROYAL

LEXANI FORGED LF-110

800-833-9700 // lexani.com

866-962-0897 // massivwheels.com

2426

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800-833-9700 // lexani.com

MILANNI KHAN

MKW M105

MASSIV MODERNO

NICHE MISANO

866-645-2664 // visionwheel.com

866-659-9433 // mkwalloy.com

800-493-7891 // nicheroadwheels.com

182022

1820222426

20

PLATINUM DIVINE

ROCKNSTARR 964

RUCCI VENENO

800-321-4456 // ultrawheel.com

954-935-5536 // swg1.com

714-480-0004 // rucciwheels.com

1617182022

20222426283034

2022242628"30"32"

RUFF RACING R980

128

TREADMILL

SAVINI BM9

SCARLET LOREN

800-804-7156 // statuswheels.com

866-779-4646 // saviniforged.com

866-452-7799 // scarletwheel.com

2022

192022

2022

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

SEVIZIA 426-5

STANCE SC-6IX

STARR WHEEL THOR

877-482-7400 // eclipsewheels.com

562-946-7788 // stancewheels.com

954-935-5536 // swg1.com

2022

1920

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STATUS HURRICANE

STRADA MAGIA

TSW RASCASSE

800-804-7156 // statuswheels.com

888-478-7232 // stradawheels.com

866-432-3612 // tsw.com

222426

2224

18192021

VELLANO VCY

VERDE AXIS

VERSANTE 228

909-923-6861 // vellanowheels.com

888-360-6888 // verdecustomwheels.com

866-992-8630 // versantewheels.com

1920212224

1920

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VERTINI MAGIC

XO LUXURY CARACAS

ZENETTI ESQUIRE

562-946-8378 // vertiniwheels.com

888-812-8754 // xoluxurywheels.com

626-333-3271 // zenetti.com

192022

2022

2022

RIDES-MAG.COM

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TRUNK

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RIMS

TREADMILL

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

BURNOUT

1
2

Winter Whip

RIDES WELL WITH

LEXUS IS 350
NISSAN 370Z COUPE
CHEVROLET MALIBU

CONTINENTALS EXTREMEWINTERCONTACT WILL KEEP

YOU ROLLIN THROUGH ANY WINTER WONDERLAND.

Though speed sells

when it comes to
cars, its equally as
important that youre able
to stop, especially in ice and
snow. The ExtremeWinterContact utilizes a flexible
tread compound and high
sipe density to help reduce
your braking distance.

130

Longitudinal
grooves on these
Continental tires
give your ride greater driving force. This means you'll
be getting better traction
when you need it most, trying to stop in the snow and
ice of winter.

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

Unlike U2s The

Edge, the edge on
this tire is extreme.
Designed with increased
traction and braking in
mind, the gripping edges of
the ExtremeWinterContact
not only ensure braking
but increase performance
through excellent traction.

The name of the

game in winter
tires is clearly
braking in snow and ice,
but if the man is salting and
plowing, you should see your
fair share of dry roads. For
those days, the tire relies
on elevated lateral grooves
creating a stiffer pattern for
better handling on dry roads.

I L LU S T R AT I O N BY T O D D S C H M I D T

TRUNK

R I M S H OT

RIMS

TREADMILL

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

BURNOUT

ROCKFORD FOSGATE T400X4AD AMPLIFIER

$500, RockfordFosgate.com

KICKER SOLO-BARIC L7
SUBWOOFER
$280 - $480, kicker.com

HOW YOU LET THE BEAT BUILD

The latest and greatest to nely tune the music in your ride.

ADDICTIVE AUDIO
F300.4 AMPLIFIER
$270
AddictiveAudioInc.com

JL AUDIO TW1
$250 - $300
JLAudio.com

132

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

TRUNK

R I M S H OT

RIMS

TREADMILL

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

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CRIMESTOPPER
RS2-G3
$200
Crimestopper.com

ALPINE X009-FD1
$3000
Alpine-usa.com

CLARION NX404
$900, Clarion.com

HYBRID AUDIO
STAGE VI - LEGATIA SE
$820
Hybrid-Audio.com

134

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

RIDES-MAG.COM

135

TRUNK

R I M S H OT

RIMS

TREADMILL

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

BURNOUT

SWAG BAG
Bring good tidings this holiday season
with these dope gift ideas.

1. HOONIGAN

Charcoal Hits Snapback

Hoonigan.com
$30

2. MOTOROLA
Moto 360

Motorola.com
$250

3. KEYPORT
Slide 2.0

Mykeyport.com
Price inquiries at
mykeport.com

4. LAMBORGHINI

Carbon Fibre Messenger Bag

Lamborghinistore.com
$1300

5. SUPERTOOTH

Buddy Bluetooth Speakerphone

Supertooth.net
$60

5
4

136

RIDES-MAG.COM | NOV/DEC 2015

9
6. LOGIC3

Ferrari Cavallino T350

Audio Headphones
Store.ferrari.com
$340

7. PROJECT CARS
Projectcarsgame.com
$60

10

8. AIR JORDAN

14 RETRO CHALLENGE RED

www.nike.com
$200

9. JBL
Pulse

Jbl.com
$200

3. GOPRO

HERO4 Silver
Gopro.com
$400

RIDES-MAG.COM

137

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TREADMILL

SYST E M

P RO D U CTS

BURNOUT

WIN, LOSE OR DRAW

Whip up your best printable automotive artwork and stuff it in our mailbox.
Our favorite will win a years subscription.

MICHAEL DION Florence, AZ

THE WINNER!

CERRON HOOKS Raleigh, NC

RORY MCCLENDON JUSTIN KESTNER Fort Madison, IA

SEND TO [email protected] OR RIDES MAGAZINE, 1115 BROADWAY, 8TH FLOOR, NEW YORK, NY 10010

138

RIDES-MAG.COM | DEC/JAN 2015

NM

W AVAILABLE STT QT

O DG IS A R I

E T

EMAR

CHR

ERR

UP

JOHN DODGE

H O R AC E D O D G E