Pictures from the Benedict Castle Concourse sponsored by Autogeek

[Mike Phillips]

Pictures from the Benedict Castle Concourse sponsored by Autogeek


This last Friday Team Autogeek went west to the Benedict Castle Consourse car show to support the show and Teen Challenge.

Benedict Castle is the home and headquarters of Teen Challenge of Southern California. Teen Challenge is a free non-profit residential substance abuse prevention and recovery program headquartered in Riverside, California which partners with ten other strategically placed centers throughout Southern California.

Teen Challenge International, the parent organization, operates approximately 190 centers in the USA and another 200 centers around the world.

Each year Teen Challenge of Southern California serves over 200,000 men, women, and children in Southern California through resident and outreach programs. Teen Challenge has been locally and nationally recognized as one of the most effective programs of its kind.



Here's some pictures from the event...


Here's the Castle...




Autogeek and Meguiar's were the primary sponsors for the show this year...







Chris West of Solution Finish was also a sponsor for this year's show.




Some amazing cars and people at this years show!

[Mike Phillips]

I had a chance to catch up with old friends and make some new friends...

This is the legendary George Barris one of the most famous Kustom car builders in the history of custom cars.





This is Ed Isky Iskenderian, the man behind Isky Cams!




This is Von Hot Rod custom Pin Striper extraordinaire!





Renny Doyle stopped by the show....




Joe Fernandez brought his daughter....




Ryan Rehart....




Jimbo Balaam...





Met quite a few car guys that have seen me for year now on "My Classic Car" that stopped by to get a signed copy of my how-to books...

[Mike Phillips]

As a primary sponsor of the show Autogeek was asked to pick our favorite car for the Autogeek Trophy.

It's always hard to pick a single car out of hundreds of cars of such high caliber and while I liked them all it was the Beatnik that caught my eye.

This is a kustom car built by Gary "Chopit" Fioto who owns Chopit Kustoms in Stanton, California.

Presenting the Autogeek Award






I signed a copy of my how to book for Gary....






I present the Beatnik Bubbletop!

[FrankS]

Great pictures Mike, thanks for sharing!

[custmsprty]

Amazing!

[BillE]

Barris AND Isky!

I'm 'star struck'.

Bill

[Mike@DedicatedPerfection]

Thanks for sharing Mike!

That is a sweet look Bubbletop! Paint sure could use some loving.

[Mike Phillips]

It was a really nice car show with some amazing cars and colorful individuals that have formed the car hobby to where it is now.


Gary, the builder of the Beatnik, asked me to stay in touch with him so I'm going to send him the link to this thread.

Gary is one of the top Kustom car builders in the car hobby and it was a genuine pleasure to meet him and check out his incredible kustom car. You can see more of his work here,

Chopit Kustoms by Gary Fioto



More Kustom Car Builders

In the same league as Gary is my friend John D'Agostino, another Kustom car builder. I hadn't seen John in a few years but caught up with him at last year's SEMA show and had a chance to sign for him a copies of two of my how-to books.


From this thread,

2014 SEMA Pictures off my trusty, dusty camera and my cell phone too...


John D'Agostino - Legendary Car Customizer

This is John D'Agostino, one of the most famous custom car builders in the industry. Check out his work here,

Celebrity Kustoms

I've known John for at least 20 years and I'm a huge fan of his work. I signed a copy of my new How to use the Flex XC 3401 VRG Dual Action Orbital Polisher book and also a copy of my "The Complete Guide to a Show Car Shine" how-to book.

I'm hoping sometime in the future to work on one of his project cars. It would be an honor and a pinnacle in my detailing career.







And to jog everyone's memory... at my September 2014 Detailing Boot Camp Class we had another Kustom car from another famous builder here at Autogeek. My class, some who had never used a machine to polish paint were able to work on a Richard Zocchi Kustom car.


Pictures & Comments: Sept 2014 Detail Boot Camp Class





Richard Zocchi Kustom 1956 Dodge Lancer

Multiple Car Show Winner

1956 Royal Doge Lancer

The car premiered at the 2000 Grand National Roadster Show San Francisco Cow Palace and was awarded the prestigious George Barris Kustom d’Elegance Award.

(Richard Zocchi has won this award three times now … he was the winner of the very first George Barris Kustom D’Elegance Award in 1992 with his fabulous ‘39 Dodge and again in 1994 with his chopped yellow pearl ‘51 Olds).

At the Sacramento Autorama the car won the very first Manuel Arteche Memorial award.

At the Good Guys All American Get Together in Pleasanton, California, it was in the Top Five Customs.

Finally, at the West Coast Kustoms Paso Robles 2000 car show, it received the Larry Watson Nostalgia Pick.

The top was chopped four inches. The rear window was sunk into the package tray to create the flowing line. The side roof molding was hand-built. The windshield and all glass work was done by Dan Mazzoncini of Dan’s Glass, Concord, California.

The upper hood was lengthened 1 inch to create the hood grill and rear scoop.

The centerpiece of the grill opening was sectioned three inches and the grill cavity was hand-formed.

The front grill hood scoop and rear grill were hand-made of three-sixteenths round rod by John Aiello.

Headlights were extended out four inches to simulate early 50s Studebaker look.

Headlight bezels again used by Zocchi is his trademark look – ‘56 Olds with the outside lip cut off.

Front and rear bumpers were frenched and extended … all bumper bolts shaved off to give it a clean appearance.

Front and rear wheel wells were flared.

Hand-made rear skirts were added.

Rear quarter panels were extended four inches.

One-half inch round rod was used to create cavity opening on taillights, which were hand-built by Gene Winfield.

Side molding was used from ‘57 Pontiac which was altered on the quarter panels.

Doors and trunk handles were all removed and Unkl Al’s remote system was used.

Paint was applied by Marcos of Lucky 7 Auto Body, Antioch, CA. PPG toners of violet and white were used in a custom mix by Marcos with gold pearl.

The front suspension was re-worked with drop spindles from Fat Man Fabrications by Bob Madsen.

The car was then turned over to bob Westbury for installation of Air Technology Air Ride System.

The interior was hand-built by Bob Divine Interiors of Martinez, California. It was done in violet and white to match the dash and exterior. Pioneer sound system was also installed by Divine.

The engine is a stock 315 Hemi except for a mild cam. The engine was all painted and detailed.

All chrome work and stainless work was done by Sherm’s Plating of Sacramento, California.

The car has radial tires with 2 ¼ inch whitewalls.

Hubcaps were custom made.

It would be a real honor to have Gary, George, John and Richard as a special guest to a future detailing boot camp class here at Autogeek in Stuart, Florida.