As many of you automotive enthusiasts already know, Pep Boys has spiced things up by adding a new feature to three of the current Pep Boys stores (Washington LA, Lancaster, PA & Exton, PA)…a Speed Shop!

Yep that’s right, you can now purchase and/or order premium, performance products over 5000 to be exact, right from our trusty ol’ friends Manny, Moe, and Jack. Among those products you’ll find a good supply of the worlds best brake pads and rotors – EBC Brakes - made directly in the UK.

The Washington store (first West Coast Pep Boys opened in 1946) was the first to receive a Speed Shop, last Spring, May 2009.

Lancaster and Exton, PA were next on tap – back 2 back – and lemme tell you, the Pep Boys crew knows how to throw celebration - we had a blast!

If you missed these celebrations, not to worry…Pep Boys plans on opening up six more Speed Shop locations (shhh don’t tell em’ I told you) in 2010 including locations in New Jersey, Florida, Texas and Los Angeles.

Charles, the store manager in Lancaster, PA was pumped about getting the second Speed Shop at his Pep Boys Hub store. Meet Charles…

http://qik.com/video/6443485

Here’s what Tony Farrel, Speed Shop manager, had to say about his HUGE expectations for the shop in Exton, PA.

During our tours and travels we always receive many compliments from very happy EBC customers. Here’s what Autocross racer Mike Tomma had to say.

Images from Lancaster, PA Speed Shop opening

Images from Exton, PA Speed Shop opening

View more videos from both events

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The new PowerBlock magazine was released today and it’s a suuupa duuupa issue!

Click on the link below to view.

Also, don’t forget to check out page 54 & 55 along with the calendar of Courtney Hansen and myself on pages 62 & 63

http://www.powerblocktv.com/magazine/

This years annual CSi Mega Show was held on February 27th & 28th at the Competition Specialties headquarters in Auburn Washington.

This was my first time to this area of the country and to this particular show. Upon arriving at the show we were welcomed by a group of smiling faces and KenWoomer himself.

The layout of show was clean and organized and seemed to have a common thread – trucks and off-road goodies. Personally I’m a huge fan of big off-road trucks, tires and accessories! Yes things that rumble loud on the road and dirt and shout “Get outta my way I’m coming through!” LOL

The show was open to the public and offered some wonderful show specials to all in attendance. They also featured an on going raffle both Sat and Sun with tremendous gifts and prizes donated by the vendors and CSI. Including $1000 and $2000 of Super CSI Cash every hour on the hour. There were many YEEEPIES & WOOOHOOOs from winners echoing through the building every hour – which gave us all a good laugh!

Ken and his CSI team were top notch in regards to hospitality, making all of the vendors feel welcomed and comfortable.

For example, they picked an awesome, hip host hotel, the airport Marriott. They made things convenient in way of transportation by providing a complimentary shuttle service to and from the event each day and used the friendly CSI delivery guys as our chauffeurs. They hosted a welcome banquet and concert the  Friday night before the show, a happy hour / mixer on Saturday night after the show, and provided lunch each day by way of a lunch area and by cart for those of us who were tied to the booth.

My overall impression of CSI and the individuals who work there is – they care about the customers and the people they have dealings with. We like that a lot as that is our motto as well!

As usual we had a tremendous amount of good feedback and comments regarding EBC’s products. At this particular show we had many requests and purchases for the 3GD Rotors and the Ultimax (OEM replacement pads) AKA Black stuff. Which as most of you know, Dollar for Dollar and Pound for Pound there is not a better replacement pad than the Ultimax.

We were also visited by many anxious pro-drivers and race teams who wanted to know when they could get their hands on some Blue Stuff.

Regarding our products,  we just keep hearing “EBC brakes work and do what they are supposed to do! Our customers love them and are requesting them more and more!” And friends, lemme tell yha, that’s just music to our ears.

As a bonus Spike TV aired the PowerBlock episodes that I just shot with Courtney Hansen, on Sat and Sun. Most of the attendees (all  BIG TIME PowerBlock fans) viewed the episodes that morning before the event, and then…to their surprise…there I was in their home town! They gotta kick outta that and it made for some good conversations.

Thanks to the crew at CSI you made our trip a good one. I’ll look forward to attending the show next year.

Competition Specialties Inc.

EBC Brakes.com

Seattle Airport Marriott

Link to Pictures from the event

Watch a real live testimonial from Dave a mechanic at Pacific Import Auto in Tacoma, WA who loves EBC products and has happy customers!

"The Car Girls"

We know it’s hard to look past the gorgeous ladies but that’s what we call an Airplane Rat Rod. Joining Courtney this weekend is EBC spokesperson Genevieve Chappell. She’ll explain her role as Product Launch Manager for EBC and spend some time with Courtney in the Powerblock shop. Now back the Rat Rod. Owner Kenny Matlock wanted a car that could handle the salt air in the Florida Keys so this project started with an old aluminum boat trailer.  He transformed the trailer into a frame and got a wing rib from an antique airplane shop that became the dashboard. He took a front axle from a ’95 Cherokee and the drivetrain from a 1997 V-6 Firebird and front mounted a turbo. It’s a five speed stick with Air Ride on all four corners with controls made from copper plumbing.  The top is aircraft canvas, the front cowl is made from airplane skin and the throttle linkage is from a Piper Cub.  The radiator is mounted in the rear. The see-through floor is reminiscent of a bomber and the seats are twenty dollar outdoor patio furniture. Ingenious! Check it out on Powerblock February 27 & 28.

For more www.GenevieveChappell.com or www.EBCBrakes.com or www.powerblocktv.com

RTM Productions based in TN  knows automotive and motorsports and proves it with a strong crew of experts, one of the most beautiful female hosts on television, and a PowerBlock of automotive shows on Spike TV.

In January I was invited to join the PowerBlock crew to be a special guest, co-host with Courtney Hansen. 

As the EBC Brakes spokesperson, I featured the EBC Brakes sport rotors and pads, talked a little shop, discussed specs,  install techniques, and chatted with Courtney about my 2010 EBC Brakes campaign & Pep Boys tour schedule.

As you know, I’ve worked in and around the automotive industry for a long time. Yet, this was my first time working with RTM Productions, Courtney Hansen, and Spike TV and I’ll admit, I was a tiny bit nervous. However, weeks leading up to our shoot, the RTM producers and writers were sooo extremely professional, thorough, and friendly, my jitters were calmed, as  I felt as though I had known them forever (their great sense of humor and funny jokes helped as well – lol.)

When I pulled into the parking lot, I was impressed with the size of the property and building. Upon walking in I see a welcome sign that lists the names of all the featured special guests that will be shooting on the PowerBlock that day (thought that was a sweet gesture) the front office woman greets me with a warm smile “welcome to RTM, we are so happy to have you here today.”   Then out walks Justin Swanson one of the producers and I get a BIG welcome squeeze!

Justin walks me down the hall and introduces me to the man himself Joe St. Lawrence who couldn’t have been any more hospitable. We had a nice chat , a few a laughs, and Justin offers to give me a tour of the entire facilities including each studio, where I was able to get a sneak peak at the rebuilds and plans for each vehicle - pretty neato huh?!

In the waiting room, there is a large monitor where featured guests, waiting for their turn to shoot, can watch the PowerBlock being shot and familiarize themselves with the flow of production. I was the last guest to shoot and it had been a long day for the production crew. Yet, you would have never known it by the energy and attitude they all displayed. 

Now, I already know what you are going to ask me…because since this shoot, I’ve been asked this a bunch of times. Is Courtney really as nice as she is on TV? No, she is not! She is even nicer than she is on TV. Hahaha I got yha- lol! Courtney and I hit it off from the start and within minutes we were sharing fashion and health tips, talking about her wedding, family life, and of course about cars, engines and our favorite automotive products. The production crew (all males) were cracking up listening to us.

Working as a model for over 12 years, I’ve worked with many beautiful woman…but I’m going to tell you, Courtney Hansen is one of the most beautiful, friendly, funny, and down to eath women I’ve ever worked with. Oh yea…and to top it off, she also extremely intelligent. Sorry guys, you’ll have to keep dreaming, because she is engaged and head over heels with her fiance – lucky man right?!

My feature on PowerBlock will air in March, I’ll keep you posted on the dates. In the meantime, check out the line of EBC Brakes – the best sport rotors and brake pads in the world! Sign up for the EBC blog, and keep stoping by my site as well for new updates, photos, and videos.

Click here for a sneak peak of one of the billboards we shot

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.