As most of you already know, I LOVE Classic Car Auctions!

Well, we are in for a treat! One of the most popular, well known names in the auction biz is coming to OC.

I’ll be there on Sat June 26th from 11am -3pm.

Lemme tell you, I’ve been to a lot of auctions and Barrett Jackson does it right! Get ready to see some beautiful cars and have a good time – because it’s gonna be a PARTY!

Click here to see the event schedule

As you all know, SEMA is the “Super Bowl of Automotive” it’s the largest automotive display, party, business function and network’s paradise.

Normally, I’m there shooting an episode or two for a TV series, however, this year, I was there as the “official female spokesperson / TV personality” representing EBC Brakes.

When I arrived at the airport in Orange County, Ca I ran into my friend Bill O’Roake who is a long time employee of Mickey Thompson, to my surprise he was on my flight. The trip was off to a great start and I hadn’t even arrived in Las Vegas yet!

I landed and hitched a ride to my hotel with team Mickey Thompson. Before even reaching the hotel I started receiving text messages, tweets, IMs, emails, facebook notes, etc all regarding SEMA updates, unveiling’s, party invites and inquiries regarding whether or not I thought this years event was going to be a success or a ghost town (many individuals were extremely concerned about attendance, etc due to the economy.)

The EBC booth was exhibiting at the Las Vegas Convention Center and was located in the far right-hand corner of the south hall. Due to the location, none of us thought that we would see much foot traffic, till close to noon. However, that wasn’t the case at all! We were literally crazy busy from the time we reached the booth till closing every day! Personally, I feel that this is a nice sign for the automotive industry in 2010.

The other thing I really enjoyed about SEMA 09, was finally getting the chance to catch up with all of my long time friends. After all, SEMA is similar to a giant automotive family reunion – lol!

Special thanks to:

Team EB Brakes – I love working with you guys!

Dennis Gage (My Classic Car Host) and his crew for inviting me to join them at the SEMA banquet.

Steve Russo and Jon Van Buren (two of my newest team members) for all the SEMA still images.

Enjoy more images from SEMA here:

Gallery one

Gallery two

Behind the scenes videos on Qik shot with my N95.

You know him as Lugg Nutzz a multi talented TV Host, Emcee, Radio personality, etc, etc with a crazy knowledge of motorsports and automotive. I know him as a caring, wonderful, person and friend who helps in assisting kid’s battling cancer.

Gordon “Lug Nutzz” Stewart, Vice Chairman of America’s Baby Cancer Foundation, hosted a party and fund raiser at Celebrity Car designer Rich Evans shop in Huntington Beach, Ca on Sat Dec 19, 2009.

I felt honored to be among one of the celebrity guests to promote, attend and join Gordon “Lugg Nutzz” for this terrific event. 

Some of other featured guests that stopped by to sign autographs and spend time with the children were; former NFL player Kirk Dodge of the Denver Broncos, Newport Beach Patron’ Porsche and NASCAR Racer Brian Wong, NASCAR Team Cass Racing’s Auggie Vidovich, GoLiveStream.TV/Realfast.tv, sponsored Racer’s Brad Pounds, Hurricane Heidi Tresler, and Brandon Thompson.

The ABCF hosted patients from Miller Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UCLA.

If you are interested in donating and/or assisitng the America’s Baby Cancer Foundation, please check out the website here http://www.babycancer.org Your help will go a long way in assisting these children and their families to get the proper medical treatments and support!

We would also like to invite you to join us at an upcoming event, click here to check the schedule http://www.horsepowerheros.com We look forward to seeing you soon.

To view the gallery of images from the event click here.

It just gets better each and every year!

John Force, his family and race team sure know how to throw a party and lemme tell you…this is no secret! People come from all over the country to support the annual John Force Holiday Car Show.

Every year I meet the nicest people, see the sweetest cars, and talk shop with some of motorsports most notable individuals.

Of course, every good party/event has a wonderful host and coordinator behind it. Who’s the man behind the curtain? None other than (drum-roll please) Craig Hoelzel!

As you know I attended many, many, many automotive events during the year. Yet, there is something about the John Force Holiday Show that takes the cake! Would you like a little taste? Check out the gallery of images below.

See gallery of images by clicking here.

I hope to see you all there next year!

In closing, I’d like to thank photographers Steve Russo and Jon Van Buren, two of my new team members.

GC

Join Gordon “Lug Nutzz” Stewart

As we welcome all to join us for the 6th Annual

“America’s Baby Cancer Foundation” Holiday Party

SATURDAY December 19^th, noon to 4:00pm in Huntington Beach!  

FOR IMMEDIATE Re-RELEASE: December 11, 2009

SUNSET BEACH Ca.  For the sixth consecutive year Huntington Beach California based America’s Baby Cancer Foundation has loaded Santa’s sleigh with toy’s for our Holiday Party December 19th. The ABCF annual Christmas party for kid’s battling cancer and life threatening illnesses is one of the highlight’s of our year said Gordon “Lug Nutzz” Stewart, Vice Chairman of America’s Baby Cancer Foundation. We had almost 200 children attending the event the past few years, and the kid’s really look forward to a day away from treatments and hospital life. ABCF will be hosting patients from Miller Children’s Hospital, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, UCLA, UCI and Fountain Valley Hospital. Over the years with ESPN2 ,SPEED, Sirius and of Course Toyota Speedway at Irwindale. I have been impressed with the kindness and generosity of race fan’s, and people I have met all over the country. We have had SO many fan’s, friends and companies donate gifts, services, raffle items and most importantly there time to visit with our kid’s on this annual event! So Cal Bandolero Racing’s Triple A racing will be bringing car’s and a crew challenge area for kid’s to participate in! 

Former NFL player Kirk Dodge of the Denver Broncos, Newport Beach Patron’ Porsche and NASCAR Racer Brian Wong, NASCAR Team Cass Racing’s Auggie Vidovich, GoLiveStream.TV/Realfast.tv sponsored Racer’s Brad Pounds, Hurricane Heidi Tresler ,and Brandon Thompson, and Special guest Genevieve Chappell “The Queen Of Car’s” will ALL be stopping by to sign autographs and visit the kid’s!

And just when you thought it couldn’t get any better, Jo Coddington, widow and partner of legendary Car and Hot Rod Designer “Boyd Coddington”, and architect of Boyd’s Marketing and Branding efforts has partnered with ABCF on behalf of the Coddington Foundation on both events this year and will be on hand to visit all our kid’s. Jo is an amazing lady that is only beginning to make her mark in motorsports marketing and licensing said “Lug Nutzz”. Jo is a brilliant marketing talent, and is so successful at branding, the America’s Baby Cancer Foundation is fortunate to have her assistance as we bring awareness of childhood cancer to the public. Also crashing the party is, legendary Trans Am Champion and SPEED TV Personality Tommy Kendall! You KNOW it’s a party when TK shows up in his world class yellow Chicken sled! Our kid’s are going to LOVE it!

Celebrity Car designer Rich Evans will have his “Hardcore Knight” Mustang on display that will be featured in the new Movie Kick Ass Comic with Nicholas Cage say’s: Having 3 healthy kids of my own, I really feel blessed to be a part of making kid’s smile for a day and hopefully inspiring some of the little one’s to become the next generation of custom builder’s when they are cured said Evans. There will be several other celebrity guests stopping by the event December 20^th from noon to 3:30pm at Rich Evans H.B. Bodyworks shop, 18108 Redondo Circle, Huntington Beach Ca. For more Information on how you can help or donate gifts, please log onto www.horsepowerheroes.com , www.babycancer.org , www.richevansdesigns.com , www.golivestream.tv , www.boydcoddington.com , www.thequeenofcars.com

I was just invited to this event and it looks amazing. Wondering if any of you have attended Festivals of Speed in past years and/or are planning to attend this year? If so, let me know your thoughts. See below.

Festivals of Speed is a luxury lifestyle weekend featuring the world’s finest automobiles, motorcycles, watercraft and aircraft placed for display at exclusive venues. In addition to the motor sports aspect, Festivals of Speed also displays the world’s finest luxury lifestyle products including, jewelry, fine art, fashion, real estate and other related products and services.

Collectors of these luxury items look to our event as a weekend getaway where they can relax and enjoy the comrodity of other likeminded enthusiasts in a unique and exciting location. Sponsors utilize these unique venues to introduce the latest products and services to our affluent attendees.

Festivals of Speed was founded in 2004 and operates events nationwide.
Events are divided into two categories: “Main events” and “Boutique events”

Main events (2-3 days) take place annually at the same location and currently operate in St. Petersburg, Florida at the Four Diamond Renaissance Vinoy Hotel & Resort and in Orlando at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes. We are currently looking to add main events in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. We welcome all inquiries for possible venues worldwide.

Festivals of Speed operates shorter (one day) boutique events in Manhattan, South Florida, California and other locations. We are seeking to add locations nationwide/worldwide and welcome all inquiries.

These fabulous events will also be covered by and seen on Speed Channel and Wealth TV.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO CONTACT PAGE

CLICK HERE TO GO TO MEDIA PAGE

For the first time, Kyle Mohan will not only be the lead driver for the team that bears his name, but will slide into the role of Team Owner as his team enters a car in the Pro-Am competition at Las Vegas.

Mohan, of course, will be back behind the wheel of the 2009 Mazda RX-8 that he has competed in during the first three rounds of this year’s Formula Drift championship. Since the previous round in New Jersey, the KMR team has undertaken extensive testing and development of the car, making it more potent for the fast Las Vegas Motor Speedway course.

“The Las Vegas course is very fast, and really makes you push yourself,” said Mohan. “I really enjoy that part of it. Our Mazda RX-8 also works very well in fast, high-speed courses. This was not one of our better events last year, and the team has been working hard to make sure we put together a very strong car for this weekend.”

In addition, the KMR team has been busy preparing the KMR Mazda RX-7 FC3S, which will be driven in the Las Vegas Pro-Am by former MAZDA Team-Drift driver and road racer Johnny Kanavas. Mohan and Kanavas have driven together with the Mazda Team Drift at the Long Beach Grand Prix as well as the Portland Formula D Team-Drift competition in 2008.

“Johnny comes from a road racing background, but also has quite a bit of drifting experience.” said Mohan. “I have driven with him numerous times in practice, testing, and Team-Drift competition and he is an extremely capable drifter. I’m excited to see him compete in Pro-Am and I’m glad that we’ve been able to put together a two-car effort for the first time with help from Mazdatrix.com and Cooper Tire. We’ve been trying to make this happen for a long time and the Vegas Pro-Am came together nicely and the timing was perfect.”

Kanavas is a professional driver and driving instructor with experience from drifting and karting to SPEED World Challenge, Playboy MX-5 Cup, 24-hour endurance racing and more. Kanavas has worked with several auto manufacturers, driving/racing schools, hot-lap events and promotional racing programs. Las Vegas Pro-Am will be his first solo Formula Drift competition.

“I’m really happy we were able to put this together for Vegas Pro-Am,” said Kanavas. “Kyle has been tremendous help with my transition to drifting and I look forward to working with KMR. I am enthusiastic about this weekend, and would like to thank KMR, Mazdatrix.com and Cooper Tire for their support this weekend.”

About Kyle Mohan Racing

Kyle Mohan Racing competes in the Formula Drift Pro Championship aboard a 2009 Mazda RX-8, with support from Mazda USA, Mazdatrix.com, Cooper Tires, Exedy, WPC, Idemitsu, Turbonetics, Mishimoto, JIC Magic, TCSportline, KAAZ, F&L Racing Fuel, XXR
Wheels, Mothers Polish and Epic Stealth Camera. For more information, visit www.kylemohanracing.com.

Genevieve is now on Wikipedia! Take a look at the newly created page (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Genevieve_Chappell) to learn more about Genevieve’s early career and how she arrived to where she is today.

And don’t forget to check back from time to time, as it will be updated!

Formula DRIFT introduces the 2009 Miss Formula DRIFT, Miki Taka. Taka is an experienced model, TV host, and DJ has been chosen as the official spokesmodel for Formula DRIFT and will be at the remaining 4 events of the season.

Originally from Nagoya, Japan, Taka is a Japanese-American that currently resides in Columbus, OH. She is pursuing her degree in Criminal Law, while establishing herself as an import model with Prestigious Models. She has been featured in other events including NHRA, Goodguys, Hot Import Nights, Professional Bull Riders Tour (PBR), Tuaca Body Art Ball and now adds to her resume the title of Miss Formula DRIFT.

“Being chosen as Miss Formula DRIFT is a real honor,” says Miki Taka, 2009 Miss Formula DRIFT. “I am a huge fan of motorsports and look forward to this experience of a lifetime.”

Aside from modeling Taka has appeared in numerous television and film productions such as on VERSUS, Driftstyle on SPEED, and on Nickelodeon, where she interviewed celebrities. Taka is also a featured DJ at the hottest clubs around the country.

Miki is an avid automotive enthusiast and can be found wrenching on her own personal cars, a Lexus IS300 and Acura Integra.

“Miki is the perfect fit to be the 2009 Miss Formula DRIFT,” says Ryan Sage, vice-president of marketing and co-founder of Formula DRIFT. “Her passion for cars and motorsports makes her a great representative for the series.”

Fans can meet Miss Formula DRIFT all season long during the events with her next appearance at Round 4: All In at Las Vegas Motor Speedway in Las Vegas, NV on July 10-11.

For a race schedule and ticket information, visit: www.formuladrift.com.

This was my first shoot with the Lucas Production team, and was the very first event of the Lucas Oil Off Road Series, held at the Motorsports Complex track (at the state line, behind Buffalo Bills) in Primm, Nev. – so I didn’t know exactly what to expect!

What no one expected was the wind that came on Friday. It was strong enough to shut down our production for the day, and meant no practice for the racers. But there were still people there in the grandstands, bundled up with jackets, hoods and blankets. If they were there on that windy Friday, you just knew there would be lots of people there the rest of the weekend.

One other thing that jumped out at me was that everyone – racers, teams, crew members – were really thankful to be racing and grateful that Lucas Oil got the series moving. That was the theme of the day, on and off the camera.

I spent the first half of Saturday meeting racers and doing some features, and had a great time talking with former motocross and Indycar star Jeff Ward, Rodrigo Ampudia (whose father is one of the nicest people in the series), and Carl Renezeder. I am working stricting for Versus, and it was great to be able to introduce the viewers to some of the veterans, and some of the new faces.

I was close to the track again, and spent most of Saturday getting covered by rocks and dirt. I have to laugh when people who don’t know about television production tell me it must be fun to work in such a glamorous job – because it really isn’t glamorous when it is hot and windy and it feels like someone has just jumped a bucket of dirt on your hair and clothes. It’s still really fun, though!

Another thing that I noticed was that the crowd was different than I expected. There were a lot of pretty girls there, tons of families, and lots of kids. LOORS has attracted quite a family crowd. The crowd on Sunday was up a bit from Saturday, but both days had great sized crowds. A neat thing about Sunday was following up with Jeff Ward. He didn’t have a great race on Saturday, so he and his crew had some serious game faces on Sunday. I saw them studying portions of the course, and it obviously paid off as he had a very good race on Sunday.

This was my first production with the Lucas Oil Production staff, and it was very impressive to see how the whole team works together. Everyone clearly wants to see the series succeed and I’m thrilled that I am along for the ride!

View fun pics from the two day event

The next LOORS event is May 2-3 at the Speedworld Off Road Park in Surprise, Arizona.
I hope to see all of you there!