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There are many drivers and enthusiasts around the world that have been involved with project show car builds. Taking an American classic or a sporty import and transforming it into a car show sensation is a popular hobby in the US. However, not so many of these builders do so with their own daily driver, except for Sam Piazza and his 2010 Camaro SS.
2010 Camaro SS at the SEMA show in Las Vegas, Nevada
"I am a car enthusiast who really loves cars," said Piazza. "I love building them not to only look pretty, but perform like a monster on the track."
Getting a dedicated show car ready for SEMA is quite a challenge, but doing so with your own daily driver seems to be an entirely new challenge. "I have been going to SEMA since 2009," reported Piazza. "It takes a lot of stress, long nights, help from friends, and dedication to get your car ready for SEMA.
Sam Piazza's SEMA featured 600HP Camaro SS Turbo
Thousands of people are going to see your car, so you want it looking its best." Even last minute touches to vehicles can be stressful. "Every time I go to SEMA, I would be working on the car the night before roll-in."
With about 6 years of experience working with project vehicles and a youthful start being around anything automotive, Sam being only 23 years old has completed more than some industry veterans have accomplished. "...I still have much more knowledge to gain. This is only my second project/personal car that I put my heart and soul into. I really don't have a specialty, but can do a little of everything... I know my weakness is electrical though."
When asked what the inspiration or the theme of his Camaro build was, Sam replied, "I wanted to make my Camaro like no other Camaro that you would see out there (or in SEMA). There are a few custom made parts that you would only see on my car at SEMA. I also wanted it to have that sinister look at the same time. That's why I went with the black brushed wrap from 3m. I know you wouldn't see another Camaro with that wrap, plus it gave it that mean look."
Rideskinz Aggressor LTZ front fascia bumper with carbon accents displayed on Camaro SS at SEMA
To complement the styling for the exterior, Sam's SS also sports a powerful Turbonetics single turbo kit and a K&N performance air filter to fit his custom intake tubing making a mean look into mean power. "I used a K&N... because I know that they are one of the best filters out there and wanted to get the most flow into the turbo without sacrificing filtration," said Piazza. "I first used K&N products when I was around 13 and replacing my mother's air filter in her car. So ever since then [I've] been using some kind of K&N intake on my cars."
Hopeful and looking forward to 2013, Sam is expecting to finalize his Camaro along with his team and car building friends at Team Ar-Kan. "My goal for the coming year is to keep modifying the car to where I think needs improvement," said Sam. "I want to get some kind of air suspension, big brake kit, rear end upgrade, and whatever will make my car look better. The main goal is to win some kind of award to every show that I attend. When asked about his dream for the Camaro Sam replied, "My dream goal is to have my car featured in Chevy's booth at SEMA 2013." An excellent goal to strive for from an up and coming builder just waiting for his break in the automotive world. Sam also mentioned his thanks and gratitude towards all around him during his projects. "I want to thank my family and girlfriend first for putting up with my crazy car addiction, [and for] always letting me borrow their cars when my car is getting worked on. Second my friends for helping me build my car. My friends at Team Ar-Kan are like my second family and a lot of us rolled together to SEMA 2012." Sam also went on to thank all the sponsors and manufacturers involved with the build.
Sam Piazza's 2010 Chevy Camaro SS is modified with the following:
Turbonetics Single Turbo Kit on this SEMA show Camaro SS
Engine/Trans:
Turbonetics Single Turbo Kit (600RWHP/650 Torque at 8 PSI)
JBA Straight Pipes
Zoomers 3inch Cat-Back Exhaust
AEM Water/Meth kit
Hallman Pro RX Manual Boost Controller
K&N Air Filter
Granatelli High Performance Spark Plug Wires - 0 Ohms
Tech AFX Hose Re-locator Kit
ACT Street Clutch Kit with lightened Flywheel
Carbon Fiber Engine Covers
Hurst Short Throw Shifter
CMS Tune
Suspension:
Hotchkis Suspension Sway Bars
Hotchkis Suspension End links
2010 Camaro SS sporting 22 Inch Savini Black Di Forza BM-4 Wheels at SEMA
Hotchkis Suspension Strut Bar
Hotchkis Suspension Chassis Brace
Megan Racing Fully Adjustable Coilovers
Spohn Rear Trailing Arms and Tie Rods
Prothane Bushings-Full kit - (Arms, Diff, Sub-Frame, Every Bushing on Car.)
Hawk HPS Brake Pads
Wheels:
Savini Black Di Forza BM-4 Wheels - 22 Inch
Exterior:
Rideskinz Aggressor LTZ front fascia bumper- With Carbon Accents
Rideskinz Prototype Side Skirt - Carbon Fiber
3M Black Stainless Brushed Metallic Wrap - Wrapped by RoloTech Car Wraps
Seibon Carbon Hood Tinted Black
Seibon Trunk Tinted Black
Extreme Dimensions Wing Tinted Black
Dry Carbon Wrapped Roof
ABlaze Grille
SEMA featured this modified 2010 Camaro SS with 3M Black Stainless Brushed Metallic Wrap
Painted Brembo Brakes with Camaro Logos
Interior/Electronics/ICE:
Cipher Auto Racing Seats - CPA2001, Harness Bar, and Harnesses
Corey LaJoie wins NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway
Corey LaJoie won the NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race at Greenville Pickens Speedway in South Carolina, but the post-race inspection might have cost him the series championship.
The race was supposed to run on Sept. 3, but it was cancelled and rescheduled because of rain. LaJoie had to start from the back of the field because he was late to a driver's meeting when the race was originally scheduled.
Corey LaJoie at Greenville Pickens Speedway for NASCAR K&N Pro Series East race
Still, LaJoie worked his way through the field, took the lead on lap 146 during a green-white-checkered flag finish in the Kevin Whitaker Chevrolet 140, and won the race leading the last lap of the race.
It was his fifth win of the season and his third in the past four races.
But after the race, track inspectors found an unapproved carburetor in his engine. LaJoie was penalized and lost 25 points in the K&N Pro Series East standings.
He went from having a six-point lead heading into the season finale at Rockingham Speedway in North Carolina to being 19 points out of first place and in third place in the K&N Pro Series East standings.
LaJoie took the lead on the final lap of the race after Brett Moffitt made contact with him in turn 3.
LaJoie still has a shot at the K&N Pro Series East championship. But he will have to overtake rookie Kyle Larson, who leads the standings, and Brett Moffitt.
Rain was a factor again in the race at Greenville Pickens. The start was delayed and the race took 1 hour, 13 minutes to complete.
Brett Moffitt, who started on the pole, led the first 144 laps of the race. On the final restart, he was in the lead and made contact with LaJoie in turn 3 on the final lap of the race. LaJoie made the pass, but Moffitt lost control and started a chain-reaction crash.
"I thought we had a pretty good run on him on the high side after the restart," LaJoie said. "Went down into one and he rubbed me up into Spartanburg. He got clear on the backstretch, I was like screw you right back. So I went down there to give it to him. Got him loose, got him out of the groove and got the checker."
Chase Elliott made it through to finish in second place. Rookie Jesse Little posted his best career finish in the K&N Pro Series East in third place.
"The restart right after, I don't think I would have been able to make it through," Little said. "I followed him through and luckily we were able to make it out of there safely."
Moffitt ended up in ninth place after dominating the field the entire night.
Larson, who entered the race as the leader in the K&N Pro Series standings, was fourth. He was followed by Brandon Gdovic in fifth.
Larson has a 10-point lead over Moffitt, who is in second place in the K&N Pro Series East standings. Elliott is still mathematically in contention, 30 points out of first place and in fourth place in the championship standings. Rookie Bryan Ortiz, winless in 13 K&N Pro Series races this year, is in fifth place in the standings, 45 points behind Larson.
"We're going to do the exact same thing if we were up by 50 or down by 50," LaJoie said. "Worry about ourselves, don't worry about anybody else and be in position when the checkered flag drops."
The K&N Pro Series East finale, the Classic 3 Championship presented by the RCR Racing Museum, will be at Rockginham Speedway on Nov. 3.
The young K&N champion under construction finished his 2012 rookie kart season with four second place and two third place podium finishes
There’s no single, straight-line, direct road to success in racing. Some racers start on motorcycles and turn into Indy Car champions. Some start in Legend cars, others in quarter-midgets or Sprint cars. However, many of the biggest names in NASCAR all have go-kart experience to thank for their successful racing foundations. Jeff Burton, Kevin Harvick and Jeff Gordon, to name a few, all earned their chops in go-karts before they reached double-digit age.
Kasey Gillis, the 7-year-old Fitzgerald Elementary School student from Rialto, California has that in common with some very best in the business. There are also several other early characteristics Kasey shares with these and other champions, like an immediate and very obvious flair for racing, mixed supremely with an unbridled joy for the sport, and the unconditional support from his family and friends.
Kasey’s first ever outdoor kart race was in February of 2012 where he finished 2nd in his class. His first indoor kart event came only nine months later at K1 Speed in Ontario, California. Kasey now owns the track record, three league wins in a row and the Jr. League Championship there.
Kasey Gillis runs the No.18 because of his NASCAR idol Kyle Busch
“Kasey runs the No.18 because his favorite driver is Kyle Busch in the No.18 M&M’s NASCAR and Kasey drives like Kyle does,” comments Larry, Kasey’s justifiably proud dad. “He is willing to drive the kart in deep and push his kart to the edge.”
Kyle Busch started out in go-karts right about the same age as Kasey. In his formative years Busch could be found driving around the cul-de-sac of his family’s Las Vegas neighborhood in a makeshift go-kart.
“He loves going fast and wants to win at everything he does,” Larry continues. “Kasey had a great rookie season, and he had two memorable highlights. The first was Kart Kamp, which involved three days of learning, both in the classroom and on the track. And it was very evident he was paying close attention to his instructor, Dave DiMond, the owner of Apex Raceway in Lake Perris, California. The third day was race day where Kasey finished in 2nd place, he was so excited.”
“Then the other highlight was his first pole in the second to the last race of the season. It was a hard fight for two laps, until another kart took him out, he spun into the infield and came back on the track in 5th place. He continued to fight hard for the rest of the race and finished with another 2nd place. Kasey finished the 2012 season with four 2nd place finishes, and two 3rd place finishes.”
Kasey is looking forward to the 2013 season kick-off at Apex Raceway in Lake Perris on the 17th of February 2013. He will be competing with his with a new race motor. The KCJ Motorsports team is planning to run all nine races on the schedule, in addition they will also attend as many other events in the Sothern California as possible.
“The whole family helps out,” adds dad, “Even his older brother get his hands dirty in the pits. Many other family members and friends come out and to support and cheer him on.”
Cody Swanson managed to finish the 2012 season as the Ventura Racing Association Midget Champion
After a few seasons of up and down results, Cody Swanson now knows what it is like to be a champion. The California kid was named Ventura Racing Association Midget champion at the historic Ventura Raceway this season. Steady improvements throughout the season finally put Swanson in victory lane, and led him on a roll that only stopped when he was crowned champion.
“Winning the championship this past season at Ventura was a great honor,” Swanson said via email. “Ventura Raceway has been known for exciting Midget racing for decades now and it’s great to be a part of history at the track. All season long racing was very tight and exciting and the championship didn’t come easy.”
Swanson and his #71 K&N Midget started the season on a bad note, wrecking out of opening night. But the team, led by his father and crewmembers Jeff Wahl, Jimmy Goodwine, Ray Mills and Tres Van Dyne, made steady improvements, culminating in Swanson’s first win on September 15th.
Despite the rough start Cody Swanson and his race team found a way to get a handle on the hard regulation tires
“When you had a year as great as we did, it is really hard to narrow down (the best moment). When you really get down to it though, the greatest moment has to be getting our first win. We worked really hard to get that win.”
A key for Swanson’s roaring comeback in the standings was figuring out how to get more forward bite on the spec right rear tire VRA uses. Following the opening night incident, the team was stuck playing catch up until August, when a breakthrough was made and the rest is history.
“The tire is significantly harder than any other organization uses across the country. When this is combined with a slick, granite-like surface, it makes it difficult to get the car to hook up off the corners. All year we worked hard and were always trying something different with the setup of the car. Every race improvements were made and it really showed at the end of the season. That’s what won us the championship.”
Swanson will move up into the USAC Western States Midget Series in 2013, running on dirt up and down the West Coast, as well as in Arizona. He is also looking for a motor for their pavement car so they can run some races on the asphalt.
Cody Swanson will make the move up to the USAC Western States Midget Series for 2013
While the driver did the heavy lifting, Swanson was quick to thank his crew and sponsors for giving him a championship caliber racecar.
“Racing is a team sport and this wouldn’t be possible without all the help my crew offers. I want to thank them for their outstanding work, and also thank our sponsors.
“K&N Filters are essential to the success of our team. We use every product available for both the racecar and the support vehicles. The air filter keeps a clean, high-volume airflow going through the intake, helping produce optimum horsepower. K&N Oil Filters keep our engine oil clean, helping us stretch out the life of our engine and save on rebuild costs. And the Fuel Filters keep the fuel lines and nozzles clean and free of debris and are very easy to maintain.”
Cody Swanson has been racing for many years and has seen much success. Check out these articles that prove it Legends Race at Irwindale, Swanson Back on the Track and Swanson Rookie Points Leader.
RJ Anderson sits atop the podium no tonly in 1st but, a 2012 championship
Another season of Lucas Oil Off Road Racing Series (LOORRS) action is in the books for Stronghold Motorsports, and another championship is on the mantle. But this one just feels different. It feels a little more special.
19-year-old RJ Anderson became the youngest professional trophy truck champion in LOORRS history, securing the Pro Lite championship in 2012. The son of an off road racing legend, Anderson now sits on top of the world, another superstar in the stable of Stronghold drivers that includes motocross king Jeremy McGrath, Jeremy 'Twitch' Stenberg and Cameron Steele. A few months later, the championship is starting to settle in for Anderson.
“I think the championship has finally sunk in,” Anderson said. “At first it all seemed so unreal, but after a few newspaper and magazine articles I’ve come to terms with the new title of Pro Lite champion.
RJ Anderson appreciates his LOORRS Pro Lite fan base and their support
“I have to give a special thanks to everyone who has reached out and congratulated me on my dream come true this year.”
Faced with the decision to either play baseball or go racing, Anderson chose the dirt, following in the footsteps of his father, Randy, the long-time crew chief for trophy truck legend Walker Evans. Five years later, Anderson looks like a genius for choosing the loud pedal over the diamond.
RJ Anderson started off-road racing and the ripe young age of 14
“There are a few things that made this championship special to me. The biggest one is the fact that I started my off road racing career at the lowest level, in a trophy kart at age 14. I had to work my way up through the ranks, proving myself in each class that I entered. To be a Pro Lite champion was always my dream and to actually see it come true in just five years was a very big accomplishment for me.
“Another reason it was so special is I got to do it right alongside my dad. He’s been an off road legend his whole life, so to be able to accomplish something like this together was very cool for me.”
RJ Andseron and the Stronghold race team grabbed the points lead early in the season and never looked back
Anderson jumped out to an early points lead and was able to carry that momentum through the season, never losing sight of the final goal.
“I honestly never lost faith in brining home the 2012 championship. We grabbed the point lead early and tried not to lose any momentum. There are always bumps in the road, but my team put in one-hundred-and-ten percent at all time and gave me a truck I was confident with going into each and every race.”
RJ Anderson is the youngest trophy truck champion in LORRSS history
Those bumps Anderson alluded to certainly reared their ugly head during Anderson’s other championship run, but they also provided a moment of learning that helped Anderson better understand how to chase a championship and finish the deal.
“One thing I learned is in racing it’s never over until it’s over. I actually lost the TV championship earlier in the year after leading the points all season. I was leading the final race and on the last lap, I ended up breaking a transmission, which set me back to a runner-up finish in the points standings. I was very bummed, but it taught me to save my equipment, which helped carry over to the situation I was in during my Pro Lite championship hunt.”
Anderson dodged his biggest bullet early in the season.
The K&N sponsored racer has a long career ahead in off-road racing
“The most important moment of the year was when I lost a cylinder halfway through the Glen Helen night race and still managed to finish in fourth. We had a fast truck but on only seven cylinders, the truck was at a huge disadvantage. Championships are won on your bad days, so pulling off a fourth was a huge step in keeping us atop the field.”
Of course, every season has its magical moments, and for Anderson, one will forever be etched in his memory: the night he won the championship.
RJ Anderson understands engine protection is a big part of winning championships
“A moment I will never forget is pulling into the winners circle after winning the night race in Las Vegas. The win clinched the Pro Lite class championship and the energy from the crowd and my team was insane. My team worked so hard all year and to reward them with a championship was a huge accomplishment. It took a lot of weight off my shoulders going into the final round with the title already clinched.”
One of the biggest advantages Anderson had was the strong sponsorship from Monster Energy Drink, Stronghold Motorsports, and of course, K&N Filters.
“One of the toughest battles in off road racing is keeping your engine together each and every race. We race in a very dirty environment, and the K&N products we use give us the performance we need to win championships, and the clean air our engines need to run all race long.”
